Ep 65: The Stockdale Paradox - How to Balance Reality with Hope
Release Date: 04/23/2025
Ep 87: Kaizen- The Japanese philosophy of continuous improvement
Building Bigger Lives
In this episode of the Building Bigger Lives podcast, Michael and Kathryn explore the Japanese business philosophy of Kaizen, which means "good change" or "change for the better." Kaizen promotes continuous improvement through incremental changes. They explore historical examples from Toyota and personal experiences shared by Michael's family. They also discuss the practical application of Kaizen principles, particularly the 5S framework, and emphasize how these concepts can be adapted across various industries to improve efficiency and productivity. The conversation concludes with a focus on...
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Ep 86: An Interview with Mike Newmann
Building Bigger Lives
Today The Building Bigger Lives podcast welcomes Mike Newmann, a Southern Oregon leader and former baseball coach, who shares his career transition from coaching to financial services and discusses his leadership development journey. Newmann details his experiences in managing teams, handling market challenges, and implementing innovative loan programs while emphasizing the importance of personal growth and maintaining positive influences. The episode concludes with discussions about leadership, personal development, and the value of authentic self-expression, with Mike and the hosts...
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Ep 85: The “to-do” and the “not-to-do” Lists
Building Bigger Lives
In this episode of the Building Bigger Lives podcast, Michael and Kathryn discuss the concept of to-do lists and their effectiveness in managing tasks. They explore the process of brain dumping, where thoughts and tasks are written down to clear mental clutter. Michael explains the Eisenhower Matrix as a tool for organizing tasks into quadrants based on urgency and importance. Kathryn shares her preference for shorter, focused to-do lists, while Michael emphasizes the importance of prioritizing tasks and using strategies like the Eisenhower Matrix to make decisions. They also touch on the...
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Ep 84: John Donnelly Summits Kilimanjaro!
Building Bigger Lives
In this episode of Building Bigger Lives, Michael and Kathryn welcome back John Donnelly, a returning guest and Executive Director of Sales at Service First Mortgage, to discuss his continued journey of learning and growth. John shares that after reading "The 12 Hour Walk" by Colin O'Brady, he embarked on a similar challenge, which marked a significant turning point in his personal and professional development. John shares his preparation for and completion of a solo climb of Mount Kilimanjaro. He describes his experiences with training, team support, and the challenges faced during the climb,...
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Ep 83: Kelly Zitlow - The Sunshine Warrior!
Building Bigger Lives
Kelly Zitlow is our guest in this episode of the Building Bigger Lives podcast. Kelly has developed the “Sunshine Warrior” community, movement, and podcast. Kelly shares her personal journey and the origins of the "Sunshine Warrior" concept, which evolved from a source of comfort during her mother's battle with cancer into a trademarked brand focused on positivity and support. She discusses her own challenges as an introvert, particularly her struggles with public speaking, and how she overcame them through determination and practice. Kelly also shares insights about her parents'...
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Ep 82: Clayton Collins - HousingWire CEO
Building Bigger Lives
Clayton Collins, CEO of HousingWire, shares his career journey from financial services to acquiring the company in 2016, driven by his family's background in housing and his passion for working with entrepreneurs. He outlined Housing Wire's transformation from a print magazine to a digital media company, including strategic acquisitions and expansion into new segments while emphasizing the importance of providing timely and accurate information to housing professionals. The discussion covered the company's approach to media and events, highlighting their role in fostering relationships and...
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Ep 81: A.I. in your Role Reflection
Building Bigger Lives
In today’s episode, Kathryn and Michael discuss the role of AI in personal and professional development, exploring how AI tools like ChatGPT can enhance creativity, productivity, and problem-solving. Kathryn shares her experiences using AI for tasks such as summarizing podcasts, creating meal plans, and generating content ideas, while Michael highlights how AI can serve as a creative companion and a tool for capturing and analyzing information during coaching sessions. They emphasize the importance of asking strategic questions to leverage AI effectively and encourage listeners to reflect on...
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Ep 80: Joe Thompson is a Man on a Mission!
Building Bigger Lives
Joe Bob Thompson, a former client and long-time friend of Michael, shares his life story on the podcast. Growing up in a small, rural town in northeast Texas, Joe faced challenges due to his unique name, which led to fights in the 5th grade. Despite this, he developed thick skin and learned to stand up for himself. Joe attributes his positive outlook to his mother and stepfather, who were significant influences in his life. He shares insights on positivity, team leadership, and the importance of integrating personal passions into professional roles, drawing from his experiences in football,...
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Ep 79: New Hires & the Training Process
Building Bigger Lives
Michael and Kathryn discuss the importance of thoughtful hiring and proper training for new hires. They emphasize the need to assess current team capacity and productivity before deciding to hire, suggesting that addressing inefficiencies and considering technology or outsourcing solutions may be more beneficial. When hiring is necessary, they advise creating a clear job description, understanding the priority of tasks, and evaluating the cost-benefit of different solutions. They stress the importance of regular industry trend monitoring to stay informed about technology and outsourcing...
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Ep 78: Ryan Grant – His Leadership Journey
Building Bigger Lives
Ryan Grant, President of Neo, shares his personal and professional journey in the mortgage industry, including his background growing up in a small rodeo town near Yosemite, and his transformation into a more visionary leader through experiences in competitive sports and business. The discussion explores Ryan's leadership style, emphasizing his approach to decisive action, team empowerment, and continuous learning, while highlighting his journey from being results-focused to prioritizing team growth and development. He expresses his passion for redefining the mortgage industry and providing...
info_outlineIn this episode, Kathryn and Michael discuss the Stockdale paradox, a concept derived from the experiences of Admiral James Bond Stockdale, the highest-ranking US military officer held as a prisoner-of-war in Vietnam. They explain how certain prisoners, who had specific expectations about their release or improved conditions, were negatively affected by these expectations. In contrast, those who managed to survive did so by balancing their hope for a specific outcome with the knowledge that the uncertainty could continue indefinitely. This balance allowed them to focus on surviving one day at a time, illustrating the importance of mental fitness in navigating uncertain situations.
Kathryn and Michael discuss the Stockdale paradox in the context of business, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a balanced mindset in uncertain economic times and focusing on what one can control. They also introduce the CIA exercise as a tool for clarifying thoughts and adopting an ownership mindset, and highlight the significance of networking and long-term vision in business planning. The conversation ends with a discussion on the importance of maintaining a positive mindset and focusing on what one can influence, with Michael sharing a personal experience as a metaphor for feeling trapped in one's own mind.
Building Bigger Lives Podcast-
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