Lead. Learn. Grow.
The Lead. Learn. Grow. podcast, hosted by Robin Green, interviews leaders from the fields of business, government, education, and the non-profit sector. We uncover the stories behind these leaders and learn more about their journey.
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Kirk Roberts, CJGeo, The Journey of a Family Owned Business
12/20/2024
Kirk Roberts, CJGeo, The Journey of a Family Owned Business
Robin interviews Kirk Roberts from CJGeo, a family-owned business specializing in unique infrastructure solutions. Kirk shares the fascinating origin story of CJGeo, from his father Preston’s entrepreneurial journey in 2002 to how the company evolved from small residential jobs to tackling large-scale industrial projects across the Eastern U.S. Kirk describes the pivotal moments that shaped their growth, including lessons from the 2008 recession that forced the company to diversify and adapt, and how Sandler training helped them transition to higher-value projects. The conversation delves into the challenges and rewards of running a family business, as Kirk works alongside his two brothers, each bringing complementary skills to the table. He reflects on navigating generational perspectives, balancing legacy with innovation, and the importance of shared values and culture in the company’s hiring process. Kirk also opens up about the pressures of entrepreneurship, the importance of strategic discipline, and the impact of values-based leadership on building strong client relationships. Robin and Kirk wrap up with insights for aspiring entrepreneurs, emphasizing the need for resilience, adaptability, and a clear sense of purpose. Kirk’s story is a testament to how family businesses can thrive by embracing change while staying grounded in core values. Listen in for practical takeaways on managing business growth, fostering a collaborative culture, and finding work-life balance in a demanding field. *** Contact Robin Green at .
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Paul Mylott, President & Co-Founder, Oblio AI talks about transforming Higher Ed with AI
04/30/2024
Paul Mylott, President & Co-Founder, Oblio AI talks about transforming Higher Ed with AI
Welcome to the Lead. Learn. Grow. podcast, where we explore the intersections of busieness, education, technology, and personal growth. I caught up with my friend Paul Mylott, a veteran in higher education and the co-founder behind the innovative AI-driven startup Oblio. Our conversation dives deep into Paul's journey, the birth of Oblio, and the profound impacts of personalization in education and beyond. Paul Mylott brings over three decades of experience in higher education, having served as a vice president in several institutions. His work primarily focused on the advancement side, but his roles have also covered admissions, giving him a holistic view of the student journey. Paul's latest venture, Oblio, is an AI inbox tool designed to enhance engagement and communication within higher education. Oblio emerged from Paul's realization of the fragmented nature of the student experience in higher education. By combining his insights into behavioral chain philanthropy and the potential of AI, Paul aimed to create a solution that ensures a seamless journey for students from admission through to alumni engagement. Oblio's mission is to increase enrollment and foster a more personalized connection between institutions and their students, ultimately leading to a higher yield of engaged alumni and donors. Leadership Lessons Reflecting on his career and life experiences, Paul emphasizes the importance of aligning personal and organizational goals, the value of mentorship, and the transformative power of personal challenges. His story is a testament to the impact of innovative leadership and the potential of technology to transform traditional industries. Listeners interested in learning more about Oblio or exploring potential collaborations can reach Paul via or directly through his email at *** You can connect with Robin Green by emailing him at or connect with him on . *** You can subscribe to The Huddle, a weekly leadership newsletter, by visiting
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Carla Fowler, MD, PhD, Founder and Managing Director, THAXA
01/29/2024
Carla Fowler, MD, PhD, Founder and Managing Director, THAXA
Carla Fowler founded THAXA out of a passion for performance science, where the fields of strategy, productivity, and psychology intersect. Since its inception in 2013, THAXA's scientific approach to individualized coaching has attracted a devoted client base of dozens of executives at firms ranging from Fortune 500 technology companies to venture-backed startups to innovative non-profits. Carla's coaching methods draw upon the multidisciplinary field of performance science to generate the best ideas surrounding strategy, execution, and mindset to assist leaders in their endeavors. Over the past 10 years, she has distilled the key principles of performance into understandable concepts and a method that helps leaders incorporate these ideas into their day-to-day performance, helping them go faster and improve their results. Carla graduated from Brown University, then earned her MD and PhD at the University of Washington, and completed her internship in general surgery at Stanford University. We touch on a variety of performance-related topics in our conversation, including: -why Carla left medicine to pursue developing a coaching practice. -how Ultimate Frisbee taught Carla to focus on the essential few. -how she thinks about performance in a multi-disciplinary way. -why self-improvement often doesn't work. ...and much more. A couple of books that Carla frequently recommends are Essentialism and Effortless, both by author Greg McKeown. You can find out more about Greg and learn more about both books You can visit Carla's website and get a free download, just for Lead. Learn. Grow. listeners. You can *** You can contact host Robin Green by emailing him at . You can subscribe to The Huddle, a weekly leadership email, by clicking .
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Matt Dira, Founder, Dira Group, talks about money and life
01/22/2024
Matt Dira, Founder, Dira Group, talks about money and life
is the Founder of the He coaches and advises high-performers to better manage all aspects of their life, including money. Our conversation touches on self-limiting beliefs, goals, and what it means to "have it all." Matt shares thoughts on why and how having a coach can be a life-changing investment. I particularly enjoyed his take on kids and money. If you have youngsters, you'll want to hear some tips and ideas he has. He mentions an app called GravyStack and shares how he uses it in his home. The Green children should be happy that this app wasn't in existence as they were coming along. 😁 Matt also talks about the power of compounding and why seemingly insignificant actions have a profound effect over time. *** You can learn more about Matt and his coaching practice . You can find Matt on Instagram @themattdira. Also, text MAP to 804 920 2436 for a free "Wealth Map." *** Connect with Robin Green at or you can subscribe to his weekly leadership newsletter called The Huddle by clicking . *** If you like the Lead. Learn. Grow. podcast, please rate and review and share with others.
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Chesdin Harrington on leaving college and building a career
01/15/2024
Chesdin Harrington on leaving college and building a career
Episode 52 of the podcast features Chesdin Harrington, a product manager at Capitol One, and a graduate of the University of Virginia. Chesdin was an accomplished baseball player and was a member of the nationally-ranked Cavalier baseball program during his time in Charlottesville. Chesdin talks about his college journey, lessons learned from playing sports, and how he has been intentional about building his career. He shares a couple of experiences that he sought out that were really good examples for other young professionals to follow. If you'd like to connect with Chesdin, you can find him on LinkedIn . Here's a great article that Chesdin wrote that was first published in about his thoughts and feelings when his career was cut short by COVID. *** If you'd like to connect with Robin Green, you can find him , or contact him at . *** To sign up for The Huddle, a weekly leadership newsletter, click .
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Adele Gambardella and Chip Massey, authors of "Convince Me"
11/13/2023
Adele Gambardella and Chip Massey, authors of "Convince Me"
Welcome to episode 51 of the Lead. Learn. Grow. podcast with Robin Green In this episode, we dive into the art of persuasion with Adele and Chip, seasoned professionals in the convincing business and co-authors of a newly released book, . Key Takeaways: Innate Persuasion Skills: We all have a natural ability to convince others, but Chip and Adele's book provides strategies to refine and enhance these skills for more effective persuasion in our personal and professional lives. Storytelling as a Tool: Chip, with his FBI background, emphasizes the power of storytelling to translate complex experiences into relatable business lessons. Emotional Regulation: Adele highlights the importance of forensic listening and emotional regulation in building trust and effectively persuading clients. Quick Trust in High-Stakes: Chip discusses strategies to establish a quick sense of trust in high-stakes situations, crucial for successful outcomes. Mirroring and Matching Techniques: Learn how these techniques can build rapport and lead to deeper insights into others' thoughts and feelings. Understanding Unstated Narratives: Addressing the internal beliefs and perceptions that everyone carries can be a game-changer in negotiations and sales. Balancing Empathy with Action: While empathy is essential, Chip and Adele discuss the importance of guiding clients beyond empathy to improve their situations. Avoiding Righteousness in Persuasion: Adele's favorite concept from the book involves starting from a point of agreement to steer conversations effectively without imposing self-righteousness. Experiential Learning: Chip's preferred aspect of the book is the focus on learning from experiences, featuring interviews with experts to offer practical methods for engaging with others. *** Connect with and on LinkedIn. *** Connect with on LinkedIn. You may also reach him at .
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Jessica Marsh, Executive Director, Association for Corporate Growth - Richmond
11/13/2023
Jessica Marsh, Executive Director, Association for Corporate Growth - Richmond
Jessica Marsh is the Executive Director of the Richmond Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth. ACG is an association for corporate growth, development, and mergers and acquisitions professionals. Jessica discusses her role, how it impacts the organization, and lessons learned during the pandemic. It's a wide-ranging conversation touching on a number of interesting topics. *** Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn . You can learn about ACG . *** to sign up for The Huddle, a weekly leadership email. You can contact Robin Green by emailing .
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Tom Schwab, Entrepreneur, Author, Podcast Interview Marketing Pioneer
10/23/2023
Tom Schwab, Entrepreneur, Author, Podcast Interview Marketing Pioneer
Have you ever considered that what we are being sold about digital marketing is wrong? What if it’s hurting the business? What if we all are buying the powerful tools and leaving out the fuel that powers them? believes the best things in life come from conversations. It’s these powerful, sometimes awkward conversations that propel us from where we are personally and professionally to where we dream of being. As an engineer, a Navy Veteran, and Nuclear Propulsion Plant Operator, Tom thinks differently. Tough Minded, Skeptical, sometimes even Cantankerous, but always technically competent, always thinking – “What if” is how the head of the Nuclear Navy described it. As a small business owner and entrepreneur, he understands the unique challenges of business owners. This led him to be an early pioneer of using inbound marketing for eCommerce and targeted podcast interviews for marketing that connects. Tom is the author of two books: called the bible of podcast guesting and One Conversation Away: A manifesto for a rich life and a profitable business. *** Contact Robin Green at . *** Sign up for Robin's popular leadership newsletter, The Huddle, by visiting
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Jesse Grapes, President, Benedictine Schools of Richmond, talk leadership
10/16/2023
Jesse Grapes, President, Benedictine Schools of Richmond, talk leadership
Jesse Grapes is the President of Benedictine Schools of Richmond, which include both Benedictine College Prepartory School for boys, and St. Gertrude's School for girls. These unique schools offer single-sex educational opportunities for high school students on a growing, beautiful campus on the bluffs of the James River. Jesse earned his B.S. in Information Sciences from Carnegie Mellon University and upon graduation, joined the world of business consulting. He shares that although his career was off to a good start, he felt like something was missing. Then, the world changed. On September 12, 2001, he volunteered for the United State Marine Corps. That began a long and storied career that included three combat duties in Iran, and many notable achievements, including the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. After his military career, Jesse began his equally successful career in education. He was Principal and Regional Director of an innovative, 7,000 student for-profit school in the San Francisco Bay Area. He also was the Headmaster at BCPS prior to his current role. Jesse Grapes is a leader of leaders, and he shares his philosophies, stories, and how he has continually re-invented himself to live a meaningful and virtuous life. *** Jesse shares this as one of his favorite books and an example of seeking opportunity, taking risks, and inspiration stories. and the importance of sharpening the saw. *** Contact Robin Green at . *** , a weekly leadership newsletter where Robin shares insights, lessons, and stories to help leaders lead more effectively.
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Buddy Biancalana, former MLB player, Mind-Body Coach, and Author
10/09/2023
Buddy Biancalana, former MLB player, Mind-Body Coach, and Author
is one of approximately 1,600 players that have been drafted in the first round since the draft began in 1965. With the weight of expectations, pressure to perform, and the demands of being a professional athlete, Buddy quickly rose through the Kansas City Royals minor league system - from Rookie League to the Major Leagues - in five years. As a part-time player, Buddy was what the baseball world calls a "good field-no hit" player, playing the demanding shortstop position. Then, late in the 1985 season, Royals manager Dick Howser inserted him in the lineup late in the year, and he played the best baseball of his life. He was a key contributor in helping the Royals win their first World Series. As he shares in our conversation, the pressure of the World Series was immense. Literally, the entire world was watching. Yet, as you'll hear, Buddy says he was as calm as he'd ever been. And he played flawless defense and hit better than he'd ever hit before. Later, he realized that he'd had an "In the zone" experience. This experience, along with a childhood incident that Buddy shares in our conversation, led him to begin to study the brain-body connection. Now, as the founder of , he helps athletes and executives have "in the zone" experiences in a more intentional way, rather than by chance. You can buy Buddy's book, The 7 Secrets of World Class Athletes, . *** You can contact Robin Green at . *** If you like this podcast, you may also like Robin's weekly leadership newsletter, The Huddle. Join the growing number of subscribers (it's free), including leaders from business, education, and athletics. .
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Jeff Katz, Broadcaster, Speaker, and Coach talks about a career centered in service
10/02/2023
Jeff Katz, Broadcaster, Speaker, and Coach talks about a career centered in service
If you live in Richmond, VA, you know . The host of an award-winning talk show on WRVA during afternoon drive time, he has a long and storied career. In this fun conversation, you'll hear tales of going from a police officer to selling radio ads and finally hosting his own show. Regardless of where in the country he was working, two things have been a constant. One, his talent behind the mic and his ability to connect with his audience have been recognized repeatedly. Second, he cares about his community. Jeff is a master storyteller who spins many yarns in our time together. A master of his craft, Jeff shares some of the lessons he has learned through his long and successful career. *** If you'd like to learn more about Jeff and his work, you can visit . There, you can learn about Jeff's consulting, coaching, and speaking services. If you'd like to listen to his show or learn more about the broadcasting pursuits, visit Jeff even invites you to call him at 804.596.6596 or use toll-free at 888.334.JEFF. *** To learn more about Sandler Training or to connect with Robin, email him at *** To sign up for our growing leadership newsletter, The Huddle, visit
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Jenn Drummond, Speaker, World Record Holder, Author and Podcast Host: Empowering and inspiring others to seize the full potential of life
09/25/2023
Jenn Drummond, Speaker, World Record Holder, Author and Podcast Host: Empowering and inspiring others to seize the full potential of life
Join me as I speak in a great conversation with of Park City, UT. A car accident in 2018 left Jenn awestruck and emboldened. Rescue workers couldn’t imagine any scenario where she came out of it alive, but she did. That’s when she realized you don’t get to choose when you leave this life…but you sure can choose how you live it. Strengthened by this awareness, she set out to live in a more authentic and adventurous way. Inspired to climb a mountain for her birthday, her son raised the stakes by suggesting Mount Everest. Not one to back down from a challenge, she accepted the pursuit. During her training, her coach upped the ante and proposed that she go for a Guinness World Record and become the first woman to climb the 7 second summits. The pursuit matched her desire to live a life of significance, not just success. Today, Jenn is a world record holder who elevates others to master their own summit in life. She’s a successful business owner and mom of seven kids who, as you will hear, inspire and brazenly challenge her. She’s also an international speaker, author, and which focuses on inspiring others to go beyond success to a life of significance. You can find out more about Jenn at Details of her soon-to-be-released book are . *** If you are a leader and a learner, subscribe to our fast-growing leadership newsletter called The Huddle. Each week, you get a dose of leadership goodness. Best of all, it's free. . *** You can contact Robin Green at with questions or if you know someone that would make a great guest on the podcast.
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Tracy Hupko, Executive Director, I GOT THIS Foundation, talks about how golf is changing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities
09/18/2023
Tracy Hupko, Executive Director, I GOT THIS Foundation, talks about how golf is changing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities
Join my conversation with Tracy Hupko, Executive Director of the I GOT THIS Foundation, as she talks about how her organization is changing lives through golf. By providing golf instruction, playing opportunities, and organized events, the Foundation strives to teach people with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities to play golf, paving the way for them to compete in leagues with typical peers, join high school teams, and enjoy the many social benefits of golf. *** In our discussion, Tracy shares how her career evolved from Disney to the LPGA Tour, to meeting Amy Bockerstette. Amy was the first person with Down's Syndrome to receive a college athletic scholarship. In one remarkable moment, Amy was invited to join Gary Woodland and Matt Kuchar on the 16th at the Waste Management Open. Amy hit her tee shot in the bunker in front of thousands of fans. Asked did she wanted to hit it out of the bunker, she said, "I got this!" She got it out of the bunker and made the putt for a par! Gary Woodland cited Amy's as an inspiration for him as he tried to hold it together on the back nine en route to his first major championship. He said that he kept remembering Amy and telling himself, "I got this!" It's a beautiful story and this group is doing terrific work. Tracy does a great job talking about the mission and impact of this organization. Find out more about the I GOT THIS Foundation *** Tracy and I first met after she read of my re-telling of the story in my weekly leadership newsletter called The Huddle. You can subscribe *** You can connect on LinkedIn with Tracy Hupko . *** Contact me at
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Brian Edmonds, The 288 Group
09/11/2023
Brian Edmonds, The 288 Group
has a long and distinguished career in sports and entertainment marketing. A UNC graduate, Brian shares interesting stories from his career, ranging from working with superstar athletes at a prominent agency to his present-day company . Brian has worked for the University of Virginia, Front Row Marketing, and Colonial Athletic Association. Listen in as Brian gives us a bit of a behind-the-scenes look at the sports world, and shares some lessons and insights from a successful career. *** to subscribe to The Huddle by Robin Green, a weekly leadership newsletter. *** To contact Robin about training and coaching questions, email him at .
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George Forsythe, Managing Partner, WellsColeman
09/05/2023
George Forsythe, Managing Partner, WellsColeman
George Forsythe joins the podcast to talk about his journey in the world of public accounting. Starting at WellsColeman when he was a senior at the University of Mary Washington, George has risen through the ranks to now lead the firm. He shares insights about his early days, where he was allowed to pursue ideas and initiatives, which allowed him rapidly grow his skillset. He talks about how he learns and stays relevant, and how technology is shaping the future of the firm. George shares how he thinks about work-life balance and the concept of 4-way wins. You can connect with George on LinkedIn You can learn more about here. Follow George's adventures on . You can download WellsColeman's free business guide for entrepreneurs . **** To sign up for Robin Green's free leadership newsletter, The Huddle, *** If you'd like to talk to Robin about training and coaching services, you can reach him at .
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Eric Kolenich, Richmond Times-Dispatch, on his career and ideas for being a better writer
08/28/2023
Eric Kolenich, Richmond Times-Dispatch, on his career and ideas for being a better writer
Richmond Times-Dispatch writer Eric Kolenich joins Robin on episode 41 of the Lead. Learn. Grow. podcast. After a short stint working for the FBI, Eric joined the RTD staff and hasn’t looked back. He has written about high school sports, higher education, business, health, and real estate in his nearly 15-year career. Eric is a professional storyteller and it’s obvious in our conversation. Midway through, he gives a masterclass on how to put together a written message to communicate with impact. It’s really good. In the introduction, I mention that I met Eric a few years ago when he did a full-length story on my son and youth baseball injuries. You can read that story . I asked Eric if he had a couple of favorites, stories that he liked writing or had an impact. He shared the stories of , a former Mills Godwin HS soccer player, and his battle with addiction. Next, he shared the story of , a VCU student who tragically died during pledge activities with the Delta Chi fraternity. You can connect with Eric on LinkedIn . *** You can receive Robin's weekly leadership email, called The Huddle, by subscribing *** Contact Robin at .
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Brad Eure of Eure Consulting shares lessons learned from three decades in business
08/22/2023
Brad Eure of Eure Consulting shares lessons learned from three decades in business
In Episode 40, Robin has a great conversation with of . Brad learned business the hard way, through 30+ years of experience in the small and family business world. Now he’s sharing what he learned with clients so that their companies have a smoother ride. Brad’s three decades of operations and management experience have given him a sharp eye for what it takes to succeed in today’s business world. After having successfully run, grown, and sold several radio stations in the Richmond, Norfolk, and Charlottesville markets of Virginia, Brad is now an expert consultant to companies seeking to improve their management and build their success. A graduate of The College of William and Mary with a BS in Business Administration, Brad is proud to have served as President of the Virginia Association of Broadcasters and a member of the National Association of Broadcasters, as well as on the board of many local organizations including the Charlottesville Chamber of Commerce and the Salvation Army. Brad is the past Chairman of the Bank Board of Union Bank & Trust, now Atlantic Union Bank. Brad and his daughter Clay help companies develop to their full potential by having a focus on people, strategy, and execution. You can contact Brad . You can subscribe to The Huddle, a weekly newsletter for leaders. If you’d like to contact our host, Robin Green, you can email him at .
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Richard Coughlan, Ph. D., University of Richmond Robins School of Business talks Decision Making and Negotiation
07/03/2023
Richard Coughlan, Ph. D., University of Richmond Robins School of Business talks Decision Making and Negotiation
Richard Coughlan, Ph. D., is an associate professor in the Robins School of Business at the University of Richmond. In addition to being an award-winning educator, he has consulted and advised many Fortune 500 companies. Dr. Coughlan also hosts the highly-acclaimed "C-Suite Conversations" at the University. A master interviewer, he has interviewed notable leaders from all parts of the business, non-profit, education, and sports world. They are highly recommended. As he shares during our discussion, he puts in many hours of preparation for each, and it shows. He says his aim is to ask questions of his guests they have never been asked before. Richard and I have a wide-ranging discussion where he shares keen insights on decision-making, negotiation, and other areas that business owners are sure to benefit from. You can learn more about Richard Contact Robin Green at . To sign up for The Huddle, a weekly leadership email, sign up Thanks to for the introduction, voiceover, and editing.
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Andres Marquez-Lara, Founder & CEO of UFacilitate
06/26/2023
Andres Marquez-Lara, Founder & CEO of UFacilitate
Andres Marquez-Lara is the Founder & CEO of UFacilitate, a leadership development and facilitation training organization that helps leaders be more effective. He has developed his growing company through a methodology that is a dynamic and inclusive blending of design thinking, improv theatre, and systems thinking. He and his team host workshops that help groups connect, collaborate, create, and complete their projects. He is Adjunct Faculty at the Executive Master in Policy Leadership and Master of Policy Management at Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy, Adjunct Faculty at Georgetown's Institute for Transformative Leadership, and a Guest Lecturer at the Center for Excellence in Public Leadership at George Washington University. He is also an Advisor at the Emergence Project for Purposeful Entrepreneurship at Stanford University. Andres has a fresh and unique take on leadership and he shares a number of them in our conversation. On the day we recorded, he released his first book, Facilitating Leadership. I found it interesting that the book's co-author was....ChatGPT! He wrote the book in thirty days and he shares what that process was like. You can download a copy, in ebook format, at no charge You can connect with Robin Green at . Sign up for Robin's weekly leadership newsletter, The Huddle,
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This week's Huddle, a weekly newsletter for leaders
06/06/2023
This week's Huddle, a weekly newsletter for leaders
In episode 37, I walk through this week's The Huddle, a weekly leadership newsletter. If you like this format, let me know. It's an age-old dilemma. We know exactly what we should do...yet, we don't do it. Being able to bridge the gap between knowledge and action may be the key for you and me reaching our goals. The Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu wrote, "To know and not to do is really not to know." It reminds us that true learning, true knowledge, is in the application. Learning is doing. The Apostle Paul wrote, "For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing." My clients have heard me speak of the GPS model of coaching. It's based on where someone is today and then where they want to be in the future. Like a GPS. Here's the blue dot. Where are we trying to get to? Then, as a leader, I coach the gap. I have a challenge for you this month. It's early June, so the timing is perfect. I'd like for you to take a few minutes and think about a few of your goals for the month of June. Pretend it's June 30th. You say, "It was a great month. I thrived professionally and personally." What happened? What made it a good month? Write down the behaviors and actions that you would need to take to hit those goals. If you are in management, maybe it's "Have one coaching session with each team member and give honest, courageous feedback." If you are in sales, perhaps it's "75 prospecting attempts." Whatever the behaviors are that would lead to a great June, write them down. Seriously. Do it. Start with just 3 professional and 2 personal. If you use paper, put it somewhere that you will see it every single day. If you use Excel, keep it open on your desktop. I carry mine on an index card in my back pocket. Just write them down and keep them in front of you. Now, every morning look at it. At the end of the day, look at it. Cross off things, make tick marks....track your progress. If you do this, you have increased your likelihood of hitting your goals exponentially. Good intentions are just that. Jim Rohn said, "Written goals are dreams with deadlines. When you write down your goals, you turn vague dreams into a visible, tangible roadmap." Try it for 30 days. Let me know how you do. The Huddle is a weekly newsletter that is designed for leaders. Leaders must be learners. There is never a moment when leaders arrive. It's a never-ending growth process. I hope it can be a resource that you can use to stay sharp and share with your team. With that, here are some things I ran across this week. Get Outside - According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, nearly half of all 18-24 year-olds in the United States have some form of depression or anxiety. It's an alarming fact about our culture. At a time when youngsters should be carefree and happy, we are trending in the opposite direction. My son and I were discussing this recently. My uneducated and unresearched opinion is that Smartphones, or modern-day digital pacifiers, are a leading contributor. But we also talked about the fact that in our suburban culture, it's possible to go days without getting outside. Think about it. Our car is in the garage. We hop in and drive to work. We park next to the building, always the closest door possible. We may take 20 steps to the entrance. We DoorDash lunch (or maybe we bring our own). Sit in our artificially lighted office. Drive home. Open the garage door. Boom. In 24 hours, we are outside for perhap 90 seconds. It's that easy. , maybe one of our June goals could be "Get outside for at least 30 minutes each day." Stress-Free Vacay - Summer is here, albeit unofficially, and it's vacation season. Taking a vacation, and doing it right, is a bit of a dilemma. One strategy is to do a little bit of work every day to ensure there isn't a digital tsunami when it's all over. Another strategy is to completely unplug, knowing that there will be a price to pay upon return. Either way, it's stressful. It might be worth filing away in the vacation file. Do it for the Fam - The difference between building a cathedral and simply breaking rocks is remembering the bigger picture—why you are doing what you are doing. When we live with a greater purpose in mind, life just seems easier. Work can be a rut. Same ole, same ole. Another day, another dollar. A sarcastic, "Living the dream." Until you add purpose. For most people, family is a great motivator. If we have kids, don't we want them to be proud of what we do? If we are a kid, don't we want our parents to be proud? LeBron James once said, "I'm going to use all my tools, my God-given ability, and make the best life I can with it. And that's what I've done. I've been able to provide for my family because of this game...To give my mom something I've always wanted to give her and see her happy, it's beyond words." Family is a great motivator. Alive Time - Here's a short video from Ryan Holiday around the concept of Alive Time v. Dead Time. We can passively wait, or we can take action. . It's good. A Quote to Leave You With
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Todd Bradberry, Parallel Management "Why Today's Business Influencers Have It All Wrong"
04/07/2023
Todd Bradberry, Parallel Management "Why Today's Business Influencers Have It All Wrong"
Todd Bradberry is the CEO of , located in Richmond, VA. Todd is a noted Business Coach, management consultant, trainer, and speaker. You can connect with him on LinkedIn and Twitter . In Episode 36, we talk about Todd's journey in putting a lifelong practice of reading and learning into his first book, which he is currently writing. Todd shares a funny and memorable description of the fast brain and the slow brain. Todd discusses his thoughts about the disconnect between business influencers and the typical small business owner. Books that were mentioned. - Simon Sinek *** You can contact Robin Green at You can connect with Robin on LinkedIn *** Thanks to Jay Smack of Jay Smack VO for the opening intro. *** If you enjoy the Lead. Learn. Grow. Podcast, please leave a review and subscribe.
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Andrew Wright, Minor League Field Coordinator, Boston Red Sox
01/05/2023
Andrew Wright, Minor League Field Coordinator, Boston Red Sox
Join host Robin Green as he chats with Andrew Wright. Andrew is the Minor League Field Coordinator for the Boston Red Sox. I met Andrew a few years ago, and in some ways, we continued that conversation. Andrew is a former college baseball coach who is now in professional baseball. Before his current role, Andrew was the Director of Operations at the New York Yankees Dominican Republic complex. In this conversation, we talk about: Being intentional Managing your personal brand The importance of clearly defining and communicating expectations Why putting your plan in writing is important How Andrew thinks about People & Processes An interesting way to think about Outcome Management Design v. Default If you aim to be a better leader, there is much to learn from this conversation. *** Andrew recommends "Let's Talk: Make Effective Feedback Your Superpower." You can link to the book's Amazon page *** You can find his if you'd like to connect with Andrew. *** You can contact Robin Green at or (804) 914-1723.
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Scot McRoberts - Lessons Learned in 22 years with the Virginia Council of CEOs
11/04/2022
Scot McRoberts - Lessons Learned in 22 years with the Virginia Council of CEOs
Join me as I chat with Scot McRoberts, the Executive Director of the Virginia Council of CEOs. Scot shares insights from a career of leading volunteer organizations, from the Boy Scouts of America to the Richmond Chamber of Commerce, to founding VACEO 22 years ago. We talk about the challenges of leading volunteers, what mentors have taught Scot about leadership, and various other topics. If you are a CEO, connect with , or if you have questions about the Virginia Council of CEOs, you can email him at . *** If you enjoy the Lead. Learn. Grow. podcast, rate, and review us on your podcasting app. *** To get a weekly leadership email called The Huddle, click . The Huddle is for growth-minded leaders who enjoy a short, curated message each week to guide their learning. You can contact me at . *** Links to books and podcasts that came up during our discussion
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What the heck is the Enneagram?! - Kaley Klemp, best-selling author & Executive Coach
09/26/2022
What the heck is the Enneagram?! - Kaley Klemp, best-selling author & Executive Coach
Join and me for an interesting conversation on the Enneagram. What the heck IS the Enneagram, and why are people using it to become better versions of themselves? Kaley shares insights on each of the 9 types and how she uses the Enneagram as a development tool with her corporate clients. Kaley is a best-selling author and a leading Executive Coach based in Denver, CO. She co-authored , one of my favorite leadership books. I've read it more than once and refer to it often. Her most recent book is about marriage which she co-authored with her husband, Nate. You can read about The 80/80 Marriage . You can view her TEDx Talk , subscribe to her newsletter , and get a guide for what she calls "epic date night" by clicking Of particular interest to listeners of this episode may be Kaley's . Finally, the and her will keep you updated on the things Kaley is working on. ************************************************************************* You can connect with Robin Green . Following the link, you can sign up for The Huddle, a weekly leadership email. You can follow him on LinkedIn for interesting and sometimes provocative takes on sales and leadership topics.
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Jeff Fitch, PGA Tour - How a Community-First Leader found himself working for the PGA Tour
08/16/2022
Jeff Fitch, PGA Tour - How a Community-First Leader found himself working for the PGA Tour
In Episode 32, I talk with . He shares his journey from a high school teacher and coach in Hopewell to working for a local non-profit (SportsBackers) that has put Richmond on the radar as a destination for outdoor enthusiasts. He was there when many of the significant events were in their infancy. Jeff is now an employee of the PGA Tour and is a key member of the team that hosts the Dominion Energy Classic, a PGA Tour Champions event held each year at the Country Club of Virginia. In 2022, the event will be held on October 21-23. During the intro to this episode, I may have listed the wrong date. If you know a local leader that you'd like for me to consider for a future episode of the podcast, call or text me at 804.914.1723. To sign up for The Huddle, and insert your email address. The Huddle is a weekly leadership email designed for leaders.
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Tom Prusak - Getting new salespeople off to a good start
08/04/2022
Tom Prusak - Getting new salespeople off to a good start
, a Maryland native who came to Virginia to study and play lacrosse at Randolph-Macon College, joins us in Episode 31. Tom talks about his expectations coming into his first sales role and how great leaders around him have fueled his success. This is a great message for people interested in starting a sales career and also for leaders who seem to struggle to find productive, entry-level sales professionals. There are a lot of nuggets that Tom shares about his journey that you will take away. Tom was our 2021 Sandler Training Rookie of Year, given each year to a new client that exhibits the mindset, behaviors, and applied techniques necessary for lasting success. We had a minor editing issue where the conversation was a bit disjointed, but none of the message is lost.
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Casey Green: An interview with our summer intern
07/20/2022
Casey Green: An interview with our summer intern
When a college student interns in a sales training and consulting business, what are the things that surprise them? What are some of the lessons that someone without experience in sales learns while being around sales every day? I had an interesting conversation with my son Casey about his experience so far this summer. If you are a young professional and looking to get into sales, you may learn a few things in this episode.
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Andrew Belcher, Continental Underwriters - 2020 Sandler Training in Richmond Client of the Year
02/16/2021
Andrew Belcher, Continental Underwriters - 2020 Sandler Training in Richmond Client of the Year
Join us in Episode 029 as we announce Andrew Belcher of Continental Underwriters as our Sandler Training in Richmond Client of the Year.
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Running Your Business in a Pandemic - René Haines, President, FocalPath Coaching
09/04/2020
Running Your Business in a Pandemic - René Haines, President, FocalPath Coaching
In episode 028, René Haines, Founder and President of FocalPath Coaching as she talks about how she got started as a business coach, what kinds of things she helps business owners with, and some ideas on how to weather the storm in a distressed economy. René has been helping business owners from throughout the country reach their potential and prosper.
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Leading in Tough Times, Robin Green, President, Sandler Training in Richmond
03/23/2020
Leading in Tough Times, Robin Green, President, Sandler Training in Richmond
Episode 027 is a bit different. Robin takes to the mic solo and offers some insights from his clients on Best Practices for leading through tough times. With the COVID-19 virus literally changing every aspect of our lives, how do we respond as leaders?
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