Episode 060: How to Transform Education in America with Sheri Smith, CEO Indigo Education Company

Picture of Sheri Smith, with words "the secret to changing education in America""

FULL VIDEO INTERVIEW LINK – https://youtu.be/tJbKxXnVACY

Sheri Smith and I have known each other since college, and we actually worked together for several years while we were coming up professionally. She’s always impressed me as one of the smartest people I know. She’s done graduate work at Georgetown, she worked for Hillary Clinton for a time, and now she’s the founder and CEO of The Indigo Project, an education company that does extensive assessment and consulting work in the education space both at the high school level and college level. I wanted to have Sheri on the podcast for two reasons one because she’s a longtime friend and I’ve been wanting to catch up with her for years, and two because she has unique insight into the education system at large, and I think we all can agree that the education system needs to change, and I also think the pandemic showed the cracks and faults in the education system much more clearly. Sheri and her company have a unique approach to working within the education system to help change it from the inside out. Her method is unique, her perspective is hopeful, and her approach may be just what we need to change the education system from within. As kids and their parents are figuring out the new normal of education once again, this interview could not come at a better time. Interestingly oldest daughter took one of the indigo assessments for herself and found it to be mostly accurate and on point.

Now for those of you who are business leaders or you’ve already grown your children, you might be tempted to click away thinking this may not have anything to do with you. Quite the contrary actually. Assessments like the ones we’re about to discuss have relevance to everyone not just students. If you’re looking to unlock high performance from your team, this may be a compelling tool to consider regardless if you’re running a small start up or a Fortune 500 company. Self awareness is everything — it’s the key to humility, interpersonal relationships, effective leadership, growth and learning, and– top performance. For those in business, this interview will give you insight into the future of work – both the workforce and the kind of functions that is coming up now and in the next several years and decades.

After watching or listening to this episode you, if are interested in assessment services either for your high school or college student — or for yourself, or your company or business please reach out to me. I hope you enjoy the episode.

Episode 058: Investment Secrets You Probably Don’t Know with Author, Tom Phelan

Stacks of US cash - Investment Secrets You Don't Know

Would you like to know how the SUPER WEALTHY invest their money?

Don’t miss this important episode. Build wealth faster, retire more securely, and learn what others don’t know about investing

Tom Phelan (“Fay-len”) Is the controversial author of numerous best-selling books:

* “The Reluctant Realtor Who Won’t Buy Investment Property©2021”
* “A Teacher’s 403(b) – Why Is Real Estate Missing©2021”
* “The Big IRA Gamble” and “401(k) Roulette ©2020”

Tom says estimates show 45 million people have invested $11 trillion dollars in IRAs and another 30 million 401(k)s Owners are gambling $8 trillion dollars in Wall Street. Wow, Wall Street “Fees” are almost incalculable on $18 trillion dollars with hundreds of billions being added annually.

From years of experience Tom believed far too many IRA and 401(k) Owners are apathetic about their Wall Street investments, a fact Wall Street counts on … a lack-of-personal involvement.

But there is hope Tom says, if people will listen and choose Wall Street alternatives to avoid the needless Risk of IRA and 401(k) funds. Armed with this new-found knowledge Tom will show people how to strategize how to retire years younger and with more retirement income dollars, possibly Tax Free Income dollars.

Oh and if you’ve ever had a dream of owning a vineyard in Argentina, Tom has a few 5-acre Boutique Malbec vineyards your IRA or Individual 401(k) can buy…no…he really does.

He says he has the solution for investing, living, and retirement, but only those who will step off their Hamster Wheel and listen.

Episode 057: Be Prepared for Anything with Mary Beth Simon (CEO, Niche Partner Consulting)

Life Preserver Ring with the title be prepared for anything

There is a 100% probability that you and I are going to face death one day. Our mortality is a fact we don’t like to face, and often do little to prepare for until it’s too late. In fact, caring.com did a study in 2021 and found that 67% of American adults don’t even have a will.

Mary Beth Simon was preparing to retire from a 31 year career at Vanguard when her friend, Sue was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Sue asked Mary Beth to help her husband navigate the beneficiary process if she didn’t survive. Sue eventually passed away, and Mary Beth spent 3 months working with Sue’s husband to recreate their entire financial landscape. You see, Sue managed the finances and investments, not her husband. The pain of watching her friend pass on, and the pain of putting the pieces together of an entire life made Mary Beth realize that we all need to do a better job empowering our loved ones and business partners to take over for us in our absence.

Don’t miss this incredibly important interview it could save your family and your business.

Episode 056: The Savvy Professional, An Interview with Rich Jacques, VP Intelligence and Law Enforcement, Noblis

The Saavy Professional with Rich Jacques

Rich Jacques is in the top echelon of business leaders today. His incredible career spans decades and includes senior leadership roles at Belcan and Booz Allen Hamilton, where he spent 21 years. Today, he’s the Vice President of Intelligence and Law Enforcement at Noblis, a non-profit advisory company that specializes in cutting-edge science and technology solutions and independent research.

In 2020, Rich was named one of the Top 5 Executives in Intelligence Contracting by the Potomac Officers Club. And it’s no surprise, Rich is easily one of the most subtle, savvy, and intelligent leaders out there today.

Come and get an insider’s look at how the most savvy and sophisticated professionals think, act, lead, and move their careers and lives forward. Pull out your journal, and take good notes as we do a deep-dive into, “The Savvy Professional”.

Episode 055: 28 Healthy, Fun, and Motivating Ways to Reward Yourself

Bowl of Strawberries

I’m a huge fan of productivity, but I’m an even bigger fan of giving yourself rewards when you’ve really earned them like overcoming procrastination and taking action on something you’ve been putting off. What follows is a list of ideas to reward yourself in a healthy, fun, and sustainable way. Admittedly, these are small rewards that have particular appeal to me personally. So what may be a reward to me, may be the complete opposite for you. The idea here is to help spark your own ideas for good self-rewards.

Episode 054: The Power of Story – Why The Stories We Tell Ourselves Matter So Much

Swim Race

Before COVID, my daughters were both competitive swimmers. One day I was volunteering as a timer at one of their divisional swim meets. While standing in the lane getting more and more wet with every passing heat (i.e. a group of swimmers who are lining to compete for their race), I saw hundreds of kids line up to swim that day. There were two children in particular, both were the same age, both came from the same socio-economic strata, both had about the same athletic level, same team, same coach, and even had the same color hair. But there was a key difference in the two children.

Episode 053: If You Don’t Who Will, with Annella Metoyer, Author of “Dare to be the Change”

If you dont who will with Annella Metoyer

From Colored School in the South to Bank President, Annella Metoyer’s story is compelling, inspiring, and full of hard-fought wisdom. Don’t miss this incredible interview!

Annella Metoyer came from humble beginnings. Starting out in a colored school, Annella didn’t quite fit in due to the color of her skin, yet when she transitioned to a white (or integrated) school, she didn’t quite fit in there either. She faced daily challenges, yet remained ever curious, determined, and driven. She rose through the ranks of the banking industry to become the city president of one today’s major banks.

Her inspiring story is found in her #1 best-selling book, “Dare to be the Change”.

Annella has a unique perspective on leadership, race, diversity, and what it takes to be successful. She says that every challenge carries within it the seeds of an advantage. She has devoted herself to sharing her story of adversity, of hope, and tackling the fear that often grips us. As a veteran of the business trenches she has a ton of life-changing insights to share. Don’t miss this incredible interview where we cover leadership, coaching, communication, motivation, influence, and confidence.

Episode 052: Reactions to the Derek Chauvin Trial (Guest Panel: Walter Powell, Mimi Geerges, and Dr. Marisela Martinez-Cola)

3 Critical Reactions on Derek Chauvin Trial with Walter Powell, Mimi Geerges, and Dr. Marisela Martinez-Cola

The murder of George Floyd set off a firestorm of protests, riots, and social action in a pandemic environment where people were already afraid, angry, and uncertain. Derek Chauvin, the police officer responsible for George Floyd’s death, was tried and found guilty on three counts. Because this case was historic on so many levels, we pulled a together a panel of three phenomenal people to provide their reactions to the verdict

Episode 051: The Talent War 2 with George Randle

The talent war - lone chess piece standing among a field of fallen pieces

George Randle is a former US Army Officer, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of The Talent War Group and Co-Author of “The Talent War”. With a 20 year career in talent acquisition George has hired over 80,000 people. He and his co-author say that many organizations are losing the war for talent, and because of that, they are not only losing their best people, but also competitive advantage, market share, and are in danger of going out of business. But they also say there is a solution, but only for those who are smart enough — to listen.

Episode 050: The Media Agenda with SiriusXM and PBS Host, Mimi Geerges

The Media Agenda

We’re living in a time of converging crises amid a pandemic, economic uncertainty, cries for social justice, riots, insurrections, and a frontline battle of truth and misinformation. We’re living in a time where the media itself, has become as much of the focus as the news it covers.

Mimi Geerges is a veteran broadcaster in TV and Radio, She was the Host and Executive Producer of the “The Mimi Geerges Show”, which was aired nationally for almost 16 years on SiriusXM Radio and PBS. Her show featured some of the most influential Washington DC power brokers, as well as leaders and luminaries from around the world. Mimi is also the Founder and President of Papyrus Media Group. In this interview, we discuss how the media really works from a real media insider. Does the media have its own agenda, or are they giving us EXACTLY what we want? YOU decide.