Bouncing back from rock bottom, with retired NFL player, Marques Ogden
Release Date: 01/02/2024
Measure Success Podcast
Most sales teams are working with bad data—and it’s costing them revenue. In this episode of the Measure Success Podcast, Robert Kall, CEO of Cien, explains how AI-powered sales intelligence is helping companies clean up their CRM data, improve forecasting, and drive more conversions. Key insights: ✅ How bad sales data hurts revenue growth ✅ Why most CRM data is inaccurate—and how to fix it ✅ How AI helps sales teams improve forecasting and performance If you want to eliminate bad sales data and unlock more revenue, don’t miss...
info_outlineMeasure Success Podcast
Scaling a business takes focus, consistency, and the right people. Gui Costin, founder of Dakota, built a $40 billion sales and marketing firm by staying committed to long-term strategy and execution. In this episode, he shares how he grew his business, built an effective sales team, and created a system that works. Key insights: ✅ Why most sales teams fail and how to fix it ✅ The key to building a business that scales ✅ How private equity firms can raise more capital If you’re serious about growing your company the right way,...
info_outlineMeasure Success Podcast
A sock company that changes lives? Yes. John and Mark X. Cronin, the team behind John’s Crazy Socks, prove that a business with heart can also be a business that thrives. In this episode, they share their journey from a small startup to a global brand, all while prioritizing inclusion, impact, and customer happiness. Key insights: ✅ How a simple idea became a multi-million dollar business ✅ Why purpose and giving back drive growth ✅ What businesses can learn from their customer-first approach If you want to build a company that stands for...
info_outlineMeasure Success Podcast
Small businesses and startups need strong branding to stand out and grow. Jason Sherwood joins the Measure Success Podcast to explain why branding isn’t just about logos—it’s about creating trust, recognition, and customer loyalty. Key insights: ✅ Why branding matters for small businesses ✅ How to build a brand that attracts customers ✅ The biggest branding mistakes startups should avoid If you want to turn your business into a recognizable brand, this episode is packed with insights you can apply today. !
info_outlineMeasure Success Podcast
Going from a big firm to building your own CPA business takes courage, strategy, and the right mindset. Frank Milone, co-founder of FML CPAs, shares his journey from working at Ernst & Young to running a successful accounting firm. He explains the key lessons, mistakes to avoid, and how small firms can thrive today. Key insights: ✅ Why he left a major accounting firm to start his own ✅ The biggest challenges in running a CPA business ✅ How small firms can compete and grow If you’ve ever thought about starting your own business, this episode will...
info_outlineMeasure Success Podcast
Hiring a great salesperson isn’t luck—it’s science. In this episode, Dr. Christopher Croner explains how companies can identify high-drive salespeople before they make a bad hire. He breaks down the psychology behind top-performing sales reps and how to build a team of closers. Key insights: ✅ The three essential traits of elite salespeople ✅ Why traditional hiring methods fail in sales ✅ How to predict whether a candidate will succeed If you want to stop guessing and start hiring salespeople who can close, don’t miss this...
info_outlineMeasure Success Podcast
Growth without purpose leads to burnout and misalignment. In this episode of the Measure Success Podcast, Mark Mears explains why purpose-driven growth is the key to building successful businesses and engaged teams. He introduces the Four-Leaf Growth Model, a framework designed to help leaders create businesses that thrive and leave a lasting impact. Key insights: ✅ Why businesses need a clear purpose to grow sustainably ✅ The connection between leadership, culture, and profit ✅ How the Four-Leaf Growth Model drives long-term success If...
info_outlineMeasure Success Podcast
Your brand is more than a logo—it’s the feeling people get when they interact with your business. In this episode, Jason Sherwood shares how businesses can build a bold, recognizable brand that attracts and retains customers. Key insights: ✅ Why branding is the foundation of business growth ✅ How to design a brand that stands out ✅ The biggest mistakes businesses make with branding If your business isn’t getting the recognition it deserves, this episode will help you refine your brand strategy for better results. Interested in being a...
info_outlineMeasure Success Podcast
A business is only as strong as its team. Sean Glaze has worked with leaders across industries to improve teamwork, accountability, and communication. In this episode, he shares the mindset shifts and strategies needed to turn a group into a high-performing team. Key insights: ✅ Why most teams fail to work together effectively ✅ How to create a culture of trust and accountability ✅ The key to improving communication and team alignment If your team struggles with misalignment, lack of engagement, or poor collaboration, this episode will help you fix...
info_outlineMeasure Success Podcast
Growth is exciting—but without strong financial strategy, it can lead to cash flow issues and missed opportunities. Jody Grunden, co-founder of Summit CPA, explains how Virtual CFOs help businesses scale without financial blind spots. Key insights: ✅ How forecasting helps businesses avoid financial pitfalls ✅ The most common cash flow mistakes—and how to fix them ✅ Why strategic CFO planning leads to long-term success If you want to scale with confidence and financial clarity, don’t miss this episode. Need CFO services? ! Connect...
info_outlineIn This Episode:
In the span of just a couple of years, Marques Ogden went from being an NFL offensive lineman — to part-time custodian, getting other people’s trash spilled on his clothes as he worked for $8.25 an hour. And while most people can’t relate to playing football at the highest level like our guest this week did, everyone can learn from his valiant comeback — from bankrupt and working part-time, to an inspirational public speaker.
After spending five years in the NFL as an offensive lineman, Marques retired from the league. At 27, he founded a construction company called Kayden Premier Enterprises, which eventually went bankrupt in 2010. During his darkest hours, Marques pulled himself together, got a part-time job as a custodian, and with hard work and determination became an inspirational keynote speaker, executive coach, best-selling author, and marketing leader.
Tune into the full conversation for more on Marques’ NFL career, what he calls his “spoiled milk” moment that helped him turn his life around, how he managed to get out of survival mode, what surprised him most about life in the NFL, and a lot more.
Here’s a Glimpse of What You’ll Learn:
-
How Marques got through one of the hardest times of his life — losing his company in 2013 — and how he bounced back from everything he went through trying to keep it afloat
-
More about Marques’ time in “survival mode” — including getting fired twice in a week, working as a custodian and birthday cloud, and eventually how he turned everything around
-
The grant that helped keep Marques from being homeless, and how he built upon that building block for even greater success
-
The thing that surprised Marques the most during his NFL career
-
A breakdown of Marques’ regular schedule when he was in the NFL, including the invisible hours outside of game time that fans don’t usually see
-
Why Marques tells all athletes that their sport cannot be their “long-term” career
-
Why an NFL line of scrimmage is an “absolute war zone”
-
More about Marques’ rock-bottom moment from his time working as a custodian — plus the realization he had afterwards that changed his life
-
The “4 V’s” that Marques teaches his coaching clients, in order to get to the fifth V — “victory”
-
How Marques measures success in his business and life
Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
-
“The Success Cycle: 3 Keys for Achieving Your Goals in Business and Life” by Marques Ogden
-
“Sleepless Nights: The NFL: A Business and Family” by Marques Ogden
-
“The Breakthrough Code: A Story About Living a Life Without Limits” by Tom McCarthy
-
Buy a copy of “Lost at CEO: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Strategy” by Carl J. Cox