Ep. 139 - Skip's Quips: The Worst Christmas Gift I Ever Recieved
The Main Thing Podcast
The Worst Christmas Gift I Ever Received Welcome, wisdom-seekers to Skip’s Quips - a Holiday Special Edition! This week on The Main Thing Podcast, we’re doing something a little different — and a little more intimate. No guest. No interview. Just you and me, gathered around a story that has stayed with me for nearly half a century. And it couldn’t be landing at a better time. Today is a week before Christmas, and most of us are feeling the familiar holiday squeeze — the pressure to get it right, to pick the perfect gifts, to keep all the moving parts moving. Before the wrapping paper...
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Ep. 138 - Connector Kathleen Walker Shares Timeless Wisdom
The Main Thing Podcast
In this heartfelt and deeply meaningful wisdom conversation, I sit down with Kathleen Walker—a trusted friend of more than 25 years, a respected leadership consultant, an entrepreneur and one of the most compassionate people I know. Kathleen works with leaders, teams, and organizations to strengthen communication, clarity, and performance. But beyond her professional expertise, Kathleen brings a rare blend of empathy, insight, and lived wisdom that has shaped countless lives—including mine. This conversation is an invitation to slow down, look inward, and lead differently. Lead With Love...
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Ep. 137 - Golf Pro Chris Breed Shares Inspiring Wisdom
The Main Thing Podcast
In this inspiring wisdom‑conversation, I sit down with Chris Breed. He’s not only a top PGA-certified golf instructor, coach, encourager and faith‑driven leader, he is one of the most inspiring people I’ve ever met. FACE Forward - Encouragement, Focus & Faith We explore how Chris’ coaching insights and spiritual perspectives combine to help us live wiser, bolder lives. Chris introduces his “FACE” framework (Focus • Attitude • Commitment • Effort) and shows how it applies not only on the green, but in our everyday journeys of growth and meaning. You will laugh and...
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Ep. 136: Choosing Possibility Over Fear with Lindsay Yellin
The Main Thing Podcast
Today’s wise guest is an entrepreneurial business owner who has lived and worked in Chicago, London and San Francisco. Lindsay Yellin is creative and bold—and she keeps it very real. She’s worked as an executive in high-pressure industries and now helps other executive leaders in similar environments to cope and thrive. When you listen to this episode you will come away with … Tips and techniques for dealing with fear. Practices you can apply right now - today - for coping with stress and uncertainty. Leadership practices and advice on leading your team during tumultuous times. More...
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Ep. 135 - Conversations with My Mentor John (Pt. Four): The Courage to Change
The Main Thing Podcast
Welcome to a very special wisdom mini-series. This four-part project originates from an archive of rare 2004 recordings of wisdom conversations with my mentor, John Wells Jr. In the truest sense this batch of wisdom has been two decades in the making. Sadly, John passed away in early February 2005, after battling cancer. Those conversations and recordings served as a pre-cursor, perhaps even a prequel to this podcast which launched 15 years later in 2019. The Courage to Change Part Four features what was, perhaps, John’s favorite story to tell, his favorite wisdom lesson. It showcases...
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Ep. 134 - Conversations with My Mentor John (Pt. Three): A Powerful Phrase for Leaders
The Main Thing Podcast
This four-part series originates from an archive of rare 2004 recordings of wisdom conversations with my mentor, John Wells Jr. Sadly, John passed away in early February 2005, after battling cancer. Those conversations and recordings served as a pre-cursor, perhaps even a prequel to this podcast which launched 15 years later in 2019. A Powerful Six-Word Phrase for Leaders Part Three of our our mini-series is the shortest of the four. In it, you will discover one of John’s favorite leadership tools. It’s a powerful, six-word phrase that’s easy to grasp, easy to use and easy to...
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Ep. 133 - Conversations with John (Pt. Two): The Art of Visualization
The Main Thing Podcast
Welcome to a very special episode and wisdom mini-series. This four-part series originates from an archive of rare 2004 recordings of wisdom conversations with my mentor, John Wells Jr. In the truest sense this batch of wisdom has been two decades in the making. Sadly, John passed away in early February 2005, after battling cancer. Those conversations and recordings served as a pre-cursor, perhaps even a prequel to this podcast which launched 15 years later in 2019. The Art of Visualization In Part Two of our our mini-series, John tells one of his favorite stories. It’s the story of...
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Ep. 132 - Conversations with John: Seeing the Struggle as an Opportunity
The Main Thing Podcast
Welcome to a very special episode and wisdom mini-series. This four-part series originates from an archive of rare 2004 recordings of wisdom conversations with my mentor, John Wells Jr. Sadly, John passed away in early February 2005, after battling cancer. Those conversations and recordings served as a pre-cursor, perhaps even a prequel to this podcast which launched 15 years later in 2019. In the truest sense this has been two decades in the making. Embracing Adversity with Grace and Resilience Here in Part One our our mini-series, you will hear John share a wisdom lesson with me...
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Ep. 131 - Marine Cmdr. Jake Harriman Shares Unifying Wisdom
The Main Thing Podcast
From Combat Zones to Community Hubs: Jake Harriman's Journey of Servant Leadership I first heard about Jake Harriman by way of his guest appearance on The Jocko Willink Podcast. Immediately I was drawn to his mission, heart and bias for action. Jake Harriman is a former US Marine Commander who spent more than a decade abroad defending our nation from enemies, terrorism and other global threats. But when Jake retired from active military duty and returned to America, in his words, he no longer recognized the nation he had spent so many years defending. Jake quickly saw that Americans were at...
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Ep. 130 - Artist Bryan Boyd Shares Soulful Wisdom
The Main Thing Podcast
Creative expression comes in many forms—and it’s not limited to the arts. Creative expression can be a tremendous, strategic advantage in business, too. The rich, full life of our guest, Bryan Boyd, is a perfect illustration of this wisdom truth. Musical Journeys Meet Marketing Mastery In this rich, colorful wisdom conversation with Bryan Boyd, the ingenious artist and musician, you will discover how someone can blend art, music and entrepreneurship synergistically and successfully. Fresh off a notable performance where he shared the stage with KC and the Sunshine Band,...
info_outlineWelcome back to The Main Thing Podcast! Our special guest is a gifted leader who has run the HR programs from the C-suite of several of America’s most admired and successful corporations.
Tran Taylor has served as Upbound’s Executive Vice President — Chief Human Resources Officer since July 2021 and as the Chief Diversity Officer since May 2022. From 2008 through 2021, he served on the executive leadership team as the CHRO/CPO for Bumble, Mr. Cooper and Travelocity.
Tran has a track record of leading the Human Resources function, establishing human capital strategy and optimizing culture and people practices. From 2001 to 2008, he led the human resources function for global, retail-focused companies, such as Alliance Data and The Home Depot. He has led human resources integration for multiple merger and acquisition efforts and also served as a key enabler for several transformational change initiatives.
Tran earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from West Virginia University and completed HR executive development certification from University of Michigan Business School. He joins us from Dallas, where he resides with his wife and three children.
Get set! Over the next 9 minutes you will discover why Tran Taylor is one of the wisest people I know.
Resources
Contact Tran Taylor on LinkedIn
Credits
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Episode Chapters
[0:00:01 - 0:04:30] - Intro, Welcome and Guest Bio; the connection between Tran and Skip
[0:04:31 - 0:06:55] - Tran’s career; earning a seat in the C-suite; his mentors along the way
[0:06:56 - 0:08:17] - Leadership style; Tran’s competitive edge; developing others
[0:08:18 - 0:11:55] - Tran shares his Main Thing; applying this wisdom to navigate one’s career
[0:11:55 - 0:14:15] - Applying the finishing touches; seeking inspiration from Maya Angelou