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The VA Loan Trap No One Warns You About Hosted by: David Pere Episode Type: Real Estate, Financial Education Length: ~25 minutes Watch on YouTube: The VA Loan Trap No One Warns You About
A new study from Philip Morris International reveals that widespread misconceptions about nicotine are undermining tobacco harm reduction in clinical care. Nearly two-thirds of U.S. healthcare professionals, including primary care doctors, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants, mistakenly believe that nicotine causes cancer. In this episode of RegWatch, filmed on location at the 2025 Global Forum on Nicotine in Warsaw, we unpack the findings with Dr. Pritika Kumar, U.S. Director of Scientific Engagement at Philip Morris International. We explore why these misconceptions persist, how they impact patient counseling, and what role the FDA could play in helping healthcare providers better understand the continuum of risk across nicotine products. Dr. Kumar also discusses the science behind PMI's successful application for a Modified Risk Tobacco Product order for General Snus and IQOS, and what that says about the quality of industry-funded research. Only on RegWatch by RegulatorWatch.com. https://youtu.be/wEdLeotVjgA Released: July 10, 2025 Produced by: Brent Stafford This episode is supported by DEMAND VAPE. Make RegWatch happen, go to https://support.regulatorwatch.com #RegWatch #VapeNews
六月份的PMI数据显现出经济复苏的积极信号。制造业PMI为49.7,尽管仍在荣枯线以下,但连续两个月的改善令人振奋。大型企业的信心提升,PMI达51.2,而小型企业则面临压力,PMI降至47.3。生产和新订单指数的回升表明制造业需求逐渐恢复。非制造业PMI也显示出稳定增长,尤其是建筑业受基建投资推动,商务活动指数上升。整体来看,市场对未来发展充满信心,居民收入和微观体感的改善将进一步传导至资本市场。00:02:01:制造业扩张速度加快,新订单和生产指数攀升,但原材料库存和从业人员指数低迷00:04:04:PMI数据揭示的诗和远方:装备制造业与高技术制造业崛起,引领未来投资方向00:06:05:非制造业PMI指数上升,代表基建投资加速,托底经济效果显著00:08:05:中国PMI指数飙升,服务业企业对未来发展感到乐观,服务消费将成为焦点00:10:08:A股长期权益类资产投资价值凸显,海外风险因素降低带来正面效应!
8D has a reputation for being thorough, rigorous, and methodical. But is it always the best choice? Join PMI Director Consultant Stuart Gibson as he takes us though three digestible scenarios to highlight the difference between everyday fixes, improvement work, and when 8D is exactly the right tool. Cutting through the confusion, he unpacks the method step-by-step and explains how to use it with discipline, not by default. If you've ever asked, “Should we just fix it or dig deeper?” this episode will help you decide. More resources:The Joy of ProblemsTransform You Problem Solving Mindset8D Problem Solving Template PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT IN AN AI-DRIVEN WORLD.Save the Date. 17th March 2026.The only improvement conference for practitioners, by practitioners.>>> Join Priority Booking List Explore Distance Learning >>
Come fai a tenere unito un team che non si vede mai?In questa puntata di Confidenze Imprenditoriali ti portiamo dietro le quinte di Startup Geeks, dove ogni giorno collaboriamo da città e nazioni diverse — senza mai entrare tutti nello stesso ufficio.Parliamo di autonomia del personale, onboarding, gestione delle relazioni e chiarezza degli obiettivi, ma anche del perché crediamo che il lavoro da remoto sia un'opportunità per creare un'azienda diversa, più flessibile e consapevole.Lavorare da remoto è una sfida. Ma può diventare un vantaggio competitivo, se sai come strutturarlo. Se ti stai chiedendo come far funzionare davvero un team remoto, questa puntata è per te.-------------
I always enjoy having the opportunity to speak with business professionals and leaders. Fidel Guzman not only is such a professional, but he also works in the corporate training arena teaching his company's employees and leaders about leadership and continuous improvement. Fidel comes by his talents honestly. He grew up in an environment where he needed to learn and grow. He secured a Bachelor's degree and an MBA both from Northeastern Illinois University where he graduated Summa Cum Laude. Fidel started out wanting to be a kindergarten teacher, but he ended up taking a different road. He went to work for a company where he helped people progress within various industries. The company he worked for was bought by ION Group in Chicago, IL. Fidel flourished and became the Manager of Internal Training for the company. Mr. Guzman is quite adaptable and can train people within the organization even though they may well have their own expertise in different industries. Fidel and I talk about everything from leadership, the future of corporate training and we even take time to explore how AI is and will become more a part of his work and the work we all do. When not working Fidel has various outside activities. His most loved efforts go, of course, into being part of a family. He also serves as Vice President of Education for Toastmasters International. He loves to be involved in Mixed Martial Arts. He keeps quite busy at a variety of activities and clearly loves the challenges he gets to address along the way. About the Guest: Fidel Guzman is a dynamic and enthusiastic Learning & Develoment professional with a proven track record in instructional design, project management, and training development. With a Master of Business Administration from Northeastern Illinois University, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude, Fidel has consistently demonstrated his commitment to excellence and continuous improvement. His extensive experience spans various industries, including finance, telecommunications, and fitness, showcasing his versatility and adaptability. Currently serving as the Manager of Internal Training at ION Group in Chicago, IL. Fidel and his small but mighty team facilitate onboarding programs and training initiatives for over 13,000 employees globally. He has experience developing comprehensive new hire onboarding curricula and career progression pathways for multiple departments, ensuring effective and innovative learning solutions. Fidel's leadership extends beyond his professional role, as he actively participates in numerous company committees focused on community volunteer events, work-life balance education, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Fidel's passion for personal and professional development is evident in his certifications, including “Creating a Coaching Culture” from SHRM and “Coaching Skills for Leaders and Managers” from PMI. Fluent in both Spanish and English, he leverages his bilingual skills to connect with a diverse audience. Outside of his professional endeavors, Fidel enjoys podcasting, judo, triathlons, hiking, and poetry, reflecting his well-rounded and adventurous spirit. In addition to his professional achievements, Fidel has a strong commitment to volunteerism and community involvement. He is serving as the Vice President of Education for Toastmasters International and has been an MMA class instructor and coordinator at St. Bruno Elementary. His dedication to helping others is further demonstrated through his role as an academic tutor at Berwyn Public Library. Ways to connect with Fidel: (1) Fidel Guzman, MBA | LinkedIn New Podcast- The Hero in the Mirror on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/44xD76FcF5YFMNyuigFmBm?si=2so3OWJdQby6F91ZaY1AUg The Hero in the Mirror also on Youtube: (3) HerointheMirror - YouTube About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog. Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards. https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/ accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/ https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/ Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset . Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts. Transcription Notes: Michael Hingson ** 00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us. Michael Hingson ** 01:21 Greetings, everyone. I am Michael Hingson, and you are listening to unstoppable mindset where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet, and today we get to do the unexpected. And of course, what the unexpected is is anything that doesn't have anything to do with inclusion or diversity. So that's most things you know, in a lot of ways. Anyway, our guest today is Fidel, and am I pronouncing it right? Guzman, yes, you got it. Oh, my goodness. Comes from listening to Guzman's who play baseball. Okay, I'll take that. That's a way. So Fidel reached out to me some time ago. We're going to be doing some speaking to his company ion. But in the meanwhile, I also convinced him that he had to come on unstoppable mindset and talk with us, tell us about himself, tell us a lot about what he does and why he does it, and help to contribute to our general theme, which is that we're all more unstoppable than we think we are, and we usually underrate ourselves. So we we try to improve by discovering that more people are unstoppable than we think they are, and that we thought they were. So that works out. Well, Fidel has a degree in business. He has a Masters of Business Administration. You graduated sigma cum laude, which is pretty cool. And I did cum laude, but I didn't get to do sigma or Magna, but that's okay, but that's okay anyway. Fidel, I want to welcome you to unstoppable mindset. We're glad you're here. Fidel Guzman ** 02:56 Michael, it's a pleasure to be here. Thank you for having me. Michael Hingson ** 03:00 Well, my pleasure, and I'm looking forward to to chatting and talking about some businessy things and anything else that you want to talk about. So let's start this way. It's always fun to do this. Why don't we start by you telling us kind of, maybe, about the early Fidel growing up and some of that stuff, and what got you started down the road of life as it were. Fidel Guzman ** 03:20 Yeah, yeah, that's all right, yeah, let's let's go back. Let's go back to where it all started, Michael Hingson ** 03:25 long time ago, Fidel Guzman ** 03:30 definitely. So I'm born and raised in Los Angeles, Compton, Huntington Park area. I come from Mexican parents. They they they came here to the United States to give their their family a better future. Some first generation Mexican American, very proud. So actually, we do have a little diversity in here on this call. Oh, good. There we go. Yeah. So first generation Mexican American, my family traveled a lot when I was young. My dad's a truck driver, so wherever there was work, he would take us along. So we grew up and raised Los Angeles. I was seven or eight, then we ended up going to Mexico for a couple years, in Dallas, then St Louis, and then we ended up here in Chicago, here in the Midwest. Wow. Winter, the winters here were a bit surprising and tough. When I was in elementary school, I remember the first snow that I saw. It was, it was beautiful. After two weeks, I was like, All right, when is it? When is it gonna go away? And I was in for the the rude awakening that it's gonna it's gonna stick around for, for a few months or so, yeah, but I've had, you know, since then here, here in Chicago, we started to grow our roots. And I have five brothers and a sister. So I have a big family, a big Hispanic family, and I went to high school. My freshman year, I went to Lane Tech. Tech for all my folks who are familiar with the Chicagoland area. And then I ended up going to transferring over to Morton West in Berwyn. After I graduated high school, I went to Northeastern Illinois University, my alma mater, I got my undergrad in business management and marketing, and also got my Masters in Business Administration. So I am a proud double alumni from Northeastern Illinois University, and I really owe this, this community of Northeastern Illinois University, a lot with respect to the great teachers that they have there, the community that they try to build, and the friends and that I made along the way, as well as the education, of course, that helped, really helped me expand my career opportunities. After I graduated from Northeastern Illinois University with my undergrad, I started my first real corporate role inside of backstop solutions. And backstop solutions was a still, you know, it was a great company to be a part of lots of mentors. If I can, actually, I would like to give a quick shout out to a few mentors that I had along the way, such as Deanne Falk, Richard fu our CEO, our legacy CEO, Clint Coghill, Sarah Schroeder, and the current head of learning and development under ion. Alexander Lloyd and I really want to thank them for all their mentorship and leadership, because it's really helped me get and grow to the person that I am today. So with that, yeah, I am the manager of internal training at ion. We came I came in via an acquisition, when backstop was acquired, and throughout that period, like I was, I had some some free time, so to say, and ended up getting my Masters in Business Administration. Michael Hingson ** 06:48 And so along the way, did you get yourself married and all that? Oh, my Fidel Guzman ** 06:52 wife is going to kill me. Yes. Along the way, sorry about that. No, yeah, yeah, of course, yeah. Can't forget, can't forget about those significant others. But yes, I am married. My wife has a master's in occupational therapy, so she's in the medical field, and I'm in, like, the business learning and development side of things, so our conversations are pretty interesting, as well as our perspectives on things. I also have a daughter. She's 16, going on 17 people are usually very surprised when I tell them the age of my daughter, but had her early when I was in my early 20s, so young dad and she was a blessing. I wouldn't, wouldn't have it any other way. Michael Hingson ** 07:33 That's that is great. Why did you decide to go into business and study business in college. Fidel Guzman ** 07:42 So interestingly enough, when I got into college, I wanted to be a kindergarten teacher. I wanted to be cool Mr. Guzman, because I also really I love kids. I love working with kids. I was also a mixed martial arts program coordinator and instructor at an elementary school on the south side of Chicago for three years, and that was during my undergrad. And I taught all grades kindergarten through eighth grade, some of the basics in boxing, wrestling, jiu jitsu and kickboxing, so a bit of both. But as I was going through through my clinicals, as I was going through the the Yeah, the education aspect of it, I ended up wanting to switch majors. So I was like, I was like, hey, there's probably a lot more opportunity, a lot more opportunity for growth inside of the business segment. So I ended up switching my majors to business management, marketing, and somehow learning just found its way back into my life. So a lot of the stuff that I learned from some of those, those preliminary courses in in education. I mean, still, still resonate to this day, right? Understand your audience. Understand which students are visual learners, which ones are experiential learners. Which one need more repetitive exercise to to drill something in? So, yeah, the universe did not, did not lead me too far away from, from from teaching and being an instructor, and here I am. I know Michael Hingson ** 09:08 that feeling well. So a couple things. First of all, I was born in Chicago, but we moved to California when I was five, but in Chicago, you start kindergarten at the age of four. So I went for a year to a special kindergarten class that my parents and others advocated for, for premature, blind kids, because there were a whole bunch in the Chicago area during the whole baby boomer area, a number of children were born prematurely and given a pure oxygen environment, which caused them to lose their eyesight. And so the bottom line is that happened to me among others. And so I went to the Perry school. I don't even know if it's around anymore. Somebody told me it wasn't around anymore, but that's where I went to school. And went there for a year of kindergarten, learned braille and other things. And then we moved to California. So I always wanted to be a teacher as well, and I came at teaching from a different standpoint, as you did. That is to say, Well, I wanted to be a teacher. My first job out of college wasn't directly teaching, except I ended up having to write training materials and do other things like that, and then I ended up going into sales, and what I learned is that the best sales people are really teachers. They're counselors. They guide and they help people, especially when you're dealing with major account sales, they help people look at products. They teach about what their product does and the really good sales people are brave enough to admit when their product might not be the best fit for someone, because it's also all about building trust. And good teachers are concerned about building trust as well. Of course. Fidel Guzman ** 10:57 Yeah, one of my teachers when I was close to graduating, you know, one of the things that you know this teacher, Dr funk, if I remember correctly, he instilled in us, if you're able to synthesize what you learned and explain it to a five year old, you've done a good job. Like you, you you yourself understand that particular concept or that particular topic. And I really took that to heart. So now, you know, and a lot of these roles, if, from the the main instructor, I want and need to be able to explain it, you know, to my kid, to explain it in in simple terms. And, of course, you know, expand on it if needed. But, but Michael Hingson ** 11:40 it ultimately comes down to you can provide all the information you want, but they have to teach themselves, really, and they're not going to do that, and they're not going to listen to you if they don't trust you. So trust is a vital part of what we do, Fidel Guzman ** 11:56 exactly spot on, Michael Hingson ** 11:58 and I have found that that developing that trust is so extremely important. I learned a lot about trust from working with guide dogs, right from the very first guide dog that I obtained back in 1964 when I was 14. It was all about building a team and I and although I didn't know how to really externally, say it necessarily, until many years later, internally, I understood that my job was to build a relationship and that I was going to be the team leader, and needed to be able to gain trust, as well as trust my teammate in in what we did. So worked out pretty well, though. So, you know, I was that was pretty cool. So what does ion do? What is ion? Fidel Guzman ** 12:49 Yeah, I yeah for sure. So ion is a essentially, you can, you can think of it as a software company for the investment community. We provide a number of different platforms for them to streamline their processes and track information, or be end users of that of data. Michael Hingson ** 13:07 So people buy your software and do what Fidel Guzman ** 13:11 they can either leverage the data that's being provided to them, or they can include data within specific platforms. Michael Hingson ** 13:20 Are you starting to see that this whole concept of so called AI is valuable in what you do, or, as I am working with that yet, Fidel Guzman ** 13:30 yes, definitely, we are big on streamlining processes and making sure that we're maximizing the best use of everyone's time, and AI really has a really important component in that. So for for learning and development, one of the ways that we're using AI is for content creation, so whether it's just creating a simple outline for a course or starting to use that to create slides, but there, we're also taking a look at the way AI can be used on a regular basis to provide feedback for reps like let's say someone finishes a demo. If they want to do some self reflection, they can leverage AI to get some feedback on what worked well what didn't. Was there enough engagement? How was my use of technology, so on and so forth. So not only is AI being used from, you know, creating content, but also as, like a ad hoc instructor and and way to generate feedback, Michael Hingson ** 14:31 well, and it offers so much versatility, you can really have it go many different ways. So it is very possible it can be an instructor, as you say, an ad hoc instructor, but it really can present its information in a good teaching way too. So you can have conversations with it. You can do the same sorts of things that you would do with a teacher. I think that AI clearly, is here to stay, but I think. Think over time, AI is going to evolve a lot. I am not of the opinion that AI will replace people for a variety of reasons, but I think that it's here and it's up to us to be smart as to how we use it. Fidel Guzman ** 15:14 Definitely. I think one of the the tips that we always give people is AI does a really great job of a number of different things, but it's always going to need that human touch at the end of at the end of the day. So don't just take don't just take some content that AI has created and take it to heart. Make sure to review it. Make sure to put that personal touch on there and have it speak your language. Have it really resonate with the audience as well, especially that, oh, go ahead. Or also just on Super mechanical, super scripted, Michael Hingson ** 15:49 well, and I think as AI grows, it's going to try to emulate, or we're going to use it to try to emulate people more and more, but it still isn't going to get to the point where it truly is me or you, and we do have to put our mark on it. I've used it to help create several articles, and what I've done when I do that is I'll tell it what I want it to write about, and let it do it, and it comes up with some pretty good ideas that I incorporate into the article, that I create, between what it provides and what I add to the mix. And it really should be that way. Exactly what I've really found interesting is the number of people like in classrooms, who say teachers, who say, you know, it's really harder and harder and harder to tell when a student uses AI to write a paper or if the student is doing it themselves. And the first time I heard that, immediately, my idea of what to do was something like this, let the student use AI if they want to, let the have ai do the whole paper. What you ought to do is to have one day after all the students turn their papers in, where you bring each student up to the front of the class and say, defend your paper. Now you have one minute if they don't really know, yeah. I mean, if they don't know what's going on, then they're not going to be able to do very well, and they fail. Fidel Guzman ** 17:19 Yes, I am a big proponent of comprehensive exercises and also public speaking. How well? How well can you articulate the thought that you gave in that paper? Right? Some of those different talking points, right? Can you convey the same message in front of the classroom? Michael Hingson ** 17:38 Yeah, and, and, you can tell if a person is just not necessarily a great public speaker, they're nervous, as opposed to whether they know the subject. And those, in a sense, are two different things. But you can use the fact that students are at the front of the classroom to help make them better speakers, too, which is a good thing. Fidel Guzman ** 17:59 Yeah, no, yeah. I agree with you. If they are using AI, just, you know, turn around a paper, have them present in front of the classroom. Yeah, let's, let's talk a bit more about your paper, yeah, and, and really have it be an interactive exercise. I think that's really where the end goal is going to be, now that AI has really taken over the way the classroom dynamic has changed. So having more of those interactive exercises, really taking a look at comprehension, whether somebody really understands that topic, and giving giving students and an audience an opportunity to discuss, how do we how do we create a hive mind mentality around this particular topic, especially in a classroom, right whether, whether that's in a school setting, in academia, or whether that's in a corporate setting, inside of an office. Michael Hingson ** 18:54 Several months ago, we had a guest on unstoppable mindset, who's an executive leadership coach in Northern California who was a major proponent of AI. And when he worked with companies, and especially with presidents and leaders who were stuck on how we evolve and how we grow, he would bring AI into all those meetings, and one day he was dealing with one such situation where he told the president, you got to use you ought to use AI to get some great ideas. The President took that to heart, called his senior leadership staff in and said, take the rest of this day and create ideas about how you think we ought to do things better, and so on, and use AI to do it. And when everyone came in the next day, they had a lot of innovative and creative ideas, and all loved the fact that he encouraged them to use AI. And that led to. Us having a discussion about, is AI going to really take over the jobs that people do? And both of us agreed, no, AI won't. Ai can't replace anyone. We can fire somebody and then put AI in their place, which doesn't really work well. But what is a better thing is let ai do what it does well. So example that he gave was say, you have autonomous vehicles. As autonomous vehicles become more and more prevalent, like trucks that are delivering supplies, like shipping vehicles and so on, let the autonomous vehicle drive, but the driver needs to still be in the cabin and needs to be behind the wheel, even though they're not doing anything, because they are going to let the autonomous vehicle do what it can do. But you can give those people other assignments to do for the company that will keep them busy and do things that otherwise might not be done quite as efficiently. So the bottom line is, you keep people busy, you use the autonomous vehicle, and it's a win win situation all the way around. Fidel Guzman ** 21:08 Yeah, great. I I've heard something very similar to that, and maybe if I can, if I can synthesize this, it's going to be that we want to remove manual task out of people's times, and we want them to focus on more higher value add activities. Do Michael Hingson ** 21:29 you think that's fair? I think that's true. Isaac Asimov, years ago, the science fiction writer, wrote a really wonderful science fiction story about a young man who lived in a society where everyone had a particular job to do, and you were matched with your talents. And so there you you're you take a test when you're, like, eight years old and or or even younger, and that starts you down the road of what it is you're supposed to do for the whole country. And then you take another test several years later, and that locks you into what you're trained to do. So you always do the same task, but you do it well, because that's what you're trained to do. Well, this kid was in the whole process taking his tests, and he just wasn't comfortable with what was going on. And eventually he ran away. And what, you know, he he took the last test, apparently they looked at him kind of funny when they looked at the results and he didn't like what was going on. And he just left. He said, I'm not going to do this. I don't, I don't. I don't want to be an engineer. I don't want to do whatever it is that they want. And they eventually caught up with him, and they caught him, and they said, Why'd you run away? And he told them, and then said, No, you don't understand what just happened. Some people in society are the people who create the tests, create the processes, and don't get trained to do a specific thing, because they're the innovators and the inventors that keep society going, and you're one of those kids, and this was like, what, 50 years ago that he wrote that? So it's, it is, it is really interesting, but, but very true and, and the reality is, we can be as creative as we choose to be, and some people are more creative than others, but there are always tasks that we can find for anyone to do, and that will make them very happy, 23:40 absolutely, definitely. Michael Hingson ** 23:42 So it works out. You know, it does work out really well. Well, a question for you. You have a leadership philosophy, needless to say, and you lead a lot in instructional design, what, what are the core principles, or what are the things that kind of make up how you teach leadership, and what it is that you teach people to do, and how do you go about team development? Fidel Guzman ** 24:13 Yeah, I think some of the core principles that I that I really focus on with learning and development and instructional design. Number one, it has to be collaboration. It really does take a community to put some some really good training sessions and training opportunities in place, and it's really leveraging all the expertise from different subject matter experts. Give them a chance to share their perspectives and their insights on certain things, but also, really, just to enhance, you know, the the use of these training programs, because people are more keen to listen to like, oh yeah, this guy's a subject matter he's an expert in this particular. Their space and for them to to hop on. So I think that collaboration aspect is, you know, getting the Lean In from managers like, hey, this training is important. Your employees are going to benefit from this training, whether it's just for to develop their their education, to develop their career, whatever that may look like. But I want to say one of the, the first guiding principles is going to have to be collaboration. The second one is going to have to be most likely continuous improvement. As we start to roll out a lot of these different training sessions, whether it's public speaking, whether it's product training, whether it's industry training, if we roll it out, we keep our ear to the ground and make sure that we're receptive to the feedback. We take a look at what works well, what doesn't work well, what needs to be tailored. How can we, how can we also manage this across different time zones? So ion is super global company, I want to say, over 13,000 employees in over 13 plus countries. So also managing what those training programs look like for everyone, for everyone, across the board. So besides the collaboration, besides the continuous improvements or the I like to also say that the Kaizen, the Japanese philosophy of Kaizen, right, making those small improvements, the last one I want to say is going to be innovation. How can we incorporate, right? We were talking about AI. How can we incorporate some of these ladies, latest tech trends into what our training delivery looks like, whether it's something as simple as, how do we include more polls throughout a lecture to keep people engaged and participate? How do we include knowledge checks at the end of every session to make sure that people are walking away with some of the key takeaways. So, yeah, collaboration, continuous improvement and innovation. Yeah, how do we stay innovative and stay creative? I think having having some fun, staying creative along the way Definitely, definitely resonates with your audience as you're trying to do different things and trying to keep things as engaging and and fun as possible. Michael Hingson ** 27:06 What do you say to someone who says, Look, I've really learned all I need to learn. I'm not really interested in learning anything new. That is, I know, isn't that? Yeah, but you hear it a lot, I'm sure, or too much. I Fidel Guzman ** 27:22 think some people get comfortable right, like, Hey, I'm comfortable with what I know. And learning does require a certain level of mental energy, and it also requires a certain level of you being willing to take on a new challenge, to take on and learn something new. So to them, I would genuinely ask, what's your interest? How can we supplement what this interest looks like? You know, what are your interests in other avenues? And I think that will plant a seed to let them know that learning and development should be something learning, right? Just learning in general, it should be something that you should do throughout your life. I recently started a podcast called the hero in the mirror, and I wanted to take a moment and actually, thank you, Michael. I don't know if you remember our initial conversation. But we were talking, we were talking about, you had asked me, What ideas do you have? What are you working on? Are you working on, any books, any podcasts? And I had mentioned, I was like, Hey, I actually have an idea for a podcast. And you pause for a moment, and you were like, what's stopping it? Yeah, and it was, it was kind of like, it kind of took me back. I'm like, What? What is stopping me? Right? And sometimes, and in coaching, we call it interference, like you're you probably have a fear of failure. You have a fear that something's not going to go right, or this task seems enormous, that you don't know where to start. Yeah, so making small, small mental changes, making small steps, I think, definitely add up. Since then, Michael, I've had I've had three episodes. I've had some great guests hop on and share their story of resilience and triumph. And as I'm starting to do more episodes, I'm I'm hearing stories of people willing to have that, that mindset of, I want to continue to learn, I want to continue to expand on the person that I am and make myself well rounded in these different, different areas. So So, long story short, if somebody says I don't, I don't need to learn anything, there's always room for growth. There's always room for interest, what, what interests you, and how? And how can we follow that interest and and supplement it with some some training content. Michael Hingson ** 29:49 I know, for me, I'm extremely comfortable with what I know, and I'm extremely comfortable with what I've learned, but I'm also very uncomfortable in knowing there's a lot of stuff I don't know and that i. Still need to learn. So I love to learn right from the very beginning, when I first discovered the internet, I regarded it and still do, no matter what there is with the dark web and everything else, I think the internet is a treasure trove of information, and it's so fun to discover new things online. And there's so many ways to go. We've got so many places where we can go get books that we never had access to before all of us. There's so many places where we can go to learn about organizations, about people. They're just so many wonderful things, and it's only one way, because I also think there is a lot to be said for real personal interactions, but I think the internet is a wonderful treasure trove that gives us the opportunity to learn a whole lot that we don't necessarily know about, subjects that we don't know anything about. Fidel Guzman ** 30:55 The Internet is a double sided sword. It is. You can find information that will support right? Maybe you know an opinion that you have on the other side of that, you can find lots of information that does not support independent opinion that you have. And also it's a rabbit hole. Soon as you start going out that rabbit hole. But the one thing I do appreciate from the internet is the channels of communication that it's built. Yeah, and I'm appreciative of being able to have connected with you on LinkedIn, and that's turned out to us having this podcast here today. Michael Hingson ** 31:34 I think that for me, I'm not as interested on going online and in finding something to change an opinion as much as I am finding something that will tell me about something that I didn't know as much about. Now I might change my opinion from what I thought it might be, but I I really love to try to really get as much as possible into dealing with facts or substance to teach me things, and then I'll form my own opinion from that. Yeah, you know what I'm saying. Of course, Fidel Guzman ** 32:11 gets a good grounding of all the all the materials, synthesize it yourself. Michael Hingson ** 32:19 Yeah, I think we should do that. I think we have to be the one to synthesize whatever it is we're dealing with. That's That's our responsibility, and that should always be the way it is, which is, and I don't want to get political or anything, but which is one of the reasons that I say any politician who says, Trust me will be the first person I won't trust until I verify. I am a firm believer in trust, but verify. I don't care who it is. I think it's so important that we really take the time every single person needs to take the time to study what's going on, and and, and really look at all sides of something. I think that's important. I listen to newscasts regularly, and I like to listen to newscasts from all sides. Some I find why I don't want to listen to them very much, because of what they do or don't do, but I still think that it's important to really understand all sides of a subject. Fidel Guzman ** 33:29 Absolutely, I totally agree with you. Michael Hingson ** 33:32 So you know, I think it is kind of neat to to have that opportunity, and I think we learn so much when we take the time to really study. I'm amazed. I was at a restaurant once, and my wife and I were there. We were talking about newspapers and what we get from newspapers or online, and our waitress came up and Karen said, so do you read the newspaper? And this woman's 30 years old, and she says, No, I don't. I don't have time, you know. And how little she learns, because she doesn't really seek information, which is too bad. Fidel Guzman ** 34:07 Yep, you people have to be receptive. People have to be receptive to to gaining new bits of information. And sometimes people are just happy knowing like you, like you mentioned earlier, just happy knowing what they're what they know, just comfortable in in their own space, until some more power to that, more more power to them, more power to them, Michael Hingson ** 34:31 until something happens to disrupt the happiness and surprises them, because they really didn't learn enough to know that that was a possibility. Yep, I never thought I would be doing a podcast, but when the pandemic occurred, I started to learn about it, and learned all the value of it. Now, I had been at our campus radio station at UC Irvine for six years, and I was program director one year, so I understood radio, and when I started learning about podcasts. They went, this is really pretty cool, and I had never thought about it, and had never been interviewed on a podcast, but I realized I know what I can can do with this, and I know that I can sound intelligent on the air. And so I started to learn about it, and here we are now, just today, actually, we published online and in YouTube episode 324 of unstoppable mindset since August of 2021 Congratulations, Michael. Well, thank you. It's a lot of fun. We actually went to two episodes a week in August of 2022 Oh, wow, because we had such a huge backlog. Yeah, and I don't mind having a huge backlog, but it was growing way too much. So we went to two episodes a week, and and it's a lot of fun to to do it. And as and as I love to tell people, for me, the most important thing is I get to learn from every single person who comes on the podcast. It's so neat to be able to do that, of course. So it works out really well. Well for you, what kind of challenges have you faced? What have you done to overcome challenges, and what are some of the biggest challenges you faced, and how you did you deal with them? Fidel Guzman ** 36:17 Okay, yeah, that's great. That's some of the questions I use on on my podcast, here in the mirror. So I'm on the I'm on the other side of that chair today. Yes, no, it's good. It's good. It's a good question. So I want to say, you know, there are, there are three main, three main challenges that really stand out for me. One I'm very vocal about, and that is my speech impediment, my stuttering problem. It was really bad when I was little kid. I had a speech pathologist. Even now, talking to you on this podcast, I have to be very conscious with what I'm saying. Some of the listeners might might have caught it in the beginning when I get too excited about a particular topic, or if I haven't formulated my thought yet, but the speech impediments is something that has really made public speaking a passion for me. It was hard for me to have a voice when I was a little kid, I used to try to raise my hand and answer a question when I was in elementary school, and the teacher would be like, All right, next one like you had, you had your turn. And so I, you know, I've struggled, you know, to have a voice. I struggled with just completing sentences, and the way that I overcame that is through a speech pathologist that really gave me the confidence to believe in myself. I remember one exercise she gave me one day is she grabbed me from my classroom. She would pick me up from my classroom every Tuesday and Thursday, and she picked me up one day, and I was kind of down in the dumps. I didn't really like going to the class. We weren't really advancing much. And she's like, Hey, we're going to try something different tonight. Different today. She's like, today I'm going to have the order of pizza. And I was still a little little fat kid, like fourth or fifth grade, so I was like, oh, yeah, I'm all for it. What's going on here? And she was like, but the catch is, you need to order this pizza without stuttering. And you know, right away, kind of my heart dropped. And she's like, okay, like, don't, don't worry, we're gonna practice exactly what you want to order. And she's like, What do you want? And I'm like, Well, I want a large pepperoni pizza with an RC, a two liter RC Cola delivered to McPherson Elementary. And she's like, okay. She's like, write it down. I'm like, Alright, great to like, write it down again. I must have written it like, 10 times. She's like, No, now practice it. So about 15 minutes of doing that, she was like, All right, I think you're ready. She hands me the phone and, you know, I pick it up. My heart's in my throat, and I'm just like, like, I'm like, hi, you know, I want to order a large pepperoni pizza with a two liter RC Cola delivered to McPherson elementary for Fidel Guzman, and I was just astonished. I hung up the phone. I was happy for two reasons. Number one, I was going to get some pizza. Number two, I was able to say it a complete, full sentence without stuttering. And she she really believed in me and instilled in me that confidence that I could overcome this. But it wasn't an overnight success. It still required me go going to the speech pathologist, you know, throughout my elementary school, throughout all those years, and even as an adult, continuing to practice and hone that in in high school, doing presentations, in college, doing presentations. So right now, I am the VP of education for our America's Toastmasters Club, and this is one story i i always tell people, and they're like, No, you don't stutter. I'm like, if I get too excited, I'll lower my words. But that was that was one challenge, that was one challenge, and it's. Is it's still something I have to be very conscious of. And I've caught myself a couple times earlier in this podcast where I kind of mumble a little bit or get caught up in a particular word. But besides that one, I want to say that the second one was more of my in college. In college, I struggled paying for school. I mentioned I'm first generation Mexican American, and I was one, one of the first, first of my brothers to attend college full time. And I did all I could to make ends meet, two, three jobs, just paying for tuition. Financial aid was great, you know, it really helped me with a portion of that, but a lot of it really ended up, you know, being due onto me. And then I had my daughter, and it was just a struggle. I was like, How can I be a dad? How can I be a student? How can I work on my career? And I had gone to a financial aid workshop, and the one thing that stood out in this workshop was when they were talking about scholarships granted in high school when you're about to graduate, they talk to you about it, but it doesn't. It doesn't really materialize until you're until you receive that bill. Yeah, you're just like, hey, here's, here's a $2,000 bill for this college class. And you're like, oh, man, this is, this is not, this is not cheap. It's pretty expensive. And the one thing you know that stood out was, you know, let the scholarships, and they started talking about scholarship applications, and I found that there were a couple common denominators with the scholarships. Number one, they wanted two letters of two letters of recommendation. Number two, they want an essay. What are you going to do with your degree? How are you going to make a positive impact in the community? And number three, sometimes, typically an interview. And so I ran with it. I was like, they want two letter, letters of recommendation. They want one essay. They want an interview. No problem. And I made that my part time job. On the weekends, I would just apply, apply, apply. And I started getting some small wins. I started getting a $250 scholarship here, a $500 scholarship there, $1,000 scholarship, you know, here, and all of it started to add up, and it started to gain momentum. And I was lucky enough to get, get, get accepted for a number of different scholarships and complete my my college education, and even, you know, be strong willed enough to go back and do it again and try to try to get my masters. So those were two, two big ones, but I'll pause here and see if you have any questions around those two challenges for me. Michael, no, Michael Hingson ** 42:41 but I I really admire what you did. You You made a choice and you followed it through. And I think that's of course, the whole issue is that we have to make choices and we need to follow through. And if we find that, we need to refine our decisions. We do that. I know when I was a student and a program director at the university radio station, I wanted everyone to listen to themselves. I thought it was a great idea to have everyone listen to themselves on the air. And the way you do it is you record it and you give it to them. And I didn't anticipate how hard that was going to be, because for me, I was used to doing it for myself, yeah, but I I didn't realize how much resistance I was going to get from literally everyone at the radio station, they were not interested in and I'm thrilled about doing it at all. What I and the engineer at the station did eventually was to put a cassette recorder in a locked cupboard, and whenever the microphone was activated, the recorder would go on. So, you know, you didn't have to hear the music. You just wanted to hear yourself talk. And we, we really took a major step and said, You have to listen to these recordings. We gave each person a cassette. We expect you to listen to these recordings and improve accordingly. What I didn't say much was, I know what it's like. I'm my own worst critic, and I have to listen to it, so you guys do now. I've changed that, and I'll get to it in a second, but we pushed everyone to do it, and it wasn't long, not only before we started seeing improvement, but before the people themselves started recognizing that they were really getting comfortable listening to themselves and that they were taking this to heart, and by the end of the year, we had people who were loving it and wanting their cassette every day or every week, and also a. Some of them went into broadcasting. For me, what I learned, and it took many years before I learned it is I'm not my own worst critic. I shouldn't be negative, as I said earlier, I'm the only one who can really teach me. I'm my own best teacher. And I think when you make that mind shift from being your own worst critic to your own best teacher, it really puts things in a much more positive light. And I've said that before on the podcast, and I will continue to say it, because I think it's a very important Fidel Guzman ** 45:29 concept. We actually have a similar exercise for our America's Toastmasters Club, where we'll we'll record some speeches, and we'll have people listen back to their recorded speech. And a lot of people say like, man, it's cringe to hear yourself on the on the other side, on the other side of those iPhones, but it is a very useful exercise. You get a better understanding of your your filler words, your eyes, your arms, your vocal variety, your body language. And if you're looking to be a great, I don't want to say public speaker, but if you're just looking just to speak better in general, even when it's an on a presentation, on a call, or if you have to give up a toast at a wedding or a quinceanera, for you to be able to, yeah, critique yourself and gather feedback from your from your own recording Michael Hingson ** 46:23 well. And the reality is, the more of it you do, and the more you listen to it, having been up there in front giving the speech, you also see how people react. And if you continue to observe and listen to the recordings as you go forward, you will improve, yeah, for sure, which is which is really important. And one of the things that I try to do regularly now is to record talks. When I go and give a speech somewhere, I will record it so that I can listen to it and I enjoy it, because I discover Did I really say that I shouldn't have said it quite that way, but I'll do better next time. But listening to it helps such a tremendous amount, Fidel Guzman ** 47:13 especially with those filler words. So when you really listen to the recording, you'll be like, Man, I use a lot of likes or SOS or ands or buts, and if you want to speak eloquently, it is, I mean, like anything, you just gotta practice it. You gotta practice it, and you have to be receptive to that, the feedback. And you have to also celebrate the small wins. One thing I am a big proponent on is celebrate the small wins. Yeah. So if you are able to do your your first speech at a Toastmasters clubs like we, we give you tons of accolades, because it is not an easy fit, an easy feat. If you're able to do the second one, even better. You're, you're progressing, and you're, you know, you're increasing your understanding of some of the fundamentals of public speaking. Yeah, so you're preaching to the choir here. Michael Hingson ** 48:05 Yeah, no, I understand. Oh yeah, it's good, but it is really important to do, and it's fun to do. If you decide to make it fun, and if you decide that you want to become a better communicator there. There are lots of us and all that sort of stuff that people do. I've heard some people say that's really not such a bad thing. Well, I've got to say that I've never really been used to having a lot of us. And you know, there's a guy out here who I don't think he's alive anymore. He used to be a sports announcer out here. His name was Jim Healy, and you may have heard him when, well, out here in Los Angeles, anyway, he was on K lac, and he had somebody, well, he had a recording of somebody, one of the sports jocks, and he announced that he was going to play this recording, and what you're going to hear is this guy in 60 seconds say, you know, 48 times, that's and he did what's amazing, that Fidel Guzman ** 49:17 when you when you get to Some of those, it's like, what do they say? Nails on a chalkboard? You're like, Oh, yeah. Like, what are you trying to say? Just, just say it. To say, to say the damn thing. Michael Hingson ** 49:30 Yeah, talk a little bit slower and just say it. Fidel Guzman ** 49:33 One thing that I'm trying to be conscious, more conscious of is pauses, like those deliberate pauses, those deliberate pauses to collect your thoughts, like I often need, just to collect myself, but also to build suspense the message and the message that you're trying to give, especially when you're in front of a group of people, in front of an audience, and you're pausing there, they're just like, oh, what? So what is he? What is he gonna say next? What's up? What's going on with this pause? So it's also you have this arsenal of tools when it comes to to public speaking and to engage with an audience and to keep them, to keep them interested in what your next thought is going to be. What What am I going to say next? How am I going to, you know, align this topic to something else that I want to discuss. Michael Hingson ** 50:24 I love, yeah, I've discovered the value of pauses. You can make a pause last too long, and one of the things you learn is how long to make a pause. But I love pauses. They really do add a lot of value. There they get. Well, you talk a lot about continuous improvement, and clearly you you really love the whole concept. What's an example of a project where you instituted continuous improvement, and how do you make that happen? Thanks, Michael. Fidel Guzman ** 50:56 Let's pause again. Yeah, right. I know. Yeah. All right. Michaels, Michaels, throw me. Well, not much of a curveball, but yeah, no, that's good. So I know continuous improvement. And one project that I worked on, I want to say one that comes to mind is last year I hosted a series of product boot camps. And what these product boot camps really were, were product training and networking opportunities within ion. I had just gone through the acquisition of backstop into the into the ion family, and I saw a need. I saw a need there for some product training. And what I did is I started to coordinate with subject matter experts, hence the collaboration and community principles that I have with learning and development. And started to piece together a boot camp. So a series of training sessions, and we discussed location, we discussed different components that we can include on there. We discussed remote hybrid in person, what some of those options were, and we had about, I want to say, five or six of these boot camps in 2024 and what I noticed is that for each of the boot camps we would tailor it a little bit, because each of these different products that were under specific umbrellas were for certain audiences, you know, for certain segments of the business. So we had to, I had a template, but we had to tweak that template a little bit. Who do we want to come in here? Who do we want to come in for this particular topic? When do we take breaks? If it's in person, you know? Do we take longer breaks if it's in person? How do we include some interactive components to it? How do we test people's knowledge, whether it's through live polls, whether it's using an LMS platform to do knowledge checks? How do we create a certificate based program around this? And for each of those, it was a learning experience. It was a learning experience because we, every subject matter expert, is different, right? You're building different relationships with different people, and even their style of talking or their style of teaching on a particular topic is going to be different. So those continuous improvements throughout each of those boot camps really started to to resonate and just to showcase themselves. And for each of those, we had a similar template for all of them, but we made minor tweaks to make sure that it was as engaging and and thoughtful as possible. Michael Hingson ** 53:36 Wow. Well, that's pretty cool. Um, and I think that the very fact that you would make the tweaks and you recognize the need to do that was pretty insightful, of course, because for me, I know when I speak, some people early on told me you should write a talk and you should, you should just give that talk. I tried that once. I didn't like what I sounded like when I read a talk, and I haven't done it since. And I also realized that I do better, and sometimes it isn't necessarily a lot, but when I customize every talk so I love to go early and try to hear speakers who speak before me, or get a chance to meet people at an event, because I will learn things invariably that I will put into the talk. And sometimes I'm tweaking talks up to and including the start of the talk, and sometimes I will tweak a talk when I'm speaking and I'm getting the impression just from all the fidgeting, that maybe I'm not getting through to these people, or I'm not really doing this in the best way possible. And I will change until I get what I expect to be the audience. Reaction, because I know what an audience is like when they're fully engaged, and I also know that not every audience is the same, so I hear what you're saying. I think it's important to do that. Fidel Guzman ** 55:13 Yeah, for you to be able to do that on the fly, kudos, kudos to that. But yeah, we you got to be able to understand that audience, understand that audience, understand what's what's going on, the dynamic of that, of that situation. So you're, you're a veteran at at this, so no surprise there. Michael Hingson ** 55:31 Well, that's a lot of fun. Well, what do you do when you're not working you, I know you're involved in various activities and so on. So what do you do when you're, yeah, not an eye on writing, doing, training, stuff and all that. Fidel Guzman ** 55:45 A number of different hobbies. My wife calls me the Energizer Bunny, because I'm always running around doing something, but some of my main things is right now judo. I did wrestling in high school, and I did mixed martial arts when I was getting my undergrad. And I love martial arts. I think iron sharpens iron. It's good to be around a good group of, good group of people, people who are who are like minded, people who are looking to continue to develop themselves. And yeah, if you're in a room full of tough guys, you have no other choice than to start to be a tough guy yourself. So I love martial arts. I did a couple Judo tournaments, judo and jujitsu tournaments last year, where I placed. And let's see, besides that, triathlons, I love to run, I love to bike, I love to swim. I did my first triathlon last year. I really enjoyed it. I thought it was a phenomenal experience. I mean, it's two three hours of non stop movement, but it was, it was great just to be part of that, of a huge event like that, besides the martial arts and the constant running and swimming and biking, the last thing I want to say is writing and poetry. I have started to compile all all my poems. Hopefully, in the next year or so, I'll, I'll launch a small book of poems. And, yeah, I'll keep you, I'll keep you posted on that. But I do, I do like to write on the sign, you know, hopefully a book of poems. And, you know, since since having my daughter, I've always liked children's books. I would, I would love it if I could launch my my own series of children books, and I'm working on a couple templates with that. So, yeah, stay staying busy, staying busy, physically active, but also mentally Michael Hingson ** 57:40 active. So you haven't written any books yet. I have a Fidel Guzman ** 57:44 couple ideas, a couple ideas of what, what kids books want to do, but you don't have any books published yet? No, none yet. None yet. Well, we're anxious to see that happen. You got, you got it, you're gonna, you're gonna light that fire. You're gonna light that fire as well. No, and again, right? I do appreciate you for for really, really motivating me to start my own podcast, because you had really said, like, what's stopping you? Like, like me, I'm stopping myself, you know. But even yet, yeah, even like, you know, being an author, I know that you're an author, you know, I would love to have a conversation offline with you. You know what that publishing experience was like, because I think that's my biggest interference right now with that, is like, I don't know where to start with the publishing. I know I can self publish. I know I can go through publishers and like, the internet, like we said, a double sided sword, yeah, you have information that tells you you should just self publish, and then you have other bits of information. Was like, You should go through a publishing company and just like, where do I Where do I choose? But I think that's why having mentors, you know, and getting to network with people who are experienced, such as yourself, and these different avenues of public speaking and being a keynote speaker and having a podcast, being a podcast host and being an author. I think, I think it's great, and you are definitely an inspiration to me. Michael, well, thank you. Michael Hingson ** 59:11 You're familiar with Jackson Hewitt, the accounting and tax company. You got it? Okay? So I can't remember whether it was night, whether it was 2016 or 2017 but I got invited to go speak at one of their events, and I did. And while I was there, I met a woman, and I didn't know what she did, and she she, she worked at a Jackson Hewitt, and I just happened to say, what do you own of a firm? Because most of the people there were supposed to be company owners. And she said, No, maybe someday. And I said, why not? You ought to own a company. You ought to you ought to become a company owner. You'll go further Anyway, last year, she sent me an email, and she said, I've never forgotten that, and I think it was like a year later, or two years later, she's. After I and she met, she said, I got my first company, and I now own 10 branches. Wow. Back, I said, that's pretty cool. Oh, Fidel Guzman ** 1:00:09 Michael, Michael, you are just making ripples in the universe. Just ripples doing something. Yeah, that's good. I don't want to get too religious, but you're doing God's work, man, well, Michael Hingson ** 1:00:18 I hope so. You know, expect Hill. Hill. Guy, guide, or she'll guide, yeah, but so what do you think is the future of work, of workplace training and learning? Fidel Guzman ** 1:00:30 Yeah, I think we, we touched a little bit upon this. But you know, AI, you know, definitely, how can we leverage AI for content creation, creating outlines and also using it as feedback. But I also want to to bring back the the in person training. I know we've all gotten very comfortable with, you know, doing stuff remote, but similar to the example that we talked about earlier, where that teacher was like, oh, all these, all these kids are using AI for these papers, and how do I really test their comprehension? That's, that's something you know, that in person activity, yeah, I think definitely has a tremendous amount of value, not just for the instructor, but for the end learner. Yeah. So I think, I think a mixture of like, okay, great, you know, how can we use AI to create content? How can we use it to provide, you know, feedback for people to continue to improve on certain areas. But how can we bring back that in person component? Michael Hingson ** 1:01:38 Well, see, oh, go ahead, Fidel Guzman ** 1:01:39 yeah, to, to to unify. It was probably that pause, that to to unify, to unify a vision, you know, a vision of of continuous improvement. You know that to unify, that vision of what a team might be aiming for, yeah. So, yeah. So, I think, I think, you know, long story short, it's going to be, you know, leveraging a bit of AI and still bringing back that, that in person aspect. Well, Michael Hingson ** 1:02:05 you know, I I've done virtual presentations as well as, of course, lots of in person presentations. I much prefer in person to virtual but my main reason for that is that I can tell what the audience is feeling. I get a lot more information if I'm doing an in person talk than I would get if I'm just doing a virtual talk. Now I've done it long enough that I mostly can do pretty well at a virtual talk, but it's still not the same, yeah, and I still don't get exactly the same information, but I can do virtual talks, and I do and it, and it's fun and and I can play games with it, because I can always turn my video off and really drive people crazy. But you know what? What advice would you give to an aspiring leader who wants to to evolve and make make changes to their organization or to themselves and so on. Fidel Guzman ** 1:03:06 So advice I would give for aspiring leaders. I think the the main one that I really focus on is opportunities and challenges. Be ready to embrace any opportunities that come your way, but just know that each of those opportunities, it's going to come with its own set of challenges, and be prepared for both, and be okay with dealing both at the same time. And you know last, but you know not least, is that there are there are lots of stories of triumph, and to really curate yours. What does your story of triumph look like? What is your passion and how does, how does all of that connect? Michael Hingson ** 1:03:53 And it may be evolving, and it may be different in five years than it is today, but both memories are important, yeah, which is cool. Well, Fidel, we've been doing Can you believe we've been doing Fidel Guzman ** 1:04:08 this for over an hour? Time flies and you're having fun, Michael Hingson ** 1:04:12 absolutely. And I really appreciate you being here and being a part of this, and I really appreciate all of you who have been listening to us and watching us. We're really excited that you're here. I hope that this has been valuable for you as well, and that you've learned something. Fidel, if people want to reach out to you, how can they do that? I Fidel Guzman ** 1:04:31 want to say LinkedIn, feel free to reach out to me on LinkedIn. What's your LinkedIn identifier? You can find me as Fidel Guzman, comma, MBA, and I'll also give you a link so you can, you can accompany it alongside this episode, yeah, but feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn. That's going to be the easiest way to get in touch with me. And I'll also have some links if you want to check out my podcast. And hopefully I'll have, I'll have that book of poems out, yeah, soon. Michael Hingson ** 1:04:59 Well, that will be. Good. Well, thank you again and again. Thank you, all of you. If you'd like to reach out to Fidel, I'm sure he would appreciate it. I would, and you're welcome to reach out to me.
Welcome to our series of bite-sized episodes featuring favourite moments from the Leading for Business Excellence podcast series.In this minisode, PMI's Rich Seddon challenges traditional thinking on productivity, arguing that old models no longer serve today's societies. From economic systems to resource scarcity, he explores the critical role of improvement in creating value with fewer inputs.Listen to the full episode here: https://pmi.co.uk/knowledge-hub/maximising-inputs-fuelling-growth-balancing-value/PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT IN AN AI-DRIVEN WORLD.Save the Date. 17th March 2026.The Goals to Results Conference is back, and it's grounded in the challenges you're experiencing and the opportunities you're facing as you lead change, transformation, and continuous improvement.>>> Join Priority Booking List
Kia ora,Welcome to Wednesday's Economy Watch where we follow the economic events and trends that affect Aotearoa/New Zealand.I'm David Chaston and this is the international edition from Interest.co.nz.And today we lead with news US tariff threats are shifting from being aimed at trading 'partners' to a focus on commodities, today especially copper. Protection of favoured US business interests is the goal, cloaked in the labels of 'national security'.But first up today, the overnight dairy Pulse auction delivered less change than expected, essentially holding on to the SMP and WMP prices at the prior week's full auction. But in the meantime the NZD has retreated so both delivered good gains in NZD, up +1.1% for SMP and up +3.1% for WMP.The US retail impulse as measured by the Redbook survey delivered a very good +5.9% gain over the same week a year ago, but it should be noted that earlier base week was an unusual down one.And the New York Fed's national survey of consumer inflation expectations returned to a 'normal' 3% in June, and a five month low. But some components remain a worry. Those surveyed thing food prices will rise 5.5%, rents will rise +9.1% and medical care by +9.3%Meanwhile the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index for June was little changed at it long run levelThe popular US Treasury three year bond auction delivered unchanged demand and little-change on the median yields achieved. Today that came in at 3.84%, whereas the equivalent event a month ago was at 3.92%.US consumer debt grew a very modest +US$5 bln in May, half the expansion in April and well below the average for the past year. The slowdown was very acute for revolving debt, like credit cards.In Canada, the widely-watched local PMI turned positive in June following two toughish months.In Germany, both exports and imports were expected to decline in May from April, and they did, but by slightly more than was expected. But both remain higher than year ago levels.In Australia, the widely watched NAB business sentiment survey picked up and that was a much better outcome than the contraction expected. In fact this June result for business conditions broke the mould of the long-running decline that started in June 2022.That survey didn't point to anything special in terms of cost pressures. But those cost pressures clearly worried the RBA when it surprised financial markets with its no-change decision yesterday. The widely-expected rate cut didn't happen and so household budgets will have to wait for more relief. The RBA did pick up the resilience in the overall economy, but judged it too early to respond to perceptions of economic weaknesses. In fact they saw the balance of risks from trade and labour market cost activity not requiring a boost from a cut in interest rates.We should note that US tariff uncertainty is screwing around with some key commodity prices, especially copper, which has soared over the past day or so to over US$12,000/tonne and easily a new record high. Some US futures contracts are now up over US$13,000/tonne. US products that use copper are going to get a cost jolt. Because it is a jolt directly related to a new US tariff-tax, it won't affect products made outside the US.The UST 10yr yield is now at 4.42%, and up another +3 bps from yesterday.The price of gold will start today at US$3,306/oz, and down -US$25 from yesterday.American oil prices are up another +US$1 at just under US$68.50/bbl while the international Brent price is now just under US$70.50/bbl.The Kiwi dollar is now just on 60 USc, little-changed from yesterday. Against the Aussie we are down -50 bps at 91.9 AUc. Against the euro we are down -10 bps at 51.2 euro cents. That all means our TWI-5 starts today at just on 67.6 and -10 bps lower from yesterday at this time.The bitcoin price starts today at US$109,015 and up +1.0% from this time yesterday. Volatility over the past 24 hours has been moderate at just on +/-2.3%.You can get more news affecting the economy in New Zealand from interest.co.nz.Kia ora. I'm David Chaston. And we will do this again tomorrow.
Ready to save $10k-$50k in taxes this year? Book a call here:► https://taxstrategy365.com/pod-appIn this episode, I break down how I analyze real estate deals using patterns, historical percentages, and what I call “return on hassle.” I share a story about a 16-unit property I almost bought to retire my mom and how a mentor helped me realize it wouldn't work—just by looking at the percentages. I go deep into operating expense ratios, debt service thresholds, and how to factor in time and risk. I also touch on contracts, financing contingencies, and why I only move on deals that match my strike zone.Timestamps:00:00:00 Intro – why percentages never lie00:00:50 The 16-unit deal I almost bought to retire my mom00:02:15 Bringing in a mentor to review the numbers00:03:28 Learning to read patterns in properties and people00:04:11 Scarface quote and the power of percentages00:05:46 Ted Williams and only swinging at your pitch00:08:13 Applying the strike zone concept to investing00:09:14 Long-term rental analysis: revenue, OPEX, debt00:11:45 Utility setups and checking meters on multifamily00:13:54 Margin of error and padding your projections00:14:42 Short-term rental rules and the 15% revenue test00:16:16 Sneaky data hacks: talking to local co-hosts00:18:29 Evaluating money down vs. ROI on interest savings00:20:50 Guaranteed returns and the “return on hassle” concept00:23:00 FHA vs. conventional loan and PMI traps00:27:54 Why you must revisit the numbers at month 1600:29:04 Diagnosing why a deal is underperforming00:31:08 Pattern recognition and IRS fraud flags00:33:40 What's included in operating expenses?00:36:28 Community, status, and why people never downgrade00:39:53 Appreciation markets vs. cash flow plays00:41:33 Writing contracts with flexibility: “and/or assign”00:44:05 Laying out all the skunks as a seller00:46:02 Contingencies: inspection, appraisal, financing, permits00:51:04 Buying the LLC to preserve STR permits00:54:20 DSCR strategy and using interest rate leverage00:56:05 Only swing at your pitch and know your advantage00:58:16 Speed, trust, and recognizing patterns in people01:00:32 Final thoughts and the value of knowing your safety netWant me to answer your real estate questions? Come to my next Ask Me Anything Q&A:► https://taxstrategy365.com/pod-amaLet's connect!► Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanbakkecpa/► LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanbakkecpa/► Twitter: https://twitter.com/RyanBakkeCPA► Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ryanbakkecpa► TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ryanbakkecpa*None of this is meant to be specific investment advice, it's for entertainment purposes only.
Pan Jingyi, Associate Director, S&P Global Market Intelligence discusses the latest Singapore and global PMI numbers and what this means for business confidence; last week's better-than-expected nonfarm payrolls data; and US President Donald Trump's looming tariff deadline on July 9. Produced/Presented: Emaad AkhtarSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Wondering how much house you can actually afford? Forget what the bank tells you. Lenders base your mortgage approval on outdated debt-to-income ratios that ignore your real life—and that's exactly how people end up house-poor. In this video, we break down the most accurate and financially sustainable way to calculate home affordability using a smarter method: the 25% rule.Instead of relying on gross income or bank pre-approvals, we show you how to determine your home buying budget based on take-home pay—the money that actually hits your bank account. Our rule of thumb: Your monthly mortgage payment, PMI, homeowner's insurance, and HOA fees should never exceed 25% of your net income. This ensures you still have room for retirement savings, emergencies, vacations, and everyday living—without sacrificing your future.We'll walk you through:o Why traditional mortgage advice is flawedo The hidden dangers of lender-approved debt ratioso The full breakdown of housing costs (and which ones matter most)o How to budget for maintenance, taxes, and unpredictable repairso A real-world case study to show how this plays out in actual numberso Whether you should buy at all—or if renting and investing might be the better moveWhether you're a first-time homebuyer, someone relocating, or trying to figure out if it's finally time to stop renting, this episode gives you real numbers, honest insights, and zero sales fluff.Ready to stop guessing and start planning? Check out this episode before you make a home-buying decision that locks up your income for decades.Don't become house-poor. Buy smart. Live free.**Support the Stream By Shopping at Our Store** Buy Your Financial Mirror Gear: https://www.thefinancialmirror.org/shop YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thefinancialmirrorRumble: https://rumble.com/TheFinancialMirrorFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefinancialmirr0rX: https://twitter.com/financialmirr0rInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefinancialmirror/Podcast: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/thefinancialmirrorIf you are in need of a Financial Coach, don't waste another day of being in debt, not planning for retirement, or simply wondering where your money went each month. Today is the day to take control of your finances and I can help, no issue is too big or too small. Contact me at https://www.thefinancialmirror.org/#InvestInYourself #PersonalFinance #FinancialEmpowerment #personalfinance #financialfreedom #finance #money #investing #financialliteracy #financialindependence #budgeting #debtfreecommunity #financialplanning #debtfree #financialeducation #debtfreejourney #wealth #financetips #business #budget #investment #entrepreneur #moneymanagement #moneytips #stockmarket #financialgoals #invest #motivation #debt #savings #moneymindset #savingmoney #success
In this episode, Ricardo visits the Marqués de Riscal winery, highlighting the hotel designed by Frank Gehry as an example of creativity outside the box. He reflects on how disruptive ideas, like this architectural work made of titanium and stainless steel, often emerge when rigid frameworks are abandoned and “ordered chaos” is explored. Ricardo emphasizes that, in projects, thinking outside the box can lead to genuine innovations. He also points out that striking design has become the winery's main business, attracting tourists more than wine production itself. Listen to the podcast to learn more.
Neste episódio, Ricardo visita a vinícola Marqués de Riscal, destacando o hotel projetado por Frank Gehry como exemplo de criatividade fora dos padrões. Ele reflete sobre como ideias disruptivas, como essa obra arquitetônica feita de titânio e aço inox, muitas vezes surgem quando se abandona frameworks rígidos e se permite explorar o "caos ordenado". Ricardo ressalta que, em projetos, pensar fora da caixa pode gerar inovações reais. Além disso, destaca que o design impactante tornou-se o principal negócio da vinícola, atraindo turistas mais do que a própria produção de vinho. Escute o podcast para saber mais.
In this episode of Software People Stories, Gayatri Kalyanaraman speaks with Anu Dwaraknath, Staff Technical Program Manager at Lam Research, about her dynamic journey across geographies, domains, and roles. From her early days in telecom to becoming a driving force in the semiconductor space, Anu shares stories of adaptability, continuous learning, and purpose-driven leadership. Episode Summary In this inspiring episode of Software People Stories, Gayatri Kalyanaraman is in conversation with Anu Dwaraknath, Staff Technical Program Manager at Lam Research — a global leader in semiconductor capital equipment.Anu walks us through her transformative journey from a telecom software engineer to a program leader in the high-stakes world of semiconductors. With warmth and clarity, she shares how each stage of her career was shaped by curiosity, grit, and a willingness to embrace new challenges.Having started in C/C++ development at Alcatel-Lucent, Anu transitioned into technical program management after earning a general management MBA in the U.S. — a shift she undertook during the 2008 recession. With no prior semiconductor experience, she joined Lam Research as an intern and steadily built her domain knowledge, moving from internal IT to core product engineering over the next decade.Now based in India, Anu leads software initiatives on tools that power the chips behind every smart device — and actively advocates for greater awareness and participation in the semiconductor industry, especially for women in tech. Key Themes & Highlights Breaking Into Semiconductors with Persistence and CuriosityJoined Lam Research during her MBA through an internship focused on business analysis.Despite being new to the domain, she took on enterprise software migrations, bridging the business and engineering teams.Faced challenges around visa sponsorship and recession-era job market, but leveraged every opportunity to gain cross-functional exposure. Learning the Domain, One Layer at a TimeStarted in IT and internal systems, then gradually moved into product-facing roles within Lam.Through subconscious learning from team meetings, leadership messages, and everyday exposure, she began to understand the complex world of semiconductor fabrication and capital equipment.Upon relocating to India, she took on a more core product role — bringing her closer to engineers and customers, leading to rapid upskilling in domain knowledge.“I knew I was coming in from a non-product background, and I said yes — I'm ready for the steep learning curve.”️ Building the Beginner's MindsetEmphasizes the importance of staying mentally agile and open to new domains.Used every role — from unpaid internships to technical program ownership — as a learning opportunity.Believes you don't need to know everything on Day 1, but must carry the intent to learn continuously. Growing Semiconductor Awareness in IndiaEngages actively with communities like Grace Hopper (GHCI), Lean In, and PMI, often being the only semiconductor representative in the room.Speaks at schools and conferences to demystify what semiconductors are, how fabs work, and why this field matters — especially post-COVID and in India's Make in India drive.Helps others through referrals, career guidance, and mentorship — especially women interested in STEM and product roles Quote-worthy Moments“Your domain doesn't have to define you — if you carry the mindset to learn, the journey takes care of itself.”“I wanted to break out of my comfort zone — not just from engineering to management, but from one industry to another.”“Being in semiconductors now feels like representing a movement — and I take that responsibility seriously.”Anu can be reached at https://www.linkedin.com/in/anu-dwarakanath-89728a15/Anu is Process innovator, critical thinker, and a corporate entrepreneur in the making! Solid program manager who adds strategic value and brings out competitive differentiation by focusing on business transformations.● 15 years of experience working in IT program management, specializing in waterfall (SDLC), agile and hybrid project management methodologies● A highly collaborative leader with a track record of building effective cross-functional teams and relationships, while delivering high scale solutions● Core competencies: structured problem solving & qualitative decision analysis, negotiation & consensus building Links & ResourcesLam ResearchGrace Hopper Conference IndiaLeanin.orgPMI.org
RenMac dives into the July 4th weekend with a fresh look at the payroll surprise, Fed expectations, the global PMI paradox, and whether the market can stomach high rates. Neil unpacks sluggish job growth beneath the headline beat, Jeff outlines the capex-driven cyclicals leading the rally, and the crew debates whether PMIs and yield curves have lost their forecasting mojo. Plus: why financials might shine, how real yields shape allocation, and yes—cucumber gin makes another cameo.
Buying a new home while keeping your current one can be a smart investment strategy—but it does come with financial challenges, especially when it comes to managing debt. Here are ways you can offset or manage the debt to make this dual-home scenario work:
O! Obcięli!! Niespodziewana obniżka stóp procentowych!! I to jeden z ważniejszych tematów na dzisiaj. A poza tym... Szykuje się rekordowy deficyt, pokazał się fatalny odczyt wskaźnika PMI dla przemysłu, a my z takim tytułem? Sprawdzamy, jakie mamy karty i jak to wygląda ze szczytów finansowego świata. Gościem Roberta Stanilewicza (prosto z Londynu) jest Magdalena Polan, Head of Emerging Markets Macro Research, PGIM Fixed Income. Jest też oka na inne gospodarki naszego regionu oraz na dolara, który na razie nie ma powodów, by się umacniać. Zapraszamy!!
Kia ora,Welcome to Friday's Economy Watch where we follow the economic events and trends that affect Aotearoa/New Zealand.I'm David Chaston and this is the international edition from Interest.co.nz.And today we lead with news the US budget bill has now been approved by Congress setting up a big shift in fortunes for big business at the expense of those on low incomes - and handing their future generations a substantially larger deficit headache. In fact, one so large, it will impact the global economy.In the US, they are about to have another national public holiday, Independence Day, so there has been an early data dump there in advance.US non-farm payrolls expanded +147,000 in June, very similar to the May expansion and better than the expected +110,000. The variance from yesterday's ADP Employment Report will raise a few questions. Average weekly earnings went down in June from May, but were up +3.4% from a year ago. In May that annual gain was +3.8% so this metric is tightening. Month on month decreases have happened before but they are relatively infrequent and usually indicate overtime earnings are drying up.US initial jobless claims came in a 231,500 has week and similar to what was expected, taking the continuing claims level to 1.91 mln, +90,000 higher than year ago levels.These two labour market reports probably take pressure off the Fed to cut their policy rate at their next review at the very end of this month.US exports fell -4.0% in May whereas imports dipped a minor -0.1%. That saw their trade deficit rise from the prior month but stay considerably lower than the same month a year ago.US services exports dipped in the month. But locally the June ISM service sector PMI improved from its tiny May decline to a small June expansion. The S&P Global/Markit services PMI told a similar story. But both noted the rising cost worries.May American factory order levels were up sharply in May from April, to be +3.2% higher than year-ago levels. But aircraft orders drove the rise and without that the year-on-year gain was just +0.2% and far less than can be accounted for by inflation. Even the month-on-month gain without aircraft wasn't significant, but at least it was a gain.And Trump's boast he will do "90 deals in 90 days" resulting from his tariff pressure looks like it will fall completely flat. The US has announced one, with Vietnam, but the Vietnamese will only say they are still working through the details. The talks on all the others are dragging on inconclusively.In Canada, their export and import data for May was little-changed overall. But in fact that hides some pretty significant shifts. Their trade with the US fell a lot, and they how have the smallest share going to the US since 1997, twenty eight years ago. In short order, Canadians have managed to reorient their trade to others successfully.Across the Pacific, analysts had expected the Caixin services PMI for China to maintain its small but steady expansion. But it weakened. Not a lot, and it is still expanding, but it will be disconcerting all the same. And it is now at a nine month low.Surprising analysts who expected a +AU$5 bln monthly trade surplus, the actual Australian trade surplus for May came in at half that level, to its lowest level in five years. May exports fell faster, down -2.7% from April while May imports rose faster, up +3.8% from April. Interestingly, exports of gold are down -3.4% in May from a year ago - and that is in AU$ terms, not volume.Container freight rates fell -5.7% last week from the prior week to be -45% lower than year ago levels. Trans-Pacific rates fell -15% as the trade war crimps these supply chains. Bulk freight rates fell -13% in the past week and are now -33% lower than year-ago levels.The UST 10yr yield is now at 4.34%, and up +5 bps from yesterday at this time.The price of gold will start today at US$3,326/oz, and down -US$20 from yesterday.American oil prices are little-changed at just under US$67/bbl while the international Brent price is down -50 USc at just over US$68.50/bbl. Last week's North American rig counts took an unusually sharp dip. There is certainly no evidence yet that investors are piling in to drill more aggressively.The Kiwi dollar is now just under 60.7 USc, down -10 bps from yesterday. Against the Aussie we are down -20 bps at 92.3 AUc. Against the euro we are unchanged at 51.6 euro cents. That all means our TWI-5 starts today at just over 68 and down -10 bps from yesterday.The bitcoin price starts today at US$109,173 and up +0.5% from this time yesterday. Volatility over the past 24 hours has been low at just over +/-0.8%.You can get more news affecting the economy in New Zealand from interest.co.nz.Kia ora. I'm David Chaston. And we will do this again on Monday.
French authorities report multiple entities targeted by access brokers. A ransomware group extorts a German hunger charity. AT&T combats SIM swapping and account takeover attacks. A Missouri physician group suffers a cyber attack. Qantas doesn't crash, but their computers do. Researchers uncover multiple critical vulnerabilities in Agorum Core Open. A student loan administrator in Virginia gets hit by the Akira ransomware group. The Feds sanction a Russian bulletproof hosting service. Johnson Controls notifies individuals of a major ransomware attack dating back to 2023. Will Markow, CEO of FourOne Insights and N2K CyberWire Senior Workforce Analyst shares the latest technology workforce trends. The ICEBlock app warms up to users. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Miss an episode? Sign-up for our daily intelligence roundup, Daily Briefing, and you'll never miss a beat. And be sure to follow CyberWire Daily on LinkedIn. CyberWire Guest Our guest is Will Markow, CEO of FourOne Insights and N2K CyberWire Senior Workforce Analyst, sharing the latest workforce technology trends. Will recently appeared on our CISO Perspectives podcast with host Kim Jones in the “What's the “correct” path for entering cyber?” episode. If you are not already an N2K Pro member, you can learn more about that here. Got cybersecurity, IT, or project management certification goals? For the past 25 years, N2K's practice tests have helped more than half a million professionals reach certification success. Grow your career and reach your goals faster with N2K's full exam prep of practice tests, labs, and training courses for Microsoft, CompTIA, PMI, Amazon, and more at n2k.com/certify. Selected Reading French cybersecurity agency confirms government affected by Ivanti hacks (The Record) Ransomware gang attacks German charity that feeds starving children (The Record) AT&T deploys new account lock feature to counter SIM swapping (CyberScoop) Cyberattack in Missouri healthcare provider Esse Health exposes data of over 263,000 patients (Beyond Machines) Australia's Qantas says 6 million customer accounts accessed in cyber hack (Reuters) Security Advisories on Agorum Core Open (usd) Virginia student loan administrator Southwood Financial hit by ransomware attack (Beyond Machines) Russian bulletproof hosting service Aeza Group sanctioned by US for ransomware work (The Record) Johnson Controls starts notifying people affected by 2023 breach (Bleeping Computers) ICEBlock, an app for anonymously reporting ICE sightings, goes viral overnight after Bondi criticism (TechCrunch) Audience Survey Complete our annual audience survey before August 31. Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here's our media kit. Contact us at cyberwire@n2k.com to request more info. The CyberWire is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Play video episode | Play audio-only episode | Play on YouTube Click above to play either the audio-only episode or video episode in a new window. Episode Summary Project teams often finish on time and on budget only to face silent rejection from users. Change-management practitioner Mario González joins Cornelius Fichtner to map out the “adoption gap” and how to close it. Mario manages public-sector projects and brings fifteen years of leading agile transformations. He explains practical ways to detect early signs of low adoption, measure real usage with crisp KPIs, and listen for informal feedback that exposes hidden concerns. Listeners learn why classifying stakeholders as supporters, neutrals, or resistors creates clarity and how to move each group toward active buy-in.
Independent analyst Jimmy Moyaha unpacks Hyprop's move to offload 50% of its Hyde Park Corner stake. Izak Odendaal from Old Mutual Wealth weighs in on the shaky but still-standing GNU – and whether he's spotting signs of recovery. Sello Sekele from Absa CIB breaks down June's PMI rebound – up 5.4 points, yet stubbornly stuck below the critical 50 mark.
Notas del Show: • Wall Street cede tras máximos históricos: Futuros con leves bajas: $SPX -0.2%, $US100 -0.2%, $INDU plano. El mercado digiere el cierre semestral en récords mientras se acerca el 9 de julio, fecha límite para la extensión de aranceles. Persisten dudas sobre el plan “90 acuerdos en 90 días”, y resurge tensión Trump–Musk por subsidios a $TSLA. En agenda: PMI (52.0), ISM (48.8), JOLTS (7.32M) y Powell en el BCE. • Boeing cae tras accidente en India: $BA -2.3% tras incidente del vuelo AI171. Se investigan causas mecánicas del 787 Dreamliner. $GE +4% por ser proveedor de motores GEnx y cajas negras. • Disney y MLB reabren negociaciones de derechos: $DIS busca recuperar parte de los derechos de transmisión local tras cerrar acuerdo histórico de ESPN. El nuevo contrato sería parcial y más corto, mientras compite con $AAPL y $ROKU. • Texas reconoce el oro y plata como moneda legal: Desde mayo 2027, los metales preciosos podrán usarse en pagos vía tarjeta de débito respaldada en oro/plata. El oro sube 0.6% ($XAUUSD), plata cae 0.5% ($XAGUSD). Citi proyecta consolidación entre $3,100–$3,500/oz. Una jornada con foco en política monetaria, metales preciosos y riesgos en el sector aeroespacial. ¡No te lo pierdas!
In this episode of Macro Mondays, James Brodie, James Todd & Will Cunliffe unpack the most volatile macro crosscurrents in markets as U.S. equities push to fresh all-time highs and the dollar resumes its downtrend. Key highlights include:• U.S. consumer cracks widening• Housing on the brink• Fed doves emerge• Inflation expectations collapse• Employment weakness deepens• Equities defy fundamentals• Gold tests key support• Dollar dives• Hedge funds retreat: CTAs flip net short, and Andurand's flagship fund drops another 12.7%• BOE turns dovish• Tesla soars & Nvidia at new highs Key data releases this week:
Con Diego Barnuevo, analista de Ebury, repasamos lo más destacado de la macro con vistazo a las ventas minoristas alemanas y el PMI manufacturero chino, entre otras.
In this episode, Ricardo discusses the impact of fear on project management and the role of psychological safety in transforming fear into positive and effective actions. Fears such as making mistakes, being judged, or losing your job can silence teams, hindering decisions and innovation. Psychological safety, a concept developed by Amy Edmondson, allows people to express themselves without fear of punishment. Leaders play a fundamental role in demonstrating vulnerability and encouraging participation. This does not eliminate discipline, but it dissociates it from fear, replacing it with respect and trust. Authoritarian cultures can generate quick results, but they compromise the team's potential. To reduce fear, genuinely listen to your team and share your own concerns. Projects are made by people, and people need trust. Listen to the podcast to learn more!
Neste episódio, Ricardo aborda o impacto do medo no gerenciamento dos projetos e o papel da segurança psicológica em transformar o medo em ações positivas e eficazes. Medos tais como errar, ser julgado ou perder o emprego, podem silenciar as equipes, prejudicando decisões e inovações. A segurança psicológica, conceito de Amy Edmondson, permite que pessoas se expressem sem medo de punição. Líderes têm papel fundamental ao demonstrar vulnerabilidade e incentivar a participação. Isso não elimina disciplina, mas a dissocia do medo, substituindo-o por respeito e confiança. Culturas autoritárias podem gerar resultados rápidos, mas comprometem o potencial do time. Para reduzir o medo, ouça genuinamente sua equipe e compartilhe suas próprias dúvidas. Projetos são feitos por pessoas, e pessoas precisam de confiança. Escute o podcast para saber mais!
If you're a first gen homebuyer starting your journey, this episode breaks down exactly what a mortgage is—and how to choose the best one for your financial situation.You'll learn:What a mortgage really includes (spoiler: it's more than just the loan)The 3 most common types of mortgages: Conventional, FHA, and VA/USDA loansThe difference between PMI and MIP—and why it mattersHow to compare banks, online lenders, and brokers (without getting overwhelmed)Whether you're early in your credit journey or ready to buy in the next year, this episode will help you feel confident navigating one of the biggest financial decisions of your life.1:1 Money Coaching: 1:1 is a money & investing coaching program for first gen WOC who want to financially prepare to buy their first or next home. Inside 1:1, we'll map out the best strategy to set a house budget, save for a downpayment by investing and set you up to have the best credit to get the most competitive mortgage. Book a free call her to learn more about 1:1 money coaching.
Send us a textThis is Project Management Masterclass, hosted by Brittany Wilkins. In today's episode, we unpack the 2025 PMI Global Talent Report—a sobering look at the critical project management talent shortage threatening global progress.You'll learn:Why project management is not a niche—it's the backbone of global innovation, infrastructure, and economic transformation.Where the demand for project professionals is rising fastest, including China, South Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa.What's causing the gap—from aging workforces to rapid AI and tech disruption.What project leaders can do about it using PMI's M.O.R.E. mindset: Move outcomes, Own value, Realize change, Elevate impact.Whether you're just entering the field or leading complex portfolios, this episode helps you understand where the profession is headed—and how to rise with it. Support the show
US equities closed higher in Monday trading, ending near best levels. Middle East tensions continue to dominate the headlines. In macro news, the June US flash PMI composite came in ahead of consensus, with manufacturing better, but services cooler.
En este episodio cubrimos los eventos más relevantes antes de la apertura del mercado: • Wall Street sube con cautela tras ataque a Irán: Futuros al alza: $SPX +0.1%, $US100 +0.3%, $INDU +0.1%. El fin de semana, EE.UU. bombardeó instalaciones nucleares iraníes en Fordow, Natanz e Isfahan. El Parlamento iraní votó a favor de cerrar el Estrecho de Ormuz, pero la decisión queda en manos del Consejo de Seguridad Nacional. El petróleo subió con fuerza, pero luego retrocedió: WTI -0.9%, Brent -1%. Hoy se publican PMI de junio y ventas de casas existentes (3.96M esperadas). • Tesla lanza robotaxis en Austin: $TSLA desplegó una prueba limitada de su servicio de robotaxis usando vehículos Model Y con Full Self-Driving. La flota se limita a unas pocas unidades y zonas específicas, con un empleado en el asiento del pasajero. El servicio podría pausarse en septiembre por requerimientos legales en Texas. Wedbush estima que la oportunidad en IA y autonomía vale $1 Billón. La acción ha bajado -6.4% en seis semanas. • Amazon impulsa IA en Corea del Sur con nuevo data center: $AMZN y SK Group construirán una AWS AI Zone en Ulsan para 2027, generando hasta 78,000 empleos y consolidando a Corea como hub de IA. La inversión se suma a los $5.88B ya comprometidos en el país. El proyecto busca liderar en IA segura y escalable en Asia-Pacífico. Una jornada con foco en geopolítica, inteligencia artificial y avances regulatorios. ¡No te lo pierdas!
Diego Barnuevo, analista de Ebury, pone el foco en el crudo, el dólar y el oro, mientras mira de cerca a la macro USA y el PMI de Reino Unido y la eurozona.
Maandag 23 juni:Om naar uit te kijken met Danny Reweghs over:Jereme Powell, de voorzitter van de Federal Reserve. Hij moet zich opnieuw verantwoorden voor het Amerikaanse Congres. Met Donald Trump op oorlogspad tegen het rentebeleid belooft dat een pittige sessie te worden.De nieuwste PMI-cijfers: die laten zien hoe aankoopdirecteurs in de Amerikaanse economie naar de nabije toekomst kijken en dat is een belangrijke indicator voor beleggers.De Core-PCE cijfers. Dat is de favoriete inflatiemeter van de Fed. Met mildere energieprijzen verwachten economen stabiliteit, maar de handelsoorlog blijft een inflatierisico. In Trends podcasts vind je alle podcasts van Trends en Trends Z, netjes geordend volgens publicatie. De redactie van Trends brengt u verschillende podcasts over wat onze wereld en maatschappij beheerst. Vanuit diverse invalshoeken en met een uitgesproken focus op economie en ondernemingen, op business, personal finance en beleggen. Onafhankelijk, relevant, telkens constructief en toekomstgericht.
In this episode, Ricardo discusses the “Jeitinho Brasileiro” — the Brazilian way of solving problems creatively, often with limited resources. While this ingenuity is a strength, it becomes risky when improvisation turns into standard practice. He shares a story of a glass installer who used chewing gum instead of putty, which worked but became a habit. In projects, this mindset can lead to poor documentation, rushed timelines, and weak planning. Flexibility is vital, but it must not replace structured processes. True project maturity comes from building sustainable systems, not relying on last-minute fixes. Creativity should be embraced, but always directed toward lasting, professional solutions, not temporary patches. Listen to the podcast to learn more!
Neste episódio, Ricardo reflete sobre o “Jeitinho Brasileiro”, destacando nossa criatividade em resolver problemas com poucos recursos. Embora essa habilidade seja admirável, ela se torna perigosa quando improvisos viram padrão. Ele conta a história de um instalador de vidro que usou chiclete no lugar de massa para fixar um vidro, e depois passou a adotar isso como prática. Ricardo alerta que, em projetos, essa mentalidade leva à improvisação constante, prazos apressados e falta de estrutura. Flexibilidade é essencial, mas não pode substituir planejamento. A verdadeira maturidade em projetos está em criar processos sustentáveis. Criatividade deve ser canalizada para soluções duradouras, não apenas para “remendos” de última hora. Escute o podcast para saber mais!
In this episode, we speak with Dave Garrett, Senior Advisor to the CEO at the Project Management Institute (PMI). With decades of experience driving innovation in project management, Dave is a thought leader in strategy, growth, and value delivery. As a co-founder of ProjectManagement.com and former Chief Strategy & Growth Officer at PMI, he has played a pivotal role in shaping how organizations around the world define and measure project success. Join us as Dave shares his journey from tech entrepreneur to senior leadership at PMI, and explains how his work is helping redefine success beyond traditional metrics. He introduces PMI's MORE philosophy, a modern approach to measuring outcomes, value, and stakeholder perception, and reveals why managing perceptions is just as important as hitting milestones. We explore the limitations of the “triple constraint” model, discuss why clearly defining value is essential to project outcomes, and unpack how performance should be measured in today's complex, fast-moving environment. Dave also reflects on the most impactful piece of career advice he's ever received, and how it continues to guide his leadership style and strategic decisions. Don't miss this insightful conversation full of forward-thinking ideas for project professionals, transformation leaders, and anyone interested in what truly makes a project successful in today's world. Chapters: 00:00 - 02:46 Introduction to Dave 2:47 - 5:13 PMI's Research into Project Success 5:14 - 11:01 Key Findings from this research 11:02 - 11:10 Digital Transformation Guidebook 11:11 - 17:25 PMI's MORE Concept explained 17:26 - 20:36 Managing Perceptions on Projects 20:37 - 23:43 The Triple Constraint Model 23:44 - 26:03 How should we measure project performance 26:04 - 28:30 Best Career Advice 28:31 - 30:21 Wrapping Up the Episode Connect with Dave on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davegarrett/ Thanks for listening to the Project Management Paradise Podcast. Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review our podcast on your favorite platform. Stay tuned for more episodes where we bring you expert advice from industry leaders.
Play video episode | Play audio-only episode | Play on YouTube Click above to play either the audio-only episode or video episode in a new window. Episode Summary For many project managers, the urge to command every meeting and own every milestone feels natural. But veteran program manager Anisha Manvatkar proves that the most effective leaders often work in silence. In this conversation with Cornelius Fichtner she shares how “invisible leadership” unites purpose, communication, and AI-powered efficiency to deliver high-performing projects at Nvidia and beyond. Listeners hear why stepping out of the spotlight lets teams step up, how a clear “why” keeps momentum when priorities shift, and where AI can shoulder the busywork so people focus on innovation.
Ever been told to "own" a project but given no team, no budget, and zero authority? You're not alone.Alex unpacks the all-too-common workplace trap of the invisible mandate—where professionals are tasked with major goals but left powerless to execute them.
Join us for a powerful conversation with Larry Ward, President of Political Media Incorporated (PMI), as we explore the intersection of politics, marketing, and digital freedom. With decades of experience across the political, corporate, and non-profit worlds, Larry shares how PMI has helped shape the modern political landscape — all while staying ahead of the curve in a rapidly changing media environment. From pioneering digital outreach in the early 2000s to tackling the challenges of online censorship and algorithmic suppression, PMI has consistently led with innovation and conviction. In this episode, we break down the tools, strategies, and principles that continue to drive their mission forward. In this episode, you'll hear about: How digital platforms transformed political engagement. The subtle yet powerful ways censorship creeps into online advertising. How targeted messaging thrives even in suppressed environments. What AI means for the future of political speech and media strategy. If you're curious about the future of free speech, or how real change is driven through media strategy, this episode is a must-watch. Explore Larry's work and case studies at Politicalmedia.com/case-studies
At PMI, Katy kicks things off with an uplifting tale of two elderly twins visiting a waterfall. Josh shares a story about Justin Bieber's fallout with a former friend. Jeremy wraps things up with a fascinating tidbit regarding Gen Z's desire to engage in sexual activities at the workplace.The fun continues on our social media pages!Jeremy, Katy & Josh Facebook: CLICK HERE Jeremy, Katy & Josh Instagram: CLICK HERE
Think PMI is a scam? You've been lied to—and in this episode, David sets the record straight with no filter. Part three of the Real Answers series takes a detour from step-by-step guidance and instead serves up a fiery PSA. David tackles the myth that first-time buyers must wait to save 20% down to avoid PMI—calling out the financial “experts” giving bad advice and explaining why this outdated thinking is hurting renters. There's no soft delivery here: it's a full-on rant from someone who's tired of seeing people misled. Tune in if you're ready for a raw, opinionated breakdown of one of the most persistent homebuying myths.Quote:“PMI is not evil. It's not a punishment. It's just a tool—and if you understand it, you can actually use it to your advantage.”Highlights:Why the “20% down” rule is outdated and damagingHow PMI actually works—and why it's misunderstoodDavid's real-time reaction to advice that keeps renters stuckWhat most financial planners fail to grasp about today's housing marketA no-holds-barred message to first-time buyers feeling left behindReferenced Episodes:Ep 33: Listener story—PMI turned “no chance” into homeownerEp 56, 61, 64, 90, 199, 304, 349: Credit score tips that actually move the needleEp 182: From zero credit score to first-time homeowner (interview)Ep 198 & 216: More PMI truths—and how to make it work for youEp 181: Why waiting for 20% down is often the wrong moveEp 301–310: The 10 essential steps to buying your first homeEp 348: The real math and mindset behind closing costsConnect with me to find a trusted realtor in your area or to answer your burning questions!Subscribe to our YouTube Channel @HowToBuyaHomeInstagram @HowtoBuyAHomePodcastTik Tok @HowToBuyAHomeVisit our Resource Center to "Ask David" AND get your FREE Home Buying Starter Kit!David Sidoni, the "How to Buy a Home Guy," is a seasoned real estate professional and consumer advocate with two decades of experience helping first-time homebuyers navigate the real estate market. His podcast, "How to Buy a Home," is a trusted resource for anyone looking to buy their first home. It offers expert advice, actionable tips, and inspiring stories from real first-time homebuyers. With a focus on making the home-buying process accessible and understandable, David breaks down complex topics into easy-to-follow steps, covering everything from budgeting and financing to finding the right home and making an offer. Subscribe for regular market updates, and leave a review to help us reach more people. Ready for an honest, informed home-buying experience? Viva la Unicorn Revolution - join us!
In this episode, Ricardo discusses insights from PwC's 2024 AI Jobs Barometer, analyzing 500 million job postings across 15 countries. He shows that AI-exposed sectors like IT and project management see 4.8x higher productivity. Jobs requiring AI skills grow three times faster and offer a 25% wage premium. AI's biggest impact comes from everyday professionals using tools like ChatGPT. Skills in AI-exposed roles shift 20% faster, urging continuous learning. AI enables smaller, more efficient teams and introduces new risks. Importantly, AI drives not only efficiency but also innovation and new business models, making it essential for project managers to adapt and evolve. Listen to the podcast to learn more!
Neste episódio, Ricardo discute insights do Barômetro de Empregos em IA de 2024 da PwC, que analisa 500 milhões de vagas de emprego em 15 países. Ele mostra que setores expostos à IA, como TI e gerenciamento de projetos, apresentam produtividade 4,8 vezes maior. Empregos que exigem habilidades em IA crescem três vezes mais rápido e oferecem um prêmio salarial de 25%. O maior impacto da IA vem de profissionais comuns que usam ferramentas como o ChatGPT. As habilidades em funções expostas à IA mudam 20% mais rápido, incentivando o aprendizado contínuo. A IA possibilita equipes menores e mais eficientes e introduz novos riscos. É importante ressaltar que a IA impulsiona não apenas a eficiência, mas também a inovação e novos modelos de negócios, tornando essencial que os gerentes de projeto se adaptem e evoluam. Escute o podcast para saber mais!
Premium This is a preview of our premium episode. Full access is available only to premium subscribers. Click here and learn about the Premium Podcast to access this interview and transcript... Play video preview episode | Play audio-only preview episode | Play on YouTube Click above to play either the audio-only preview episode or video preview episode in a new window. Episode Summary Genocide survivor, educator, and leadership consultant Dr. Emad Rahim joins host Cornelius Fichtner to share the S.A.L.T. model—Survive, Adaptation, Love, Transformation—a framework he forged while rebuilding his life from the Khmer Rouge killing fields to the executive boardroom. Rahim explains why acknowledging a “survival state” is the first step toward meaningful change and how project managers can move beyond firefighting into strategic growth by embracing adaptation through value-based decisions. He highlights the critical role of supportive networks (“love”) in sustaining momentum and shows how transformation becomes attainable when leaders combine clear goals with short- and long-term wins.
Ep 127 - Tired of watching your rent go up while your dreams of homeownership stay out of reach? You're not alone. Jennifer Humphrey was in the same boat—until she found a path forward through the NACA program.In this episode, Jennifer shares how she went from renter to homeowner and landlord in NYC, all while working full-time as a teacher. By house hacking a duplex and leaning into NACA's unique advantages—no PMI, no credit score requirement, and little to no down payment—she's building a foundation for generational wealth, one unit at a time.
In this conversation, we sit down with Larry Ward to dive into the world of political advertising and advocacy marketing. As the President of Political Media Incorporated (PMI), Larry brings decades of experience in politics, corporate, and non-profit sectors – a unique combination that enables the company to operate within politics while remaining outside the box. Since 2002, PMI has been at the forefront of technological and political strategy, combining deep industry insight with a firm commitment to the principles that define strong, effective leadership. As pioneers in email marketing, social media campaigning, and online engagement, PMI has consistently pushed the boundaries of innovation. Today, that spirit continues as they deliver cutting-edge approaches to targeting, messaging, execution, and design. Don't miss the opportunity to learn about: How the internet has changed politics. The ways that media organizations are able to reach targeted audiences in hostile environments. The mechanisms in which covert censorship occurs in advertising and media. The biggest changes on the horizon as AI continues to grow. Whether you're a seasoned political strategist or a passionate observer, this podcast is sure to shine a light on the ways that PMI spreads the message of liberty through a diverse range of communication methods. Want to read up on Larry's personal case studies? Visit Politicalmedia.com/case-studies now!
Midweek Market Insights and Legislative Updates In this episode of Dividend Cafe on June 4th, Brian Szytel from The Bahnsen Group provides a market overview, discussing the uneventful day in equities, with minor movements in the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq. He explains the rally in the bond market caused by private payroll numbers missing estimates significantly. Brian also reviews the mixed economic indicators from the May ISM services index and services PMI, noting one indicator in contraction and the other in expansion. He addresses the fiscal impact and revisions of a significant legislative bill, emphasizing the need for reduced spending, especially on entitlements. Additionally, he answers a question about section 899 of the proposed bill regarding tax rates for foreign investors in U.S. assets. He concludes by previewing upcoming data releases for the week, including initial jobless claims, productivity numbers, trade deficit, and employment figures. 00:00 Introduction and Market Overview 00:38 Economic Indicators and Employment Data 01:53 Fiscal Policy and Deficit Concerns 03:06 Foreign Investment Tax Proposal 04:19 Upcoming Economic Data and Conclusion Links mentioned in this episode: DividendCafe.com TheBahnsenGroup.com
Premium This is a preview of our premium episode. Full access is available only to premium subscribers. Click here and learn about the Premium Podcast to access this interview and transcript... Play video preview episode | Play audio-only preview episode | Play on YouTube Click above to play either the audio-only preview episode or video preview episode in a new window. Episode Summary Project managers know that clear schedules and smart strategies cannot guarantee success. Jackie Barretta, award-winning CIO and author of Primal Teams, shows how emotion sits at the heart of team performance and why leaders who understand this outpace those who ignore it. Drawing on twenty-five years in Fortune 500 IT leadership and consulting, Jackie explains how authentic emotional awareness activates sharper thinking, faster creativity, and stronger collaboration, turning ordinary groups into high-performance engines.