Sheer Clarity

Dealing with things that have happened in your past is not always easy, and the process is often viewed as weak. But what if, instead of toughening up, we chose to soften, sit with what we felt, and carry forward what serves us? Then, rather than being weighed down and shamed by our pasts, we know our heart story and can begin to more clearly see what is in other people’s hearts too. Today’s guest, Teresa Lindsey, CEO of Channel Products, a gas ignition components company, joins us to share her inspirational story of going within. We hear about what her younger years were like growing up in a state of poverty, and she shares both the hardships and joys from this time. We talk about how she views her past and how she has managed to let go of feelings of shame and unworthiness, and realize that she is capable and deserving of more. Teresa believes in leading with love, and she sheds light on her leadership style, the importance of executives showing true vulnerability, and how we can look at our teams differently. Teresa’s story and her approach to life are incredibly inspiring and well worth a listen, so be sure to tune in today.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Get to know Teresa, what she does, and how she came to be the CEO of Channel Products.
• What Teresa’s interests outside of work include.
• Hear more about Teresa’s vision board that she spends time on every morning.
• How Teresa actively cultivates a positive mindset.
• What Teresa’s childhood was like and the fear she constantly felt when she was young.
• Why the idea of not being a victim of your circumstance does not resonate with Teresa.
• The prevalent belief that going into your past is a sign of weakness.
• How Teresa made the decision to work through her past rather than be bound by it.
• What Teresa did to get to the core of her heart story.
• Most executives are not allowed to be fully vulnerable because we see this as weakness.
• The biggest challenges Teresa currently faces as a leader.
• Teresa’s human-centered approach to leadership and her decision to lead with love.
• Loving your team does not mean being soft; it means making decisions through the lens of love.
• What Teresa would tell her 21-year-old self.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Teresa Lindsey

Channel Products

Voice Dialogue International

Sheer Clarity

JKM Management Development

In the final part of our series on diversity and inclusion, we talk about the power of learning the biggest story of all: the story of humankind. While this might feel overwhelming, it is so important to understand who you are in a broader context because we do not exist in isolation. With more divisiveness than ever before, we need to open up our hearts and view the world with empathy and compassion in order to truly understand one another. In this episode, we hear about worldviews, how we construct them, and what you can do to shift and expand yours. By being open to learning, you will always have so many opportunities to experience love and warmth, even towards those whose beliefs differ from yours. We also learn more about humility, questions you can ponder to contemplate the human story, and the importance of always holding onto hope, no matter what. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• We exist in a context much larger than ourselves, and it’s important to be aware of this.
• What differentiates us from all of the other creatures on the planet.
• All of the busyness in the world distracts us from how profound the human story is.
• When you have a heart full of empathy, you are more loving and accepting.
• Some questions we can all ask ourselves to interrogate our world view.
• Exploring the significance of Peggy Lee’s Is That All There Is?
• Hope is what sustains us through difficult times, so where are we keeping our hope?
• The power of comprehending the biggest story.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Is That All There Is?

Sheer Clarity

JKM Management Development

Today on Sheer Clarity, we continue our three-part series on diversity and inclusion with part two. In the last episode, we discussed the power of learning your heart story, and today we continue this discussion by talking about the power of learning another person’s heart story. Instead of taking a big global approach or national approach to addressing the problem of divisiveness and hatred, we’re taking an inside-out approach by focusing on the human heart. Kevin suggests that when you know your own heart and are prepared to share it, then you can find other human beings who are also willing and share your hearts with each other. If this is done with sincerity and vulnerability, there is an enormous amount of connection building, empathy, and healing that occurs. Tuning in today, you’ll hear about what it takes to be able to really engage with another human being, and what we can learn about this from Oriah Mountain Dreamer’s poem “The Invitation”. Find out some practical advice on how to share your story, how to decide who to share your story with, how to set the tone for openness and vulnerability, and even the topics you should cover to guide the conversation and help you really connect with each other’s heart stories. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• How today’s topic falls within the current three-part series on diversity and inclusion.
• Why Kevin feels it’s important to take an inside-out approach to the problems of division and hatred.
• How to go about learning another human heart by talking to each other about your life story.
• The first of the three things you need to be able to engage with another human being: having the desire to do so.
• The second thing: the willingness to experience the discomfort of sharing your own story.
• The third thing: You have to decide with whom you are going to exchange heart stories.
• The two parts of this desire: I’d like to get to know you and I’d like to give you an invitation to get to know me.
• Thoughts on what we can learn from the poem “The Invitation”.
• The art of not helping: why you should just listen with your head and your heart instead of trying to solve problems.
• Practical advice on talking to another person to know their heart: The downloadable worksheet: ‘Sharing your Story: Discovering, disclosure, openness, and vulnerability’
• Why you should start by practicing this with friends or family members and work up to people you don’t really know.
• How to set the tone for an open and vulnerable conversation.
• Topics to cover in the conversation to help you and the other person open up about your heart stories.
• How sharing this podcast may help spread the healing.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Brené Brown: The Power of Vulnerability

Poem: The Invitation

The Worksheet: ‘Sharing your Story: Discovering, disclosure, openness, and vulnerability’

Sheer Clarity

Kevin McHugh

Kevin McHugh on LinkedIn

JKM Management

Sheer Clarity on Twitter

There is no doubt that societies are more divided and polarized than ever before. So many of us are torn when it comes to dealing with these hate-filled, angry times. While there are so many institutional approaches to tackling issues of diversity and inclusion, today, Kevin wants to offer a different approach; that of learning your heart story. This is the first of a three-part series around diversity and inclusion. By taking a heart-led approach, you have to dig deep within. What is it that your heart is telling you if you are truly willing to listen? Where are your blind spots? Where do you still need to grow, and what are your strengths? Being a great leader means being willing to do some self-reflection, and while this is not easy, it has to be done. We cannot shy away from asking ourselves the difficult questions that will allow us to move forward and be the kind, caring changemakers we need in this world. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• Being a great leader starts with doing internal work before anything else.
• There are so many institutional approaches to tackle diversity and inclusion, but we are starting with a heart solution.
• Ask yourself questions to interrogate how you view inclusion and diversity.
• Why Kevin still fundamentally believes that people are inherently good.
• What Kevin learned about acceptance growing up in a diverse neighborhood.
• How your heart space links to leadership; you are self-aware and walk the talk.
• What would happen if we were all ruthlessly honest and kind to ourselves?
• Kevin’s definition of grace: accepting transgressions of others.
• What you can do to contribute to making the world a less hateful place.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Sheer Clarity

J. Kevin McHugh

JKM Management Development

Sheer Clarity on Twitter

Amin Toufani

The Invitation By Oriah Mountain Dreamer

Oriah Mountain Dreamer

‘The History of Diversity Training and Its Pioneers’

Walt Rakowich is the former CEO of Prologis, a New York Stock Exchange company and a member of the S&P 500. He is now a member of the Board of Trustees, has made countless media appearances and is also the author of the book Transfluence: How to Lead with Transformative Influence in Today's Climates of Change. In this episode, Walt talks about his early years and the impact of growing up in a loving household. Having parents that were devoted to others instilled in him the value of true leadership early on. We hear about what often goes wrong with leaders when pride and fear of vulnerability get in the way. As someone who is always willing to learn and grow, Walt hired a coach, and we hear about how it transformed him as a leader. Wrapping up, we touch on the value of accountability and gain insights into the main themes of Walt's book. Tune in to hear it all!

Key Points From This Episode:

• How Walt spends his time after retiring.
• What Walt's life was like growing up and the influential role his parents had on him.
• The lessons that Walt learned from his first job after his MBA.
• Walt weighs in on whether he thinks people can be taught to lead with love.
• A story of someone Walt worked with who changed their leadership style to be more loving.
• The difference between authentic and hubristic pride.
• How the fear of being vulnerable can manifest in leaders and the way this makes them behave.
• What Walt learned when he hired a coach and how he became more empathetic.
• The value Walt sees in coaching and its transformational ability.
• Leadership is not about doing all of the work yourself; it is about connecting with people.
• What Walt would say to his 23-year-old self.
• The most important quality Walt believes that all loving leaders should have.
• Where you can go to learn more about Walt's book, Transfluence.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Sheer Clarity

J. Kevin McHugh

JKM Management Development

Sheer Clarity on Twitter

Walt Rakowich

Walt Rakowich on Twitter

Transfluence

Halftime

The Way

Trammell Crow Company

Prologis

Pennsylvania State University

Today’s conversation is all about the nuances of personhood and leadership, and we couldn’t have a better guest than Brian Hayward, a man with no shortage of beautiful inner complexities. Brian has lived a winding life filled with pivots, learnings, and success in business, and he recently wrote The Great Chair, in which he explores the secret sauce of authentic board governance. Our conversation begins with Brian sharing his life’s story where he highlights the light and dark sides of his upbringing, problem-solving skills, and tendency to be solitary and work things out on his own. We talk about his career and what he is currently investing his time and energy in, and more than anything external, it is the inner value of finding joy in the moment that Brian emphasizes. We talk about our culture of valuing achievements, of doing rather than being, and the reality that feeling totally satisfied once an external goal has been reached is an illusion. In the last parts of our conversation, Brian dives deeper into his book, sharing his extensive experience in board meetings and the recipe for truly effective governance. For Brian, good leadership happens by attraction, and trust plays a key role in laying a foundation for this dynamic. Our society is run by the decisions made by governing bodies and when these groups are run in truly communal ways, they are far healthier. So for today’s conversation with a guest who is as funny as he is wise, be sure to tune in!

Key Points From This Episode:

• An intro into Brian and the many things with which he fills his time.
• The value of the ‘churn factor’ of conversation for processing information.
• The importance of pondering things, especially in today’s culture of instantaneity.
• The winding path of Brian’s career and how his childhood and talents informed his decisions.
• Skills Brian learned about problem-solving by always having to do things himself.
• Investments Brian is making and his love for working with young people and giving back.
• The dark side of being solitary; being driven by fear, self-consciousness, and survival.
• An inspiring quote about taking leaps of faith by Rabindranath Tagore.
• The value of being rather than doing, and how this fits into progress.
• Our obsession with achievements and Brian’s habit of finding joy by being present.
• Brian’s studies into the dynamics of what makes great board meetings.
• Leadership by attraction and the role of trust in effective leadership.
• The need to be authentic and human with each other for building trust.
• How betraying loved ones leaves deep scars.
• Exploring the idea that ‘a problem shared is a problem cut in half.’
• The lessons about community-based leadership to be found in Brian’s book.
• Advice Brian would give to his 23-year-old self about worrying less.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Sheer Clarity

J. Kevin McHugh

JKM Management

Sheer Clarity on Twitter

Brian Hayward on LinkedIn

The Great Chair

Rabindranath Tagore

'The Secret Sauce to Being a Board Chair'

Jordan Peterson

There does not have to be a disparity between the calling of success in business, and a passion-driven, divinely inspired pursuit of meaning. These things can culminate by allowing a fulfilling career in the business to serve others and spread positivity and empowerment through the work. Dale Dawson joins us on the show today to share his story in business and non-governmental projects that have landed him as the Founder and CEO of Bridge2Rwanda, a powerful organization that is helping young Rwandans, travel and learn before returning to their country to enrich its fabric and economy! One of the most beautiful messages that Dale shares is about living in uncertainty. He believes that uncertainty is not something we have to run away from, and we should attempt to live with more of it in our lives. When we pursue passions in a less fearful way we end up in a more connected realm, where we are really able to take the focus away from ourselves and serve those around us. We also talk about Dale's father, his leadership style, the power of friendship building, and much more. So make sure to listen in with us on the Sheer Clarity Podcast today!

Key Points From This Episode:

• This moment in Dale's professional career and the path that has led him this far. 
• The development of Bridge2Rwanda and the idea behind its mission to help the country. 
• Dale's early years in Texas and the influence his father had on him.
• Making the transition from the investment world and looking for something related to passion. 
• The basics of Dale's leadership style; focussing on unity and clarity. 
• Mentors that helped Dale along the way and the people who guided his idea of leadership.
• Thoughts on leadership, friendship, and communication culture today.
• The component steps in maintaining your network; the kinds of communication and actions that really connect.
• How Dale learned the power of friendships and connection at a later stage in his career.
• An example of an important lesson about fear that Dale learned through a difficult failure.
• Living on the edge of uncertainty and the benefits of allowing things to be uncertain. 
• Links between uncertainty, success, and a faith in God.   
• How the skills that Dale developed over a lifetime came to serve him perfectly in his new work.
• Dale's advice to his younger self about selflessness, business, and finding a divine calling! 
• How to connect with Dale, help out, and learn more about Bridge2Rwanda.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Bridge2Rwanda

Dale Dawson on Twitter

Paul Kagame

Halftime Institute

Founders Advisors

Diamond State Ventures

KPMG

Stephens Inc.

Walmart

Jack Stephens

Sam Walton

J.B. Hunt

Sheer Clarity

J. Kevin McHugh

JKM Management

Sheer Clarity on Twitter

Today’s guest is Kim Riley, President at Hylant, a full-service, family-owned insurance firm that stands out from the crowd. Kim is an outstanding leader, gifted speaker, and coach, and today we talk to her about the qualities that she manifests in herself to find the energy and deal with the responsibility of operating at such a high level. Our conversation kicks off with some information about Hylant and the challenges Kim is dealing with as a leader in this new remote working environment. She highlights the need for good communication and talks about how much she prioritizes staying in touch with her staff. We then take a deeper dive into Kim’s upbringing and she talks about growing up in a town without many prospects and the role that a mentor played in encouraging her to dream bigger. On the subject of success, Kim weighs in on the value of taking big risks, getting out of our comfort zones, and being persistent if we want to grow. We then zoom in on the topic of diversity and Kim speaks to her experiences working in a male-dominated industry and shares her advice for men who would like to help to equal the playing field. Toward the end of our conversation, Kim shares some golden nuggets of advice about the dangers of stepping on others as we pursue our dreams. She has made a special habit of helping others in her life and she shares a few details about the role that her solid networks have played in her career. Tune in for sterling insights about being a great leader and person with Kim today!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Introducing Kim, her background in insurance, and the services offered by Hylant.
• The challenges leaders are facing right now as far as keeping company culture intact.
• Overcoming the challenges of the pandemic through communication, agility, and more.
• A window into Kim’s childhood and the role of her mentors in her success.
• How many failures successful people experience on their path to success.
• The value of taking risks and the growth that comes after doing so.
• How Kim has dealt with being in the male-dominated insurance industry.
• Kim’s advice for men as far as helping corporate spaces to become more equal.
• The habit Kim practices of connecting with strangers and giving them free help.
• A recent hurdle Kim was able to overcome with the help of her CEO.
• Mid and long-term goals of Kim’s regarding advocating for diversity and post-retirement work.
• What it takes to make a good board leader in Kim’s opinion.
• The idea that passion comes from working hard and what this means as we retire.
• How to keep younger people in jobs considering their tendency to job hop and take risks.
• Advice from Kim about growing your network and not stepping on people.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kim Riley on LinkedIn

Kim Riley on Twitter

Hylant

Mike Hylant

Sheer Clarity

J. Kevin McHugh

JKM Management

Sheer Clarity on Twitter

Today’s guest is Mark Scheinberg, founder and president of Goodwin University.

Mark is the first university founder to be on the show and a dear friend who I’ve known for over 20 years. No matter where we meet, one of the hallmarks of our friendship is that within two minutes, we're laughing at something. I couldn't be happier to have him here.

As Peter Drucker put it, culture is “the way we do things around here.”

At Goodwin University, their mission-centered culture doesn’t come from buzzwords reserved for wall signs and the employee handbook, it’s something that their people embody. I attribute a lot of that to Mark’s humility and his drive to live a life of service and love. His leadership by attraction inspires others to follow his example and make it their own. That’s what I believe his legacy is about.

In this episode, Mark and I talk about the enormous support Goodwin University offers its students, how he went from a poor childhood to becoming a millionaire by 30, his focus on helping his students better their lives, why he gave away 90% of his assets, and so much more!

Key Topics:

• Why being a newer organization allowed Goodwin University to flourish (2:58)
• How traditional universities often fail to meet non-traditional students’ needs (4:16)
• Goodwin University’s groundbreaking student support initiatives (5:19)
• Social initiatives that give students a greater chance of success (8:05)
• The business case for offering extended support to students (9:23)
• How music became the key to a world of opportunities for Mark (11:54)
• The massive disconnect Mark experienced with college recruiters (13:28)
• How college admissions processes can end up excluding good candidates (16:02)
• Mark’s first post-college entrepreneurial venture (16:54)
• Mark’s path from real estate investments to buying a school at 24 (17:49)
• How a drive to help students find better jobs led Mark to shift his school into a college (20:45)
• Why Mark was driven to make his college non-profit (24:19)
• Mark’s decision to give away 90% of his assets (26:27)
• How Goodwin University has thrived since becoming a non-profit entity (28:17)
• The mission-based culture at Goodwin University (29:42)
• The surprising response Mark received from the non-profit world (33:15)
• Living a life of service, honesty, and love (35:04)
• Why it’s always worth it to do the right things (36:57)
• The advice Mark would give to his 23-year-old self (40:06)
• And much more!

Mentioned in this Episode:

• Goodwin University
• Jim Collins’ Book | Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don't
• Sheer Clarity | Loving People and Loving What You Do with Keith Alper

THANKS FOR LISTENING!

Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.  And feel free to drop us a line at [email protected]. 

Follow Sheer Clarity on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook! 

[AS1]I can’t link to Kevin’s site – it appears to be hacked or something. When I try to navigate to it, it reroutes me to something not legit.

Today’s episode is a little different than my recent interviews – we’re coming to you from the other side of the entrepreneurial journey.

Where most of my previous guests have been around the halftime of their lives, Chris Bello is still in the first half of the game and looking to the future. I connected with Chris on his podcast and wanted to bring him onto my show so you could share in his insights and generosity.

Chris Bello is a realtor, podcaster, and entrepreneur and at his young age is pondering questions I’m still working through with many CEOs in their 50s and 60s. One of the things I love about Chris is his drive for deeper self-awareness and self-reflection, both of which are integral parts of the journey to sheer clarity and markers of a true leader by attraction.

In this episode, Chris and I talk about how he went from working in his dream job to thinking outside the cubicle and working for himself, what it means to create a company culture that’s attractive to millennials, why it’s important to find your purpose beyond the money, how selfless service brings success, and so much more!

Key Topics:

• Why I wanted to interview Chris for the show (1:39)
• What makes a millennial? (2:40)
• The characteristics of people with the “performer gene” (3:35)
• Chris’s early journey along a conventional school-to-job path (4:26)
• Why Chris left his dream job to work for himself (5:13)
• Thinking of yourself as an independent contractor (6:51)
• The need to be in control of our destiny (7:55)
• Why Chris’ thinking on work started to shift (8:55)
• What Chris learned from behavioral assessments (9:50)
• Tackling impulsiveness and shiny object syndrome (10:47)
• How self-awareness helps you to achieve clarity (12:01)
• The wide range of priorities and goals within the millennial generation (13:51)
• Creating a company culture that’s attractive and motivational for the under-35s (16:26)
• Placing value on productivity instead of time spent (19:06)
• Why you might need to develop better performance metrics (20:36)
• How Chris’ conversations have changed since becoming an entrepreneur (24:29)
• Finding your purpose beyond the money (26:01)
• How Chris thinks about his purpose (27:22)
• A reminder not to wait to ask yourself the deep questions about life (28:43)
• Chris’ North Star (31:48)
• Reframing sales as an act of helping (32:42)
• Why you should let the sense of helping others be your guide (34:49)
• Breaking the stigma around counseling (36:39)
• The microwave mentality (39:00)
• The alarming decline in empathy in younger generations (40:06)
• Finding empathy as a high performer (41:55)
• What Chris would like to be saying about his life at 50 (43:32)
• What it means to make a difference (44:54)
• And much more!

Mentioned in this Episode:

• Chris Bello’s Podcast | Entrepreneur Motivation Podcast
• Chris Bello on Instagram
• Chris Bello’s Free Guide | 5 Productivity Hacks to Implement TODAY
• Entrepreneur Motivation Podcast | Episode 205:  Achieving Sheer Clarity with Kevin McHugh
• Sheer Clarity | Starting from a Place of Self-Reflection with Mike Swiger

THANKS FOR LISTENING!

Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.  And feel free to drop us a line at [email protected]. 

Follow Sheer Clarity on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook!