Podcasts about in andy

Andy Goldstrom is a business strategist, B2B growth expert, professor of entrepreneurship, and author. Over his career, he has built and sold fast-growing companies, including two that made it on the Inc. 500.   Today, Andy shares his entrepreneurial journey and what he has learned about being a good leader. Specifically, he's going to teach us why leaders should always speak last.    Andy's Entrepreneurial Journey   After Andy finished his undergraduate degree in computer science, he started working at GTE, which is now Verizon, but eventually discovered it wasn't the right for him.   “It just took a lot to make decisions and get things done and add value,” Andy explained. “There was a lot of reorganization going on outside of my span of control or purview at such a young age, and I realized early on that it wasn't the ultimate fit for me.” He eventually learned through experience that he would excel in leadership positions.    Around the time he left GTE, companies were starting to outsource a lot more, especially in real estate. Andy saw a window of opportunity there and became the managing director and partner at USI, where they made a company's real estate an asset as opposed to a cost center through strategic planning, transaction management, designing the construction, legal review, and database administration, and then sold it to the chief financial officer (CFO).    Eric explained success is a lot about timing with an entrepreneurial venture. “The timing was perfect. We actually were able to get a few customers who had very good interest and wanted to sign up with us before we even launched. So we were able to break even within six months,” he said.     As the company grew they were able to expand with their clients and work for companies such as Delta Airlines and United Technologies. However, once he saw changes in the marketplace as more companies wanted to go global and asked for more facility management, he decided to monetize the company and sold it to Johnson Controls.   “After Johnson Controls bought us, I became the executive in charge of a big region for Johnson Controls, including the facility management business, and I learned a lot . . . The number of people and the amount of revenue grew substantially in terms of what I oversaw and was $50 million worth of business,” Andy said.    Eventually, Andy left the company and searched for another business to help grow. He took over as the founder of a waste recycling company and helped their revenue grow 30% and their profit grows 70% within two years.    Andy helped both USI and the waste management company achieve Inc. 500 status.    Through his extensive journey in leadership and management roles, Andy continues to help businesses grow and adapt their business models as things change over the years.   Becoming a Leader   Through Andy's entrepreneurial journey, he learned a lot about what it takes to be a successful leader. When I asked him what his biggest home run was, he told me it was inspiring others.    “It was an honor and a pleasant surprise when, more than once, people have said, ‘You're the type of leader I want to work for,'” Andy said. “If you're able to help others achieve their goals, and in turn, help yourself, there's no better achievement than that.”   One key factor that makes Andy such a great leader is understanding that a leader is only as good as their team.   “[I understood] that if I wanted to sell something, I was only as good as the people who were working with me and that I was a servant to them,” Andy said. “I'm not the smoothest talker, but I am very trustworthy and I deliver what I say I'm going to do.”   In order for a business to succeed and effectively monetize, the entire team needs to be working together with the same goal in mind. An effective leader helps his team learn and encourages them to share ideas.    “If you're going to grow it, you have to have the right people who are incentivized and developed in the right way so that they can do the work, so you can grow and scale your company. I always tried to set a good example for that,” he said.    Learning to Talk Last   A good leader should talk last. Let everyone share their point of view first, and then we can share ours. Not only does that allow us to listen before we talk, but it allows us to gather valuable feedback from our team members. It makes the feedback that we give much more effective when we fully listen to everyone's ideas first.    When I asked Andy what his biggest mistake was, he told me it was speaking too soon in a conference meeting.    There was a time he was leading a senior team in a conference reviewing financials. During the conference, the CFO was presenting, and Andy felt like he knew what the right plan of action was based on the presentation. He ended up cutting off the CFO and didn't give him the time he deserved for the work he had put into the presentation. This mistake impacted their relationship, and it took time to rebuild their trust.    “You have to be the last person in the room to talk,” Andy said. “You have to let everybody else have their say. That doesn't mean that they're the ultimate decision-maker. But everybody needs to have a contribution because that's what allows a company to build. It was a tough lesson but a good lesson to learn.”    One of the things I like best about speaking last is, if someone comes up with the idea you are going to say before you say it, you can give them credit for it. As a leader, this helps everyone on the team feel like a valuable player. The more comfortable and valuable everyone feels on our team, the more likely it will be that they will share other ideas in the future. A business should be run on collaboration, not a one-man-band.    In Andy's consulting business, he works with many great people and leaders on the teams he is a part of. They all give great answers because they know the industry, but often they may have their own bias they are worried about sharing. If we can create an environment where everyone's ideas will come to the forefront, we are doing it right.    “I find that transparency, the ability to understand the goals of the company and how everybody's contributing to it, and giving people [the opportunity] to bubble up ideas, creates innovation,” Andy said.   Once we create innovation and trust in our teams and businesses, we will have the confidence of knowing that when adversity hits, such as COVID-19, we don't have to carry the weight of it by ourselves. We will have an incredible team to help us continue to operate in the toughest conditions.    Another advantage to speaking last is that everyone will feel heard. Even when someone shares an idea we don't agree with, at least we have shown them we are willing to hear their ideas. We can also take the opportunity of the disagreement and better explain to them why we are doing things the way we are. It's a lot easier to swallow feedback if you know the person at least listened to what you had to say before they made that contrary decision.   Key Takeaways   Thank you so much Andy for sharing your stories and knowledge with us today. Here are some of my key takeaways from this episode:   Success is a lot about timing and being prepared to seize the opportunity when the time comes. Leaders need to know how to adapt to changes in the market, just as we are teaching with tectonic shifts. Good leaders build trust by doing what they say they are going to do. A leader is only as good as their team.  A leader should talk last. Talking last builds trust, openness gives room for feedback and helps everyone feel heard.    Connect with Andy   If you enjoyed this interview and want to learn more about Andy, listen to part two of this episode or connect with him on his LinkedIn. If you want to learn more about his company, Midcourse Advisors, you can visit his website at midcourseadvisors.com.    Want to be a Better Digital Monetizer?   Did you like today's episode? Then please follow these channels to receive free digital monetization content:   Get a free Monetization Assessment of your business Subscribe to the free Monetization eMagazine. Subscribe to the Monetization Nation YouTube channel. Subscribe to the Monetization Nation podcast on Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher.  Follow Monetization Nation on Instagram and Twitter.   Share Your Story  What is your strategy for being a successful leader? Please join our private Monetization Nation Facebook group and share your insights with other digital monetizers. Read at: https://monetizationnation.com/blog/102-leaders-talk-last/ 

In Andy's Own Words:“The best talk I’ve ever been to” – BBC Worldwide“All conversations at dinner started..."as Andy Lopata said!!" But more important is after the conference, the number of emails and phone calls done!” - Nuno Durão Managing Partner Fine and Country PortugalScroll Down for over 150 more testimonials.Strong professional relationships can help to break down silos within organisations, lead to more and higher quality new leads, uncover hard to find solutions and increase efficiency in a range of areas.Unfortunately those relationships are often left to chance, leaving many failing to realise the potential their networks offer.Organisations struggle with more competition than collaboration between departments while sales teams rely on their leaders to bring in referrals as they plod on with tired attempts to find new prospects, ignoring the opportunity to build networks of their own.By knowing why you and your team are investing in relationships, it is possible to plan accordingly and get great, measurable results.For twenty years I have worked with companies on how to build, nurture and benefit from professional relationships. Working across sectors, I have helped businesses in professional and financial services, healthcare, software and more. I’ve even worked with chocolate manufacturers and fitness clubs, the perfect partnership!I have worked in twenty-six countries worldwide, been quoted in the international press, including Forbes, Entrepreneur.com., The Sunday Times, The Financial Times and The Guardian in the UK and written four books on the topic.I’m a Fellow and Board Member of the Professional Speaking Association and a recipient of the PSAE (Award of Excellence). I’m also a Fellow of the Learning and Performance Institute and a Master of the Institute of Sales Management.For my sins I am a Charlton Athletic supporter and former editor of the award-winning fanzine 'Goodbye Horse' (I must have done something very bad in a previous life!). I also enjoy cooking, hiking, the theatre and various failed attempts at sport!If you’d like to connect, please feel free to reach out and tell me more. Send me a personalised connection request on here or you can reach me by email at andy@lopata.co.uk.My website is www.lopata.co.uk.Specialties:→ Professional relationships→ Business networking strategy→ Referral strategy→ Social networks→ Mentoring→ Masterminding→ Vulnerability and transparency→ Networking skills→ Word of mouth marketing→ Networking for your career→ Using your network to find a job→ LinkedIn  

In Andy's first show after the passing of his cousin Rush, he shares some personal stories of the man outside the studio and how to him, he was just cousin "Rusty". We talk about a few other things too...Please share, subscribe to our podcast, and sign-up for mailout: https://www.undergroundusa.com/the-podcast

Andy is one of the most talented musicians I know. Some people think of musical talent as a preternatural gift for shredding through neoclassical riffs on guitar or ripping through Chopin concertos as a pre-teen. In Andy’s case, this talent manifests itself as incredible taste and intuition for songwriting and audio production. When you hear a song written by Andy — whether it’s the, uh, powerviolence of Weekend Nachos or the alt rock throwback of Sourmouth — you know it’s an Andy song. Fortunately, Andy gets to share his gift with others not just with his own music but through his work as a producer and audio engineer at Bricktop Recording. I didn’t expect to make ill-founded quantum mechanics analogies with Andy in this conversation about songwriting, but that’s what happened. Learn more from Andy here: Website: Bricktop Recording Instagram: @bricktoprecording | @andyheybro Twitter: @andyheybro Bandcamp/Spotify: Like Rats | Weekend Nachos | Belonger | Sourmouth | 2*Sweet Selected Production: Never Ending Game | 156/Silence | Bather | Kharma | Lurk If you're enjoying the show, the best way to support it is by sharing with your friends. If you don't have any friends, why not a leave a review? It makes a difference in terms of other people finding the show. You can also subscribe to receive my e-mail newsletter at www.toddnief.com. Most of my writing never makes it to the blog, so get on that list. Show Notes: [01:27] How Andy writes an album’s worth of songs every few months — across different genres [11:46] The difference between “idea generation” and “idea editing” in songwriting [23:19] How does Andy facilitate creativity in the studio while still keeping sessions on track? [31:13] The difference between “producing” and “engineering” [40:27] The value of a skilled editor in any creative endeavor. And, why it’s easier to edit other people’s work than your own. [48:45] How to avoid getting too precious with your own creative ideas. [54:29] Getting spacey with some theoretical physics analogies to songwriting [01:07:54] How to learn more from Andy Links and Resources Mentioned: Daniel Higgs Killing Joke Killing Joke “What’s THIS For…!” Preston Weippert (Of Feather and Bone | Volunteer Coroner) Interview Wristmeetrazor Isaac Hale Polyptych Guitar Pro Lurk Mike Watts Oasis) Attractor Wave function collapse Morrissey Robert Smith Jaz Coleman Jeff Tweedy Noel Gallagher Double-slit experiment Spelling Bee – The New York Times

We all have a purpose; we all have potential.  Yet, as Andy Storch explains, to maximize this potential, we must first turn strategy into action. For instance, to better develop our career skills, we should engage our connections and reach out to those who excel in the fields we're pursuing.  In Andy’s case, he has many strengths as an entrepreneur with industry exposure to sales, finance, and innovation; however, it's his drive to make the most of his partners and mentors that have set him apart. As his story reminds us, building your network can go a long way, both in defining your brand and sharing your expertise with the world.  Sometimes, to build a career, you must first develop relationships with people in fields you’re interested in. The question: What will be your first move with what you have received? “This networking piece is so important…the idea [of building] genuine relationships with people. I don’t think people understand you plant these seeds, you make these investments and because you want to help people…there’s going to be opportunities for them to connect you with other people and that’s how most of this works.” Resources Andy Storch: https://andystorch.com/ Podcast: https://andystorch.com/podcast/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andystorch/  Connect with Dan www.dancockerell.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dancockerell/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dancockerell/ Facebook - www.facebook.com/dancockerellspeaker  

“I went so deep into the rabbit hole that I got lost.” Andy Prado Jr. is an LA-based musician with some of the meanest chops around. He isn’t all chops though. Andy possesses a mixture of explosive creativity, dynamics, groove, and abstract rhythmic phrases within a large range of musical styles. He has his own progressive instrumental trio called Coevality while also being hired for a variety of other acts such as Sabrina Claudio. Andy is a true devotee to the art of drumming and music. He has played for nearly his entire life and has sacrificed a lot over the course of his career to become the musician he is today. He considers his checkpoints in his journey to have come a bit late but he never lost hope. In this podcast, we discuss the costs involved to get to where he is today.   You Will Hear About…. Adapting to the times as a musician and what Andy is specifically doing about that Andy’s thoughts on sacrifice to the craft in order to obtain a balance with life Why we need to enjoy the process Setbacks throughout Andy’s path Listener questions   Why Should You Listen? There are many drummers out there who have an all or nothing approach to their craft. In Andy’s case, the obsession of drumming almost cost him his marriage. So, maybe we want to check this one out just to re-evaluate our priorities in life and make sure that everything that is important to us is being looked after and not neglected due to our obsessions.   Andy’s Socials Instagram YouTube A Story by Andy Prado Video   Follow ‘Drumeo Gab’ Instagram Facebook YouTube

In Andy’s conversation with Susan Rice, former UN Ambassador and National Security Advisor, see why she is considered a front-runner for Joe Biden’s pick for Vice President. Rice goes in-depth on her biography and shares her perspectives on how America’s strengths and challenges play out on the world stage. This is a rare chance to hear how she would approach issues ranging from the pandemic to climate change, race relations, the economy, China and more. Plus, reflections on the legacy of the late Congressman John Lewis.  Talkspace online therapy works with thousands of licensed therapists. Use the promo code BUBBLE to get $100 off your first month and help support the show at talkspace.com Thrive Market delivers organic, sustainable groceries right to your front door. Your paid membership provides a free one for someone in need. Join today at thrivemarket.com/BUBBLE and pick out a free gift, up to $22 in value, today.  Helix Sleep has mattresses to suit every type of sleeper. Take their online quiz and order your mattress today at www.helixsleep.com/bubble. Using this url, you’ll get up to $200 off and two free pillows!  In the Bubble is supported in part by listeners like you. You can become a member, get exclusive bonus content, ask Andy questions, and get discounted merch at https://www.lemonadamedia.com/inthebubble Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.  For additional resources, information, and a transcript of the episode, visit lemonadamedia.com/inthebubblepodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we talk to Andy Richardson whose IB journey is an example of, not only the world-wide influence of the IB, but also the personal journey of IB teachers as they realize the value IB teaching brings to their students, wherever they are.We also discuss building a personal network of engaged educators through blogs, social media, and other platforms. In Andy’s case, most of his work is in the MYP Design course and he shares several ideas about teaching design, both in-person and online.Links:IB Matters WebsiteFrom the conversation:Andy's Blog: https://pandiononline.comScratch - online coding application: https://scratch.mit.edu/Jason Reagin's DesignCast Podcast

How do you contribute to the positive energy of the universe? In what ways do you embrace the role of silence in your life? When things aren’t going your way, what kind of body language do you project? How do you intentionally control your emotions? In the 21st episode of ‘4 X Mindfulness’, Andy and Neila discuss their thoughts related to the above 4 questions. In Andy’s first seed of mindfulness he shares his big takeaway from a recent Finding Mastery podcast that he listened to that focused on doing good for others and making a difference. For Andy’s second seed of mindfulness, he shares a strategy that he learned from well-known sport psychologist, Dr. Karl Morris, that provides insight into self-awareness of our own body language. Neila’s seeds of mindfulness deal with the powerful role that silence can play in both our personal and professional lives. As well, Neila shares an interesting fact about the first NASA mission to the moon and what they had astronauts specifically train themselves to be able to do in order to be able to handle any conditions thrown their way. Neila discusses the connections to mindfulness that resonated with her as a result of learning about this NASA story. As always, thanks for listening to the ‘4 X Mindfulness’ series. We hope that you find some takeaway value in this episode. Bios Neila Steele and Andy Vasily are international educators who have worked at fully authorized IB schools in 5 different countries over the past 16 years (Japan, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, China and Saudi Arabia). Andy is a pedagogical coordinator, consultant, workshop leader, presenter, and speaker. Neila presents and leads multiple workshops in the area of mindfulness. They have devoted themselves to sharing the powerful effects that mindfulness has on promoting greater mental, social, emotional, and physical well-being. Connect with Andy and Neila Neila Steele Twitter: @neilasteele Website: www.mindfulandpresent.com Andy Vasily Twitter: @andyvasily Website: www.pyppewithandy.com Themes Discussed: The Role of Silence, Contributing Positive Energy, Body Language, Intentional Control of Emotions, Hannover Mindfulness Workshop

In Andy's favorite Voyager episode, he and Jessica discuss: Andy's favorite because he loves timey-wimey, but Janeway does not This is an epic adventure where nothing happens Character moments from Tuvok, 7 of 9 and crew 47! Paris being the voice of reason and Chakotay going off the rails Annorax's problem is himself The reset. *Sigh* The […] The post Episode 42 – Year of Hell (1&2) appeared first on Beginning the Trek.

Today’s podcast is all about reaching beyond your comfort zone. You’re never really finished doing good work, but with that, come some tests to your limits. How can you go above and beyond while also being comfortable with the uncomfortable? Today’s guest has the answers!   Andy Molinsky is a Professor at Brandeis University’s International Business School, with a joint appointment in the Department of Psychology. Andy received his Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior and M.A. in Psychology from Harvard University. Andy’s extensive knowledge helps people develop the courage to act outside of their personal and cultural comfort zones while doing important work.   One of Bill’s company values is ‘Never Being Finished’ and it’s the idea of always working on your growth and development. In order to truly improve, you must push yourself and get a bit uncomfortable, kind of like exercise. Andy agrees. In Andy’s work and while researching for his book, Reach, he has studied a wide variety of people throughout a number of professions to better understand why is it so hard to step out of our comfort zones.   Why can’t we just be comfortable? Why do we need to force ourselves to be uncomfortable? Andy doesn’t recommend to always strive to be uncomfortable but to strategically pick a couple of high-leverage and important situations that are key to your growth and development.   The types of challenges people face while stepping out of their comfort zones vary. People can experience a crisis with their authenticity or identity, “I’m not the kind of person that fires people.” The second challenge people experience is likability, “This person will hate me if I fire them.” And there’s also confidence issues, “What if I’m bad at this?”   Combine confidence issues with authenticity issues, it’s no wonder so many people suffer from imposter syndrome. They often think, “This doesn’t feel like me, I’m bad at this, and people can tell I am bad at this.”   Our lives are often organized in such a way where we can remain comfortable. We have developed elaborate strategies to purposely avoid discomfort, and it makes sense from a survival perspective. It helps us avoid pain and loss, but it also helps us avoid growth, which can mean death for business owners.   Interview Links: Andymolinsky.com Andymolinsky.com/books   Resources: Scaling Up for Business Growth Workshops: Take the first step to mastering the Rockefeller Habits by attending one of our workshops. Scaling Up Website Gazelles Website Bill on YouTube   TWEETABLES:   “In any professional and personal phrases, stepping outside of your comfort zone is a key skill.”   “You want to pick a couple of high-leverage, important, relevant situations that are key to your growth and development.”   “Our lives are well-organized around avoiding discomfort.”   Did you enjoy today’s episode? If so, then head over to iTunes, and leave a review. It helps other entrepreneurs discover the Scaling Up Business Podcast, so they can also benefit from the knowledge shared in these podcasts.   Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It...And Why the Rest Don’t, is the best-selling book by Verne Harnish and the team at Gazelles, on how the fastest growing companies succeed, where so many others fail. My name is Bill Gallagher, host of the Scaling Up Business Podcast and a leading business coach with Gazelles.   We help leadership teams to get the 4 Decisions around People, Strategy, Execution, and Cash right so that they can Scale Up successfully and beat the odds of business growth success. Our 4 Decisions are all part of the Rockefeller Habits 2.0 (from the original best-selling business book, Mastering the Rockefeller Habits).  

Andy McFarland has been a real estate investor since 2002. He owns a real estate wholesale company, a retail flipping company, and he also buys and holds. In Andy's wholesale business, he is in three different markets: Utah, New Mexico, and Indiana and does roughly 25-30 deals a month. On the show, Andy does a deep dive on how he scaled his business from one deal with just himself to 30 deals (per month) with a team of 18 people.   Key Takeaways: What does Andy's business look like today? Andy is in three markets. 80% of his business is wholesale and the remaining 20% is retail flips. How did Andy go from doing a couple of deals a month to doing 25-30 deals a month? The first thing Andy did was outsource his books. What does Andy's team look like today? Andy's acquisitions managers receive around 15% in commission on the gross profit. At what point should a business owner start growing their business? TIP: Hire for where you're going. If you're only doing one deal, then hire for five deals a month. You can always have certain team members wear more than one hat. How can you make sure you've got the right person on board? Would you want to work for you? Why did Andy decide to expand to a different market? What kind of person does Andy look for when trying to fill an acquisition manager position? How does Andy find rockstar talent? 70% of somebody is still better than 100% of you, the business owner. There's only so much of you that can handle the business and you don't want to get spread too thin. How does Andy structure his team's weekly huddle? What does Andy do when one of his team members has a problematic property and they don't know how to overcome it? When should wholesalers hit more than three lists? What is the advice Andy would give his 25-year-old self? What is “I Love Real Estate Stories” about?   The Flip Empire Inner Circle Want to close more deals and generate more revenue? Have questions you want to ask me? Interested in generating more leads, creating systems, automating your business, or just growing as an Entrepreneur? This isn't your typical coaching program that charges you b/w $5,000 - $50,000. This is a small community of experienced, like-minded, successful Real Estate Investors. Click To Apply, and let's talk! Mentioned in This Episode: FlipEmpire.com Flip Empire Private Facebook Group Email Alex: Alex@FlipEmpire.com Know more about Andy on Iloverealestatestories.com Follow Andy on Twitter Follow Andy on YouTube   Ask Alex A Question: Have a question you want featured on an upcoming Flip Empire Show? Head over to the Ask Alex page, and record your question. We've made it super easy for you, so let us know what challenges you are having, and Alex will answer it personally!   Did you get your FREE Online Course? Text the word EMPIRE to 67076, and we'll send you a link to get instant access to the “5 Ways To Scale Your Real Estate Wholesaling Business To Six Figures (In 6 Months Or Less)” video module training course.   Subscribe To The Flip Empire Show, and Leave a Rating & Review!  

As the second of three generations to uphold the Fred Marcus Studio brand, Andy Marcus has grown into his status as one of the rare few wedding photography legends, with his son, Brian, poised to carry the legacy forward. In Andy’s nearly 50 years of work in the industry, he’s photographed the weddings of Eddie Murphy, Kelsey Grammer, Mick Jones, Mary Tyler Moore, several of the Trumps, Princess Yasmin Aga Kahn, Billy Baldwin, Marvin Davis and more.

In Andy’s debut episode, his long time friend and radio partner, Tony Kornheiser, talks about his head first dive into podcasting, being a grandfather and owning a restaurant despite his financial advisor's recommendation. It’s all part of Tony being brilliantly Tony and Andy proving he’s one of the few who knows how he got there.      

In this episode of MOVE, Andy Albright talks about Muhammad Ali, boxing legend and one of the most famous people in the world, who passed away at age 74 on Friday night. What an incredible life Ali lived. He was controversial. People loved him or hated him. However, make no mistake, people from all walks of life respected Ali and the fact that when he made up his mind, he stuck to his guns. He was the definition of commitment. In Andy's second book, Millionaire Maker Manual, he wrote about Ali and how he became such a superstar in the early 1960s. Below you can read part of what Andy wrote in a section of the book titled “Talk the Talk.” Andy ran across a story about Muhammad Ali, and how he thought he was confident in his abilities entering a boxing match until he heard the professional wrestler Gorgeous George Wagner, a champion in the 1940s, 50s, and early 60s, talking about an upcoming “bout” in Las Vegas many years ago. Ali, who was 19 at the time, was blown away by Wagner, who was then 46. Ali and George were both on a radio show promoting their respective events. Ali was confident and told the host he was going to beat Duke Sabelong, a tall, big Hawaiian fighter at the time. Ali told them he was sure he would win, but it was spoken in a sort of “matter of fact” manner. Nothing over the top and nothing that would be considered controversial or headline news in today’s world. When Ali was finished, they turned to Wagner and asked him about his match. Wagner grabbed the microphone and started shouting, screaming, and bouncing around the studio like a mad man. He deemed himself to be the “greatest wrestler in the world.” He was talking about tearing “Classy” Freddie Blassie’s limbs off, “killing” the guy, and how he would cut off his own “beautiful blond” hair if he lost this match with Blassie. Now, boxing’s “Greatest Of All Time” is shocked. He cannot believe Wagner’s antics. Ali was fired up to see this match just based on the “promo” Wagner just cut for the radio show. Well guess what? Ali did go see the match. The arena was packed. Thousands of people showed up to see Wagner – including the heavyweight champion of the world. Want to guess what happened? An arena of 15,000 watched Wagner beat Blassie. They showed up to see Wagner get beat because he was talking. After the match, Wagner told Ali that people will always pay to see someone shut your mouth. He told Ali to keep bragging, keep on sassing, and to always be outrageous. Ali admitted to people that he started boasting about his triumphs before fights thanks to Wagner, who was often referred to as “the man you love to hate.” But, Ali took it to a higher level, when he started rhyming about what round he would “finish” off opponents in. It was not just Ali that had picked up on Wagner’s genius. James Brown, the “Godfather of Soul” also admitted that he took notes and promoted his talents in music in the same manner that Wagner did with wrestling and Ali did with boxing. Brown wrote in his 2005 book, “I Feel Good: A Memoir in a Life of Soul” that Wagner helped “create the James Brown you see on stage.” Singer Bob Dylan also credited Wagner with changing his life. In his book “The Chronicles: Volume One,” Dylan talked about meeting Wagner. “He winked and seemed to mouth the phrase, ‘You’re making it come alive.’ I never forgot it. It was all the recognition and encouragement I would need for years.” Professional wrestling might not be real, but Wagner being credited with shaping the careers of three icons is! From that point on, Ali’s approach to things changed. He was never shy even when he was known as Cassius Clay growing up in Kentucky, before converting to Islam and changing his name. Ali started talking more. He talked a lot more. He talked so much that fighters like George Foreman, Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier and Ken Norton nicknamed Ali “The Louisville Lip.” Ali had realized he had to do more than just fight. He had to talk the talk and walk the walk. He had a responsibility to make people want to watch him compete and fight. His interviews sparked debate and made people care about what happened in the ring. They would convince their friends to watch and take an interest. It was like starting a wild fire in a forest. The excitement would build and millions watched Ali and loved his persona. These days it is called good “PR,” but it was like nothing people had seen back then. Ali just called it “talking.” By talking, Ali built an audience. Soon, Ali had built up a network of promoters, endorsement deals, and was a media darling/target. Whether you liked him or not, you knew what Ali was doing, and you knew when a big fight was coming up. Ali was able to back up all the talk by performing, and that made his brand even more valuable. Ali had an OK career. He won an Olympic gold medal for the United States in the 1960 Rome Olympics, became the heavyweight champion three times during a 56-5 career, and was named “Sportsman of the Century” by Sports Illustrated. If you are not excited by what you are doing, then it will be difficult to expect others to be fired up about things. If you have a meeting, event, etc. coming up, then you should be talking it up and getting others interested. Doing that is almost as important as backing it up with work. Take Wagner’s example and imagine the impact it could have on another person. You might not influence the next Ali, Brown, or Dylan, but you could have a huge, positive impact on another person, and it could have a major impact on your business.

In Andy's pre-birthday episode, E and A discuss listener questions and feedback as well as dive into the controversial email Andy received from his friend proclaiming that getting kicked in the nuts is definitely more painful than childbirth?! Don't forget to tweet at Andy on Friday April 12th for his birthday (@DrRosenRosen) and Enjoy!