Building the Best Men's Group in the World with Francis Piché
Million Dollar Relationships
What if feeling like you only had a stick on the battlefield was the moment God showed you the sword? In this episode, Francis Piché shares his declaration: to create the best men's group in the world for conscious men who want to establish something beyond their own life. The Knight Club isn't just about mission, it's about working on that mission together with brothers who share the heroic code (humility, excellence, respect, optimism, integrity, and courage). His vision? Chapters around the world where men can travel to Paris, London, Barcelona, or Sydney and know they'll connect with...
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Attributes of Powerful Communicators with Dia Bondi
Million Dollar Relationships
What if the most powerful communicators aren't the most polished ones? In this episode, Dia Bondi shares how watching a three-day communication skills class transformed her life. She had no resume to support her desire, but she made the ask that changed everything: "Will you apprentice me?" That mentor said yes, and 25 years later, she's still helping leaders speak powerfully from who they truly are. Dia's work goes beyond messaging to something deeper: helping clients articulate what they have to say before figuring out how to say it. She's coached VC-backed founders past Series B, VP-level...
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The Formula to Achieving Any Goal with Cliff Ravenscraft
Million Dollar Relationships
What if saying your goals out loud, got you an email introducing you to your hero? In this episode, Cliff Ravenscraft shares how he walked away from a family insurance agency (started by his grandfather in 1937) where he was next in line to lead, all because of a podcast about the TV show Lost. After building an audience of 60,000 subscribers and receiving over 500 handwritten letters from people whose lives were transformed, Cliff realized his real calling wasn't selling insurance or being a pastor. It was teaching people how to use their voice to create content that matters. He's since...
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Restoring Impossible Relationships with Greg Stephens
Million Dollar Relationships
What if restoring impossible relationships just required knowing what's on the other side? In this episode, Greg Stephens shares how 24 years as a master trainer for Crucial Conversations taught him that breakthroughs aren't permanent until they're practiced over and over. That realization led him to shift from training to coaching, creating a six-month program where executives and emerging leaders have conversations they never thought possible. His specialty? Seeing relationships like some people see music, orchestrating conversations where people show up as their best. Greg also reveals why...
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Story Saving and Narrative Resilience with Amanda Johnson
Million Dollar Relationships
What if the book you're writing is actually about the story holding you back? In this episode, Amanda Johnson shares how twenty years of helping entrepreneurs write books revealed something most people never see: the reason you can't finish your book usually has nothing to do with time, organization, or writing skills. It's the old stories you're carrying that keep one foot on the gas and one foot on the brake. Amanda's work goes far beyond traditional book coaching. She creates what she calls "story saving" experiences where high-achieving entrepreneurs finally see the truth they've been...
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Adoption Saved My Life with Anthony Simonie
Million Dollar Relationships
What if losing half your business in a betrayal led you to make $120,000 in 60 days on a platform everyone ignores? In this episode, Anthony Simonie shares how being adopted by his grandparents literally saved his life and how that experience shaped everything from his approach to entrepreneurship to his decision to adopt both of his children, Miles and Daisy. After his nine-month-old son Miles stopped breathing and Anthony performed CPR not knowing if his son would survive, his business partner exploited that crisis by drawing up a fraudulent amendment that gave away half of Anthony's half of...
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The $39 Million Apple Stock Lesson with Jerremy Newsome
Million Dollar Relationships
What if Forrest Gump taught a six-year-old how to never worry about money again? In this episode, Jerremy Newsome shares how watching Forrest Gump at age six sparked a question that changed everything: "What does it mean to not have to worry about money?" That question led him to pick blackberries door-to-door, earning $1,500 that his dad matched to buy $3,000 worth of Apple stock in 1995. While those shares would be worth $39 million today, Jerremy sold them in 2000 for $12,000. That early win, and the lesson from selling too soon, ignited a 20-year journey mastering liquid markets. Now...
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When One Murder Creates a Generation of Entrepreneurs with Stephen Woessner
Million Dollar Relationships
What if an entire family's trajectory changed in a single moment of tragedy? In this episode, Stephen Woessner, founder of Predictive ROI, shares the remarkable story of his grandfather Peter Marus, who arrived in America in 1920 with just $10 and couldn't speak English. After his father was murdered on the streets of Istanbul for being Greek, eight-year-old Peter became the family breadwinner, dropping out of third grade to support his mother and siblings. That singular tragedy transformed his family's DNA, creating a lineage of entrepreneurs that spans four generations. Stephen reveals how...
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From Building Sailboats in West Africa to Home Service Business with John Caprani
Million Dollar Relationships
What if a stranger inviting you to build a boat halfway around the world led to meeting your wife, building a family, and discovering your life's work? In this episode, John Caprani, video advertising specialist for home service businesses, shares his unconventional journey from Ireland to West Africa to Fiji and finally to Spain. After meeting a Swiss sailor named Hans in 2011, John packed everything for a one-way ticket to Senegal to build a 72-foot wooden sailboat. That adventure led to a job in Fiji doing construction project management, where he met his wife within six weeks, married her...
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Building a Life You Never Want to Retire From with Natalie Michael
Million Dollar Relationships
What if the most important person in your life handed you their most powerful peer group and said "yes you can" when you were certain you couldn't? In this episode, Natalie Michael, executive coach and CEO Forum Chair with 20 years of experience guiding leaders through transitions, shares her journey from psychology studies and consciousness research to becoming the person who holds space for some of the most powerful entrepreneurs in Canada. After riding the .com boom from 2 million to 30 million in four years with no outside venture capital, Natalie learned what she loved and what exhausted...
info_outlineWhat if the work you do every day could help 15-25 families consider adoption with just a $1,500 Christmas card budget?
In this episode, Graeme Watt, co-founder and leader of Anthem Creative, shares his remarkable journey from outdoor adventure guide to nonprofit founder to running a thriving creative agency that serves organizations pursuing human flourishing. Through pivotal relationships with two mentors - Tom Ko, his "fundraising Yoda," and Michael Gibney, his business mentor of 15 years - Graeme discovered how to build businesses that amplify good in the world. From Googling "how to start a nonprofit" at age 26 to celebrating 10 years running a full-service agency with his brother, Graeme reveals how the right relationships at the right time, combined with unwavering optimism and clear vision, can transform not just your business trajectory but your entire life's work.
His agency operates with a simple filter: "Will this amplify human flourishing?" This principle guides everything from client selection to team building, creating a business that treats every project as an opportunity to make the world better.
Graeme reflects on how mentorship shaped his leadership, why passion is the single greatest competitive advantage in hiring, and how one adoption agency campaign proved that creative work can genuinely change lives - one family at a time.
[00:04:00] What Graeme Does: Amplifying Good Through Creative Services
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Co-founder of Anthem Creative with his brother Mark
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Mission: Partner with organizations pursuing human flourishing to amplify their impact online
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Portfolio company structure with main operating company as creative agency
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Core filter for all decisions: "Will this amplify human flourishing?"
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Specializes in branding, custom web experiences, and film/documentary work
[00:06:00] The Journey: From Outdoor Guide to Entrepreneur
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Studied ecotourism and outdoor leadership (not business)
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Worked as river guide and rock climbing guide early in career
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Married and moved to Edmonton, Alberta where outdoor industry didn't exist
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Started working with youth and students, creating experiments for young people
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At 26, Googled "how to start a nonprofit organization" and launched one from his living room
[00:10:00] The Haiti Moment: Brothers Unite
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Graeme worked at World Vision Canada (large global NGO)
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Submitted innovation grant proposals that kept getting funded
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Hired his brother's agency for these innovation projects
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Graeme quit his nonprofit job and joined his brother full-time
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Just celebrated 10 years in business together
[00:11:25] Most Impactful Result: The Adoption Agency Campaign
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Early in agency life, partnered with local adoption agency
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Handled complete rebrand: new name, website, video content, and collateral
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Agency wanted to run year-end digital ad campaign but had no budget
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Got creative: repurposed $1,500 Christmas card budget for digital ads
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Launched December 20th using brand hero video they'd already created
[00:17:00] How They Met: Through a Designer's Introduction
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Met when Graeme was 26, starting nonprofit from scratch
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Introduced by Ian, a freelance designer working with Graeme
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Graeme was building a board and asked if anyone knew potential board members
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Tom had 30 years in nonprofit space, running successful consulting firm
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Graeme thought: "He's not gonna want anything to do with a guy like me"
[00:18:07] Tom's Investment: Chairing the Board
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Tom was captivated by Graeme's passion and vision
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Immediately offered: "I would love to chair your board if you would have me"
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Became board chair when organization "wasn't even really an organization"
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Taught Graeme everything about fundraising, board leadership, governance, and agency agreements
[00:24:00] How They Met: Through an Intern's Introduction
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Michael's daughter was Graeme's intern at World Vision Canada
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Graeme was running a coffee company on the side (social enterprise sourcing from Africa)
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Michael also involved in coffee and sourcing products from developing world
[00:25:20] The Mentorship Terms: 30 Minutes of $900/Hour Time
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Graeme was looking for business-side mentor (had Tom for nonprofit side)
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Asked Michael directly: "Would you consider mentoring me?"
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Michael's conditions: "My time is really valuable—I charge $900/hour"
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Michael's offer: "I'll give you 30 minutes whenever you need it, but:"
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15 years later, relationship still going strong
[00:27:37] Michael's Lasting Impact: Believing Before Graeme Did
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Every major business decision has had Michael's voice in it
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In 15 years, has never steered Graeme wrong
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Saw things in Graeme that he didn't believe were there
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Believed in Graeme when he didn't believe in himself
[00:29:00] Real-Time Impact: The 3D Printing Product Launch
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Operating partner designed proprietary product for global market
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3D printed product with penny manufacturing costs and high margins
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Required expertise in international patent law and licensing agreements
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Called Michael 40 minutes before podcast recording
[00:33:40] Philosophy: The Power of Pursuing Human Flourishing
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Commitment to human flourishing attracts incredible relationships and opportunities
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Right people show up at right times with needed expertise
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Until recently, never posted job openings—always went to network
KEY QUOTES
"The ability to clearly communicate a future vision with conviction and passion—there are a few skills that are more valuable than that." - Graeme Watt
"The glass is always half full with me. It's always optimistic. We're always gonna figure it out." - Graeme Watt
"If you can constantly see the forest, then you don't get bogged down by the trees." - Graeme Watt
"Whoever tells the best story wins." - Graeme Watt
"If you give 51% and you give more than you expect in return, then that's a winning formula." - Graeme Watt (referencing Gary Vaynerchuk)
CONNECT WITH GRAEME WATT
🌐 Website: https://www.anthemcreative.ca
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wattgraeme
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