This episode features a "Too Long, Didn't Listen" (TL;DL) summary of my conversation with Ben Finklea, founder of Volacci Marketing and fractional CMO for trade businesses. Ben's journey demonstrates that professional success doesn't require sacrificing family presence, showing how early decisions to design business around family needs can create both business resilience and family strength.

In this episode of The Corvus Effect, Ben Finklea, a digital marketing expert and founder of Volacci Marketing, shares how he intentionally designed his business around his family rather than the other way around. Ben discusses his transition from tag-team parenting with his wife, a senior lecturer at the University of Texas, to his recent pivot as a fractional CMO for trade businesses. The conversation explores how a life-changing car accident forced Ben to overcome founder's syndrome and build a resilient team that could operate without his constant involvement. This journey demonstrates the power of necessity driving innovation and how crisis can become a catalyst for building stronger, more sustainable business practices. Throughout the discussion, Ben emphasizes that while entrepreneurs "can do anything, they can't do everything," showing how conscious choices aligned with personal values lead to success in both business and family life.

This episode features a 'Too Long, Didn't Listen' (TLDL) summary of my conversation with Bianca and Sal Carbone. Key points include how Bianca transformed COVID disruptions and personal health challenges into a thriving online wellness coaching business, turning unexpected setbacks into her true calling. The conversation explores Sal's upbringing in a large Italian immigrant family with 12 children, where shared meals over wood-burning ovens and working the fields together instilled values of hard work, community, and authentic connection. A highlight is their recent family reunion in Italy with 47 first cousins, demonstrating how genuine relationships transcend distance and time. Bianca's approach of treating her online community like family, with warmth, remembering details, and genuine follow-up, shows how these deep-rooted values translate into modern business success.

In this episode of The Corvus Effect, Bianca Carbone, a wellness coach who transformed her own health struggles into a mission to help women achieve sustainable wellness, is joined by her father Sal, whose entrepreneurial spirit helped shape her path. Together, they explore how Bianca navigated graduating during the pandemic to build Blix Fitness, a wellness coaching business focused on sustainable health practices and hormonal balance for women. The conversation delves into the rich family values that stem from Sal's upbringing in a large Italian immigrant household and their recent trip back to Italy for a family reunion that reinforced their connection to their roots. This father-daughter dialogue perfectly illustrates the podcast's theme of building lasting legacies through integrated self-leadership, as both Carbones demonstrate how familial values inform professional purpose. Throughout the discussion, both father and daughter highlight the importance of authenticity, strong family connections, and finding balance in health and business, values that have been passed down through generations.

This episode features a 'Too Long, Didn't Listen' (TLDL) summary of my conversation with Michael McCree. Key points include the dominance of the mental game in achieving life success, where handling pressure, criticism, and adversity are crucial lessons. Preparation builds confidence, illustrated by the importance of effective practice and its application in diverse fields like sports, academia, and the workplace. Lastly, character development through authenticity in leadership is discussed, showcasing Michael’s journey from a quiet player to an impactful coach. The episode underscores the value of staying true to oneself and the lessons of discipline over regret.

In this episode of The Corvus Effect, Michael McCree, a former college athlete turned transformational coach and author, shares his journey from playing Division I baseball to becoming a youth baseball coach and mentor. The conversation includes Michael's memorable moments in college baseball, his transition into coaching, and the challenges and lessons he learned along the way. He emphasizes the importance of mental strength, preparation, and modeling character for young athletes. Michael also discusses his book, 'The Undefeated Athlete,' which aims to help young athletes and their parents navigate the mental and emotional aspects of sports and life. The episode offers valuable insights into cultivating resilience, discipline, and leadership both on and off the field.

This episode features a 'Too Long, Didn't Listen' (TLDL) summary of my conversation with Scott Gingold. Key points include the central principle that family must come first, with business a close second, and the necessity of integrating these roles for lasting legacies. Scott refutes the myth that you can have it all without sacrifice, emphasizing intentional choices and prioritizing family presence. He also highlights communication challenges within family businesses, particularly across generational lines, advocating for open, respectful dialogues. This approach supports emotional intelligence and harmony in both family and business dynamics.

In this episode of The Corvus Effect, Scott Gingold, a seasoned advisor with four decades of experience, shares his journey of building and exiting seven successful businesses across multiple industries. The discussion explores how Scott now guides family-owned businesses through their greatest challenges, from communication breakdowns to succession planning and generational transitions. His recent decision to relocate to Florida to be closer to family while maintaining professional success perfectly embodies the integrated life approach championed by the podcast. Throughout the conversation, Scott shares insights on the importance of prioritizing family over business, the fallacy of the "have it all" mentality, and the power of setting boundaries in both personal and professional life. His philosophy that "Scott's a jerk" - allowing employees to provide honest feedback - demonstrates how authentic leadership creates stronger teams and more sustainable businesses.

This episode features a 'Too Long, Didn't Listen' (TLDL) summary of my conversation with Chason Forehand. Key points include Chason's transformation from a chef battling early trauma and addiction to a nonprofit leader promoting living wages and workplace dignity. Highlighted is the impact of paying it forward and strong connections in personal and community success. Chason’s initiatives, such as Transformation Kitchen, integrate culinary training, youth education, and food desert outreach to address food insecurity. The episode concludes with a focus on the importance of collaboration, authenticity, and vulnerability in creating lasting change.

In this episode of The Corvus Effect, Chason Forehand shares his remarkable journey from homelessness and addiction to becoming a leader and founder of HR-4U. Chason discusses the transformative power of a purpose-driven life, advocating for living wages, and the impact of his Transformation Kitchen program that provides culinary training to underserved communities. The conversation dives deep into his personal adversities, the importance of asking for help, and how individualization can revolutionize the HR landscape. They also discuss common misconceptions about wage equality and the socioeconomic effects of paying living wages. Chason highlights key lessons in resilience, purpose-driven leadership, and the collaborative spirit needed for nonprofit success.

This episode features a 'Too Long, Didn't Listen' (TLDL) summary of my conversation with Steffan Surdek. Key points include the evolution from traditional command and control leadership to a more collaborative approach, the journey of transitioning from technical roles to leadership, and the importance of building sustainable organizational change. Steffan introduces the concept of the 'Moses Effect' and emphasizes the significance of developing internal capacity. We also discuss co-creative leadership skills, the power of collaborative environments, and the concept of conversational debt. Steffan's insights provide a roadmap for leaders to foster strong relational connections and address issues with compassion.

In this episode of The Corvus Effect, Steffan Surdek, author of 'The Way of the Co-Creative Leader,' shares his transformative journey from software development to becoming a leadership innovator. The discussion delves into the principles of co-creative leadership, emphasizing the importance of vulnerability, collaboration, and sustainability in leading teams. Steffan outlines five key skills integral to co-creative leadership, including being a voice among many, unleashing the leaders around you, developing team capacity, dancing with the system, and fostering learning by doing. Through insightful anecdotes and practical advice, Steffan highlights how these skills can create lasting organizational change and can be applied in personal life for a more fulfilled existence.

This episode features a 'Too Long, Didn't Listen' (TLDL) summary of my conversation with Dan Vasquenza. Key takeaways include redefining success through genuine connection, prioritizing understanding before selling, and transforming personal challenges into purpose. Dan shares his experience as a father to a neurodiverse son, which led to his advocacy work with KultureCity. Another highlight is the importance of leaving things better than you found them, focusing on positively impacting others and ensuring your legacy is defined by how you made others feel. The episode emphasizes embracing personal challenges for growth and enhancing oneself to build a meaningful legacy.

In this episode of The Corvus Effect, Dan Vasquenza, a relationship-focused sales professional and advocate for inclusion, joins the conversation. Dan discusses his journey from corporate sales with the Atlanta Hawks to his entrepreneurship and advocacy work with KultureCity, a nonprofit focused on creating accessible environments for people with sensory needs and invisible disabilities. The discussion covers his philosophy on authentic sales strategies, the importance of understanding customer objectives, and his transition to entrepreneurship during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dan also shares personal insights on fatherhood, his experiences raising a neurodiverse son, and how these influenced his contributions to the book 'A Fatherless Curiosity.' The episode emphasizes the importance of leaving a positive legacy and making impactful contributions to others' lives.

This episode features a 'Too Long, Didn't Listen' (TLDL) summary of my conversation with Peter Schaller, executive director of Rayo De Sol and Community development specialist. Key points include how authentic leadership can lead to profound impact, starting with Peter's personal journey from the northeastern US to Nicaragua, where he followed his passion for international development. The episode delves into his philosophy of 'starting small, thinking big,' which enabled Rayo De Sol to expand from one school to serving 41 communities with education, nutrition, healthcare, and economic development. Another major takeaway is Peter's perspective on leading with purpose, focusing on loving and serving the person in front of you, and the importance of maintaining spiritual, emotional, physical, and intellectual well-being to serve others effectively.

In this episode of The Corvus Effect, Peter Schaller, a community development specialist and executive director of Rayo Del Sol, discusses his journey from Connecticut to Nicaragua, where he dedicates his life to transforming communities. The conversation dives into Peter’s early influences, his holistic approach to leadership, the origins and evolution of Rayo Del Sol, and the importance of ethical leadership. Topics also include overcoming organizational challenges, building local leadership, the impact of volunteer work, and the interconnectedness of global social issues such as poverty and immigration. Peter shares how to get involved with Rayo Del Sol and the various ways individuals can contribute to creating sustainable change.

This episode features a 'Too Long, Didn't Listen' (TLDL) summary of my conversation with Justin Buonomo, founder of Journey to Financial Freedom. Key points include strategies for achieving financial independence, the importance of mindset shifts in managing wealth, and practical steps for effective financial planning. Justin’s experience and insights offer valuable guidance for those seeking to take control of their financial future.

In this episode of The Corvus Effect, Justin Buonomo, founder and CEO of Journey to Financial Freedom, shares his expertise in helping purpose-driven individuals transform their relationship with money into a tool for living their dream lives. Justin discusses his own challenging financial journey, the lessons he learned, and the principles of financial freedom he now teaches. The conversation delves into his four-step process for achieving financial freedom, including implementing the right systems, setting a mission for your money, increasing income, and building sustainable wealth. Justin emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, self-accountability, and creating a strong partnership with your significant other in managing finances effectively.

This episode features a 'Too Long, Didn't Listen' (TLDL) summary of my conversation with Colonel J. Scot Heathman. The discussion delves into his journey from military leadership to brain tumor survivor, emphasizing the power of servant leadership and self-command. Key points include the integration of structure with compassion, the critical role of self-awareness and self-accountability, and his insights on resilience after a life-changing health crisis. Scot shares how vulnerability and emotional intelligence foster high-trust leadership, drawing from both personal and professional experiences. The episode concludes with a look at his upcoming book, 'Command with Courage: Elevating Beyond Adversity,' which details his AIM framework for leadership.

 In this episode of The Corvus Effect, retired Colonel J. Scot Heathman, founder of Elevating Others, discusses his advanced servant leadership philosophy shaped by military experience and overcoming personal adversity, including a brain tumor. He shares how his passion for Star Wars fueled his dreams of flying and his journey in mastering self-command. The discussion extends into the power of emotional intelligence in leadership, the significance of accountability, and the creation of a culture that balances mission goals with personal growth. The conversation also highlights key principles from Heathman's upcoming book 'Command with Courage' and his mantra to 'Be Present, Be Bold, Be Innovative.'