A Leader’s Journey podcast

Omar Garcia - Insights into Selling Businesses

Omar Garcia, a business broker, shares his career journey and insights into selling businesses. He started his career in Mexico working for a conglomerate and was involved in billion-dollar M&A activities. He then transitioned to the US and worked in marketing for a beer company. Eventually, he started his own business brokerage in San Antonio, which has been highly successful. Omar discusses the factors that make a business sellable, such as client concentration and dependence on the owner. He also talks about the current market conditions for selling businesses, including the increased interest from private equity firms.
 
Takeaways:
When selling a business, it is important to avoid client concentration and ensure the business is not too dependent on the owner.
The market conditions for selling businesses are currently favorable, with increased interest from private equity firms and a growing trend of Gen Z buyers.
When choosing a broker, it is important to consider their experience, track record, and chemistry with the seller.
One of the first steps to selling a business involves providing financial statements and estimating the value of the business.
 
Chapters:
00:00 Omar Garcia's Career Journey
07:07 Factors to Consider When Selling a Business
15:18 Current Market Conditions for Selling Businesses
25:10 Preparing to Sell a Business

Michael Moorhouse - Moving Opposers to Alignment

In this episode, guest host Brent Fessler continues the conversation with Mike Morehouse about leadership in a changing world. They discuss the importance of communication without friction, the need for leaders to provide a framework for decision-making, and the power of mental models. They also explore the dynamics of conversations and how leaders can move people from opposition to alignment. Finally, they challenge the idea of pursuing legacy as a goal and emphasize the importance of focusing on doing the right things every day.
Takeaways:
Communication without friction is a challenge for leaders in a fast-changing world.
Providing a framework for decision-making helps employees make the best choices and be the best they can be.
Opposers can become strong advocates when they are moved to alignment through effective communication.
Legacy should not be the primary goal for leaders; focusing on doing the right things every day is more important.
Leadership is an ongoing journey of self-improvement and focusing outwardly.
Sound Bites:
"Communication without friction sounds like a great idea."
"Leadership is about moving people."
"Vague is such a horrible word."
 
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Recap
02:25 Navigating Communication Without Friction
08:29 Providing a Framework for Decision-Making
25:42 Redefining Legacy as a Leader
29:00 The Importance of Focusing Outwardly
35:07 Conclusion

Lashaude James - Role Clarity in Leadership

Joel Gunn and Lashaude James discuss the concept of being a boss versus being a friend to employees. They explore the challenges of wearing multiple hats in a professional relationship and the importance of setting clear boundaries. Lashaude shares his experience of realizing that he needed to be a good boss rather than trying to fill the role of a friend or mentor. They also discuss the role of trust and the importance of co-laboring with God for the personal development of employees.
Takeaways:
Being a boss and being a friend to employees are two different roles that require clear boundaries.
It is important to understand the power dynamics in a boss-employee relationship and not try to force a friendship.
As a boss, it is important to focus on setting clear direction, providing feedback, and helping employees grow professionally.
Employees also need other support systems like friends, family, and spiritual leaders.
Co-laboring with God for the personal development of employees can help create a healthier work environment.
 
Sound Bites:
"I'm not supposed to be friends with my coworkers, and I'm supposed to be friendly."
"I can be pastoral, but I'm still your boss."
"Love does not always look like you staying attached to me and me not disciplining you."
 
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:20 The Challenges of Being a Boss and a Friend
13:58 The Importance of Love and Discipline

Tenice Wehmeyer - The Neuroscience of Conversations

💬 Ready to upgrade your communication game? Dive into this discussion with leadership expert Tenice Weymeyer on the neuroscience behind conversations, the power of empathy, and strategies for building trust and self-awareness. Discover how to lead with intention, empower your team, and navigate tough economic times. 💼💡
#leadershipmatters #communicationskills #teambuilding #selfreflection #journaling
 
Takeaways:
The impact of words on the brain is significant, and empathy and reflection are essential in communication.
Trust, vulnerability, and intentional leadership are crucial for building cohesive and high-performing teams.
Self-awareness and behavior change require intentional effort and feedback from others.
Journaling can be a valuable tool for personal development and self-reflection.
Employee care and the empowerment of people are essential, especially in a difficult economy.
 
Sound Bites:
"My favorite tool is journaling."
"Leadership ROI is really the ripples of influence that you have as a leader."
 
Supporting News & Statistics:
The Impact of Words on the Brain A study published in Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience (2012) found that words associated with social support and positive emotions activate the same brain regions as physical rewards.
The Importance of Empathy in Leadership A 2020 study by Catalyst found that empathetic leadership is linked to increased innovation, engagement, and inclusion in the workplace.
The Value of Journaling for Self-Reflection Research published in Psychological Science (2018) demonstrated that expressive writing (like journaling) can improve mood, reduce stress, and enhance overall well-being.
 
Chapters:
00:00 The Power of Brain-Friendly Conversations
05:41 Building Trust and High-Performing Teams
08:32 Self-Awareness and Behavior Change
35:23 Leadership ROI and Employee Care

Mike Moorhouse - The Iterative Nature of Building Trust

Guest host, Dr Brent Fessler, interviews Mike Morehouse who shares his journey from a unique upbringing to a successful career in the mortgage business, emphasizing the importance of trust, communication, and adaptability in leadership. He discusses the changing landscape of leadership and the need for distributed problem-solving models. The conversation delves into the significance of testing, communication, and the iterative nature of building trust and leadership. Mike's insights provide valuable lessons for leaders navigating change and uncertainty in today's dynamic environment.
Takeaways:✅ The importance of trust, communication, and adaptability in leadership✅ The changing landscape of leadership and the need for distributed problem-solving models✅ The significance of testing, communication, and the iterative nature of building trust and leadership✅ Lessons for leaders navigating change and uncertainty in today's dynamic environment
Sound Bites:"The top-down leadership is going away.""No decision is a decision.""Leadership is the ability to align people around a strategic plan, motivate them, and continually renew that plan - that organization."
Chapters:00:00 Mike's Unique Journey: From Upbringing to Career04:46 The Changing Landscape of Leadership08:34 Trust, Communication, and Adaptability16:39 The Importance of Testing and the Iterative Nature of Building Trust

Scott Maderer - Inspired Living

Joel Gunn interviews Scott Maderer about his book 'Inspired Living' and how leaders can align their personal purpose with their professional roles to achieve fulfillment. They discuss the importance of understanding one's calling and how to get unstuck and move towards it. They also explore the significance of building meaningful relationships for personal and professional growth, and how leaders can overcome the struggle of giving themselves permission to prioritize relationships. Scott emphasizes the value of humility, seeking help from other leaders, and recognizing that investing in relationships is essential for business success.
 
Takeaways:
🗝 Understanding one's calling and aligning personal purpose with professional roles is crucial for leaders to achieve fulfillment.
🗝 Getting unstuck and moving towards one's calling involves examining past roles and experiences, identifying patterns of what gives energy and fulfillment, and looking forward to envisioning the ideal future.
🗝 Building meaningful relationships is essential for personal and professional growth, and leaders should actively seek out peers, mentors, and networking opportunities.
🗝 Leaders should overcome the struggle of giving themselves permission to prioritize relationships by recognizing the value of humility, seeking help from other leaders, and understanding that investing in relationships is essential for business success.
 
More info and resources can be found at https://inspiredstewardship.com/journey/
 
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Book Synopsis
03:04 Aligning Personal Purpose with Professional Roles
08:01 Getting Unstuck and Moving Towards Your Calling
24:14 Overcoming the Struggle of Prioritizing Relationships

Scott Maderer - Redefining Time Management: It's About Energy and Focus

In this conversation, Joel Gunn and Scott discuss the concept of time management and how it is often misunderstood. They emphasize that time itself cannot be managed, but rather it is our energy, focus, and productivity that need to be managed. They explore the root causes of people's inability to adapt to changes in their plans and offer strategies for better time management. They also discuss the importance of setting boundaries, automating tasks, and using tools to streamline processes. Overall, the conversation highlights the need for individuals to take control of their time and make conscious choices about how they spend it.
Takeaways:
Time itself cannot be managed, but we can manage our energy, focus, and productivity.
The urgency fallacy leads us to prioritize urgent but unimportant tasks over important but non-urgent ones.
Estimating time accurately is challenging, and we often underestimate how long tasks will take.
Creating buffers in our schedule allows for flexibility and helps us deal with unexpected interruptions.
Using tools and automation can streamline processes and reduce time spent on repetitive tasks.
Managing email effectively involves setting boundaries, educating others on when to include you, and using tools to organize and prioritize messages.
 
Sound Bites:
"Time just happens... It's not really time that we have to manage, it's our energy, it's our self, it's our productivity, it's our focus, it's all things about us."
"It's this kind of false sense of the things that come at me must take my attention as opposed to, wait a minute, evaluating is this actually something that I should give my attention to and then actually acting in accordance with what you've decided."
 
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Background
01:01 Redefining Time Management
04:09 Estimating Time
06:35 Creating Buffers
12:14 Tools for Time Management
30:16 Final Thoughts

Joe Petersen - A Journey of No's

Our guest, Joe Peterson shares his experience as a member of a C12 peer group and how it transformed his professional and personal life. He discusses the importance of surrendering to God's will and the value of receiving 'no' answers. Peterson emphasizes the need to trust that God has our best interests at heart and that disappointment is not scriptural. He shares stories of how 'no' answers led to subsequent blessings and encourages listeners to praise and celebrate God's guidance.
Takeaways:
✨ Being part of a peer network like C12 can have a transformative impact on both professional and personal life.
✨ Surrendering to God's will means surrendering our ability and right to be disappointed.
✨ Receiving 'no' answers can lead to subsequent blessings that we may not have anticipated.
✨ Trusting that God has our best interests at heart is crucial in navigating disappointment.
✨ Praising and celebrating God's guidance can help us see His hand at work in retrospect.
 
Sound Bites:
"Life is a journey of no's."
"As we surrender our will to His, we're also surrendering our ability and our right to ever be disappointed."
"Every 'no' resulted in such an amazing subsequent blessing."
 
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Background
02:30 The Journey of 'No's'
04:54 The Value of 'No' Answers
06:49 Trusting God's Best Interests
09:30 Navigating Disappointment
10:28 The Constant Battle of Surrender
10:58 Conclusion

Joel Gunn - A Few Practical AI Ideas

This week our host is in training in Chicago, but we didn't want to leave you empty-handed. Joel shares excerpts from a recent AI talk he did for a small group of business people. We hope it will give you some creative ideas on how to use AI in the real-world.

Darryl Lyons - Biblical Responsible Investing

🌟 Dive into the transformative realm of Biblical Responsible Investing with our latest podcast episode! Join host Joel Gunn and expert guest Darryl Lyons as they explore innovative financial strategies aligned with Christian values. 📈💡
📘 Darryl unveils insights from his new book, providing a unique perspective on leveraging faith-based financial tools that cater to the Christian market. Discover how these strategies are not just about profit but aligning your financial actions with your beliefs.
🎙️ Whether you're a professional, leader, or business owner, this episode promises to equip you with the knowledge to make more informed investment choices that resonate with your spiritual and ethical standards. Tune in to redefine how you think about money and investments! 🚀
#ALeadersJourney #FaithBasedInvesting #ChristianFinance #EthicalInvesting #Leadership #BusinessEthics
 
Takeaways
Consider the magnitude of the Christian market when constructing investment solutions
The Christian marketplace has unique motivations and financial tools
Teach children about money through mini-conversations and life hacks
Long-term thinking is important for financial success
Verify if a financial advisor is a fiduciary and uses a third-party custodian
 
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Recap08:06 Unique Motivations and Financial Tools13:07 Importance of Long-Term Thinking27:36 Preparing the Next Generation for Financial Success34:23 Concerns and Considerations for Hiring a Financial Advisor