No One Ever Told Me: Recent Episodes
Matthew Warren
The words we say matter, but the way we say them matters just as much. Leadership is influence, and you waste your influence when you don't communicate well. On this episode Matt and Drew talk about how to have tough conversations and not wreck your influence with your team.
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of great leadership and business books. But if you're new to business and leadership, you may not know where to start. On this episode Matt and Drew take a high level look at several of their favorite resources that every leader needs at their disposal.
Ever felt like your vacations aren't doing enough to relieve the stress? Join the ever-growing crowd of owner-operators who feel like the can't take a break. On today's episode Matt and Drew talk about the importance of rhythms of rest and recovery that keep you sane and keep your business going strong at the same time.
What if the "fog of war" isn't just a military term? In this thought-provoking episode, we draw riveting parallels between the chaos of battle and the modern business leader's struggle with information overload. We tackle the challenge of sifting through mountains of data to find objective truth, and we dissect the dangerous dance between facts, propaganda, and personal perception. Amid the storm of conflicting opinions and data, we explore how grounding decisions in universal truth can sharpen a leader's vision and effectiveness.
As we venture further, we shatter the myth of the solitary leader. Leaders often feel the weight of the world on their shoulders, but we reveal why collaboration and mentorship are critical. With real-life examples, such as the collaborative successes of Elon Musk and a media magnate influenced by familial wisdom, we illustrate how nobody truly leads alone. Supported by networks like Fraction X, leaders can tap into a wealth of experience and insight, proving that the most successful paths are walked together. Join us to uncover how embracing collective wisdom can elevate your leadership to new heights.
The amount of effort and ambition it takes to become "successful" is almost unquantifiable. And, more than a few of us have become addicted to the process and the results of success along the way. Today Matt and Drew talk about redefining success, and how to put the emphasis on the most important things in your leadership.
One of the best investments you can make in your leadership to commit to a mastermind. Of all the resources available to leaders, a mastermind is truly unique because it combines relationships and content that you just can't get anywhere else. Today Matt and Drew highlight the FractionX way of leading a mastermind.
Can you love what you do and not lose yourself while you do it?
Is finding the balance even possible?
On this episode we discuss a couple strategies to help prioritize the things that matter most, and where meaning, purpose, and significance really come from.
Have you ever considered that sometimes, to reach new levels of leadership, you might need to quit some things altogether? Our latest episode unpacks this leadership truism - "If you want to go up in leadership, there are things you have to give up to get there." What things do you need to quit to make room for the more important things in your business?
As a follow up to the previous episode on hiring , Matt & Drew bring their experience and practical takes on the things leaders need to know when it's time to let an employee go.
All hiring processes suck, yes, it's true.
BUT, you can create systems that make them suck less.
When it comes to finding talent and hiring great talent, there are no silver bullets.
But if you stay true to your vision, mission, and values you can make a tough process produce better results.
Have you ever been captivated by the glint of a 'shiny penny'?
We've all worked for those leaders and some of us have even been those leaders—chasing the thrill of every possible new idea.
On today's episode, we peel back the curtain on the Shiny Penny Syndrome (S.P.S.), and talk about how to understand it, manage it, and how help our teams with it.
It's almost impossible to keep up with how quickly things change in marketing. Between the ever evolving technology and strategies, it's easy to get lost trying to stay current. But, there's one marketing principle that never changes - telling great stories. On today's episode Drew helps business owners understand the steps they have to take to become better story tellers and how they can better market their business.
Have you ever been at a crossroads, wondering whether to take a bold step forward or patiently wait for the right moment? Our latest podcast episode, Matt and Drew talk about the pace of leadership and why you need both a gas and brake pedal to lead effectively.
Have you ever wondered what your boss really thinks but won't say? Our survey revealed a few shocking responses to our question. On this episode we find out, not only what bosses said, but you can hear how Matt and Drew coach both sides to greater clarity and clearer communication.
At best the employer / employee relationship is complicated. Of course there are great organizations with great leaders and inspiring culture where things operate amazingly, but by and large (and unfortunately) the perpetually frustrated employee is the rule.
On this episode Matt and Drew go through a few responses to the poll that asked our listeners to fill in this blank - "I wish my boss would ________ ." In response the guys give some direction on how leaders can better lead their teams and how followers can open up better communication with their leaders.
Life can often be painful. Leading anything meaningful eventually leads to more of it. On this episode Matt and Drew talk about embracing the pain of leadership, how pain can fuel growth and how pain can ignite your passion in a way comfort never could.
This one scene from Christoper Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises inspired this topic. On this episode Matt and Drew talk about making the jump without the rope. The big idea is if you're playing it safe, you are limiting your future. The safety you seek is holding you back.
"Feedback" is often a platitudinal buzzword in the work place, but even if feels tired, I promise you it's incredibly crucial. On this episode Matt and Drew talk to leaders who need to grow in how they receive feedback from their teams, and we give some tips for employees who want to learn how to give their leader feedback.
For good and for bad, leaders (employers) have huge influence on the people they lead. AND, as employees it's imperative we don't give away more of our emotional and mental health than we have to, even as we contribute at high levels in our jobs. Today Drew and Matt talk about redefining our relationship with work so we can live healthier lives.
Leaders, don't make the mistake of creating this kind of culture. Today we poke the bear and get Drew talking about unhealthy "family culture" we see so often in organizations.
Most of us don't rise to the level of our goals, we fall the level of our habits.
There's a similar parallel in your business.
You don't rise to the level of your goals, you fall to the level of your systems. Today Matt and Drew talk about how to return to your why and build your systems to drive results, rather than the results driving you.
Have you ever felt the effects of bad leadership? Or, have you ever caught yourself leading poorly and thought, I can do so much better than this? On today's episode we encourage leaders to step into the tension of working on your business when the pressure to stay working in your business is overwhelming.
Does data drive your decisions or do you lead and decide with your gut? On today's episode Matt and Drew hash out a better way to make decisions.
Casting vision is not creating culture. Creating culture is not casting a vision. Have you stopped to think about the difference? Do you know where your strengths as a leader lie? On this episode Matt and Drew draw the distinction between culture and vision and give some ideas on how to better lead in your business.
You might not think it, but talking about goals and goal setting is a polarizing topic. Some leaders love goals, and others loathe them. On this episode Matt and Drew talk about two new ways to think about goals as we prepare for bigger impact in 2024.
Struggling to switch gears from founder to a CEO? You're not alone. We're diving into the tough transition from starting up to managing a business, addressing the common struggle of burnout and boredom.
If you have eyes to see it, there are leadership lessons everywhere - even at a casino. On this episode we talk about how to improve your odds in the leadership game. Be prepared to have your playbook reshaped and to be more prepared for the challenges ahead. Let's change the odds together!
Matt and Drew kick off the FractionX Podcast. On this episode we talk about turning The No One Ever Told Me Podcast into the FractionX Podcast and talk about how a fractional leadership team can help you right now.
Matt Booth is the President of Room 101 Brands. Room 101 is a lifestyle company that creates products that range from my favorite cigars on the planet, to custom jewelry, and now a recently launched gin division. Today Matt takes us on the journey of his life and tells us what he thinks it takes to make it in business.
Today my guest is Dr. Hermilo Jasso
Dr. Jasso is a keynote speaker, leadership expert, economics professor, and was easily my favorite teacher at Lee University.
Dr. Jasso is responsible for helping place thousands of business students into the workforce, but his influence goes so far beyond that.
From humble beginnings, to a PhD, Dr. Jasso is the picture of determination and resilience and today we talk about why A students work for C students, why leaders are always learners, and how to bounce back from unthinkable tragedy.
Today my guest is Kyle Reed. Kyle is the founder of Reed Digital Agency, a leader in helping brands and business leverage social media for growth. Now if you know me personally, you know this is a touchy subject for me. I don’t love social media, and at best I consider it a necessary evil, but I’m always willing to hear someone out, especially someone as talented and gifted as Kyle. Today we talk about how to set simple goals for your social media, how to change your mindset from victim to victor, and why you have to love the process if you want to win online.
Jeff Henderson is today's guest and this entire conversation is a gift!
Jeff is one of those rare leaders that truly lives out his life with humble excellence. From large projects to simple everyday conversations, Jeff is a walking masterclass in leadership.
I’ve been a student of Jeff’s teaching for years and his wisdom and kindness are unmatched.
**Today we talk about how to know when it’s time to leave a job, how to leverage side hustles and so much more.
Find out more at JeffHendeson.com**
Tim Stevens is a gifted leader, with a celebrated career in for-profit and non-profit sectors, and is an author of 7 books,
Right now Tim’s newest and current assignment is to lead at Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago, IL as the executive pastor. Today Tim talks about leading through challenging seasons, discerning your momentum, and why an inner circle is crucial to leaders
Today my guest is Chip Dodd.
Chip is a mentor, a consultant, a counselor, and an author of 7 books.
Through hundreds and thousands of conversations Chip has helped a ton of leaders through addiction, stress illnesses, and burn out, and today we spend time talking about why leaders wear out, the steps you can take to reverse course, and why sometimes even great leaders lose heart.
Matt Tresidder is the co-founder and CEO of Leadr “a people development software specifically designed to develop leaders at every level of your organization.”
Matt's audacious goal to develop 1 million leaders is inspiring, and I think they've got what it takes to get there.
But, today’s conversation is so much more than a simple exploration of a new technology.
Today Matt and I talk about why immigrants so frequently succeed in the United States, imposter syndrome, and why is so important for leaders to recognize and fight against decision fatigue.
Chris Redhage is the co-founder of Provider Trust, and the co-founder of Nashville’s own Major League Soccer team - Nashville SC.
I love the conversation we have today.
A conversation about a kid who started life with a learning disability and a disadvantage, but also about a kid who's leadership gifts were called out and nurtured at a young age and how that put him on a pathway towards a beautiful and complex life as an entrepreneur and organizational leader.
Chris's personal mission statement is other’s focused, and no matter what leadership hat he’s wearing on any given day - Chris wakes up and thinks about serving others.
Our 1st guest of season two is legendary author and professional sports executive Pat Williams. Pat is a brilliant man who’s passion for leadership and history shine in this conversation.
And, if a 56 year career in professional sports management including leading his franchises to 5 NBA finals - including a 30 year run with the Orlando Magic wasn’t impressive enough, somehow Pat found time to write 117 books, that is simply incredible!
Today Pat and I discuss parts of his leadership journey and his newest book - Revolutionary Leadership.
I'm thrilled about the pile of interviews we've captured over the summer. In this trailer we briefly talk about my leadership take-aways from running trails.
On this episode I share my one big takeaway from each episode in season 1 and what to expect from The No One Ever Told Me Podcast season 2.
**Mike Mixson was my boss 20 years ago, and he invested in my leadership and taught me about systems, sales, and how to lead a team.
In 1992 Mike created a playground for musicians by starting L&M Music, a hugely successful music store in Chattanooga, TN.
But, life has a way of imposing it’s will on a business plan, so almost 30 years later, Mike has completely reinvented his retail business to serve golfers on a budget and the business is on fire!
And, if you’re a fan of viral videos or Tosh.0, you may have even seen his Youtube smash hit - "We buy golf."**
**Vaden Landers is CEO of Paymogy, but that title is simply inadequate in describing all of the experience and value he brings to the table.
From C-suite roles in publicly traded companies to start ups and a handful of roles in between, Vaden has spent 35 years in the payment industry.**
And after all that time, he’s still driven to succeed by leveraging his strengths, building excellent teams, and executing strategic direction.
Annie F. Downs is a NY Times best selling author, coveted keynote speaker, and podcast host extraordinaire. But, her skill set doesn’t stop there. Annie is a builder and that’s why I wanted her to share her story. Her 2 organizations - Downs Books Inc. and The That sounds Fun Network are absolutely crushing it right now, and her wit and wisdom are guiding them both to massive impact and incredible influence. Listen along as Annie shares her journey from Founder to CEO.
Today’s guest is Tyler Thayer, principle of Paradym Studio.
Tyler has been an entrepreneur since childhood, so it’s no surprise to anyone that during a global pandemic he’s experiencing exponential growth at Paradym Studio.
But, with growth comes growing pains and today you’ll hear that it’s not enough to simply grow your company. YOU have to grow your leadership in proportionality, or risk that growth because you aren’t ready to handle it.
Nathan Artt is the founder of Ministry Solutions, executive leadership solutions, and XP solutions. On this episode Nathan talks through the ins and outs of leading a fast growing company, the upside of Covid-19 disruption, and why you should hire and empower a team of experts to build the best version of your organization.
Ginny Reed's strong desire to help and empower women has skyrocketed her online and retail business to dizzying heights. And, through all the tough choices and decisions over the last 7 years, one simple question has helped guide her over and over again - "Does this make sense?" Now, armed with the hard-earned lessons of her success, she's turning her attention to coaching other business leaders.
You've heard the saying "tough times don't last, tough people do." It's what comes to mind immediately any time I think about the West Nashville Dream Center and its Executive Director, TJ Fletcher. The failure rate of small businesses is alarming. Even more concerning to me is how non-profits aren't typically built to succeed, much less persist through tough times. Listen to TJ's story about the courage of conviction that provides a true north for difficult decisions.
From the moment I had the idea to start the No One Ever Told Me podcast, I knew one the first guests had to be my friend Nathan Dantzler. Nathan is the owner of The HitLab, and I've admired Nathan's genius from the moment I met him 20 years ago. On this episode Nathan shares his story from studio intern to Grammy winner, and gives us his brilliant perspective on failure and growth. We talk through the challenging topics of identity, momentum, and why planting seeds is important.
I'm not sure how many leaders can go from corporate IT recruiting to partnering with NFL athletes on commercial real estate investments, but there's at least one - Scott Stephens.
On this episode, we talk about recognizing open doors, growing in wisdom, and defining success in a way anyone can understand. You'll want to take notes on this one, so grab a pen or your note-taking app and dive in.
Most of us had a childhood dream job. And most of us never made it happen. Even fewer of us landed our dream job only to pivot to a completely different career. On today's episode we talk to Charlie Neese about how decisions are easier when you've identified your values and how to strategically transition from one career to another.
How many architect / developers / general contractors do you know that have a skateboard ramp in their yard? Well, for 15 years Jared Bradley has been building a thriving business in two of the greatest cities in America, all while never forgetting his skateboarding roots. On this episode, Jared tells us how his unlikely journey taught him the leadership lessons that serve as the foundation for his 3 companies.
Over 25 years ago, Rusty Gaston pulled into Nashville, TN with a Charlie Daniels' record playing on the stereo and an entrepreneurial mindset that has helped turn a passion into a career. From starting his own publishing company all the way to the C-suite at the largest publishing company in Nashville, Rusty shares the lessons he's learned that have shaped the leader he is today.
Welcome to the No One Ever Told Me Podcast where we talk about the things that no one ever tells you that you really need to know to thrive in business and in leadership. This trailer will give you a glimpse of the conversations we’ll have and the ideas we’ll explore. Listen and subscribe so you don’t miss these inspiring discussions.