Podcasts about Glassdoor

In today's business world, having a true values-based culture can elevate your company by every metric, giving you an enormous advantage over your competitors. Robert Glazer, founder of Acceleration Partners, a $50 million marketing agency, is known for creating values-driven cultures. His insightful new book 'The Compass Within', distills the framework he has taught to thousands of leaders through his Core Values Discovery course. Under his leadership, Acceleration Partners has received numerous company culture awards, including Glassdoor's Employees' Choice Awards (2 in a row), Ad Age's Best Place to Work, and Entrepreneur's Top Company Culture twice, and he also hosts The Elevate Podcast that ranks in the top 0.1% of all Apple podcasts. This is a great listen.   LINKS   Robert's website https://robertglazer.com The official book page: https://robertglazer.com/compass/ The Six Core Values Questions page: https://robertglazer.com/six/ The Mojo Sessions website www.themojosessions.com   The Mojo Sessions on Patreonhttps://www.themojosessions.com/season-6/ep-620-robert-glazer www.patreon.com/TheMojoSessions Full transcripts of the show (plus time codes) are available on Patreon.   The Mojo Sessions on Facebook www.facebook.com/TheMojoSessions   Gary on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/gary-bertwistle   Gary on Twitter www.twitter.com/GaryBertwistle   The Mojo Sessions on Instagram www.instagram.com/themojosessions   If you like what you hear, we'd be grateful for a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Happy listening!   © 2025 Gary Bertwistle.  All Rights Reserved.

Gen Z workers are rethinking what success looks like, and they're doing it through career minimalism. Instead of engaging in the traditional corporate hustle culture or climbing the corporate ladder, many are seeking work boundaries and self fulfillment. Gen Z worker Jane Tsang shares how lazy girl jobs and multiple income streams fit into this approach. And, Glassdoor's chief economist Daniel Zhao explains what it could mean for the future of work.

“Tu veux recruter mais ton annonce ressemble à un formulaire Pôle Emploi de 2004 ?!C'est normal que personne ne clique.”Pourquoi 80 % des annonces ne donnent envie à personne ?

In this episode, host Sandy Vance sits with Jon Shreve, CEO of MCG, to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the future of clinical guidelines and decision support. They discuss how MCG is leveraging AI to strengthen its offerings for payer organizations and stakeholders across the healthcare spectrum, why consistent interpretation of guidelines is critical, and how trust plays a central role in the process. The conversation also dives into the question of whether AI standards will ever be unified and gives a sneak peek into the exciting new directions MCG is heading.In this episode, they talk about:How healthcare AI is transforming clinical guidelines and MCG's approachClinical decision support solutions for payers and healthcare organizationsWhy consistent guideline interpretation matters in healthcareBuilding trust in AI-powered clinical decision-makingWill AI standards in healthcare ever be unified?Future innovations in clinical decision support at MCGA Little About Jon:Mr. Shreve oversees all facets of MCG Health's growth and management. He was Chairman of MCG from 2002 to 2009 and became its CEO in 2007. In 2018, Glassdoor recognized him as one of the Top 50 CEOs for Medium and Small Businesses. In 2024, Glassdoor also named MCG a Best Place to Work. Under his leadership, MCG has grown by over 20x. Before MCG's acquisition by Hearst in 2012, Mr. Shreve had been with Milliman for over 25 years as an Equity Principal and Consulting Actuary. In addition to MCG, Mr. Shreve led or sponsored twenty other practices and was on Milliman's Board of Directors. Mr. Shreve received his Bachelor of Arts with distinction in Mathematics from Carleton College in Minnesota, and he is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries, as well as a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries.

About the Guest(s):Melissa WalkerMelissa Walker is a dedicated HR professional and consultant with a rich history of leadership roles in talent acquisition and human resources. Known for her innovative approach in helping veterans transition into the workplace, Melissa started her company, Next Career, to make a meaningful impact by focusing on training and aligning veterans with corporate opportunities. With experience leading global teams and consulting for major organizations, she excels in HR business partnering, project management, and technical integrations, especially in AI solutions. Melissa is passionate about creating people-centric workplaces and leveraging her expertise to foster organizational growth.Episode Summary:In this engaging episode of "Who You Know," host Trevor Houston sits down with Melissa Walker to explore the dynamics of job searching, networking, and evolving career landscapes. This episode is a heartfelt homage to Melissa for believing in Trevor during the early days of his career. As Trevor and Melissa retrace the journey from the inception of Melissa's show to her current job search phase, they delve deep into the challenges and strategies of landing full-time roles in today's corporate environment, prominently highlighting the importance of networking and leveraging one's personal brand.Melissa shares candid insights into the difficulties of the modern job market, emphasizing how her extensive consulting experience, though valuable, poses unique challenges in returning to in-house roles. They discuss various job search methodologies, including leveraging AI tools across platforms such as LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor, and contemplate unconventional yet potent tactics such as launching personal podcasts and content creation to potentially boost inbound job opportunities. The conversation underscores reciprocity, networking, and the critical function of human connections in successfully navigating career transitions.Resources:Melissa Walker LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissamwalker/Trevor Houston on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevorhouston/Career Transition Summit: https://event.webinarjam.com/register/67/04404igv LinkedIn e-book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://online.flippingbook.com/view/714118097/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/who-ya-know-show ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trevor Houston is a licensed financial professional offering insurance/financial products through various carriers. For more info visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://cpwstrategies.comChapters:(0:00) Introduction and Melissa's Career Goals(1:31) Recap of How the Show and Relationship Began(3:28) Melissa's Background and Career Path(8:02) Challenges in Job Searching for Melissa(10:09) Exploring Job Search Strategies and Networks(15:26) Discussing Commission Jobs and Challenges(19:35) Reverse Engineering the Job Search System(25:35) The Role of Marketing in Career Search(31:30) Concerns About AI and Its Implications(43:24) The Dynamics of Human Element in Job Search(49:20) Podcasting as a Job Search Tool(1:00:08) Content Creation and Visibility Strategy(1:09:10) Reciprocity and Networking for Job Search(1:16:04) Addressing LinkedIn and Profile Optimization(1:25:24) Closing Thoughts on Helping Others

In this bonus episode of The Lonely Office: Ask a Recruiter, co-host Leah Ova sits down with Linda Raynier—career strategist, speaker, and author of the upcoming book The Quiet Achiever: Your Journey to Authentic Confidence. With nearly 1M YouTube subscribers and over 2.6M LinkedIn Learning students, Linda has become a trusted guide for introverted professionals navigating confidence, communication, and leadership. Together they tackle Glassdoor community questions on awkward interviews, social media checks, ghosting, and whether extroverts really have the edge in hiring. Stick around for a rapid-fire segment where Linda shares her most underrated job search tool—and her biggest ick as a recruiter.  Connect with Linda!

This true story comes from Grass Valley, California—a gold-mining town in the Sierra Nevada foothills—where bedtime meant being watched through a sliding glass door. The witness was barely two when a grown figure with black, sunken eyes and too many teeth stared in, smiling. Seconds before her scream, Smoky the cat shot up, hissing and arched, fixated on that same door. Mom never saw the intruder, but she never forgot the terror—or the animal's reaction. They moved out a few months later. Years later in Alta Sierra, inside her grandparents' brand-new home, a voice whispered from behind a closed closet—calling a name that wasn't hers: “Maylene… come here.” It sounded exactly like her uncle, who lived hundreds of miles away. She shouted, “I'm not Maylene!” and fled. Grandpa found no one. From then on, she and her sister never slept alone—Muffin the Siamese stood nightly guard. Was the first encounter a shadow person? A demonic mimic that steals the voices of the living? Can a new build really keep out a real haunting, or do some things follow? This episode dives into classic paranormal activity—animal alarms, disembodied voice mimicry, and the unnerving idea that kids truly see what adults can't. From the smile in the glass to a closet voice calling a cousin who wasn't there, this is a real haunting that lingers long after the lights go out.  #HauntedHouse #ParanormalActivity #ChildhoodHaunting #GhostVoices #ShadowPerson #TrueGhostStory #CreepyEncounters #SpiritsAmongUs #GhostStoriesOnline #ParanormalEvidence Love real ghost stories? Don't just listen—join us on YouTube and be part of the largest community of real paranormal encounters anywhere. Subscribe now and never miss a chilling new story:

Anthony Moisant is the Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Chief Security Officer (CSO)  at Indeed, the world's leading job site with over 610 million job seeker profiles. He joined Indeed nearly five years ago after serving in a similar role at sister company Glassdoor for eight years. As CIO, he leads the teams responsible for the internal technology that supports employees and drives the business. As CSO, he oversees the security team focused on protecting the data of job seekers, customers, and employees. Anthony is also a graduate of the U.S. Navy Nuclear Submarine School.In this conversation, we discuss:Indeed's goal to cut time-to-hire by 50% by removing friction across systems and workflows.Solving the hiring challenges so every application gets seen and answered, using AI to improve matching and follow-ups.Why skills (not degrees) will define the future of hiring, and how job seekers can prepare for a skill-first economyHow to double team productivity with AI while keeping trust high and addressing fears about automation.A values-driven approach to AI ethics: transparency, fairness testing, red-teaming models, and an “AI constitution” agent.The lessons Anthony brought from the U.S. Navy and how they continue to shape his leadership approach in high-pressure environmentsResources:Subscribe to the AI & The Future of Work NewsletterConnect with Anthony on LinkedInAI fun fact articleOn How to Invest and Advise Early Stage Tech Companies

In this episode, Molly and Liz dive into one of the toughest challenges leaders face: how to guide your team through uncertain times without losing their trust or creating panic. Drawing from their own leadership experiences and recent news of Glassdoor's merger with Indeed, they share practical do's and don'ts for communicating authentically during business struggles. They explore the delicate balance between being honest about challenges while avoiding toxic positivity and what they've learned along the way. Whether you're navigating layoffs, market downturns, or organizational changes, this conversation offers candid insights into leading with integrity when the stakes are high. A must-listen for anyone who's ever wondered how to keep their team motivated when everything feels uncertain.

Nonprofit Sector Sees Positive Trends and AI Empowerment Amidst Challenges In this week's episode of the Nonprofit Newsfeed the duo delve into the latest updates and insights impacting the nonprofit world. Nonprofit Wellness Index Sees Positive Shift The episode kicks off with an encouraging update on the Nonprofit Wellness Index, which has reported its best month since inception. This index, tracking metrics like donation activity, ad spend, and job sector churn, showed a significant rebound from previous months, with notable increases in nonprofit job postings on platforms like Glassdoor and a rise in ad spending on Facebook. While some of this growth might be seasonal, the data suggests a positive trend for the sector, potentially signaling a more stable period ahead. Google for Nonprofits Expands AI Capabilities A major highlight is Google's expansion of its Nonprofits Workspace, now offering AI credits to organizations in the program. This includes access to powerful tools like Google Sheets, Gemini Notebook, and other AI-driven resources, providing nonprofits with high-value, cost-effective solutions. George emphasizes the importance of leveraging these free resources before investing in third-party tools, likening their value to the underutilized Google Ad Grant. Legal and Governance Challenges with ESG The conversation shifts to the complex landscape of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) policies, spotlighting a lawsuit by Texas against corporations implementing ESG practices. This legal pushback, fueled by conservative think tanks, highlights the contentious nature of ESG in corporate governance. Despite criticisms of ESG's broad metrics, George underscores the inevitable market forces that will drive sustainable practices, regardless of political opposition. Gender Equity in Nonprofit Leadership The episode also touches on the Candid 2025 Nonprofit Compensation Report, revealing persistent gender disparities in nonprofit leadership. Despite efforts towards DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), women remain underrepresented in CEO roles at large organizations, prompting ongoing discussions about achieving true equity in the sector.

Nonprofit Sector Sees Positive Trends and AI Empowerment Amidst Challenges In this week's episode of the Nonprofit Newsfeed the duo delve into the latest updates and insights impacting the nonprofit world. Nonprofit Wellness Index Sees Positive Shift The episode kicks off with an encouraging update on the Nonprofit Wellness Index, which has reported its best month since inception. This index, tracking metrics like donation activity, ad spend, and job sector churn, showed a significant rebound from previous months, with notable increases in nonprofit job postings on platforms like Glassdoor and a rise in ad spending on Facebook. While some of this growth might be seasonal, the data suggests a positive trend for the sector, potentially signaling a more stable period ahead. Google for Nonprofits Expands AI Capabilities A major highlight is Google's expansion of its Nonprofits Workspace, now offering AI credits to organizations in the program. This includes access to powerful tools like Google Sheets, Gemini Notebook, and other AI-driven resources, providing nonprofits with high-value, cost-effective solutions. George emphasizes the importance of leveraging these free resources before investing in third-party tools, likening their value to the underutilized Google Ad Grant. Legal and Governance Challenges with ESG The conversation shifts to the complex landscape of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) policies, spotlighting a lawsuit by Texas against corporations implementing ESG practices. This legal pushback, fueled by conservative think tanks, highlights the contentious nature of ESG in corporate governance. Despite criticisms of ESG's broad metrics, George underscores the inevitable market forces that will drive sustainable practices, regardless of political opposition. Gender Equity in Nonprofit Leadership The episode also touches on the Candid 2025 Nonprofit Compensation Report, revealing persistent gender disparities in nonprofit leadership. Despite efforts towards DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), women remain underrepresented in CEO roles at large organizations, prompting ongoing discussions about achieving true equity in the sector.

“ None of us know how to be bored anymore. Some of the best things in my life have come from those moments where I'm not connected” — “...can you poop without your phone? We're going to solve our social media's problem — but first, you have to accept we ALL have a problem. Nearly every challenge we face as a society becomes infinitely harder if we stay on our current path. Division, misinformation, a slow erosion of critical thinking — we're all feeling the effects. And we haven't even thrown AI into the mix. Yet at the same time, social media has undeniable upsides: connection, creativity, even community. So what do we keep? What do we change? What role should incentives, business models, regulation, and culture play in reshaping these platforms? Recently longtime FrieMMd of the Pod Jay Veraldi put together a small workgroup — including entrepreneurs Loren Appin (Fishbowl co-founder) + Maggie Silver (Mother of Invention) — to meet, share perspectives, and figure out — how do we fix our social media problem?That's the conversation our particular workgroup had. and it was with two fantastic, interesting, and intelligent people I'd never met - Loren and Maggie. Loren's a product leader and community builder who's spent the last 15 years building social platforms, including founding Fishbowl and leading product at Glassdoor. These days, he's just as focused on inner growth — through meditation, music, and even the occasional quantum physics rabbit hole. Maggie's an actor-turned-startup veteran with two kids, a handful of exits, and a new consumer products company called Mother of Invention in the works. She's lived the arc of being all-in on social, then going dark, and now re-emerging with a mindful, founder's presence. It was a fascinating conversation about how we navigate the mess of social media today — where things broke, how we might fix it, and why it matters right now — and for the future Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did you like the episode? Send me a text and let me know!!Podcast Episode: Building Virtual Teams for StartupsWelcome to another episode of Business Conversations With PI, where we answer the most pressing questions for new entrepreneurs and startup founders. In this episode, we dive deep into the world of virtual teams, remote work, and actionable strategies for building a successful business in the digital age.Key Topics & Timestamps[0:00] IntroductionMeet your hosts and learn about the mission of Business Conversations With PI.Why AI-powered advice is a game-changer for entrepreneurs.[1:30] The Value of Remote Work for StartupsHow remote teams reduce overhead costs and increase flexibility.Accessing a global talent pool and fostering innovation.[2:10] Top Benefits of Virtual TeamsReduced overhead costs.Increased flexibility and productivity.Wider talent pool.Improved collaboration and communication.Enhanced innovation through diversity.[3:07] How to Find and Recruit Virtual Team MembersUsing job boards (Indeed, Glassdoor, LinkedIn).Leveraging social media for recruitment.Attending virtual networking events.Asking for referrals and using freelancer platforms (Upwork, Fiverr).[4:03] Hiring on a BudgetOffering equity as compensation.Hiring interns and recent graduates.Bartering services and seeking volunteers.Implementing performance-based compensation models.[5:07] Tips for Hiring InternsPartnering with universities and using student-focused job boards.Promoting opportunities on social media.Creating valuable, growth-oriented internship experiences.Offering stipends or travel expenses to attract top candidates.[6:13] Recommended Books for Building Virtual TeamsExpert book recommendations to help you master remote team management and startup leadership.Mentioned BooksVirtual Teams: People Working Across Boundaries with Technology by Jessica Lipnack and Jeffrey StampsRemote: Office Not Required by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier HanssonThe Culture Code: The esbootcamp.wearejonesinfor.com Thank you for being a Skoobeliever!! If you have questions about the show or you want to be a guest please contact me at one of these social mediasTwitter......... ..@djskoob2021 Facebook.........Facebook.com/skoobamiInstagram..... instagram.com/uepodcast2021tiktok....... @djskoob2021Email............... Uepodcast2021@gmail.com Skoob at Gettin' Basted Facebook PageAcross The Start Line Facebook Community Find out what one of the four hurdles of stop is affecting you the most!!If you would like to be coached on your entrepreneurial adventure please email me at for a 2 hour free discovery call! This is a $700 free gift to my Skoobelievers!! Contact me Now!! On Twitter @doittodaycoachdoingittodaycoaching@gmailcom

Kiera walks listeners through the science of giving raises without breaking the bank or falling into the feel-good trap. She gives three steps to implement around the topic of raises: Know your numbers Raises are earned; they're not automatic Communicate with clarity and boundaries Episode resources: Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Schedule a Practice Assessment Leave us a review Transcript: Kiera Dent (00:00) Hello, Dental A Team listeners. This is Kiera. And today I am excited to talk about something of, can you give out a raise and can you actually afford it? Like, how do even know there's got to be like some better model than just like a hope, a wish, a prayer? Like how often do I do this? And I thought it just be an awesome podcast to connect with you, to share some valuable tips and to really just empower you to make these decisions confidently, competently, and with ease. So welcome to the Dental A Team Podcast. I'm Kiera. I love dentistry. I love helping you have a better life.   a better quality of life, more happiness in your life, more ease, more joy, more flow, truly doing life and business on purpose. We're here about the yes model. So you can say more yes to more things in your life. So that's about you as a human being, making sure that you are fulfilled, that you are flourishing. stands for earnings and profitability and S is for systems and team development. Truly, truly, truly growing you, evolving you, making sure that you have all these pieces in place so that when you're able to live life on purpose, have your business on purpose and truly just   magnify all of this. So today, raises aren't just something that are feel good move. Like this isn't something of like, ⁓ hey, like I feel good. Let's just give you a raise or I do it out of desperation. They're honestly a financial decision that truly can impact your bottom line. It can impact your practice. can, and like with hygienists coming through and dental assistants and the economy, it's like, how do we do this? And so I wanted you guys to just see kind of like three steps to know, can I give these raises out? How do I do this confidently? And what's kind of the flow?   without risking cash flow. So this is something that we're about. love doing this. Races don't, when they're done right, they increase retention, they boost morale and they elevate their culture. Like that's really what it's about. They're super helpful and they have to be timed and strategic as well. So it's not something of like, let's just willy nilly this, which I used to do. used to say, I don't have a set plan. Like it's just whenever now I'm like, wow, let's actually have a plan for this. Let's go through this. And I want to break this down into three simple steps for you.   So first steps before we ever give out the raises are we need to know our numbers. So payroll should be 30% of your collection. So if you're collecting $100,000 payroll, and that includes all fringe benefits, our 401k, everything, should be 30% or less of your total collections. Now that's across the board, it does not matter geographically. Some specialties are a little bit higher, a little bit lower, but the goal is we want it around 30%, or in some offices, they're around 27%. So again, I'm here for like great cases, great...   We want to take care of our team members, but we want to know how that's going to be there. So that's what we're looking for. And we want to make sure that we're profitable. So our goal is to have a 50% overhead of that 30% is payroll. So team members, are you hearing? The bulk of our monthly costs should be paying you. That's what it is. After that, our 50 % overhead, 30% doctor pay, 20% profit. That's what we're aiming for. That's what we strive for. That's what we try to get our offices to. So this way, we're not just giving raises haphazardly because   There's practices out there that like, let me just give them a raise, but their collections are not there. They don't have the money to do it. They backslide, their profitability is not there. And the reality is we've got to know where we're at right now on payroll. So the only ways to have that is we either decrease costs. So like maybe we can cut labor expenses that we don't need, or we need to increase our production or our collections.   So it's really our levers that we have to deal with in this scenario. So when you look at it, before we go in like, oh, we need to get everybody raises, you've got to run the numbers to see where are we at now and where would we be? So I love to have, when I'm running numbers with offices, I love to have a conservative. It's like, hey, this is my bare bones. This is what I can have running my practice. Then I have my like middle tier, like this is where we basically are at right now. And then I love to have on the higher end, what do I have if I'm giving raises out and hiring new people? What does that look on the high end?   because then I can look at my total costs and I can see how much do I need to actually add in? What do we need to produce to be able to afford this of a practice? And I look at these three areas on my spreadsheet constantly. I call it my monthly costs. I have my conservative, my middle of the road and my advanced. This way it helps me see. Now, after that, we're going to have our raises based on performance and value. So we don't want, so this is step number two, raises are earned, they're not automatic. I understand that.   There are things with inflation, there are different pieces, but the reality is, long as what I do is I look around every year, we have it set up to make sure that what we're paying out for payroll is in the higher end of what is within our area. So you can actually go look on Indeed, you can look on Glassdoor, you can look on other areas to see what is the average pay for dental assistants in our area? What's the average pay for hygienists in our area? What's the average pay for billers, office managers, schedulers, treatment coordinators?   And our goal and our practices is to be in the top percent of those. We're not maybe going to be the highest, but we are going to be hopefully in the top 90 % of that. So that way you know, are we in line? Are we not in line? What do we need to do? And then what we're going to do from there is we're actually going to build out job descriptions. So we have an entire thing of dental assistants and all the pieces where it's tiers. So like a basic assistant. So let's say our range for assistants is 18 to $25. Well, at the 18, here's the range of what the assistant needs to do.   At the 20, this is what the assistant needs to do. At the 22, this is what they need to do. And at the 25, that's a lead assistant. So it scales it up so you're able to see like, okay, if I want a raise, this is how I'm going to grow in the company to then know what I need to do to be able to get a higher pay. I think this is so valuable for offices and it's also valuable for team members because now team members can look to say, if I want a raise, this is what I need to take on. This is what I need to learn. It's not just like, well, I've been here for two years. Give me my raise.   it's no take on more responsibilities because we are going to pay you but it's based on the experience that you bring to the practice as well. So with that, these are going to be performance based raises. And it doesn't mean that like just because someone hit that 22 that I have to give it to them right now. What it can mean is like annually you can look at it, see where your assistants and your team are at front office every position and see who qualifies for raises and who doesn't. Now when I'm running my projections and I'm looking at my costs,   A lot of times I will run my assistance on the high end or if I know they're like on my high end of those monthly costs, I'm going to look to see, all right, what do I have today? Now, if they went up one bracket or two brackets and I wanted to pay them this amount because they're doing it, what does that impact my overhead and what do we need to do? Because hopefully as people are expanding on those tiers, they're actually able to take on more, they're able to produce more, they're able to do more within the practice to make the practice more profitable or to grow.   So that way it's linked. So it's the tier raises are based on performance and value, making sure they're adding more value to the practice. And this way we can have it. And we have all these broken out for every single position. We call them tiers in it. And it's really beautiful because now for me, I know the high end of my assistants will be this amount. The high end of my hygienists will be this amount. And I'm not sitting here vacillating on these decisions. And then every year we just go through and assess and adjust as needed. But we run the numbers to make sure it makes sense. And then we do an end of year potential review of all of our people.   to see who gets raises and I can then put that into my projections for the next year when I'm building out our block schedule, building out the projections on the practice. All of that can make it really, really ⁓ special and also accurate to know what are we going to do and what do we need to hit in order to keep our overhead and our metrics in line. Hopefully that made sense because I feel like it's really like one, know your numbers, two, have your raises tied to performance and value, but based in the projections that you need to have within the practice.   And then after that, step three is to communicate raises with clarity and boundaries. So raises do impact your morale. Like, so you've got to make sure communication is key and you don't want it to be where we're giving one raise to an assistant, but then we don't give it to someone else. And then people talk and they get really angry. We also don't want to raise up all of our hygienists just because someone got a raise when they're not qualifying for it. So I like to have reviews with our teams. I like to review where they're at, where their compensation is at, what they're doing.   This is all where team leads can also put it into play to see how is this team member doing? How are they going? What's the next level? And then being transparent in what's needed to move from tier to tier. So having those one-on-ones, showing people, hey, what are your goals? And I like to find out team members when I'm having my one-on-ones, what's their personal goal? What are their life goals? And how can they move up to the next level? Now, if you're newer to business ownership, you might not know how you can do these raises. So that's really where I love my conservative.   my middle and my high end, so then I can look to see what do I need to produce? What do we need to collect to be able to make sure that we can actually afford this? So when we have offices, I have a lot of offices, like don't make decisions about this on emotional decisions. This is not a zone where we want to like, my gosh, well, Sarah came and talked to me and she's going to quit unless I give her a raise. Well, what that does is it sets a standard across the board for all the rest of your team members to see that. And they're watching, your team's watching to see what are you going to do? And I would rather,   like have a hard conversation and let them know like, I'd love to give you a raise. The reality is we know the process, we know the tiers. I know that there was another opportunity that came for you. I'd love to keep you. I'd love to find a solution. I also need to be fair with the rest of our team and I can't adjust policy just for one team member. So this way you can have like truly structured review time. You can not have off the cuff, like someone comes in like, I want a raise. And I'm well, what am I supposed to do? The team now knows how they can get raises and everything's very transparent.   very clear. And this way it's very clear for all team members. It's clear for you. It's clear is kind. So ⁓ practices, we have this for dental offices, I'll be honest in dental team. This is something Britt and I have been working through. We have a lot of positions in our company that we have never, ever, ever worked with. So we're very naive of like, okay, well, how much should this person get and how like, what should we have them do to qualify for raises? But for you, you're really lucky.   We've worked in the dental office. We know all the tiers. We know what they should be adding in. So you don't need to be like I am in our company where I'm like, how do I give these raises? What should people be getting? What does it qualify? We literally have it broken down for you, easy for you. You can adjust it. And then we just check in your area of what you should be doing for your raises in different areas to make sure you're paying in that top 90 % of your area. So hopefully that helps you with like know your numbers, tie your raises to values and have it tiered and then have set times where we actually review it and communicate with clarity.   I will not be doing raises throughout the entire year. We have it, we assess it, we know when we're going to roll out our raises. We talk to team members, we let them know, so it's very clear, it's very transparent, it's very open with them. And this way, you guys don't have to have struggles. And I will tell you, offices that do this honestly use their numbers, their alignment and their structure for raises. It's not based on emotion, it's not based on willy-nilly. They literally can walk in confident, like no, yes, yes, no. Team knows.   And that just makes it a lot easier. Then team members aren't like me where I was always like, okay, so it's my one year. Are they going to give me a raise? Are they not going to give me? I don't really know. It was always awkward. And unless we went and asked the doctor, we didn't get a raise and I hated it. So don't make it that way. Like make this where it's something easy for your team, easy for you. You make it something where everybody wins. Everybody knows it makes it easier for your office managers. They're not in question. They can hold the line for you. Everybody wins through this. So this is truly where we want you guys to look at your   Like action items are look at your raise process and see do you actually have a process and what can you do to make this where it's clear, confident? For me, I review all numbers in September and October and I build my budget for the next year. That's when all raises go through. I do it really much like corporate, so I know who's getting raises, who's not. We have a lot that are production based within our company, so the more they produce, the better off they're going to be. I don't wanna have to worry about those, but I still need to assess and just make sure are our bases accurate, are the pieces there?   Britt and I worked through this for a good solid chunk of time where we're reviewing it, we're looking at it, we're making sure it fits within our numbers of what we need, and then we know what we're able to do. So review it, see if you have it, and if you need help, email us, Hello@TheDentalATeam.com. These are tricky numbers, these are tricky pieces, these are like, how do I know? The tiers are amazing, I'm happy to help you with that. So email in Hello@TheDentalATeam.com. Truly, this is where you can elevate in your leadership. This is where you can be more clear.   This is where you have hopefully a little bit more clarity of how do I give raises? How do I know if I can afford it? Giving you the numbers as your guide, giving you the tiers, giving you the parameters within your area, and then having set times where you look at it, you project it out, having your monthly costs. So again, we're looking at multiple different lenses to see yes or no. So we're not emotional, but we're truly directed.   This is something I love. I love giving owners ⁓ clarity. I love being a fairy godmother for you where we literally can answer all these questions. You can call us. We'll pick up the phone. We'll help you out. This is what it's like to be part of our consulting. If we can help you reach out, this is what we love to do. And if you're ready to reward and retain your team the right way, reach out. Let's help you out. And as always, thanks for listening. I'll catch you next time on the Dental A Team Podcast.  

We're testing something new and sharing it with The Lonely Office audience to get your take. This bonus episode introduces a TLO spinoff concept, Ask a Recruiter, hosted by TLO's Leah Ova. Each week, real questions from the Glassdoor community go straight to top recruiters and career coaches. In this debut, guest JT O'Donnell, founder and CEO of Work It Daily, shares insider strategies for today's market: how to back channel into hidden roles, avoid the biggest recruiter icks, and recover from canceled interviews. If you're facing AI resume noise, ghosting, or subtle age bias, you'll leave with a clear, actionable path forward. Stick around for the rapid-fire segment, where JT answers quick-hit questions like: Networking or online applying? The most underrated job search tool What she'd do first if she lost her job today Her biggest recruiter “ick” and #1 green flag in candidates

Do you realize how much greatness lies within you? In this episode, Kevin talks with Dave Durand about the mindset and virtues necessary for leading others effectively and ethically in today's complex world. Dave describes the concept of giants, those we lead who have incredible potential, and stresses that leading them involves creating an environment that promotes autonomy, impact, and growth. He shares his four core virtues: prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance. He clarifies that these are not outdated ideals but timeless strengths that help leaders make better decisions, act fairly, demonstrate courage, and maintain self-control. They also discuss building a strong leadership pipeline, succession planning, and why the goal of any great leader should be to become irrelevant. Listen For 00:00 Introduction and episode overview 01:10 Flexible leadership and guest introduction 03:10 Dave's journey to leadership 05:01 Defining a giant 06:20 Leadership and influence 09:21 Four virtues as leadership superpowers 12:06 Prudence 13:53 Justice 15:13 Fortitude 17:29 Temperance 19:34 Building a deep bench 24:44 Why are we working overtime 27:44 Optimizing personality for leadership 30:06 What Dave does for fun 31:03 What Dave is reading 32:05 Final thoughts and encouragement Dave's Story: Dave Durand is the author of Leading Giants: A Leader's Guide to Maximum Influence. He is a 9-figure founder, keynote speaker, bestselling author, award-winning CEO of Leading Giants, and Executive Chairman of Best Version Media. He has over three decades of experience in leadership and entrepreneurship. He has built and sold multiple businesses, which have collectively done over one billion dollars in sales. Dave is also a trainer of over 150,000 individuals, ranging from Fortune 500 executives and CEOs to small business owners and sales representatives. His leadership culture and focus on humility have earned recognition from major organizations, including Glassdoor, Fortune, Great Place to Work, and Top Workplaces USA. This Episode is brought to you by... Flexible Leadership is every leader's guide to greater success in a world of increasing complexity and chaos.  Book Recommendations Leading Giants: A Leader's Guide to Maximum Influence by Dave Durand Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman Like this? Transformational Influence with Walt Rakowich You Have More Influence Than You Think with Vanessa Bohns Join Our Community If you want to view our live podcast episodes, hear about new releases, or chat with others who enjoy this podcast join one of our communities below. Join the Facebook Group Join the LinkedIn Group   Leave a Review If you liked this conversation, we'd be thrilled if you'd let others know by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. Here's a quick guide for posting a review. Review on Apple: https://remarkablepodcast.com/itunes   

This “Executive Perspective on Careers in Marketing” interview features Julie Wolfe, Director of Global Revenue Enablement at Glassdoor. On this episode of the Marketing Insights Podcast Series, Dr. Shane Hunt, President of Cameron University, visits with Julie to discuss marketing plans, data-driven decision-making, and personal branding. Tune in for insights and career advice that will undoubtedly inspire your creative and marketing strategy skills!

My guest is Aaron Calafato, an award-winning storyteller, narrative designer, and content strategist, for some of the world's fastest growing companies. His podcast, 7 Minute Stories, is autobiographical and extemporaneous — the man writes nothing down — and has achieved a cult following, reaching more than 30 million people worldwide. When he's not telling seven-minute stories, he's also the co-creator, co-producer, and co-host of Glassdoor's The Lonely Office podcast, which has quickly become a Top 50 Career Podcast. Aaron is a master at adapting. If the world tells him no, he turns it into a resounding yes, usually by telling a story. Who else can turn crushing student debt into a successful one-man show performed for three years across the country? He's resourceful, resilient, and like me, a fellow believer in the power story. Takeaways:The impact of personal stories can transcend individual experiences.The more specific a story is the more universal it can become.Believe in yourself and your work.Creativity often requires sacrifice and always requires courage. Resources: Listen to 7 Minute Stories.Subscribe to Aaron's YouTube Channel.Follow him on instagram @aaroncalafato. 

In an age where a single tweet can spark a crisis, reputation management is no longer the preserve of PR teams. In this episode, Lucy is joined by Lis Anderson, founder of the award-winning PR agency Ambitious, to explore how HR can (and must) play a bigger role in shaping, protecting and enhancing an organisation's reputation. They delve into the shifting dynamics of trust, the power of employee advocacy, and why the most credible voices about your culture aren't your leaders – but your people. Lis also shares what often goes wrong when HR and comms don't collaborate, and offers practical ideas to help HR teams get ahead of reputational risks, not just clean them up. Whether it's Glassdoor reviews, crisis planning, or understanding digital reputational threats, this episode is packed with insights to help HR step confidently into its growing communications role. Connect with Lis Anderson Website: www.ambitiouspr.co.uk LinkedIn: Lis Anderson Useful Links Find out more about Disruptive HR: www.disruptivehr.com Get in touch: hello@disruptivehr.com Check out The Disruptive HR Club: https://disruptivehr.com/welcome-to-the-future-of-hr/

Lucinda examines the critical topic of recruiting and onboarding talent as part of the high-performance series, stressing the fact that attracting and retaining the right people is not merely an HR task but a strategic business priority that requires clarity and collaboration KEY TAKEAWAYS Before starting the recruitment process, it's essential to have a clear understanding of the role's requirements, including necessary skills, behaviours, and cultural fit.  Treat candidates with respect throughout the recruitment process. Ensure transparent communication, provide timely feedback, and create a human-centred experience to enhance your employer brand. Implement structured interviews with standardised questions to ensure fairness and reduce bias. Use techniques like the STAR model to help candidates articulate their experiences effectively. Maintain engagement with new hires between the acceptance of their offer and their start date. Personalise the onboarding experience to help them feel welcomed and connected to the team, while also setting clear expectations for their role. BEST MOMENTS "Attracting and retaining the right people is so much more than a tick box HR task, isn't it? It's a strategic business priority." "It's about having purpose, understanding what it is that we really need to achieve. It's not about dusting off an old job description." "Job seekers today are savvy. They're not just looking at our job description; they'll be checking out the Glassdoor reviews, LinkedIn presence, maybe company values." "Make sure that the communication around it is real, is personal. It's very interesting because when it's just a massive numbers game, it's quite hard." VALUABLE RESOURCES The HR Uprising Podcast | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher   The HR Uprising LinkedIn Group How to Prioritise Self-Care (The HR Uprising) How To Be A Change Superhero - by Lucinda Carney HR Uprising Mastermind - https://hruprising.com/mastermind/   www.changesuperhero.com www.hruprising.com            Get your copy of How To Be A Change Superhero by emailing at info@actus.co.uk  Dr Jo Burrell - https://uk.linkedin.com/in/dr-jo-burrell-04901a96 ABOUT THE HOST Lucinda Carney is a Business Psychologist with 15 years in Senior Corporate L&D roles and a further 10 as CEO of Actus Software where she worked closely with HR colleagues helping them to solve the same challenges across a huge range of industries. It was this breadth of experience that inspired Lucinda to set up the HR Uprising community to facilitate greater collaboration across HR professionals in different sectors, helping them to ‘rise up' together. “If you look up, you rise up” CONTACT METHOD HR Uprising Join the LinkedIn community - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13714397/ Email: Lucinda@advancechange.co.uk Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucindacarney/ Twitter: @lucindacarney Instagram: @hruprising Facebook: @hruprising Actus Software Website: https://www.actus.co.uk LinkedIn Instagram Facebook YouTube X / Twitter

Austin shares 7 unique ways to find information for your next salary negotiation!Time Stamped Show Notes:[0:30] - Maximize your compensation[1:54] - Real salary data & H1BData.info[3:36] - Levels.fyi & GlassDoor.com[5:40] - TeamBlind.com & Your own network[8:34] - Look at the competitionWant 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!

Why is AI failing at basic accounting tasks while claiming to outsmart PhD students? Blake and David dive into the stark reality of AI implementation in accounting, from Ramp's promising new expense management agents to QuickBooks' baffling suggestion to credit and debit the same account. You'll discover the critical security vulnerabilities in AI systems and learn why clients are increasingly using AI to fact-check their accountants' advice. Plus, get a comprehensive breakdown of the top 10 tax planning opportunities in the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act—from permanent 100% bonus depreciation to Trump accounts for children. The hosts also explore which companies will be AI's biggest losers and why the future of accounting lies in financial management, not advisory services.SponsorsOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpayCloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/casChapters(00:30) - The Big Beautiful Bill: Tax Provisions Overview (01:53) - AI in Accounting: RAMP's New AI Agents (02:56) - QuickBooks AI Agents: Frustrations and Feedback (06:05) - RAMP's AI Agents: Features and Benefits (14:38) - AI's Impact on Employment: Winners and Losers (20:54) - Grok 4: The Future of AI in Accounting (36:53) - Juno and Tax Prep Automation (37:52) - The Rise of AI in Cyber Attacks (38:26) - Social Engineering and AI (39:18) - Hidden AI Prompts in Academic Papers (41:25) - AI Security Risks and Internal Controls (45:45) - The Accountant's Labor Shortage (46:59) - Tax Planning Opportunities in the New Bill (56:29) - The Impact of the New Tax Bill (01:00:45) - Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up  Show NotesRamp agents: Let finance teams do finance https://ramp.com/blog/ramp-agents-announcementMicrosoft shares $500M in AI savings internally days after cutting 9,000 jobshttps://techcrunch.com/2025/07/09/microsoft-shares-500m-in-ai-savings-internally-days-after-cutting-9000-jobs/Indeed, Glassdoor to lay off 1300 staff amid AI pushhttps://techcrunch.com/2025/07/11/indeed-glassdoor-to-lay-off-1300-staff/Workday Stock Takes A Hit After Piper Sandler Survey Flags AI-Driven Headwinds, But Retail's Optimistic https://stocktwits.com/news-articles/markets/equity/workday-stock-takes-a-hit-after-piper-sandler-survey-flags-ai-driven-headwinds/ch8GfqaR5kYElon Musk's xAI launches Grok 4 alongside a $300 monthly subscription https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/09/elon-musks-xai-launches-grok-4-alongside-a-300-monthly-subscription/Hidden AI prompts in academic papers spark concern about research integrity https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/04/japan/ai-research-prompt-injection/Tax provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2025/jun/tax-changes-in-senate-budget-reconciliation-bill/Need CPE?Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.comGet in TouchThanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040.SponsorshipsAre you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus.Need Accounting Conference Info? Check out our new website - accountingconferences.comLimited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessitiesTeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merchSubscribeApple Podcasts: http://cloudacctpod.link/ApplePodcastsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheAccountingPodcastSpotify: http://cloudacctpod.link/SpotifyPodchaser: http://cloudacctpod.link/podchaserStitcher: http://cloudacctpod.link/StitcherOvercast: http://cloudacctpod.link/OvercastClassifiedsREFRAME 2025 - http://accountingpodcast.promo/reframe2025Want to get the word out about your newsletter, webinar, party, Facebook group, podcast, e-book, job posting, or that fancy Excel macro you just created? Let the listeners of The Accounting Podcast know by running a classified ad. Go here to create your classified ad: https://cloudacctpod.link/RunClassifiedAdTranscriptsThe full transcript for this episode is available by clicking on the Transcript tab at the top of this page

Apparently, you can't keep a good grifter down, as Billy McFarland's seven-figure Fyre Fest deal collapsed, so he's hawking the brand on eBay like a box of junk. Meanwhile, Indeed and Glassdoor are laying off over 1,000 workers, probably to pay for the AI that's jacking up our electric bills. Speaking of AI, a Tesla robotaxi crashed itself while Elon Musk's Grok chatbot went full Nazi, which is of course being installed in Teslas "next week." Fittingly, X CEO Linda Yaccarino stepped down and promptly lost her blue check. To cap off the dystopian news, the DOJ is targeting an anti-ICE app developer, the 'click-to-cancel' rule is dead, and you can hack McDonald's with the password ‘123456'. The future is now, and it's dumber than we ever imagined.On the media front, Murderbot gets a second season, and the Jim Henson and The Beach Boys documentaries are must-sees. Sadly, Netflix canceled The Residence. We also got trailers for Neuromancer, Project Hail Mary, and Edgar Wright's The Running Man. Speaking of building the future, we took a deep dive into AI-assisted coding using tools like Cursor, building a functional app in hours with zero original code. It's a stark reminder that while the "free lunch" of AI development is ending, the future for junior coders is already cooked. This glorious new world also includes playing every retro game ever on your phone, thanks to emulators like Delta and PPSSPP and the Backbone controller, which led to a nostalgic dive into the classic soundtracks of Mega Man 2 and Wipeout XL. This all culminated in a personal victory: conquering all 4,678 boards in Mahjong Titan+, freeing us from our porcelain thrones.Sponsors:DeleteMe - Head over to JoinDeleteMe.com/GOG and use the code "GOG" for 20% off.Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1passwordShow notes at https://gog.show/704FOLLOW UPBilly McFarland Says His Seven-Figure Deal to Sell Fyre Fest Has Fallen ThroughOwn FYRE Festival – Iconic Brand, Trademarks, IP, Social Media Assets, and MoreBilly McFarland Is Now Trying to Unload the Fyre Fest Brand on eBayIN THE NEWSIndeed and Glassdoor are cutting more than 1,000 jobsA Tesla robotaxi inexplicably drove into a parked carMajor US power operator says AI and data center demands are pushing prices upAn AI That Promises to “Solve All Diseases” Is About to Test Its First Human Drugs‘Round Them Up': Grok Praises Hitler as Elon Musk's AI Tool Goes Full NaziMusk's Grok 4 launches one day after chatbot generated Hitler praise on XElon Musk says Grok is coming to Tesla vehicles just after it went full HitlerElon Musk Says He's Installing His Racist Grok AI in Teslas "Next Week"X CEO Linda Yaccarino is stepping down after two yearsThey took away Linda Yaccarino's blue check!Six Months Ago NPR Left Twitter. The Effects Have Been NegligibleHow SpaceX is blocking astronomers' view of spaceNew Research Bolsters Freaky Theory That Earth Sits in a Giant Cosmic VoidDOJ goes after US citizen for developing anti-ICE appTrump's FTC Let Lobbyists Kill Popular Click-To-Cancel Rule, Advocates SayEU regulators are once again investigating TikTok over data transfers to ChinaResearchers Jailbreak AI by Flooding It With Bullshit JargonBug Hunters Gain Access to 64 Million McDonald's Job Applicants' Info by Using the Password ‘123456'MEDIA CANDYMurderbotMurderbot is getting a season 2 on Apple TV PlusRapport: Friendship, Solidarity, Communion, Empathy: A Tor Original (The Murderbot Diaries) by Martha WellsNetflix Cancels ‘Pulse' and Shondaland's ‘The Residence' After One Season EachNeuromancer — In Production | Apple TV+PROJECT HAIL MARY Trailer (2025) Ryan GoslingThe Running Man | Official Trailer (2025 Movie) - Edgar Wright, Glen PowellSandman Season 2Animal KingdomGuy Ritchies The CovenantThunderboltsThe Old Guard 2Jim Henson Idea ManThe Beach BoysAMC now warns moviegoers to expect ‘25-30 minutes' of ads and trailersAPPS & DOODADSAnker issues new global power bank recall over fire hazardVisual Studio CodeCursorWindsurfAnthropic AcademyThe Onion in 2056: A dystopian world of Flash animationJack Dorsey just released a Bluetooth messaging app that doesn't need the internetWhereGoes Link CheckerYouTube prepares crackdown on ‘mass-produced' and ‘repetitive' videos, as concern over AI slop growsTHE DARK SIDE WITH DAVEDave BittnerThe CyberWireHacking HumansCaveatControl LoopOnly Malware in the BuildingBackbone iPhone Game ControllerPPSSPP - A PSP emulatorDelta EmulatorOpenEMUMajor Nintendo Switch Piracy Website Seized By FBIUpdate on the Anbernic emulator deviceMegaMan 2 music performed by an orchestraMusic by John WilliamsWipeout XLWipeout XL PlaylistMahjong Titan+ Apple ArcadeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We were joined by people leaders from Glassdoor, Asana, and Upstart. We talked about the fragmented burnout and how it's hitting people differently, how performance expectations have shifted in the last 6-12 months, and more.---- Sponsor Links:

John Lonski and Daniel Zhao give their perspective on the job market after the ADP employment report posted a surprise negative. John expects rates to fall as jobs weaken and says tariffs could have a bigger economic impact than expected. Daniel notes his firm Glassdoor's employee confidence survey has hit lows, and also expects the jobs market to keep weakening. He argues that if the economy was stronger, AI companies would be hiring more, instead of tech companies laying off workers.======== 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

Send us a textOn this episode of The Get Ready Money Podcast, I spoke with Matt Goren, a leader in developing industry leading financial education about changing the way we think about financial planning education.In this episode we discussed:How psychology applies to financial planning. There are the same number of financial planners today as there was 10 years ago.How education accelerates a career in financial planning.How AI will improve financial planning education.Know your own value to whoever is going to be paying you. You should be paid for the value that you're bringing.Connect with Matt Goren, PhD CFP®:  LinkedIn (here) Referenced on the show:Compensation: Salary.com and Glassdoor.com Morgan Housel (here)Michael Kitces (here)The American College - CFP, ChFC and other designations -  (here)Bio: Matt J. Goren, PhD CFP® designs and delivers industry-leading financial planning education - at scale. His approach combines lessons from his own teaching experience with best practices in online education, artificial intelligence, and organizational psychology. He is an Investment News “40 under 40” and his courses and programs have won national awards from ThinkAdvisor, Investopedia, Yahoo! Finance, and the AFCPE. Matt is the Chief Strategy Officer for the Brett Danko Education Center, which helps thousands of current and future financial planners pass the CFP exam. Collectively, those folks go on to provide financial advice and planning to millions of people.Matt co-founded the Global Financial Planning Institute to promote competency in the cross-border financial planning space. In addition, he is a FinServ mentor and serves with the FPA and the AFS to advance financial planning education in higher education and to career changers around the world.Previously, Matt ran Dalton Education as VP of Financial Planning Education at CeriFi from 2023 to 2025. From 2022 to 2023, Matt worked at CFP Board as Director of Knowledge for Practice. From 2018 to 2022, he worked in a series of roles at The American College of Financial Services, culminating as the director of their CFP® and ChFC programs. From 2016 to 2018, he was a professor of personal finance at the University of Georgia. And, from 2016 to 2020, he created and produced the lighthearted personal finance show Nothing Funny About Money on NPR. Before switching careers to financial planning, Matt ran the psychology research consulting firm Beyond Berkeley and taught psychology and statistics courses at UC Berkeley and the University of Georgia.Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer.

Sharon Zackfia, head of consumer research at William Blair, shares insights from over a decade of Glassdoor data to reveal how culture, leadership, and operational models—not just pay—shape employee satisfaction and long-term brand success in the restaurant sector.

Send us a textIs your pay strategy quietly driving talent out the door? In this no-fluff episode, Josh Matthews sits down with compensation expert Scott Trumpolt to break down pay transparency laws, broken bonus systems, and how to finally build comp plans that retain and motivate. If you're hiring, leading, or scaling, this one's a game-changer.

#254 Brand | In this episode, Dave sits down with Kira Federer, VP of SMB Marketing at Paramount Advertising, and formerly at companies like Reddit and Glassdoor. Kira shares her journey from sales to product marketing and the lessons she's learned along the way.Dave and Kira discuss:How to align marketing and sales through co-creation to ensure your sales team uses the content you createThe value of a strong messaging framework and how it drives consistency in B2B marketingWhy you need to time your product launches and ensure that marketing resonates with both your team and the market at the right momentTimestamps(00:00) - - Intro to Kira (06:02) - - Kira's Career Journey From Sales Enablement to Product Marketing (09:16) - - Challenges of Building Community / Getting Connected with Exit Five (15:32) - - How To Get Sales To Use Content from Marketing (18:07) - - How to Align Marketing and Sales Teams (25:24) - - Effective Messaging and Having a Core Company Narrative (30:32) - - Why You Should Identify What Differentiates Your Business (34:15) - - How To Create Strong Brand Positioning (37:00) - - Why You Need To Have A Clear Vision And Strong Point of View in Marketing (38:44) - - “The Risk Of Insult Is The Price Of Clarity” Send guest pitches and ideas to hi@exitfive.comJoin the Exit Five Newsletter here: https://www.exitfive.com/newsletterCheck out the Exit Five job board: https://jobs.exitfive.com/Become an Exit Five member: https://community.exitfive.com/checkout/exit-five-membership***Today's episode is brought to you by Knak. Email (in my humble opinion) is the still the greatest marketing channel of all-time.It's the only way you can truly “own” your audience.But when it comes to building the emails - if you've ever tried building an email in an enterprise marketing automation platform, you know how painful it can be. Templates are too rigid, editing code can break things and the whole process just takes forever. That's why we love Knak here at Exit Five. Knak a no-code email platform that makes it easy to create on-brand, high-performing emails - without the bottlenecks.Frustrated by clunky email builders? You need Knak.Tired of ‘hoping' the email you sent looks good across all devices? Just test in Knak first.Big team making it hard to collaborate and get approvals? Definitely Knak.And the best part? Everything takes a fraction of the time.See Knak in action at knak.com/exit-five. Or just let them know you heard about Knak on Exit Five.***Thanks to my friends at hatch.fm for producing this episode and handling all of the Exit Five podcast production.They give you unlimited podcast editing and strategy for your B2B podcast.Get unlimited podcast editing and on-demand strategy for one low monthly cost. Just upload your episode, and they take care of the rest.Visit hatch.fm to learn more

Dan kicks off this week with a strange story of a young student who is trapped inside a glass doored vestibule. Then, a very upsetting possessed doll story wraps up his half of the show. Lynze provides three tales this week. To start, a haunted house in Malta! Then, a rather upsetting doppleganger story. Lastly, a tale of treading on the land of witches. Monthly Patreon Donation: Stay tuned for June's donation! Send stories to mystory@scaredtodeathpodcast.comSend everything else to info@scaredtodeathpodcast.comWant to be a Patron? Get episodes AD-FREE, listen and watch before they are released to anyone else, bonus episodes, a 20% merch discount, additional content, and more! Learn more by visiting: https://www.patreon.com/scaredtodeathpodcast.Please rate, review, and subscribe anywhere you listen.Thank you for listening!Follow the show on social media: @scaredtodeathpodcast on Facebook and IG and TTWebsite: https://www.badmagicproductions.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scaredtodeathpodcastInstagram: https://bit.ly/2miPLf5Mailing Address:Scared to Deathc/o Timesuck PodcastPO Box 3891Coeur d'Alene, ID 83816Opening Sumerian protection spell (adapted):"Whether thou art a ghost that hath come from the earth, or a phantom of night that hath no home… or one that lieth dead in the desert… or a ghost unburied… or a demon or a ghoul… Whatever thou be until thou art removed… thou shalt find here no water to drink… Thou shalt not stretch forth thy hand to our own… Into our house enter thou not. Through our fence, breakthrough thou not… we are protected though we may be frightened. Our life you may not steal, though we may feel SCARED TO DEATH." Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Scared to Death ad-free and a whole week early. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.

Ep. 233: This CEO's high school was so tiny that it didn't have a track team, so he started a squad from scratch, built up the roster and even coached them, all while running a swift 4:25 mile along the way. That mindset—identifying a challenge and pursuing a solution—never left him. Years after starring on the team, Sanford saw an opening in the real estate market. He realized that the future of the business was online. So, he acted. Today?

Aliza Shatzman joins The Great Battlefield podcast to share her story of clerking for the D.C. Superior Court that led her to founding The Legal Accountability Project, where she works to improve the experience of law clerks and hold judges accountable for their actions.

Goats, graduate degrees, and Glassdoor—yep, they're all part of Amber Cerone's leadership journey! From project manager to Senior Director of Talent and Doctor of Psychology, Amber's path is proof that “searching” is part of the process. In this episode, Amber joins Matt Poepsel to talk about the power of career exploration, why leadership is more about influence than titles, and how trust—not office time—drives engagement in a virtual world

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.

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. 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 checkout 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.    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

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.

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

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.

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!