Intentional Leader with Cal Walters: Recent Episodes

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📘Order Ryan's New Book, The Price of Becoming: https://learningleader.com/

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What does it really take to become the person you're capable of becoming?

In this conversation, Ryan Hawk shares the lessons he's learned from interviewing more than 700 world-class leaders, the habits that build lasting confidence, and why keeping promises to yourself is the foundation of consistency.

We also discuss the surprising letter that changed Ryan's life as a child, his years-long pursuit of Jim Collins, and the leadership lessons he's learned from his wife and family. If you're looking to grow as a leader, spouse, parent, or person, I think you'll find this conversation both challenging and encouraging.

00:00 Introduction

01:10 Why Ryan Hawk Loves Long-Form Conversations

03:04 How Interviewing Became a Core Part of Ryan's Life

06:22 The People Who Shape Who We Become

07:44 The Letter Ryan Received at Eight Years Old

09:54 Prove Your Supporters Right

13:16 The Motivation Behind Ryan's Work

16:56 Responsibility, Service, and Productive Paranoia

19:08 Have a Plan, Work the Plan, Plan for the Unexpected

22:39 The Real Price of Becoming

25:44 How Confidence Is Built Through Consistency

28:05 Are Some People Naturally More Disciplined?

32:16 Be Careful About the Promises You Make

35:36 Ryan's Unfiltered Perspective on Waking Up Early

38:49 When Your Strengths Create Tension at Home

41:49 What Ryan's Wife Said About His Growth

44:14 Why Curiosity Is One of the Greatest Ways to Show Love

47:52 Modeling Love, Marriage, and Leadership at Home

50:37 Ryan's Years-Long Pursuit of Jim Collins

54:34 How Ryan Finally Got Jim Collins on the Podcast

56:29 Meeting One of His Heroes

58:23 The Price of Becoming and Where to Find Ryan

1:00:25 Closing Thoughts

Please visit my website to get more information: https://calwalters.me/

🔔𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬. https://www.youtube.com/@intentionalleader_calwalters/?sub_confirmation=1

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Learn more about (or apply) for the next Clarity Cohort: theclaritycohort.com What separates a good speaker from a great one? In this episode, Cal sits down with Eva Rose Daniel, a speech coach and communication strategist who has spent nearly two decades helping leaders, authors, speakers, and public figures communicate with greater clarity, confidence, and influence.

Eva has worked with voices like Dave Ramsey and Jefferson Fisher, and in this conversation she shares practical, tactical advice for anyone who wants to become a more memorable and effective communicator.

Cal and Eva discuss why preparation matters, how to rehearse well, how to sound more authentic, how to overcome procrastination and imposter syndrome, and how to tell stories that actually connect with an audience.

This episode is especially helpful for anyone who leads meetings, teaches, preaches, pitches ideas, gives presentations, speaks on stage, or wants to communicate with more confidence and clarity.

In This Episode, We Cover: 00:00 Introduction 01:20 What Eva learned from working with Dave Ramsey 04:42 What makes a speech unforgettable 08:26 How to sound more authentic 11:31 Internalize your content instead of memorizing it 14:37 How to rehearse effectively 22:10 How to overcome procrastination 27:23 Imposter syndrome and speaking confidence 35:45 How to receive feedback without losing confidence 41:05 How to give clear, specific, kind feedback 45:33 How to tell better stories 54:02 Why every speaker needs a story file 55:12 Eva's SPARK framework for preparing a talk

Key Takeaways Great speakers are never too good to practice.

The best communicators don't wait for a big stage to refine their skills. They practice in everyday conversations, meetings, and smaller opportunities.

Memorable communication usually includes strong storytelling, authenticity, and a clear framework or point of view.

Instead of memorizing a speech word for word, internalize the main ideas so you can communicate naturally.

Your first time giving a presentation should not be in front of the actual audience. Practice with trusted people and ask for specific feedback.

Procrastination is common, but Eva recommends "planned spontaneity": prepare the structure early, then leave room for timely examples, humor, and fresh insight.

When imposter syndrome shows up, remember that someone invited you because they believed you had something valuable to share.

Feedback should be clear, specific, and kind.

Every leader should keep a story file to capture meaningful moments, funny observations, lessons, and examples.

Practical Application Before your next presentation, ask:

What do I want my audience to know? What do I want them to feel? What do I want them to do?

Then use Eva's SPARK framework:

S — Start with a story P — Identify the problem A — Give the action steps R — Resolve what you opened K — End with a knockout close

Connect with Eva Rose Daniel Website: thespeakshop.com LinkedIn: Eva Rose Daniel

Listen and Subscribe If this episode encouraged you, helped you grow, or made you think, please subscribe, leave a review, or share it with a friend.

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Email cal@calwalters.me if you're interested in learning more about the Intentional Leader Lab.

Learn more about Jamie Winship and his work: https://www.identityexchange.com/

Get Jamie's new book, The War of Worldviews: https://www.identityexchange.com/books

Jamie Winship returns to the Intentional Leader Podcast for a deep and honest conversation about fear, identity, conflict, truth-telling, and what it means to lead from love instead of self-protection.

Jamie is a former CIA officer, conflict mediator, speaker, and author of Living Fearless and The War of Worldviews. In this conversation, Jamie shares vulnerably about his own fear of being a disappointment, how leaders often use self-protection and self-promotion to cover insecurity, and why truth-telling is one of the most powerful tools for resolving conflict.

We also explore how leaders can help people in conflict, why anger is often connected to fear, and why leaders must model the freedom they want to create in others.

Jamie is a Christian, and this conversation includes discussion of faith, prayer, Jesus, and Scripture. Whether or not you come from that faith background, this episode offers powerful insight into what it means to be human, to face fear honestly, and to lead with courage, love, and truth.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why fear is valuable but should not make decisions for us
• How leaders self-protect and self-promote when they feel afraid
• Why conflict is usually rooted in fear
• How to tell the truth without weaponizing vulnerability
• Why leaders must do their own inner work first
• How to help people in conflict reconnect as human beings
• Why love, not fear, is the better leadership motive
• How to stay grounded in high-stress situations

00:00 Introduction

01:37 Jamie's core fear: being a disappointment

04:47 How fear shows up in leadership

05:13 The decision to take his family to Iraq

07:33 When leadership decisions go wrong

08:29 Why truth-telling is the path through fear

10:16 Only truth can remove a lie

12:28 What Jamie says to himself when fear rises

12:50 Fear makes simple things complicated

15:13 Tracing fear back to an old wound

17:31 Asking God where He was in the painful moment

19:42 What happens when leaders don't process fear

20:17 Self-protection and self-promotion

21:31 Don't get your identity from the room

22:14 Can leaders be motivated by love instead of fear?

22:38 Every decision comes from fear or love

25:59 Jamie's definition of love

26:05 Serve and protect vs. enforce and control

30:32 How leaders should handle conflict on their team

32:16 Fear is what produces conflict

34:36 Underneath anger is usually fear

36:53 How identity changes conflict resolution

39:23 "I'm not qualified to do that"

40:12 Leaders must model the freedom they want to create

42:36 How two people in conflict can tell the truth

45:02 A CEO chooses humanity over HR process

47:13 Is truth-telling too vulnerable in conflict?

47:46 Truth-telling vs. vulnerability

49:03 A real-world conflict resolution example

53:25 Why present pain usually has a past root

56:25 What to do if you can't remember where the fear started

57:21 Habits for staying calm under pressure

57:49 Keep your brain in your own car

01:00:41 How the future helps us deal with fear

01:01:07 Getting the enemy out from behind you

01:03:34 Cal's biggest takeaways

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Check out Jordan's work: https://www.montgomerycompanies.com/

00:00 Intro + Why Encouragement Matters (Even for High Performers)

01:09 Why Everyone Needs Encouragement (No Matter Their Success)

02:35 What Elite Performers Have in Common (They All Have Coaches)

04:16 The Paradox of Growth: The More You Learn, The More You Need Help

06:25 How Jordan Coaches Leaders (2 Powerful Questions)

07:44 "What Do You Want?" + "Who Are You Really?"

10:01 Why Most Leaders Struggle with Self-Awareness

11:47 Identity, Calling, and Becoming an Encourager

13:27 Jordan's Failure Story (Losing His Career at 27)

15:53 "You're Not Buried, You're Planted" (Valley Season Lessons)

17:01 The Power of Self-Encouragement

19:32 How to Rewire Your Thinking (Speak vs. Listen to Yourself)

21:32 Practical Self-Talk (What It Actually Looks Like Daily)

23:27 The Art of Authentic Encouragement

23:56 Why Specific Encouragement Is More Powerful

26:59 Final Takeaways + How to Encourage Others Better

27:42 Practical Leadership Application (Cal's Closing Thoughts)

What if encouragement isn't just "nice"… but essential for leadership?

In this episode of the Intentional Leader Podcast, I sit down with Jordan Montgomery, bestselling author of The Art of Encouragement, to unpack:

• Why even elite performers need encouragement
• The surprising link between success and coaching
• How to lead yourself when your mindset is off
• Why most encouragement feels fake—and how to fix it
• A simple framework to become a better encourager today

This conversation is short—but packed with practical wisdom you can apply immediately in your leadership, your family, and your team.

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Follow Jeff's work: https://www.jeffwetzler.com/

Dr. Jeff Wetzler, author of Ask, joins Cal Walters to unpack a leadership blind spot: the crucial information your team has… but isn't telling you. Jeff explains the "left-hand column" (what people think and feel but don't say), the four reasons honesty gets filtered, and the ASK Approach—a practical framework for choosing curiosity, building psychological safety, asking better questions, and closing the loop when feedback is hard to act on.

If you want better decisions, healthier relationships, and fewer surprises, this conversation will give you a playbook.

Episode Outline / Timestamps 00:00 The hidden information problem

00:41 Guest intro + what you'll learn

01:37 Chris Argyris + the "left-hand column" tool

08:07 Four reasons people don't tell you the truth

12:06 Why smart/successful leaders struggle to learn

13:55 Jeff's near miss: one question that revealed the truth

15:45 Psychological safety: why curiosity alone isn't enough

21:35 Reactivity: the biggest predictor of future honesty

22:18 Responding well to hard feedback

25:00 The ASK Approach: Choose curiosity

29:48 Curiosity killers + "When you're furious, get curious"

32:29 Busy leaders: "Pay now or pay later"

36:40 Quality questions vs. crummy questions

40:04 Better questions for feedback and performance reviews

44:07 Go-to questions for parties and relationships

47:48 Questions as a gift: helping others gain clarity

49:55 How to handle feedback you won't follow

51:08 Reflect & reconnect: sift it, turn it, and close the loop

53:13 Cal's takeaways and practical challenges

Practical Challenges to Try This Week * Replace: "Do you have feedback for me?"

With: "What's one thing I could do differently that would make your life easier?" * When you feel defensive, ask one question before making a statement. * When someone brings hard truth, try:

"That's hard to hear—and I'm really glad you told me."

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➡️ Get my free weekly newsletter (The Intentional Letter): https://courses.calwalters.me/signup

Get Randy's book: https://www.amazon.com/Winning-Begins-Home-Strategy-Leadership/dp/B0CTYGNXCG

Learn about Lead Every Day: https://leadeveryday.com/

In this episode, Cal Walters sits down with executive coach, speaker, and author Randy Gravitt of ⁨@Lead_Every_Day⁩ to explore one of the most important leadership questions of our time:

How do you pursue excellence at work without sacrificing what matters most at home?

Randy shares powerful insights from decades of coaching leaders across Fortune 100 companies, professional sports teams, and nonprofits—along with lessons from his book Winning Begins at Home.

This conversation goes beyond clichés about work-life balance and gets practical about strategy, systems, presence, and love—and why winning at home actually makes you a better leader at work.

Please visit my website to get more information: https://calwalters.me/

00:00 – Welcome to 2026 & the Intentional Leader community

02:10 – Introducing Randy Gravitt & the tension leaders feel

03:40 – Strategic at work, sporadic at home

06:00 – Why family has quietly been diminished

07:45 – Being home but not really home

08:55 – Proximity does not equal intimacy

10:00 – The servant leadership tension

12:20 – Living in the center of the tension

13:45 – Begin with the end in mind

15:10 – You will never finish all the work

16:50 – Seasons turn into patterns

18:30 – The NFL Super Bowl story

21:00 – Leaving work at work

22:15 – Training presence like a discipline

23:30 – Rituals that help you be present

25:30 – Phone boundaries that actually work

27:40 – Winning the first hour of the day

29:40 – Why home life fuels work performance

32:10 – Choosing priorities on purpose

34:00 – The hidden cost of neglecting home

36:30 – "What kind of family do you want?"

38:40 – Family by design, not by default

41:00 – Marriage after the kids leave

43:00 – Don't go to bed angry

46:30 – Love first

49:50 – See a need, meet a need

54:00 – Final encouragement to leaders

59:00 – Key takeaways & closing challenge

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➡️ Get my free weekly newsletter (The Intentional Letter): https://courses.calwalters.me/signup

📚 Get LTG (Ret.) Beagle's new book, When the Map Runs Out: https://www.amazon.com/When-Map-Runs-Out-Uncertain/dp/B0G1ZGH76J

As leaders rise, they often hear less and less truth. LTG (Ret.) Milford Beagle calls this the cone of silence—and he warns that it's one of the quietest ways leaders lose their true north.

In this episode, we explore how to lead when your "map" falls apart. General Beagle shares his journey from a stunned new platoon leader at Fort Polk to commanding the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center, and what he's learned about staying grounded, humble, and effective in uncertainty.

We dig into his new book, When the Map Runs Out: Values, Judgment, and Clarity in Uncertain Times, and talk about practical tools: a one-page "How to Handle Me" document, a journaling habit to process negative emotions, and how to invite real feedback without shutting people down.

If you're navigating change, promotion, or pressure to have all the answers, this conversation will help you lead with confidence and humility at the same time.

🔎 In This Episode, You'll Learn * Why the higher you go, the more you're at risk of a cone of silence. * How leaders lose true north—not from incompetence, but distortion. * The difference between maps (plans, strategies, frameworks) and the compass (your values and judgment). * Two key disciplines of leadership: bearing (self-awareness) and calibration (inviting others to check your bearing). * How introverts, extroverts, and ambiverts can all be authentic leaders without pretending to be someone else. * A practical tool: the "How to Handle Me" document that accelerates trust and clarifies expectations. * How to create a culture where honest feedback is normal—especially for senior leaders. * Why even three-star generals feel imposter syndrome, and how to work through it. * How to provide clarity without certainty using "signposts on the road." * Simple habits for resilience: journaling, reframing failure, and "always quit tomorrow."

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – The cone of silence: how leaders lose true north as they rise

01:56 – Cal's intro, the Intentional Leader Podcast, and LTG Beagle's background

03:15 – Fort Polk & the first platoon: "I felt like a leader… and not a very good one"

08:45 – From follower to leader: athletics, ROTC, and early moments when the map ran out

10:27 – Why When the Map Runs Out and the map/compass metaphor

12:36 – Frameworks, bearing, and calibration: why leaders need more than maps

16:54 – Authentic leadership for every personality type

22:57 – Designing a "How to Handle Me" one-pager for your team

26:27 – Examples: not liking details, humor, and getting quiet when processing

29:57 – Public speaking fear, reps & sets, and keeping the bar high

32:16 – Ego, promotion, and the cone of silence at senior levels

36:27 – Training your team to give you unvarnished feedback

40:24 – Feedback as the breakfast of champions (and why it stings)

42:09 – Imposter syndrome at the Combined Arms Center

46:01 – Clarity vs. certainty: the signpost town hall during organizational change

52:05 – True north and values: integrity, empathy, resilience, "quit tomorrow," loyalty

58:33 – The hurdles metaphor: falling, resilience, and running through obstacles

1:02:10 – Journaling to process emotion and see your own growth over time

1:07:17 – Time, priorities, and the cost of diluted focus

1:15:02 – Knowing your weaknesses and starting with them in interviews

1:16:15 – Where to find When the Map Runs Out and connect with LTG Beagle

1:17:53 – Cal's closing: four practical actions you can take this week

🧭 Practical Ways to Apply This Episode 1. Create your own "How to Handle Me" document

* One page, honest, and specific: quirks, tendencies, what you're working on, and how people can best work with you.

1. Start (or restart) a journaling habit

   • For the next 7 days, write at least one sentence about how you're feeling and what you're facing.

   • Ask for one piece of real feedback

   • Pick one person you trust. Ask, "What's one thing I could do differently that would make me a better leader for you?" Then thank them.

   • Practice clarity in uncertainty

   • In one messy situation this week, clearly state:

     • What we know
     • What we don't know
     • What we're going to do next

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Connect with Joe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephpmccormack/

Learn more about The Brief Lab: https://thebrieflab.com/

How do you become the kind of leader who cuts through noise, communicates with clarity, and actually moves people to action?

In this episode of the Intentional Leader Podcast, Cal talks with Joe McCormack—founder of The Brief Lab and author of Brief, Noise, and Quiet Works. Joe has trained elite military units and Fortune 500 executives to be clear, concise, and intentional communicators, and to rediscover the quiet that makes powerful communication possible.

They explore:

• Why noise is the real villain in your leadership story
• The "sword and shield" of effective communication: brief (cut through clutter) and quiet (protect your attention)
• Why being brief actually requires more preparation, not less
• The 3 levels of detail and how to stop overwhelming people
• How to build quiet into your day so you think better and lead better
• Why thinking time is part of your job, not a luxury
• How to use small pockets of quiet before and after meetings
• Practical ways to manage your phone instead of being managed by it
• How AI + quiet work can become a leadership superpower

If you've ever felt frustrated by endless meetings, rambling updates, or your own distracted brain, this conversation will give you practical tools you can use this week.

Episode Highlights * Noise as the villain – How constant distractions, disruptions, and devices are eroding our ability to think and communicate. * The brief & quiet toolkit – Brief is the sword that cuts through clutter; quiet is the shield that protects your attention so you can prepare. * Why we overtalk – Insecurity, lack of preparation, ego, and a poor understanding of attention spans. * The 3 levels of detail – Level 1 (headline), Level 2 (support), Level 3 (full detail). Most leadership moments only need Levels 1–2. * Clarity like comedy – Sequence and timing matter. If it takes too long to get to the punchline, you lose people—even if the content is good. * Quiet as an appointment – Why you should literally block quiet time on your calendar and not treat it like a "snow day." * Quiet before collaboration – Simple practices like two minutes of silence at the start of meetings can transform outcomes. * Redefining work in the AI age – Undistracted thinking is becoming a rare and valuable skill; AI works best when you can sit still and think. * Your phone works for you – Reframing your phone as a tool, not a master.

Practical Takeaways * Take 3 minutes before your next meeting or email to decide: What's my headline? * Use Joe's 3 levels of detail filter: Am I giving a headline, a trailer, or the entire movie? * Block 15 minutes of quiet in the morning and afternoon, and connect it directly to upcoming or recent communication. * Start your next team meeting with 2 minutes of silence for everyone to think about what they want to say and what they hope to get out of the meeting. * Put your phone in another room for your quiet block and remind yourself: My phone works for me; I don't work for it.

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How do the best military leaders go from operating at an already elite level… to an even higher level under pressure?

In this episode, Army psychologist Dr. Liz Werly (who works directly with some of the U.S. military's most elite units) breaks down the exact framework she uses to help high performers:

• build accurate self-awareness using gold-standard assessments,
• "engineer" their personality to fit the context (calm under fire and present at home),
• develop emotional intelligence as the differentiator once IQ and talent are in place, and
• translate values into visible daily behaviors that protect what matters most.

We also dig into groundedness and intentionality as core high-performance habits, the basics that leaders ignore at their own risk (sleep, rhythm, connection), and how generational shifts and resiliency trends are reshaping today's force and workplaces.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How Dr. Werly assesses elite leaders (IQ, Big Five, emotional measures) and turns data into a growth plan
• Why emotional intelligence becomes more important than raw intellect at higher levels of leadership
• A simple values → beliefs → behaviors framework (including the "20-minute Lego" example)
• How to recognize when your strengths (e.g., robotic under pressure) become liabilities at home or with your team
• Practical tools for grounding, bandwidth management, and emotional "dialing"
• What leaders need to understand about younger generations, resiliency, and expectations

If you're already a high performer and want to become a more grounded, self-aware, and sustainable leader, this conversation is for you.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Connect with Dr. Liz Werly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-h-werly-psy-d-b843b817/
• Join the waitlist for the next Intentional Leader Lab cohort: intentionalleaderlab.com

The views expressed in this episode are those of the participants and do not represent the official position of the U.S. Government or the U.S. Army.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro – How elite leaders go from high to higher

00:33 Disclaimer + what this episode will cover

01:06 Welcome to The Intentional Leader Podcast + IL Lab mention

01:36 Meet Dr. Liz Werly & her work with elite military units

03:35 "If I walked into your office…" – her framework for high performers

05:19 Patterns, personality, and "engineering" your strengths

07:42 Robotic under pressure, distant at home – dialing traits up/down

09:20 Big Five, gold-standard assessments & why cheap tests fall short

11:24 Why tests need interpretation, not labels

13:18 How leaders react when they see their data

16:50 Values-based goals & Acceptance and Commitment mindset

18:58 IQ vs personality vs EQ – what you can actually change

21:00 The four pillars of emotional intelligence (Liz's breakdown)

24:25 Why EQ is the edge once IQ is "good enough"

24:50 Groundedness & intentionality as #1 performance levers

26:44 Designing your "ideal day" for this season of life

29:04 Sleep, basics, and whole-person performance

29:50 Values → beliefs → behaviors (the 20-minute Lego example)

32:36 When values collide (deployments, travel, guilt & shame)

34:44 Emotions as information vs letting emotions drive decisions

36:30 Generational friction & why it's an emotional intelligence issue

39:25 Tech, expectations, and how younger leaders are different

41:06 Resiliency, safety culture, and maturity gaps

43:18 Recruiting, mental health, and opportunity in today's force

45:00 Where to connect with Liz + her final advice to leaders

46:24 Outro – 5 practical challenges: grounding, values, bandwidth, dialing, feedback

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Apply to work with me 1-1: https://courses.calwalters.me/coaching

Join the Intentional Leader Lab waitlist: https://courses.calwalters.me/intentional-leader-lab

Learn more about Zach: https://www.zachmercurio.com/

In this conversation, Dr. Zach Mercurio discusses the importance of creating a sense of purpose and mattering within teams. He emphasizes that feeling valued is a basic human instinct and that leaders play a crucial role in fostering an environment where everyone feels significant. The discussion covers the psychological impacts of not feeling like one matters, the barriers leaders face in demonstrating care, and practical strategies for enhancing team dynamics through small, intentional interactions. The conversation ultimately highlights the shift from traditional command-and-control leadership to a more trust-based approach that prioritizes relationships and emotional intelligence.

00:00 Creating a Sense of Purpose in Teams

02:10 Understanding the Cost of Not Mattering

04:28 The Role of Leaders in Mattering

07:56 The Importance of Mattering in Work and Life

11:41 Barriers to Caring in Leadership

16:10 The Shift from Command and Control to Trust-Based Leadership

19:35 Leading Indicators vs. Lagging Indicators

23:28 The Power of Small Interactions

28:59 Practical Actions for Leaders to Show Mattering

44:26 Noticing, Affirming, and Needing in Leadership

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Update: Now only 6 spots left in the Intentional Leader Lab!

➡️ Learn about the Intentional Leader Lab: https://intentionalleaderlab.com

Book a call: https://tally.so/r/w8X6dz

Apply today: https://tally.so/r/nr40XM

Please visit my website to get more information: https://calwalters.me/

In this episode, Dr. Ryan Gottfredson returns to discuss the concepts of trauma, vertical development, and the distinction between 'being' and 'doing' in leadership. He emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and healing one's internal operating system to achieve true personal transformation. The conversation explores how mindsets shape our experiences and the role of emotional intelligence in effective leadership. Ryan shares his personal journey of transformation and the impact of trauma on leadership effectiveness, providing insights into how leaders can grow both personally and professionally.

00:00 Introduction to the Intentional Leader Lab

01:12 Deep Dive with Dr. Ryan Gottfredson

02:35 Exploring Mindsets and Personal Transformation

04:49 The Importance of Vertical Development

11:13 Understanding Self-Protective Fears

16:12 The Doing Side vs. The Being Side

22:42 The Impact of Trauma on Leadership

29:58 Emotional Intelligence and Its Connection to Being

38:47 The Neuroscience of Emotional Intelligence

44:23 Ryan's Personal Journey of Transformation

50:40 Final Thoughts on Becoming Better

Takeaways

• The Intentional Leader Lab offers a six-month leadership experience

• Dr. Ryan Gottfredson emphasizes the importance of vertical development

• Mindsets are crucial for personal transformation

• Self-protective fears can hinder leadership growth

• The distinction between doing and being is vital for leaders

• Emotional intelligence is primarily a being side ability

• Trauma can significantly impact leadership effectiveness

• Awareness is the first step towards transformation

• Expanding your window of tolerance is essential for growth

• Healing one's internal operating system is key to becoming better

#leadership #leader #leadershipdevelopment #emotionalintelligence #podcast #personalgrowth #growth #growthmindset #growthjourney #trauma #traumahealing #selfimprovement #selfcare #selflove #selfgrowth #intentionalliving #fear #fearless #team #teamwork #neuroscience #science

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➡️ Learn about the Intentional Leader Lab: https://intentionalleaderlab.com

Book a call: https://tally.so/r/w8X6dz

Apply today: https://tally.so/r/nr40XM

The Intentional Leader Lab: A Mastermind for Successful Leaders Who Refuse to Plateau Even the best leaders can drift, but this carefully curated leadership community and Cal's Narrow Path™ Framework give you the tools, accountability, and systems to accelerate your growth. Only 11 spots left.

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➡️ Apply to the Intentional Leader Lab (only 12 slots available): https://intentionalleaderlab.com/

In this conversation, Cal introduces the Intentional Leader Lab, a coaching program aimed at enhancing leadership skills through emotional intelligence. Dr. Travis Bradberry, an expert in emotional intelligence, discusses its significance in leadership, differentiating it from IQ, and the importance of self-awareness, self-management, and social awareness. The conversation emphasizes practical strategies for developing emotional intelligence and the impact it has on personal and professional relationships.

Dr. Travis Bradberry is a best-selling author and a leading expert in emotional intelligence (EQ), co-authoring the #1 bestseller Emotional Intelligence 2.0 and the book The New Emotional Intelligence. He co-founded TalentSmart, a provider of EQ assessments and training used by many Fortune 500 companies, and is currently the Chief People Scientist at LEADx. His work focuses on practical strategies and new research to help people improve their EQ, which impacts behavior, decision-making, and relationships.

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➡️ Get my free weekly newsletter (The Intentional Letter): https://courses.calwalters.me/signup

🧭 Clarify Your Core Values: https://calwalters.me/course

In this conversation, Melody Wilding, an expert in managing up, discusses the essential skills and strategies needed to influence your boss and navigate workplace dynamics effectively. She emphasizes the importance of emotional intelligence, establishing alignment, and taking ownership in your role. The discussion also covers setting boundaries, giving and receiving feedback, and the concept of the triple win, which focuses on finding mutually beneficial solutions for yourself, your boss, and the organization.

Melody Wilding is the bestselling author of Trust Yourself: Stop Overthinking and Channel Your Emotions for Success at Work and the Managing Up: How to Get What You Need from the People in Charge.

Melody is a licensed social worker with a master’s degree from Columbia University, professor of human behavior at Hunter College in New York City, and former emotions researcher at Rutgers University.

For more than a decade, she’s helped top performers and leadership at the world’s most successful companies — including Google, JP Morgan, and Verizon — to communicate more clearly, prevent burnout, and transform complicated workplace dynamics into powerful alliances that impact the bottom line.

Her work has been featured in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and dozens of other respected publications. She’s a regular contributor to Harvard Business Review, Forbes, Fast Company, and CNBC.

➡️ Connect with Melody: https://melodywilding.com/

00:00 Mastering the Art of Managing Up

01:23 Understanding the Concept of Managing Up

05:37 Navigating Workplace Dynamics

07:52 The Importance of Emotional Intelligence

11:55 The Power of Effective Conversations

15:35 The Triple Win Concept

20:21 Establishing Alignment with Your Boss

39:57 Taking Ownership in Your Role

49:50 Setting Boundaries for Success

53:35 Giving and Receiving Feedback Effectively

Please visit my website to get more information: https://calwalters.me/

🔔𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬. https://www.youtube.com/@intentionalleader_calwalters/?sub_confirmation=1

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In this episode of the Intentional Leader podcast, Cal and Patrick Lencioni delve into the core motivations behind leadership, emphasizing the importance of serving others over seeking personal gain. They discuss the impact of fear on leadership effectiveness, the necessity of daily self-reflection, and the significance of understanding one's wounds in shaping leadership styles. The conversation also touches on the importance of unity within organizations and offers practical advice for leaders at various stages of their careers, encouraging self-discovery and intentionality in leadership practices.

Go deeper with Pat and his work:

• The Table Group: https://www.tablegroup.com/?srsltid=AfmBOooh27JebY2gN8wRMxtvnSo_5oO9jcZ6r0y7cdrS00K2kPh_-E0O

• The Working Genius Assessment: https://www.workinggenius.com/

• At the Table Podcast: https://www.tablegroup.com/pat/#podcasters

00:00 The Essence of Leadership Motivation

02:55 Understanding the True Motive Behind Leadership

05:41 The Impact of Fear on Leadership

08:46 Daily Reflections and Intentions

11:36 The Importance of Self-Discovery in Leadership

14:40 Navigating Leadership Through Different Life Stages

17:33 The Role of Wounds in Shaping Leadership

20:26 Finding Peace Beyond Success

23:29 Unity in Leadership and Organizations

26:46 Advice for Young Leaders

29:28 The Journey of Self-Awareness

32:36 Leadership in the Later Stages of Life

35:31 Creating Cohesion in Divided Times

Please visit my website to get more information: https://calwalters.me/

🔔𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬. https://www.youtube.com/@intentionalleader_calwalters/?sub_confirmation=1

⭐⭐⭐ Audio Podcast is currently on your favorite platforms:

ApplePodcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/intentional-leader-with-cal-walters/id1468715294

Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/41qlvUJj1Ej0hzNp3dC5wn

🔗 Support Me Here! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/calwalters

🔗 Stay Connected With Me. Linkedin (Cal Walters): https://www.linkedin.com/in/cal-walters-5571b824/

Linkedin (Intentional Leader): https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-living-leadership/

Website: https://calwalters.me/

📩 For business inquiries: cal@calwalters.me

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Discover Your Core Values: https://calwalters.me/course

Geoff Woods is the author of The AI-Driven Leader and the Founder of AI Leadership, where he empowers leaders to harness AI, escape operational overwhelm, and think strategically to accelerate growth.

AI Leadership is spearheaded by Geoff Woods, a visionary leader with a proven track record helping companies grow through strategic thinking and AI-driven solutions.

As the former Chief Growth Officer of Jindal Steel & Power, he drove market cap growth from $750M to $12B in four years through AI-driven leadership.

He also co-founded the training and consulting company behind The ONE Thing, where he coached and advised companies with annual revenues from $10 million to $60 billion.​​

In this conversation, Cal and Geoff explore the transformative potential of AI in leadership and decision-making. They discuss the importance of asking the right questions, mastering essential skills, and using AI as a strategic partner rather than just a tool. The dialogue highlights real-world applications of AI in business, including creating AI boards to simulate executive dynamics and enhance decision-making processes. The speakers emphasize the need for leaders to adapt to technological advancements and leverage AI to overcome significant challenges in their organizations. In this conversation, the speakers explore the transformative role of AI in leadership and decision-making. They discuss practical applications of AI in board meetings, presentation feedback, and strategic thinking. The importance of maintaining a thought leadership role while leveraging AI as a thought partner is emphasized, along with the need for leaders to adapt to the rapidly changing job landscape. The discussion also highlights lessons from Blockbuster's downfall and offers practical steps for leaders to integrate AI into their daily practices.

00:00 AI as a Strategic Partner for Leaders

07:23 Harnessing AI for Strategic Thinking

21:43 Creating AI Boards for Leadership

26:02 Real-World Applications of AI in Business

27:51 Simulating Reality: AI's Role in Predictive Analysis

29:03 Proactive AI Engagement: Preparing for Presentations

31:20 Thought Leadership vs. Thought Partnership

33:05 Building Your AI Board: A Personal Strategy

38:50 Strategic Thinking: Lessons from Blockbuster's Downfall

42:38 Practical Steps for Leaders: Using AI Effectively

45:04 Future Skills: Preparing for an AI-Driven World

49:52 Powerful Questions: Shaping Your Leadership Journey

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Discover Your Core Values: https://calwalters.me/course

Get On Character by General McChrystal: https://www.mcchrystalgroup.com/about/books/detail/2025/01/04/on-character--choices-that-define-a-life

Follow Stan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stanmcchrystal/

Learn about the McChrystal Group: https://www.mcchrystalgroup.com/

In this conversation, General Stanley McChrystal discusses the profound impact of character on leadership, emphasizing that true leadership is tested during challenging times. He reflects on his personal experiences, including his resignation from the military, and how his marriage has shaped his character. The discussion also delves into the importance of understanding core values, the influence of parents on our convictions, and the role of fear in leadership decisions. McChrystal encourages leaders to clarify their values and to recognize that character is a choice that defines us. In this conversation, Stanley McChrystal discusses the dynamics of leadership, the importance of courage in speaking up against groupthink, and the necessity of discipline in personal and professional life. He reflects on his experiences in high-pressure environments, the challenges of maintaining integrity, and the value of writing as a tool for clarifying thoughts and fostering a national dialogue on character. The discussion emphasizes the significance of learning from mistakes and the impact of personal values on leadership effectiveness.

00:00 The Essence of Leadership and Character

03:00 The Journey of Writing and Reflection

05:55 Marriage as a Foundation for Character

11:49 The Role of Character in Leadership

17:55 Understanding Core Values and Convictions

23:00 The Influence of Parents on Character

25:50 Confronting Fear in Leadership

30:15 The Pressure to Conform in Leadership

32:44 Courage to Speak Up: A Personal Reflection

35:33 Coaching Leaders to Embrace Truth

38:26 The Importance of Discipline in Leadership

46:57 Learning from Mistakes and Moving Forward

49:05 The Value of Writing and National Dialogue on Character

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Discover Your Core Values: https://calwalters.me/course

Get Will's book: https://noelevatortoeverest.com/

Learn about Corner to Corner: https://cornertocorner.org/

In this conversation, Will Acuff shares his journey of finding joy amidst life's challenges, particularly through his experiences with his family and the transformative 'trauma camp' that helped him shift his perspective. He discusses the importance of self-compassion, the struggles of parenting a child with disabilities, and the pressures of maintaining a facade of having it all together. The dialogue emphasizes the significance of recognizing small sparks of joy and the power of community and support in navigating difficult times.

In this conversation, the speakers explore the themes of love, mercy, and personal responsibility within relationships. They discuss the drama triangle concept, emphasizing the importance of shifting from a hero mentality to one of ownership and self-compassion. The dialogue also touches on thriving in tough circumstances, the significance of self-awareness, and practical practices for cultivating joy in daily life.

00:00 Finding Joy in Hardship

02:53 The Journey to Trauma Camp

11:42 Transformative Experiences at Trauma Camp

22:02 The Power of Joy in Difficult Times

24:35 The Context of Love and Mercy

25:08 Understanding the Drama Triangle

29:04 Shifting from Hero to Ownership

30:44 The Impact of Codependency

32:07 Self-Compassion and Ownership

35:31 Thriving in Tough Circumstances

36:40 Exploring Joy and Self-Awareness

42:22 Practical Practices for Daily Joy Please visit my website to get more information:

https://calwalters.me/

🔔𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬. https://www.youtube.com/@intentionalleader_calwalters/?sub_confirmation=1

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Discover Your Core Values Course: https://courses.calwalters.me/offers/DmXNju9f/checkout

The Work-Life Balance Toolbox: https://www.stephenrgraves.com/balance

Steve's book, Flourishing (for free!): https://www.stephenrgraves.com/flourish

Cornerstone+ Membership: https://www.cornerstoneco.com/

In this episode of the Intentional Leader Podcast, Cal speaks with CEO coach Steve Graves about the intricacies of leadership, coaching, and achieving a balanced life. They explore the importance of holistic coaching, the courage required to make meaningful life choices, and the challenges of work-life balance. Steve shares insights from his experiences coaching top leaders and discusses frameworks for personal development, including the significance of understanding one's capacity threshold and the art of saying no. The conversation emphasizes the need for intentional living and aligning one's life with core values to lead effectively at work and home.

00:00 Leading Well at Work and Home

02:38 The Role of a Coach

07:15 Work-Life Balance Toolbox

08:30 A Tale of Two Funerals

13:16 The Importance of Courage 1

9:33 The Cost of Saying Yes

24:44 Understanding Capacity Threshold

36:51 The Art of Saying No

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➡️ Sign up for my Intentional Letter: https://courses.calwalters.me/signup

Follow Katie's work: https://katiequesada.com/

In this conversation, storytelling expert Katie Quesada discusses the profound impact of storytelling on personal and professional lives. She emphasizes the importance of storytelling in leadership, how it can create emotional connections, and the science behind why stories resonate with us.

Katie shares her journey into storytelling consulting, practical frameworks for effective storytelling, and the significance of personal and family narratives. The discussion also highlights the difference between macro and micro storytelling, encouraging leaders to weave stories into everyday interactions to foster connection and engagement. In this conversation, the speakers delve into the intricacies of storytelling, emphasizing its importance in leadership and personal relationships.

They discuss the three essential components of a story: context, conflict, and conclusion, and how to effectively balance these elements to engage an audience. The conversation also touches on the significance of vulnerability in leadership, the process of restoring meaning to personal experiences, and the value of storytelling in everyday interactions, particularly within families. The speakers encourage listeners to embrace their unique stories and share them in ways that resonate with others, ultimately highlighting storytelling as a powerful tool for connection and influence.

00:00 The Power of Storytelling

02:59 Katie Quesada's Journey into Storytelling

06:01 The Science Behind Storytelling

09:04 Practical Applications of Storytelling in Leadership

11:56 Mining, Refining, and Reminding Stories

14:59 Personal Storytelling and Its Impact

17:59 The Importance of Family Storytelling

20:57 Macro vs. Micro Storytelling

28:05 The Art of Storytelling

31:24 Understanding the Three C's of Storytelling

35:35 The Balance of Context, Conflict, and Conclusion

40:39 Vulnerability in Leadership

43:00 Restoring Meaning to Personal Stories

46:43 Finding Your Storytelling Platform

48:44 Relational Storytelling Techniques

Please visit my website to get more information: https://calwalters.me/

🔔𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬. https://www.youtube.com/@intentionalleader_calwalters/?sub_confirmation=1

🔗 Support Me Here! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/calwalters

🔗 Stay Connected With Me.

Linkedin (Cal Walters):

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cal-walters-5571b824/

Linkedin (Intentional Leader):

https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-living-leadership/

Website:

https://calwalters.me/

📩 For business inquiries: cal@calwalters.me

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Take the Attributes Assessment (make sure you use coupon code INTENTIONALLEADER15 to get 15% off at check out): https://theattributes.com/assessment-tool

Get Rich's new book, Masters of Uncertainty: https://www.amazon.com/Masters-Uncertainty-Navy-Stress-Success/dp/B0DMGYW5YH/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3E4HOYQ84M5H7&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ya84ZhsafB6rPwbEySGGDg.98hhrIiRMlraDT4SDOw9Dih-3Y1Z1b772CBQOmMDIBw&dib_tag=se&keywords=masters+of+uncertainty+rich+diviney&qid=1732210579&sprefix=masters+of+uncertainty+rich+diviney%2Caps%2C168&sr=8-1

In this conversation, retired Navy SEAL Commander Rich Diviney shares insights on leadership, stress management, and the importance of attributes in high-performance environments. He discusses the significance of humility, the distinction between being a leader and being in charge, and the challenges faced during BUD/S training.

Rich emphasizes the critical role of compartmentalization and attributes in determining success, particularly in high-stress situations like those encountered in military training and operations. In this conversation, the speaker delves into the importance of understanding personal attributes and skills, emphasizing the role of self-awareness in effective leadership.

They discuss how stress and fear can be harnessed for positive action, the significance of focusing on controllable factors, and the science behind motivation through dopamine. The conversation also explores the impact of identity on behavior, particularly in uncertain situations, and how recognizing and prioritizing identities can shape our responses and actions.

00:00 Navigating Stress as a Leader

03:04 The Essence of Humility in Leadership

06:06 Understanding Leadership Beyond Hierarchy

09:01 The BUD/S Experience and Its Challenges

11:56 Compartmentalization: The Key to Endurance

15:04 Skills vs. Attributes in Leadership

18:03 Insights from SEAL Team 6 Selection

20:47 The Importance of Attributes in Performance

29:10 Understanding Attributes and Skills

35:01 The Role of Self-Awareness in Leadership

38:07 Harnessing Stress and Fear for Action

43:45 Focus on What You Can Control

49:22 The Science of Dopamine and Motivation

52:30 The Power of Identity in Uncertainty

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Watch this on YouTube: https://youtu.be/DHP2Eahxjm0

Alison Wood Brooks is the O’Brien Associate Professor of Business Administration and Hellman Faculty Fellow at the Harvard Business School. She teaches an award-winning course in the MBA curriculum called “TALK.” Recently named a Best 40-Under-40 Business School Professor by Poets & Quants, her book TALK: The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves will be published by Crown (Penguin Random House) in January 2025.

Her research on the science of conversation has been published in prestigious academic journals, including the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, and Psychological Science, as well as in popular media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, The New York Times, Scientific American, and Harvard Business Review. Professor Brooks holds a Ph.D. in Decision Processes from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Finance from Princeton University.

In this engaging conversation, Alison Wood Brooks, a Harvard Business School professor, shares insights from her research on the art and science of conversation. She discusses the importance of effective communication, the unique perspective gained from being an identical twin, and the value of teaching conversation skills to leaders.

The discussion covers various aspects of conversation, including the significance of preparation, understanding conversational goals, and the framework for successful interactions. Listeners are encouraged to reflect on their own conversational practices and consider how they can improve their communication skills. In this conversation, the speakers delve into the intricacies of effective communication, emphasizing the cognitive load involved in conversations, the importance of preparation, and the power of follow-up questions.

They discuss strategies for topic switching and ending conversations gracefully, the significance of asking questions, and the art of active listening. The conversation also highlights the role of levity in maintaining engagement and the need for self-compassion in navigating social interactions.

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Get the The Thin Book of Trust.

Cal and Charles Feltman delve into the intricate nature of trust, exploring its biological underpinnings and the personal experiences that shape our propensity to trust or distrust others. They discuss the importance of sincerity, reliability, competence, and care as key assessments of trustworthiness, and how leaders can foster a trusting environment by extending trust to their teams.

Charles Feltman has over 25 years of professional experience coaching, facilitating, consulting to, and training people who lead others. An overarching goal in all of his work is that his clients experience both success and wellbeing at work and in all areas of their lives. Prior to starting his coaching and consulting business he spent a decade in leadership roles in technology industry companies.

Charles is the author of The Thin Book® of Trust: An Essential Primer for Building Trust at Work, based on three decades of experience working with individuals and teams to build, maintain, and when necessary restore trust.

After completing his coach training in 2000 with Newfield Network, one of the premier coach training schools worldwide, Charles served as a mentor coach for Newfield’s programs. In this capacity he taught, mentored and coached others who were learning to become skilled coaches.

Charles holds a BA in psychology from U.C. Santa Cruz and a master's in organization development and communication from the University of Southern California. He has an International Coach Federation credential of Professional Certified Coach (PCC). He is certified in The Leadership Circle Profile, MBTI, DiSC Work of Leaders, and the Triscendance Trust Assessment for Leadership Teams. He is also a certified husband, father and grandfather.

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Take Mark Miller's Quicksand Assessment by texting BeSmart (no spaces) to 66866

Get in touch with Mark Miller:

678-612-8441

mark@leadeveryday.com

https://leadeveryday.com

Mark Miller, former vice president of high performance leadership at Chick-fil-A, discusses the key factors that contribute to the company's exceptional customer experience. He emphasizes the importance of leadership, particularly at the local restaurant level, as the competitive advantage of Chick-fil-A. Miller also highlights the role of the corporate staff in serving the operators and creating a powerful combination.

He explains the rigorous selection process for restaurant operators and the focus on character, competence, chemistry, and an internal locus of control. Miller acknowledges the challenges in defining leadership and distinguishes it from management, emphasizing the importance of vision, engagement and development of others, continuous reinvention, and valuing both results and relationships.

In this conversation, Mark Miller discusses the importance of embodying a leader's heart and the role it plays in leadership effectiveness. He emphasizes that a leader's heart is a big deal and can multiply the effect of their skills. Mark also talks about the need for both leadership and management in an organization, highlighting that leaders should compensate for their bias towards either results or relationships. He provides practical strategies for valuing both results and relationships, such as setting goals for expressing appreciation and gratitude. Mark concludes by sharing his excitement about continuing to serve leaders in his second half.

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Discover Your Unique Core Values: https://calwalters.me/course

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr_ZF6AG_9ZylHul1O5wHhg

Connect with Juliet Funt: https://www.julietfunt.com/military/

Get Juliet's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Minute-Think-Reclaim-Creativity-Busyness/dp/0062970259

00:00 Introduction to Task Saturation and Overload

02:06 Juliette's Experience with the Military

07:01 Communication Challenges in the Military

20:15 Understanding Task Saturation vs. Overload

28:10 Leadership and Time Management Strategies

29:36 Leadership Transitions and Onboarding Challenges

32:49 Prioritization vs. Reduction in Task Management

35:32 Navigating Task Saturation and Honest Feedback

39:43 The Importance of Preparation and Rehearsal

42:51 Technology and Task Management in the Military

49:29 Maximizing Time Away and Digital Disconnection

Featured in top media outlets such as Forbes, CNBC, and Fast Company, Juliet Funt is a globally renowned keynote speaker, tough-love advisor to the Fortune 500, founder and CEO of the efficiency training firm, Juliet Funt Group.

Juliet is the author of A Minute to Think, nominated for the Next Big Idea Club curated by Malcolm Gladwell, Dan Pink, Susan Cain and Adam Grant. She is an evangelist for freeing the potential of companies by unburdening their talent from busywork, and she has brought her powerful concepts to Spotify, National Geographic, Anthem, Vans, Abbott, Costco, Pepsi, Nike, Wells Fargo, Sephora, Sysco, and ESPN.

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Gain clarity with my Core Values course: https://calwalters.me/course

Watch this interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Vn6ZwWWcFZw

Learn more about West Point, the world's preeminent leader development institution: https://www.westpoint.edu/

In this episode of the Intentional Leader Podcast, Cal speaks with Brigadier General Shane Reeves, the Dean of West Point, about the challenges of preparing leaders for an uncertain future. They discuss the importance of innovation, character development, and critical thinking in military education, as well as the unique qualities of the next generation of leaders. General Reeves shares insights from his experiences, the role of technology in warfare, and the need for adaptability in leadership. The conversation emphasizes the significance of intellect and the ability to navigate complex challenges in today's rapidly changing world.

Brigadier General Shane Reeves serves as the 15th Dean of the Academic Board. He holds a Master of Laws in Military Law from the Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School, a Juris Doctor degree from the College of William and Mary, and a Bachelor of Science from the United States Military Academy. He is admitted to practice law before the Virginia State Bar, the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, and the United States Supreme Court.

Brigadier General Reeves commissioned in 1996 from the United States Military Academy and served seven years as an Armor Officer in the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment at Ft. Irwin, California. After attending law school in 2003, he transitioned into the Judge Advocate General’s Corps. As a Judge Advocate, he served in several legal positions, including as the Chief of Legal Assistance for Ft. Riley, Kansas; Brigade Judge Advocate in the 1st Armored Division in Taji, Iraq; Senior Trial Counsel for the 1st Infantry Division at Ft. Riley, Kansas; Professor of International and Operational Law at the Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School in Charlottesville, Virginia; and as the Deputy Staff Judge Advocate of Joint Special Operations Command at Ft. Liberty, North Carolina.

Brigadier General Reeves taught for ten years in United States Military Academy’s Law Department, most recently serving as the Head. He has taught and spoken on International Law and the Law of Armed Conflict. His recent speaking engagements include presenting at the 9th Quadrennial Federal Judges Association in Washington D.C., lecturing at Columbia Law School and the University of California-Berkeley Law School, and speaking in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, Israel as part of the Academic Exchange Program. He is also a founding member and Director of the Lieber Institute for Law and Land Warfare located at West Point.

Brigadier General Reeves has written on the Law of Armed Conflict and national security issues. His articles have appeared in various publications, including Foreign Policy, Lawfare, Just Security, and Articles of War. He has written over 30 articles and book chapters in academic publications, including the Harvard International Review, the Harvard National Security Journal, Texas Law Review, Marquette Law Review, Cardozo Law Review, University of Pennsylvania Journal of International Law, and Berkeley Journal of International Law. Additionally, he served as the Co-Editor-in-Chief of the blog Articles of War, the editor and contributing author to U.S. Military Operations: Law, Policy, and Practice, and Managing Editor of the Lieber Studies Series published by Oxford University Press.

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Discover Your Unique Core Values: https://calwalters.me/course

Graham Cochrane is a TEDx and keynote speaker, 7 figure entrepreneur, and bestselling author of How To Get Paid For What You Know and Rebel: Find Yourself by Not Following The Crowd (2024).

Get a copy of Rebel: https://www.amazon.com/Rebel-Find-Yourself-Following-Crowd/dp/1637745656

He speaks to over 80,000 people each month on his top .5% globally ranked podcast The Graham Cochrane Show, where each week he helps people create more money, margin, and meaning in their lives.

With over 14 years of online coaching and content experience, 700,000 YouTube subscribers across his channels, and having built multiple 7 figure businesses that require less than 5 hours of work per week to run, Graham is a leading voice and coach in the life-giving business movement. His insights have been regularly featured in national media outlets like Forbes, CNBC and Business Insider.

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Quick Gain Clarity with my Discover Your Core Values Mini Course: https://calwalters.me/course

Watch this podcast on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@intentionalleader_calwalters

Learn more about Dr. Stein's work: https://stevenstein.com/

Dr. Steven Stein is a world-renowned clinical psychologist, international best-selling author and sought-after speaker, and founder and Executive Chair of Multi-Health Systems (MHS), a publisher of scientifically validated assessments for over 40 years, which has been named a three-time winner of Profit 100 (fastest growing companies in Canada), one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies since 2013, and Canada's 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures (2016, Waterstone).

A leading expert on psychological assessment and emotional intelligence, he has consulted with military and government agencies, including the Canadian Forces, U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, special units of the Pentagon, FBI Academy, as well as corporate organizations, including American Express, Air Canada, Canyon Ranch, Coca-Cola (Mexico), and professional sports teams.

Dr. Stein consults with numerous reality TV shows, including Big Brother Canada, The Amazing Race Canada, MasterChef Canada, Bachelor Canada, Real Housewives of Toronto, Bachelor in Paradise, Blown Away, and many others, providing psychological expertise and candidate selection assessments.

Dr. Stein co-authored Hardiness: Making Stress Work for You to Achieve Your Life Goals and is the author of The EQ Leader and Emotional Intelligence for Dummies. He also co-authored the international best-seller The EQ Edge: Emotional Intelligence and Your Success and wrote Make Your Workplace Great: The 7 Keys to an Emotionally Intelligent Organization.

He has appeared on more than 100 TV and radio shows, including CNBC’s Squawk Box, Canada AM, Breakfast Television, The Fifth Estate, and Fox Business Report. He has also been quoted in numerous magazines and newspapers, including Fast Company, Inc., Fortune, Huffington Post, The National Post, Globe and Mail, and Toronto Star.

Dr. Stein has presented on emotional intelligence and hardiness to audiences throughout Canada, the United States, Mexico, South America, Europe, Australia, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

Dr. Stein currently teaches at the Directors College, an Executive Program from the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University, Canada. He is a past Chairperson of the Psychology Foundation of Canada. He is a former assistant professor in the psychiatry department at the University of Toronto and a former adjunct professor of psychology at York University in Toronto. He is a past President of the Ontario Psychological Association and a Fellow of the Canadian Psychological Association.

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Save Time and Avoid Regrets with my Discover Your Core Values Mini Course: https://calwalters.me/course

Watch this conversation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/1ki9gIkx54g

Purchase Throw No Rocks: A Man's Guide to Success Through Partnership with God: https://thrownorocks.com

Charlie Watkins is a Christian husband, father, grandfather and leader. He came to Jesus in 1980 while serving as a nuclear trained officer aboard a US Navy Cruiser, where he was led to the Lord by the ship's doctor. After leaving the Navy in 1982 he has held senior leadership positions in several businesses.

God has rescued, healed and mentored him through many trials, including cancer, open heart surgery, business failures and successes, transitions and many household moves. His heart’s desire is to impart the most important truths to men so that they can find true success as God's husbands, fathers and leaders, and change the trajectories of their lives, marriages, families and the nations.

Charlie has led men's groups, home groups and spoken in churches. He currently leads a men’s group at his local church, The Point, in Charlottesville, Virginia.

He's been married to Blythe, the love of his life, since June of 1977. Blythe and Charlie have two grown Christian children. They love the people their children married and count their children as their closest friends. They have five terrific grandsons, all mighty men of God in the making.

For most of the past 25 years, Charlie has mentored and worked with leaders. Since October of 2018 he has been serving as President and CEO of Landmark Media Enterprises and Dominion Enterprises, a private conglomerate of data and software businesses.

Charlie is a graduate of the US Naval Academy and holds a master's in business from William & Mary. He also serves on the board of ICM, “The Global Church Developer,” a ministry that partners with indigenous people in the poorest regions of the world to build churches and disciple people.

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Save Time and Avoid Regrets with my Discover Your Core Values Mini Course: https://calwalters.me/course

Watch this conversation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/1ki9gIkx54g

Purchase Throw No Rocks: A Man's Guide to Success Through Partnership with God: https://thrownorocks.com

Charlie Watkins is a Christian husband, father, grandfather and leader. He came to Jesus in 1980 while serving as a nuclear trained officer aboard a US Navy Cruiser, where he was led to the Lord by the ship's doctor. After leaving the Navy in 1982 he has held senior leadership positions in several businesses.

God has rescued, healed and mentored him through many trials, including cancer, open heart surgery, business failures and successes, transitions and many household moves. His heart’s desire is to impart the most important truths to men so that they can find true success as God's husbands, fathers and leaders, and change the trajectories of their lives, marriages, families and the nations.

Charlie has led men's groups, home groups and spoken in churches. He currently leads a men’s group at his local church, The Point, in Charlottesville, Virginia.

He's been married to Blythe, the love of his life, since June of 1977. Blythe and Charlie have two grown Christian children. They love the people their children married and count their children as their closest friends. They have five terrific grandsons, all mighty men of God in the making.

For most of the past 25 years, Charlie has mentored and worked with leaders. Since October of 2018 he has been serving as President and CEO of Landmark Media Enterprises and Dominion Enterprises, a private conglomerate of data and software businesses.

Charlie is a graduate of the US Naval Academy and holds a master's in business from William & Mary. He also serves on the board of ICM, “The Global Church Developer,” a ministry that partners with indigenous people in the poorest regions of the world to build churches and disciple people.

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Follow me at: https://calwalters.me/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@intentionalleader_calwalters

Make Decision Making Easier with my Core Values Mini Course: https://courses.calwalters.me/offers/DmXNju9f/checkout

Julian Treasure is a top-rated international speaker on sound and the critical communication skills of listening and speaking.

Collectively, Julian’s five TED Talks have been viewed over 150 million times. How to speak so that people want to listen is the sixth most-viewed TED talk of all time. In live or virtual keynotes, or in bite-sized appearances via ThinkersOne, Julian delivers engaging, entertaining and transformational content, and is equally potent and effective with live or virtual delivery. ‍

His talks enhance business effectiveness, particularly for those in sales or leadership roles, as well as enriching relationships at work and at home.

His presenting skills and innovative use of sound make his talks visceral and potent experiences that are always highly rated by delegates.In addition to keynote speeches, Julian can also arrange structured training or workshops for your company.

Follow Julian Treasure: https://www.juliantreasure.com/

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Follow Cal at https://calwalters.me/

Get back time and make decision making easier by discovering your core values: https://courses.calwalters.me/offers/DmXNju9f/checkout

Jamie Winship has decades of experience bringing peaceful solutions to areas of the world that experience the highest levels of conflict. After a distinguished career in law enforcement in the metro Washington DC area, Jamie had a unique opportunity to bring his identity-centric approach of transformation to the field of education. He earned an MA in English and accepted a position at a university in Indonesia. Jamie developed a unique language acquisition program based on this premise: identity transformation is the key to acquiring new levels of learning in any field.

His work drew the attention of Fulbright and other educational institutions which extended his work worldwide over the past several decades. Jamie has worked with leaders in professional sports, business, education, law enforcement, government, non-profit and other sectors.

Jamie and his wife, Donna, are co-founders of Identity Exchange, a training and consulting agency that helps individuals and teams discover new levels of creativity and resiliency within the framework of true identity.

Get Jamie's book Living Fearless: https://www.amazon.com/Living-Fearless-Exchanging-World-Liberating/dp/0800740297/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1665511275&sr=8-1

Learn more about Identity Exchange: https://www.identityexchange.com/

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Discover Your Core Values with my Mini-Course:

https://courses.calwalters.me/offers/DmXNju9f/

Checkout Get Dr. Lemke's great book, Dopamine Nation: https://www.amazon.com/Dopamine-Nation-Finding-Balance-Indulgence/dp/152474672X

Preorder the Official Dopamine Nation Workbook: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0593476212?tag=randohouseinc7986-20

Dr. Anna Lembke is professor of psychiatry at Stanford University School of Medicine and chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic. A clinician scholar, she has published more than a hundred peer-reviewed papers, book chapters, and commentaries. She sits on the board of several state and national addiction-focused organizations, has testified before various committees in the United States House of Representatives and Senate, keeps an active speaking calendar, and maintains a thriving clinical practice.

In 2016, she published Drug Dealer, MD – How Doctors Were Duped, Patients Got Hooked, and Why It’s So Hard to Stop, which was highlighted in the New York Times as one of the top five books to read to understand the opioid epidemic. Dr. Lembke also appeared on the Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma, an unvarnished look at the impact of social media on our lives.

Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence, an instant New York Times Bestseller, explores how to moderate compulsive overconsumption in a dopamine-overloaded world. Dr. Lembke explores the exciting new scientific discoveries that explain why the relentless pursuit of pleasure leads to pain. Most important, she tells readers how to find the delicate balance between the two. Condensing complex neuroscience into easy-to-understand metaphors, Lembke illustrates how finding contentment and connectedness means keeping dopamine in check. The lived experiences of her patients are the gripping fabric of her narrative. Their riveting stories of suffering and redemption give us all hope for managing our consumption and transforming our lives.

00:00: Introduction

05:30: The Paradox of Modern Life

10:00: The Role of Dopamine in Addiction

12:27: The Downside of Pleasure-Seeking

14:43: Addiction and Susceptibility

17:44: The Rise of Digital Addictions

20:25: Identifying Addiction and Seeking Help

30:36: Observing Our Thoughts and Behaviors

32:22: The Difference Between Shame and Guilt

33:22: Setting Boundaries with Digital Devices

34:04: Differentiating Shame and Guilt

34:41: The Role of Community in Addressing Shame

38:08: The Impact of Dopamine-Inducing Behaviors on Enjoyment of Simple Pleasures

39:13: Embracing Boredom and the Default Mode Network

41:45: The Benefits of Dopamine Fasting

43:31: Rediscovering the Joy of Simple Things

45:23: Navigating Boredom and Finding Meaning

49:10: The Recommended Duration of Dopamine Fasting

52:15: Commonalities in Successful Recovery

55:17: Parenting in the Modern World

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Take Dr. Norton's Ritual Quiz

Michael Norton is the Harold M. Brierley Professor of Business Administration at the Harvard Business School. He has studied human behavior as it relates to love and inequality, time and money, and happiness and grief. He is the author of The Ritual Effect and the coauthor—with Elizabeth Dunn—of Happy Money: The Science of Happier Spending.

In 2012, he was selected by Wired magazine as one of “50 People Who Will Change the World.” His TEDx talk, How to Buy Happiness, has been viewed nearly 5 million times. He is a frequent contributor to such publications as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and Scientific American, and has made numerous television, radio, and podcast appearances.

In The Ritual Effect, Dr. Norton demonstrates the power of small acts—and how a subtle turning of habits into rituals can add purpose and pleasure to life. Compelling, insightful, and practical, The Ritual Effect reminds us of the intention-filled acts that drive human behavior and create sur­prising satisfaction and enjoyment.

Learn from me:

Check out my Discover Your Core Values Mini Course

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People love to keep score. Managers keep score of a range of business metrics: market share, revenue, profit margin, growth rate. In our personal lives, social media has us keeping score by likes and followers.

These external scores are outcome-driven and serve as proof of our success—money, fame, material possessions, wins—but this constant chase for more validation often leaves us feeling exhausted and empty.

In their new book, The Score That Matters, Ryan Hawk and Brook Cupps show that the internal score is what matters most—it reveals whether we are living in alignment with our purpose and values.

It also measures how we are leading ourselves and others, prompting us to:

• Differentiate between the two scoreboards that run our life
• Use our fear as fuel
• Avoid the poison of comparison
• Embrace the mundanity of excellence
• Regulate our emotional thermostat
• Create a mentality for attacking adversity

Follow Ryan Hawk's work at LearningLeader.com

Follow Brook Cupp's work at Blue Collar Grit

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We used to think of failure as the opposite of success. Now, we’re often torn between two “failure cultures”: one that says to avoid failure at all costs, the other that says fail fast, fail often. The trouble is that both approaches lack the crucial distinctions to help us separate good failure from bad. As a result, we miss the opportunity to fail well. After decades of award-winning research, Amy Edmondson is here to upend our understanding of failure and make it work for us. In Right Kind of Wrong, Edmondson provides the framework to think, discuss, and practice failure wisely. Outlining the three archetypes of failure—basic, complex, and intelligent—Amy showcases how to minimize unproductive failure while maximizing what we gain from flubs of all stripes. She illustrates how we and our organizations can embrace our human fallibility, learn exactly when failure is our friend, and prevent most of it when it is not. This is the key to pursuing smart risks and preventing avoidable harm. With vivid, real-life stories from business, pop culture, history, and more, Edmondson gives us specifically tailored practices, skills, and mindsets to help us replace shame and blame with curiosity, vulnerability, and personal growth. You’ll never look at failure the same way again.

Connect with Amy Edmondson: https://amycedmondson.com/

Follow Amy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amycedmondson/

Learn more about Intentional Leader: https://calwalters.me/

Watch Intentional Leader on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@intentionalleader_calwalters

Support this podcast: https://www.patreon.com/calwalters

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Subscribe to Intentional Leader on YouTube! Link is here: https://youtube.com/@intentionalleader_calwalters?si=NgU1Ui98hTofWc2I

On this episode of Intentional Leader, we learn from speaker, author, and pastor Clay Scroggins on how to lead when we're not in charge. The reality is that most of us have a boss or supervisor, so how do we lead through influence when we lack authority?

Clay is the author of the best-selling books How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge, How to Lead in a World of Distraction, and The Aspiring Leader’s Guide to the Future. He holds a degree in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Tech as well as a Master’s degree and Doctorate with an emphasis in Online Church from Dallas Theological Seminary. For almost 20 years, Clay Scroggins served in many pastoral roles at North Point Ministries, a multisite church started in Alpharetta, Georgia led by Andy Stanley. Most recently, Clay served as the lead pastor of Buckhead Church, one of North Point’s largest campuses. Clay is a sought after speaker (that’s what he tells his parents) having worked with organizations ranging from the Dallas Cowboys or the staff at the White House all the way to Taco Bell or the Alabama Association of Tax Assessors. Clay lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife, Jenny, and their five children.

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The views expressed on this podcast and page are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy, position, or endorsement of the US Army, DoD, or the US Government.

I'm so pumped to welcome Brian Johnson to the podcast!

Check out Brian's brand new book: Areté: Activate Your Heroic Potential

Download the Heroic app for free: https://www.heroic.us/join

Brian Johnson is the Founder & CEO of Heroic Public Benefit Corporation and the author of Areté: Activate Your Heroic Potential. He’s 50% Philosopher + 50% CEO and 101% committed to helping create a world in which 51% of humanity is flourishing by the year 2051. As a Founder/CEO he’s raised $25M+, made crowdfunding history, and built and sold two social platforms. As a Philosopher/teacher, he’s helped millions of people from around the world, trained 10,000+ Heroic Coaches from 100+ countries and created a protocol that science says changes lives. He lives in the country outside Austin, Texas, with his wife, Alexandra, and their two kids, Emerson and Eleanor.

As a Founder/CEO, he’s raised $20M+ and built and sold two market-leading social platforms. As a Philosopher, he’s served tens of thousands of people from nearly every country in the world with his Heroic membership and trained over 3,500 people from 90+ countries with his Heroic Coach program—which has been demonstrated through research to change lives.

His YouTube channel has 225,000+ subscribers and 20 million views while his podcast has another 14 million downloads. He was also featured in the documentary Finding Joe on Joseph Campbell and the modern hero’s journey alongside Deepak Chopra, Laird Hamilton, Tony Hawk and the late Sir Ken Robinson.

His podcast Heroic with Brian Johnson, which launched as the #1 podcast on iTunes, has been featured as the #1 Health podcast and has over 15 million downloads.

In March 2021, with the support of 2,500+ Founding Investors from 75+ countries around the world, Heroic Public Benefit Corporation made history as the first company to close a $5M Reg CF equity crowdfunding as part of their $11M Seed round.

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It's great to welcome Dr. Chevy Cook back to the podast! Chevy was on the show for Episode 36, but a lot has happened since that interview. We catch up on him finishing his PhD, serving as the speechwriter for the 25th Secretary of the Army, the Honorable Christine Wormuth, completing the Battalion Commander Assessment Program (BCAP), and taking command as the Battalion Commander of Headquarters Command Battalion at Fort Meade, MD. Chevy also serves as the Executive Director for Military Mentors, a growing non-profit that helps elevate mentoring in the military and beyond.

Chevy also mentioned this book during the interview: The Power of Full Engagement by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz.

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Featured in top media outlets such as Forbes, CNBC, and Fast Company, Juliet Funt is a globally renowned keynote speaker, tough-love advisor to the Fortune 500, founder and CEO of the efficiency training firm, Juliet Funt Group.

Juliet is the author of A Minute to Think, nominated for the Next Big Idea Club curated by Malcolm Gladwell, Dan Pink, Susan Cain and Adam Grant. She is an evangelist for freeing the potential of companies by unburdening their talent from busywork, and she has brought her powerful concepts to Spotify, National Geographic, Anthem, Vans, Abbott, Costco, Pepsi, Nike, Wells Fargo, Sephora, Sysco, and ESPN.

Be sure to follow Juliet on LinkedIn and send her your questions/comments at juliet@julietfunt.com

Thank you for helping us get to 100 episodes!

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After graduating from West Point (where I’m pretty sure Doug was the #1 ranked cadet in our class in physical fitness, which is incredible, but I couldn’t get a straight answer from Doug on that fact), Doug commissioned as an infantry officer, graduated from Ranger School, and then went on to leave at several different levels at home and in combat. Doug was awarded multiple Bronze Star medals, including one for Valor that Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld presented in 2011. In addition to being the Managing Principal for Cushman and Wakefield in Dallas, Doug also leads their Military and Veteran Programs.

As you will see, it’s no surprise that Doug has been trusted with significant leadership responsibilities at such a young age. His mindset is something we can all learn from. We dive into how we has dealt with moments of failure and setbacks, key habits he focuses on for self-leadership, his top leadership principles, and much more.

As a book recommendation, Doug also mentioned Patrick Lencioni's book The Motive.

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It's great to be back after taking a few months off! I'm really excited about all we can learn together in 2023!

Today I have the privilege of sharing my interview with Simone Askew. In 2017, she became the first African American woman to earn the role of First Captain, the leader of the Corps of Cadets at the United States Military Academy at West Point. This is regarded as a major step in racial and gender equality within the United States military. She was also named by Glamour magazine as one of the top 10 College Women of the Year. She is also a Rhodes Scholar. Askew earned a MSc with merit in refugee and forced migration studies from the Refugee Studies Centre and a MPP from the Blavatnik School of Government at University of Oxford. She also recently published her first book, Citizen Skyland, a compelling story of a young black woman finding herself, her courage and her legacy when the world needs it most.

If you'd like to learn more about Military Mentors and their upcoming event, The MMoment III, visit militarymentors.org.

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Download this free 12-page PDF to get 12 key ideas to make you a better leader today.

Cassie Mogilner Holmes is a Professor at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management. Cassie is an expert on time and happiness. Her research examines such questions as how focusing on time (rather than money) increases happiness, how the meaning of happiness changes over the course of one’s lifetime, and how much happiness people enjoy from extraordinary versus ordinary experiences. Across these inquiries, her findings highlight the joy that stems from interpersonal connection and paying attention to the present moment.

Cassie’s academic research on the role of time in cultivating well-being has been published in leading academic journals, including Psychological Science, the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, and the Journal of Consumer Research, and earned her the Early Career Award from both the Association of Consumer Research and the Society of Consumer Psychology. Cassie was identified by Poets & Quants as one of the best 40 business professors under 40, and popular accounts of her research have been featured on NPR and in such publications as The Economist, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, and Scientific American.

Professor Cassie Holmes is the author of Happier Hour: How to Beat Distraction, Expand Your Time, and Focus on What Matters Most, which is based on her wildly popular MBA course, “Applying the Science of Happiness to Life Design.”

Holmes is a faculty affiliate with The UCLA Bedari Kindness Institute, an interdisciplinary organization dedicated to the research, education, and practice of kindness.

Previously, Holmes was a tenured faculty member and award-winning teacher at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. She has a Ph.D. from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, and a B.A. from Columbia.

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Download this free 12-page PDF to get 12 key ideas to make you a better leader today.

Cassie Mogilner Holmes is a Professor at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management. Cassie is an expert on time and happiness. Her research examines such questions as how focusing on time (rather than money) increases happiness, how the meaning of happiness changes over the course of one’s lifetime, and how much happiness people enjoy from extraordinary versus ordinary experiences. Across these inquiries, her findings highlight the joy that stems from interpersonal connection and paying attention to the present moment.

Cassie’s academic research on the role of time in cultivating well-being has been published in leading academic journals, including Psychological Science, the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, and the Journal of Consumer Research, and earned her the Early Career Award from both the Association of Consumer Research and the Society of Consumer Psychology. Cassie was identified by Poets & Quants as one of the best 40 business professors under 40, and popular accounts of her research have been featured on NPR and in such publications as The Economist, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, and Scientific American.

Professor Cassie Holmes is the author of Happier Hour: How to Beat Distraction, Expand Your Time, and Focus on What Matters Most, which is based on her wildly popular MBA course, “Applying the Science of Happiness to Life Design.”

Holmes is a faculty affiliate with The UCLA Bedari Kindness Institute, an interdisciplinary organization dedicated to the research, education, and practice of kindness.

Previously, Holmes was a tenured faculty member and award-winning teacher at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. She has a Ph.D. from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, and a B.A. from Columbia.

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Commander of Special Operations Command of the Afghan National Army Haibatullah Alizai, took over as Afghanistan’s Chief of General Staff (the US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs equivalent) just days before the Taliban made a push into Kabul, after General Wali Mohammad Ahmadzai was removed from the post. 

On this episode, he discusses his perspective on leading during the difficult moments in Afghanistan as the Taliban seized territory and the US troops withdrew from Afghanistan.  He reflects on lessons he learned as a leader and his hopes for the future of Afghanistan.  

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Commander of Special Operations Command of the Afghan National Army Haibatullah Alizai, took over as Afghanistan’s Chief of General Staff (the US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs equivalent) just days before the Taliban made a push into Kabul, after General Wali Mohammad Ahmadzai was removed from the post. 

On this episode, he discusses his perspective on leading during the difficult moments in Afghanistan as the Taliban seized territory and the US troops withdrew from Afghanistan.  He reflects on lessons he learned as a leader and his hopes for the future of Afghanistan.  

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On today's quick hit episode, Cal shares three keys to being a leader that's not about you. 

If you’re interested in growing in your leadership practice and being inspired to think differently and unlock greater personal potential, we want to give you a gift. Just click the link below and tell us where to send you 12 Ideas That Will Make You A Better Leader In 2022.

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On today's quick hit episode, Cal shares three keys to being a leader that's not about you. 

If you’re interested in growing in your leadership practice and being inspired to think differently and unlock greater personal potential, we want to give you a gift. Just click the link below and tell us where to send you 12 Ideas That Will Make You A Better Leader In 2022.

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Ryan Gottfredson, Ph.D. is a cutting-edge mindset author, researcher, and consultant. He helps organizations vertically develop their leaders primarily through a focus on mindsets. He helps improve organizations, leaders, teams, and employees by improving their mindsets. Ryan is currently a leadership and management professor at the College of Business and Economics at California State University-Fullerton (CSUF). He holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior and Human Resources from Indiana University, and a B.A. from Brigham Young University

Ryan is the author of “Success Mindsets: The Key to Unlocking Greater Success in Your Life, Work, & Leadership.” (Morgan James Publishing), and Wall Street Journal and USA Today Best Seller.

He also works with organizations to develop their leaders and improve their culture (collective mindsets). He has worked with top leadership teams at CVS Health (top 130 leaders), Deutsche Telekom (500+ of their top 2,000 leaders), and dozens of other organizations.

As a respected authority and researcher on topics related to leadership, management, and organizational behavior, Ryan has published over 15 articles across a variety of journals including: Journal of Management, Journal of Organizational Behavior, Business Horizons, Journal of Leadership and Organizational Studies, and Journal of Leadership Studies. His research has been cited over 2,000 times since 2014.

Take the Mindset Assessment here: https://s.ryangottfredson.com/mindsetassessment

Take the Vertical Development Assessment here: https://ryangottfredson.com/vertical-development-assessment

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Ryan Gottfredson, Ph.D. is a cutting-edge mindset author, researcher, and consultant. He helps organizations vertically develop their leaders primarily through a focus on mindsets. He helps improve organizations, leaders, teams, and employees by improving their mindsets. Ryan is currently a leadership and management professor at the College of Business and Economics at California State University-Fullerton (CSUF). He holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior and Human Resources from Indiana University, and a B.A. from Brigham Young University

Ryan is the author of “Success Mindsets: The Key to Unlocking Greater Success in Your Life, Work, & Leadership.” (Morgan James Publishing), and Wall Street Journal and USA Today Best Seller.

He also works with organizations to develop their leaders and improve their culture (collective mindsets). He has worked with top leadership teams at CVS Health (top 130 leaders), Deutsche Telekom (500+ of their top 2,000 leaders), and dozens of other organizations.

As a respected authority and researcher on topics related to leadership, management, and organizational behavior, Ryan has published over 15 articles across a variety of journals including: Journal of Management, Journal of Organizational Behavior, Business Horizons, Journal of Leadership and Organizational Studies, and Journal of Leadership Studies. His research has been cited over 2,000 times since 2014.

Take the Mindset Assessment here: https://s.ryangottfredson.com/mindsetassessment

Take the Vertical Development Assessment here: https://ryangottfredson.com/vertical-development-assessment

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Garry Ridge has 25 years of experience as Chairman and CEO of WD-40 Company. He is also an adjunct professor at the University of San Diego, where he teaches the principles and practices of corporate culture in the Master of Science in Executive Leadership program.

Garry’s philosophy on company culture is based on Aristotle’s quote – “Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.” Turning that into action, he believes that all leaders can create a workplace where you go to work each day, make a contribution to something bigger than yourself, learn something new, feel safe, are protected, and are provided freedom by a set of values and go home happy!

He is passionate about the learning and empowering organizational culture he has helped establish at the WD-40 Company. In 2009, he co-authored a book with Ken Blanchard outlining his effective leadership techniques, titled “Helping People Win at Work: A Business Philosophy Called ‘Don’t Mark My Paper, Help Me Get an A.” A native of Australia, Mr. Ridge holds a certificate in Modern Retailing and a Master of Science in Executive Leadership from the University of San Diego.

Learn more about Garry's work at https://thelearningmoment.net

His top book recommendations:

All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten

Infinite Game

To Be Honest

Helping People Win at Work

The Unexpected Learning Moment

Follow Garry on LinkedIn here!

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Would you like to partner with us at Intentional Leader? Consider becoming a monthly supporter on Patreon. Sign up here!

If you’re interested in growing in your leadership practice and being inspired to think differently and unlock greater personal potential, we want to give you a gift. Just click the link below and tell us where to send you 12 Ideas That Will Make You A Better Leader In 2022.

Stephen Drum is a combat-tested Retired Navy SEAL Master Chief with 27 years of experience leading and developing high-performance teams. He recently co-developed and taught “Warrior Toughness” training for The U.S. Navy, which fundamentally changed the culture of the Navy in how it trains and prepares young sailors and officers.

An in-demand speaker and consultant, who helps individuals and organizations develop leadership and performance strategies, so they can plan, prepare, and execute at the highest levels when it matters most. He has trained and led U.S. and foreign partner special operations forces on high-risk and strategically vital missions across the globe, including combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. During his Navy career, Stephen has personally trained thousands of elite military soldiers and Navy SEAL candidates, helping them succeed in severe training courses and overseas combat operations.

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Sign up here to attend the MMoment II on July 23, 2022 in Alexandria, VA!

The MMoment is an intentional, purposeful investment in you by us, your team at Military Mentors, or MM for short (the spelling of the MMoment is a play on our name). Our version of an immersive experience, it is an intense, 1-day experience twice a year for ~50 national security professionals, both civilian and military. The MMoment is not just a conference or set of TED talks, but rather a reflective and interactive experience to inspire transformative leadership.

Sabrina Dalton is the Director of Programs for Military Mentors. Military Mentors mission is to elevate, educate and facilitate mentorship for the military and beyond. In her capacity as the Director of Programs, she oversees the eMMissary Program, a leader development fellowship, and the MMoment, a one-day, intensive leadership conference in the DC area.

Sabrina is a graduate of the University of Colorado, Denver and is currently pursuing a Legal Assistant certificate through the University of Oklahoma Law Center. Most importantly, Sabrina is a military spouse, homeschooler and a mother. She is married to Tyler, a US Space Force Officer, and together they have 3 children that bring light and joy to their lives.

On this episode, we discuss:

• the MMoment II
• the backstory to her joining Military Mentors
• the inspirational leadership of Dr. Chevy Cook (the Executive Director of Military Mentors)
• her decision to be a stay at home mom
• some of the tough (and controversial decisions) that carry guilt and shame as a mom
• some of her key principles for success as a mom

If you want to learn more about Command Sergeant Major (Retired) Bill Thetford (mentioned during this episode), you can read his bio here.

If you’re interested in growing in your leadership practice and being inspired to think differently and unlock greater personal potential, we want to give you a gift. Just click the link below and tell us where to send you 12 Ideas That Will Make You A Better Leader In 2022.

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This episode with Patrick Lencioni is a great segue from the article released by Wes Cochrane last week titled, "Does Your Team Suck at Workplace Conflict?" Read that article here.

Patrick Lencioni is one of the founders and president of The Table Group, a firm dedicated to providing organizations with ideas, products and services that improve teamwork, clarity and employee engagement.

Patrick’s passion for organizations and teams is reflected in his writing, speaking and executive consulting. He is the author of 11 best-selling books, which have sold over 6 million copies and been translated more than 30 languages. His capstone book, The Advantage, is the pre-eminent source on organizational health. After sixteen years in print, his classic book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, remains a weekly fixture on national best-seller lists. Released in 2016, The Ideal Team Playeris a much-anticipated follow-up to his team book and also a Wall Street Journal best-seller.

The wide-spread appeal of Lencioni’s leadership models have yielded a diverse base of speaking and consulting clients, including a mix of Fortune 500 companies, professional sports organizations, the military, non-profits, schools and churches.

Pat addresses thousands of leaders each year at world-class organizations and national conferences. Consistently the top rated keynote speaker at major events, Pat shares his insights and inspires his audiences through his accessibility, humor and story-telling. The Wall Street Journal said he is "one of the most in-demand business speakers." Named in Fortune magazine as one of the ‘ten new gurus you should know,’ Pat and his work have been featured in USA TODAY, Bloomberg Businessweek, and Harvard Business Review, to name a few.

Prior to founding his firm, he worked as a corporate executive for Sybase, Oracle and Bain & Company. Pat lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife and four sons.

Pat is really excited about a brand new concept he and his team are launching this week called the 6 Types of Working Genius. This is an incredible tool that helps you and I identify what we are really good at and those parts of work that make us most frustrated. Pat had me take the assessment and we discuss my results and his results. We also dive into the organizational health movement, how to create what he calls “vulnerability-based trust” on your team, why the right kind of conflict on a team is a sign of health, and much more.

To do The 6 Types of Working Genius Assessment, click here

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Hello my friend! I wanted to share a very short message today…

As many of you know, I’m a lawyer in the Army. And part of being in the Army (at least for what I do), means we move every few years. During the month of June, my family and I will be moving from the area around Fort Bragg, NC to Charlottesville, VA where I’ll be teaching at the Army JAG School.

I’m really excited to get to work the teaching muscle and hopefully be a positive influence on the many Army leaders that flow through the JAG School.

So, if you have any must-do recommendations for Charlottesville or anywhere in Virginia, please let me know! You can shoot me an email to cal@calwalters.me.

At least for the next episode (and perhaps more), I’ll be re-airing some of this show’s most popular episodes starting with my interview with Patrick Lencioni. This episode with Patrick Lencioni is a great segue from the article released by Wes Cochrane last week titled, "Does Your Team Suck at Workplace Conflict?" Read that article here.

Thanks for your patience while we’re packing up and then unpacking, getting utilities setup, and settling into our new community. Thanks for supporting this show, and I’ll be back with some new episodes very soon.

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If you’re interested in growing in your leadership practice and being inspired to think differently and unlock greater personal potential, we want to give you a gift. Just click the link below and tell us where to send you 12 Ideas That Will Make You A Better Leader In 2022.

Sign up to attend the MMoment II!

It will take place on Saturday, July 23, 2022 from 8am-3pm at ALX Community Waterfront, Alexandria, VA

Join us for this intentional, purposeful investment in YOU; an intense and immersive, 1-day experience for ~50 national security professionals, both civilian and military. The MMoment is not just a conference or set of TED talks, but rather a reflective and interactive experience to inspire transformative leadership.

Sign up here!

In 2013, Joe Byerly thought something was missing in his journey to become a better leader. He wanted to create a place where leaders could share their hard-won lessons and help each other along the journey. He started looking in the place where he captured his own lessons, quotes from books, and ideas for the future –his green notebook. Today, From the Green Notebook is run by a team of passionate professionals who want to help others lead with the best version of themselves. Get a copy of Joe's new book, My Green Notebook: Know Thyself Before Changing Jobs.

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We're celebrating 3 years of podcasting!

Thank you to all of you that listen to and support this show!

I want to specifically thank two groups of supporters, our Patreon members and those that have left a rating/review on Apple Pocasts or Spotify. Your support goes a long way!

Want to become a Patron of Intentional Leader? You can support the podcast by donating $1, $2, $5 (or whatever you like!) on Patreon. Sign up here!

Want to help us continue to get great guests and grow this community? Please leave a rating or review on Apple Podcasts here or on Spotify here.

Today I get the mic flipped on me by my good friend Wes Cochrane. Wes joined me on Episode 84 when we interviewed his brother, Graham Cochrane, and as you’ll hear during this conversation, Wes was part of the reason I started this show in the first place.

So why am I doing this unique format today? Well, three main reasons.

First, I’ve had many of you ask when I was going to get behind the mic like I did the first 20+ episodes and share what I’ve been learning.

Second, this is a natural point of transition for me as my family and I are packing up to move in the next month and I’ll be changing jobs. It’s a natural moment of reflection.

And, third, we’re approaching the 3 year anniversary of this podcast starting, and it seemed appropriate to take a moment to celebrate and discuss highlights from the past 3 years.

On this episode, I get a bit vulnerable about some of my struggles over the past few years, some key lessons I’ve learned interviewing 65 or so leaders from all walks of life, I try to define what self-leadership means to me and how it’s different than self-help, I answer some listener questions at the end, and much more. I hope you enjoy this. Let me know what you think please! And whether you want more episodes in this format.

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If you’re interested in growing in your leadership practice and being inspired to think differently and unlock greater personal potential, we want to give you a gift. Just click the link below and tell us where to send you 12 Ideas That Will Make You A Better Leader In 2022.

I'm really excited to have Gino Wickman on the show today!

An entrepreneur since the age of 21, Gino has had an obsession for learning what makes businesses and entrepreneurs thrive.

At 25 he took over the family business, which was deeply in debt and in need of help. After turning the company around and running it for seven years, he and his partners successfully sold the company.

Gino then set out to help entrepreneurs and leaders get what they want from their businesses. Based on his years of real-world
experience, he created the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), a practical method for helping companies achieve greatness.
He has personally delivered more than 1,900 full-day sessions for more than 135 companies, helping them implement EOS. He is
also the author of the award-winning, best-selling book Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business, which has sold over 1 million copies, as well as five other books in the Traction Library that have sold almost 2 million copies.
Gino is the founder of EOS Worldwide, an organization that helps tens of thousands of
businesses implement EOS with the aid of an international team of over 450 professional and certified EOS Implementers and online support. There are over 130,000 companies using the EOS tools worldwide.

Gino is now devoting time and energy toward helping entrepreneurs-in-the-making get a huge jump-start on taking their entrepreneurial leap, which is why he created Entrepreneurial Leap. The mission of Entrepreneurial Leap is to find all of the entrepreneurs-in-the-making, at any age,
wherever they are—to help them realize their purpose and live the life they were
born to live.

Entrepreneurial Leap: Do You Have What It Takes to Become an Entrepreneur? is available for purchase through all major retailers.

• Visit e-leap.com to Take the Free Entrepreneur-in-the-Making Assessment

• Subscribe to the Entrepreneurial Leap YouTube Channel

Other items discussed during the interview:

10 Lessons Gino Learned from His Dad

10 Disciplines to Maximize Your Energy

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If you’re interested in growing in your leadership practice and being inspired to think differently and unlock greater personal potential, we want to give you a gift. Just click the link below and tell us where to send you 12 Ideas That Will Make You A Better Leader In 2022.

Whitney Johnson is CEO of the tech-enabled talent development company Disruption Advisors, an Inc. 5000 fastest-growing private company in America (2020). One of the top ten business thinkers in the world as named by Thinkers50, Whitney is an expert at smart growth leadership. Whitney has worked at FORTUNE 100 companies, and as an award-winning equity analyst on Wall Street. She co-founded the Disruptive Innovation Fund with Harvard Business School’s late Clayton Christensen. She has coached alongside the renowned Marshall Goldsmith, selected by Goldsmith in 2017 as a Top 15 Coach out of a pool of more than 17,000 candidates. Whitney understands how companies work, how investors think, and how the best coaches coach.

An award-winning author, Johnson teaches the S Curve of Learning to managers and companies as both a keynote speaker and a frequent lecturer for Harvard Business School’s Corporate Learning. She is a LinkedIn Top Voice (2020) with 1.8 million followers. Her course Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship has been viewed more than 1 million times.

An innovation and disruption theorist, Whitney is a frequent contributor to Harvard Business Review and MIT Sloan Management Review. Author of the bestselling Build an A Team (a Financial Times Book of the Month), Disrupt Yourself (fittingly described by Publisher’s Weekly as “Savvy . . . often counterintuitive . . . superb”), and Smart Growth. She hosts the weekly Disrupt Yourself podcast with guests including Brené Brown, Adam Grant, Susan Cain, and General Stanley McChrystal.

Whitney was co-founder of the Disruptive Innovation Fund with Clayton Christensen. Her role included fund formation, strategy, and capital raising. They invested and led the $8 million seed round for South Korea’s Coupang ecommerce platform, currently valued at $50 billion.

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If you’re interested in growing in your leadership practice and being inspired to think differently and unlock greater personal potential, we want to give you a gift. Just click the link below and tell us where to send you 12 Ideas That Will Make You A Better Leader In 2022.

Chris Fussell is the President of McChrystal Group, a leadership consulting firm based in Alexandria, Virginia and London, England. He became President in 2018 after joining the firm as Partner in 2012. He left the US Navy in 2012 after serving 15-years as a Navy SEAL Officer.

Chris is the author of 2017 WSJ Best Seller "One Mission: How Leaders Build a Team of Teams", and co-author of 2015 NYT Best Seller "Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World". He is a Senior Fellow at Yale University's Jackson Institute for Global Affairs, a Senior Fellow at New America, a lifetime member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and a member of the board of trustees with the Naval Postgraduate School Foundation.

Chris co-hosts the weekly podcast "No Turning Back" with Stan McChrystal where they interview the world's most consequential leaders.

I mentioned this episode of the Craig Groeschel Leadership podcast about Leading Out of a Crisis.

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If you’re interested in growing in your leadership practice and being inspired to think differently and unlock greater personal potential, we want to give you a gift. Just click the link below and tell us where to send you 12 Ideas That Will Make You A Better Leader In 2022.

Dr. Tim Elmore is founder and CEO of Growing Leaders (www.growingleaders.com), an Atlanta‐based non‐profit organization created to develop emerging leaders. Since founding Growing Leaders in 2003, Elmore has spoken to over 500,000 leaders in businesses, universities, athletic teams and non-profit organizations, including The Home Depot, Coca-Cola Bottling Company Consolidated, American Eagle and Chick-Fil-A as well as the San Francisco Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Ohio State University, Stanford University and the University of Alabama athletics.

His work grew out of twenty years serving alongside Dr. John C. Maxwell where he focused on leadership for the emerging generations. Elmore has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, USA Today, Psychology Today and he’s been featured on CNN’s Headline News and Fox and Friends to talk about leading multiple generations in the marketplace.

Tim was listed in the top 100 leadership speakers in America by Inc. magazine. He has written more than 35 books, including the best-selling Habitudes: Images That Form Leadership Habits and Attitudes. Tim and his wife, Pam, have two adult children, Bethany and Jonathan. He and Pam live outside of Atlanta. You can also find his work at: TimElmore.com

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Sign Up Here to Win a Free Copy of Graham's Book!

Cal Walters and Wes Cochrane interview Graham Cochrane (Wes's older brother) about this new book, "How to Get Paid for What You Know."

Graham Cochrane is a business coach to over 3,500 premium customers worldwide. He founded The Recording Revolution, an online music business that generates 7 figures in revenue, in 2009. He now hosts over 80,000+ monthly followers on his podcast, YouTube channel, and blog, talking about business, mindset, productivity, and psychology. Graham has been featured in Business Insider, Yahoo!, and The Huffington Post.

Even if you have no interest in online business or have never even considered it, stick around to hear this interview because it’s packed with wisdom about life and self-leadership. We dive into how Graham went from living on food stamps to creating his first 7 figure business, The Recording Revolution. We discuss imposter syndrome, something we can all relate to, staying committed to a long term plan and how he remains so consistent, he gives us a critique of the hustle culture that is constantly promoting workaholism, why even after having two 7 figure businesses he has invested a lot of money in a high performance coach, and some keys to self-leadership that he shares at the end.

I highly recommend you get a copy of Graham's book!

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If you’re interested in growing in your leadership practice and being inspired to think differently and unlock greater personal potential, we want to give you a gift. Just click the link below and tell us where to send you 12 Ideas That Will Make You A Better Leader In 2022. Get Mike Bassett's new book, The Man in the Ditch: A Redemption Story for Today

Mike is an Army veteran and a civil litigation attorney who has practiced law for nearly 4 decades. He is the founder of the Bassett Firm, a highly sought-after national speaker, consultant, and mediator. He is also the host of the fantastic Legal Grounds Podcast and the author of amazing book, The Man in the Ditch: A Redemption Story for Today.

Mike Bassett shares with us a very vulnerable and difficult story in his life where he made some poor decisions that completely changed his life, he thought he would go to prison, lose his law license, and his story of navigating that bumpy road, dealing with his shame, and finding redemption on the other side.

Follow Mike on LinkedIn and at https://themanintheditch.com/

If you're interested in writing a book or need help finding your voice online, reach out to the person that helped Mike write his book, Alexandra Davis, at Davis Legal Media.

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Mike Erwin is a man that wears many important hats. He is the Founder and Executive Director of Team Red, White, and Blue (Team RWB)—a non-profit with a mission to enrich the lives of America’s veterans by connecting them to their community through physical and social activity. Team RWB is a growing organization with over 220,000 members.

In addition to leading Team RWB, Mike is the CEO of the Character & Leadership Center and the Co-Founder & President of The Positivity Project—a non-profit organization with the mission to empower America’s youth to build positive relationships. With 425 partner schools, the organization reaches 260,000 children daily.

He is the also the author of Lead Yourself First: Inspiring Leadership through Solitude and his new book, Leadership is a Relationship: How to Put People First in a Digital World.

Mike is also a Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves, assigned to the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he serves as an Assistant Professor in Leadership & Psychology. He also serves as the founding Chairman of the Board for Father Vincent Capodanno High School, outside Fort Bragg, NC.

Mike graduated from West Point in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics. He was commissioned as an Intelligence Officer, serving in three combat tours with the First Cavalry Division and 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne). His service includes deployment to Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004–2005 that involved the Battles of Fallujah and Najaf. Mike also deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2006–2007 and 2009. On those tours, he worked with NATO forces, to include serving as a lead intelligence planner for one of the largest NATO-led combat operation in history. Mike earned two Bronze Star Medals from these tours.

Following his third deployment, Mike attended the University of Michigan from 2009–2011, where he studied positive psychology and leadership under the tutelage of the co-founder of Positive Psychology, Dr. Chris Peterson. He went on to serve as an Assistant Professor in Psychology & Leadership at the U.S. Military Academy from 2011–2014. While assigned to West Point as a Major, Mike served as a lead planner for the Bob McDonald Global Leadership Conference and was the aide-de-camp to the Class of 1951 Chair for the Study of Leadership, held by Jim Collins and then Tom Tierney.

Connect with Mike and follow his awesome work at MikeErwin.net or on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, or Twitter.

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Adrian Perkins is the Mayor of Shreveport, Louisiana. He was born in the Cedar Grove neighborhood of Shreveport, attending Arthur Circle, Youree Drive Middle School, and Captain Shreve High School.

In the wake of 9/11, Adrian Perkins accepted a nomination to the United States Military Academy.  There, he was the captain of the track team and the first African-American graduate elected Class President in West Point's history. Perkins deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan after graduating from West Point.  He achieved the rank of Captain and Company Commander in the United States Army and was awarded the Bronze Star for his service.  After three tours of duty, the Tillman Foundation accepted Perkins into their Tillman Scholar Program, enabling him to attend Harvard Law School, where he was again elected Student Body President.

On April 26, 2018, he announced his candidacy for Mayor of Shreveport, and on December 29th, 2018, Adrian Perkins was installed as the 
56th Mayor of Shreveport.

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Want clarity in life? Create your personal mission statement today! Read our most recent article at Intentional Leader that walks you through the steps to creating your personal mission statement.

Read about creating a personal mission statement here

I’m really excited to bring Ryan Hawk back on the show!

Ryan created The Learning Leader Show in 2015 as a way to follow his curiosity about leadership and excellence with great rigor. It has since been listened to by millions of people in more than 150 countries. Forbes called it, “the most dynamic leadership podcast around.” Inc Magazine said, “it’s one of the 5 podcasts to make you a smarter leader.” Apple named it an “all-time best seller” in 2020.

He’s the author of Welcome to Management: How To Grow From Top Performer To Excellent Leader. Book Authority recently named it to its 100 Best Management Audiobooks of all time (#25). Forbes called it, “the best leadership book of 2020.”

He previously worked in corporate America for 12 years. He started as an entry-level telephonic sales rep and worked his way to manager, director, and ultimately VP of sales for a multi-billion dollar company.

When he’s not recording podcasts or writing books, he tries to help leaders be more effective. Some of the ways he does that: fascinating Leadership Circles, 1:1 advising, and teaching in The Learning Leader Academy. Finally, he regularly delivers keynote speeches on leadership and performance excellence and has spoken all over America and abroad in front of thousands of people.

After a very successful first book, Ryan is out with his brand new book, The Pursuit of Excellence: The Uncommon Behaviors of the World’s Most Productive Achievers!

On this episode, we dive into:

• How his father and grandfather were incredible models of servant leadership
• How he stays so incredibly consistent
• How he stays motivated to do hard things
• What gratitude means to him
• How he and his wife, Miranda, intentionally surround themselves with positive people
• His experiences with writing a book and where that stacks up for him in terms of difficult pursuits
• The meaning of the words “excellence” and “pursuit” to Ryan
• How he intentionally pursues his wife
• The importance of being action oriented
• Why he loves his Leadership Circles

During my conversation with Ryan, I mention Ryan’s interview with his wife Miranda (Episode 375 of the Learning Leader Show). This is one of the most inspiring interviews out there for couples looking to create a supportive relationship. Check it out here!

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Join us on Jan 22, 2022 at the MMoment in the Washington, DC area! Register here.

I’m really excited to welcome Secretary Bob McDonald to the Intentional Leader podcast.

We cover a lot of ground with Bob on this episode. We dig into his upbringing, overcoming a fear of swimming at West Point and how he deals with fear in general, how he thinks we should measure success as a leader, what he was laser-focused on at Proctor & Gamble, how he stays motivated during tough moments, and much more.

Bob served Procter & Gamble for 33 years with the last four as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. During his tenure as CEO of P&G Bob helped to expand the footprint of the company brands such that one billion people became new customers of a company product.

Following his career at P&G, Bob was selected by President Obama in 2014 to head the Department of Veterans Affairs. While at the helm of the VA, Bob was able to help transform the agency into one that truly delivered better care for our Military veterans.

Bob McDonald is the recipient of numerous leadership awards and Honorary Doctorate Degrees that include: Hampden Sydney College, University of Cincinnati, Xavier University, Robert Morris University, and Drexel University. In 2010, the University of Utah Alumni Association named Bob a Distinguished Graduate. The West Point Association of Graduates named McDonald for its admired Distinguished Graduate Award in 2017, recognition provided annually to “West Point graduates whose character, distinguished service and stature draw wholesome comparison to the qualities for which West Point strives.” With that distinction, Bob joins Academy graduates like Gen. Matthew B. Ridgway, Gen. William C. Westmoreland, Gen. Alexander M. Haig Jr., Dr. Buzz Aldrin, Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf, Mr. R. James Nicholson, Gen. Eric K. Shinseki, among others. In 2014, The President of the Republic of Singapore awarded Bob the Public Service Star for his work helping shape Singapore’s development as an international hub connecting global companies with Asian firms and enterprises. Lastly, Bob has received an award as Scout Leader from the Boy Scouts and Far East Council.

Bob McDonald is personally and professionally committed to values-based leadership and to improving the lives of others. He is Chairman of the Board of RallyPoint Networks, Inc.—an online community of active duty military members and Veterans—and serves on the Board of Directors of the Partnership for Public Service, Audia International, Inc., the Association of Graduates of the United States Military Academy, the Boulder Crest Retreat Foundation, and the McCormick Research Institute in Orlando, Florida. Bob and his wife, Diane, are the founders of The McDonald Conference for Leaders of Character at West Point—an annual gathering that brings together the brightest young minds from the best universities around the world and partners them with senior business, nongovernmental organization, and government leaders in a multi-day interactive learning experience.

In July, 2020 Bob became the April and Jay Graham Fellow of the George W. Bush Institute. In this endowed role he serves as a key member of the Bush Institute’s Military Service Initiative team, advocating for post-9/11 Veterans and building awareness for the issues that affect their successful transitions to civilian life including employment, education, and health and wellbeing. In September, 2020 Bob was appointed to the Biden Transition Advisory Board, to ensure a smooth administration transition if Vice President Biden is elected.

Bob McDonald graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in the top 2 percent of the Class of 1975. He served as the Brigade Adjutant for the Corps of Cadets and was recognized by The Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufacturing, and Commerce as the most distinguished graduate in academics, leadership, and physical education. In 1978, Bob earned his MBA from the University of Utah. An Army Veteran, Bob served with the 82nd Airborne Division. He completed Jungle, Arctic, and Desert Warfare training. And he earned the Ranger tab, the Expert Infantryman Badge, and Senior Parachutist wings. Upon leaving military service, then-Captain McDonald was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.

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Please register for the MMoment, a live event by Military Mentors on Saturday, January 22, 2022 in Washington, D.C. Intentional Leader is partnering with Military Mentors to put on this event.

As a former F-15 pilot, Thor has flown over 2,500 missions. He provided escort for the President, protected our nation's borders, and was named the Top Instructor Pilot at the Air Force Flight Training Headquarters, training thousands of pilots for the United States and 25 allied countries around the world. He was the tactical leader of 300 of the most senior combat pilots in the Air Force and he oversaw the execution of a $150M/year flight program.

In 2010, Thor was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer and given about a 15% chance to live. Instead of giving up, Thor decided to give back. He started a youth outreach program in San Antonio that has grown to help more than 15,000 at-risk kids. Their efforts have been featured on every news channel for 100 miles and one national media outlet. In 2012, he was selected out of 62,000 people to receive the Air Education and Training Command National Public Service Award. Thor completed the New Zealand Ironman Triathlon in March of 2015 to commemorate the five-year anniversary of his Stage IV cancer diagnosis and to raise awareness for the rare and deadly cancer that he battled. Thor has also competed in American Ninja Warrior.

For most of 2015, Thor led a team of Afterburner consultants that was embedded in Silicon Valley with one of the top-five largest software companies in the world. While there, Thor supported the successful completion of more than 50 projects created from the CEO’s key strategic objectives.

As Afterburner’s CEO, Thor currently leads a team of more than 70 former fighter pilots, Navy SEALs, and other Special Forces members. For the past two decades, Afterburner has shown corporations around the world how to utilize the same techniques that created leaders and developed elite teams in the high-stakes environment of combat. Over those 20 years, the Afterburner client roster has included 85% of the Fortune 50 Companies and 11 NFL teams. They have offices in Atlanta, Australia, and Brazil.

Thor received his Bachelor’s Degree at the Air Force Academy and is a summa cum laude graduate of the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas. He also sits on the board of several national organizations and is the co-founder of a military support corporation.

In this interview, we discuss:

• His battle with cancer
• The meaning of “survivor’s obligation”
• How he lives his life differently after surviving cancer
• Practical ways all of us can live a more intentional life
• The concept of post-traumatic growth
• His top advice for transitioning veterans,
• His top marriage and parenting advice.

Connect with Thor on LinkedIn.

Learn more about Afterburner at Afterburner.com and by following their LinkedIn page.

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I'm really excited to bring you an interview with Jon Gordon!

Jon Gordon's best-selling books and talks have inspired readers and audiences around the world. His principles have been put to the test by numerous Fortune 500 companies, professional and college sports teams, school districts, hospitals, and non-profits. He is the author of 20 books including 8 best-sellers: The Energy Bus, The Carpenter, Training Camp, You Win in the Locker Room First, The Power of Positive Leadership, The Power of a Positive Team, The Coffee Bean and his latest Stay Positive.

Jon and his tips have been featured on The Today Show, CNN, CNBC, The Golf Channel, Fox and Friends and in numerous magazines and newspapers. His clients include The Los Angeles Dodgers, Campbell’s Soup, Dell, Publix, Southwest Airlines, Miami Heat, The Los Angeles Rams, Snapchat, BB&T Bank, Clemson Football, Northwestern Mutual, West Point Academy and more. Jon is a graduate of Cornell University and holds a Masters in Teaching from Emory University. He and his training/consulting company are passionate about developing positive leaders, organizations and teams.

For full show notes, visit www.calwalters.me

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Zebrina has spent nearly two decades designing impactful and transformative educational experiences for senior executives in the defense sector for the Department of Defense, U.S. military services, and the private sector. As a civilian with no relationship with the military prior to her tenure at an education and research non-profit, the Institute for Defense and Business, she developed a close understanding and appreciation of military leadership and how the military invests in their greatest weapon and asset, their people. After spending her career educating the government and military about business and innovation, she saw value in flipping the script to bring the best in military to the nonmilitary world.

As a former battalion commander and combat veteran, Jason believes that the military experience is part of a larger journey to prepare leaders for a more impactful and meaningful life beyond the military. He has more than 25 years’ experience building, managing, and developing high performance teams, including negotiating policy measures with international partners at NATO Headquarters in Belgium.

Jason is also a Certified Professional Coach, master practitioner for the Energy Leadership Index assessment, and founder of Ordinary Hero Coaching helping military professionals bridge the civil-military cultural gap.

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A legend and leader in the hotel world, Horst Schulze's teachings and vision have reshaped the concepts of service and hospitality across industries.

Mr. Schulze's professional life began more than 65 years ago as a server's assistant in a German resort town. Throughout the years he worked for both Hilton Hotels and Hyatt Hotels Corporation before becoming one of the founding members of The Ritz Carlton Hotel Company in 1983. There Mr. Schulze created the operating and service standards that have become world famous.

During his tenure at The Ritz Carlton, Mr. Schulze served as President and COO responsible for the $2 billion operations worldwide. It was under his leadership that The Ritz Carlton Hotel Company became the first service-based company to be awarded the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award — twice.

In 1991, Mr. Schulze was recognized as "corporate hotelier of the world" by HOTELS magazine. In 1995, he was awarded the Ishikawa Medal for his personal contributions to the quality movement. In 1999, Johnson & Wales University gave him an honorary Doctor of Business Administration degree in Hospitality Management.

Most recently, Mr. Schulze has been honored as a “Leader in Luxury” by Travel Agent magazine and its sister publication Luxury Travel Advisor.

After leaving The Ritz Carlton Hotel Company, Mr. Schulze went on to found The Capella Hotel Group. This luxury hotel company managed some of the most elite properties worldwide, and gave Mr. Schulze the opportunity to further define the luxury hotel industry, receiving countless awards and recognitions.

Today, Mr. Schulze serves on various boards and acts as a consultant across industries. In his book, Excellence Wins: A No-Nonsense Guide to Becoming the Best in a World of Compromise, he captures a lifetime of wisdom on life and leadership.

You can connect with Mr. Schulze on his website - HorstSchulze.com. His book, Excellence Wins, is available wherever books can be purchased. Additional leadership content can be purchased and viewed at NeedToLead.com where the content can be licensed for a larger audience.

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A former general officer in the U.S. Army, Dana Pittard earned the Hero Award for Suicide Prevention from the Matthew Silverman Memorial Foundation in 2017. The following year, Dana Pittard became one of Savoy Magazine's Most Influential Blacks in Corporate America for his leadership in the defense industry as vice president at Allison Defense.

Alongside leading Allison Defense into five straight years of increasing revenue and growth since joining the company in 2015, Dana Pittard took an executive financial management course at the Wharton School of Business and a corporate executive leadership course at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. Previously, he attended Harvard University as a senior fellow for a year. He earned a master's degree from the School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS), and a bachelor's from the United States Military Academy.

He has recently held interviews across national major news networks and is a regular contributor on CNN, Fox News, PBS, CBS, ABC and NPR on race relations, diversity and inclusion, military issues, Middle East policy, ISIS, and veteran’s issues. Pittard has been published and interviewed in the Washington Post, New York Times, LA Times, Wall Street Journal, Foreign Policy Magazine, Military Times, Task & Purpose, Politico, Insider, and many other news outlets.

Dana Pittard has also become known for his writing on military subjects. He coauthored a highly acclaimed book titled “Hunting the Caliphate - America’s War on ISIS” in 2019. He was a contributing author to the book, “By Their Deeds Alone - America’s Combat Commanders on the Art of War.” He also wrote articles such as “The Armor Task Force in Mountainous Terrain,””13th Century Mongol Operational Art,” and “Genghis Khan & 13th Century Airland Battle.”

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Join our first LIVE interview on Tuesday, September 28th at 7:30 pm (ET) with Major General (Ret.) Dana Pittard. We will be broadcasting live on Facebook and YouTube. Join here!

Taylor Justice is the Co-Founder and President of Unite Us, Unite Us standardizes how health and social care providers communicate and track outcomes together. They align all stakeholders from healthcare, government, and the community around a shared goal to improve health. Their proven infrastructure provides both a person-centered care coordination platform and a hands-on community engagement process; they work hand-in-hand with communities to ensure services are seamlessly delivered to the people who need them most. In March 2021, Unite Us raised its largest funding to date, a $150 million Series C round, to value the technology company at more than $1.6 billion.

Taylor began his entrepreneurial journey shortly after he left the military in 2007. He is often evangelizing the need for collaboration technology within most industries. Taylor holds academic allegiance to West Point and Columbia (MBA). He enjoys the company of innovative thinkers and witty minds, has an abnormal obsession with documentaries, and loves reading the histories of successful leaders. Taylor lives in New York City with his wife Meghan.

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Carey Nieuwhof is a best-selling author, leadership expert, podcaster, attorney and non-profit leader. As the host of the top-rated Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast and curator of one of the most widely-read leadership blogs, Carey is uniquely positioned to help leaders thrive in all areas of their life. His content is accessed over 1.5 million times a month.

Carey's 20+ years in leadership are heavily focused on teamwork, leadership in change and personal growth. In his keynotes, he explores the challenges and provides solutions for leaders at all levels of an organization.

His books include Didn't See It Coming: Overcoming the Seven Greatest Challenges That No One Expects But Everyone Experiences, Lasting Impact: 7 Powerful Conversations That Will Help Your Church Grow, Leading Change Without Losing It and Parenting Beyond Your Capacity, co-authored with Reggie Joiner.

His newest book, At Your Best: How to Get Time, Energy & Priorities Working in Your Favor, releases September 2021.

Carey and his wife Toni live north of Toronto, Ontario and have two grown sons. In his spare time, you'll catch him barbecuing on his Big Green Egg, cycling or boating.

For show notes, visit https://calwalters.me/

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As the founder of People Launching, John Fooshee spends his time launching others! He has coached over 300 people into their personal calling and consulted over 150 organizations. John, and his associate Elaine Webb, are also the co-founders of Gospel Enneagram, a spiritual assessment and training initiative.

John is also the Executive Pastor of Oak City Church in Raleigh, NC. He has been a pastor for twenty-five years and has started two churches. He has served in the Acts 29 Network since 2006 as a pastor, trainer of church planting coaches, coached church planters in three countries. He received his coach training from CoachNet in 2008 and has biblical studies degrees from Dallas Theological Seminary and King University.

He has been married to Lindsay for twenty-five years, has four kids and one daughter-in-law.

For show notes, visit https://calwalters.me/

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A retired four-star general, Stan McChrystal is the former commander of US and International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) Afghanistan and the former commander of the nation’s premier military counter-terrorism force, Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). He is best known for developing and implementing a comprehensive counterinsurgency strategy in Afghanistan, and for creating a cohesive counter-terrorism organization that revolutionized the interagency operating culture.

Throughout his military career, Stan commanded a number of elite organizations, including the 75th Ranger Regiment. After 9/11 until his retirement in 2010, he spent more than 6 years deployed to combat in a variety of leadership positions. In June 2009, the President of the United States and the Secretary General of NATO appointed him to be the Commander of US Forces Afghanistan and NATO ISAF. His command included more than 150,000 troops from 45 allied countries. On August 1, 2010 he retired from the US Army.

Stan is a senior fellow at Yale University’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs, where he teaches a course on Leadership. He also sits on the boards of Navistar International Corporation, Siemens Government Technology, and JetBlue Airways. He is a sought-after speaker, giving speeches on leadership to organizations around the country. In 2013, Stan published his memoir, My Share of the Task, which was a New York Times bestseller; and is an author of Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World, which was a New York Times bestseller in 2015. Stan also co-authored Leaders: Myth and Reality, a Wall Street Journal Bestseller based on the epochal Parallel Lives by Plutarch.

A passionate advocate for national service and veterans’ issues, Stan is the Chair of the Board of Service Year Alliance. In this capacity, he advocates for a future in which a year of full-time service—a service year—is a common expectation and opportunity for all young Americans.

Stan is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and the Naval War College. He also completed year-long fellowships at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and the Council on Foreign Relations.

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After graduating from West Point, Sarah Roberts served for five years in the Army. In those five years, Roberts served in Germany where she collaborated with both military and civilian professionals to handle garrison finance. Then, in 2009, she deployed to Iraq for 15 months. There, she helped establish three autonomous Iraqi finance offices while also working with the Iraqi government to improve its banking system.

When Roberts left the Army in 2010, she charged hard into the civilian workforce, much as she had while in uniform. Her unique skillset and accomplishments led her to stints at Amazon, Nordstrom, Team Red, White, & Blue, and Microsoft.

At each stop, Roberts’s work highlighted the important and lasting contributions that Veterans can make in the civilian workforce. She also advocated for her fellow Veterans, leading each of her employers to make better hiring connections with Veterans.

At Amazon, Roberts helped create Veteran-based employment programs and marketing strategies that promoted Amazon as a preferred employer for military transition. During her time with Microsoft, she focused on establishing and improving an internal networking program for Veterans. And at Nordstrom and Team Red, White, & Blue, she championed employment and expanded accessibility opportunities for Veterans.

She is now the head of Military and Veteran Programs for LinkedIn. In this position, she educates and encourages Veterans on using LinkedIn to expand their connections on the site.

On this episode, we covered a lot of ground. We discuss what life was like at West Point as a female cadet, what she learned most from West Point, how she landed her current job at LinkedIn, how she gained over 100,000 followers on LinkedIn, how her view of leadership has changed, some wonderful examples of leadership she witnessed at Microsoft, and much more. During the episode, Sarah also coaches me on my LinkedIn profile!

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For show notes, visit https://calwalters.me/

It is an honor and pleasure to welcome back Lieutenant General (Ret.) Robert Caslen, who recently served as the 29th President of the University of South Carolina. On this episode, General Caslen discusses his time at the University of South Carolina and recent controversy surrounding a speech he made at their graduation ceremony.

General Caslen served 43 years in the United States Army. His military career culminated in 2018 as the 59th Superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Under his direction as Superintendent, West Point was recognized as the number one public college in the Nation by Forbes Magazine and the number one public college by U.S. News and World Report. Through the establishment of Centers of Excellence at West Point, General Caslen connected the operational Army with West Point research and intellectual capital. He refined West Point’s leadership program by making professional ethics a priority and essential part of leadership and character development. He worked tirelessly to expand the diversity of cadets and faculty alike, and he dramatically expanded West Point’s minority and women populations to reflect the demographics of the Army that West Point’s graduates help lead.

Working with the Director of Athletics, he revamped the athletic program, made it self-sustaining, and fielded 25 competitive intercollegiate teams. He created partnerships with the NCAA and Department of Defense to conduct research into preventing and treating concussions and traumatic brain injury that have led to significant improvements in prevention and care. He stood up the Army Cyber Institute to build expertise and Army leaders prepared for the new cyber fight. And, fulfilling a pledge he made soon after becoming Superintendent, he led a sweeping reversal of Army’s football program and developed a culture of excellence through winning with character, culminating in Army defeating Navy in 2016 for the first time in 14 years, and beating both Air Force and Navy in 2017 to win the Commander-in-Chief’s trophy for the first time in 21 years.

Before becoming the West Point Superintendent, General Caslen served as the Chief of the Office of Security Cooperation in Iraq, where he served as the senior military commander in Iraq after the drawdown of U.S. and allied forces in 2011. Caslen held several other notable positions including commanding general of Multi National Division-North during Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Chief of Staff of both the 101st Airborne Division (AASLT) and the 10th Mountain Division, where he also served as the Division’s Chief of Staff during Operation Enduring Freedom. He also has served in combat and overseas deployments in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Joint Task Force Bravo in Honduras, and Operation Uphold Democracy and the United Nations Mission in Haiti.

Connect with Lieutenant General (Ret.) Caslen on his website or follow him on LinkedIn or Twitter

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I’m really excited to bring you this conversation with Dr. Gavin Adams. I first learned about Gavin when he appeared on the Andy Stanley Leadership Podcast to discuss his framework for delegation. Over the past 12 years, Gavin took over a struggling church with around 250 attendees and grew it to over 8,000 weekly attendees. On this episode, we dive into how he was able to turn around an underperforming organization, create a clear vision, and help it get to a better place. Of all the episodes we have done so far, this one has to be at the top in terms of practical takeaways for leaders—things you can begin implementing TODAY to improve your leadership and your organization.

Gavin is a leadership coach and change agent focused on supporting leaders through change, transition, and transformation. In addition to encouraging leaders through Transformation Solutions, he is the lead pastor at Woodstock City Church, a campus location of North Point Ministries. Prior to ministry, Gavin spent over a decade in the marketplace working as a business strategy and marketing consultant.

Over the past 15 years of ministry, Gavin helped plant a church, revitalize a church, pastor a rapidly growing church, lead a mega-church, and serve in a multi-site church. This breadth of experience gives Gavin a fundamental understanding of virtually every leadership challenge.

Gavin has an M.B.A. from Georgia State University and a Masters of Theology and Doctorate of Ministry from Liberty University.

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General (US Army, Ret.) David H. Petraeus is a Partner and Chairman of the KKR Global Institute, which he established in May 2013. He is also a member of the boards of directors of Optiv and FirstStream, a venture investor in more than 15 startups, and engaged in a variety of academic endeavors. Prior to joining KKR, General Petraeus served over 37 years in the U.S. military, culminating his career with six consecutive commands, five of which were in combat, including command of the Surge in Iraq, command of U.S. Central Command, and command of coalition forces in Afghanistan.

Following retirement from the military and after Senate confirmation by a vote of 94-0, he served as Director of the CIA during a period of significant achievements in the global war on terror, the establishment of important Agency digital initiatives, and significant investments in the Agency’s most important asset, its human capital.

General Petraeus graduated with distinction from the U.S. Military Academy, and he is the only person in Army history to be the top graduate of both the demanding U.S. Army Ranger School and the U.S. Army’s Command and General Staff College. He also earned a Ph.D. from Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs.

General Petraeus taught international relations and economics at the U.S. Military Academy in the mid-1980s, he was a Visiting Professor of Public Policy at the Honors College of the City University of New York from 2013 through 2016, and he was for 6 years a Judge Widney Professor at the University of Southern California and a Senior Fellow at Harvard University’s Belfer Center. He is currently a Visiting Fellow at Yale University’s Jackson Institute, Co-Chairman of the Global Advisory Council of the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars, Senior Vice President of the Royal United Services Institute, and a Member of the Trilateral Commission, as well as a member of the boards of the Atlantic Council, the Institute for the Study of War, and over a dozen veterans service organizations.

Over the past 15 years, General Petraeus was named one of America’s 25 Best Leaders by U.S. News and World Report, a runner-up for Time magazine’s Person of the Year, the Daily Telegraph man of the year, a Time 100 selectee, Princeton University’s Madison Medalist, and one of Foreign Policy magazine’s top 100 public intellectuals in three different years. General Petraeus has earned numerous honors, awards, and decorations, including four Defense Distinguished Service Medals, the Bronze Star Medal for Valor, two NATO Meritorious Service Medals, the Combat Action Badge, the Ranger Tab, and Master Parachutist and Air Assault Badges. He has also been decorated by 13 foreign countries and is believed to be the only person who, while in uniform, threw out the first pitch of a World Series game and did the coin toss for a Super Bowl.

On this episode, General Petraeus and I discuss how to find the right mentors, how to cultivate a great mentor/mentee relationship, how to build a highly functioning team, what he looks for in team members, and much more!

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Dee Ann Turner understands the importance of stewarding talent.

A 33-year veteran of Chick-fil-A, Inc, she was selected as the company’s first female officer in 2001 and served as the Vice President, Talent and Vice President, Sustainability. During her long career, she worked closely with Chick-fil-A’s founder, S. Truett Cathy, and other key leaders as an architect of their organizational culture. Additionally, she led Staff Learning and Development, Diversity and Inclusion, and Culture and Engagement, and Talent Management. More recently, Dee Ann launched and led Chick-fil-A’s sustainability function focusing on a strategy to implement sustainable practices at the then $10.5 billion company.

Dee Ann was instrumental in building and growing Chick-fil-A’s well-known culture and talent systems, responsible for selecting thousands of Chick-fil-A franchisees and corporate staff members. Under her leadership, Chick-fil-A enjoyed industry-leading employee engagement scores and became known for selecting the best talent in the hospitality business, maintaining a 95% retention rate for corporate staff and franchisees. She has also mentored and championed hundreds of people to discover their unique vocational callings and build careers they love.

Today, she leads her own organization, Dee Ann Turner & Associates, LLC, focused on writing books and speaking to audiences both virtually and in-person on how to steward extraordinary talent. She's the author of two best-selling books covering the topics of corporate culture, customer service and career success. It’s My Pleasure and its newer version, Bet on Talent, teaches leaders how to find and keep extraordinary talent. Her latest book, Crush Your Career, teaches talent how to be extraordinary. Additionally, Dee Ann serves as Executive in Residence at High Point University teaching students career development skills and serving in the Access to Innovators Program.

Through her books and keynotes, she leverages her experience to help you steward the extraordinary talent entrusted to you, whether you are responsible for creating a remarkable organizational culture or focused on building your own exceptional career. She is a graduate of Clayton State University with a degree in Management. She also completed executive education courses at Emory University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Virginia’s Darden Business School.

She is a 2009 alumnus of the prestigious Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program. Dee Ann has been married to her husband, Ashley for 37 years and they are the parents of three grown sons. She has served numerous non-profit boards in the past including The Kenya Project, Eagle Ranch and Proverbs 31 Ministries. She has also served on the board of advisors for Lubbock Christian University and First Care Clinics. Currently, she serves on the board of advisors for Unconventional Business Network Women and the advisory board for the Pure Hope Foundation. When she is not traveling, she can often be found on her Peloton bike in her home outside of Atlanta or on her stand up paddleboard at Lake Hartwell in northeast Georgia.

On this episode, we cover a lot of ground, including: * The key ingredients to building an incredible culture like they have at Chick-fil-A * How to activate the key elements of culture in your organization * The story behind how Chick-fil-A created their meaningful purpose * The differences between a rules-based culture and a principles-based culture * The story behind “My Pleasure” at Chick-fil-A * How Chick-fil-A keeps such a high level of employee engagement and high retention of talent * After conducting thousands of interviews, how Dee Ann is able to choose the best talent * Commonalities between those that make it through the highly competitive process to become a Chick-fil-A franchisee * The one habit, routine, or ritual that has made the biggest positive difference for Dee Ann * Her top marriage/relationship advice * Her top parenting advice * One leader she really admires * Her top leadership book: Dr. Henry Cloud’s book, Integrity

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The views expressed on this podcast and page are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy, position, or endorsement of the US Army, DoD, or the US Government.

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Brigadier General (BG) James "Pat" Work graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1995 and was commissioned a Lieutenant of Infantry. He currently serves as the Deputy Commanding General for Support of the 82nd Airborne Division.

His initial assignments were rifle platoon leader, and later heavy weapons platoon leader, in 3rd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). He then served as rifle platoon leader and Headquarters and Headquarters Company executive officer in 3d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. Following the Infantry Officers Advanced Course, BG Work commanded Company B, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division. He subsequently served as the S3 Air Operations Officer and commander, Company C, 2d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. Between 2002 and 2005, he deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan six times with 2d Ranger Battalion.

Following the Command and General Staff Officers Course, BG Work reported to 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. He deployed to Iraq with the Red Falcons for 15 months between 2006 to 2007. He then served as Aide de Camp to the 20th Secretary of the Army from 2008 until 2009. In 2010, BG Work deployed to Afghanistan with a Special Operations Task Force, serving in Kabul as the Task Force Commander's liaison officer to Commander, ISAF-Joint Command. In 2011, BG Work took command of 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), leading the battalion in Afghanistan from 2012 to 2013.

BG Work reported to the Joint Staff in 2013, serving with the J3 Directorate's Deputy Director for Regional Operations where he was Orders Branch Chief and SecDef Orders Book Briefer from 2014 to 2015. He commanded 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, from 2016 to 2018, guiding a portion of the coalition adviser effort in Iraq and Operation INHERENT RESOLVE. He served as Executive Officer to the 39th Chief of Staff of the Army from 2018 to 2019, followed by service as the Military Deputy Director for Program Analysis and Evaluation, Army Deputy Chief of Staff, G-8.

BG Work attended Watsonville High School in Watsonville, California. He has been married to the former Mara Leigh Shwedo for 20 years. They have two children, JP (18) and Sally Ann (16). BG Work’s hobbies include reading, enjoying football, and working out. BG Work earned a Master of Public Policy degree from Georgetown University and a Master of Strategic Studies from the Marine Corps War College.

On this episode, we cover a lot of ground. We discuss lessons Brigadier General Work learned from playing football, his views of mission command (an organizational leadership philosophy in the military), how you build competent people, the power of mantras (including many of BG Work’s life and leadership mantras), lessons he’s learned from combat, and much more!

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Today, I’m really excited to have Ben Kotwica join the show for Episode 63! Ben is a West Point graduate, former Apache helicopter pilot, and former NFL coach for the New York Jets, the Washington Football Team, and the Atlanta Falcons.

On this episode he shares with us what makes a really great coach, the difference between the good and great players at the NFL level, his experience with Coach Rex Ryan, and some awesome habits that he has picked up along the way. Please let us know what you think!

Would you like to join a community to help you grow as a leader? Consider joining the Intentional Leader Lab on Facebook. We will help each other solve problems, work through friction points, share resources, and grow as leaders!

For more episodes, visit our website!

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I’m really excited to have Greg McKeown back on the show. If you want to listen to my first interview of him, check out Episode 39. Greg is the author of the new book Effortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most and a previous book, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, which hit The New York Times bestseller list and has sold more than a million copies. Like many of you, that book has had a tremendous impact on me. He is also a speaker and the host of the popular podcast What’s Essential.

Greg McKeown has dedicated his career to discovering why some people and teams break through to the next level—and others don’t.

Greg is the CEO of McKeown Inc. Clients include Adobe, Apple, Google, Facebook, Pixar, Salesforce.com, Symantec, Twitter, VMware and Yahoo!.

His writing has appeared or been covered by The New York Times, Fast Company, Fortune, HuffPost, Politico, and Inc. Magazine. He is among the most popular bloggers for the Harvard Business Review and LinkedIn’s Influencers group: averaging a million views a month.

McKeown has been interviewed on numerous television and radio shows including NPR, NBC, FOX, and as a regular guest on The Steve Harvey Show. Entrepreneur voted his interview at Stanford University the #1 Must-See Video on Business, Creativity and Success.

Essentialism was voted by Goodread as the #1 Leadership and Success Book to Read in a Lifetime.

McKeown is an accomplished public speaker. He has spoken to hundreds of audiences around the world including in Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, China, England, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan and Singapore.

Highlights include speaking at SXSW, interviewing Al Gore at the Annual Conference of the World Economic Forum in Davos Switzerland and receiving a personal invitation from Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway, to speak to his Annual Innovation Conference.

McKeown challenges conventional wisdom in a unique and engaging style from the first moment to the last instant. As the event organizer at Greater Public said after McKeown addressed their 1,000-person conference, “I have been part of this event for 16 years and McKeown is the best speaker we have ever had!”

McKeown is an active Social Innovator. Serving as a Board Member for Washington D.C. policy group Resolve and as a mentor with 2 Seeds, a non-profit incubator for agricultural projects in Africa. He has also been a speaker at non-profit groups including The Kauffman Fellows, Net Impact and Stanford University: he recently gave back to Stanford University by co-creating a popular class called, Designing Life, Essentially.

He serves as a Young Global Leader for the World Economic Forum. He recently moderated a session at the “Summer Davos” in China called, “Unpacking Social Innovation Models for Maximum Impact”, served as a panelist at the “Sharpening Your Creative Edge” working session at the Forum.

Prior to this, McKeown collaborated in the research and writing of Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter and worked for Heidrick & Struggles’ Global Leadership Practice assessing senior executives.

Originally from London, England, McKeown now lives in California with his wife, Anna, and their four children. He did his graduate work at Stanford University.

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It’s truly an honor to bring General (Ret.) Joseph Votel on the Intentional Leader podcast for episode 61. On this episode, he gives us a masterclass on personal management and organizational leadership.

General Votel currently serves as President and CEO of Business Executives for National Security (BENS) – a national, nonprofit composed of senior business and industry executives who volunteer their time and expertise to assist the U.S. national security community.

He retired in 2019 after 39 years of military service. His last assignment was as the commander of United States Central Command (CENTCOM) from March 2016 to March 2019. As CENTCOM commander, Votel oversaw the United States' continued War on Terrorism in the Middle East, particularly the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve's fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant terror organization, which rose to prominence in 2014. General Votel officially retired on March 28, 2019, five days after the decisive Battle of Baghuz Fawqani, which saw the territorial collapse of the Islamic State in Syria. Before that, he served as commander of the United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM).

Votel's initial assignments were to the 3rd Infantry Division in Germany, where he served as a rifle platoon leader, executive officer, battalion adjutant, and rifle company commander. Following this tour, he was assigned to Headquarters, Allied Forces Southern Europe – Naples, Italy, and the NATO Peace Implementation Force (IFOR) in Sarajevo. He commanded the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry (Light) at Fort Drum, New York, and afterward, he commanded the 1st Ranger Battalion. Later he commanded the 75th Ranger Regiment, during Operation Enduring Freedom. On 19 October 2001, Votel led 200 Rangers from 3rd Battalion, who parachuted towards an airfield south of Kandahar in an operation known as Operation Rhino and attacked several Taliban targets.

As a general officer, Votel served in the Pentagon as the Director of the Army and Joint Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Defeat Task Force and subsequently as the Deputy Director of the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization established under the Deputy Secretary of Defense. He also served as the Deputy Commanding General (Operations), 82nd Airborne Division / CJTF-82, Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan, and was subsequently assigned as the Deputy Commanding General of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). He next served as the Commanding General of the Joint Special Operations Command.

On this episode, we cover a lot of ground. We discuss the leaders he admires the most, some of the most important leadership lessons he learned from working with Secretary Jim Mattis, General (Ret.) Stanley McChrystal, and Admiral (Ret.) William McRaven, what he most looks for when hiring someone to join his team or organization, what is most unique about the Special Operations community that he has worked in for so long, how he stayed sharp over his 40 year career, and a lightning round of questions at the end.

For more episodes, visit https://calwalters.me/

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My dear friend, Rajiv Srinivasan, is back by popular demand after inspiring all of us to read more on Episode 23. Rajiv is a Global Client Director at LinkedIn and the Chief Reading Officer at 99pages, which we get into on this episode.

Rajiv was on the Dean’s List at West Point and graduated in the Top 5% of his class in 2008. He also earned an MS in Applied Mathematics from Columbia University and his MBA from Wharton. His amazing wife Chelsea is also a Wharton graduate.

After graduating from West Point in 2008, Rajiv deployed to Afghanistan as a platoon leader. In Afghanistan, Rajiv did over 300 combat patrols and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and received the Combat Action Badge. Rajiv transitioned out of the military in 2013 and moved to Silicon Valley, where he was part of the Founding Team at Morta Security, a cyber security company that was acquired by Palo Alto Networks in 2013.

After Morta was acquired, Rajiv became a Enterprise & SLED Account Manager at MobileIron. In 2016, Rajiv became a Global Account Manager at VMWare.

Rajiv is also an Eagle Scout, avid snow skier (you’ll hear him talk about a scary incident he had in Lake Tahoe), musician (he plays guitar, ukulele, piano, and is a vocalist), he has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, has completed the NYC Marathon, the Marine Corps Marathon, and the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon. Rajiv has also been a contributor for the New York Times and TIME on military and veteran issues.

Rajiv is someone that has inspired me ever since we met at West Point in 2005. In this interview, we dive into what Rajiv has been reading, his motivation for starting 99pages and what it is all about, his views on leadership, and we finish with a fun lightning round of questions. I really enjoyed this conversation, just like every conversation I have with Rajiv, and I think you will, too.

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John L. Gronski, Major General (U.S. Army Retired) is founder and CEO of Leader Grove LLC, a keynote speaker, leadership seminar facilitator, executive coach, author, and director of the leadership academy for student-athletes at Lebanon Valley College. John is a Certified DISC Practitioner and he serves on the Academic Advisory Council for Penn State Great Valley School of Graduate Professional Studies.

John has earned a superb reputation as a leadership and peak performance expert, a motivational storyteller, and a much sought-after speaker and leadership seminar facilitator. His presentations feature inspirational stories and wisdom gained from his own leadership experience and the experience of others.

John has provided leadership assessments, training and/or keynote addresses to many large organizations and companies including NATO, General Dynamics, Nutanix, PNC Bank, the United States Army, the National Conference on Ethics in America at West Point, Pennsylvania National Guard, Greater Philadelphia Veterans Network, PECO Energy, Exelon, Comcast, the YMCA, the Freedom Alliance, Penn State University, Drexel University, Widener University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburgh, Wilkes University, Lebanon Valley College, Albert Einstein Health Network, Buckman’s Inc., Delaware Valley Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, Schlouch Inc., Boy Scouts of America, Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce, the Kulski Foundation, the USO, Rotary International, VFW, and the Young Presidents Organization.

John is the author of the inspirational leadership book, “The Ride of Our Lives – Lessons on Life, Leadership, and Love”. The book tells the inspiring story about a family on a transformational journey as they bicycled across the USA.

For full show notes, visit calwalters.me.

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Today’s episode is very special. According to the Department of Veteran’s Affair, 20 veterans a day commit suicide. Mental health doesn’t just affect veterans. It is an epidemic, and my guest today, Adam Carr, has dedicated his life to helping returning warriors find a better path. Adam is the Executive Director of Save a Warrior. Save A Warrior is an original, Warrior-led, well-grounded and timeless journey for active duty military, returning veterans and first responders who feel desperately alone. They say: “give us a week and you will change the way you see - and live - your life.”

As a Special Forces Green Beret, Adam hunted Al Qaeda operatives, developed intelligence networks, conducted diplomatic relations, and briefed Ambassadors and Generals on Geopolitical environments. Through his many years of service, Adam has been profoundly affected over the loss of his teammates, mentors, and close friends to suicide. He currently speaks to students, corporations, and a wide variety of audiences all over the country. He has over 20 years of leadership and managerial experience and is a Business Coach for MBA Students at The Ohio State University. Adam is a graduate of the Ignite Program at Stanford Graduate School of Business. Adam earned his MBA at The Ohio State University's Fisher College of Business and was selected as the Most Outstanding Student of his 2019 MBA Cohort. Adam lives in Dublin, OH with his wife Tarah and their three children, Noah, Jonah, and Norah.

On this episode, we dive into Adam’s story of struggle after transitioning out of the military and how he came to discover Save a Warrior. We talk about the transformative approach Adam and his team take to change the lives of warriors and first responders through their retreats and pull out some of the practical tools that all of us can use to become more resilient and healthy leaders. We also discuss the power of vulnerability and community.

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The definition of hope is “to expect with confidence,” but what do you do when you’ve lost confidence in everything? When you’ve watched your dreams go up in smoke? When you feel isolated from those you love and you start to question the God you’ve built your life around?

How do you find confidence when all the things you had confidence in lay shattered all around you?

Blindness became Major Scotty Smiley’s journey of supreme testing. As he lay helpless in the hospital, he resented the theft of his dreams—becoming a CEO, a Delta Force operator, or a four-star general. With his wife Tiffany’s love and the support of his family and friends, Scotty’s response became God’s transforming moment.

Scotty Smiley is from from Pasco, a small city in Washington State. After high school he attended the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York. After four great years, he graduated and moved to Fort Benning, Georgia and attended Infantry Officer Basic Course and Ranger School. Soon after he moved to Fort Lewis, Washington where he led a 45 man Platoon.

In 2005 while leading his Platoon in Mosul, Iraq, Scotty found himself in front of a suicide car bomb. After the man blew himself up, shrapnel blew through Scotty’s eyes leaving him blinded and temporarily paralyzed, he woke up in Walter Reed Army Medical Center a week later. Though questioning his faith, Scotty made a decision to forgive and rebuild his life and continue to serve in the Army, becoming the first blind active-duty officer in military history.

The Army Times named Scotty “Soldier of the Year” in 2007 and in 2008 he won an ESPY as the world’s Best Outdoor Athlete. After receiving a Master of Business Administration from Duke University, Scotty taught the core course in leadership at West Point and then commanded the Warrior Transition Unit at West Point’s Keller Army Medical Center. Scotty is a recipient of the Army’s prestigious MacArthur Leadership Award and holds an honorary PhD from Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, NY. In 2010, Scotty received a Father of the Year award in New York and in 2011 received the Christopher Award for all he has given and continues to give.

Since then, Scotty attended the Maneuver Captain Career Course in Fort Benning, Georgia, and then moved to Spokane, Washington where he held a position with the Gonzaga University ROTC Department, teaching and mentoring America’s future leaders.

After many years of service, Scotty retired from the military in 2015. Over his military career Major (Retired) Smiley received a Bronze Star and Purple Heart; Combat Infantry Badge, Ranger Tab, Airborne Wings and Combat Diver Qualification Badge.

He currently works with the capital markets department at Drexel Hamilton out of New York as an investment banker for corporations and banks around the world.

With a passion for using his story to build hope in this world, Scotty authored Hope Unseen in 2010 and now travels all over the country speaking and sharing his message of perseverance, courage and hope.

He is an avid adventurer and has completed the Coeur d’Alene Iron Man, climbed Mt Rainer, gone skydiving, surfing and is always looking for his next chance to try something new.

Scotty is married to his high school sweetheart, Tiffany and the couple lives in Spokane and are the proud parents of three wonderful children.

For show notes, visit calwalters.me.

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Trudy Bourgeois is one of America's leading experts on transformational leadership and a highly regarded leader in the field of leadership and diversity and inclusion. An expert at developing managers and leaders on how to unleash the greatest potential of every employee, Bourgeois is a highly sought-out resource. She is the founder and CEO of the Center for Workforce Excellence and has been leading the organization for nearly two decades.

Dollars and Sense Magazine honored Bourgeois as one of the "Best and Brightest Women Leaders”. In her various roles as author, speaker, teacher and researcher, Bourgeois continues to utilize her superb management and interpersonal skills. Known as the “truth teller”, Bourgeois has a rare ability to tackle very difficult subjects such as race and bias without triggering negative emotions. She operates from a principle that “everyone has something to learn” on the journey to accepting each other across differences and building workplaces that are truly inclusive.

Trudy has authored four leadership books, HER CORNER OFFICE: A Guide to Help Women Find a Place and a Voice in Corporate America and Her Corner Office (2nd Edition) and THE HYBRID LEADER: Blending the Best of Male and Female Leadership Styles, and has just released her latest book entitled, EQUALITY: Courageous Conversations About Women, Men, and Race To Spark a Diversity and Inclusion Breakthrough available now. She has also written numerous articles and white papers, and she contributes regularly to educational materials for corporations, associations and trade groups. She is a frequent Huffington Post blogger.

Trudy serves on a CEO Roundtable Board in Europe in the Consumer Package Goods industry as an advisor to drive gender equality over the next decade in conjunction with the nonprofit group- LEAD. Trudy is also on the board of advisors of two nonprofit organizations - Women of Color in Pharma and Conscious Capitalism. These organizations are focused on closing the gender and representation gaps. She also serves on the Advisory Board for Conscious Capitalism. Trudy has served as an advisor to the creation of multiple studies produced by CTI including the “Being Black in Corporate America: An Intersectional Exploration” research study.

She is the consultant of record to design the 2020 Executive Leadership Council’s Game Changer Conference and advancing Black leaders initiative. In 2016 The Network of Executive Women honored Bourgeois for her tireless efforts in advancing women’s leadership in the consumer goods, retail and service industries. She will be married to her husband (Mike) for 40 years this year and is the mother of Adam and MaryEllen. The family embraced Ryan Brence as their son in law in 2017. MaryEllen and Ryan blessed the family on March 8 with the birth of Grace Elizabeth Brence. Trudy resides in Prosper Texas.

During this conversation, we discuss what life was like for her as an elementary school student in Alabama during school integration, how she overcomes self-doubt, the importance of affirmations, how she started the Center for Workforce Excellence, coaching, leadership, how to create a diverse and inclusive team, and much more.

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General (Ret.) David H. Petraeus served over 37 years in the U.S. military, culminating his career with six consecutive commands, five of which were in combat, including command of the Surge in Iraq, command of U.S. Central Command, and command of coalition forces in Afghanistan. Following retirement from the military and a unanimous confirmation vote in the Senate, he served as Director of the CIA.

General Petraeus graduated with distinction from the West Point, and, get this, he is the only person in Army history to be the top graduate of both the demanding U.S. Army Ranger School and the U.S. Army’s Command and General Staff College. He also earned a Ph.D. from Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs.

General Petraeus was named one of America’s 25 Best Leaders by U.S. News and World Report, a runner-up for Time magazine’s Person of the Year, the Daily Telegraph man of the year, a Time 100 selectee, Princeton University’s Madison Medalist, and one of Foreign Policy magazine’s top 100 public intellectuals in three different years.

General Petraeus hasn’t slowed down in retirement. He now serves as a Partner and Chairman of the KKR Global Institute. He is also a member of the boards of directors of Optiv and FirstStream, a venture investor in more than 15 startups, and engaged in a variety of academic endeavors.

On this episode, General Petraeus was very kind to let me explore what life was like for him growing up and how his parents shaped him. We also discuss how he met his wife, what it’s like to be a grandparent, his time at West Point, Ranger School, his impressions of President Bush, President Obama, and President-elect Biden, the role of mentors in his life, and much more.

For show notes, visit https://www.calwalters.me/

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Today, I’m super pumped to bring you an interview on goal setting I did with the first person to ever introduce me to the concept of high performance at West Point, Dr. Joe Ross (Retired, US Army). Joe has a Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Walden University and a Masters of Education in Psychology and Athletic Counseling from Springfield College.

Dr. Ross is also a 1995 West Point graduate, where he was a three-year letter winner and co-captain of the 1994 Army Football team. As an Infantry Officer, Joe led 144 soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division and deployed to Kosovo in 2001. The Secretary of the Army commended Joe’s unit for capturing two insurgents on the Central Intelligence Agency’s (CIA) top ten most wanted list and bringing the Serbian and Albanian leadership together to start a dialogue of reconciliation. Joe also managed all logistics for over 1,000 personnel, directed human resources for over 4,000 personnel, and helped write the Soldier’s Creed.

In 2009, Joe joined the Army Football coaching staff as the Special Teams and Fullback Coach, where he helped lead Army Football to the 2010 Armed Forces Bowl victory. At West Point, Joe also served as the Director of the Military Enhancement Program and was asked to collaborate on a Presidential committee to review and design procedures for wounded warriors in transition.

Joe is now the President and Co-Founder of HigherEchelon, Inc., an Organizational Performance consulting firm with offerings in leadership, technology, and engineering to both public and private sector clients. Joe has consulted with Fortune 100 companies, college and professional sports teams, top tier Universities, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Defense. Joe led the creation of Higher Echelon’s flagship program, The Resilient and Adaptable Leader ©.

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Today, I’m really excited to share my conversation with Josh Bowen, Founder of 3x5 Leadership, an incredible platform for leadership development.  As you will see during our conversation, Josh is genuinely passionate about making people and organizations better through leader development.  His website has had over 330,000 visits and impacts over 8,000 leaders on a consistent basis.  Josh is a graduate of West Point and earned his Masters in Organizational Psychology and Leadership from Columbia University.   He is member of the 2020 DoD Reads Board of Advisors and a co-host of the DoDReads podcast.  He’s also a husband, father, and active duty Army Officer. 

On this episode we discuss his passion for leadership development, how 3x5 Leadership started from humble beginnings, his process for reflection and capturing lessons, some of his crucible leadership moments, feedback, his favorite books and much more.  For show notes, go to calwalters.me, where you will find links to the books he mentions and the 3x5 leadership material we discuss during this episode. 

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Today, I’m very excited to share a special conversation I had with my pastor, Chris Atwell.  Chris Atwell is the Lead Pastor of Vision and Instruction at Portico Church in Charlottesville, Virginia, which he planted in 2004. Chris is also an area leader in Acts 29’s U.S. North Atlantic Network. He serves as the Dean of Students at Grimké Seminary. Chris is married to Jenn, and they have three daughters.

This is my first time sitting down with a pastor or religious leader on this show, but it was really special for me.  No matter what your faith background, I hope you’ll enjoy this conversation about a faith that has really had a big impact on my life and worldview.

Chris gets quite vulnerable with us and shares his battle with cancer, how he dealt with suffering, his perspective on leadership in the non-profit space, and his views on peacemaking—something that is always relevant but certainly relevant right now in the US. 

For show notes, visit calwalters.me 

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Today, I am so privileged and honored to bring you insights from two great leadership minds, Lieutenant General (Ret.) Robert Caslen, who currently serves as the 29th President of the University of South Carolina, and Dr. Mike Matthews, Professor of Engineering Psychology at the United States Military Academy. President Caslen and Dr. Matthews bring over 80 years of combined experience to their brand new book, The Character Edge: Leading and Winning with Integrity.

This was such a fun conversation for me. The amount of collective wisdom and knowledge between these two men is amazing. We talk about their book, how someone can develop character and recover from setbacks, the difference between resume and eulogy virtues, the first servant leader President Caslen encountered, positive psychology, my results from the Values-in-Action Inventory of Strengths (VIA-IS), the work Dr. Matthews did with Angela Duckworth on grit, Coach Popovich, and the amazing example of 1LT Daniel Hyde.

For show notes, visit https://www.calwalters.me/

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Cheryl A. Bachelder is a passionate restaurant industry executive and former CEO of Popeyes® Louisiana Kitchen, Inc. Cheryl is known for her crisp strategic thinking, franchisee-focused approach, superior financial performance and the development of outstanding leaders and teams.

Cheryl joined Popeyes, Louisiana Kitchen, Inc., in November 2007, after serving as an active member of the Board for a year. She brought more than 35 years of experience in brand building, operations, and public-company management at companies like Yum Brands, Domino’s Pizza, RJR Nabisco, The Gillette Company, and The Procter & Gamble Company.

At Popeyes, Cheryl promptly established a Road Map for Results. This strategic framework led to market share gains of eight points, improved guest ratings, and increased restaurant margins (400 basis points in seven years). The improvement in restaurant performance led franchisees to remodel the system and accelerate new unit growth both in the U.S. and abroad. In eight years, the enterprise market cap grew from less than $300 million to over $1.3 billion. At fiscal year-end 2015, Popeyes’ system-wide revenues were $3.1 billion. These revenues were generated by over 2,539 restaurants operated by 360 franchisees and more than 60,000 restaurant employees in the United States, three territories, and 27 foreign countries.

Ms. Bachelder created a culture based on the Popeyes Purpose: to inspire servant leaders to achieve superior results. This purpose was expressed in the six principles of how they worked together. The Popeyes team focus was to serve the franchise owners well; together they pursued a bold ambition for the enterprise. This produced exceptional performance results. In March 2015, Ms. Bachelder published a book chronicling the tenets of the Popeyes turnaround, entitled Dare to Serve, Second Edition – How to drive superior results by serving others.

Ms. Bachelder has served on the board of directors for Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Inc., since 2006; board of directors for Pier 1 Imports, Inc., since 2012; the advisory board of Agile Pursuits Franchising, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Procter & Gamble, since 2009; and the International Franchise Association since February 2015. She also served on the board of directors for True Value Company from 2007 – 2012 and on the board of the National Restaurant Association May 2009 – 2012. In November 2014, Cheryl was certified as an NACD Board Leadership Fellow.

Prior to serving as Popeyes CEO, Ms. Bachelder revitalized brand performance in both retail and consumer goods companies. She was president and chief concept officer for KFC Corporate (2001-2003), creating growth plans for the U.S. business in collaboration with the franchise owners. From 1995 – 2000, Ms. Bachelder served as vice president of marketing and product development for Domino’s Pizza, Inc. She was the brand architect responsible for contemporizing the restaurant chain’s image and launching the innovative Heatwave bag which improved product quality and drove strong same-store sales growth for five consecutive years across 5,400 units. Prior to her restaurant experience, Ms. Bachelder served as general manager of the LifeSavers Division of RJR Nabisco. Her early career years included brand management roles at The Gillette Company and The Procter & Gamble Company.

In September 2015, Cheryl was awarded The Norman Brinker Award from Nation’s Restaurant News. She has been profiled in the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times, and was named by CNBC’s Jim Cramer as one of his “21 Bankable CEOs” for 2014. In 2012, she was recognized as “Leader of the Year” by the Women’s Foodservice Forum, and received the Silver Plate Award from the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association.

Ms. Bachelder holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, and a Masters of Business Administration in Finance and Marketing, from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. She has been married for over 35 years to Chris Bachelder and they have three grown daughters.

On this episode, we discuss her incredible father, Daddy Max, her family’s dinner conversations that contributed to her and all of her siblings being CEOs, the impact of her faith on her leadership, her journey being a female executive, how she integrated life as a business leader with family, how she turned Popeyes around by leading differently, and much more.

Visit https://www.calwalters.me/ for show notes.

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Patrick Lencioni is founder and president of The Table Group, a firm dedicated to providing organizations with ideas, products and services that improve teamwork, clarity and employee engagement.

Lencioni’s passion for organizations and teams is reflected in his writing, speaking and executive consulting. He is the author of 11 best-selling books, which have sold over 6 million copies and been translated more than 30 languages. His capstone book, The Advantage, is the pre-eminent source on organizational health. After sixteen years in print, his classic book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, remains a weekly fixture on national best-seller lists. Released in 2016, The Ideal Team Playeris a much-anticipated follow-up to his team book and also a Wall Street Journal best-seller.

The wide-spread appeal of Lencioni’s leadership models have yielded a diverse base of speaking and consulting clients, including a mix of Fortune 500 companies, professional sports organizations, the military, non-profits, schools and churches.

Pat addresses thousands of leaders each year at world-class organizations and national conferences. Consistently the top rated keynote speaker at major events, Pat shares his insights and inspires his audiences through his accessibility, humor and story-telling. The Wall Street Journal said he is "one of the most in-demand business speakers." Named in Fortune magazine as one of the ‘ten new gurus you should know,’ Pat and his work have been featured in USA TODAY, Bloomberg Businessweek, and Harvard Business Review, to name a few.

Prior to founding his firm, he worked as a corporate executive for Sybase, Oracle and Bain & Company. Pat lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife and four sons.

Pat is really excited about a brand new concept he and his team are launching this week called the 6 Types of Working Genius. This is an incredible tool that helps you and I identify what we are really good at and those parts of work that make us most frustrated. Pat had me take the assessment and we discuss my results and his results. We also dive into the organizational health movement, how to create what he calls “vulnerability-based trust” on your team, why the right kind of conflict on a team is a sign of health, and much more.

Show notes at www.calwalters.me.

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Justin Whitmel Earley is a father of four sons, a mergers & acquisitions lawyer, a husband to Lauren and citizen of Richmond, VA. All the while, he’s trying to figure out how to live a life of love in an age of chaos. By that he just means that while his whole life he has wanted to live for an outward purpose, he has also struggled his whole life with his own tendency towards inward disorder, and the habits of a culture that seem to exacerbate those tendencies.
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The Common Rule is born out of his own struggle with that. He is a former non-profit worker in China who suffered an anxiety collapse in the middle of becoming a father and a lawyer. At the time he was living with a lot of hopes and dreams about what he could do, but his day to day life was absolute chaos. It was in his crash that he realized that his hopes and dreams were not enough - he needed a reformation of everyday habits. He needed a set of guardrails that could save him from myself, and keep him pointed at his vision.

It was in the wake of that dark phase of life that friends and family helped him get on a healthy routine of daily and weekly rhythms which not only saved his life, but unexpectedly introduced him to a whole new way of life. The Common Rule is a version of those daily and weekly practices.

​His effort now is to offer the hope and joy that he’s found to the epidemic of anxiety, depression and overwork of so many well-intentioned people. It is a communal way of forming your life in the love of God & neighbor, amidst a culture beset by individualism and consumerism.

​Whether you're an office worker trying to figure out how to make it, a stay-at-home parent trying to figure out how to stay sane, a church trying to figure out how to be missional in America, or an organization wanting to reform its work culture, Justin has something to say to you. He would love to share with you the way the most ordinary habits of love can create extraordinary lives of light

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Jason B.A. Van Camp is what Malcolm Gladwell would refer to as an Outlier; an exceptional person who is successful not just because of his personal accomplishments but his will to win and unique ability and willingness to unlock the potential of others. A decorated Green Beret, world traveler, and loyal friend, Jason has mastered the art of storytelling that reflects many of his own life adventures. Jason is honored to be the Founder and Chairman of Mission Six Zero. Jason was born in Washington D.C. and raised across the Potomac River in Springfield, Virginia. In 1995, Jason was accepted to the United States Military Academy at West Point. While at West Point, Jason played Linebacker for the Army Black Knights football team, served a two year LDS-Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints mission to Russia, and, upon graduation, won the prestigious General Loeffke Award for Excellence in Foreign Languages.

After graduating from West Point, Jason volunteered to attend U.S. Army Ranger School in Fort Benning, GA where he earned his Ranger tab (2002). Jason then began a one year tour to Korea serving a few miles from the Demilitarized zone (DMZ) between South and North Korea. Immediately after serving in Korea, Jason was deployed with the 101st Airborne Division in the invasion of Iraq (2003). In 2006, Jason won the coveted Green Beret and began serving as a Detachment Commander with 10th Special Forces Group in Fort Carson, Colorado.

As a Detachment Commander, Jason led his team on close to 300 combat missions to kill/capture high value targets as well as created and commanded one of the largest Foreign Internal Defense Force in U.S. history, training nearly 4000 Iraqi and Kurdish soldiers in hand to hand combat, raid and patrolling techniques, unconventional warfare and personal security detail tactics as well as deploying these forces on the battlefield.

During his 14 years in the U.S. Army, Jason has won numerous awards, notably the Bronze Star with V device for Valor as well as two additional Bronze Stars during numerous combat rotations as a Special Forces Detachment Commander in the Middle East and Africa.

In 2013, Jason earned his MBA from Brigham Young University and it was there that he developed a passion for entrepreneurship. Jason believes in servant leadership, the art of determination, and the power of storytelling. This philosophy has served him well in his life and has made him an experienced speaker and proponent of Mission Six Zero’s Total Warrior model.

Jason is passionate about his experiences and his stories resonate with any audience; students, athletes, businesspersons that wants to be “passionate about passion.” Jason is married to his wife, Elizabeth, and they have a daughter, Claire Jane, and a son, Jack.

Jason also enjoys traveling, the history of the Roman Empire, the study of religion, supporting DC professional sports teams, and helping veterans through his non-profit organization, Warrior Rising.

For show notes, visit calwalters.me

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Susan Packard is co-founder of Scripps Networks Interactive (NYSE: SNI) and former Chief Operating Officer of HGTV. She was the 2nd employee of SNI and helped to build the company to a market value of over $15 billion.

SNI’s media portfolio includes popular lifestyle television brands HGTV, Food Network, DIY Network, Cooking Channel, country music network Great American Country (GAC) and the Travel Channel. Packard held a variety of senior positions during her tenure at SNI. In addition to being COO of HGTV, she created and served as president of Scripps Networks New Ventures, where she oversaw the development and launch of DIY Network, and online interactive platforms. She was also president of worldwide distribution for the Scripps cable brands.

She began her cable career at HBO, then moved to NBC and was part of the start-up team for CNBC. In 1994 she joined HGTV and became Chief Operating Officer in 1995. Under Packard’s helm, HGTV became one of the fastest growing cable networks in television history. Today HGTV is available in more than 99 million U.S. homes and distributed in 175 countries and territories.

She has been recognized by industry peers, colleagues and employees as an innovator, role model and mentor. She received the Woman of the Year award by Women in Cable & Telecommunications (WICT) and was profiled in Modern Visionaries, a book chronicling the contributions of women to the cable and telecommunications industry. Contemporary Economics, a high school textbook, profiled her as an entrepreneur in the field of media specialization. CableWorld magazine honored her among “The Most Influential Women in Cable” numerous times. In 2008 she was inducted into the Cable Hall of Fame.

Packard was the first woman elected to serve on the board of directors of Churchill Downs, Inc. (NASDAC: CHDN), the owner and manager of the Kentucky Derby and other horseracing properties. In that capacity, she served on the Audit, Strategic Planning, and CEO Succession committees.

Her first book, New Rules of the Game, was written to help women navigate and lead in the workplace. In 2019, Penguin/Random House published Packard’s new book, Fully Human, Three Steps to Grow Your Emotional Fitness for Work, Leadership and Life. The book offers a fresh, new framework for growing one’s emotional intelligence.

For show notes, visit www.calwalters.me

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Mike Erwin is the Founder & Executive Director of Team Red, White & Blue(Team RWB). Team RWB’s mission is to enrich the lives of America’s veterans by connecting them to their communities through physical and social activity.

He is also the CEO of the Character & Leadership Center, and the Co-founder & President of The Positivity Project—a non-profit organization with the mission to empower America’s youth to build positive relationships. With 425 partner schools, the organization reaches 260,000 children daily.

He is the co-author of LEAD YOURSELF FIRST by Bloomsbury Press (2017). The book focuses on how solitude strengthens people’s character—and their ability to lead with clarity, balance, and conviction. Mike is also a Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves, assigned to the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he serves as an Assistant Professor in Leadership & Psychology. He also serves as the founding Chairman of the Board for Father Vincent Capodanno High School, outside Fort Bragg, NC.

Mike graduated from West Point in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics. He was commissioned as an Intelligence Officer, serving in three combat tours with the First Cavalry Division and 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne). His service includes deployment to Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004–2005 that involved the Battles of Fallujah and Najaf. Mike also deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2006–2007 and 2009. On those tours, he worked with NATO forces, to include serving as a lead intelligence planner for one of the largest NATO-led combat operation in history. Mike earned two Bronze Star Medals from these tours.

Following his third deployment, Mike attended the University of Michigan from 2009–2011, where he studied positive psychology and leadership under the tutelage of the co-founder of Positive Psychology, Dr. Chris Peterson. He went on to serve as an Assistant Professor in Psychology & Leadership at the U.S. Military Academy from 2011–2014. While assigned to West Point as a Major, Mike served as a lead planner for the Bob McDonald Global Leadership Conference and was the aide-de-camp to the Class of 1951 Chair for the Study of Leadership, held by Jim Collins and then Tom Tierney.

For show notes, visit www.calwalters.me

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Stephen Shedletzky engages with people in meaningful ways so that we connect with depth and live in a more fulfilled world. With a knack for sharing the right words at the right moment, he delivers evidence-based content in a provocative, captivating and
light-hearted way.

Feeling stifled on his corporate track, Stephen was struck by Simon Sinek’s vision of a more inspired, safe and fulfilled world. He joined Sinek’s team in 2012. What started as a position
answering fan email, Stephen now leads Brand Experience and the team of Igniters to ensure every product, partnership and communication reflects the organization’s most deeply held
beliefs.

As an Igniter himself, he guides leaders and organizations to adopt the mindset and actions needed to lead in the Infinite Game. A dedicated aide to the Simon Sinek team and those
they serve, Stephen is first in line to support those who seek to discover, articulate and bring their WHY to life.

With the right mix of passion and professionalism, Stephen was an obvious choice to narrate the audiobook for the 2017 best-seller Find Your Why. He co-hosted the Start With Why
Podcast, with more than 715,000 downloads in over 180 countries.

Stephen graduated from the Richard Ivey School of Business with a focus in leadership, communication and strategy. He brings the message to inspire to people and organizations around the world and serves clients in nearly every industry. Stephen lives in Toronto, Canada with his wife and two children.

For show notes, visit www.calwalters.me

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Lisa Fain is the CEO of the Center for Mentoring Excellence and an expert in the intersection of cultural competency and mentoring. Her passion for diversity and inclusion work fuels her strong conviction that leveraging differences creates a better workplace and drives better business results.

Lisa brings her energy, enthusiasm, and engagement to any group, facilitating lively workshops and training, and delivering interactive speeches with practical steps that can be implemented right away.

As Senior Director of the Diversity and Inclusion function at Outerwall, Inc., Lisa spearheaded the development, establishment, and implementation of its diversity initiative. Prior to assuming that position, she worked as Outerwall’s in-house counsel, coaching leaders and partnering with Human Resources to establish fair and effective policies and practices that would sustain the organization as it grew in size, revenue, and renown.

For almost a decade, Lisa practiced law in the Chicago office of a major multinational firm, where she counseled employers on creating inclusive policies and practices. While in that role, she served as Master Trainer, training thousands of employees at a variety of companies, large and small, on how to create a better workplace.

Lisa is also an executive coach, specializing in individual and group coaching for professional women looking to design and live their best personal and professional lives. She is a certified mediator. She graduated with a B.S. in Social Policy from Northwestern University and holds a J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law.

Lisa lives in Seattle, WA. She loves to hike and explore the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two daughters.

Check out Lisa’s new book, Bridging Differences for Better Mentoring, co-authored with her mom, Lois J. Zachary.

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Today, on July 13, 2020, we pay tribute to Chris Goeke. Chris was a husband, brother, son, dear friend, and leader among leaders. On this episode, we remember a man that made us laugh, feel special, believe in ourselves, grow in our faith, be okay with not knowing, and live more intentionally.

Even from a young age, Chris was adventurous and born to be a leader. He grew up in Apple Valley, Minnesota where he loved building forts in the woods behind his house and often gathered and encouraged his friends. He excelled in school through all his years and was active in music, mock trial, and various sports.

     As he grew older, his faith in God grew and he participated in many church activities and mission trips. He was accepted into West Point with the class of 2008, where he graduated 6th in his class. After college, Chris was commissioned as an infantry officer and complete Airborne School and Army Ranger School.

Chris married the love of his life, Kelsey, and they settled into life together at Fort Bragg, NC, where Chris joined Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment on May 18, 2009.

In September 2009, Chris deployed with his unit to Afghanistan and would lead a platoon in combat.On Tuesday, July 13, 2010, Chris was killed in action while repelling an insurgent attack on an Afghan police compound in Kandahar City. 10 years after his death, we come together to remember Chris and honor his lasting impact on our lives.

Chris, we love you and miss you. You truly were the best among us, and we carry you with us wherever we go.

Visit www.calwalters.me for full show notes.

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Brigadier General Joseph B. Berger III graduated from the U.S Military Academy at West Point in 1992 and was commissioned into the Military Police Corps, where he served as a Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, and Battalion Supply Officer and Adjutant. Brigadier General Berger was subsequently selected for the Funded Legal Education Program and received his juris doctor from the George Mason University School of Law.

Brigadier General Berger currently serves as the Commanding General of the Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School, located on the grounds of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA. His previous assignments include: Commander, United States Army Legal Services Agency and Chief Judge, U.S. Army Court of Criminal Appeals; Staff Judge Advocate, U.S. Army Cyber Command; Chief, Investigations and Legislative Division, Office of the Chief Legislative Liaison, Washington, DC; Chief, Plans Branch of Personnel, Plans and Training Office, Office of The Judge Advocate General, Washington, DC; Staff Judge Advocate, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Deputy Team Chief and later Assistant Director, Multi-National Force-Iraq; Group Judge Advocate, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Chief, Criminal Law, United States Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, Fort Bliss, Texas; Chief, Legal Assistance, later Administrative and Operational Law Attorney, 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division, Germany.

For show notes, visit www.calwalters.me

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Spencer Kupferman currently serves as CEO at Milwaukee-based PKWARE an Award-Winning Data Security software solutions company. In addition, Spencer supports Thompson Street Capital Partners portfolio companies working closely with their tech-enabled software practice as an Executive Advisor. Spencer most recently served as CEO of Cloud Daddy, recognized as a Top 10 Storage Startup ’19 by crn.com, the world's most secure and easy-to-use Amazon Web Services native data protection platform for backup, disaster recovery and infrastructure management.

Prior to Cloud Daddy, Spencer was President & CEO of Global Software, Inc., the global leader in corporate performance management (CPM) reporting solutions. Spencer spearheaded the revolution of the Spreadsheet Server platform as it took the market by storm. Spencer led the company through two successful nine-figure transactions to market leading private equity firms, Thompson Street Capital Partners and TA Associates. Spencer holds a BS in Kinesiology from the University of New Hampshire where he was a member of the men’s basketball team and an MBA-Technology Management from the University of Phoenix. Spencer, his wife and 3 children reside in Scarsdale, NY.

For show notes, visit www.calwalters.me

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Greg McKeown has dedicated his career to discovering why some people and teams break through to the next level—and others don’t.

The definitive treatment of this issue is addressed in McKeown’s New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less. As well as frequently being the #1 Time Management book on Amazon, this book challenges core assumptions about achievement to get to the essence of what really drives success.

McKeown is the CEO of McKeown Inc. His clients include Adobe, Apple, Google, Facebook, Pixar, Salesforce.com, Symantec, Twitter, VMware and Yahoo!. His writing has appeared or been covered by The New York Times, Fast Company, Fortune, HuffPost, Politico, and Inc. Magazine. He is among the most popular bloggers for the Harvard Business Review and LinkedIn’s Influencers group: averaging a million views a month.

McKeown has been interviewed on numerous television and radio shows including NPR, NBC, FOX, and as a regular guest on The Steve Harvey Show. Entrepreneur voted his interview at Stanford University the #1 Must-See Video on Business, Creativity and Success.

For full notes and to download the show notes to this episode, visit www.calwalters.me

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I'm really excited to bring you an interview with Jon Gordon!

Jon Gordon's best-selling books and talks have inspired readers and audiences around the world. His principles have been put to the test by numerous Fortune 500 companies, professional and college sports teams, school districts, hospitals, and non-profits. He is the author of 20 books including 8 best-sellers: The Energy Bus, The Carpenter, Training Camp, You Win in the Locker Room First, The Power of Positive Leadership, The Power of a Positive Team, The Coffee Beanand his latestStay Positive.

Jon and his tips have been featured on The Today Show, CNN, CNBC, The Golf Channel, Fox and Friends and in numerous magazines and newspapers. His clients include The Los Angeles Dodgers, Campbell’s Soup, Dell, Publix, Southwest Airlines, Miami Heat, The Los Angeles Rams, Snapchat, BB&T Bank, Clemson Football, Northwestern Mutual, West Point Academy and more. Jon is a graduate of Cornell University and holds a Masters in Teaching from Emory University. He and his training/consulting company are passionate about developing positive leaders, organizations and teams.

For full show notes, visit www.calwalters.me

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Juliet Funt is the CEO of WhiteSpace at Work, a training and consulting firm that helps organizations, their leaders and employees flip the norms of business in order to reclaim their creativity, productivity and engagement. With thought-provoking content and immediately actionable tools, she has become a nationally recognized expert in coping with the Age of Overload in which we all live and work.

Juliet helps professionals learn the pivotal difference between activity and productivity. She teaches them a streamlined method for personal process improvement – leading to more creativity and engagement. She helps executives, managers and teams answer the critical question “What thoughts deserve my full attention today?”

Juliet regularly wows audiences as a high-impact, high-energy speaker. Yet her deeper mission is to show organizations how WhiteSpace® can change the negative patterns and behaviors that prevent them from achieving optimum results. Her clients include a number of Fortune 100 companies and span a wide array of industries, from financial services to technology, manufacturing to the military, and executive workshops to audiences as large as 7,000.

Incredibly intuitive, Juliet successfully blends highly customized content with a keen understanding of clients’ needs in her programs and consulting work. With a unique blend of charisma, humor and tough love, she has the uncanny ability to connect with people at all levels, compelling them to make real, lasting change. Yet beneath her powerful assets, she is both authentic and accessible. As a busy corporate speaker and consultant, business owner, wife, and mother of three young boys, she practices on a daily basis the WhiteSpace® concept she shares with clients. Juliet Funt is a force for change in organizations around the world, helping them find their WhiteSpace, recharge their people and reclaim their passion for work. Juliet is a graduate of Northwestern University.

For full show notes, visit www.calwalters.me

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I’m really excited to bring you the inspiring story of Chaveso “Chevy” Cook!

On this episode, you will hear Chevy share his powerful story of overcoming adversity as a child and finding mentors that helped him believe in himself and chart the course that led to where he is today. Chevy is the Co-Founder and Executive Direct of Military Mentors, a registered 501(c)(3) with a mission to elevate, educate, and facilitate for the military and beyond.

Chevy graduated from West Point in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. He also has a M.A. in Leadership Development from the University of Texas El Paso and an M.A. in Organizational Psychology from Columbia University. He currently lives in Boston, MA as he pursues doctoral studies at Tufts University. A long serving member of the special operations community, he started his Army career in the historic 82nd Airborne Division and has served the majority of his career at Fort Bragg, NC. He also served as both a Tactical Officer and a Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership instructor at West Point.

Find full show notes at www.calwalters.me

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Today, I’m really excited to bring you an interview with Ryan Hawk! Ryan Hawk is a keynote speaker, author, advisor, and the host of The Learning Leader Show, which Forbes called "the most dynamic leadership podcast out there" and Inc. Magazine recognized on its list of "5 Podcasts to Make You a Smarter Leader." Featuring interviews with hundreds of best-selling authors and world-renowned corporate, athletic, and military leaders, the show has millions of listeners in more than 150 countries. He is the author of Welcome To Management: How To Grow From Top Performer to Excellent Leader.

Welcome to Management has received a lot of praise, and for good reason. #1 New York Times bestselling author Daniel Pink called Welcome to Management “the ultimate all-in-one guide to becoming a great leader.” New York Times bestselling author General (Ret.) Stanley McChrystal said, “Ryan’s work provides nuanced and articulate insights into the best way to begin developing a plan to bring to light how we should lead—and it starts with reexamining ourselves.” Additionally, New York Times bestselling author Liz Wiseman said, “Ryan has uncovered the secrets of what the best leaders do and how they think. If you are a new manager transitioning from player to coach, do yourself and your team a favor and read this book.”

For full show notes, visit www.calwalters.me

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Today, I am so privileged and honored to bring you insights from a true hero of mine, Lieutenant General (Ret.) Robert Caslen, who currently serves as the 29th President of the University of South Carolina. Go Gamecocks!

General Caslen served 43 years in the United States Army. His military career culminated in 2018 as the 59th Superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Under his direction as Superintendent, West Point was recognized as the number one public college in the Nation by Forbes Magazine and the number one public college by U.S. News and World Report. Through the establishment of Centers of Excellence at West Point, General Caslen connected the operational Army with West Point research and intellectual capital. He refined West Point’s leadership program by making professional ethics a priority and essential part of leadership and character development. He worked tirelessly to expand the diversity of cadets and faculty alike, and he dramatically expanded West Point’s minority and women populations to reflect the demographics of the Army that West Point’s graduates help lead.

Working with the Director of Athletics, he revamped the athletic program, made it self-sustaining, and fielded 25 competitive intercollegiate teams. He created partnerships with the NCAA and Department of Defense to conduct research into preventing and treating concussions and traumatic brain injury that have led to significant improvements in prevention and care. He stood up the Army Cyber Institute to build expertise and Army leaders prepared for the new cyber fight. And, fulfilling a pledge he made soon after becoming Superintendent, he led a sweeping reversal of Army’s football program and developed a culture of excellence through winning with character, culminating in Army defeating Navy in 2016 for the first time in 14 years, and beating both Air Force and Navy in 2017 to win the Commander-in-Chief’s trophy for the first time in 21 years.

For full show notes and bio, visit www.calwalters.me

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I’m really excited to bring you an inspiring interview with Joel “Thor” Neeb. Thor is the CEO of Afterburner Inc., a global consulting firm, and the bestselling co-author with Chris Stricklin of Survivor’s Obligation, which was recently named a 2020 Benjamin Franklin Award Finalist.

As a former F-15 pilot, Thor has flown over 2,500 missions. He provided escort for the President, protected our nation's borders, and was named the Top Instructor Pilot at the Air Force Flight Training Headquarters, training thousands of pilots for the United States and 25 allied countries around the world. He was the tactical leader of 300 of the most senior combat pilots in the Air Force and he oversaw the execution of a $150M/year flight program.

In 2010, Thor was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer and given about a 15% chance to live. Instead of giving up, Thor decided to give back. He started a youth outreach program in San Antonio that has grown to help more than 15,000 at-risk kids. Their efforts have been featured on every news channel for 100 miles and one national media outlet. In 2012, he was selected out of 62,000 people to receive the Air Education and Training Command National Public Service Award. Thor completed the New Zealand Ironman Triathlon in March of 2015 to commemorate the five-year anniversary of his Stage IV cancer diagnosis and to raise awareness for the rare and deadly cancer that he battled. Thor has also competed in American Ninja Warrior.

For full show notes, visit https://www.calwalters.me/

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Is your way of thinking the best way to think?

This is a question Dr. Ryan Gottfredson asks in his brand new book, Success Mindsets, currently available in audio and E-book format and scheduled to be released in print form on May 5, 2020. While many have focused narrowly on different mindsets, Dr. Gottfredson pioneered a widespread study and synthesis of all critical mindsets for achieving success.

On this podcast episode, we explore 4 specific mindsets each person can cultivate to achieve greater success:

1. a growth mindset;
2. an open mindset;
3. a promotion mindset; and
4. an outward mindset.

Dr. Gottfredson is a mental success coach and cutting-edge leadership consultant, author, trainer, and researcher. He helps improve organizations, leaders, teams, and employees by improving their mindsets.

In addition, Ryan is a leadership and management professor at California State University-Fullerton (CSUF). Dr. Gottfredson did his undergraduate work at Brigham Young University, and he holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior and Human Resources from Indiana University.

Connect with Dr. Gottfredson on LinkedIn and find his work on ryangottfredson.com.

Find full show notes at https://www.calwalters.me/.

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Today, I’m excited to bring you an interview I did with Dr. Kevin Kniery, Dr. Tom Hustead, and Dr. Scott Steele. This is a rapid-release bonus episode for medical leaders during a time of crisis as the world combats the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Kevin Kniery is a vascular surgery fellow in New York City and he is the co-host of two podcasts—Behind the Knife and Audible Bleeding. Dr. Kniery is one of my best friends and a West Point classmate. Dr. Kniery got his MD and MPH from Tulane University.

Dr. Tom Hustead graduated from West Point in the top 3% of his class and received his medical degree from Case Western University School of Medicine. As a retired Army Colonel, highlights from his distinguished career include deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, being awarded Flight Surgeon of the Year for his service in combat, Outstanding Faculty of the Year for his medical teaching, and board selection as Department Chair for a family medicine residency department. As a result of his appointment by the Army Surgeon General to be the “face of military medicine” to recruit and share the Army Medicine story, Dr. Hustead recognized a need and developed a passion for teaching physicians across the country to be effectively engaged leaders. In his final appointment in the military, Dr. Hustead was the commander/CEO of a NATO military medical facility at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Belgium. Dr. Hustead currently practices as a family physician at Hardin Memorial Health and serves as Medical Director for their employed medical group. Dr. Hustead also co-founded The Referent Group, which provides leadership training, coaching, and resources for healthcare leaders. With an emphasis on servant leadership, Dr. Hustead’s core conviction is that effective leadership is never about the leader but should be focused on creating a culture where those being led can flourish.

Dr. Scott Steele is the Chair of Colorectal Surgery at Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, OH. As a graduate of West Point, he was an active duty Army officer, serving as the Chief of Colorectal Surgery at Madigan Army Medical Center, Fort Lewis, WA. He has served 4 combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, being awarded the Combat Medical Badge amongst others. His contributions to the medical literature include over 140 peer-reviewed articles, 60 invited reviews and book chapters, 12 national practice parameters, guest editor for 5 volumes dedicated to colorectal disease, and currently is an editor on 4 textbooks in colorectal surgery.

We recorded this interview on March 28, 2020, a time when our nation’s entire medical ecosystem is mobilizing for war against the COVID-19 pandemic. While many Americans are working from home to blunt the spread of the virus, healthcare clinicians and administrators are working around the clock to prepare for the coming tsunami of patients. The scope and the scale of the coming fight is unprecedented in the healthcare community.

Whether the US can successfully “flatten the curve” or not, this pandemic will stretch US healthcare capabilities—and its workers—to the limit. Strong leadership will be needed at every level to address the physical and psychological stresses our healthcare professionals will experience in the coming weeks. I hope that the insights and proven leadership principles offered by Dr. Hustead and Dr. Steele can provide healthcare leaders clarity in this prolonged and all-consuming fight to beat COVID-19.

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Doug Crandall is a graduate of West Point and the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He has led multiple units in the Army, and spent time in operations at Amazon. For five years, Doug taught leadership, advanced leadership, and leading organizations through change at West Point, where he won the Excellence in Teaching Award and exceeded the academy average in every area of teaching feedback during each semester that he taught. In this interview, you’ll see why Doug was such an effective teacher at West Point. He’s very approachable and an incredibly gifted story teller. His stories and personal examples have a way of sticking with you.

He’s the co-author of four books: Permission to Speak Freely, Say Anything, Leadership Lessons from West Point, Hope Unseen, which is the inspiring story of Scotty Smiley, the US Army’s first blind active-duty officer. Three of Doug’s books were Amazon Top New Releases, and his books have sold more than 60,000 copies worldwide and continue to gain momentum in Europe and Asia. Doug has also published articles in the International Journal of Servant-Leadership and written case studies for both Stanford and Harvard business schools.

He was a Founding Partner of the “Blue Rudder” Leadership Development Company, where he delivered high impact leadership development programs throughout the US, Europe, and Asia. He currently works at The Referent Group, a company in the healthcare leadership coaching industry.

For full show notes, visit https://www.calwalters.me/

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Today, I’m super pumped to bring you an interview I did with the first person to ever introduce me to the concept of high performance at West Point, Dr. Joe Ross (Retired, US Army). Joe has a Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Walden University and a Masters of Education in Psychology and Athletic Counseling from Springfield College.

Dr. Ross is also a 1995 West Point graduate, where he was a three-year letter winner and co-captain of the 1994 Army Football team. As an Infantry Officer, Joe led 144 soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division and deployed to Kosovo in 2001. The Secretary of the Army commended Joe’s unit for capturing two insurgents on the Central Intelligence Agency’s (CIA) top ten most wanted list and bringing the Serbian and Albanian leadership together to start a dialogue of reconciliation. Joe also managed all logistics for over 1,000 personnel, directed human resources for over 4,000 personnel, and helped write the Soldier’s Creed.

In 2009, Joe joined the Army Football coaching staff as the Special Teams and Fullback Coach, where he helped lead Army Football to the 2010 Armed Forces Bowl victory. At West Point, Joe also served as the Director of the Military Enhancement Program and was asked to collaborate on a Presidential committee to review and design procedures for wounded warriors in transition.

Joe is now the President and Co-Founder of HigherEchelon, Inc., an Organizational Performance consulting firm with offerings in leadership, technology, and engineering to both public and private sector clients. Joe has consulted with Fortune 100 companies, college and professional sports teams, top tier Universities, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Defense. Joe led the creation of Higher Echelon’s flagship program, The Resilient and Adaptable Leader ©.

You can follow, or connect with, Joe on LinkedIn here.

Find out more about HigherEchelon at their website or on LinkedIn.

Full show notes are at: https://www.calwalters.me/

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Last year, I read a lot of books, but one book that made a particularly lasting impact was The Go-Giver. A special thank you to Graham Cochrane and his podcast for introducing me to this book.

The Go-Giver tells the story of an ambitious young man named Joe who yearns for success. Joe is a true go-getter, though sometimes he feels as if the harder and faster he works, the further away his goals seem to be. And so one day, desperate to land a key sale at the end of a bad quarter, he seeks advice from the enigmatic Pindar, a legendary consultant referred to by his many devotees simply as the Chairman. Pindar takes Joe (and us as the reader) on a journey, where Joe meets 5 “go-givers” and learns the 5 counter-intuitive laws of stratospheric success.

I’m honored and excited to bring you an interview with Bob Burg, co-author of The Go-Giver. Bob is a sought-after speaker at company leadership and sales conferences sharing the platform with today’s business leaders, Olympic athletes, broadcast personalities, and even a former U.S. President.

Bob is the author of a number of books on sales, marketing and influence, with total book sales of well over two million copies. The Go-Giver, coauthored with John David Mann, itself has sold over 925,000 copies and has been translated into 28 languages. It was rated #10 on Inc. Magazine’s list of the Most Motivational Books Ever Written, and it was on HubSpot’s 20 Most Highly Rated Sales Books of All Time. The American Management Association named Bob one of the 30 Most Influential Leaders, and Richtopia named him one of the Top 200 Most Influential Authors in the World.

Go to https://www.calwalters.me/ for show notes!

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Today, I am bringing you an interview with former Navy Captain, best-selling author, and a true leadership expert, David Marquet.

Here are a few quotes about David Marquet:

“I don’t know of a finer model of this kind of empowering leadership than Captain Marquet." Dr. Stephen R. Covey, author of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

“To say I’m a fan of David Marquet would be an understatement. I’m a fully-fledged groupie. He is the kind of leader who comes around only once in a generation. He is the kind of leader who doesn’t just know how to lead, he knows how to build leaders. His ideas and lessons are invaluable to anyone who wants to build an organization that will outlive them.” Simon Sinek, author of Start with Why, Leaders Eat Last, and The Infinite Game

I can relate to Dr. Covey and Simon’s thoughts on David. He is a true leadership hero for me, so it was really special to get to do this interview.

A little bit of David’s story for those that are unfamiliar. He graduated in the top of his class at the US Naval Academy, graduated #1 from his nuclear power school class and the submarine officer basic course. David has always been a brilliant guy, but over his years in the Navy, he learned that being a great leader is not all about being the smartest guy in the room.

After years of proving his competence, David was awarded his very own command of a nuclear submarine. He was told he’d be taking over the USS Olympia, so he spent an entire year studying every aspect of the ship, becoming an expert on all the ship's capabilities. But about two weeks before taking over the Olympia, he was reassigned to take over the Santa Fe. He knew nothing about the Santa Fe, for its crew had a reputation for being the worst in the fleet. With only two weeks before taking over, he knew his typical leadership approach of being the smartest person in the room and just giving orders wasn’t going to work.

So aboard a nuclear submarine – a place that few would feel comfortable taking a lot of risk and doing experiments – David tried an entirely different approach to leadership. Instead of viewing his crew as followers that simply followed his orders, David empowered them to think, to take initiative, and he ultimately developed them into leaders. He moved from the leader-follower model he had been taught to viewing everyone as a leader. And the results were truly remarkable. His leadership turned the ship around. They went from worst in the Navy to receiving the best evaluation in Navy history.

Even after David departed the Santa Fe, it continued to win awards and promoted a disproportionate number of officers and enlisted men to positions of increased responsibility, including 10 subsequent submarine captains. When Stephen R. Covey visited the ship, he said it was the most empowering organization he’d ever seen and wrote about David’s leadership practices in his book, The 8th Habit.

David first shared his leadership principles in the #1 Amazon Bestseller, Turn the Ship Around! A True Story of Turning Followers into Leaders. Fortune magazine named it the #1 must-read business book of the year, and USA Today listed it as one of the top 12 business books of all time.

And, on February 4th, David is releasing his new book, Leadership is Language: The Hidden Power of What You Say and What You Don't, which I have had the chance to read and it is truly an incredible book. Some books given you a nugget of wisdom here and there, but David’s books challenge me in a special way and help me take my leadership approach to a new level. His books are transformational and paradigm-shifting. Leadership is Language has been endorsed by Adam Grant, General (ret.) Stanley McCrystal, and Liz Wiseman, author of Multipliers.

You can connect with David Marquet at his website, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Find full notes at calwalters.me.

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Have you read the book Daddy Saturday?

About a month ago I picked it up and finished it in 48 hours. Not only did the book convict me as a parent, but it also inspired me to do better and equipped me with practical tools to be more engaged with my daughter.

After the book impacted me, I reached out to the author, Justin Batt, and asked him to come on my podcast. He generously agreed, and today I’m excited to bring you that interview!

As you will see, Justin has a lot of wisdom about parenting and is just an all-around inspiring guy. He’s a husband (his wife is an entrepreneur and runs a successful bridal boutique in Charleston, SC), a father of 4, and the Founder and Chief Dad Officer (as Justin likes to say) of Daddy Saturday and the Daddy Saturday Foundation, which is a movement all about intentional parenting and engaging your kids (which sounds simple, but it can be tough in a busy world). Even if you’re not a father, the principles Justin teaches may challenge the way you think about time and help you turn the mundane into more meaningful moments.

Daddy Saturday started in Justin’s backyard and is now an international movement. With an ambitiously awesome goal to impact 10 million fathers in the next 10 years and eliminate fatherlessness, Justin travels internationally and around the US (including speaking at TEDx) inspiring fathers to be more engaged. It’s important to note that when Justin refers to fatherlessness, he isn’t just referring to children without fathers; he is also talking about fathers (like me at times) who are physically present, but mentally or emotionally absent.

Somehow, Justin does all of this when he’s not at work. In addition to being a highly sought after business advisor and healthcare consultant, he is also the President of Growth and Revenue for Kameleon Partners, LLC, the global leader in Life Sciences Account Management and Electronic Health Records Enablement. Justin also has a retail startup that ranks in the top 10% of U.S. businesses, and he is a partner in the real estate app ZoomOffers.

Consistent with the principles he teaches, Justin competes regularly in Spartan obstacle course races and has inspired his kids to join him for the challenge. Check out Justin’s interview on the Spartan Up podcast, hosted by Joe De Sena, the Founder and CEO of Spartan Race.

I hope you get a lot out of this interview. I know I sure did Let me know what you think in the comments below!

Also, a special thank you to my good friend Ryan Brence for contributing to the content and questions in this episode. I sincerely appreciate Ryan’s assistance and couldn’t do this without his encouragement and support.

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In life, we face endless options about how to spend our time. With social media and the internet, we have never been so aware of these options, and the barrier has never been lower for people to share their opinions about what we should be focusing on (like this post!).

We also live in a world where everything is urgent, needs to be done now, and we ignore the fundamental reality of trade offs — saying yes to something invariably means saying no to something else.

With these obstacles, how do we decide what is important and remain focused on the most essential things in life?

On this episode, I share what I have discovered on my journey to live a life prioritizing the important over the urgent. It is not always easy, but it is absolutely worth it.

Successful people — meaning people whose lives are in line with their deepest values — spend most of their time in Quadrant II. Over time, small deposits in these important, non-urgent tasks of Quadrant II can produce incredible results. But the opposite is also true. Neglecting Quadrant II activities can lead to long term regrets and more urgent matters (e.g., health issues or relationship problems).

I hope this episode of the podcast will help you think more about the important things in your life, prune away the non-essential, have the courage to say no, and truly put first things first.

For full show notes, visit https://www.calwalters.me/

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On this episode, Cal shares an impactful and replicable process he uses to reflect. This is useful any time of year, but the New Year presents a natural time to reflect.

In less than 1 hour, you can turn experience into insights to grow and make progress in the New Year. Check it out!

On this episode, Cal discusses being inspired by Ray Dalio and Adam Grant to be more teachable. Below are two resources on this topic:

Principles by Ray Dalio

Interview of Adam Grant by Tim Ferris

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Today, you will hear an interview I did with one of my best friends, Rajiv Srinivasan. Rajiv is currently a Global Client Director at LinkedIn, where he manages a worldwide and multifunctional team supporting relationships for 3 of LinkedIn’s top 10 accounts.

Rajiv was on the Dean’s List at West Point and graduated in the Top 5% of his class in 2008. He also earned an MS in Applied Mathematics from Columbia University and will be graduating with his MBA from Wharton this May. His amazing wife Chelsea is also a Wharton graduate.

After graduating from West Point in 2008, Rajiv deployed to Afghanistan as a platoon leader. In Afghanistan, Rajiv did over 300 combat patrols and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and received the Combat Action Badge. Rajiv transitioned out of the military in 2013 and moved out to Silicon Valley. Rajiv was part of the Founding Team at Morta Security, a cyber security company that was acquired by Palo Alto Networks in 2013.

After Morta was acquired, Rajiv became a Enterprise & SLED Account Manager at MobileIron. In 2016, Rajiv became a Global Account Manager at VMWare.

Rajiv is also an Eagle Scout, avid snow skier (you’ll hear him talk about a scary incident he had in Lake Tahoe), musician (he plays guitar, ukulele, piano, and is a vocalist), he has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, has completed the NYC Marathon, the Marine Corps Marathon, and the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon. He has been a contributor for the New York Times and TIME on military and veteran issues.

Rajiv is someone that has inspired me ever since we met at West Point in 2005. In this interview, we discuss his love of books, how he has managed to read 76 books in 2019, his process of doing a digital declutter, and many of Rajiv’s favorite books, including a few surprising recommendations. I really enjoyed this conversation, just like every conversation I have with Rajiv, and I think you will, too.

Below is a list of books and resources we discuss during this interview:

Good Economics for Hard Times by Abhijit V. Banerjee and Esther Duflo

Atomic Habits by James Clear (I also recommend subscribing to James Clear’s weekly newsletter here. It is short but packed with great information and no spam.)

Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin (this is one of Rajiv’s top 3 recommended books!)

Educated by Tara Westover

Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance

The Shortest Way Home by Pete Buttigieg

Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow

Grant by Ron Chernow (Here is a LinkedIn Article Rajiv created about this book)

The House of Morgan by Ron Chernow

Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr. by Ron Chernow

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

Give and Take by Adam Grant (This is one of Rajiv’s favorite books and it is currently high on my reading list.)

How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan (This was a surprising recommendation by Rajiv. I obviously do not use or condone drug use, but Rajiv makes the point that reading this book really helped him understand a group of people he previously did not understand, which simply highlights the beauty and the power of books to give us understanding and empathy for other humans.)

Although Rajiv intentionally says “no” to many digital platforms (how do you think he reads so much?), you can connect with Rajiv on LinkedIn here. He has also taken the #PlusOnePledge at LinkedIn.

Rajiv also mentioned Gates Notes, which is a reading blog created by Bill Gates, and Goodreads. Rajiv uses these reading resources for inspiration and great book ideas.

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On this episode, Cal dives into the exciting new science of positive psychology and gratitude.  Saying we should be more thankful is easy advice to give -- similar to saying we should live in the moment -- but for some reason it is harder to practice on a regular basis.  

Cal explores some of the key obstacles to most of us practicing gratitude and offers two practical, yet powerful, ways that we can begin practicing gratitude (and reaping the benefits of it) today.  

Join Cal on a 30 day commitment to the daily practice of gratitude!  

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How is technology affecting your life? Do you feel overwhelmed and exhausted by constant connectivity? Have you ever felt the urge to check your phone when you're with people you love? Have you felt that gut feeling after spending aimless minutes on your phone that you wish you had used your time more wisely?

If you have felt any of these feelings, you're not alone.

We have a collective problem with technology.

On this episode, Cal shares his own struggle with technology and explores the magnitude and causes of the problem.

More importantly, Cal offers practical solutions for regaining control of our digital tools to make them work for us.

Let's collectively take a step back, discovery the beauty of a technology detox, and intentionally manage digital tools to make them tightly aligned with our deeply held values!

Two books referenced during this episode:

Deep Work by Cal Newport

Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport

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Packed with great stories of overcoming adversity and incredible nuggets of wisdom and inspiration, this episode will not disappoint!

Ryan Brence grew up playing big time Texas high school football. He is the son of a very successful Texas high school football coach in Plano, TX, and he shares lessons he learned watching his dad lead a football team.

Ryan is a husband, father, West Point Graduate, former Army Football player, winner of the Black Lion Award, Army Ranger, and he currently works as a business development manager for TDIndustries in Dallas, TX. TDIndustries teaches servant leadership and is a Fortune 100 Best Company to Work For: TDIndustries Awards.

Ryan shares stories of overcoming adversity in football and Ranger School. He shares practical ways in which he lives an intentional life, and he shares lessons he learned on servant leadership from his dad and his work at TDIndustries.

Ryan references the following book during the episode:

The Power of Consistency by Weldon Long

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On this episode, Cal wraps up his servant leadership series by covering the last three principles of servant leadership -- that servant leaders:

1. Invest in the personal growth of their team members;

2. Build a culture of trust; and

3. Inspire!

Cal dives into practical steps of how to apply these principles to your leadership!

Cal references the following items in the podcast:

Simon Sinek TED talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmyZMtPVodo

The Advantage by Patrick Lencioni: https://www.amazon.com/Advantage-Organizational-Everything-Business-Lencioni-ebook/dp/B006ORWT3Y

Bain & Company study on inspirational leadership: https://www.bain.com/insights/how-leaders-inspire-cracking-the-code/

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On this episode, Cal continues an exciting series on servant leadership!

Cal jumps right into the next three principles of servant leadership:

1. Servant leaders care about the WHOLE person;

2. Servant leaders are generous to their team; and

3. Servant leaders listen.

At the end of this episode, you will be more equipped to immediately apply servant leadership principles in your team, organization, or business!

Please collaborate with Cal at calwalterspodcast@gmail.com.

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On this episode, Cal begins the substantive deep dive into servant leadership principles.  Over the course of this podcast series, Cal will explore 9 key principles to servant leadership.  

On this episode, Cal explores the first three principles and provides illustrations and keys to applying them in your life:

1.  Servant leaders empower others;

2.  Servant leaders give credit; and

3.  Servant leaders take the blame.  

At the end, Cal provides discussion questions to help you examine whether you are applying these to your leadership!  

Keep growing and keep getting better!  When you do, everyone benefits!

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On this episode, Cal introduces a topic he is very excited to discuss -- servant leadership.  

Perhaps you generally like the sound of servant leadership but have yet to fully dive into the principles required to lead as a servant.  Or perhaps you're skeptical whether taking a "servant leadership" approach can really get the job done in your team, organization, or business. 

Whatever your views are, please tune in to hear Cal set the ground work for this exciting "deep dive" into this incredible philosophy of leadership.  I think you and your team will benefit!

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On this episode, Cal shares a story from his days playing college football and contrasts that story with a NFL Hall of Fame player.  You never know when opportunities will come, so the preparation you do today makes all the difference.  

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On this episode, Cal’s wife Natalie joins to discuss some of her insights from leading a rapidly growing business development team in the software space. 

Cal briefly shares how he and Natalie met, and Natalie shares some of her key leadership principles, how she strives to remain people-centered in a world filled with deadlines and quarterly metrics, the importance of self-care, and many other lessons learned.

Tune in for a fun discussion on life and leadership!

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As long as we live a life focused on ourselves, we will never be truly fulfilled.  It is counter intuitive, but the more we give of ourselves, the more we get. 

As we seek to live a more intentional live, living a life that matters and contributes to the world and others is fundamental.  

On this episode, Cal shares his own story of service, some anecdotal and empirical examples of service leading to a more fulfilled life, and some key principles to shifting our focus from ourselves to other people.  

Life is short, let's make it count!

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We all fail; we all fail often; and we all will continue to fail for the rest of our life.  Yet, many of us tip toe through life trying to avoid failure at all costs. 

On this episode, Cal offers 4 principles to maintaining a healthy view of failure and using the gift of failure to propel us forward towards achieving success and maximizing our potential.

1. Focus on success instead of "not failing"
2. View failure as a gift
3. Separate your failures from your identity
4. Keep going -- you may be right on the other side of a breakthrough!

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The mind is a powerful thing.  To accomplish something, we have to first believe it can be done.  

To maintain a healthy self-identity, we have to be careful about the words we tell ourselves and the people we allow to speak into our life.  

On this episode, Cal discusses the power of self-belief and provides 3 key principles to maintaining a healthy self-identity.  

Who do you say that you are?

Who do you believe that you can become?

The answers to these two questions is critical to us maximizing our potential!

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If we want to reach our full potential and make a significant contribution to the world, we have to move beyond good intentions and begin to live intentionally.  

On this episode, Cal explores two keys to intentional living: 

1. Making a life mission; and

2. Developing a plan for personal growth.  

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On this episode, Cal continues a two-part discussion on the importance of courageous leadership.  Cal builds on the leadership principles discussed in Episode 8 by sharing three principles of courageous leadership:

1.  Courageous leadership intentionally confront current reality, even when it's ugly;

2.  Courageous leaders confront their own blind spots; and

3.  Courageous leaders set clear expectations and provide honest feedback.  

Our leadership and influence with either shrink or grow in direct proportion to the amount of courage we choose to have.

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Acts of courage are often what makes a leader a leader.  We know this instinctively, yet courage is easier to talk about than it is to put into practice.  

On this episode, Cal begins the first part of a two-part discussion about courageous leadership and shares his first two principles of courageous leadership:

1.  Courageous leaders champion change; and

2.  Courageous leaders take action and are decisive.

By the end of this episode, Cal hopes to convince you that you are a leader and that your leadership will shrink or expand in proportion to the amount of courage you choose to have.   

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When we think of courage, we often think of giant figures that have changed the world -- Dr. Martin Luther King, Winston Churchill, Soldiers on the battlefield -- but courage is required of all of us if we want to achieve our potential and live the life we are called to live.  

In this episode, Cal passionately discusses 5 principles to live a life of courage and to overcome the fear that so often paralyzes us from walking into a more abundant and fulfilled life.  

Life is short, let's make it count!

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On this Episode, Cal discusses the power of kindness to have a positive impact on our sphere of influence.  

A small act of kindness can change the course of someone's day, pull someone out of a difficult place, change someone's view of themselves, and has the potential to alter someone's life for the better.  

After reflecting on the power of kindness, Cal reflects on his observations of kindness in action and shares a story of a couple that showed kindness to him and his family as they confront the challenges of military life.  

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We all want to be happy, yet we engage in behavior that undermines our own happiness.  One of the biggest ways we do this is by comparing ourselves to others.  

In this episode, Cal explores the dangers of unhealthy comparison and shares a mental "battle drill" for dealing with our tendency to engage in comparison.  By applying this mental battle drill, we can protect our happiness, celebrate the successes of others, and live more focused on achieving our dreams!  

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When we listen well, we meet a fundamental need in people to feel understood and affirmed.  Yet, so often we don't focus on being good listeners and forget the principle of seeking first to understand before we seek to be understood.

In this episode, Cal focuses on two key principles to being a great listener, and he asks listeners to commit to being better listeners.  Let's commit to this principle and believe that it can change our relationships and maybe even our world.  

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In this Episode, Cal shares a valuable lesson he learned in US Army Ranger School.  He talks about an important quality that many, if not most, great leaders have.  And that is the ability to remain calm under pressure – the ability to appear unflappable, to not be overcome with emotion, to not allow the outside pressures and circumstances – no matter how negative or dire they may be – to get the best of them. 

Great leaders have this ability to remain calm and to make smart decisions based on their principles, not their emotions, but how do you do this?  Cal shares specific ways to learn to master your emotions and make the best decision.  

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You cannot overstate the importance of being a great father.  Yet, there are many things competing for our time and attention, and it's not always easy to focus on what is most important.  In this episode, we explore three ways to make sure we maximize our time as fathers and make a lasting impact on our children.  It starts with keeping a long term perspective, learning to say "no" to things that are less important, and being truly present with our kids.  Let's be intentional about being excellent fathers!  

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Starting off your day the right way is key to making the day count.  And making each day count leads to a more fulfilled life, increased influence, and achieving your goals.  In this episode, Cal provides a brief introduction of himself, his motivation for starting this podcast, and 3 keys for starting the day off right!