Mike Manazir is the author of the Amazon best-seller, “Learn How to Lead to Win”, released in January 2023. He is a retired Rear Admiral who served 36 years in the U.S. Navy. He qualified to fly F-14 Tomcats and F-18 Super Hornets, is a Top Gun Graduate, and commanded a fighter squadron, two ships including command of the aircraft carrier, USS NIMITZ. Mike had five tours in the Pentagon and is now an executive with a Fortune 100 Aerospace and Defense Company. 

In this episode, Mike talks to us about the importance of communication and human connection in leaders, as he stresses how we can get better results if we “lead with our hearts and not with our titles”.

Why you have to check out today’s podcast:

Learn how you can make connections with up to thousands of crew as a leader Find out why it is essential that you keep your tone, energy, and passion lively in order to boost the morale of your team Understand the importance of “looking at the other side of the coin”, and why you should delegate and not micromanage

 “If you lead with your title, you're going to get less results from your team. If you lead from your heart and you're inclusive with each member of the team…you will get more high-powered results.”

– Mike Manazir

Topics Covered:

00:26 – Lead with your heart, not with your titles: What inspired Mike to write his book, “Learn how to Lead to Win”

03:45 – It’s about communication and connection: How leading 300 people differs from leading 10,000 people

09:12 – You can create connection even through a speaker: How Mike learned that his tone and energy on the 1MC had impacts on his crew

11:16 – Whatever the mission is, just put “mission”: How Mike relates leadership in the military to leadership in the corporate world

15:33 – It’s all about connecting with human beings: The key learnings in Mike’s career as a leader that he communicates in his book

22:28 – Look at the other side of the coin: How Mike addresses people who are not doing what they’re expected to do

27:46 – Delegate, and not micromanage: What leadership advice Mike would give to his younger self

Key Takeaways:

“You over communicate whenever you go out. You connect with people. You bring people together.”

“Everybody wants to be recognized. Everybody wants to feel valued for what they do. Everybody wants to feel a purpose. Everybody on that ship joined the Navy to serve something bigger than themselves.” 

“You can create a connection, a human connection, even through only a speaker.”

“If you get to a point where you don't want to disappoint them and they don't want to disappoint you, you can do anything. Anything.” 

“Leadership is about plagiarism. You plagiarize all of the good habits that great leaders do.” 

People / Resources Mentioned:

• Learn How to Lead to Win: 33 Powerful Stories and Leadership Lessons - https://www.amazon.com/Learn-How-Lead-Win-Leadership/dp/B0BRZ7DWS8
• The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them, and People Will Follow You - https://www.amazon.com/21-Irrefutable-Laws-Leadership-Anniversary/dp/0785288376
• How to Win Friends and Influence People - https://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/0671027034

Connect with Mike Manazir: 

• Website: www.mikemanazir.com 

Connect with Dr. Katrina Burrus

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrinaburrus/
• Website: https://mkbconseil.ch/contact/ 

Klaus Wehage is the CEO of 10X Innovation Lab, author of Global Class, and Silicon Valley ambassador who serves as a conduit, connecting the world to the startup community elite.  He previously served as the Head of International Relations at Silicon Valley Forum, where he started dedicating his career to building and cultivating high-value, sustainable partnerships with international organizations. 

Klaus has a track record of mentoring over 2000+ founders and corporate executives, working with 50+ countries, and advising governments on ecosystem building. He is known as the secret weapon for companies seeking to implement innovative programs and strengthen their ties to the Silicon Valley ecosystem. Klaus has an MBA from Hult University and a Bachelor's in Business and Culture from Copenhagen Business School and has lived and worked on four continents.

Are you ready to take your business global? In this episode, we have Klaus Wehage sitting with us in a lengthy exchange about his expert insights on international business. From assessing your company's readiness to go global to key factors to consider when transitioning from local to international markets. Klaus offers concrete examples and valuable advice on the challenges and costs of international expansion that you have to anticipate and address. Lastly, Klaus highlights the advantages of international expansion beyond the monetary gains. 

Don't miss Klaus' wisdom on these critical topics, plus his frameworks, tools and strategies you can utilize in your business toward global acceleration and growth.

Why you have to check out today’s episode

Discover battle-tested strategies to establishing your business for global success and cultivate its competencies from the very start Find out both the advantages and challenges of expanding globally and the ways to anticipate and address them. Learn how to assess your business's global readiness based on factors such as business operations, mindset, and the characteristics you need to have that qualify for international expansion

“You need to have eyes and ears into the world. Being able to see patterns and trends that can feed into how you build your products well.” —Klaus Wehagu

Topics Covered: 00:30  Why thinking globally on Day 1 determines success in the international arena 02:40  Klaus explains concrete examples to assess your company's readiness to go global 04:00  The process of hiring the perfect candidate for an international market 08:42  Certain traits that you should look for when building an international-literate team 10:49  Key business aspects to evaluate in transitioning from local to international 13:19  Globalization versus Localization 18:12  What key factors do companies often fail with in their international business model? 20:37  What are the costs associated with going international: localization and market entry cost 23:45  The challenges of international expansion that you have to anticipate and address 26:32  Klaus' expert advice for successful American businesses seeking international                experience 30:52  Huge advantage of going international besides making more money 34:34  Klaus’ insights on the present decline in globalization 37:23  How does the virtuality of business today affect the international business arena?

Key Takeaways

"If you seek to learn and understand nothing will be foreign.” —Klaus Wehage

“Be open and be willing to relearn and listen to local teams to discover how to best find product market fit in new markets.” —Klaus Wehage

 "Think about partnerships instead of disruption when you go into new markets. Take a more collaborative approach in enabling support and growth in the industry" —Klaus Wehage

“Localization is about creating a strong business model and then identifying key questions that will challenge it.” —Klaus Wehage

"One of the most important things, when you go international, is also the ability to say no. Cause you have a tendency when you engage with customers in new markets to say yes, we want to do it, we want to secure a customer" —Klaus Wehage   "The biggest mistake that we see with companies is that the leadership team are not exposed to the local reality" —Klaus Wehage

"If you don't understand how they react to certain tastes in a specific market, you're not going to be successful because you can't just change a person's palate, the taste buttons. It sounds very simple but there is a tendency to standardize, that's the bias." —Klaus Wehage

"Make your product/company more resilient to competition.” —Klaus Wehage

People/Resources Mentioned

Global Class: How the World's Fastest-Growing Companies Scale Globally by Focusing Locally: https://www.amazon.com/Global-Class-Fastest-Growing-Companies-Globally-ebook/dp/B09RMFNNZ4?ref_=ast_author_mpb  10x Innovation Lab:  https://www.10xinnovationlab.com/  Silicon Valley: https://www.siliconvalley.com/ 

Connect with Klaus Wehage

Website: www.globalclassbook.com  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mr10x/  Email: klaus@10xinnovationlab.com 

Connect with Dr. Katrina Burrus LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrinaburrus/  Website: https://mkbconseil.ch/contact/ 

Jim Schleckser, CEO of The CEO Project Jim helps leaders grow companies. Before he started the CEO Project, a firm that mentors fast-growth CEOs, he ran a technology business valued at $1.6 Billion. 

He has done business in 41 countries. He has a regular column on entrepreneurial growth issues on Inc.com. 

He has spent over 10,000 hours speaking with and interviewing CEOs. He has published two best-selling books, “Great CEOs are Lazy” and "Professional Drinking" 

This episode promises to challenge your perspective on business and offer a fresh, game-changing approach toward growth and efficacy.

Why you have to check out today’s episode

• Discover the key traits that separate exceptional CEOs from the worst and the three critical areas to find kinks in your business system and how to fix it
• Find out how to improve your business from hiring the right talent and delegating effectively, to fostering a positive company culture.
• Learn how highly-effective CEOs approach their business both from the ins and outs

"The caliber of the people you have around yourself that you attract is critical as a CEO.” - Jim Schleckser

Topics Covered:

01:13  What distinguishes exceptional CEOs from the worst

03:49  Jim discloses the three critical areas to find the kinks in your system

06:47  All about hiring: what does Jim prioritize in hiring talents and team members

07:49  How to attract high-caliber people to your team

08:25  What does Jim have to say about working with "Brilliant jerks"

10:12  Jim shares the intellectual framework on which businesses should operate

11:50  The secret sauce of Breakthrough thinking

13:48  Two ways to Fixing the kink in your system

16:57  Jim’s insight on the classic constraint faced by CEOs who can’t let go of their functional             roles

19:19  Expert advice for CEOs seeking to thrive in the international business field

23:22  The key strategy to identifying and hiring top performers

25:39  Everything you need to know about delegation and how to get comfortable with it.

Key Takeaways

"Think about that CEO working 80 hours a week. I can almost automatically tell you they have a poor-quality team around them."

"The caliber of the people you have around yourself that you attract is critical as a CEO"

"Companies don't grow, people do. So if the business is growing and the people are not, the business is not going to grow"

"Learning as a competency is one of the prime importance both for the CEO and their team because they have to demonstrate this; they have to model being a learner."

"You can't take your own lens and stick to it. You have to be willing to say, okay, if that's the way the ball game is played here, we're going to play differently."

"As a leader, you have an obligation to the team to move out low performers. Everybody's looking at you to do that."

"We define our business by our organization's culture---not only by what we do but also what we are not willing to tolerate.”

"It's when there are 32 shades of gray and you've gotta pick the best shade of gray for your particular organization, that's when we and your CEO peer group come into play"

People/Resources Mentioned

• Great CEOs are Lazy:  https://www.amazon.com/Great-CEOs-Are-Lazy-Schleckser/dp/0988309912
• Professional Drinking: A Spirited Guide to Wine, Cocktails and Confident Business Entertaining:  https://www.amazon.com/Professional-Drinking-Cocktails-Confident-Entertaining-ebook/dp/B08J1K89RZ/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
• The CEO Project: CEO Peer Groups for high-performing CEOs: https://theceoproject.com/ 

Connect with Jim Schleckser

• Website: https://theceoproject.com/ 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IncCEOproject 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/243491/ 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/incceoproject?lang=en 
• Email: jimschleckser@IncCEOProject.com 

Connect with Dr. Katrina Burrus

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrinaburrus/
• Website: https://mkbconseil.ch/contact/ 

Tom Golisano is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and civic leader who founded and served as the Chairman of the Board of Paychex, Inc., a leading national provider of payroll, human resource, and benefit outsourcing solutions for over half a million small and medium-sized businesses. He has been consistently recognized by the business, financial and national media and has donated approximately $300 million to various charitable causes and institutions. He was also notably the former owner of the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League. His commitment to helping those with intellectual disabilities, Western New York, and the region's economic climate will leave a lasting legacy.

Does the American dream still exist? Is it really possible to realize the dream of becoming a billionaire in a lifetime? The skeptics say it's no longer possible. It's just a dream. Let's listen to Tom Golisano, the Italian kid who started with $3,000 and founded and developed Paychex, which allowed him to become a billionaire in one generation. 

Tune in for a chock-full of nuggets for current and aspiring entrepreneurs on how to start, grow, and operate a successful business.

Why you have to check out today’s episode

• Learn the background of Paychex and how Tom grows it one partner and franchise at a time

• Reveals the secrets behind much of Golisano’s success and teaches you how to apply those same success-hacks to your own life.

• Emboldens you to see the world differently in terms of what’s possible despite what others may have you believe.

• Entertains and enlightens you along the way, with Golisano’s stories of running for Governor two times, purchasing a failing NHL franchise, the Buffalo Sabres, and dry sense of humor throughout.

“The biggest thing we did was to have great people working for the team, good people who knew how to do the job and I'd let them do the job.” - Tom Golisano

Topics Covered:

01:30  Tom explains the double meaning behind the title of his book—The Italian Kid Did it.

03:10  Can the skeptics still count on the American dream and the possibility of becoming a  billionaire?

06:54  Talks about what it takes before Tom sees Paychex succeed

07:44  The challenges Tom faced in expanding his business and how he turned golf buddies into bosses

09:49  The next steps in Tom's business journey

10:34  Tom discusses the main motivator that propelled his success

13:05   The motivation behind the book—The Italian Kid Did it

15:23   Find out about Tom’s professional sports journey

16:45   Advice to those who are looking to create a professional sports team

18:00  Tom’s insight on addressing the crisis leadership situation in America’s political system

19:33  Three things Tom would like you to get from his book—The Italian Kid Did It

Key Takeaways

Because of technology, there are a lot of opportunities out there, you've gotta find it, you've gotta look for it.

Some people would admit that the turmoils or difficult situations have a great effect on their life. That applies to me too.

I just wish our people in governmental positions would try working together for once instead of working against each other. 

People/Resources Mentioned

• Built not Born Book: https://www.amazon.com/Built-Not-Born-Billionaires-Entrepreneurs/dp/1400217555

• The Italian Kid Did It: How I Turned $3K into $44B and Achieved the American Dream https://www.amazon.com/Italian-Kid-Did-Achieved-American-ebook/dp/B09831XR9J#:~:text=Watching%20his%20father%20struggle%20to,sway%20your%20view%20of%20reality.

• Paychex: https://www.paychex.com/

Connect with Thomas Golisano

• Website: http://tomgolisano.com
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThomasGolisano
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thomasgolisano/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tomgolisano/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-golisano-94937919a/

Connect with Dr. Katrina Burrus 

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrinaburrus/  
• Website: https://mkbconseil.ch/contact/  

Paul Lagudi, a former professional Rugby Player turned entrepreneur, is the founder and president of the multi-million dollar Lagudi Fresh Food Group based in Las Vegas. He started his Produce company with just $30,000 and grew it into a million-dollar success within three years. Paul is a published author, having contributed to the book "Breaking Through" alongside 20 other successful entrepreneurs, sharing their insights on achieving breakthrough success. 

Join us in this episode as we sit down with Paul and hear about his journey from athlete to business leader. Paul opens up about his failures, the valuable lessons he learned, and how his sports background still plays a big role in his leadership style. He shares his expertise in managing a thriving international business and having the right culture in hiring and retaining great employees. In this candid conversation, Paul reveals the key to staying motivated and avoiding complacency despite business success. 

With Paul's practical wisdom and relatable experiences, this episode is a must-listen for aspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders. 

Why you have to check out today’s episode 

• Learn about Paul’s unique approach to managing his team as a former Sports Player & how you can leverage it in your own business. 
• Hear about Paul’s practical wisdom on mentorship, failure, motivation & the proper culture to acquire & retain good employees. 
• Discover the secret to winning any game and staying on top of the competition 

“You're gonna be willing to say no, no to some winning moves because it may affect everything else. Know when to push it & know when to cut it.” - Paul Lagudi

Topics Covered: 

00:40  Paul's business approach to managing his team as a former sports player 

01:32  How did Paul transition from being a Rugby Professional to building a Food   

           manufacturing company? 

04:01  Paul’s insight on getting a mentor 

05:00  The story of how he lost 10 grand in his first week in the business 

06:22  Why Paul decided to start his business in Las Vegas 

07:27  The difference between handling the Produce business in Australia versus the US 

10:14  Advice to people who are looking to start an International business 

11:34  Why failure is Paul's biggest mentor 

12:24  Paul shares his biggest leadership failures, learnings & advice 

14:23  The secret to winning any game 

15:13  Two reasons Paul sees his business expanding and succeeding in five years 

16:40  Paul’s advice in hiring & retaining great people in this team 

19:23  Short advice to self if Paul would be starting all over again 

19:41  The remedy for staving off complacency as a successful leader 

21:43  Paul's business approach to staying hungry 

Key Takeaways 

"If you're lean, mean & hungry, anything can happen" 

"You have to give the sense of confidence that you know what you're talking about, but be humble enough that people would want to help you." 

“Older people love to mentor a younger person---it's good for the soul. If you have that connection, that's the magic.” 

“Sometimes you just gotta be willing to put yourself out there & be willing to fail. Fail your way to success.” 

“Follow the money trail. Not everything you're gonna do is gonna make you money or make you succeed or win. Know when to push it & when to cut it.” 

“I never sell a product, I just make friends because I'm a believer that friends love to deal with friends and you work harder for a friend because you don't wanna let 'em down.” 

“Anyone who's successful, in whatever walk of life, will tell you they're one millimeter from losing it all. So it's a tie rope. You're never too big to fail.” 

People/Resources Mentioned 

• Lagudi Fresh Food Group: https://www.lagudis.com/  
• Breaking Through: The World's Leading Entrepreneurs and Professionals Share Their Insights for Achieving Breakthrough Success! https://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Through-Mikkel-Pitzner/dp/0991214331  

Connect with Paul Lagudi 

Email:plagudi@lagudis.com 

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lagudi-fresh-food-group/  
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lagudi_ffg/  

Connect with Dr. Katrina Burrus 

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrinaburrus/  
• Website: https://mkbconseil.ch/contact/  

Richard Haddrill is a CEO industry veteran with a passion for success. Leading 3 successful & fast-growing high-tech companies to significant shareholder returns, Richard also serves as a mentor to executives. He is also a Board member & investor in numerous public and private companies. Previously a Managing Partner at Ernst & Young [North America & Rocky Mountain Region], Richard brings a wealth of experience to the company while actively committing to his charitable endeavors in supporting youth and the arts. 

Today we explore the Art of Leadership with Richard, a man who has spent the better part of his career mastering the field. Having a proven track record in handling both local & international companies, he shares how he handles executives, teams, & even establishes winning company cultures.  

Listen to his take on diversity, collaboration, recruitment & even termination. Lastly, learn how to assess your team member’s strengths & how not to let ego get in the way of making the best decision for the company.  

Tune in to get the best scoop on Leadership wisdom today!    Why you have to check out today’s episode    •    Learn from Richard's success in establishing a winning company culture in whatever venture you will take on  •    Find out the top characteristics that make a strong team, the factors in maintaining company culture, & boosting shareholder value  •    Learn Richard's blueprint on how to successfully lead diverse team members & integrate cultural differences for business success      “I always said that if I couldn't convince the board of directors that I was right about something, maybe I wasn't right. The same thing is true with my teammates. No leader, no CEO has all the answers; their troops are closer to the action than they are."      Topics Covered:    00:24 – Top 2 accomplishments that Richard is most proud of in his career.    01:26 – How Richard remains true to his core values while accommodating diverse team                  members    02:17 – What characteristics Richard looks for that makes up a strong team     04:13 – The key to maximizing shareholder value of a company    05:32 – What are the benefits of being a Collaborative leader in a big organization    06:37 – The 2 Critical Factors for maintaining company culture & maximizing shareholder value    07:43 – On handling different companies with distinct cultures & dynamics    10:32 – Richard’s blueprint for integrating cultural differences in a business setting    12:49 – How Richard leveraged his international experience & discoveries for his own business    16:35 –  Having accomplished his career endeavors, Richard shares what’s meaningful for him    19:07 – Tips for young leaders looking to succeed in their career      Key Takeaways    “To run a bigger organization, you really have to be a collaborative leader vs a command & control leader. If you get strong people & let them have some say in the strategy, role & responsibility, you tend to attract & retain better people long term & you get better decisions.” –Richard Haddrill    "The hardest thing to do as a leader is to let someone go. But you find out that if you do it, you're actually doing everybody a favor" –Richard Haddrill    “Focus on being an active listener. Communication is always important in any aspect of any business. Then, of course, observation—this is a listening skill too.” –Richard Haddrill    “Show respect for the local country. You have to have your broad company principles but also show respect for how they approach things, listen to them & let them have a voice. Another thing is treating them equally across the globe—same compensation plan, same goal setting, same meetings.” –Richard Haddrill    “Have a network of people within or outside the organization that you could call on different issues & bounce ideas off of. People love to help that way. There's no better compliment you can give anyone than ask their advice.” –Richard Haddrill      People/Resources Mentioned    •    The Groop: Collaborative Investors & Adviserse to Committed Business Leaders: http://thegroop.com/   •    Ernst & Young: https://www.ey.com/en_us   •    “Hire Slow & Fire Fast”: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2020/04/14/hire-slow-and-fire-fast-why-leaders-should-heed-this-advice/?sh=4af8b978573c       Connect with Richard Haddrill    LinkedIn: Richard@thegroop.com   Website: http://thegroop.com/   Email: Richard@thegroop.com        Connect with Dr. Katrina Burrus  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrinaburrus/   Website: https://mkbconseil.ch/contact/    

Brian Dumaine is an award-winning journalist and a contributing editor at Fortune magazine. His 

book, “Bezonomics: How Amazon Is Changing Our Lives and What the World’s Best Companies Are Learning From It”, takes an unbiased look at Amazon’s increasingly dominant business model, the competitors either imitating or trying to outfox the company, and the ways “Bezonomics” is shaping the life of every American consumer. 

In this episode, Brian talks to us about the story of Jeff Bezos and Amazon, from how they started as a humble online book shop, and how with the proper mentality and execution they became one of the strongest forces in the market that threatens to disrupt the grocery business, medical business and the finance business. 

Why you have to checkout today’s podcast: 

• Learn about the corporate culture within Amazon, and why is a “tough place” to work in 
• Understand Jeff Bezos’ “Flywheel” concept of business 
•  Find out how Amazon threatens to disrupt the grocery business, medical business and the finance business through constant and continuous innovations 

“If there's one thing that keeps coming back to me, it's authenticity. I think the leaders who are most successful are honest people who have a passion and believe in that passion and can listen.” – Brian Dumaine 

Topics Covered: 

01:26 – Introducing today’s guest, award-winning journalist Brian Dumaine 

02:25 – What inspired Brian to write his book “Bezonomics” 

03:31 – The corporate culture inside Amazon and what it transpires 

05:32 – Why Amazon is a tough place to work in 

08:20 – What Jeff Bezos does to make sure that he has a good team around him 

11:35 – The Flywheel concept: What Jeff Bezos does that others don’t that led to Amazon’s exponential growth 

17:28 – Amazon is an innovative company that focused on customers’ convenience 

18:49 – How Jeff Bezos started Amazon, and how he developed it to what it is right now 

23:15 – Through their innovations, Amazon is going to disrupt the grocery business, the health care business, and the finance business

27:49 – The challenges that Amazon had in expanding internationally 

29:52 – Brian’s takeaway about leadership 

Key Takeaways: 

“Propensity for forthrightness and clarity and the facts really help Amazon become an incredibly innovative company. But again, it's a tough culture. It's not one for everyone.” – Brian Dumaine 

“If you do everything to please the customer… you're going to attract more customers. And if you attract more customers… you'll attract more third-party sellers who will offer more products on the site for customers. And if you do that, you get to grow your revenue. And if you grow your revenue, you're going to have economies of scale that allow you to do more for your customers.” – Brian Dumaine 

“Their [Amazon’s] tentacles reach far and wide. And, you know, you put cloud on top of that and you start wondering: Sections of the economy, are they not playing it? – Brian Dumaine 

“If there's one thing that keeps coming back to me, it's authenticity. I think the leaders who are most successful are honest people who have a passion and believe in that passion and can listen.” – Brian Dumaine 

People / Resources Mentioned: 

·           Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/ 

·           Amazon Go: https://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=16008589011 

·           Pillpack: https://www.pillpack.com/ 

·           AWS: https://aws.amazon.com/ 

·           Bezonomics: How Amazon Is Changing Our Lives and What the World's Best Companies Are Learning from It: https://www.amazon.com/Bezonomics-Amazon-Changing-Companies-Learning/dp/1982113634 

·           The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Everything-Store-Jeff-Bezos-Amazon/dp/0316219266 

·           Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don't: https://www.amazon.com/Good-Great-Some-Companies-Others/dp/0066620996 

Connect with Brian Dumaine:  

·           LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-dumaine-839a05ba/ 

Connect with Dr. Katrina Burrus: 

·           LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrinaburrus/ 

·           Website: https://mkbconseil.ch/contact/ 

Michael Stelzner is the founder of Social Media Examiner, author of the books Launch and Writing White Papers, and the man behind Social Media Marketing World—the industry’s largest conference. He’s also the host of the Social Media Marketing podcast, the Crypto Business podcast, and the founder of the Social Media Marketing Society.  

Join Michael in this episode as he explains how he looks into the past, present & future to draw trajectory lines of where the Social Media trend is going. Take a closer look at Michael's unique journey, including his misadventures that ultimately led to his biggest and most successful ideas.  

He also talks about the Entrepreneurial nature & how it played a crucial role in saving his business during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Tune in for inspiration and practical insights that will help you chart your own path toward success in the constantly changing world of social media marketing. 

Why you have to check out today’s episode 

• Learn about the journey and challenges that Michael faced in building Social Media Examiner, and how he became a trailblazer in the industry.
• Discover Michael's unique insights on entrepreneurship, relationship-building, and the latest developments in technology, including Web3.
• Gain valuable insights into the culture and practices that have contributed to the ongoing success and evolution of Michael's business, including how he has built and nurtured his team.

“I'd rather sharpen the ax that I have than learn to fire a crossbow. As a team, we focus on sharpening our axes ....We constantly reinvent and refining ourselves.” - Michael Stelzner 

Topics Covered: 

00:33 - From Bumpy Beginnings to a Social Media Pioneer: An Inside Look at Michael Stelzner's Journey to Success 

02:52 - What inspired Michael to do Social Media Marketing World—His light bulb moment 

04:24 - What Michael did to keep the business afloat during the Pandemic 

09:18 - Talks about the Nature of Entrepreneurship 

10:08 - How doing ‘nothing’ special got Michael international traction for his conferences 

12:01 - Michael shares his relationship-building technique 

15:48 - What happens inside the Social Media Marketing Society? 

17:09 -  Michael's vision on the newest frontier— Web 3 

20:43 - Michael's unique perspective and forecast on Tech Trends and their potential 

23;49 - The culture & practices inside Michael's team that helped his business stay on top of  

           constant refinement. 

Key Takeaways 

“When things change and you can't do business the way you thought you were going to be able to do business, you have to get innovative.”- Michael Stelzner 

You have to keep trying things. Nothing ventured nothing gained. - Michael Stelzner 

 “I believe that the future is going to be a decentralized world where the new technology that is confusing for a lot of people is going to make many things possible.” - Michael Stelzner 

“So what I try to do is I try to look at the past, look at the present, and look at the future and draw trajectory lines and say, okay, I've seen this pattern before. This is generally where this goes. And you can either be there early or you can be there right on schedule, or you can be there late.” - Michael Stelzner 

“...Entrepreneurs we always have things that can distract us. And I'm trying to discern dangerous distractions from opportunities. This is really, really important for anybody because there are always going to be bright, shiny objects that appear before you and me. And we have to choose to ignore them or focus on them.” - Michael Stelzner 

People/Resources Mentioned 

Launch: How to Quickly Propel Your Business Beyond the Competition 

https://www.amazon.com/Launch-Quickly-Propel-Business-Competition-ebook/dp/B005526E30?ref_=ast_author_dp  

Writing White Papers: How to Capture Readers and Keep Them Engaged 

https://www.amazon.com/Writing-White-Papers-Capture-Readers-ebook/dp/B075G6XH4D?ref_=ast_author_dp  

Social Media Marketing World: https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/smmworld/  

Social Media Marketing Society: https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/society/  

Social Media Marketing Podcast: https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/social-media-marketing-podcast/  

Web3 Business Podcast: https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/web3-business-podcast/  

Crypto Business Conference: https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/cbconference/  

Connect with Michael Stelzner 

Facebook: http://facebook.com/smexaminer  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stelzner  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mike_stelzner  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smexaminer  

Connect with Dr. Katrina Burrus 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrinaburrus/  

Website: https://mkbconseil.ch/contact/  

Why do the most high-achieving leaders of the 21st century happen to be those who understand their own biology? Your host, Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, interviews Scott Halford and seeks an answer to this question. Halford’s book, Activate Your Brain, focuses on the unique value of willpower.

• Is it something you either have or you don’t?
• Is it a muscle that can be trained?
• How is willpower linked to impulse control?
• Is distraction a major stumbling block for many executives?
• How does one coach around it to overcome resistance?

Listen to these invaluable tips to find out.

Who is Scott Halford

Scott Halford is a writer and long-time educator of businesspeople worldwide. He focuses on brain-based behavioral science, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and influence. In 2014, Scott was inducted into the National Speakers Speaker Hall of Fame. He has been the “Brainy Business” columnist for Entrepreneur.com, and blogs for Huffington Post.  Scott is the author of Activate Your Brain (2015) a Wall Street Journal best-selling book, and Be a Shortcut – The Secret Fast-track to Business Success.

• How did you build such a strong brand and innovate with “blonde chocolate”?
• What are the challenges in today’s economic environment in Switzerland and Europe?
• What are the current market trends and innovation opportunities in your industry?

Listen to learn more about this Swiss business executive’s leadership journey.

Who is Daniel Bloch?

Mr. Daniel Bloch, CEO of Chocolats Camille Bloch SA, manages his thriving family business in the country that is the mecca of chocolate. How does he do this in such a saturated market? Mr. Bloch explains the company’s history to the podcast host, Dr. Katrina Burrus. Chocolats Camille Bloch SA is a 3rd generation family-owned business, and the last of its kind in the Swiss chocolate industry.