Podcasts about Glassdoor

When a restaurant's weekly salmon order suddenly spikes in price, Emma Whelan wants chefs adjusting menus the next morning—not tallying losses a month later. “The system will alert them if the price of salmon (has) gone up unexpectedly,” she tells us, describing MarginEdge's real‑time cost engine. It is a small but telling vignette from Whelan's first months as CFO, and it captures the company's wider ambition: “MarginEdge wants to create a world where restaurant operators can focus on great food and great service without having to worry about the back office,” she tells us.Whelan explains that the platform “automate(s) the key back office tasks like invoice processing, inventory and recipe costing” by pulling data directly from point‑of‑sale systems and scanned invoices. That automation replaces hours of spreadsheet drudgery and—more critically—turns yesterday's paperwork into today's decision support. The salmon alert, she notes, lets owners “switch vendors, re‑price the menu, or adjust portion sizes before it starts to impact their margins,” a response time that can separate profitable months from painful ones.Her strategic priorities echo the same urgency. Backed by Osage, Schooner Capital and Ten Coves Capital, Whelan directs new funding primarily to R&D so the software stays “at the cutting edge” of restaurant needs. Investing in talent runs a close second; Glassdoor awards and sky‑high satisfaction scores, she tells us, prove that an engaged workforce builds better products—and happier customers feel the difference. In Whelan's finance playbook, speed, clarity and culture work together, just like ingredients in a well‑seasoned dish.

This week, organizational psychologist and Glassdoor's Chief Worklife Expert, Adam Grant, joins us to discuss why constant change is exhausting today's workforce. Grant offers practical resilience strategies, including mental time travel techniques and rejecting the "three Ps" of personalization, pervasiveness, and permanence. From millennials facing their "fourth once-in-a-lifetime recession" to the surprising research showing career benefits of tough economic starts, we explore how both managers and employees can navigate workplace uncertainty without burning out. Make sure and join Adam Grant for his upcoming "HotSeat" event on May 27th. Only on the Glassdoor App! Special Guest: Adam Grant Hosts: Matt Sunbulli ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunbulli/⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.firstdraft.vc⁠⁠⁠ Aaron Calafato ⁠⁠⁠Listen to Aaron's 7 Minute Stories Podcast ⁠⁠⁠ Follow Aaron's Viral Storytelling on YouTube Leah Ova ⁠⁠⁠Follow Leah on TikTok ⁠⁠⁠ Editorial: Matt Sunbulli Brooks Borden Ken Wendt Aaron Calafato Senior Audio Engineer: Ken Wendt Research: Zaid Safe Matt Sunbulli Aaron Calafato

How do you really know if someone is the right fit for your team—or your company's future? In this episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius sits down with Dr. Geoff Smart, founder of GH Smart and author of the bestselling book Who, to break down what separates successful hiring from costly mistakes. Geoff reveals the power of evidence-based assessments, why psych tests often fall short, and how intense curiosity—not stress—is the key to unlocking a candidate's true potential. From helping Fortune 500 companies select CEOs to coaching emerging leaders, Geoff shares stories, strategies, and myths about the hiring process—plus, why the "sell me this pen" test is just bad business. In this episode, Darius and Geoff will discuss: (00:00) Introduction to Geoff Smart and His Journey (02:55) The Importance of Hiring and Core Values (06:08) Geoff's Origin Story and Founding GH Smart (09:00) Cultural Fit and Hiring Process (11:55) The Role of Core Values in Business (14:52) Firing with Respect and Responsibility (18:05) A Players vs. B Players in Hiring (20:54) Adapting to Different Stages of Business Growth (30:05) Identifying A-Players for Growth (34:02) The Importance of Leadership in Organizations (40:25) Effective Interview Techniques (43:00) Assessing CEOs and Leadership Roles (48:44) Onboarding and Post-Hiring Strategies (55:20) Overcoming Fear of Failure Dr. Geoff Smart is the chairman and founder of ghSMART, a leadership advisory firm that helps CEOs, entrepreneurs, and public-sector leaders build high-performing teams. Founded in 1995, ghSMART is recognized for its rigorous hiring methods, impactful leadership development, and a culture of excellence. The firm has topped Glassdoor and Vault rankings and published several bestselling books, including “Who: The A Method for Hiring”. Geoff holds a Ph.D. in Psychology and was mentored by management legend Peter Drucker. Beyond business, he's committed to public service and leadership development through programs like the Colorado Governors Fellowship and his work with CiviCo. Sponsored by: Brevo: Get started free or save 50% for 3 months with code GREATNESS at brevo.com/greatness.  Huel: Try Huel with 15% OFF + Free Gift for New Customers today using my code greatness at https://huel.com/greatness. Fuel your best performance with Huel today!  Indeed: Get a $75 sponsored job credit to boost your job's visibility at Indeed.com/DARIUS. Notion: Get Notion Mail for free right now at notion.com/machine.  ShipStation: Go to shipstation.com and use code GREATNESS to sign up for your FREE trial.  Shopify: Sign up for a $1/month trial period at shopify.com/darius.  Connect with Geoff: Website: https://geoffsmart.com/  Website: https://ghsmart.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drgeoffsmart/  Connect with Darius: Website: https://therealdarius.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariusmirshahzadeh/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imthedarius/ YouTube: https://therealdarius.com/youtube Book: The Core Value Equation https://www.amazon.com/Core-Value-Equation-Framework-Limitless/dp/1544506708 Write a review for The Greatness Machine using this link: https://ratethispodcast.com/spreadinggreatness.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Traci Chernoff and Robert Glazer discuss the need to rethink traditional workplace practices, particularly the concept of Two Weeks Notice. They explore the emotional implications of resignations, the introduction of the Open Transition Program, and the importance of psychological safety in fostering open communication. The conversation highlights the cognitive dissonance leaders face when managing underperforming employees and the need for a cultural shift to support transparent discussions about career transitions. Glazer shares practical steps for implementing an Open Transition Program and emphasizes the importance of addressing the root causes of employee dissatisfaction. Chapters00:00 Rethinking Two Weeks Notice02:22 The Problem with Traditional Notice Periods06:12 Introducing the Open Transition Program11:40 Cognitive Dissonance in Leadership17:26 The Role of Psychological Safety22:34 Overcoming Fear in Open Transitions27:26 Implementing an Open Transition Program We hope you enjoyed this deep dive on Rethinking Two Weeks' Notice. If you found our discussion insightful, we'd like you to take a moment to rate our podcast. Your feedback helps us grow and reach more listeners who are passionate about these topics. You can also leave a review and tell us what you loved or what you'd like to hear more of - we're all ears! Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe! Plus, leave a comment if you're catching this episode on Spotify or YouTube. About Our Guest: Robert Glazer is the Founder and Chairman of the Board of Acceleration Partners, a global partner marketing agency and the recipient of numerous industry and company culture awards, including Glassdoor's Employees' Choice Awards two years in a row.  He is the author of the inspirational newsletter Friday Forward, and the #1 Wall Street Journal, USA Today and international bestselling author of five books: Elevate, Friday Forward, How To Thrive In The Virtual Workplace, Moving To Outcomes and Performance Partnerships. He is a sought-after speaker by companies and organizations around the world and is the host of The Elevate Podcast. Connect with Robert Glazer here:Website: https://robertglazer.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/glazer/Facebook: https://www.linkedin.com/in/glazer/Tune in to Robert Glazer's podcast Elevate with Robert Glazer https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/elevate-with-robert-glazer/id1454045560https://open.spotify.com/show/5NU35xvzRaDkOrUTUinIPF  Connect with Traci here: ⁠https://linktr.ee/HRTraci⁠ Disclaimer: Thoughts, opinions, and statements made on this podcast are not a reflection of the thoughts, opinions, and statements of the Company by whom Traci Chernoff is actively employed.

This episode is for JMOs who are ready to transition and don't want to take a step back in their next business career. In it, we: Define who this is for: JMOs aiming to lead and take on greater responsibility in a Business Leadership Career. Explain the "Traditional Career Search": Glassdoor, LinkedIn, Indeed, USAJOBS, etc. Define the "Non-Traditional Career Search." Explore why JMOs often default to the traditional approach. Share key takeaways and closing thoughts. JMOs are traditional candidates for defense-sector roles, but in the private sector, they are seen as non-traditional candidates. That is why Transition Rule #3 is: Throw Out the Traditional Career Search if you are aiming for upward mobility in business leadership. What is the "Traditional Career Search"? Searching based on past experience: “I have this experience in this industry,” or “I have this degree.” This focuses on what you have done, not your potential for leadership growth. Narrowing your options by what you know: Location or Career Field, or both. “I am a Logistics Officer, and my home of record is Dallas, TX, so I will pursue Logistics in Dallas.” Applying through job boards and online platforms: Glassdoor, LinkedIn, Indeed, USAJOBS. “Networking” that often feels vague or produces unclear outcomes. Important: The traditional search can work well for JMOs staying in defense, where their functional experience directly matches role requirements. But if you are making a hard pivot into business leadership, you need a different approach. The Reality of Online Applications in 2025 Job postings on LinkedIn attract 150 or more applicants. Popular roles see 300 or more. Indeed and Glassdoor listings often draw 200 to 500 candidates for a single role. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) filter out 75% to 90% of résumés before they reach a human. The result? A success rate of only 2% to 5% for landing an interview via online applications. What is the "Non-Traditional Career Search"? A non-traditional search takes a different approach. It focuses on: Highlighting your leadership experience, potential, and ambition as your key value. Embracing a Growth and Investment Mindset. Expanding and comparing multiple opportunities. This does not mean applying to 200 companies but making quality attempts. Consider this: Of the 168 million people in the U.S. workforce, only 1.3 million are active-duty service members. Of those, about 200,000 to 234,000 are officers. JMOs (typically O-1 to O-3, with some O-4s) make up about 100,000 to 140,000. That is less than 0.1% of the total U.S. workforce. JMOs are a specialized leadership talent pool. Their skills are highly valuable but often overlooked by traditional hiring methods. The key is getting in front of companies that recognize your unique potential. The Big Question If you are a JMO pivoting to business, ask yourself: Do you know anyone who has lined up 10 to 12 quality interviews over two days? Interviews with hiring managers and decision-makers that bypass online filters, for roles that match or exceed their current pay and responsibility, and align with their separation timeline? This is what a targeted, quality-driven search looks like. A broad search gives you the power of comparison, helps you gather facts and real data, and puts you in a strong position when it is time to choose between offers. Facing Transition Challenges We know transition is tough. It is full of uncertainty, and it is natural to lean toward a traditional search. Well-meaning advice from family and friends can sometimes miss the mark if they lack expertise. There is also the temptation to choose what is familiar, like a job close to home or with a recognizable title. But those options might not deliver the long-term growth you deserve.

This week, Rob Levin, co-founder and chairman of WorkBetterNow, talks about why he sees business owners—despite the uncertain economy—still struggling to fill key roles. He also discusses the importance of creating a culture by design, how owners can manage their profiles on Glassdoor, and what he thinks of Gen Z employees. Plus: Rob explains how he's been infusing AI into all aspects of running his business.

How would you know if your studio's culture is toxic—before it's too late? In this exclusive conversation, we talk with Charlie Sull, co-founder of CultureX and researcher with MIT, about how to spot, measure, and fix toxic workplace culture—especially in the high-stakes world of game development. Forget ping pong tables and free snacks. Culture is your operating system, and if leaders don't prioritize it, dysfunction spreads fast. We break down: What creates a toxic culture The Toxic Five behaviors that damage morale and hurt retention Why standard employee surveys fail—and what to do instead How AI and Glassdoor data can tell you some hard truths about your company Real stats on game studios vs. other industries—who's getting it right? If you're a studio head, team lead, or future cultural change-maker, this episode will challenge your assumptions and give you new tools to build a better workplace. What You'll Learn: Why culture is more than perks—it's your company's operating system The Toxic Five traits that silently destroy trust and retention How Glassdoor + AI reveal the truth about your team's culture Why top leadership, not HR, is key to lasting culture change What game dev studios like EA and Blizzard can teach us about reform How to apply the Will + Knowledge formula to lead cultural transformation Books & Authors Mentioned (and Must-Reads!) from This Episode The Advantage by Patrick Lencioni        - Focuses on the "heart" vs. "science" sides of business—emphasizing the value of culture Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni        - Referenced for understanding team behavior and dysfunction Works by Charles O'Reilly        - Recommended by Charlie Sull for understanding organizational culture and leadership        - Notable titles include Winning Through Innovation and Lead and Disrupt Research & insights from CultureX (Charlie Sull's organization)        - Practical tools and AI-driven metrics for measuring and improving workplace culture

Rich Barton is the co-founder and co-executive chairman of Zillow, a company transforming how people buy, sell, rent, and finance homes. Before Zillow, Rich founded Expedia within Microsoft in 1994 and successfully spun the company off as a public company in 1999. He served as president, CEO, and board director of Expedia and later co-founded and served as non-executive chairman of Glassdoor.Sponsors:Ramp easy-to-use corporate cards, bill payments, accounting, and more: https://ramp.com/tim (Get $250 when you join Ramp)Cresset prestigious family office for CEOs, founders, and entrepreneurs: https://cressetcapital.com/tim (book a call today)Shopify global commerce platform, providing tools to start, grow, market, and manage a retail business: https://shopify.com/tim (one-dollar-per-month trial period)*For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast.For deals from sponsors of The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast-sponsorsSign up for Tim's email newsletter (5-Bullet Friday) at tim.blog/friday.For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.Discover Tim's books: tim.blog/books.Follow Tim:Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss Instagram: instagram.com/timferrissYouTube: youtube.com/timferrissFacebook: facebook.com/timferriss LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timferrissPast guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, Margaret Atwood, Mark Zuckerberg, Peter Thiel, Dr. Gabor Maté, Anne Lamott, Sarah Silverman, Dr. Andrew Huberman, and many more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We kick things off with Glassdoor's Chris Martin, who shares insights from a recent internship analysis. Then, we shift to a story that feels more relevant than ever: is the classic “mailroom to boardroom” path still alive? Zach thinks so—until he tries to follow in the footsteps of Nike's new CEO, who rose from intern to corner office over 32 years. But there's a catch: the unpaid internship Zach's eyeing already requires two years of experience. From 12:03 AM rejection emails to career portals that treat human referrals like spam, we're asking if today's hiring systems are just brick walls painted to look like doorways. Hosts: Matt Sunbulli https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunbulli/ https://www.firstdraft.vc Aaron Calafato Listen to Aaron's 7 Minute Stories Podcast Leah Ova Follow Leah on TikTok Editorial: Matt Sunbulli Brooks Borden Ken Wendt Aaron Calafato Senior Audio Engineer: Ken Wendt Research: Zaid Safe Matt Sunbulli Aaron Calafato

Special Patreon Re-Release: Love and Loss with James Jetton   James 1:2-4 (NIV) "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."   **Transcription Below**   James Jetton's Bio: My name is James Jetton. I have and still do live a crazy beautiful, challenging, and blessed life. I am blessed to get to raise 4 beautiful children, and I have spent time getting to serve a fantastic community as a Recreation Minister, where I got to combine my love of Jesus, sports, and people. I served in this role for 13 years before my bride Kaetlin was diagnosed with Leukemia in 2020. Unfortunately, after an awe-inspiring journey with cancer, Kaetlin went to meet her Savior in January of 2022.   Clearly, this changed so much of my life trajectory. Currently, I'm working towards obtaining a Masters in Social Work to take the pain and experiences I have had to help others through their pain. Kaet and I were married in 2009 and built a beautiful life; we taught each other so much. So, I deeply desire to take everything we learned together and the lessons the Lord has taught me to help others.   I mentioned earlier that I have 4 exceptional children, Laken, 9, Isla Kaet, 7, Hattie, 6, and Ryder, 4. Laken is my go-getter; she is fearless, strong, and tough. Sweet Isla Kaet is a quiet thinker and planner and is often referred to as little Kaet. She cares deeply and is always looking for ways where she can help and take care of her family. Hattie is our child with special needs and has been diagnosed with GNB-1 Syndrome (a rare genetic disorder). Hattie will light up any room she is in; it's incredible that a child who only has a few words, uses a wheelchair, and is “limited” by our world's standards, can bring joy to people in a way that I never knew was possible. Ryder the caboose is a maniac, and his sisters affectionately call him “Wreck it Ryder” he has no fear and is a super extrovert; he keeps us all on our toes. He is what some would say, “all boy.”   This is a brief bio of me and our circus; through everything, we have found joy in all circumstances. Although there are exceptionally hard days as we have endured much grief, God has always provided, and I am thankful for the life God has given us.   Questions we discuss: Life took an unexpected twist in 2016. Will you catch us up on your discoveries that year? While many of us were in the midst of changing schedules and suddenly homeschooling children in May of 2020, your family was receiving even more news. Will you share that with us now? What is life like for your family these days, as grief likely comes at unexpected times?   Thank You to Our Sponsors: Chick-fil-A East Peoria and The Savvy Sauce Charities (and donate online here)   Connect with The Savvy Sauce on Facebook or Instagram or Our Website   Please help us out by sharing this episode with a friend, leaving a 5-star rating and review, and subscribing to this podcast!   Other Episodes from The Savvy Sauce of God's Faithfulness: 17 Being on Both Sides of Forgiveness with Adelle Dickie 18 Clinging to Jesus as I lived Through My Worst Nightmare with Angela Braker 19 Grief and Triumph and God's Pursuit Though it All with Julie Locke Moore 20 Joy in the Lord Even Through Tremendous Loss…Twice with Rachel Faulkner Brown 62 Unexpected Grief and What Helped Me Through It Can Help You Too with Singer and Blogger, Brittany Price Brooker 78 Parenting the Prodigal Child And God's Desire For Redemption With Mother-Daughter Duo, Claire Stanfill and Tindell Baldwin 79 Radical Business and Radical Parenting with Gary & Marla Ringger, Founders of Lifesong for Orphans 83 Miracles of God with Founder of Midwest Food Bank, David Kieser 120 Our Story for His Glory with Mercedes Cotchery 134 Fashion Meets Faith with Shari Braendel 141 Rescued from Poverty with Norah Birungi 143 Prodigal Story: Sexuality, Drugs, and Scripture with Dr. Christopher Yuan 160 Unleash This Generation with the Power of the Gospel with Greg Stier 161 God Redeems with Hettie Brittz 162 Healing from Spouse's Sexual Addiction with Jennifer Roush 174 Stories of God's Upside Down Economy with Kristen Welch 208 Tremendous Testimony and Adding Spark into Your Marriage with David & Teri Sumlin 223 Journey and Learnings as Former Second Lady of the United States with Karen Pence 229 Escape from Modern Day Sex Slavery with Rachel Timothy Special Patreon 28 Re-Release: What to Do When You Don't Like Your Story with Sharon Jaynes 231 Stories Series: Faith Building Miracles with Dave Pridemore 232 Stories Series: Testify to Glorify with Richard Gamble 233 Stories Series: Surprises from God with Tiffany Noel Special Patreon Re-Release: Patreon 30 Story of Perseverance with Jenny Boyett 234 Stories Series: Redemption From Sexual Sin in Marriage with Garrett and Brenna Naufel 235 Stories Series: Ever-Present Help in Trouble with Kent Heimer 236 Stories Series: God's Power and Light with Jaime Farrell 237 Stories Series: Prodigal and Redemption with Renee Endress Special Patreon Re-Release: Patreon 31 Unexpected Story of Trauma, Anxiety, Adoption, and Hope with Bettina Stevens 238 Stories Series: God Delights in His Children with Brad Habegger 239 Stories Series: Experiencing the Supernatural with Jackie Coleman 240 Stories Series: God's Rescue and Covering in Parenting with Brenda Dugger 241 Stories Series: From the Mission Field, Experiencing God in the Little and the Big with Patty Sommer 242 Stories Series: He Gives and Takes Away with Joyce Hodel 243 Stories Series: Angel Encounter and Hearing from God with Mary Beth Zimmerman 244 Stories Series: Medical Marvels with Carolyn Henricks 245 Stories Series: Miracles Big and Small with Dr. Rob Rienow 246 Stories Series: Experiencing God's Tangible Love with Jen Moore 247 Stories Series: Exciting Adventures Follow Radical Obedience with Susan Zobrist 248 Stories Series: Discipline of Celebration in the Midst of Unexpected Loss and Grief with Jonathan Pitts Special Patreon Re-Release: Patreon 49: Story of Healing from Sexual Betrayal in Marriage: An Interview with Bonny Burns 249 Stories Series Conclusion: Now What? Living as Global Christians with Todd Ahrend of The Traveling Team   Gospel Scripture: (all NIV)   Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”   Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”   Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.”    Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”    Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”    Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”    John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”    Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”   Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”   Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.”   Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”   Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“   Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“   Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”   **Transcription**   Music: (0:00 – 0:09)   Laura Dugger: (0:09 - 2:07) Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host, Laura Dugger, and I'm so glad you're here. I'm grateful for today's sponsor, Chick-fil-A East Peoria.   Check them out online to place your order for dining or catering, or to fill out an application to join their friendly team. Visit cfaeastpeoria.com. If you've been with us long, you know this podcast is only one piece of our nonprofit, which is The Savvy Sauce Charities.   Don't miss out on our other resources. We have questions and content to inspire you to have your own practical chats for intentional living. And I also hope you don't miss out on the opportunity to financially support us through your tax-deductible donations.   All this information can be found on our recently updated website, thesavvysauce.com. And now, I'm pleased to share this episode with you that used to only be available to paying patrons.    My guest for today is James Jetton.   Mark and I attended the same family camp as James in 2022. I observed a father who was very devoted to his children, and one of his precious daughters was in a wheelchair, which was always by his side. He was so tender with his children, and I just assumed his wife was resting while he was attending to the family.   I did not learn of his full story until after camp, and it was through a mutual friend, April Siervo. But then, after she shared a bit more of their story, I immediately reached out to James to request that he share his faith and testimony with us today. Here's our chat.   Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, James.   James Jetton: (2:07 - 2:15) I'm happy to be here. I'm looking forward to talking to you and just kind of sharing how God has moved in our lives the past few years.   Laura Dugger: (2:15 - 2:24) You have already lived through so much, but let's just start here. When did Jesus initially draw you to himself?   James Jetton: (2:26 - 3:25) Yeah, I think that's like, you know, it's a big question, right? But also, it shouldn't be. I think the first time I really just kind of came to know the Lord, I was in the eighth grade.   I had a retreat, and in that moment, for me, it was a situation of— it wasn't necessarily for me, but also just trying to do the right thing. I grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, so I was in the Bible Belt. I was like, this is what we're supposed to do.   We're supposed to give our lives to Jesus. But I would say probably going into my senior year of high school, I had some moments just kind of alone at a beach, actually. I was like, what am I doing with my life?   And I believe that that was kind of the first one real moment in my life where I decided, I think I'm going to actually follow the Lord now and not just do this, just to say I'm doing it. And so that was really the first time I really felt the Lord draw me to him. And then, of course, as time goes on, there's all these other little moments throughout where he's continually staying close and bringing me back to him when I feel like I'm drifting away and that sort of thing.   Laura Dugger: (3:27 - 3:39) Thank you for sharing that. And you've written before on your blog that, I'll quote, one of the best decisions I have ever made was when I persuaded Kaetlin to marry me, end quote.   James Jetton: (3:39 - 3:40) Yeah.   Laura Dugger: (3:40 - 3:43) James, how did the two of you meet and fall in love?   James Jetton: (3:44 - 5:30) Yeah, so we went to college together. We went to Troy University. I vividly remember a time where she was getting out of her car, and she didn't know me at this time.   But I remember seeing her. I think I met her maybe once or twice through some mutual friends. I remember seeing her get out of the car and literally, I'll never forget this moment.   I was like, man, if I could just have a girl like that. And it stuck with me. And I think the first time we met, I think I made some comments that she wasn't happy about, about some fraternity guys that were in a different fraternity than me that I didn't think too highly of.   But I didn't realize in that moment that she was actually the sweetheart of that fraternity. And so, we kind of got off to a little bad step there. But I remember she broke up with another boyfriend.   That was part of the reason I saw her. And I was like, I could never have a girl like that. All the girls like that are taken.   And so, she broke up with her boyfriend. I remember her best friend called me and was like, “Hey, can I bring her over to y'all's house? Because she just needs to laugh”.   I was like, “Well, we can do that. We can make sure she laughs”. And so, I think from there, we just kind of, I don't know, just we continued to talk.   And for some reason, she liked me a little bit and I liked her a whole lot. And we dated for about three years in college. And when we got out of college, we got married in May of 2009.   And so that was kind of where life began to speed up a lot at that point. But that was the first time I'll never forget those moments. And then there's other things throughout.   But I remember seeing her in the parking lot like that girl.   Laura Dugger: (5:31 - 5:43) So, I love that. And OK, so married in 2009 and then children came a little while later. So how many children did you add to your family?   James Jetton: (5:44 - 6:28) Yeah, we have four kids. Our first child was born in 2013. So, after we got married, we lived back here in Niceville for a little bit but then ended up moving.   She wanted to go to PA school, and I was working a job I didn't care too much for. So, I was like, how quickly can we go to school? And so, we moved to West Tennessee where she went to PA school.   And I ended up going to school there, too, because she studied all the time, and I was bored. And I was like, I guess I should do something productive as well. So that was 2009 and we had a lot of fun.   We love to travel, did a lot of fun things. And then in 2013, we had our first child, Laken.   Laura Dugger: (6:28 - 6:39) And then if you fast forward, life took an unexpected twist in 2016. So, will you catch us up on your discoveries that year?   James Jetton: (6:40 - 13:07) Yeah. So, we, you know, so we had Laken in 2013. Then, we had another part of our - we did have a miscarriage between Laken and Isla who was born in 2015. But then we had Hattie who was born in 2016.   And Hattie's our child with special needs. And she was born in - all of our pregnancies where we used to joke with people that could have babies and just bounce right back and have these beautiful, wonderful pregnancies. And they loved it.   That was not us. Every single one of our pregnancies brought some challenge within it. And so with Hattie, my wife started swelling a lot and kind of found out she had some clotting in her legs.   And so, we ended up having to induce labor for her with that happening. And, you know, when she my wife was also a PA in the ER. So, she understood medical things way better than I did.   I was kind of oblivious to a lot of things. So, she would probably say it was a little bit more scary than I realized it was when she was giving birth. But when Hattie came, like in some accounts, it just kind of seemed normal.   But she was having some trouble breathing. And so, she was in our hospital. In order to go to the NICU, you have to kind of get transferred out to a smaller hospital.   And so, they were keeping her under observation that night. And her breathing wasn't really getting a whole lot better. And they did x-rays and stuff like that, but couldn't really find much.   And then there was a morning where we were about ready to load up and send her to the NICU. And Kaetlin went and held her. And when she went and held her, she started breathing better.   And she calmed down. And it was kind of crazy. It was genuinely like the love of a mother.   Just like this connection seemed to just calm Hattie down. But we ended up finding out later, one of the nurses was amazing. And was like, I think that she has a broken collarbone.   They didn't see it on the x-ray at first because of the way her chin was turned. And so, when they went back and looked, they did another one. And sure enough, she did have a broken collarbone.   So, at the time, we kind of thought that was kind of the reason for her distressed breathing and that sort of thing. And she had trouble latching and sucking. And what we kind of came to find out later is she had what would be called hypotonia.   Which is basically where the best way to describe it in layman's terms is like a floppy baby. Like you hold her up and everything just kind of flops. And I remember Kaitlyn going to her four-month appointment.   And her being very concerned like, “Hey, Hattie's not meeting milestones. And I think that this isn't going to be a good appointment”. And sure enough, the doctor agreed.   We've always had amazing doctors around us. And so, he agreed. And so, we got referred to neurology.   And another just cool story about how God just provides. One of my best friends growing up, his dad was a neurologist in Birmingham. And so, I called him.   And he's like, all right, I got it. You're going to be here next Thursday. I'm like, oh, okay.   When we were kind of told like it's going to be like three or four months before we can even get you into a neurologist. And so, like God just kind of provided that. And we started that journey of trying to figure out what's going on.   And anyone who's ever had a special needs child, especially when you don't know what it is. Because there was nothing we could have done to foresee this happening. What Hattie had was called DeNovo, like just completely her.   Didn't come from me. Didn't come from Kaylin. And there's no other kids with special needs in our family.   It was just something we couldn't have expected or planned or could have even seen or anything like that. And so just kind of going through a lot of different doctors and tests and eventually getting referred to Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. Because at the time they thought it might be a neuromuscular thing.   And so, from there, they're like, oh, we don't think that's what it is. But then we ran a whole bunch of genetic panels. And like you're just going through all of that.   It definitely there's waves, right? Like it's like you want an answer, but at some level you're afraid of the answer. So, like each time we would do testing stuff before nothing would ever come back.   And so, it was like a relief. Okay, well, good. It's not that one.   Okay. Not that one. But then you're still like, well, what is it?   And so, after we went to Baltimore, they did much more extensive genetic testing. We found out she had this genetic disorder, or syndrome is what they're calling it now called GNV1. And it's crazy rare.   Like at the time, there were only 64 known cases. It was discovered in 2016. So, there's chances that there's other kids out there with it.   I think now there's a little over 100 that they know of. We're part of like a Facebook group where there's some of them in there. And so that's what we got the diagnosis for Hattie.   And so, what that means, I guess, probably no one knows what GNV1 is. Not even doctors. We go to doctors like, oh, can you tell us what this is?   We'll do our best. But it just starts out as hypotonia and global delay, which means every aspect of her is delayed from speech to gross and fine motor movements and all that kind of stuff. And also like with kids with special needs, it doesn't seem to affect any one of them the exact same way.   And so, but the thing about Hattie is like she has an infectious smile. She has this joy that is unreal. Like anybody that meets her just can't get enough of her.   And that is true in so many ways. Hattie uses a wheelchair to get around and Hattie's expressive language. So, her ways to communicate is behind.   But she understands everything. I mean, everything, which is pretty amazing, is my understanding. Not all the kids have that ability to receive and understand things as well as she does.   But she is an absolute joy. We used to always say and still do that Hattie's going to change the world. And we know the fact she's changed my world for sure.   And we know she's changed many others. But yeah, I could keep going on and on. But where we are today, like genuinely that she is a purpose and a reason why I've got to get up every single day.   Yeah. So, she's pretty amazing. Like I'm just yeah, I could go on and on about her.   Laura Dugger: (13:08 - 18:15) I think you described her so well with an infectious smile and joy is the word that comes to mind when you see her. Yeah. And now a brief message from our sponsors.   I want to say thank you to our longtime sponsor Chick-fil-A East Peoria. I hope that you've already downloaded the Chick-fil-A app. Because did you know that with the app you can skip the line and have food ready for you when you arrive?   This is one of my favorite options when I'm taking my four daughters to Chick-fil-A East Peoria. Download the Chick-fil-A app today and start earning points toward free rewards that are fully customized to your preferences and tastes. Chick-fil-A was named as one of Glassdoor's best places to work in the nation.   That's a huge honor. And one team member even wrote, no comparison. This is a great job for a first job, extra money or for career advancement.   Such a loving environment, great management and fair pay. Chick-fil-A believes that the local and involved ownership ensures fostering an environment where you are known, challenged and cared for. So, if you're looking for a wonderful place to work, visit Chick-fil-A East Peoria or fill out an application online today at cfaeastpeoria.com.   Are you utilizing Savvy Sauce Charities to full capacity? Other than our special Patreon re-release episodes, our content is now available in video form in addition to our audio only. And we have written transcriptions for every episode.   Visit our website today, thesavvysauce.com, to access all these forms of interviews. And while you're there, make sure you sign up for our email list to receive encouragement, questions and recommended resources about once a month to promote your own practical chats for intentional living. 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Another way to find it is simply type in donate to the search bar on our website and just click the first picture shown. We are all about sharing around here, sharing resources, sharing joy, and sharing the good news about Jesus Christ.   We ask that you also will share by sharing financially, sharing The Savvy Sauce podcast episodes, and sharing a five-star rating and review. You can also share any of our social media posts on Instagram or Facebook. We are grateful for all of it, and we just love partnering together with you. Now, back to the show.    In a different season, when many of us were in the midst of changing schedules and suddenly homeschooling our children in May of 2020, your family was receiving even more news. So, will you share that with us now as well?   James Jetton: (18:16 - 22:36) Yeah. We did have our fourth kid, Ryder. He was born in 2018, and he is a wild man.   My wife and I used to always say, or people would tell us, you'll know when you're done. But we had him, and we were like, okay, we're broke. We're done.   No more. But he's awesome. But yeah, the move forward to then, you know, that COVID stuff was really hard.   It was really hard. I was working for a church, and I do sports and rec ministry, and also I was doing student ministry at the time. And so, for me personally, like, things just kind of got shut down.   No one was doing sports leagues, and student ministry looked weirder than ever. And then my wife, she was working in the emergency room as a PA, and so she was facing everything head on. And so, I guess that kind of started in March.   It's funny, just to kind of back up a little bit. We felt prior to that, probably February or March of that 2020, when things were kind of like exploding, we just felt the Lord doing something in our lives. We felt like He was preparing us for something.   We felt like it was going to be something just amazing. But then as we moved forward to try to understand what God is doing, what He was telling us, in May, my 4-year-old, she had her preschool graduation. And I'll never forget this day.   My wife was a go-getter. She's tough. She's strong.   And we had a super weird COVID graduation for Isla, my 4-year-old. And it was weird because it was a drive-through graduation, so we had to get up there early and go do it. So, my wife also, she would do work night shifts so that she could be home with the kids when I couldn't be there.   And so, it wasn't uncommon for her to have to sleep in some. But this was like she hadn't worked the night before, and she hadn't worked. And so, we'd been off for two days, but she was just so exhausted.   She had this terrible headache that morning. And for her to say, like, I can't go to the graduation, that was like, there's something significant here. And I told her, like, she had gone to the doctor about a week before and got on some antibiotics, but it wasn't doing anything.   And I was just like, hey, I think it's time to go back to the doctor because you're not any better. And I've got to take these kids to this graduation. So, I loaded up all the kids.   We went to the drive-through graduation. While I was there, she called and said that her sister was going to take her to the emergency room. So that was a long day.   At that time, COVID was full on, so she couldn't have visitors. No one could come in with her. She had to be dropped off and go inside.   One huge plus in that for our specific situation is that she was taken to her own emergency room. So, she still had her friends and what she would call family there as well. And so, she dropped her off.   My sister-in-law dropped her off and just kind of waited in the parking lot until we figured out what was going on. So, it kind of went throughout that whole day. And I remember that night, the school was doing another virtual graduation where they showed pictures and that sort of thing.   And she texted me and said, I need to talk to you now. I was like, okay, like right now? Because I'm home alone with all four of the kids.   She's like, yeah, and I need you to get away from the kids. I was like, this doesn't sound good. What could this be?   And so, we FaceTimed, and that's where she told me they think I have leukemia. And so then as things started speeding up, we sent out a message to our church asking for prayers. From there, I put the kids to bed.   I drove to Pensacola. She got transferred to Pensacola, and we started treatment there for leukemia. So that was what happened.   That was the big moment in May. And then from there, there's a whole lot more. And so, I'll share as you wish.   Laura Dugger: (22:37 - 22:54) Wow. Thank you for catching us up to that point, James. I can't even imagine the initial devastation that comes.   And as your journey unfolds, I remember seeing a post about leaving your light on.   James Jetton: (22:54 - 24:24) Yeah. Like I said earlier, my wife always did the night shift. And so, I always left the light on for her when she was at work and then turned it off when she came home.   And so, yeah, so early on, I said that I'm not turning the light off until you come home. And so, during that time, the first treatment, it doesn't seem like a lot now because she was in the hospital so much. We didn't know how long she'd be in there.   But the first initial treatment, they're like, you're going to be in for three weeks. And so, I knew that she wouldn't be home for three weeks. And I guess this is me just kind of realizing that was a long time for the kids.   I remember talking to a friend of mine who was leading a small group of high school boys. And I remember him telling them, like, how hard do you think it would be if your mom was gone for three weeks? I was like, yeah, it's not easy.   But so. So, yeah, so that was that was the reason. Just like my wife, one, she was a light in the midst of all the darkness that she was having to face.   And I just wanted to make a point that like, hey, we're leaving this light on for you until you come home. And in a lot of respects, you know, she did go home. Long, long story.   But, yeah, that that was the reason for the light.   Laura Dugger: (24:25 - 24:34) So, well, and the way that you describe her, it sounds like our mutual friend April said her joy was just out of this world.   James Jetton: (24:34 - 24:36) Yeah, that's true.   Laura Dugger: (24:36 - 24:49) It sounds like maybe the both of you share that, but you were not entering into a joyful season. So, what did the next few months and year even look like?   James Jetton: (24:49 - 30:47) Yeah. So initially, when things went down, my wife and I agreed that we would not let our kids lose both their parents. And so, I tried to make it a point to be home at night.   So, when we were in Pensacola, like I would stay with her some nights, but I would also be home at night to put the kids to bed or I would put the kids to bed and I'd drive over that night and come back in the morning or be with her during the day. Like, you know, it was just crazy stuff. One, you know, it happened at the end of the school year.   So, we have all the kids at home. We didn't get to send them off to school. We were blessed to have an amazing college student.   It was one of Kaetlin's girls that she got to mentor when she was in high school. She was an amazing girl. She decided she would be like our nanny that summer.   And so, she was with our kids all day, every day. So, I could go and be with Kaetlin during the day and come home at night. And so, we went through that.   We were here and we did the treatment in Pensacola. It didn't work. And so, the next step at that point was like, well, what are we doing now?   And on a Thursday, the doctor was like, I think we need to go to MD Anderson. We'll see if there's a spot. And then on a Friday, they had a spot.   And then on Monday, we were in Houston at MD Anderson. I went to MD Anderson with her. You know, COVID protocol there still.   I could only be with her for 14 days and inpatient. And then I had to leave as an inpatient. So, I can only go with her for 14 days in that initial time.   And so, we went there. She started a treatment plan. We found an apartment.   And then I left. And then her dad came. And her dad was huge in a lot of this stuff and was able to allow us to do things like me and be with the kids.   And so, I think I stayed there for 10 days. And then he came over to stay with Kaetlin to take her back and forth to the hospital, just receiving treatment. And then I came home, and I came back to Niceville.   And that was during the summer. July, we were at home. We stayed in Niceville just kind of waiting to see, like, is Kaet going to be there longer?   Or is she going to be coming back here? And that was a wild summer. And this is what I think I would tell a lot of people that are going through hard things.   Like just because you're going through hard things doesn't mean there's other hard things. They're just a part of life. And, you know, when you have four kids, stuff happens.   You know, like we had one of my daughters, Isla, she had to have eye surgery that summer. While Kaet was in Houston. So that was an interesting thing.   My four-year-old son, he busted his head open on the back of a step going outside. So, he had to have some stitches in his head. He's the second that has had stitches in our family.   And he was the youngest. So, then the treatment, the goal was to get her to a place where she could do a bone marrow transplant. And so, we got, they got her to that point.   Her leukemia cell counts were low enough that we're ready to do a bone marrow transplant. And at that point, you know, we decided we're going to move to Houston. Everything was virtual at that time.   And I just couldn't see any reason why we couldn't all be together in Houston. And so, we found an apartment, we hunkered down. It's a two-bedroom apartment.   We built some makeshift bunk beds. And so, we moved there in August. And the community we have here was unreal.   The support that we have. Like I didn't, we didn't have to make a meal for, I felt like six months, I think. Like it was just crazy.   And people were allowing it and giving us money. So, we didn't have to worry about these kinds of things and what we're doing. And from moving packing boxes, like, I mean, I can't, it's just unfathomable.   All the different things that were put in place for us to do, to do what we did. And I don't think it would have happened without the community that came around us and our church here was great, but I've got to see The Big-C Church. And, and, and it was, it was amazing.   And so, we ended up, we all moved to Houston, and we lived in a two-bedroom apartment. Part of that story is like, you know, it's like, all right, we're doing this. And then talk about kids.   My four-year-old, the one that had also had the eye surgery, she had broken her ankle on a scooter. Like a week before we're going, it was like, are you kidding me? How is this happening right now?   But we had some great friends like, you know, when your wife is involved in the middle of the medical world, it makes access to doctors and stuff a lot easier when you're in a small town, like we are. So, they got it taken care of, got her in a cast. I was like, yeah, but we can't return with this hard cast.   We're going to Houston. He's like, all right, we'll get her in a hard cast. And we'll put her in a boot for the rest of the time.   So, we moved there. And you know, the dreams of like riding scooters around downtown Houston and doing all this kind of stuff kind of went away a little bit with the kid. And so, he, but there was a pool there.   So, we went swimming, she could swim. And so, we, we just made the best of what we had. Like we, we had a lot of good memories in that little apartment, even though it was, it was tough.   I remember, we, Halloween wasn't too long ago. We had our own little Halloween party in that apartment where we all dressed up, even Kaet. Cause she ended up getting her bone marrow transplant that time.   And another aspect of where dad was so important is when you get in the bone marrow transplant, you cannot leave, and you can have one guest. And so, her dad came and he stayed with her. It was about 30 days of bone marrow transplant.   And so, he was there with her so I could be with the kids, doing the best I can with that virtual school and, and managing Ryder and Hattie in the midst of trying to do school work with the kids. It's nothing I ever want to go back to.   Laura Dugger: (30:48 - 31:03) Well, and not to mention you appreciate The Big-C Church, but Houston was not your long-term community. So, being here in this new place and all of these transitions, what were the results of her bone marrow transplant?   James Jetton: (31:04 - 40:17) Yeah. So, the bone marrow transplant, it ended up working. She went into remission and so we get to come home Thanksgiving of 2020.   We came home and that was awesome. It was like a huge homecoming. Finally got back home.   She's, she's in remission. We felt like we'd beaten this. We, you know, we got that Christmas here and we were back home.   We even, our family always loves to go, has always gone to North Carolina for vacation every year. And we didn't get to do that. But so, it was like, now we're going.   And so, in January we're like, all right, we're going kids. It was just me and the kids and Kaet and we wanted to go see snow. So, we went up there and we found a place to stay.   It was an awesome trip. Loved it so much. We, when we had to check out of our place, we found another house so we could stay in for a few more days.   And so, you know, at that time though, when we were doing that, she was kind of having these red bumps kind of popping up over her. We didn't really know what it was. It could have been a reaction.   We couldn't figure it out. Saw some doctors here locally. No one could really figure out what it was.   And I think fast forward, what we found out probably, I think it was February. She came out of remission and that was kind of the beginning signs of her coming out of remission. And so that's where, life sped up.   Like, I mean, if it wasn't already fast, it was, it was just unreal. It was like a whirlwind like it was because she had to fly to Houston to go and see her doctors. And so, she was in Houston by herself when she found out that she had come out of remission, and they were going to start immediately.   So, she stays, and she flies over on Friday and on Monday they got her back doing her treatment. And so, and I was like, well, it looks like we're moving to Houston. And I was like, but this time we're not staying in a two-bedroom apartment.   It's like we're going to make this a little bit more manageable for us. So, we had some great family. Kaetlin actually had a cousin who lived in Houston.   We found a house inside their neighborhood that we could rent. And this was, you know, more, more provision that he just continued to show. We found this house in like a week and we had people from our community boxing up everything in our house.   He's gotten a truck, and we thought that we'd all get everything in one truck. But we didn't get everything in one truck. We'd even hired the movers to load up the truck.   They couldn't get it all in there. So, I was like, y'all told me that it would all fit on this truck, but now it's not. And it's Friday at like 5 p.m. when we were supposed to leave tonight. So, we're not leaving. But my brother came down. I had another one of my best friends come down and they were like, we got to go, we're going to make this happen.   So that next morning, I'm not kidding. When there was like 20 to 30 guys in my house, a brother had gotten the truck. I hadn't even, they left early to go with the truck.   I'd come. And I was at the house with the kids at a friend's house. And when me and the kids showed up, these 30 guys had already loaded up the truck and we were ready to go.   Guy came and dropped off a big spread of McDonald's for everybody. We prayed over us and we headed out that morning. And so, it was just, I mean, just crazy that, you know, in one week we packed up a four-bedroom house, loaded up two trucks and drove to Houston and we're now unloading at a new house in Houston.   And, and that's where we were for a while. That was where Kaetlin, then we went back into the treatment more aggressively trying to get her back to remission. And so that was, when we moved there in March of 2021.   And that was kind of our place for a while. We actually thought we'd be there for a real long time. Kids had started school there, trying our best to get connected community there, but it's difficult, especially when you've come from a place where you feel so connected and then you're moving somewhere new where you don't really know anybody.   And then you're moving there in a time where the whole town shut down. It was tough, but we got the kids back in school. We tried to start getting them back into normalcy of life.   And there's all these new trials when you're going through this stuff every day, it seems like there's a new trial. MD Anderson is amazing. They treat each patient. It's like an individual.   So, every plan they have is just specifically for that patient. And so, they were going to try to do this CAR T-cell treatment. So, we'd kind of gone through the whole summer, and then we get to the point where she's going to do her CAR T-cell treatment.   Now, you know, we, we were hunkered down with this COVID stuff. Like we didn't, we didn't do much. We got really good at DoorDash and grocery delivery.   And we, you know, we masked up everywhere we could because Kaetlin's system was so immuno-compromised and we had done what we had thought was a very good job of keeping her safe, keeping everyone safe. Well, and then she got to the point where she was ready to start this new trial with CAR T-cell treatment. And she gets admitted that night and every time they go in and they give her a COVID test, well, that night she had COVID.   And it was, it was like, what? And she didn't feel bad. Her dad had gotten it too.   Like we, and I, so I remember getting that, it was like one o'clock in the morning. I was asleep. I remember it like blowing up my phone.   And I was like, I didn't realize it until later. And I talked to her. And that was definitely a tough conversation because she had to like get moved, packed up and moved out and moved to a different place and then treatment for the COVID stuff.   But the crazy part was, and it was kind of, you know, I wanted to get frustrated about things I could, but like, she had zero symptoms and she had just tested positive. And so, the next morning we all had to go get tested. And it was just the weirdest thing.   I know that COVID has been so devastating to so many people. But in that moment for us, it was like, we don't like, I was like, I ran nine miles yesterday and now I'm positive for COVID. I don't.   And so, but what it did was it kicked her out of the trial that she was on. And so, then she had to come home. The next process was just kind of getting her ready for that same thing.   Basically, what her doctor did was like, I'm not taking out, you're going to get kicked off the trial, but I'm just going to make you my own individual patient. We're going to do it that way. And so, we had some, we had some pretty high hopes for this.   Doctor seemed pretty optimistic about this plan. And so, we had been renting our house in, in Niceville. And with this new plan, I would have had Kaetlin there for like three years.   And so, we were like, you know, do we really want to rent our house anymore? It's like, no, we don't. All right, well let's sell our house.   So, we sold our house, and it sold in like less than 24 hours. And it's like $25,000 over asking price. It was like, well, okay, God, I feel like that's what we're supposed to do.   And so, she went in to get that treatment. And, and, uh, unfortunately, uh, we found out that didn't work. Uh, it was like, well, she can't remember coming home and saying like, well, I'm ready.   I want to go back home. I was like, what? We just sold our house.   We don't have a home right now. But God always makes a way and you always provide always. Um, and so we, you know, I was like, all right, we want to go home.   We're going to go home. And at first I was being very logical. I was like, well, let's let the kids finish out the semester.   Cause this was like around Halloween is when she realized it didn't work and we're going to come home. So, we were able to come home. We had some amazingly generous friends who they got us a private flight to come home for that Halloween.   And I guess when we were there, um, that's where we really just decided we need to be back. And, and so she, when we went back to talk to her doctors about managing her leukemia remotely. And so that was what the plan was.   So we, we moved back that Thanksgiving, uh, with all of our stuff and we were looking for a place to stay. It was actually kind of a fun month. We were living on the beach for a couple months or really from Thanksgiving to right before Christmas.   We had some pretty awesome things come available. We were able to live in a house on the beach. And so that was, that was mine and my wife's always kind of like a special place.   And so, we love the water, and we love the beach. And so that was an awesome place for us to be. And so, uh, coming back, it was tough.   She was getting out of the hospital a lot just with fevers and stuff like that. And then we got to have Christmas here that December. And then January 9th of this past year, she, she, uh, eventually passed away.   We weren't expecting, I mean, we knew that there would be an end, but I don't think we could have expected it to, um, happen then. And I think we kind of thought we'd have a little bit more time, but we didn't, but we were thankful. I'm thankful for my wife.   It was like we got to get back now because we knew that when an issue did pass that we needed to be in our hometown and not in Houston, where our community was much smaller.   Laura Dugger: (40:18 - 40:27) So, yeah. And so, you're together, you're celebrating Christmas. And then things suddenly turned unexpectedly.   James Jetton: (40:28 - 40:28) Yeah.   Laura Dugger: (40:28 - 40:31) And that led to losing her on January 9th.   James Jetton: (40:32 - 44:59) Yeah. You know, nothing really happened like, you know, in that leukemia world. And you know, a lot of cancers that give you like, you know, a prognosis like, you have three months, you have four months full, but blood cancer is very different.   And it kind of exacts you and, and there's no way to really know for sure, like, is this going to work or how long do we have and that sort of thing. And she was just in and out of the hospital so much. When we came back home, when you have leukemia, anytime you have a fever above a hundred point four, it's like you're immediately going to the doctor.   And so that's kind of how, you know, when she went in, like, there's still kind of an expectation that she would come home. But then those last few days, like, I just, I vividly remember as we're trying to figure out what to do, we're going to, are we going to go to a new treatment plan or we're going to try something else? Or, or is this kind of the end?   And her doctor here, he said, there was a plan that we possibly could have done, but he was like, they're saying this got a success rate of like, whatever, nine of 10 people went into remission with it. He's like, but when you look closer, they were only in remission for four weeks. And he was like, is this what we want to do?   Cause chemo just, it wipes you out. And it's like, there's no way to continue to live like this. But she, Kaetlin, she was, she just had a way of bringing a peace over everybody.   She had a way of like knowing exactly what everyone needed, I guess, in some respects. Cause I remember leaving the day we decided we would not do the treatment plan. And I came home, like I said, I always try to be home to put my kids to bed.   She said that the night before it kind of, she went downhill fast. She got up and walked around the hospital with her dad and told her dad like, “Hey, I think I'm going to do, I think I'm going to do it. I'm going to do the treatment plan.”   You know, I've talked to him about this, but I feel like that was almost like the piece he needed to go home. You know, when she passed, it was like, it was beautiful. Like it was, it was such a blessing that she was in her home hospital and that the doors, it was like a revolving door.   I remember Kaetlin told me once, she said, “when I pass or when I'm in the last days, don't tell anyone that they can't come see me.” And so, we were trying to figure out how we're going to do this. And I was like, well, she said that anybody who wants to come see me, let them come see me.   And so, we put a word out and there was like a revolving door of people just coming in and out of the room all day. Like the doctors, the ER told the front desk people, like, you know, technically, I guess you're only supposed to have like two visitors or something because of the COVID things. And she was like, anybody that comes in and says they want to see Kaetlin Jetton, you say, “Go on up”.   So it was, it was pretty awesome seeing all these people come in and see her. And we had already gotten to see the impact that she had made on so many people's lives for the past couple of years, but it was cool to see them all there doing that. And I remember the night she passed, I leaned over, I was heading home and two of my best friends since the ninth grade had come down and they were at the house with the kids and I was coming home to put the kids to bed.   And I leaned over and gave her a kiss and I said, don't wait on me. It's like, it's okay. It's time to go home.   And sure enough, that's, I left that night and I got a phone call about 11 from her dad and she had passed and that, and I think that, you know, in some respects, it's like, should I have been there? I was like, but I think that also was like, no, Kaet wanted you to be with your two guys. And Kayla knew that her family would be there with her.   And she did exactly what she wanted to do. You know, she always had a plan even from her like celebration service. She had everything written out.   Who's going to speak, what songs are playing, when are we doing this? And so it was, it was, you know, it was pretty cool seeing how many people just came in and out and how she just kind of felt like she knew what she was doing, even up in the last days. So.   Laura Dugger: (45:00 - 45:55) Do you love The Savvy Sauce? Do you gain anything when you listen? Did you know that the two ways we earn money to keep this podcast live is through generous contributions from listeners and from our paying sponsors.   That means we can promote your business and you're still supporting The Savvy Sauce. It's a win-win. Please email us today at info@thesavvysauce.com to inquire about pricing for sponsoring each episode. Thank you for your consideration.    Well, James, your perspective is incredible. And yet I'm so sorry, such a deep loss for your whole family.   And what is life like now for all of your family these days? Cause it's still very recent. And I'm wondering if grief still comes up at unexpected times.   James Jetton: (45:56 - 50:49) Yeah. You know, it's, you know, it's a day-to-day thing, I believe. I don't, and grief is certainly something that sometimes you don't see it coming.   And I'll say, I love bragging on this community. I love bragging on this town so much. So, my kids, they're all in school, you know, and I'm bragging on my kids too.   After she passed, the kids got to stay home for a couple of weeks, but then it was time to go back to school. My two girls go to one school where actually Kaetlin went to school from kindergarten all through. So, I felt like that was a very special thing for her and the kids could go to the same school that their mom went to.   But then Hattie goes to a different school because of her special needs. And then Ryder goes to a different school. He's in preschool.   And so, after she passed, like, so it was complicated in the sense of, I've got to get Hattie to school at 7:30. I've got to get Lincoln out of school by like 8:45 and then Ryder can go in before 9:00 a.m. So, I would usually drop him off on the way. But I say, I'd say like, what does life look like?   Well, after she passed, I knew like, how am I going to make this work? And that semester, there was somebody in my house every morning at 7:00 a.m. to sit with the kids, help with breakfast, and help finish getting them ready while I could take Hattie to school at 7:30. And then I would come back home and after they finished getting ready, then I would take them to school. So, I had someone in my house every morning at 7:00 a.m. after she passed, which was, you know, they were doing it for the kids, but they were doing it for me too. I knew that I couldn't just lay in my bed and let people just come on in and take care of my kids. Like I had to get up, take a shower, look like I'm somewhat presentable and go on. And that's kind of how that last semester was, just community and people with meals and then through all that, trying to get them engaged, get them back into doing some things that they love to do.   And yeah, I like to brag on my kids in a lot of ways, this perspective kind of dawned on me in the past couple of weeks of like, I sent them back into a new school where they know very many people. Everybody knows them. Not everyone.   I don't know everybody. And they had to go and do that a few weeks after their mom passed. Here I am trying to stay away from people and not have a whole bunch of conversations, but yet the kids are stepping up and doing their thing.   And man, it's just, it's pretty inspiring when I think of it in that respect as well. Nowadays we are blessed that we get to have a nanny and it's, that's a whole cool story in itself. And that she worked with me in student ministry, and I'd actually left to go be a nanny for some other people in Nashville.   And I was texting her trying to figure out, “Hey, I need some help. You got any friends down here that want to be a nanny? Cause it's hard to find.”   And she's like, “Actually, I would love to come back and do it.” And that was just a huge blessing. Cause it was like, at the time of us having all these new things, I was able to be able to have somebody that the kids already knew come in and be there.   And so, she helps in so many ways and allows the kids to do their tennis and their soccer and gymnastics or whatever it may be. And it allows me to get to, coach them and be a part of that, those aspects of life, which I love doing so much. And so, she's really helped.   So, in our day to day now, like it, it's a lot of moving pieces. I mean, just last week, we got to go to a widower's retreat and there was never a worry, never worry about who's taking care of the kids, that they're getting to where they need to be. So, it's a genuine, like I get to see how a village truly takes care of the kids.   And yes, there are days and it's hard. And some days it just kind of sucks and it sucks for them. It sucks for me.   But I have gotten to see how God still shows out through the difficult moments and how he still provides no matter how far away I am or how close I am. He still continually provides. And I know that, and I know that he will not let us down.   It's one day at a time. And as we approach these new seasons, there's always new seasons. You talk about grief and things pop up.   I think that holidays will bring up stuff they already have in some respects and my wife, you know, she was a medical professional. So, when kids get sick, it's different now. We go to the doctor more often because mom's not here to take care of them and call in medicine.   But I think that we do sense a void in that when kids are sick and that sort of thing. But, today, like things are okay. We're doing all right.   Laura Dugger: (50:50 - 51:07) Well, and James, you were a journalism major and you're a very gifted writer. So where would you direct us to get to read more about your family and stay current and hopefully find ways that we can further support you?   James Jetton: (51:08 - 52:18) Well, my wife and I, we started a blog called Our Hands Go Up, and it's OurHandsGoUp.com. And that's formed out of, started with Hattie. That's where the blog started because Hattie, we talked about that joy that she has, but our hands will always go up.   Like her hands go up all the time and it just seems so appropriate. And the picture of hands going up, there's so many things that go to that with our praise to God, our vulnerability and our sides. And there's just a lot that comes through that anyway.   But yeah, Kaetlin started writing on that and I wrote some in that. She spearheaded it because she's way more organized and detailed than I am. So, it looks a lot prettier than what I would have done, but here recently, like I've felt a calling to bring it back and revitalize it.   So as of right now, like there's, my wife wrote a lot, and she still has writings that she never shared with anybody. So, I've started revitalizing it by sharing some of her writings, but I will be writing in there as well. So that would probably be a good place or even, and then my, just my social media, James Jetton, you can always see some crazy stories of my kids.   Laura Dugger: (52:21 - 52:34) Oh, wonderful. We will link to both of those in our show notes. And are there any practical needs that you do have at this time or any specific prayer requests you would like to share with us?   James Jetton: (52:35 - 53:26) You know, I think the specific prayer requests are just for me and for my kids. So, things are going to look different for them for sure. And I know there's going to be some hard moments.   So, I guess the prayer would just be, you know, provision as God's always provided. And, you know, when I say that, I don't just talk about it in like a material way, but like He seems to provide us with feelings, emotions, people, support, all of that. And so just provision for my kids and just encouragement and support for them as we've kind of walked through these, these new firsts for the kids and, and that it will just, they will still have, find the joy that we always talk about choosing and, and that my wife did so well that we will continue to find that joy through these more difficult days ahead for sure.   Laura Dugger: (53:26 - 53:58) Yes, Lord may it be so. Well, James, you clearly just have so much wisdom to share and I appreciate you walking through so much of your personal journey. And I know that you also do have a lighthearted personality and we're going to end on a lighter note because you may know that we're called The Savvy Sauce because Savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge.   And so, as my final question for you today, what is your Savvy Sauce?   James Jetton: (54:01 - 54:51) You know, my Savvy Sauce, it's just, it's one day at a time. I think that we get overwhelmed with, you know, I joke with people, like it's a stupid joke. But hey, if God wanted to give us more than one day at a time, He would. So, we only get one day, and He doesn't give us two days at one time.   You know, just taking things as they come one day at a time. We all have our goals. We all have our plans, our dreams and aspirations, but leaving space for the Holy Spirit and how God moves is critical.   And when you're walking through grief and you're walking through hard stuff, like thinking about too much out there in front of you can be debilitating. And so just focus on what your next step, just take one more step. We can always take one more step.   And so just kind of day at a time and just take one more step.   Laura Dugger: (54:52 - 55:08) James, thank you for your faithfulness to Kaet, your faithfulness to our Lord, your faithfulness to your children. And we will all be praying for each of you in this coming season and beyond. And just really grateful for you being my guest today.   James Jetton: (55:09 - 55:26) Well, I'm really grateful to be here. This is great. I'm thankful for the chance to just share her story and share our story.   I feel God has just moved and worked through us in so many amazing ways. And anytime I can get a chance to share how God has moved and worked, I'm thankful. So, thank you for having me.   Laura Dugger: (55:26 - 58:42) It's been an honor. One more thing before you go. Have you heard the term gospel before?   It simply means good news. And I want to share the best news with you. But it starts with the bad news.   Every single one of us were born sinners, but Christ desires to rescue us from our sin, which is something we cannot do for ourselves. This means there is absolutely no chance we can make it to heaven on our own. So, for you and for me, it means we deserve death and we can never pay back the sacrifice we owe to be saved.   We need a savior. But God loved us so much, he made a way for his only son to willingly die in our place as the perfect substitute. This gives us hope of life forever in right relationship with him.   That is good news. Jesus lived the perfect life we could never live and died in our place for our sin. This was God's plan to make a way to reconcile with us so that God can look at us and see Jesus.   We can be covered and justified through the work Jesus finished if we choose to receive what He has done for us. Romans 10:9 says, “That if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” So, would you pray with me now?   Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus to take our place. I pray someone today right now is touched and chooses to turn their life over to you. Will you clearly guide them and help them take their next step in faith to declare you as Lord of their life?   We trust you to work and change lives now for eternity. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.   If you prayed that prayer, you are declaring him for me, so me for him. You get the opportunity to live your life for him. And at this podcast, we're called The Savvy Sauce for a reason.   We want to give you practical tools to implement the knowledge you have learned. So, you ready to get started? First, tell someone.   Say it out loud. Get a Bible. The first day I made this decision, my parents took me to Barnes & Noble and let me choose my own Bible.   I selected the Quest NIV Bible and I love it. You can start by reading the book of John. Also, get connected locally, which just means tell someone who's a part of a church in your community that you made a decision to follow Christ.   I'm assuming they will be thrilled to talk with you about further steps, such as going to church and getting connected to other believers to encourage you. We wa

Originally Published: February 18, 2021: Dr. Richard Shuster's journey is nothing short of extraordinary. From a high-powered career securing medical records for the Army to a life-altering near-death experience, his path took an unexpected turn—one that now helps people change their lives in just five minutes. Yes, you read that right! In this encore edition of How to Live a Fantastic Life, we explore how Dr. Shuster launched the international podcast The Daily Helping, where he's learned from top experts and thought leaders about personal growth and transformation. But that was just the beginning. His journey led to the development of groundbreaking technology and the creation of Your Success Insights, a company designed to help people unlock their full potential in record time.   Want to know how? Tune in as Dr. Shuster shares the incredible science behind rapid transformation and how you, too, can change your life—starting today!   Guest Bio: Dr. Richard Shuster is a clinical psychologist, TEDx speaker, and the CEO of Your Success Insights, a company that delivers algorithm-driven conscious technology to help individuals achieve personal growth. He is also the creator and host of The Daily Helping with Dr. Richard Shuster: Food for the Brain, Knowledge from the Experts, Tools to Win at Life, a globally recognized podcast downloaded in over 150 countries. With a passion for empowering people to become the best versions of themselves, Dr. Shuster has been featured as a thought leader in The Huffington Post, NBCNews.com, Glassdoor.com, Men's Health, Cosmopolitan, and other major media outlets. In addition to his work in psychology and technology, he is the president of Every Kid Rocks, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to providing therapy services to children in schools across the country.   Through science, technology, and compassionate insight, Dr. Shuster is revolutionizing the way we approach personal growth. Don't miss this enlightening episode!   Social media links Dr. Richard Shuster Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Thedailyhelping/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/thedailyhelping Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dailyhelpingpodcast/ Website - www.drrichardshuster.com Your Success Insights: https://yoursuccessinsights.com/powers2/   Thanks for listening to the show! It means so much to us that you listened to our podcast! If you would like to continue the conversation, please email me at allen@drallenlycka.com or visit our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/drallenlycka. We would love to have you join us there, and welcome your messages. We check our Messenger often.   This show is built on “The Secrets to Living A Fantastic Life.” Get your copy by visiting: https://secretsbook.now.site/home   We are building a community of like-minded people in the personal development/self-help/professional development industries, and are always looking for wonderful guests for our show. If you have any recommendations, please email us!   Dr. Allen Lycka's Social Media Links Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/drallenlycka Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/dr_allen_lycka/ X:  https://X.com/drallenlycka YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/DrAllenLycka/ LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/allenlycka/   Subscribe to the show. We would be honored to have you subscribe to the show, just use the podcast app on your mobile device.   Leave a review! We appreciate your feedback, as every little bit helps us produce even better shows. We want to bring value to your day, and have you join us time and again.  Ratings and reviews from our listeners not only help us improve, but also help others find us in their podcast app. If you have a minute, an honest review on iTunes or your favorite app goes a long way! Thank you!

Brandon Rodman is a serial entrepreneur and visionary leader recognized for his talent in establishing innovative companies from scratch. A native of Eugene, Oregon, Rodman earned a degree in Communications with a focus on Marketing and Advertising from Brigham Young University. His early career in sales, where he led large teams, sharpened his skills in leadership, recruitment, and strategy, laying the groundwork for his entrepreneurial journey.In 2008, during the peak of the economic recession, Rodman co-founded Weave (originally called Recall Solutions) from the attic above his garage. What started as a call center evolved into a groundbreaking customer communication platform aimed at strengthening patient-doctor relationships through integrated software, telephony, and CRM tools. Under Rodman's leadership, Weave became the first Utah-based company accepted into Y Combinator in 2014, a pivotal moment that propelled its growth. Rodman raised over $300 million in funding, expanded the company to nearly $100 million in annual recurring revenue, and guided it to a successful IPO on the NYSE in 2021. His employee-centric approach earned him widespread recognition, including a #4 CEO ranking in America by Glassdoor in 2019 with a 99% approval rating and the 2019 CEO of the Year award from Utah Business. Rodman stepped down as Weave's CEO in 2020, transitioning to Chairman of the Board, but his legacy as a founder who emphasized culture and innovation endures.After 18 months of exploring new ideas, Rodman launched Previ in January 2022, where he serves as CEO and co-founder alongside Gabe Gunderson. Previ aims to revolutionize consumer finance by offering a payment platform that provides 10-20% cash back on everyday expenses, paid directly from users' paychecks. Rodman describes Previ as his “life's work” from a business perspective, blending profitability with a mission to put more money back into consumers' pockets. Based in Lehi, Utah, Rodman continues to drive Previ's growth while drawing on lessons learned from Weave's challenges and triumphs.Rodman's leadership philosophy emphasizes psychological safety, employee empowerment, and the creation of environments where teams can thrive. He is married to Lindsay Rodman, with whom he has four children, balancing his professional ambitions with a commitment to family. His story is one of resilience—having once liquidated personal assets to keep Weave afloat—and reflects a relentless drive to build businesses that make a meaningful impact.Connect with Silicon Slopes: https://www.siliconslopes.comSocial:X - https://x.com/siliconslopesInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/siliconslopes/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/silicon-slopes/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8aEtQ1KJrWhJ3C2JnzXysw

How do you make the best decisions, maintain company culture as your business grows, and attract and retain incredible talent? Serial entrepreneur, business founder, and bestselling author Darius Mirshahzadeh believes the answer lies in core values. By properly leveraging and implementing core values within your company, your teams will speak the same language, make better decisions, build a thriving culture, and scale to incredible success. In this episode, Hala and Darius discuss his unique journey into entrepreneurship, how to build a core value-driven organization, Darius's six core values, the difference between good and bad core values, and the Scale M.A.P. Method for business growth. In this episode, Hala and Darius will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (01:12) Meet Darius: Entrepreneurial Beginnings (02:48) Lessons from a Hardworking Father (04:49) A Life-Changing Loss (08:01) Interning at the White House (17:48) The Birth of Twin Capital Brokerage (21:39) Struggles and Resilience in Business (25:01) Building The Money Source (29:41) Stepping Down as CEO (35:09) Travel Plans Disrupted by COVID-19 (35:50) The Accidental Personal Brand (36:05) Introduction to Core Values (38:16) The Importance of Core Values in Business (41:52) Personal Core Values (45:30) Creating a Core Value Driven Organization (50:11) Developing Core Values for Startups (52:12 The Scale Map Method (01:01:09 Bootcamp and Mastermind Programs Darius Mirshahzadeh is a high-growth CEO, serial entrepreneur, and culture-building mad scientist who was ranked #9 on Glassdoor's list of Top CEOs of Small and Medium Companies in the US. He is the author of the bestselling book, The Core Value Equation, and the host of The Greatness Machine podcast. Darius has led organizations that have won numerous Stevie awards, been named “#3 Best Place to Work” by the San Francisco Business Times, and have landed at #40 on the Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing companies.  Sponsored By: Shopify - Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at youngandprofiting.co/shopify OpenPhone: Streamline and scale your customer communications with OpenPhone. Get 20% off your first 6 months at openphone.com/profiting Airbnb - Find yourself a co-host at airbnb.com/host Indeed - Get a $75 sponsored job credit at indeed.com/profiting    RobinHood - Receive your 3% boost on annual IRA contributions, sign up at robinhood.com/gold Factor - Get 50% off your first box plus free shipping at factormeals.com/factorpodcast   Rakuten - Save while shopping at rakuten.com Microsoft Teams - Stop paying for tools. Get everything you need, for free, at aka.ms/profiting LinkedIn Marketing Solutions - Get a $100 credit on your next campaign at linkedin.com/profiting  Active Deals - youngandprofiting.com/deals       Key YAP Links Reviews - ratethispodcast.com/yap  Youtube - youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting  LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/htaha/  Instagram - instagram.com/yapwithhala/  Social + Podcast Services - yapmedia.com   Transcripts - youngandprofiting.com/episodes-new  Entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship podcast, Business, Business podcast, Entrepreneurs, side hustle, Startup, Starting a business, Passive income, Online business, Solopreneur, Founder, Networking, Entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship podcast, Business, Business podcast, Self Improvement, Self-Improvement, Personal development, Starting a business, Strategy, Investing, Sales, Selling, Psychology, Productivity, Entrepreneurs, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Marketing, Negotiation, Money, Finance, Side hustle, Startup, mental health, Career, Leadership, Mindset, Health, Growth mindset.

HireVue's team built its new Match and Apply chatbot by unifying the latest large language model technology with 20+ years of deep knowledge and experience. Designed for rapid deployment, Match and Apply leverages generative AI, engaging in a natural conversational dialogue that potential hires have come to expect as consumers. Instead of relying on keyword matching or scripted prompts, Match and Apply adaptively considers a candidate for all relevant roles while personalizing the experience to ensure no opportunity is missed.  https://hrtechfeed.com/new-hr-tech-from-hirevue-peoplefluent/ PeopleFluent, a market leader in workforce agility, integrated talent management, and learning solutions, today announced the newest addition to its product lineup: Stories. PeopleFluent Stories is an AI-powered skills enablement platform that assists organizations with upskilling and reskilling at scale, improving productivity, enhancing organizational agility, reducing hiring and training costs, and enabling cross-platform talent intelligence. https://hrtechfeed.com/new-hr-tech-from-hirevue-peoplefluent/ NEW YORK — Ropes, the AI-driven platform transforming how engineering talent is evaluated, announced today it has raised $3.1M in seed funding. The seed round, led by GSV Ventures with participation from Box Group, will accelerate the company's mission to bridge the gap between technical assessment and real-world performance. https://hrtechfeed.com/engineering-talent-skills-platform-raises-3-1-million/ LOS ANGELES — In a time marked by growing division, online extremism, and workplace uncertainty, a new report reveals an unsettling trend: misconduct is increasing—and much of it starts online. https://hrtechfeed.com/fama-online-threats-and-workplace-misconduct-are-on-the-rise/ SAN FRANCISCO — Marit Health today announced the launch of its community-powered, anonymous and verified salary sharing platform for physicians and advanced practice providers (APPs). Built by physicians and led by former Glassdoor and Transcarent executives, Marit offers free and real-time access to comprehensive compensation information, alongside schedule, shifts and benefits details, empowering clinicians to make more informed career decisions.   

Business attorney Katie Rinkus welcomes Amy M. Gardner to the mic to discuss common ways they see conflict show up in the workplace. Amy is a certified Career and Career Transitions Coach and Team Development and Leadership Consultant and the co-owner of Apochromatik, which offers team and leadership development programs to help organizations resolve conflict and reach their goals.   One of the primary causes of conflict in the workplace is a poor culture: there is a lack of vulnerability-based trust that leads people to feel undervalued and unable to speak up or to ask for help. Conflict is also commonly seen in the hiring and onboarding process. Sometimes decisions to hire are rushed, job duties are not what were originally promised, and communication is simply unclear.   Because culture issues, lack of communication, and conflict can, as Amy says, “cost money and happiness,” it's important for organizations to address these issues. Ongoing training—not just for management but for entire teams—can help things run more smoothly no matter the conflict flashpoint, especially when a team is trained on navigating difficult conversations.   Join Katie and Amy as they unpack conflict at work and how to best respond to it so that we all can make work better for each other.   Amy M. Gardner Amy M. Gardner works with law firms and corporations to reengage teams and help them thrive by utilizing Apochromatik's proprietary Team Driven Leadership approach to build leadership skills, improve relationships, strengthen emotional intelligence, have difficult conversations, and more. She also works with lawyers to advance or transition in their careers.   Her work with teams and lawyers draws on her unique experience as a former Big Law associate, partner at a mid-size Chicago firm, and dean of students at the University of Chicago Law School.  She received her MA in Public Policy and Administration from Northwestern University, JD from the University of Chicago, and BA from Luther College, as well as certifications in team and leadership coaching, 1:1 coaching, and various assessments. Her expertise has been featured in media including numerous podcasts, ABA publications, Corporette, Glassdoor, Health, Monster, NBC, and Women's Running magazine.  Connect with Amy at amy@apochromatik.com.     Stay Connected & Learn More:   Amy M. Gardner on LinkedIn   Katie Rinkus   Apochromatik   Team Driven Leadership   The Prinz Law Firm

Special Guest: Celeste Headlee Celeste Headlee is the host of "On Second Thought" at Georgia Public Broadcasting in Atlanta and has been a host and correspondent for NPR and PRI since 2006. She is the author of the book, We Need to Talk: How to Have Conversations That Matter (Harper Wave, September 19), a practical guide to the lost art of conversation. Celeste's TEDx Talk sharing 10 ways to have a better conversation was listed as one of the most watched TED Talks in 2016 (CNBC) and named the #1 must-watch TED Talk by Glassdoor (with over 11 million total views to date.)  Being able to have productive conversations is a skill—and it's a skill, built on a series of other skills from being assertive to listening to ensuring that we were heard correctly and yes, that we have heard and understood correctly what others are saying. These days, with so much communication relying on electronic screens and emojis, the art of conversation may be at risk. And that's a scary thought. To put ourselves in the frame of mind of taking in the importance of good conversation skills, just think of what happens when poor communication happens—people get the wrong idea, mistakes are made, feelings are hurt and stuff does not get done in the right way. And when conversation is clear and strong and good- progress is made, we feel understood and connected- truly, it can make all the difference. The post How to Talk to Kids about Having Meaningful Conversations that Matter with Celeste Headlee – Rerelease appeared first on Dr Robyn Silverman.

Special Patreon Re-Release: Stories about Faith, Family, and Leading a Generous Business with John Wieland   **Transcription Below**   Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV) "“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”   Questions and Topics We Discuss: Are there any  personal stories that set your life on a different trajectory? Most business people do not have an experience like yours where they go from losing hundreds of thousands of dollars to becoming hugely profitable. Will you share your business journey with us? How has God taught you to grow in generosity and how can we learn to do the same? Uncommon Threads   John Wieland purchased a small, virtually bankrupt company in 1994. Under his leadership, MH Equipment has gone from having three branches and 50 employees to having over 900 employees and over 30 branches. Wieland is also the president of the His First Foundation, a non-profit that receives 10 percent of MH's profits. He teaches college graduates how to handle money responsibly, is a speaker and will guest preach from time to time. He and his wife Julie have four children: Jessica, Jennifer, Jamie and Josiah. They also have one granddaughter: Saylor.   Thank You to Our Sponsors: Chick-fil-A East Peoria and The Savvy Sauce Charities (and donate online here)   Other Recommended Business Leadership Episodes on The Savvy Sauce: 12 How to Apply Successful Business Principles to Your Life with Dee Ann Turner 67 Thriving at Work, Home, and Life with Author, Blogger, Podcaster, and Business Owner, Crystal Paine 70 Energy to Spark Success in Your Business with Best-Selling Author, Speaker, and Podcaster, Christy Wright 77 How 2 Questions Can Grow Your Business and Change Your Life with Author, Pastor, and Podcaster, Jeff Henderson 79 Radical Business and Radical Parenting with Gary & Marla Ringger, Founders of Lifesong for Orphans 127 Generational Differences in the Workplace with Haydn Shaw 132 Pursuing Your God-Given Dream with Francie Hinrichsen 152 Leadership Training: Five Key Elements for Creating Customer Loyalty in Your Business with Elizabeth Dixon 193 Biblical Principles as Wise Business Practices with Steve Robinson 198 Divine Productivity with Matt Perman   Connect with The Savvy Sauce on Facebook or Instagram or Our Website   Please help us out by sharing this episode with a friend, leaving a 5-star rating and review, and subscribing to this podcast!   Gospel Scripture: (all NIV)   Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”   Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”   Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.”    Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”    Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”    Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”    John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”    Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”   Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”   Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.”   Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”   Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“   Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“   Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”   **Transcription**   Music: (0:00 – 0:08)   Laura Dugger: (0:09 - 1:46) Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host, Laura Duggar, and I'm so glad you're here.    I'm grateful for today's sponsor, Chick-fil-A East Peoria.   Check them out online to place your order for dining or catering, or to fill out an application to join their friendly team. Visit Chick-fil-A East Peoria.   If you've been with us long, you know this podcast is only one piece of our nonprofit, which is the Savvy Sauce Charities.   Don't miss out on our other resources. We have questions and content to inspire you to have your own practical chats for intentional living. And I also hope you don't miss out on the opportunity to financially support us through your tax-deductible donations.   All this information can be found on our recently updated website, TheSavvySauce.com. And now I'm pleased to share this episode with you that used to only be available to paying patrons. I am on site at MH Equipment to interview their CEO, John Wieland.   John is an inspiringly generous leader, and he recently published his first book, entitled Uncommon Thread, Weaving a Life Through Family, Business, and Faith. And we're going to cover each one of those topics now. Here's our chat.   Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, John.   John Wieland: (1:47 - 1:49) Thank you very much, Laura. I look forward to this.   Laura Dugger: (1:50 - 2:02) I'm very excited about this chat as well. And we're going to go back a little bit as we begin. So, will you just first start us off with sharing how you came to a saving faith in Jesus Christ?   John Wieland: (2:03 - 3:49) Yeah. Growing up, I was a decent guy, very narcissistic. When I got to college, I started to realize I was missing something.   And a guy told me to start reading the Bible, and he suggested reading the book of Matthew. And so, I was feeling pretty good until I got to the Sermon on the Mount, which is Matthew 5 through 7. And in Matthew 7, it says, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”   I was like, hold it. Many and few. Well, we still went to church, so I thought I was still in the club. A few verses later, they throw another bomb.   And Jesus says, “Hey, not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven. On that day, many will say to me, Lord, Lord, do we not prophesy your name? Cast out demons in your name and do many mighty works in your name. And then I will declare to them, I never knew you. Depart from me, you evil doers.” In about a span of eight verses, I realized I was on the outside looking in.   And as I got further into the gospel, I realized that my sin has to be dealt with. And that Jesus is one that dealt it for me. And so that became a follower of Jesus when I was a sophomore in college.   Laura Dugger: (3:49 - 4:01) Wow. Thank you for sharing that testimony. And are there any other personal stories that you want to share that kind of illustrate how it set your life on a different trajectory?   John Wieland: (4:02 - 7:17) Yeah. Growing up, I really had a blessed environment. Mom and dad was great.   But I will share with you a moment in time when I was a senior in high school. And like I said, I was pretty narcissistic. I was dating a lady in my class and it wasn't long before she got pregnant.   I didn't think either one of us were at this stage where we should get married, let alone have a child. The idea of having a baby and giving it to one of the millions of couples who are crying out everyday for a baby to love didn't even enter my mind at that time because life was just about me. What was the most convenient for me at that time?   So we decided to have the abortion. My memory of that was that I paid for the abortion. When I talked to the lady about this book and asked her if she was okay with it, she had different memories.   She was very nice about it. But this was her memory. She said, I remember you telling me you had plans for college and that we were too young.   I remember being at the abortion clinic, sitting on a beanbag chair, waiting for them to call my name. I remember the pain of the procedure. I remember sitting in the recliner after the procedure, feeling numb, feeling cold, feeling empty.   I remember looking around wondering what I had done and wondering if I would go to hell for taking this soul's life. I remember seeing you for the first time afterwards and feeling sad. I remember you going off to college that fall.   There's not a month that goes by that I don't wonder what my child would have looked like, what my child would have become. I count my child as one of my own, my oldest. I had a ceremony for my child's death.   I pray for my child's soul. Significantly different memories, wouldn't you say? It was 12 years later that I met with a doctor and he's telling me that it's going to be very hard for me and my wife to conceive.   The irony did not pass me by. The only biological child that I was ever going to have, I aborted. I kind of felt like I was getting what I deserved.   The thing I learned is this. God is rich in mercy. He gave us four three-day-old babies to adopt.   It has been just an incredible journey to experience his mercy and grace. That has probably defined me probably as much as anything.   Laura Dugger: (7:17 - 7:57) Thank you for being willing to share such a personal story. I'm wondering for the people listening where that lands, if someone has made a similar choice and they've never received the forgiveness from Jesus. They've never been able to forgive themselves, but like you say, He is rich in mercy.   I think it's interesting how you even bring that up because just yesterday in church during our Sunday school hour, that was what our pastor was highlighting. How God doesn't say he's rich in other things in the Bible, but he is rich in mercy.   John Wieland: (7:58 - 8:48) A side note, just a couple of weeks ago, my daughter had a friend about 30 years old. She was single. She was dating someone.   She got pregnant. She didn't want to get married. She really didn't know if she wanted to have the baby, and she was thinking about taking the easy way out.   In God's sovereignty, she started to read the book that my daughter gave her that I wrote. After she read the chapter of four adoptions and one abortion, she decided, I'm not taking the easy way out. I'm going to have this child.   That makes being vulnerable and transparent to a broken world worth everything.   Laura Dugger: (8:50 - 9:10) Yes, absolutely. You have no idea whose life and even a baby's life that may be saved or changed through hearing this. Also, in your book, you've written about your family.   What would you say was the most impactful lesson that you learned from your family growing up?   John Wieland: (9:10 - 11:03) I think the most important thing I learned was from my dad, you do the right thing because it is the right thing, not because of the outcome. It's never wrong to do the right thing. With my mom, she was rich in mercy and grace.   People were people, and everybody was invited into our home. We had a house right across the high school. We had an in-ground swimming pool.   There were hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of people that would come to our house for swimming parties. I thought that I was a real popular guy. I went off to college, and every time I would come home or talk to my mom or dad, they would say, “Hey, so-and-so came over for lunch today.”   I'm like, that's interesting. So-and-so came and had dinner with us. So-and-so came over just to talk to us.   I was like, this is really interesting. They haven't talked to me since I went to college, and I realized I was not the popular one. My parents were the popular one.   I was just window dressing. And so what I got from my home is God's currency is people, especially the brokenhearted, the hopeless, the hungry. And we need to lean into that community, that a society is judged on how we care for the least of us.   And I think I got that from my parents, as well as, obviously, the scripture.   Laura Dugger: (11:04 - 11:17) Absolutely. But it sounds like you had wonderful role models. And now as a father yourself, what are you most grateful you prioritized while you and your wife Julie were raising your own children?   John Wieland: (11:17 - 12:16) Even though we had resources, our children did not grow up entitled. We lived in a neighborhood, and our kids always had the fewest toys. I was engaged in their lives.   They liked that. I coached softball, basketball, soccer, etc., etc. Julie was a stay-at-home mom.   Obviously, she was more engaged in their lives. They knew that messing up wasn't a big deal. It was just a chance to grow.   With my background and the number of times I messed up, I'm sure I'm not going to be cast in many stones. But it's like an opportunity to learn and grow from there, and that my love was not dependent on their behavior. And then lastly, it was what my mom and dad taught, is to be kind to everyone, especially to those who are hurting and struggling.   So, I think those were the things that they came back with that said, you probably hit the ball there.   Laura Dugger: (12:16 - 12:20) What a neat opportunity to get to hear that from your growing children.   John Wieland: (12:21 - 12:57) I would encourage parents out there to ask your kids, even if they're in high school or grade school, where am I hitting the ball and I'm doing well, and where have I wounded you? Because sometimes when you've wounded them, you won't even remember when it happened. But it still is an impactful moment for them.   And so, I've had both of those conversations. Obviously, I like this conversation better as opposed to the times where I've wounded them. So, yeah.   Laura Dugger: (12:58 - 17:58) Well, thank you for sharing that. And now a brief message from our sponsors.  I want to say thank you to our longtime sponsor, Chick-fil-A East Peoria.   I hope that you've already downloaded the Chick-fil-A app. Because did you know that with the app, you can skip the line and have food ready for you when you arrive? This is one of my favorite options when I'm taking my four daughters to Chick-fil-A East Peoria.   Download the Chick-fil-A app today and start earning points toward free rewards that are fully customized to your preferences and tastes. Chick-fil-A was named as one of Glassdoor's best places to work in the nation. That's a huge honor.   And one team member even wrote, “No comparison. This is a great job for a first job, extra money, or for career advancement. Such a loving environment, great management, and fair pay.”   Chick-fil-A believes that the local and involved ownership ensures fostering an environment where you are known, challenged, and cared for. So, if you're looking for a wonderful place to work, visit Chick-fil-A East Peoria or fill out an application online today at Chick-fil-A East Peoria.    Are you utilizing Savvy Sauce Charities to full capacity?   Other than our special Patreon re-release episodes, our content is now available in video form, in addition to our audio only. And we have written transcriptions for every episode. Visit our website today, thesavvysauce.com, to access all these forms of interviews. And while you're there, make sure you sign up for our email list to receive encouragement, questions, and recommended resources about once a month to promote your own practical chats for intentional living. I also want to remind you about the financial side of Savvy Sauce Charities. As you know, we recently became a non-profit, which means all your financial support is now tax deductible.   There are multiple ways to give, and we would be so honored if you would share your financial support with us so that we can continue producing free content that is accessible to the general public. Your money will go to support creatively getting the gospel message of Jesus Christ to the nations as we continue to share the good news on every episode. And I say this is reaching the nations because The Savvy Sauce podcast is downloaded in all 50 United States, as well as over 100 countries around the world.   Your financial support also supports practical needs, such as aiding our team to continue producing helpful content that is practical and uplifting and always pointing to Jesus. Your financial support, furthermore, will help us continue to expand our reach and secure future projects we have planned for this ministry. If your ears are hearing this message right now, I am specifically asking you to give.   We are so grateful for any amount, and our team will continue to seek to be good stewards of the gifts offered to us. So, if you want to write a check or set up an ongoing payment with your bank that delivers a check to us each month, this is the most beneficial way to give because no percentages are taken out for processing fees. You can make your check out to: Savvy Sauce Charities, P.O. Box 101, Roanoke, Illinois, 61561.  Additionally, with our new website, we now have a donate button. There are processing fees that we cover for these donations, but we wanted to offer listeners a seamless way to share their finances with us when we share our content with them. So just visit thesavvysauce.com and find the donate page under the tab support.    Another way to find it is simply type in donate to the search bar on our website and just click the first picture shown. We are all about sharing around here, sharing resources, sharing joy, and sharing the good news about Jesus Christ. We ask that you also will share by sharing financially, sharing The Savvy Sauce podcast episodes, and sharing a five-star rating and review.   You can also share any of our social media posts on Instagram or Facebook. We are grateful for all of it and we just love partnering together with you. Now, back to the show.   As we transition from family to business, I think it's just worth noting that most business people do not have an experience like yours where they go from losing hundreds of thousands of dollars to becoming hugely profitable. So, John, will you share your business journey with us now?   John Wieland: (17:58 - 20:30) Yeah, I was an average student, a very average student going into high school. The only thing I had any ability in was math. I got along well with numbers, so I did not have much of a problem figuring out what I was going to do.   It was going to have to do with numbers, so I became an accountant. I was a public accountant for an accounting firm, and I was auditing this company, MH Equipment, for about seven years, and they were virtually bankrupt. And there's a couple of things I learned being in public accounting.   I thought that an entrepreneur was a special type of person, that he was or she was really smart and just insightful. And as I audited all these companies, I realized some of these people aren't that smart, to the point where I'm thinking, I'm not that smart, but I think I'm smarter than them. And so the luster of, you have to be somebody special to be an entrepreneur, was taken away.   And so, fast forward, they were virtually bankrupt. The people that they did business with, their primary supplier, Hyster, they were going to decide who took it over, because they were going to have to write off about a million dollars for someone to take it over. I decided it wasn't a complicated business, and I tell people I was in the right place at the right time.   God is sovereign, and for some reason, they said yes to some 35-year-old guy who had no entrepreneurial spirit and can't even change his own oil. So, I had no mechanical skills. That was in 94.   For the next five years, the economy was great. And a good economy will cover a multitude of sins. And so, all the mistakes I was making, I wasn't having to really pay for them, because the economy was good.   And so, we went from 50 employees to close to 1,000 now, and we had three branches, and now we got 30 branches. And it's been a fun ride, because you're able to create a company that you want to be a part of. So, it's been a short 28 years.   Laura Dugger: (20:31 - 20:42) And then even to go more micro, there was a certain decision that you made that doesn't make sense on paper when you look at the numbers.   John Wieland: (20:43 - 22:14) Yes, it was in 2001. We had just bought two other companies and tripled the size of MH Equipment. I thought, like, I had some type of silver spoon and that I was a genius.   I wasn't. The economy turned on us. And in the first six months of 2001, we lost over $700,000.   Julie and I, we always wanted to give back to our communities by setting aside funds to make a positive difference in our communities, but we just never pulled the trigger. But it was at this low point in July of 2001, after we had lost $700,000, that we decided to go for it. And the executive team decided to start the His First Foundation, where we would commit 10% of all future profits starting in July to His First to come alongside our employees' passions.   Since then, MH Equipment, we have invested over $20 million to not-for-profits and charitable organizations. But we started it when we had to take a step of faith. And God honored that.   Laura Dugger: (22:15 - 22:28) That is incredibly powerful. And even since that point, how would you say that God's taught you to grow in generosity? And how can all of us learn to do the same?   John Wieland: (22:28 - 24:20) That is a great question. Scripture is very clear. You got to be faithful in small things.   If you're faithful in small things, He'll probably entrust you to be faithful in greater things. That's just a biblical principle. It's not a promise, but it's a principle.   And so, Julie and I, we've always had a heart for giving, and so when we didn't have much, we still gave. And the beauty about God is this. He doesn't need our money.   He does not care how many zeros there are before the decimal point. He's interested in how much of the giver is in the gift. Why do you think the rock star of giving is the poor widow who gave two pennies?   Because she was all in. And God loved it. And so people who are listening to this podcast, if you don't have much resources, this is a great opportunity.   To honor God, because if you choose to give something to somebody else, and you can't do something, that's a sacrifice. It's hard for people that have resources to actually sacrifice. So, I think it starts out at the beginning, and if you have not been overly generous with your time and your talents and your treasure, start.   I tell you, when you have a passion outside yourself, it is a game changer. You're so much more balanced. I mean, it's got to be tough to wake up everyday thinking life is all about you.   So, it has been a good journey.   Laura Dugger: (24:20 - 24:48) There's a lot of wisdom packed in there. And as I think back on our conversation already, we've covered a few aspects of your life, including faith and family and business lessons. And you've woven all of these areas together in your book, Uncommon Threads.   And this book might be classified as a secular book, but the gospel is naturally shared throughout. So, was that intentional?   John Wieland: (24:48 - 26:14) That was extremely intentional. I did not want to write a Christian book for one reason. I want non-Christians to read it.   The illustrator, who is Jim Burkle, who's a great illustrator, he's a missionary to Iranian refugees up in Michigan. He has been giving the books out to people. And a few months ago, he called and said, John, I got to tell you, I met this guy.   His father is in the mafia. He doesn't want to talk about Christ. He didn't want to think about going to church.   But he said he would read this book. Two weeks later, this guy called Jim and said, I read that book. It impacted me.   I want to talk to you. I don't want to preach to the choir. I want to create a book where non-Christians would not feel like they're being proselytized to every page.   But throughout the book, between family, business, and faith, the beauty of the cross is just naturally shared. Yeah, so I was intentional. I did not want that to be a uniquely Christian book because I want non-Christians to read it and like it.   Laura Dugger: (26:15 - 26:35) And I think you've very much done that and woven so many helpful stories and nuggets of wisdom tucked in there. But also in your book, you share an interesting story about sitting by a woman that had a very different lifestyle from you. So, can you tell me about that and what you learned?   John Wieland: (26:36 - 30:33) Yes. So, I'm on the plane. We're boarding it.   It's very crowded. I'm on the phone. I'm talking to one of my co-owners.   We're talking about Jesus. I used to think I said King Jesus. And the lady in front of me, she just tensed up when I said King Jesus.   And to her horror, when she sat down, I sat next to her. And, you know, I kind of felt like she may have a different lifestyle. And the last thing she wanted to do was sit by a Christian.   And I realized we need to own that. We have treated people who have a gay or lesbian lifestyle with meanness, judgment, hatred. And I thought, man, I want her to feel the love of Jesus.   Jesus, he doesn't want people to have lifestyles not because he's just mad. He wants them to be fulfilled. And so, during that time, I started talking to her.   And finally, I asked her what she liked to do. And she said, well, me and my partner, we like to go camping. And I think she thought, uh-oh, he will quit talking to me because now I've disclosed that I am gay.   And so, I just went back into and said, I just read a book on how people survive, you know, like land crashes. And some of the things that are common to all the people that survive when we start talking about it. And she just had a great conversation.   I said, “I would love to send you that book.” She went from hating the fact that she was sitting next to me to giving me her name, her personal address. I don't know what ever happened to Sarah.   But I think maybe for the first time, she felt loved by a follower of Jesus. And that can open doors. I have a cousin who got married, had two kids.   And then he decided he was gay or whatever and was with a guy for 40 years who just recently died. And this last year, he sent me a mass Christmas card from him and his partner. And on the back of the card, he wrote a few words that made me cry.   He simply said, “Your book was wonderful.” And I kind of felt like he felt like he gets it. He gets it that so many times Christians, they hate the sinner, you know.   And Jesus, he was a friend. He broke bread with the tax collectors and sinners. People flocked to him.   And if we want to change the world, we have to change our reputation. That is okay. I mean, I have a relative whose husband is going through a transgender thing.   And when this first started happening, they were all at our house for Thanksgiving. And I got the two. They were in the corner someplace.   And I walked up to them, and I said, “Look, you guys need to know this. You will always be welcomed in this home.   Laura Dugger: (30:36 - 30:45) That's powerful to hear tangibly how love can change things rather than hate.   John Wieland: (30:45 - 30:52) Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. And that's a lesson that sitting by that person, I learned that well.   Laura Dugger: (30:53 - 31:44) Did you know you could receive a free email with monthly encouragement, practical tips and plenty of questions to ask to take your conversation a level deeper? Whether that's in parenting or on date nights, make sure you access all of this at thesavvysauce.com by clicking the button that says join our email list so that you can follow the prompts and begin receiving these emails at the beginning of each month. Enjoy.   Well, and just to highlight something else from your book, there's one chapter that was especially practical and it was entitled Leading Leaders. So, will you elaborate on a couple of your key takeaways? And we can begin with this one that you say every voice in the room is important.   John Wieland: (31:46 - 33:09) Yeah, I mean, if you want to have a healthy culture, everybody needs to have a voice. And as the leader, and if I have another leader, they think we should do A. The first thing I think about is what is the worst thing that can happen if we do A?   And if the worst thing that can happen is manageable, then let's go A. Because you're creating an environment where everybody will be open to speaking their opinions, their ideas. I mean, the Bible talks about out of the mouth of babes comes incredible wisdom.   And so, I think it's just really important that everyone has a voice. I also talk about never lose people because you're greedy. I mean, if you've got good people in your organization, be thinking about how can I give them more money?   That's why I've got like 12 people in the company that are minority shareholders. They own part of the buildings. I'm trying to figure out how to get them more money, not how I can pay as little as possible for as long as possible.   Laura Dugger: (33:09 - 33:31) I love that, both of those takeaways. And to circle back, when you have that thought cross your mind of what is the worst thing that could happen, does that oftentimes play out that the worst thing does happen? Or have there been times that it surprised you and going with that A that was mentioned turned out to be beneficial for all?   John Wieland: (33:31 - 34:16) Oh, actually, two times I went with it because I didn't understand what they were thinking. I didn't see their vision, but I trusted them. And both times I said, okay, the worst is manageable.   Both of them turned out to be home runs, not only for the company, but also for our customers and also financially. And so, all wisdom does not reside with you. And so, you need to understand just because you're the CEO, that does not mean you're the smartest guy in the room.   And typically, if you are, you haven't done a good job hiring.   Laura Dugger: (34:18 - 34:33) That's good. There were so many good business takeaways. And we oftentimes hear that leaders are readers.   So what are a few of the books that have most impacted you as a leader?   John Wieland: (34:33 - 36:34) Well, I'm going to say this. I don't want to come across overly spiritual, but the Bible, I try to read through that at least once a year. And it's interesting.   I was with a friend a couple of years ago, and they're like, does anyone have a good devotional that I can use and read this year? I'm looking for a good devotional. And I said, “Yeah, it's called the Bible.”   He was like, ooh, that's a good push. And so, guess what his devotion is. He's reading the scripture.   I like Business by the Book. That was an old book by Larry Burkett. And it really talked about if you say it's God, then act like your business is God.   And you don't have the right just to do whatever you want with it. You're a steward. I like to read a variety of genres.   I like to read human behavior. I like to read history. I like to read spiritual books.   I like to read biographies. You don't want to be a one-trick pony when it comes to conversations. You want to be interested.   You want to be able to pivot and talk to people about a wide variety of topics because that develops relationships. If they think that every time you talk to them, you're going to turn it to a spiritual conversation, I think that's going to get tiring. So, I'm a believer in being well-read, a variety of topics.   But again, if there's a book that you want to read continuously, I believe that God's Word keeps you on a solid path.   Laura Dugger: (36:35 - 36:57) I would say yes and amen to that. And I love that advice too for always being a reader and sharpening because we're never too young or too old to implement that habit. But I would also encourage other people listening to pick up a copy of your book as well.   So where can listeners get a copy of that?   John Wieland: (36:57 - 38:58) Yeah, you can get it at Barnes & Nobles. You could get it on Amazon. You can buy it at Paperback.   I don't produce the paperback, but we have the hardbacks and the hardbacks are only like $10 on Amazon. And if you put your name to who you want to give it to in parentheses under your name, I would address it to that person and sign it. And that's for a hardback.   And like I said, it's only $10. We did this. I did this.   It was not a money play. I have shared with you before. I'm glad it wasn't a money play because I've lost a lot of money on it.   And that wasn't the reason. It was because of the message. And I want people to have movement in their lives.   Obviously, I would love people who are not believers to come to saving faith in Christ. But Christians, there's just so many points of interest and stories where you'll grab a hold of something and pivot. And that's what I was hoping for is that when you read it, it's an easy read.   I write like I talk. I don't use big words. I'm 64 now.   I still like to read books with pictures in it. So, there's a bunch of illustrations in it. I'm selfie-facing.   And so, I always felt like if you want, if I want you to look in your mirror, I don't think it's very good for me to say, Laura, you need to look in your mirror. It's more effective to, as an author, to look in my own mirror and share honestly where I've messed up. And that gives the reader freedom to say, hmm, if he can be honest about that and put it on paper, maybe I need to look into this.   Laura Dugger: (39:00 - 39:25) Well, and I think this book has already touched many lives. And you were gracious to share a few of those stories of where that landed with people. So, I can't wait to see what else God has in store for this message.   But John, you may know that we're called The Savvy Sauce because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge or insight. And so as my final question for you today, what is your savvy sauce?   John Wieland: (39:25 - 41:07) I'm going to give you two answers. One, from a business perspective, that is our culture. The importance of truly living out our mission and our vision and our values.   About four years ago, we had a lady who had been doing strategic planning for Fortune 500, the Army and the Navy. And she spent three days with MH Equipment. And at the end of three days, she made this declaration.   In all my years of over 40 years, I have never met a company whose value statements that were on their wall were so closely related to reality. And so, you have to live out your values. You can't have something on your wall and then live something else out.   From a personal standpoint, my savvy sauce is this. Everything's not okay. Quit saying that.   When someone asks me how things are going, I will always say, considering the ordinary struggles of life, things are going okay. You would not believe the responses I get from that simple statement. They're like, I know what you mean.   I'm having problems with my son. Be okay with your brokenness. Jesus is a perfect one.   We're not. And so, I think when a watching world sees Christians that are honest in their own brokenness and they're walking towards Jesus and saying, he's the one that loves us unconditionally. I think we make movement.   Laura Dugger: (41:08 - 41:47) Absolutely. John, it's a privilege to get to hear you share about your faith and your family and your business and really that it is built on faith.    It just brings to mind Matthew 6:33, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.”    And I feel like your life experience really illustrates that scripture coming to life. And so, I appreciate your transparency, appreciate your humble leadership and really appreciate you being my guest today.   John Wieland: (41:47 - 41:51) Laura, I just loved our time together and I appreciate what you do for the kingdom.   Laura Dugger: (41:52 - 45:08) Thank you, John. One more thing before you go. Have you heard the term gospel before?   It simply means good news. And I want to share the best news with you. But it starts with the bad news.   Every single one of us were born sinners, but Christ desires to rescue us from our sin, which is something we cannot do for ourselves. This means there is absolutely no chance we can make it to heaven on our own. So for you and for me, it means we deserve death and we can never pay back the sacrifice we owe to be saved.   We need a savior. But God loved us so much, he made a way for his only son to willingly die in our place as the perfect substitute. This gives us hope of life forever in right relationship with him.   That is good news. Jesus lived the perfect life we could never live and died in our place for our sin. This was God's plan to make a way to reconcile with us so that God can look at us and see Jesus.   We can be covered and justified through the work Jesus finished if we choose to receive what He has done for us. Romans 10:9 says, “That if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” So would you pray with me now?   Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus to take our place. I pray someone today right now is touched and chooses to turn their life over to you. Will you clearly guide them and help them take their next step in faith to declare you as Lord of their life?   We trust you to work and change lives now for eternity. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.   If you prayed that prayer, you are declaring him for me, so me for him. You get the opportunity to live your life for him. And at this podcast, we're called The Savvy Sauce for a reason.   We want to give you practical tools to implement the knowledge you have learned. So you ready to get started? First, tell someone.   Say it out loud. Get a Bible. The first day I made this decision, my parents took me to Barnes & Noble and let me choose my own Bible.   I selected the Quest NIV Bible and I love it. You can start by reading the book of John. Also, get connected locally, which just means tell someone who's a part of a church in your community that you made a decision to follow Christ.   I'm assuming they will be thrilled to talk with you about further steps, such as going to church and getting connected to other believers to encourage you. We want to celebrate with you too, so feel free to leave a comment for us here if you did make a decision to follow Christ. We also have show notes included where you can read Scripture that describes this process.   And finally, be encouraged. Luke 15:10 says, “In the same way I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” The heavens are praising with you for your decision today.   And if you've already received this good news, I pray you have someone to share it with. You are loved and I look forward to meeting you here next time.

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3072: A well-deserved raise isn't just about asking, it's about asking the right way. Emily Guy Birken breaks down a strategic approach to salary negotiations, from researching market value and proving your worth to timing your request wisely and handling a potential "no" with confidence. Mastering this skill can set you up for long-term financial growth and career satisfaction. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://ptmoney.com/how-to-ask-for-a-raise/ Quotes to ponder: "They can't shoot you for asking." "The best time to ask for a raise is right after you have just done something great for the company, such as solving a big problem, landing a major client, or saving the company money." "It can be easy to procrastinate for months (or even years!) if you're uncomfortable selling yourself, but no one else is going to advocate for you." Episode references: Glassdoor: https://www.glassdoor.com Salary.com: https://www.salary.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3072: A well-deserved raise isn't just about asking, it's about asking the right way. Emily Guy Birken breaks down a strategic approach to salary negotiations, from researching market value and proving your worth to timing your request wisely and handling a potential "no" with confidence. Mastering this skill can set you up for long-term financial growth and career satisfaction. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://ptmoney.com/how-to-ask-for-a-raise/ Quotes to ponder: "They can't shoot you for asking." "The best time to ask for a raise is right after you have just done something great for the company, such as solving a big problem, landing a major client, or saving the company money." "It can be easy to procrastinate for months (or even years!) if you're uncomfortable selling yourself, but no one else is going to advocate for you." Episode references: Glassdoor: https://www.glassdoor.com Salary.com: https://www.salary.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3072: A well-deserved raise isn't just about asking, it's about asking the right way. Emily Guy Birken breaks down a strategic approach to salary negotiations, from researching market value and proving your worth to timing your request wisely and handling a potential "no" with confidence. Mastering this skill can set you up for long-term financial growth and career satisfaction. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://ptmoney.com/how-to-ask-for-a-raise/ Quotes to ponder: "They can't shoot you for asking." "The best time to ask for a raise is right after you have just done something great for the company, such as solving a big problem, landing a major client, or saving the company money." "It can be easy to procrastinate for months (or even years!) if you're uncomfortable selling yourself, but no one else is going to advocate for you." Episode references: Glassdoor: https://www.glassdoor.com Salary.com: https://www.salary.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just 44% of employees feel confident about the next six months at their company, a Glassdoor survey found — the lowest in nine years. Thank government layoffs, tariff uncertainty and a toughening job market. Are these negative predictions warnings of a coming recession? Also in this episode, the overall cost of food at home was flat in February, electric grid battery storage grew 66% in the U.S. last year, and Angelenos worry dumped wildfire debris could be toxic.

Just 44% of employees feel confident about the next six months at their company, a Glassdoor survey found — the lowest in nine years. Thank government layoffs, tariff uncertainty and a toughening job market. Are these negative predictions warnings of a coming recession? Also in this episode, the overall cost of food at home was flat in February, electric grid battery storage grew 66% in the U.S. last year, and Angelenos worry dumped wildfire debris could be toxic.

In this episode of World's Greatest Boss, Jackie Koch tackles one of the biggest challenges for business owners: how to determine what to pay employees. From understanding market rates to building a compensation structure that aligns with your business goals, Jackie walks you through a practical framework that balances what your company can afford with what it takes to attract and keep great talent.You'll learn how to assess if you're ready to hire, how to research market rates (without paying for expensive surveys), and what to do if you can't meet market pay. Jackie also dives into how to set up job levels and pay ranges that scale as your business grows, and why transparent communication about compensation is key to building trust with your team.By the end of this episode, you'll have a game plan for creating a fair and competitive compensation strategy — without losing sleep over it.What You'll Hear in This Episode:[02:15] Questions to Ask Before Hiring — Why looking beyond finance (and thinking about team strategy) is critical before making a hire.[07:05] Understanding Market Rates and How to Research Them — Where to look for salary data without overpaying for reports.[15:40] What to Do If You Can't Pay Market Rates — Creative alternatives like contractors, junior hires, and strengthening your value proposition.[21:50] Building Job Levels and Salary Ranges — How to structure pay based on responsibility and expertise — even as a small team.[30:05] Variable Pay Options — Bonuses, commissions, and profit sharing to supplement base pay.[35:40] Why Transparent Compensation Conversations Matter — Avoiding awkward (and potentially costly) surprises.[42:15] Different Types of Raises and How to Plan for Them — Performance raises, cost of living adjustments, and promotions.[47:30] Common Mistakes to Avoid — Like overpaying “irreplaceable” employees and creating inequities.Resources & Links Mentioned:Salary research tools: Payscale, Glassdoor, LinkedIn Salary Insights, Salary.comFor more HR and hiring insights, visit: peopleprinciples.coConnect with Jackie on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jackiemkoch

Austin shares how you can research your target companies for cultural fit and value alignment!Time Stamped Show Notes:[0:30] - Company culture and fit are important![1:50] - Get clear on your own values [5:33] - Read the benefits page on their website[6:21] - Check reviews on GlassDoor.com[7:38] - Talk to former employees who left for a BETTER job[8:52] - Listen to interviews with company leadership[9:50] - Look up current employees on social mediaWant To Level Up Your Job Search?Click here to learn more about 1:1 career coaching to help you land your dream job without applying online.Check out Austin's courses and, as a thank you for listening to the show, use the code PODCAST to get 5% off any digital course:The Interview Preparation System - Austin's proven, all-in-one process for turning your next job interview into a job offer.Value Validation Project Starter Kit - Everything you need to create a job-winning VVP that will blow hiring managers away and set you apart from the competition.No Experience, No Problem - Austin's proven framework for building the skills and experience you need to break into a new industry (even if you have *zero* experience right now).Try Austin's Job Search ToolsResyBuild.io - Build a beautiful, job-winning resume in minutes.ResyMatch.io - Score your resume vs. your target job description and get feedback.ResyBullet.io - Learn how to write attention grabbing resume bullets.Mailscoop.io - Find anyone's professional email in seconds.Connect with Austin for daily job search content:Cultivated CultureLinkedInTwitterThanks for listening!

Liked this episode? Have an idea? Send us a text HERE :)In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria breaks down the nine biggest red flags to watch for during your nonprofit job search. While the sector is full of impactful orgs, not all are well-managed or even stable. Maria shares tips on spotting warning signs—like financial instability, poor leadership, and lack of work-life balance—before you accept an offer. If you're looking for a nonprofit job or just want to be more intentional about your next career move, this episode is a must-listen! Key Topics Covered: Expanding programming without secured funding  Ignoring past strategic failures Recurring financial instability Board members lacking governance knowledge Egocentric leadership and lack of transparency Poor work-life balance Actionable tips: ➜ Do your research: look at the organization's financials, Glassdoor reviews, and strategic plans. ➜ Ask the right questions: use this episode's prompts to dig deeper in interviews. ➜ Trust your gut: if something feels off, take it seriously. ➜ Talk to current and former employees: get real insights into the workplace culture. ➜ Prioritize your needs: define your non-negotiables and set boundaries before accepting an offer. Resources Burnout Check Quiz Connect with Us: Connect with Maria Rio Further Together Website Subscribe and Review: Don't forget to subscribe to The Small Nonprofit Podcast for email updates here! Leave a review to help us reach more listeners and continue providing valuable insights. Watch this episode on YouTube. Support the Podcast: Support these conversations by donating here. Coming Next Week: Join us next week for "Fundraising is a Team Sport," where Maria and Caitlin dive into how collaboration across your organization can lead to stronger donor relationships and bigger fundraising wins!

Special Patreon Re-Release: God, Sex, and Your Marriage: Interview with Dr. Juli Slattery    *DISCLAIMER* This interview includes some adult themes and is not intended for young ears.   **Transcription Below**   Matthew 9:37 (NIV) "Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few."   Questions we discuss: For many couples, sex can be a difficult area of marriage and you encourage people that is normal, but you also warn us not to confuse normal with healthy. What is normal for married couples and what is healthy, as it relates to sexual intimacy in marriage? What is God's genius chemical cocktail that we experience during sex? Will you give a brief overview of your four pillars of intimacy?   Dr. Juli Slattery is a clinical psychologist, author, speaker and broadcast media professional with over twenty-five years of experience counseling, and teaching women. She's the president and co-founder of Authentic Intimacy, a unique ministry devoted to teaching God's design for intimacy and sexuality. In 2020, Juli launched SexualDiscipleship.com, a platform designed to help Christian leaders navigate sexual issues and questions with gospel-centered truth. She hosts a weekly podcast, Java with Juli, where she answers tough questions about relationships, marriage, and spiritual, emotional and sexual intimacy.  www.authenticintimacy.com    Other Episodes with Dr. Juli Slattery on The Savvy Sauce:   Passion Pursuit with Dr. Juli Slattery   Patreon 26 Holy Sex with Dr. Juli Slattery   Life-Giving Marriage with Dr. Juli Slattery   Thank You to Our Sponsors: Chick-fil-A East Peoria and The Savvy Sauce Charities (and donate online here)   Connect with The Savvy Sauce on Facebook or Instagram or Our Website   Please help us out by sharing this episode with a friend, leaving a 5-star rating and review, and subscribing to this podcast!   Gospel Scripture: (all NIV)   Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”   Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”   Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.”    Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”    Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”    Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”    John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”    Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”   Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”   Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.”   Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”   Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“   Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“   Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”   **Transcription**   [00:00:00]   Laura Dugger: Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host Laura Dugger, and I'm so glad you're here.    [00:00:18]   Laura Dugger: Today's message is not intended for little ears. We'll be discussing some adult themes, and I want you to be aware before you listen to this message.   I'm grateful for today's sponsor, Chick-fil-A East Peoria. Check them out online to place your order for dining or catering, or to fill out an application to join their friendly team. Visit cfaeastpeoria.com.   Hey friends, I wanted to share some exciting news with you. Savvy Sauce Charities has officially received our confirmation from the IRS that all donations are tax deductible. I know that we have super generous listeners, so we wanted to let you know you can now mail your check to Savvy Sauce Charities, P.O. Box 101, Roanoke, Illinois, 61561. Thanks in advance for supporting Savvy Sauce Charities. [00:01:24]    And now I'm pleased to share this episode with you that used to only be available to paying patrons. Dr. Juli Slattery is my returning guest today. She has written another fantastic book entitled God, Sex, and Your Marriage. And now she's going to give us a healthy vision for sexual intimacy in marriage and share actionable ways that we can grow in maturity and delight and health in our relationship with our spouse.    Here's our chat.   Welcome back to The Savvy Sauce, Dr. Juli.   Dr Juli Slattery: Oh, thanks so much for having me.   Laura Dugger: Well, even from the get-go on the dedication page of your book, you dedicate it to your brothers and sisters in Christ, some who have labored before you, and some who now work alongside you in reclaiming God's design for sex. You quote the last part of Matthew 9:37, when you say, "The field is ripe for the harvest, but the laborers are few." [00:02:28] Will you elaborate on what you mean by this?   Dr. Juli Slattery: Yeah. I think within the field of Christian sexuality, there are things that we can disagree on. Some of those conversations can be characterized by looking back at what people have written before and being critical of that or looking at the ways that we disagree today on different topics and how we apply the scriptures.    So as I was wrapping up this book, I just have such a heart for unity in the body of Christ and recognize that there are so few people that really want to see God reclaim biblical sexuality, that I just want us to link arms and to work together, to learn from each other, to give honor to each other, and just to be in the trenches, like encouraging one another, instead of focusing on maybe where we differ. [00:03:25]    So that's kind of the heart of it, as well as just a gratitude for the people that have gone before us, the people that were speaking and writing on this topic over the last few decades. Again, I think we're looking back and saying purity culture was horrible and, you know, like just be with more of a critical eye, which we need to learn from the past. But I think, you know, I just really want to have a spirit of graciousness and unity as we say, Hey, we're kind of working off of the shoulders of the people who have been really pioneers in this field.   Laura Dugger: I think that goal of unity is such a worthy one. For so many couples, sex can be a difficult area of marriage. And you write that this is very normal, but you also warn us not to confuse normal with healthy. You go on to write, and I'll just quote it here, "Just consider that the normal American is overweight, overstimulated, exhausted, and lonely." [00:04:29] So, Juli, from your perspective, what is normal for married couples and what is healthy as it relates to sexual intimacy in marriage?   Dr. Juli Slattery: I would say normal is a lot of conflict around sex, frustration, unfulfilled desires, lack of communication. They don't know how to talk about sex or navigate conflict around just differences. I think it's normal for there to be some level of pornography in a marriage. One or both of the individuals bringing in a history of pornography and a struggle with pornography. I think it's normal to have a lot of confusion and shame just around being a sexual person.    So those are all sort of the normal barometer of what I see as I talk to married Christian couples. Again, I think there's peace in knowing, okay, we have good company around us. We're not the only couple struggling with these things, but I also don't want that to be a message that things should just stay the way they are. [00:05:35]    Laura Dugger: I love that. Can you elaborate then on what is healthy?   Dr. Juli Slattery: Yeah. So healthy is sort of the opposite of what I've mentioned. Healthy is that there's healthy, regular communication around sex. So a couple can talk about not just how often they want to have sex, but the deeper issues of what does sex represent for me as an individual? What does it represent for us as a couple? Being able to talk through things from the past, past wounds and shame, and being able to seek the Lord together. It's healthy to honor each other in their sexual relationship, honor the differences that they might be bringing of sexual desire and what they're hoping for in their sexual relationship, navigating together the challenges that they face, but navigating as a team.   So the challenges of we have no energy because we're exhausted with little kids or the challenges of one of us might be working through some trauma from the past, the challenges of how do we address the pornography in our marriage and how do we learn to enjoy each other within our own covenant? [00:06:46]    So those are kind of the markers of a healthy sex life. I don't think there are many couples who would just say automatically, we were there when we first got married. But unfortunately, I think there are also not a lot of couples who would say we're actually working towards those goals. Instead, we have a tendency to just kind of stay stuck where we are.   Laura Dugger: I think an obvious answer would be that communication is going to help us move in that direction of health. But if this healthy vision sounds wonderful, how do people actually engage in this? What are a few of the first steps they can take?   Dr. Juli Slattery: I think one of the first steps is just really broadening your horizon of what God created sex to be. And really, it's taking a step back and asking yourself the question, what do you think a good sex life is actually supposed to look like from a Christian standpoint? [00:07:45]    I think it's fascinating for couples to have that conversation and, first of all, to see where they differ in their understanding of what a good sex life is meant to be, but also where they struggle to flesh it out because there just hasn't been a lot of great teaching on, how do we as a couple even have the same goals related to our sex life.   That was the main reason why I wrote God, Sex, and Your Marriage was to give Christian married couples a vision for what God created sex to be and to have them together agree on, here's what our mature sex life is meant to look like and we want to start working toward that. But if you don't know what you're working toward, then you're just going to stay stuck.   Laura Dugger: I appreciate resources like this. If anybody's listened to any of our other topics on sexual intimacy on The Savvy Sauce, you know that we recommend reading a book, ideally with each other. But even if it's just you reading it yourself, there's so much to glean. [00:08:49] And like you said, Juli, you're casting this vision.   But then even as you read this aloud to one another or you each read a chapter and then come together and discuss, it gets you comfortable talking about this language and it brings up even more questions like you just mentioned that can be natural conversation starters.   Dr. Juli Slattery: Yeah, that's a great suggestion for every married couple, including myself and my husband. I guess something that we've tried to do throughout our marriage is to be reading a book on sex together, preferably, as you mentioned, out loud, because it really does get you comfortable in terms of just what language to use and what it's like to have a conversation around sex.   Laura Dugger: Absolutely. So just really, I've thought this so many times, but thank you for the labor and the work you put into putting this resource together so that we have an option that we can trust.    Dr. Juli Slattery: Yeah, well, I think we tend to write the books that we would want to read. So, yeah, a lot of it has just come out of our own journey. [00:09:49]    Laura Dugger: Well, and I agree with another point that you make in the book when you talk about sex being so important to God and so we can expect it to constantly be under spiritual attack. So will you just tell us more about that idea?   Dr. Juli Slattery: Yeah. I think the average Christian, as you look at the cultural landscape, there's no question that sex is under attack and that we see it distorted and we see it being such a confusing topic for our kids, for just our culture. We can recognize that and we can look at different ways that sex is being used against us in our world today, but we're less likely to see how that's happening within our own marriages.   But I think just being aware of the fact that Satan hates everything God made as beautiful, and sex is such a powerful picture of God's covenant love, of the fact that he created us for intimate unity. That Satan really wants to twist that. And he'll do it any way he can. [00:10:56] He'll do it through shame. He'll do it through us even having a very limited perspective of what sex should be. He'll do it through dividing you and having sex be the main source of conflict in your marriage. He'll do it through pornography and marital affairs and betrayal.    I think we have to be on the lookout and say, hey, this really is a spiritual terrain, not just in the world at large, but it's a spiritual terrain within my own heart and within our marriage.   Laura Dugger: But then you don't leave us there with that message of attack because in that same chapter you conclude with this quote: "God's power to redeem is greater than Satan's power to destroy." So, Juli, how have you seen that practically played out in couples' lives?   Dr. Juli Slattery: Boy, I've just been so blessed to see that played out over and over again. In the ministry that I run, Authentic Intimacy, we've been doing this for a decade now. [00:11:56] I can't explain it, but all I can tell you is that when an individual or a couple begins to really get God's perspective of sexuality, when they alone or together begin to surrender this area of their life to God, you just see change, you see healing, you see redemption, you see freedom where there once was shame and lies.   It's commonplace in our ministry to see that, which is amazing because every life that's redeemed really is a work of God. But the scripture says that His word doesn't return void, but it accomplishes what it's sent out to do. And I get to see that. I get to see that as couples are healing and recovering from betrayal, as people are looking to get set free from pornography, as people are trying to navigate the impact of past trauma and what that's done to their sex life, as couples are confronting some of the anger or bitterness or selfishness that have developed over the years because of their differences and sexual desire. [00:13:03] I've just gotten to see all those sort of things redeemed by God's power, and sex starts to become something that really does unify a husband and wife together.   Laura Dugger: Well, that makes so much sense because I've been convicted so many times and had to be reminded when God will gently call me back to Himself where I've shared a struggle with my husband, or if I'm questioning something in parenting and I'm just thinking on it and ruminating on it, God will gently remind me, come to Me with this, share with Me. And in the same way, with the topic of sex, you're encouraging us in this book to invite God to fight for us, and it's really His strength and power that can heal us in this sacred space.   Dr. Juli Slattery: Yeah. It makes so much sense, Laura. But in reality, I think most of us kind of bar God from our sex lives. We don't realize we do it, but we never praise a married couple about our sex lives.[00:14:07] We never invite God into our shame. We never even think or want to think about the fact that He's present with us in the bedroom because that sort of creeps us out.    But if you're trying to fight a spiritual battle with your own strength and you're barring God's presence from that place, then you're not going to win it. I had to confront this in my own life in marriage many years ago. I didn't realize how much I was doing that, but I think because the church has been so silent on sex over the years, we just naturally have this sort of separate category of sexuality where God doesn't enter. So, boy, what a powerful thing to begin surrendering this to the Lord and asking for His wisdom and His help.   Laura Dugger: Powerful indeed. I remember one wife shared with me they don't pray together about sex out loud, but she has prayed before, even when they're in the act, and just shared real-time, Okay, Lord, I'm having a really hard time experiencing orgasm, and I would love to experience that today, so can you help me get there?" [00:15:16] And she said the results have been incredible. And I just think He cares so much about every detail of our lives that I love that story and what she shared because I think it shows His heart that He wants to share delight with us, and He's created this.   Dr. Juli Slattery: Yeah, it brings God honor and pleasure when a married couple enjoys sex to the fullest because that's what He created it for. I think somehow we've bought this lie that God's embarrassed of our sexuality or it's a necessary evil, instead of it being something that we clearly see in the Song of Solomon and Proverbs chapter 5 and other places in Scripture that God delights in this. He created sex for this purpose.   And part of fighting the spiritual battle that we face in our world is reclaiming the ground of what sex looks like in our marriage. And so there are a lot of people who are frustrated at what's happening to their kids or what's happening to our culture, but at the same time they don't fight for godly sexuality within the space of their own bedroom. [00:16:22] And that really is where the battle begins, is in our own hearts and our own lives.   Laura Dugger: Well, let's now discuss the four pillars of intimacy, and hopefully you can just give a brief overview of each. Beginning with faithfulness and specifically, why do you write that holy jealousy is good?   Dr. Juli Slattery: Yeah. If I can back up just for a minute, the whole premise of this book is that God created sex within marriage to be a form of revelation. Like through marriage and sexuality, the Scripture says God is revealing to us what his covenant love is like. And we see that in the Old Testament in God's covenant relationship with Israel and how often He used language of marriage and sexuality as a metaphor to explain His love for Israel.    Then in the New Testament we see the same thing happen with Jesus' relationship with the church. We see all this bridal language, intimacy language, sexual language to express what covenant looks like between Christ and His bride. [00:17:35] And I know for a lot of people that's sort of a mind shift, but if you can think about it this way, God creates the physical world in order to reveal Himself to us. So God has created marriage and sexuality as a form of revelation to reveal for us this special relationship of covenant.   So what I did with these four pillars of covenant love is say, OK, if God's love, if His covenant love is like this, then this is what defines a healthy sex life. So I broke down these four aspects of God's love for His covenant people and then applied it to sexuality.    So the first pillar that I talk about there is faithfulness. That faithfulness is the very foundation of any covenant. That a covenant isn't a relationship that's based on what feels good or what I feel like doing in the moment. It's a relationship based on your character, on your promise.    Part of that is that within covenant you have a sacred sense of belonging to each other. And so there is a holy jealousy within covenant. [00:18:43] And we see this in God's relationship with Israel where God actually says, My name is jealous. I am jealous for you. I'm a jealous God. And when you worship other gods, I'm angry.    That seems to be true within the covenant of marriage, that sexually we belong to each other exclusively, and there should be a healthy anger, protectiveness, and even jealousy if that exclusivity isn't honored. So, Laura, for example, I was talking to a woman who her marriage was in bad shape. There had been conflict over many years, there had been pornography addiction, and her husband cheated on her. And she said, "I was so dead that I wasn't even angry. My love for him was so dead that I didn't even get mad." [00:19:43] You'd be like, "Why would she not get mad? Is that a sign of health to not get mad when your husband cheats?" No. That's a sign of a very dysfunctional relationship, of a covenant that's dead.    So a healthy marriage means that we fight for each other and we protect our sexual relationship and that if there is a violation, then there is reason to be upset,there is reason to be angry. I think this is so key that we talk about you really can't build anything else in your sex life if you don't have faithfulness. That's the bare minimum foundation.   Laura Dugger: And now a brief message from our sponsors.    [00:20:25]   Sponsor: I want to say thank you to our longtime sponsor, Chick-fil-A East Peoria. I hope that you've already downloaded the Chick-fil-A app. Because did you know that with the app you can skip the line and have food ready for you when you arrive? This is one of my favorite options when I'm taking my four daughters to Chick-fil-A East Peoria. Download the Chick-fil-A app today and start earning points toward free rewards that are fully customized to your preferences and tastes.   Chick-fil-A was named as one of Glassdoor's best places to work in the nation. That's a huge honor. And one team member even wrote, "No comparison. This is a great job for a first job, extra money, or for career advancement. Such a loving environment, great management, and fair pay." Chick-fil-A believes that the local and involved ownership ensures fostering an environment where you are known, challenged, and cared for.   So if you're looking for a wonderful place to work, visit Chick-fil-A East Peoria or fill out an application online today at cfaeastpeoria.com.    [00:21:31]   Laura Dugger: We are so excited to celebrate with you that The Savvy Sauce Charities received our IRS confirmation that all donations are officially tax deductible. We hope that you're going to take action to partner with us.   There are details laid out on our website, which is thesavvysauce.com, and they're going to walk you through the process to donate, and it's also going to share our tax ID number. The donation process is as easy as just filling out a check for Savvy Sauce Charities and mailing it to P.O. Box 101, Roanoke, Illinois, 61561.    If we've contributed to your life in any way by resourcing you to grow closer in intimacy with God and others, would you now contribute to us financially? In this way, we are so excited to partner together and hopefully meet each other's needs. Our team wants to continue producing these podcasts, and we're expectant that if you're listening right now, you value The Savvy Sauce Charities enough to make a donation.    We view this work as ministry, so we happily spend thousands of dollars each year to record and produce these episodes. And our ultimate prayer is that your experience with Savvy Sauce Charities will make an impact for eternity. So if that is true for you, if you've ever received a blessing in any way from this nonprofit, would you prayerfully consider donating to Savvy Sauce Charities? Any amount is greatly appreciated.   And in fact, you've heard me say before, if every listener gave only $1 per month, it would completely offset all our costs. Again, we have all the details listed on our website, thesavvysauce.com, if you are interested in making a donation. We look forward to partnering with you.   [00:23:32]   Laura Dugger: Can you elaborate about the chemical cocktail and why God is so genius in this creation?   Dr. Juli Slattery: Yeah, sure. You know, I think one of the reasons that we really struggle with faithfulness is because we believe at a heart level that marriage is more about attractiveness and getting our sexual needs met than believing that marriage is about covenant. And one of the ways that I explain that is just to show, you know, God has designed new sex and a new relationship to elicit different kinds of chemicals in our brain than a long-term relationship and long-term sexual interaction.   So the new relationship is going to have adrenaline and a neurotransmitter called PEA. And together, adrenaline and PEA make you feel like there's this huge output of dopamine, which is the pleasure hormone of the brain. [00:24:34] And so it makes you feel intoxicated. It makes you feel like you're on a drug.    This is why pornography is so addictive. But God has given that cocktail in the beginning of a relationship, in the beginning of seeing each other naked for the first time, so that it would be a cementing kind of experience for a husband and wife. Unfortunately, our world has really hijacked that with pornography and other sexual offerings. But God's design is that you shouldn't be able to forget your honeymoon. Like it should be like a cementing experience for you.   But then as you're married for a while and you have sex regularly, you don't get that same adrenaline and PEA unless you're doing something kind of fun or new or exciting. But in general, you'll get just kind of output of oxytocin, which is a bonding hormone. It connects you to your spouse. And you also get endorphins, which is sort of a feel-good, all-is-well-with-the-world kind of neurotransmitter. [00:25:39]    And so God has designed a married sex life to have elements of both of these, of new and exciting things, say, for example, on your anniversary or you go away for a vacation and you're really focusing on your sex life, but also to have these bonding and feel-good chemicals to take place just in the normal course of life.    But, Laura, what happens is we get addicted to that new and exciting, and so we kind of begin to neglect the sexual relationship and instead are tempted by what's going to make us immediately feel good in the moment. So that's kind of just understanding how God wired our sexuality and, again, why He's a genius, but also understanding how, if we're not wise, that wiring can be worked against us.   Laura Dugger: That's so helpful to be wise in all of that. Just the incredible amounts that He gives us. You had cited another source that says men can have their oxytocin levels raised more than 500% after orgasm. [00:26:49] That may be why they're able to open up more emotionally after they've connected sexually. You also talk about the bonding agent of vasopressin. Would you like to share anything about that?   Dr. Juli Slattery: Yeah. So the two hormones, oxytocin and vasopressin, kind of go together. Vasopressin is kind of more, from what I understand, like the male form of oxytocin. But these hormones have been shown, as you mentioned, to bond people together, to make a man feel more connected and more likely to be vulnerable.    And interestingly, there's even some studies that show that a man whose body is rich with this oxytocin and vasopressin is less likely to be attracted to another woman. So some people will call it the fidelity hormone.   But when you begin to understand this as a wife, that regular sex with my husband is helping him feel emotionally closer to me, is fostering vulnerability and connection, is helping him to focus on me and me to focus on him, it helps with temptation that comes from the outside. [00:28:02]    And that's not at all to put pressure on a wife to say it's your job to keep your husband faithful. But it is to recognize that God has created sex to be a very powerful experience that is meant to bond you together. And you want to use that for the advantage of your marriage instead of allowing the enemy to use it as something that could tear you apart.   Laura Dugger: That's so good. There's so much there in that first pillar of faithfulness. But for the second pillar of intimate knowing, what separates that intimate knowing from what you call a sanctified hookup?   Dr. Juli Slattery: I think, again, we have to go back to God's covenant love to understand what we're working towards. And if you have been in a covenant relationship with God through Jesus Christ for any amount of time, hopefully you've learned that one of the goals of your relationship with God is to know Him more intimately, to say, Hey, I know God and Jesus more intimately today than I did five years ago. [00:29:07] And through the struggles of life, through the highs and the lows, I've developed intimacy with the Lord.   Jesus talks about this when he talks about, you know, being so intimately connected to Him, it's like a vine in a branch. Like we're in communion all the time. So when we apply that to our sexual relationship, the goal of sex is not just to have our bodies exchange fluids, but it's to be on a journey together of deep knowing of sharing with each other.   Just like in our relationship with God, the valleys, the difficulties, actually are when intimacy can be forged even greater than when things are going well. And I think this is really important because for most married couples, they're going to experience some real challenges in their sex life.   Dr. Juli Slattery: challenges in their sex life and instead of just saying, well, we can't enjoy each other or we have different desires, looking at that as an opportunity of, how do I know my spouse more intimately because of the challenge that we're experiencing? [00:30:12]    When I work with couples who are going through difficulties like infertility or somebody's struggle with pornography or somebody's struggle with healing, what those couples will say is now we're beginning to talk at a deeper level than do you want to have sex or not. Now, we're talking about my shame underneath my sexuality or my frustration that I walked into marriage with these expectations and now I feel like they're not being met. So you're beginning to communicate about your heart, you're beginning to share the sexual journey.   Unfortunately I think there are a lot of married couples who don't see this. All they think of is sex. It's just what our bodies are doing instead of really looking at it as an opportunity to forge intimacy at a much deeper level.   Laura Dugger: The third pillar is sacrificial giving. I'd love for you to share your personal story about God calling you to sacrificial giving. [00:31:15]    Dr. Juli Slattery: Yeah. One of the things that I've shared in my own life is that I'd say for the first 10 or 15 years of marriage, sex was one of those things that I wasn't very interested in, my husband was more interested in and particularly when we had three little boys running around the house, you know, I really avoided sex. I really didn't want to engage with it. I would always look for sort of the opportunity in the evening to say, “Hey, I need to do my devotions. This is my time.”    I remember going through that period of marriage where I would spend time with God usually in the evening and there would be times where it was like the Lord was really asking me, like if you really want to love Me and serve Me, why haven't you surrendered this area of your life to me?   And He began to just really prompt me to look at what it is to say, how do I love my husband sexually? How do I look at the conflict that I have within my own heart around sexuality and really begin to ask the Lord to heal that and to help me to enjoy what He has given me in marriage? [00:32:27] But during that season it was a lot of, how do I lay aside my own agenda and really understand my husband's sexual drive? How do I understand what would please him?    And Laura I just think a lot of us go into marriage and we think the sexual aspect of marriage will be something that won't require anything from us, that we just get to get, we get to receive. And for sure God has designed us to receive sexually, but He's also designed us so that we have to give sexually.   Why would he do that? Like people are like, why is God so cruel to make sex so difficult to navigate? But what God began to show me is He wants me to learn to love as Christ loves. Christ's love for us has always been sacrificial. And our love for Him in covenant is called to be sacrificial. We're called to lay down our own lives and take up the cross and follow Him. [00:33:30]    So I think there's something beautiful when we begin to understand that part of a healthy sex life is both the husband and wife approaching this with the attitude of, how do I serve you? How do I love you well? And when a husband and wife both have that attitude, the level of intimacy and even the level of pleasure has such a greater capacity than when we approach sexuality with just the mindset of what can I get from it.   Laura Dugger: Will you go even a little bit more specific with one of those quiet times with the Lord? What were you praying about? And what did he lead you to do?   Dr. Juli Slattery: So I was praying, you know, Lord, I just really want to know how to love You more and serve You. Like it was a time in my life where the Lord really was calling me deeper. What I just felt the Lord prompting me to do is to initiate sex with my husband.    I remember just kind of arguing with God in that moment, like, this is my time with You. You know, I think sometimes when we spend time with the Lord and we're studying the scripture, He wants us to actually put the Bible down and walk out what He's called us to do in his scripture. [00:34:45] And it was during that season of life again where God was just prompting me.   That night, that evening was the first time just prompting me like, hey, if you want to love Me more, if you want to know what My love is like, then go up and engage with your husband, because he's the one I've given you to love and he's the one I've given to love you. That really started us on a journey that didn't happen immediately, but over years of really surrendering this to God, we've learned what it is to serve each other and love each other well sexually.   Laura Dugger: And I'll just paraphrase from page 108 when that evening you sheepishly shared with your husband, when you came up and kind of surprised him and just said, "I was praying and it was like, God told me to come up here and initiate sex with you." And I love his response. He said, "No way! I was praying, asking God to tell you to do that." [00:35:44]    Dr. Juli Slattery: Yeah, that's a true story. That really happened. So yeah, it's amazing how God works.   Laura Dugger: I love that so much. I want to make sure that you're up to date with our latest news. We have a new website. You can visit TheSavvySauce.com and see all of the latest updates. You may remember Francie Hinrichsen from Episode 132, where we talked about pursuing our God-given dreams. She is the amazing businesswoman who has carefully designed a brand new website for SavvySauce Charities, and we are thrilled with the final product.So I hope you check it out.    There you're going to find all of our podcasts, now with show notes and transcriptions listed, a scrapbook of various previous guests, and an easy place to join our email list to receive monthly encouragement and questions to ask your loved ones, so that you can have your own practical chats for intentional living. [00:36:45]    You will also be able to access our donation button or our mailing address for sending checks that are tax deductible, so that you can support the work of SavvySauce Charities and help us continue to reach the nations with the good news of Jesus Christ. So make sure you visit TheSavvySauce.com.    I just appreciate those personal stories, even how when you were meeting with the Lord, having your quiet time, how He called you to go and seek your husband. There's a part of Matthew 5:23-24, that illustrates this as well. It just says, "Therefore, if you're offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them. Then come and offer your gift."   I just appreciate how the Lord even values that horizontal relationship first and the restoration there, and then you come back and reconnect vertically as well. [00:37:49]    Dr. Juli Slattery: Boy, it's true. Like that's the living out of our love for a God, for sure. There's also scripture that talks about like, if you say that you love Me, but you're not loving your brother, then your love for me isn't genuine. So I'm paraphrasing there. But you know, the scripture that I think has really gotten me over the years that I don't think many people apply to sexuality, is when Jesus is teaching at the Sermon on the Mount, and He says, even pagans know how to be kind to those who are kind to them. Like even pagans know how to greet those who greet them. But I say to you, love your enemies and do good to those who persecute you.    Not that my husband is my enemy, or was persecuting me, but the attitude of even a pagan wife knows how to love her husband well, when he's doing everything she wants, when he's attractive to her, when he's bringing her flowers, when he's attentive. But it requires the supernatural love of God for us to reach inside of ourselves and love in a way that is sacrificial. [00:39:01]    God wants us to become great lovers. He wants us to learn to love like He loves. And that's not a natural love that the average husband or wife can accomplish on their own strength. It's something that comes through intimacy with God and through saying, Lord, I want to become more like you in every area of my life. And again, our sexual relationship is not excluded from that. It perhaps can be the most challenging and vulnerable aspect of showing us how to love like God loves us.   Laura Dugger: Just one more thing to draw out of your chapter. I appreciated your balance between encouraging us to ask ourselves, are we being a cheerful giver? Then you also quote our mutual friend, Michael Sytsma, who is a pastor and also a certified sex therapist and author and speaker, that he says, the Bible does talk about fasting, but speaks far more about the feasting. [00:40:06]    Dr. Juli Slattery: Dr. Sytsma is just a wealth of wisdom on this topic. I've learned a lot from him. And that really sort of ushers in that fourth pillar of covenant love. So we've covered faithfulness, intimate knowing, sacrificial giving, but the fourth pillar is passionate celebration.    God has designed sex to be a passionate celebration of our covenant with each other. It is the way in our bodies that we remember, and we rejoice together that we've covenanted our lives to one another. God created sex to be pleasurable. He created the climax, He created the dopamine centers in our brain that go off with great delight when we experience sex with each other.    This is an important pillar. If you're looking at your sex life, and you say, okay, we're faithful to each other, and we're building intimate knowing, and I have a servant attitude, but I experienced no pleasure, then something's wrong with your sex life. [00:41:10] That's something that you need to work toward as an individual and as a married couple. There are a lot of Christian women who would identify with that, who would say, yeah, I do this primarily for my husband. I don't really love it. I don't really know how to enjoy it.    I would say to that woman that that's not the fullness of what God has designed for your sex life to look like in a marriage. He may be challenging you as he's challenged me over the years to really work on what does it look like for me to enjoy this gift, not just to be a giver of it, but also to be a receiver of it.   Laura Dugger: If anybody has their book, I'm thinking specifically, there is this part on page 133, where you draw out some fascinating discoveries about passionate celebration even in our relationship with the Lord, what that looks like, but how that transfers to the marriage as well. [00:42:10] Just things that we wouldn't think of: prayer and singing releasing certain bonding hormones.   Dr. Juli Slattery: Yeah. Yeah. So when you think about like our gatherings as a church body on Sundays or whenever you gather, what you're doing is you're gathering as part of the Bride of Christ. Usually we think of our Sunday services about the message. Yeah, the message is an important part, but it's not the most important part of our gathering. Our gathering is to express our love to our Savior and to our husband, to our heavenly Father, to all of it. We're rejoicing in Him. We're worshiping him as a collective group.    And what the research has shown is that when people gather together and they sing together out loud and when they dance, the same kind of chemicals are released in their brain as are released during sex. So they're getting the dopamine, they're getting the endorphins, they're getting the oxytocin. [00:43:15]    So when God's people get together and sing together and worship the Lord together, they're actually getting that same bonding hormone that unites you as the family of God, as a husband and wife would get together as they celebrate their covenant. So it's been really cool for me to study and to see these parallels of what God designed His relationship with us to be like, and then also what He designed marriage to be like. And to see that in many ways, even our bodily and neurological response will mirror each other.   Laura Dugger: It's just incredible to learn more about those relationships. Juli, as we seek to apply this conversation now to our own lives, what's an example of a possible next step forward?   Dr. Juli Slattery: Yeah, I think, Laura, a lot of us as married Christians, we think about biblical sexuality in terms of morality. In other words, let's keep the rules, let's obey God. And as we talked about in the faithfulness pillar, that certainly is a very critical part of how we honor God and each other within our sexual relationship. [00:44:30]    But the other pillars are all about maturity. I think you can be married for 10 years, 15 years, 20 years, 30 years or more as a married couple and never considered, what does it look like for us to mature in our sexual love? How can we say five years from now that we love each other more deeply sexually than we than we do right now? What do we need to work on? Which of these four pillars requires our immediate attention?    The book God, Sex, and Your Marriage can be helpful. We also are releasing a video curriculum and workbook for couples to go through this material that can be really helpful that you could do as couples or do in a small group. But things don't change unless we become intentional about changing them.    And so, you know, I think for all of us, we need that challenge to not just settle for the way things are, but to really ask the Lord to begin redeeming sex within our marriage, again, as part of that larger spiritual battle of reclaiming God's design for sex within our world. [00:45:42]    Laura Dugger: If part of this plan of ours for intentionality includes learning more from you, where can we go to do that?   Dr. Juli Slattery: You can find everything that we do at AuthenticIntimacy.com. So there's a podcast, blog, this book and other books and workbooks and small group opportunities. So you can find all of that at our website, Authentic Intimacy dot com.   Laura Dugger: Wonderful. We will link to that, as always, in the show notes for today's episode. Juli, you have been on multiple times, so you know we are called The Savvy Sauce because "savvy" is synonymous with practical knowledge. And so is my final question for you today. What is your savvy sauce? [00:46:26]    Dr. Juli Slattery: Well, I would have to go back and listen to the episodes I've been on before to see if I say the same one all the time. But my savvy sauce is just really spending time with the Lord and really trying to make sure I reserve that first hour of the day for connection with Him, for surrendering to Him, learning from Him, just wanting to do what he calls me to do. So that's my savvy sauce right there.   Laura Dugger: Well, you are always a calm and steady and helpful guest. As we opened this discussion, we talked about that passage from Matthew 9:37, where Jesus is saying the field is ripe for the harvest, but the laborers are few. So I just want to say thank you for being a willing and skilled helper. I'm so grateful to get to have you as my returning guest.   Dr. Juli Slattery: Oh, Laura, thank you. Thanks for giving me a chance to share. It's always a joy to talk to you. [00:47:31]    Laura Dugger: Likewise.    One more thing before you go. Have you heard the term "gospel" before? It simply means good news. And I want to share the best news with you. But it starts with the bad news. Every single one of us were born sinners, but Christ desires to rescue us from our sin, which is something we cannot do for ourselves.   This means there is absolutely no chance we can make it to heaven on our own. So, for you and for me, it means we deserve death and we can never pay back the sacrifice we owe to be saved. We need a Savior.   But God loved us so much, He made a way for His only Son to willingly die in our place as the perfect substitute. This gives us hope of life forever in right relationship with Him. That is good news.   Jesus lived the perfect life we could never live and died in our place for our sin. [00:48:31] This was God's plan to make a way to reconcile with us so that God can look at us and see Jesus. We can be covered and justified through the work Jesus finished if we choose to receive what He has done for us.   Romans 10:9 says that if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.    So would you pray with me now? Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus to take our place. I pray someone today right now is touched and chooses to turn their life over to You. Will You clearly guide them and help them take their next step in faith to declare You as Lord of their life? We trust You to work and change lives now for eternity. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.    If you prayed that prayer, you are declaring Him for me, so me for Him. You get the opportunity to live your life for Him. [00:49:31] And at this podcast, we're called The Savvy Sauce for a reason. We want to give you practical tools to implement the knowledge you have learned. So you ready to get started?    First, tell someone. Say it out loud. Get a Bible. The first day I made this decision, my parents took me to Barnes & Noble and let me choose my own Bible. I selected the Quest NIV Bible, and I love it. You can start by reading the Book of John.    Also, get connected locally, which just means tell someone who's a part of a church in your community that you made a decision to follow Christ. I'm assuming they will be thrilled to talk with you about further steps, such as going to church and getting connected to other believers to encourage you.    We want to celebrate with you too, so feel free to leave a comment for us here if you did make a decision to follow Christ. We also have show notes included where you can read Scripture that describes this process.    Finally, be encouraged. Luke 15:10 says, "In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." [00:50:36] The heavens are praising with you for your decision today.    If you've already received this good news, I pray that you have someone else to share it with today. You are loved and I look forward to meeting you here next time.

"Feedback is a gift.” "You do what is best for your career, not what's comfortable for other people." “We trust the people who tell us the truth.” “I really subscribe to the idea that you should do something once a year that scares the crap out of you.” Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Tessa White and Her Journey 02:51 Navigating Career Challenges and Generosity in Leadership 05:45 The Birth of The Job Doctor and Accidental Influence 08:58 Overcoming Adversity: Tessa's Personal Story 11:57 Writing 'The Unspoken Truths for Career Success' 14:54 Playing in the Gap: Prioritizing What Matters 17:51 Managing Workload and Setting Boundaries 21:55 Finding Balance: Something's Got to Give 25:59 The Gift of Feedback and Performance Lies 27:41 The Importance of Feedback 30:19 Seeking Honest Feedback 33:44 Understanding Power and Influence 36:36 Identifying and Solving Gaps 39:50 Navigating Conflict in the Workplace 43:31 Celebrating Success and Book Launch 45:45 Evaluating Career Opportunities Episode Summary: In this conversation, Tessa White, founder of The Job Doctor, shares her journey from a secretary to a leading HR executive and now a career coach. She discusses the importance of navigating workplace challenges, the power of feedback, and the necessity of prioritizing what truly matters in one's career. Tessa emphasizes the significance of personal growth, setting boundaries, and understanding the dynamics of workplace politics. Her insights are drawn from her extensive experience and her new book, 'The Unspoken Truths for Career Success.'  In this conversation, Tessa White discusses the critical role of feedback in professional development, the importance of seeking honest feedback, and the dynamics of power and influence in the workplace. She emphasizes the need for individuals to identify and solve gaps within their organizations, navigate conflict effectively, and evaluate career opportunities based on personal values. Tessa also shares her personal experiences, including her book launch and the significance of resilience in career growth. R.O.G. Takeaway Tips: Setting boundaries is essential to avoid burnout. Feedback should be viewed as a gift for personal growth. Understanding what your manager values can help prioritize tasks. Personal experiences shape professional insights and advice. Women and men both need support in navigating their careers. It's important to make decisions that keep you whole and healthy. Feedback is essential for career growth and understanding perceptions. Seeking feedback from diverse sources can yield more honest insights. Perception is reality; changing how others perceive you is crucial. Power and influence are necessary for credibility in the workplace. Identifying gaps and solving problems can lead to career advancement. Conflict is often avoided, but addressing it can build trust. Assuming good intent in conversations fosters better communication. Start small when trying to make changes in your organization. Resilience is a valuable trait in overcoming career challenges. Evaluate career opportunities based on personal values and goals. Guest Bio: Tessa White, the founder of The Job Doctor, and author of The Unspoken Truths for Career Success. Her thought leadership on the modern workplace makes her a frequent guest on national television shows and in top tier publications. She has amassed more than 1 million followers on social media, and she is ranked in the top 2% of creators on her LIVE career sessions on TikTok. The Job Doctor is a company dedicated to moving employee performance from average to extraordinary and building strong company leaders with highly engaged employees. Tessa is recognized nationwide as a media expert on people strategy and career navigation, and has been published in Forbes, Entrepreneur, Apple News, and Inc.  Frequently used by investors to assess the people strategies of many companies, she has led multiple restructures, acquisitions, and prepared companies for initial public offerings. She has worked at the highest levels in both small start-ups and Fortune 50 companies. At United Health Group she led company-wide talent management and people strategy redesign project, which helped shape her ideas on creating an engaged workforce. In 2016, she helped lead the Vivint Solar team to be recognized as one of Glass Door's Top 20 Companies to Work.  She is a frequent television guest on Career Navigation and is featured on Season 2 of The Social Movement on Amazon Prime. Tessa also won the President's Award at PowerQuest /Symantec for Innovation, awarded only to the top 2% of the company. She has led the company Human Capital interests on multiple Boards including Vivint Solar's partnership with Blackstone, one of the world's leading investment firms Today, she is an active advisory board member to one of the nation's top entrepreneur programs, Utah State University's Huntsman School of Business; she also serves on the boards of Utah Valley University Women's Center and Dahlia's Hope (https://www.dahliashope.org), a center that helps sex-trafficking victims recover and rebuild their lives. If there is time leftover, she loves fly-fishing. Resources: Tessa's Website: TheJobDoctor.com Tessa's resources and links: Tessa White on Stan CareerRx Where to find R.O.G. Podcast: R.O.G on YouTube R.O.G on Apple Podcasts R.O.G on Spotify 5 Year Gratitude Journal: Grounded in Gratitude on Etsy How diverse is your network?  N.D.I. Network Diversity Index What is your Generosity Style?  Generosity Quiz Credits: Tessa White, Sheep Jam Productions, Host Shannon Cassidy, Bridge Between, Inc. Coming Next: Please join us next week, Episode 221, Special Guest, Justin Jones-Fosu.

  Want to know how to attract and retain top sales talent? I've got the solution to help you build a killer sales team. It's time to reveal the unexpected! What if I told you that the key to attracting top sales talent lies in creating a welcome box for their family? Imagine the impact of a virtual welcome receiving line or a 30-minute presentation where new hires get to teach you something they're passionate about. But here's the twist: the onboarding starts before they're even hired. Intrigued? Stay tuned to find out how these creative onboarding strategies can transform your hiring process and keep those top salespeople engaged. Conquer Sales Challenges To conquer sales challenges, leaders must adopt a disruptive mindset when hiring sales talent. Challenging candidates during the interview process and thinking critically can help in identifying top performers. Avoiding common hiring mistakes, such as not showcasing value or focusing solely on industry experience, is crucial in overcoming sales challenges and attracting the right talent. This is Walter Crosby' story, this week's special guest: Walter Crosby's journey into the world of sales began with a pivotal encounter in high school, where his guidance counselor doubted his ability to apply to the University of Michigan. This moment ignited a fierce determination within him, propelling him to defy expectations and pursue his aspirations. With over four decades of experience in sales, Walter's passion for elevating sales professionals stems from his own journey of resilience and growth. His unique perspective on hiring salespeople emphasizes the significance of assessing a candidate's selling prowess over their industry experience. Walter's story serves as a powerful reminder that motivation and tenacity are crucial in both sales and the hiring process, and that the art of selling transcends specific industries and markets. "Hiring salespeople is similar to how we go out and sell, go sell to our customers. We need to qualify these people. We need to make sure they're the right people that we should be talking to." - Walter Crosby Walter Crosby, the CEO of Helix Sales Development, boasts an extensive four-decade career in sales leadership and management. With a background deeply rooted in hands-on sales roles and leading sales teams, Walter's expertise is honed in elevating the performance of sales professionals, managers, and leaders. His significant decision to venture into entrepreneurship with Helix Sales Development underscores his strategic vision and entrepreneurial spirit. Hosting the Sales and Cigars Podcast, Walter's insights and industry acumen make him a compelling guest, offering a fresh perspective on the essential strategies for sourcing top-tier sales talent. In this episode, you will be able to: Master the Art of Hiring Top Sales Talent: Learn Winning Strategies. Revolutionize Your Sales Team Onboarding for Unprecedented Results. Conquer Sales Challenges with Proven Tactics and Expert Guidance. Cultivate a Phenomenal Sales Culture and Watch Your Team Flourish. Ignite Your Sales Team's Motivation for Unparalleled Performance.   The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:00 - The Drive to Succeed 00:01:28 - Background and Passion 00:09:29 - Challenges in Sales Hiring 00:13:10 - The Trap of Industry Experience 00:13:49 - Hiring for Industry Experience 00:14:44 - Buyer Level Experience 00:16:54 - Industry Experience Trap 00:19:04 - Selling Skills Over Product Knowledge 00:22:27 - Mistakes in Hiring Salespeople 00:27:38 - Dealing with Employee Feedback 00:28:13 - The Hiring Process 00:30:44 - Social Media Presence 00:31:30 - Panel Interview Process 00:37:54 - Mindset Shift in Hiring 00:41:12 - Importance of Onboarding Process 00:43:17 - Pre-Onboarding and Engagement 00:44:48 - Retention through Onboarding 00:46:39 - Virtual Onboarding Creativity 00:50:18 - Personal Favorite Movie Timestamped summary of this episode: 00:00:00 - The Drive to Succeed Walter Crosby shares his passion for helping sales professionals elevate their game and talks about his motivation to start his own business. 00:01:28 - Background and Passion Mario Martinez Jr. and Walter Crosby discuss their backgrounds in sales and the passion they have for helping salespeople succeed. 00:09:29 - Challenges in Sales Hiring Walter Crosby talks about the unique challenges of hiring salespeople and how they are wired differently, requiring a different approach to hiring. 00:13:10 - The Trap of Industry Experience Walter Crosby and Mario Martinez Jr. discuss the trap of hiring based solely on industry experience and emphasize the importance of focusing on other qualities when hiring salespeople. 00:13:49 - Hiring for Industry Experience Walter discusses the common mistake of hiring based on industry experience. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the buyer and their problems rather than just industry knowledge. 00:14:44 - Buyer Level Experience The conversation shifts to the significance of buyer level experience. It's highlighted that having a Rolodex full of relevant contacts and understanding the buyer's mindset is more critical than industry experience. 00:16:54 - Industry Experience Trap Walter warns about the industry experience trap, noting that top performers with industry experience are usually expensive and hard to recruit. He suggests looking for individuals with buyer level experience and a drive to prove themselves. 00:19:04 - Selling Skills Over Product Knowledge The focus shifts to the importance of selling skills over product knowledge. It's emphasized that the ability to sell and understand the sales process is essential, and product knowledge can be taught. 00:22:27 - Mistakes in Hiring Salespeople Mario asks Walter about common hiring mistakes. Walter points out the lack of clarity in job descriptions, poor job postings, and the premature selling of the company and job role as key errors. He also emphasizes the importance of online reputation on platforms like Glassdoor. 00:27:38 - Dealing with Employee Feedback Walter discusses the importance of correcting, dealing with, or removing feedback from disgruntled employees. He emphasizes the need to address this issue in the workplace. 00:28:13 - The Hiring Process Walter highlights the importance of understanding that candidates are also evaluating the company during the hiring process. He emphasizes the need to showcase value, promotional opportunities, and focus on candidates in the hiring process. 00:30:44 - Social Media Presence The discussion focuses on the significance of a sales leader's social media presence, including LinkedIn profile, in showcasing their ability to help their team grow and progress. The importance of recognizing the two-way street in the hiring process is emphasized. 00:31:30 - Panel Interview Process The panel interview process is introduced as a way to allow candidates to present themselves and demonstrate their skills in a simulated sales scenario. The process includes a 30-minute presentation and allows candidates to showcase their abilities. 00:37:54 - Mindset Shift in Hiring The conversation shifts to the mindset of hiring managers, emphasizing the need to challenge and push back on candidates to truly evaluate their fit for the role. The focus is on digging into candidates' achievements and quantifiable outcomes in sales. 00:41:12 - Importance of Onboarding Process Walter discusses the challenges of onboarding new salespeople and shares his experience of a lackluster onboarding process at a previous company. He emphasizes the need for a well-planned onboarding process that focuses on messaging, differentiation, and techniques for success. 00:43:17 - Pre-Onboarding and Engagement Walter emphasizes the importance of pre-onboarding engagement, such as sending a welcome package to the new hire and involving their family. He stresses the need for a structured onboarding plan that maps out the first two weeks and helps the new hire understand the company's expectations. 00:44:48 - Retention through Onboarding Walter discusses the critical role of onboarding in retaining top sales talent. He shares his personal experience of almost leaving a company due to a poor onboarding process. He emphasizes the need for ongoing career development and mentorship to support the new hire's growth. 00:46:39 - Virtual Onboarding Creativity The conversation shifts to creative onboarding strategies in a virtual environment. Walter shares the idea of a virtual welcome receiving line and emphasizes the importance of creating a positive culture through innovative onboarding practices. 00:50:18 - Personal Favorite Movie The conversation ends with a lighthearted question about Walter's all-time favorite movie, "A Bronx Tale." Walter shares his enthusiasm for the film and highlights its compelling storyline set in the 1950s with a mob influence. Maximize Sales Team Success In order to maximize sales team success, it is vital to focus on hiring the right salespeople with the necessary skills and mindset for the role. Creating clear job descriptions and conducting thorough qualifications can help in attracting top sales talent. By emphasizing value, growth opportunities, and showcasing a positive company culture, leaders can ensure long-term success for their sales teams. Elevate Sales Performance Elevating sales performance begins with a strategic onboarding process that goes beyond just product knowledge. Providing new salespeople with messaging, differentiation, and questioning techniques can help improve their performance from day one. Additionally, creating a welcoming and supportive environment, whether in person or virtually, can boost morale and drive sales success. The resources mentioned in this episode are: Connect with Walter Crosby on LinkedIn to learn more about his expertise and insights in sales and leadership. Visit Walter Crosby's website to explore more resources and connect with him directly for personalized advice and guidance. Download FlyMSG for free to save time and increase productivity with a text expander and writing assistant. Watch A Bronx Tale to experience a coming-of-age movie set in the 50s with a compelling mob influence and a great storyline. Subscribe to the Modern Selling Podcast and leave a 5-star rating and review on iTunes to support the show and stay updated on the latest episodes.

The Lindt Cafe siege is one of Australia’s most infamous crimes. A terrorist took ten customers and eight employees hostage back in December 2014. The Sydney siege resulted in a 16-hour standoff, ending when officers from the NSW Police Tactical Operations Unit – or the TOU - stormed the cafe. In this episode of Crime Insiders | Detectives, Brent Sanders sits down with Ben Besant, the police officer who led the police operation storming the cafe. A warning: this episode contains descriptions of extreme violence and suicidal ideation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Daniel Zhao of Glassdoor says the job market is in a “pretty solid state” amid macro uncertainty. He says cyclical sectors have seen a slowdown over the last two years, while stable sectors including government have been fueling jobs. He discusses inflation, tariffs, and consumer sentiment as wallets are pinched.======== Schwab Network ========Empowering every investor and trader, every market day.Subscribe to the Market Minute newsletter - https://schwabnetwork.com/subscribeDownload the iOS app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/schwab-network/id1460719185Download the Amazon Fire Tv App - https://www.amazon.com/TD-Ameritrade-Network/dp/B07KRD76C7Watch on Sling - https://watch.sling.com/1/asset/191928615bd8d47686f94682aefaa007/watchWatch on Vizio - https://www.vizio.com/en/watchfreeplus-exploreWatch on DistroTV - https://www.distro.tv/live/schwab-network/Follow us on X – https://twitter.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/schwab-network/About Schwab Network - https://schwabnetwork.com/about

CBQ - “What could be learned from the Luka Dončić trade?” “When you work for someone there is no such thing as security” - Aaron Calafato NBA fan or not, glean some career lessons from the unpredecent professional sports trade of young superstar, Luka Dončić. He just led the Dallas Mavericks just shy of a championships one year ago only to be shockingly traded to the Lakers.   Returning guest and Storyteller of the 7 Minute Stories and Co-host of Glassdoor's The Lonely Office Podcast, Aaron Calafato joins us to harness this into something useful for you talented folks out there! 7 Minute Stories  The Lonely Office  Aaron's Instagram  ---- Check out CareerBlindspot.com Follow on LinkedIn and Instagram Follow Juan on LinkedIn

On this episode of That Entrepreneur Show, we're joined by Robert Glazer, a serial entrepreneur, Wall Street Journal bestselling author, and founder of Acceleration Partners. He is the founder and chairman of the board of Acceleration Partners, a global leader in partnership marketing. He also co-founded and chaired BrandCycle, which was acquired by Stack Commerce/TPG in 2021. Under his leadership, Acceleration Partners garnered numerous accolades, including Glassdoor's Employees' Choice Awards, Entrepreneur's Top Company Culture, Inc.'s Best Place to Work, and Fortune's Best Small & Medium Workplaces. Robert himself was twice named to Glassdoor's list of Top CEOs for Small and Medium Companies in the U.S., ranking #2.Robert shares his insights through Friday Forward, a weekly inspirational newsletter reaching over 200K readers in more than one hundred countries.  Robert challenges the traditional two-week' notice and introduces a revolutionary approach: Open Transition Programs. Discover how to create a win-win for both employers and employees, fostering a culture of respect and mutual benefit during transitions. This episode is a must-listen for any business owner or leader looking to improve employee relations and build a stronger company culture.

James Ferguson, author of "The Confetti Culture Playbook" gives updates on how his career journey has progressed over the last few years from being a GM to taking over as Corporate Director of Culture with Wurzak Hotel Group. In this role, he has taken the company from 2.5 on Glassdoor to 4.3! Find out how he was able to do this and what new projects James is coming out with.

James Ferguson, author of "The Confetti Culture Playbook" gives updates on how his career journey has progressed over the last few years from being a GM to taking over as Corporate Director of Culture with Wurzak Hotel Group. In this role, he has taken the company from 2.5 on Glassdoor to 4.3! Find out how he was able to do this and what new projects James is coming out with.

Tech & Privacy FAQ - Week of January 14th, 2025 1. What's this new job referral "side hustle" all about? Some tech workers are making up to $30,000 by referring strangers for job openings. They connect with job seekers through platforms like Blind and Glassdoor, and sometimes use services like Refer Me and Refermarket to facilitate these referrals, even charging a fee. While referrals can improve hiring odds, this trend raises questions about authenticity and potential abuse. 2. Why is the Texas Attorney General cracking down on data privacy? Texas AG Ken Paxton is taking a strong stance on data privacy. He's issued warnings to companies like Sirius XM and apps like MyRadar for allegedly sharing user data without consent. He's also suing Allstate for secretly collecting driver data via cellphone apps and car manufacturers to raise premiums. Texas seeks restitution for consumers, damages, and hefty fines. 3. The EU fined itself for a GDPR violation? Seriously? Yes! The EU General Court fined the European Commission €400 for transferring a citizen's IP address to Meta in the US without proper safeguards. While a small fine, it sets a precedent and shows the EU's commitment to enforcing GDPR, even on its own institutions. 4. Is my data at risk from quantum computers? Experts warn that quantum computers, still in their early stages, could eventually crack current encryption methods. While not an immediate threat, it's wise to start researching "quantum-resistant" solutions to safeguard your data in the future. 5. How are hackers using AWS to hold data hostage? A ransomware group called Codefinger is exploiting stolen AWS keys to encrypt data in S3 buckets using AWS's own encryption. They then demand a ransom and set a timer to delete the data within a week. This highlights the need for strong IAM policies and regular key audits on AWS. 6. What are the latest trends in cyberattacks? Cybercriminals are shifting from email-based malware to browser-based attacks like drive-by downloads and malicious ads. Compromised credentials are a growing problem, often obtained cheaply from fraud marketplaces. Staying updated with software, using ad blockers, and being cautious online are crucial. 7. What's the T3 Financial Crime Unit doing about crypto crime? The T3 FCU, a collaboration between TRON, Tether, and TRM Labs, is actively combating crypto-related crime. They recently froze over $100 million in illicit assets across five continents. This highlights the importance of public-private partnerships in blockchain security. 8. Who was behind the massive WazirX crypto hack? The US, South Korea, and Japan have jointly confirmed that North Korea's Lazarus Group orchestrated the $235 million WazirX hack. This incident reinforces the need for strong security measures within the cryptocurrency ecosystem and emphasizes the threat posed by state-sponsored hacking groups.

In this insightful episode, Amir Bormand interviews Jim Conti, Talent Partner at Hyde Park Venture Partners, about redefining the value of people and talent functions. Jim shares strategies for evolving the role from being process-driven to a core strategic contributor, while highlighting the importance of aligning with business goals, automating admin tasks, and building impactful employee experiences. This episode is packed with practical advice for HR professionals, talent leaders, and anyone looking to amplify the value of their talent organization. Key Takeaways: Identify Your Org's People Function Priorities: The reporting structure and allocated budget reveal how much a company values its talent function. Evolve from Admin to Strategic: Focus on aligning talent initiatives with broader business goals and automate routine tasks to free up time for strategy. Build a Business Case for Talent Investments: Use data and ROI-driven arguments to gain leadership buy-in for new tools and initiatives. Set Boundaries Without People-Pleasing: Clarity and transparency in career development discussions create trust and empower employees without over-promising. Measure Talent Impact: Post-hiring surveys and bar-raiser metrics help show the business value of talent initiatives. Timestamped Highlights: [00:00:30] Introduction to the role of people and talent functions in organizations. [00:03:00] Key indicators of whether an organization views HR as strategic or process-driven. [00:05:14] Shifting the people function from admin-heavy to strategically aligned. [00:07:54] Building a business case for HR investments and gaining buy-in from leadership. [00:11:54] The importance of transparency and clarity in employee development conversations. [00:18:00] How talent leaders can demonstrate business value by engaging with stakeholders. [00:23:00] Questions to ask during the interview process to assess a company's strategic outlook on talent. [00:24:55] Matching organizational challenges to your personal career goals. If you're looking for actionable insights to elevate your talent organization, this episode is a must-listen.  Share it with your network to inspire more strategic thinking in the HR and talent space. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe to stay updated with the latest discussions in talent leadership! Jim Conti: https://www.linkedin.com/in/contijc/ Jim Conti is the Talent Partner at Hyde Park Venture Partners and has been with the firm since 2021. In this role, Jim provides strategic talent support and consulting to the firm's portfolio of companies. Prior to Hyde Park Venture Partners, Jim served as head of people at dscout and Sprout Social — both Chicago-based software startups. In these roles, Jim built, grew, and oversaw teams across recruitment, talent management, DEI, culture, HR, and benefits strategy. The impact of this work is seen in awards from Glassdoor, Chicago Tribune, Crain's Chicago, and Built in Chicago.

When one job seeker's 145-application odyssey became Glassdoor's most viral post of 2024, it captured the year's challenging job market perfectly. From eight-month job searches to office toe-nail clippers, we're diving into the stories that defined workplace life this past year. Join us for a candid look at 2024's biggest trends, most heated debates, and what they tell us about the future of work in 2025. Plus, our Gen Z researcher finally reveals himself to weigh in on the generational divide that's reshaping offices everywhere. Hosts: Matt Sunbulli https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunbulli/ https://www.threads.net/@mattsunbulli https://www.firstdraft.vc Aaron Calafato Listen to Aaron's 7 Minute Stories Before you start a podcast, talk to Aaron! Leah Ova Follow Leah on TikTok Editorial: Matt Sunbulli Brooks Borden Ken Wendt Aaron Calafato Audio: Ken Wendt Jan Cruz Research: Zaid Safe Matt Sunbulli

Award-winning entrepreneur and author Robert Glazer has identified a core issue in today's companies: the traditional “growth-at-all-costs” mindset is unsustainable. After a decade of relentless expansion, many companies are struggling to grow without burning out their employees along the way. Robert believes there is a better way—one that brings teams along on the growth journey to benefit employees and the company alike.  Robert Glazer is an award-winning executive, speaker, author, and the Founder and Chairman of Acceleration Partners. Under his leadership, his company earned accolades like Glassdoor's Employees' Choice Award and was named a Best Place to Work by Inc. and Fortune. Robert was also named Glassdoor's #2 Top CEO for small and medium companies in the U.S. In this episode, Dart and Robert discuss:- How Robert became #2 CEO on Glassdoor- Growing people vs. growing a company- The 4 attributes of transformational work- How core values shape leadership styles- The true origin of company culture- Building agency and resilience within teams- Overcoming learned helplessness at work- And other topics…Robert Glazer is the Founder and Chairman of Acceleration Partners, a global partner marketing agency that has consistently been recognized for its exceptional company culture and business performance. Under his leadership, the company earned accolades like Glassdoor's Employees' Choice Award and was named a Best Place to Work by Inc. and Fortune. Robert was also named Glassdoor's #2 Top CEO for small and medium companies in the U.S. A passionate advocate for personal and professional growth, Robert is the bestselling author of five books, including Elevate and Friday Forward. He is also a sought-after speaker and host of The Elevate Podcast, sharing insights on leadership, business, and building capacity. Through his writing and work, Robert inspires individuals and organizations to reach their full potential.Resources mentioned:Rethinking Two Weeks Notice, by Robert Glazer: https://www.amazon.com/Rethinking-Two-Weeks-Notice-Employees-ebook/dp/B0DGRZRXYY Elevate, by Robert Glazer: https://www.amazon.com/Elevate-Beyond-Limits-Success-Yourself/dp/1492691488 Connect with Robert: www.RobertGlazer.com Work with Dart:Dart is the CEO and co-founder of the work design firm 11fold. Build work that makes employees feel alive, connected to their work, and focused on what's most important to the business. Book a call at 11fold.com.

Welcome to Strategy Skills episode 513, an interview with the author of Leading Giants: A Leader's Guide to Maximum Influence, Dave Durand.   In this episode, Dave explains his decision to approach life as an adventure, without fearing mistakes and prioritizing the best ideas over being right. He talks about building successful organizations by creating the right culture, hiring for values and cultural fit, and adapting to technological changes. He shares how he balances personal and professional responsibilities, advising us to maintain order in life and strive for continuous improvement.   Dave Durand is a 9-figure founder. He has built and sold multiple businesses which have collectively done over one billion dollars in sales in industries including media, digital services, and leadership training. He has been named Most Respected CEO three times by Glassdoor and Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young.   Get Dave's new book here: https://shorturl.at/qoogX Leading Giants: A Leader's Guide to Maximum Influence   Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach   McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf   Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo  

Since 2020, the way we work has shifted dramatically. Many of us are now working remotely, at least part-time, and even those back in physical offices face rapid turnover and increasingly demanding environments. Today, we're speaking with a leader and author who specializes in workplace dynamics to help us gain clarity on navigating these evolving times. Listen and Learn: Why the traditional two week notice period is often unfair for both employers and employees The importance of open, honest transition conversations and how to approach them How to lead difficult conversations as a core skill in effective leadership Insights into the future of work as younger generations reshape workplace culture and expectations Links Robertglazer.com ABOUT OUR GUEST Robert Glazer is a speaker, and author. He is the founder of Acceleration Partners marketing agency and a top rated CEO on Glassdoor. He's the author of a number of books including: Elevate, Performance Partnerships, and his new title, Rethinking Two Weeks' Notice. Like the Show? Leave us a review Check out our YouTube channel

After an estimated 1.3 million people left the boutique fitness studio workforce during the pandemic, owners are trying to conquer the ongoing challenges of finding good team members.   So grab some invaluable insights on attracting staff from Coach Catherine Hebb and professional recruitment expert Nina Sarge in Episode 640: How to Build a Successful Team, Part 1: Recruitment.   Role call: keep the job description punchy and brief, and showcase benefits   Review your reviews: aim for positive input on Glassdoor, Trustpilot and social media Greet and meet: screen first with a phone interview, then meet in person Sell yourself: highlight your studio's culture, perks, benefits and opportunities  Get a second opinion: always contact professional and personal references   Amidst a stubbornly tight employee market, job-seekers can afford to be much choosier. Episode 640 helps you tweak your recruitment process to draw the best-fitting staff members.   Catch you there,   Lise   PS: Join 2,000+ studio owners who've decided to take control of their studio business and build their freedom empire. Subscribe HERE and join the party! www.studiogrow.co www.linkedin.com/company/studio-growco/  

Spotting Job Scams: Tips for Job Seekers and Employers Spotting Job Scams: Tips for Job Seekers and Employers

According to Glassdoor, the estimated total pay for a Real Estate Investor is $196,126 per year, with an average salary of $142,219 annually.   Investing in real estate in the U.S. offers stable and often superior returns compared to other investment options. Factors such as steady economic growth, population increases, and innovative construction methods contribute to a robust and resilient market.   Oliver Fernandez is the owner of Mackenzie Construction and a real estate investor based in Washington, DC. Over the past 15 years, Oliver has successfully completed over $100 million worth of construction projects and has built a real estate investment portfolio valued at over $400 million. He is passionate about his team's new goal of completing $100 million worth of construction projects within a year.   Oliver started his business in 2008, but by 2012, he found himself $500,000 in debt. His vendors were demanding payment, and Oliver was determined to pay them back. At that time, he had never earned a six-figure income and felt his life was ruined. However, it was during this challenging period that Oliver discovered his true potential. He tackled his problems one step at a time, paid back his vendors, and has since completed over $100 million worth of construction projects. And he is just getting started.   Email: odf3@mckenzieconst.com     Instagram: @oliverfernandez_3    

In this episode of The Lindsey Anderson Show, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Nick Loise, the founder of the Sales Performance Team, to talk about the powerful connection between sales and marketing, especially for entrepreneurs looking to scale their businesses. Nick's incredible background includes roles as an author, speaker, adjunct professor, and a key contributor to GKIC and Magnetic Marketing. In this episode, we dive into direct response marketing, building sales teams, and creating systems that drive long-term success in business.Guest IntroductionNicholas Loise is a highly successful sales leader, entrepreneur, marketing and sales executive, Presidents Club winner and speaker. He is the founder of the Sales Performance Team, and he's passionate about helping businesses build high-impact sales teams that get results. He's an author and co-author of several essential books for marketers and sales professionals, including contributions to No B.S. Guide to Direct Response Marketing. Nick developed programs like Sales Mastery and played a pivotal role in shaping Magnetic Marketing. With eight years at GKIC working alongside Dan Kennedy, Nick has become a true expert in helping businesses scale through proven strategies.Building High-Impact Sales Teams - Key TakeawaysNick emphasizes that if you're serious about scaling your business, you need to hire two salespeople—not just one—to reduce risk and set your team up for success.The online coaching and consulting industry saw massive growth during the pandemic, but the influx of bad actors has created trust issues that must now be addressed.Repeatable systems and processes are essential to ensuring your salespeople thrive, even if they're not naturally great at sales.Today's buyers demand more proof and authenticity. Refresh your testimonials, focus on case studies, and make sure your messaging is aligned with modern expectations.Expanding your marketing beyond Facebook and Instagram is critical. Platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and LinkedIn offer untapped opportunities for entrepreneurs.Finding the Right SalespeopleNick shared strategies for recruiting top talent, including using platforms like LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor. He also recommended high-ticket closer recruiters like Zach Brown and Robert Posey.Look beyond traditional recruiting—great sales talent can often be found in customer service roles at restaurants, hotels, or valet services.Your job postings should work like your marketing: they must attract the right candidates and repel those who aren't a fit.Proper onboarding and clear expectations are critical for giving your sales hires the tools they need to succeed.The Pandemic's Impact on the Info SpaceThe pandemic sparked an unprecedented boom in online coaching and info products, with people turning to digital learning for new skills and career changes.Unfortunately, this growth also brought “bro marketers” and bad actors into the space, leading to increased scrutiny from payment processors like Stripe.Sales processes have lengthened as buyers are more cautious, making trust-building and authenticity more important than ever.Building Trust in Today's MarketRegularly update your testimonials and case studies to stay relevant and showcase your expertise in transformational coaching.A strong onboarding process can dramatically reduce churn and ensure your clients feel supported.Video content on platforms like YouTube and TikTok offers an authentic way to connect with your audience and build credibility.Exceptional customer service is a must. Being proactive about resolving issues can prevent chargebacks and retain clients.Expanding Marketing...

Aaron Terrazas is an economist who has worked for the U.S. Treasury, Zillow and was most recently, the chief economist at Glassdoor. He spent his career providing research, analysis and commentary on today's evolving workplace and fast-changing labor market. Aaron discusses how there are two different job markets concurrently happening, and delves into the undercurrent beneath the headline numbers we are seeing in the economy and job market, primarily the erosion of the quality of work for white-collar workers.Aaron talks about the cloud of uncertainty heading into 2025 and the importance of nuance when talking about issues such as illegal immigration and labor supply. We speak about the shift of demographics in the workforce, with the exodus of Baby Boomers and the implications that has on the job market and upward mobility, as well as intergenerational wealth transfers. Lastly, we talk about the impact of inflation in the near and long term, and how high interest rates alter the calculus of capital and startup investments.

I talked about the concept of Ikigai back in episode #243. This past week, a colleague posted a graphic about Ikigai and it got me thinking that it was time to re-visit and expand on this concept on the podcast.  Here's the purpose of Ikigai: It is the Japanese answer to a life of purpose. In practice, this concept of Ikigai is a lifestyle, which the Japanese live somewhat instinctively.  We here in America can learn from the Japanese in this regard. Here's a quote from the ikigailiving.com website: “Your Ikigai wakes you up in the morning and leads you away from a mundane, status-quo lifestyle. It empowers you and drives your actions and purpose.”  Ikigai is the intersection of -What you love -What the world needs -What you can be paid for And -What you are good at  What I liked about the graphic my colleague posted was that it shows what I'm going to call “partial Ikigai” – what you end up with when you have two or even three of these things, but not all four. This is where I want to go today. Here's my invitation to you as you listen: For those of you who are living your Ikigai – this is an opportunity for you to sink into gratitude about that. To think through – perhaps even journal on – the ways in which you are at the intersection of what you love, what the world needs, what you can be paid for, and what you are good at.  For those of you who know you AREN'T in Ikigai and those of you who realize it by listening to this episode, I will give some tangible steps you can take at the end. I promise, there is a way to at least move towards your Ikigai without changing everything about your life.   What You Love + What the World Needs = MissionAt this intersection, you are engaged in work you love AND contributing something the world is in need of. You're committed to the environment, let's say, so you find yourself volunteering for several climate groups, save the whales, saving the rain forest. Perhaps you are getting paid for your work, but not at the level your education and experience call for.  What you DON'T have at this intersection is consideration of what you are good at or what you can actually get a paycheck from.  You are committed to the cause, you are fully bought-in to making the world a better place. BUT you are either doing volunteer work or not getting paid enough to live a respectable lifestyle. You also are doing work that you aren't necessarily good at – perhaps loving the cause and your idealism so much that you are square-peg-in-round-holing it.  Result: Burnout and Poverty. You aren't playing to your strengths in this role, which will, eventually, lead to burnout. You will be constantly “picking up” odd jobs or one-off assignments to earn enough to make ends meet. You will likely be denying some desires, such as travel, a home of your own, etc.  Solution: Is it possible for you to get a full-time job with one of the organizations you've volunteered with, or been in a smaller role with? Can you keep the cause you are passionate about, while shifting your role within that organization to one that compensates you and utilizes what you are good at?  Possible Compromise: Start with figuring out what you actually need to earn for the lifestyle you desire (be reasonable). Then consider volunteering for your causes – or supporting them financially.   What the World Needs + What I Can Be Paid For = VocationAt this intersection, you have a very practical occupational decision – devoid of passion. You're being pragmatic, but not taking into consideration what will actually fill your soul.  You've looked at a need, let's say becoming a doctor. You know it pays well, so you go to med school. You have acquired a vocation.  The world needs doctors – but what the world REALLY needs is doctors who truly want to be doctors. Result: Burnout and Dissatisfaction. You aren't playing to what you love and what you are good at in this role. You're making good money, but don't have the time or energy to enjoy your earnings.  Solution: There's nothing wrong with making logical occupational decisions – as long as your passion and skillset are also taken into consideration. Maybe you realize you would much rather conduct cancer research than be in a clinical setting. Perhaps you move into medical device sales.  Possible Compromise: If we're actually talking about leaving the medical field, that can be tough because of the earnings potential. This example, in particular, is one where you really need to take a step back and look at the bigger picture – the quality and balance of your life. This one may require a bigger shift to get on the right path that the other combinations.   What I Can Be Paid For + What I am Good At = ProfessionHere we have included your Strengths, but they are likely your Burnout Skills if you don't also love utilizing them. This is another left-brained decision, because while practical, it won't feed your soul.  I think a good example here would be someone who enters law school because they've always excelled at debate and they think all lawyers make a lot of money. Perhaps they go into private practice afterwards, because their desire to become a public defender or work for a non-profit has taken a back seat to the enormous law school debt they've racked up.  Result: Burnout and Yearning. You long for the non-profit work you were passionate about before law school. You have the trappings of wealth, but become disenchanted with the materialism. You are golden-handcuffed to your occupation.  Solution: Find a way to minimize use of your Burnout Skills and maximizing use of the skills you love to use and are good at. How can you shift your occupation to bring in the passion? Perhaps you sit down with your significant other to see whether serving as an attorney in a non-profit is actually financially viable. What can you do outside of your job to fill your soul, at least in the short term?  Possible Compromise: If you leave the law field, you could still volunteer in some capacity if you still want to use your legal talents in a capacity that fills your soul.   What I am Good at + What I Love = PassionYou are doing the work you love and utilizing your strengths. This decision was 100% right-brained, without consideration of what will make money and what the world actually needs. Perhaps you've always loved working with animals, so you take on a role managing a local non-profit that rescues alpaca. You love the animals and seeing them rehabilitated and moving on to better situations.  Does the world need people doing this work? Yes. The bigger question is, does the world value people doing this work, and the answer may be no. Low pay, relying on grants or donations for basic necessities, and less-than-ideal working conditions are part of the job.  Result: Poverty and Yearning. You may find yourself yearning for more in your life – experiences such as travel or a nice home. You're also frustrated, knowing that, while you are doing the work you love, you can't seem to make a decent living.  Solution: Is there another animal the world values more than alpaca – that will pay better? Is there an organization with wider reach than your local non-profit, that may pay better and have more solid financial footing? Is there a role within the non-profit world that still uses your Motivated Skills but pays better?  Possible Compromise: Find a better-paying job with a cause and work you love – and then you can contribute financially or volunteer to help the alpacas.  Ikigai, then, is the intersection of all of these: -What you love -What the world needs -What you can be paid for -What you are good at  What if you need help in figuring these things out for yourself? Of course, I recommend working with a career coach like myself; I also want to give you some DIY tips. What you love: Journal the aspects of your current and previous jobs as to what you loved about that work. Look at the activities you enjoy outside of work – what do you love about them? Finally, talk to family members and close friends for their insight. What you are good at AND ENJOY DOING: I added that caveat because the things you are good at but DON'T ENJOY DOING are called burnout skills. We want to find your motivated skills. You can take my motivated skills activity as part of my Professional Purpose Course at: https://exclusivecareercoaching.com/free-resources What the world needs: There is no shortage of information in this area; in fact, you may suffer from overload. Ask AI, read books, attend webinars or courses.  What you can be paid for: The US Department of Labor puts out salary data; you can also check out sites like Glassdoor.com or utilize AI to ask about salary expectations. I always recommend looking at job postings from the perspective of the skills and qualifications they are asking for relative to the position you are targeting – how can you maximize your desirability as a candidate?   The bottom line: As I said at the beginning, many of you listening to this will identify as squarely in the Ikigai – doing what you love and are great at, contributing what the world needs in a way that compensates you handsomely.  For those of you who identified one or more missing elements to Ikigai, consider working with a career coach or doing the self-work I just mentioned.  For most of you, Ikigai can be reached with a modification or two – not with starting over in a completely different job function or industry. Even adding one of the missing elements can improve your career satisfaction and move you towards Ikigai. Others of you may be nearing retirement, but with no desire to put the car in park. Rather, this is your opportunity to achieve Ikigai in your second (or third or fourth) career, where perhaps high earnings doesn't have to be the primary driver to the exclusion of true happiness and fulfillment.  Here's that quote again from ikigailiving.com: “Your Ikigai wakes you up in the morning and leads you away from a mundane, status-quo lifestyle. It empowers you and drives your actions and purpose.”   Are you in the wrong job that chips away at you every day? The document and coaching programs offered by Exclusive Career Coaching will help you find a job that uses your zone of genius, recognizes your value, and pays you what you're worth.  If you're ready to take your job search to the next level by working with a highly experienced professional with a track record of client success, schedule a complimentary consult to learn more:  https://calendly.com/lesaedwards/zoom-meetings2   

Today, we are diving deep into the intricacies of human connection with our special guest, Jennifer Hill, an entrepreneur, executive coach, and speaker with over 20 years of experience. She exited her first company in 2018. As a recognized expert, she's appeared on KNX Radio, BBC News, ABC, NBC, FOX, and E! News and has been quoted in The Ladders and Glassdoor.In 2021, she co-founded OptiMatch (Om.app), an algorithm revolutionizing human connections in business by matching people using motivating factors. She's also a member of the Evolutionary Leaders Circle. She has hosted a popular 17-part series with Deepak Chopra and Don Hoffman entitled “Conversations at the Intersection of Cutting Edge Science and Spirituality,” which can be found on Humanity's Stream. Jennifer has her podcast, too, called Regarding Consciousness.Already you're probably getting a good sense of our conversation as we explore how to crack the code of human connection. This is such a vibrant conversation; Jen helps us to unpack the importance of understanding motivations, cultivating empathy, and integrating indigenous wisdom into our daily lives. She sheds light on personal growth, emotional management, and her innovative journey in developing the OptiMatch software, which she built to enhance relationships in both personal and professional spheres.We'll discuss critical concepts like the "golden triangle of connection," the role of self-awareness in forming meaningful relationships, and practical exercises for dealing with interpersonal struggles. Jennifer shares profound insights from neuroscience on perception and actionable techniques like heart-focused breathing and inner child work to foster self-compassion and emotional well-being.Join us as we discuss how shifting perspectives can positively alter our perceptions and interactions of life and how we can make empathy a cornerstone of resolving conflicts when we slow down. You will find Jennifer's journey inspiring and her mission to connect a billion people. I am sure this conversation will motivate you to deepen your connections and live purposefully. Tune in, and let's start cracking the code of human connection together!Key TakeawaysJennifer's struggle with human connection and how she sought understanding as a survival mechanismHow motivation, perception and stress impact behaviorHow she co-founded Optimatch to develop an intuitive matching algorithm for relationshipsHow self-hugging increases oxytocin, happiness, and connectionJennifer's daily self-reflection and self-appreciation practicesMemorable Quote“A lot of people are struggling with understanding of self, of others, and with remote and hybrid work, we feel more disconnected than ever before. We're attached to our devices and disconnected from ourselves.”—Jennifer HillEpisode Resources:Optimatch WebsiteTake The Survey hereJennifer's Linkedin ProfileSacredChangemakers.comOur Sacred CommunityJayne's WebsiteJayne Warrilow on LinkedinThank you to our sponsor:A huge thank you to our Inner Circle members, podcast sponsors, and extended Sacred Changemakers...

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