To The Top: Inspirational Career Advice

Matthew Dixon and Ted McKenna published a great sales book that can help sales and marketing teams address customer indecision. Combined with mining over 2 million recorded sales calls and studying human behavior, they provide prescriptive advice that you can complement whatever sales methodology you use today. Matthew Dixon was also author of popular book, The Challenger Sale. In this episode we discuss: -The JOLT method and how you can apply it -The concept of the omission bias -Common pitfalls of most salespeople -Death by one thousand papercuts (eroding your trust) and more -- visit www.omaid.me to contact me and for the latest updates

Joe Moglia is the former CEO of TD Ameritrade and he spent nearly two decades at Merrill Lynch in leadership positions. He is also the former head football coach of a Division I school, Coastal Carolina. His coaching career spanned on and off from 1968 through 2018 and he earned a head coaching record of 56-22. Some of the topics we discuss: -How having children early in his life impacted his career -What kind of father his children think of him as -How he navigated some of the toughest decisions in his career -How to improve how you show up in high pressure situations -What he did to stay on track as a CEO and head football coach -- visit www.omaid.me for the latest updates

Joey pointer, CEO of Fleet Feet, shares his story about how he grew up on a tobacco farm, landed at job at Ernst & Young in finance, and took a leap of faith to join a startup shoe retailer named Fleet Feet based in Sacramento which has grown to over 250+ stores. In this episode we discuss: -Lessons Joey learned from his parents growing up on a tobacco farm -How he navigated the leap of faith from the consulting firm to Fleet Feet -Innovation and investments they've made into the brand that have led to its growth -What he does to show up as the best version of himself at work and at home, and more.. -- Subscribe to my newsletter for the latest updates (www.omaid.me)

Carla Harris is a force of nature who has advised and motivated companies around the world. She is a senior client advisor at Morgan Stanley and she earned her economics degree and MBA from Harvard. In 2013, she was appointed by President Barack Obama to chair the National Women’s Business Council. In addition to being a popular public speaker and gospel recording artist, Carla has authored several books including Lead to Win -- which is an important guide for the modern leader which we unpack in this conversation.  In this episode we discuss: -Advice for someone thinking about taking the journey of leadership -How to surround yourself with people you trust -Why the best leaders are active listeners -Why it's important to "call a thing a thing" Get the latest updates at www.omaid.me

Guy Raz is the greatest podcaster of our generation. 3.5 million people tune in to every episode of How I Built This where he interviews amazing founders to tell their story. He was widely known as the face of NPR and now is the founder and CEO of Built-It Productions. Guy also hosts Wisdom From the Top and The Great Creators. In this episode we discusss: -Advice he'd give someone early on in their career about how things could change. Guy was a foreign correspondent for years and things completely changed when he had a perceived failure in his career. -Cultivating self-awareness and being a good parent -Preparation and whether or not there's such a thing as over-preparing and more Sign up for my newsletter at www.omaid.me  

Jay Shetty is widely known for his inspiring videos which have been seen by over 7B people on YouTube. Jay shares the wisdom he learned living as a monk to help others find their purpose. He hosts the #1 health podcast called On Purpose and we unpack his best-selling book, Think Like a Monk.  In this episode we discuss: -The importance of appreciating the journey vs the reward -Why humility is the elixir of the ego -How to cultivate more self-awareness, and more.. If you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a review!

Dr. Michael Breus is the leading authority in the field of sleep. He is a clinical psychologist with more than two decades of experience in his field. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Sleep Medicine and a fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. In 2021, Reader’s Digest named him the best sleep specialist in the state of California. He's also published four books on the subject of sleep. In this episode we discuss: -Why catching up on sleep is a myth -The 5 tablestakes to do in order to get good, quality sleep -Why understanding your chronotype can help you get better sleep and more. Check out The Sleep Doctor's website here and take the sleep quiz to understand your chronotype here Please consider leaving a review of the show! Subscribe to my newsletter for the latest updates here.

Liz Fosslien's illustrations have made a significant impact on how many view emotions at work and in life. Her superpower is being able to illustrate these emotions in what appears to be a simple drawing which affects millions of people. She's the best-selling author of No Hard Feelings which was about emotions at work, and her new book is titled Big Feelings which touches on both work and life. Here is a link to one of my favorite illustrations about measuring success. In this episode we discuss: -myths about uncertainty like 'just be resilient' -what happens when we suppress anger too long -ways to avoid burnout before it's too late and more.. Subscribe to my newsletter for the latest updates at www.omaid.me

In 1990 when NASA launched the $1.5 billion Hubble Telescope into space, they did so with a faulty mirror that took blurry images. They tasked Story Musgrave to lead a team to fix it. What made him the best person to lead the mission? Because Story was a lifelong learner and his range of experience allowed him to view problems through a unique lens. Story was an electrician, mathemetician, computer programmer, mechanic, pilot, trauma surgeon, and an astronaut who helped design space suits and the Hubble Telescope. He earned six academic degrees and became the only astronaut to have flown aboard all five Space Shuttles.  In this episode, we deconstruct his life and career to learn the most important lessons.   -- Subscribe to my newsletter for the latest updates at www.omaid.me  

An enrolled member of the Ottawa Tribe of Michigan, D.J. was born to impoverished teenage parents. He went from sleeping in a drawer for the first three months of his life to becoming a proud graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, a decorated Air Force captain, a renowned member of the tribal community, a bestselling author, and a revered motivational speaker. A true warrior, who is successful in both business and life, he credits these personal triumphs to traditional teachings and ceremony as well as his service as a military officer. D.J. and I discuss his new book, The Warrior Within, and the stories and principals he shares often rooted in Native American culture and wisdom. In this episode we discuss: -The sigificance of your 'medicine bag' in Native American culture and how you can use it -Why sometimes the biggest challenge to seeing our vision come true are because of the people closest to us -The importance of creating your own war cry, how to keep your fire lit, and more.. email questions or comm

Andy Dunn co-founded the e-commerce driven menswear brand Bonobos in 2007 and served as CEO through its 2017 acquisition by Walmart. While business was booming, Andy struggled to manage his mental illness until he hit rock bottom which resulted in a night of mayhem. Andy opens up in his riveting memoir, Burn Rate: Launching a Startup and Losing My Mind, which intersects entrepreneurship and mental health.  One of the major inflection points at Bonobos was the tense relationship with his co-founder, Brian Spaly. In his book and in this interview we discuss what he would have done differently and how their relationship materialized.  We also discuss how people can begin to open up to their friends and loved ones about issues like depression, bi-polar disorder, and other mental illnesses. Also, how we can become better noticing those around us who may need help. This was one of the most important books I've read, I highly recommend the Audible because Andy reads it himself. send comments or questions to omaid@

Ryan Hawk is a leadership advisor, author, and podcast host of The Learning Leader Show where he's interviewed 500 of the world's greatest leaders.  His second book, The Pursuit of Excellence, distills the behaviors he's learned from his guests and life experiences in order to live an excellent life. In this episode we discuss: -How he wants his daughters to remember what kind of father he was -Which podcast guests of his he would select to run a potential company of his -Unpacking my favorite behaviours from his book and more.. email me at omaid@omaid.me with any questions or comments

Troy Sicotte is the President of Mountain Hardwear, a premium apparel and equipment brand designed for mountaineering, camping, and outdoor activities. They are owned by Columbia Sportswear. Troy's career has interesected with music, automotive, and retail industries. He shares stories from touring with his band and how that led him through his journey at companies like Audi and The North Face. Troy also shares the importance of leading with trust. In this episode we cover: -How Troy views trust as a leader  -How working in multiple industries has helped shape his professional experience -How he approaches building great teams like putting together an amazing band -How to strike work/life balance and more.. email questions to omaid@omaid.me

Jay Williams was a prolific college basketball player at Duke where he played for the legendary Coach K. He was drafted #2 in the NBA Draft to the Chicago Bulls. A tragic motorcycle accident ended his career early -- and Jay found himself bed ridden for months with a shattered pelvis and torn ligaments. He drove himself to regain his strength and developed mental resilience. His memoir is titled, Life Is Not an Accident. Jay became an analyst for ESPN and now he's one of the most regarded voices in sports and pop culture. In his new NPR podcast, The Limits with Jay Williams, he uncovers the blueprints from some of the most known and unknown figures in sports, business, and entertainment.  In this episode we cover: -Who Jay was when he wrote his book -His preparation process for a great interview -How to strike work/life balance and more.. email questions to omaid@omaid.me

Gihan is a tinkerer who began making his own gear at the age of 13. He's had a knack for problem solving for efficiency through the lens of science. He's the co-founder and president of an innovative apparel brand, Ministry of Supply, where they produce high quality clothing engineered to be both comfortable and presentable. He earned his chemical engineering degree from MIT and was recognized as Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2015. In 2018 he cycled across America wearing a Ministry of Supply Nasa-derived polo shirt. Gihan holds several patents and Fast Company recognized MOS as one of the most innovative companies in 2021.  In this episode we discuss: -How his parents nurtured his curiosity -How he approaches habit stacking to be super efficient -Why you should think of vacations as fueling vs rest -How he prepared for his Ted Talk and more.. ----- Send questions or comments to omaid@omaid.me

Tony Horton is the creator of the world's most popular home-fitness program, P90X. He is a world-class motivational speaker and the author of top-selling books “Bring It”, Crush It!” and his latest book, “The Big Picture” 11 Laws that will change your life. He has appeared on countless television programs as a fitness and lifestyle expert to promote healthy living through exercise and proper nutrition. In this episode we discuss: -What life was like after P90X launched -What new perspective his illness gave him -His transition from Beach Body and his focus now -His favorite fitness gadgets, and more.. ---- email question or comments to omaid@omaid.me

Joe Vernachio is currently the Chief Operating Officer at Allbirds. He was previously the President of Mountain Hardwear, one of the leading mountain sport brands in the world. Joe is a seasoned retail industry veteran where he began working at Patagonia in the late 1980s and he spent over a decade at Nike. In this episode we discuss: -Commonalities of the best leaders he's worked for -How he earned his real life MBA working at Nike -How he's tried to balance his ambitious career while being a present father and husband -Why "being a pro" is one of the most important principals he leads with, and more.. ----- email comments or questions to omaid@omaid.me    

Aly Orady is a computer engineer by trade, graduating from Stanford. Early on in his career he worked at HP and Sun Microsystems. One of the companies he founded was acquired by Samsung. He's a tech veteran who followed his passion when he wanted to re-focus on his health and well-being which is why he founded Tonal. It's coined as "the world's smartest home gym" where the weights are powered digitally. If you're considering investing in smart at-home fitness equipment it should be part of your evaluation. Aly shares the importance of strength training and why you should be sure to incorporate it into your fitness regiment (not just cardio) and more. Check out Tonal www.tonal.com ----- email question or comments to omaid@omaid.me  

Scott Weiss is the Partner and Principal Recruiter at Makena Partners where he primarily recruits candidates for some of the leading roles in technology. He shares a wealth of advice in and around the interview process, branding yourself properly, and ultimately how to best position yourself for your dream job including: -The benefits creating a failure resume -The #1 advice for your next interview with a hiring manager -The truth about about designer looking resumes -How to approach getting the interview -When experience trumps potential -LinkedIn profile best practices to standout to a recruiter and more.. ----- email questions or comments to omaid.me  

Scott Galloway is a professor of marketing at Stern NYU, an entrepreneur, and author of three books including Post Corona: From Crisis to Opportunity. His YouTube videos on the Algebra of Happiness and The Future of Education have both gone viral. He's widely known for his views on the intersection of technology and politics.  In this episode we discuss: -The aftermath of the pandemic -The future of education -The pandemic affect on mental health -Solicited parenting tips, and more.. ----- email questions to omaid@omaid.me