In Search Of Excellence

Welcome to another episode of In Search of Excellence! My guest today is Brandi Love, one of the most famous and successful adult film actresses of all time.

She has starred in more than 800 movies and her videos have been streamed more than a billion times. She has been nominated for and won 12 adult industry awards and is the author of the book Getting Wild Sex from Your Conservative Woman. She is also the owner of Traffic Stop Media and a real estate business together with her husband that renovates distressed properties.

We are talking about her childhood, college years, finding her soulmate, first employment, and getting into the adult business. Tune in to hear Brandi’s fascinating life story!

Time stamps:

09:13 Brandi Love’s background

• Had supportive parents and a great childhood
• Her first passion was ice skating
• Athletics and fitness in college
• Graduated with General Business degree

18:14 Meeting her soulmate

• Met her husband during her first year at college
• They became inseparable
• Monogamous relationship and jealousy

20:39 Going into the corporate world

• Managed a bagel store
• Learned everything she didn’t learn at college
• She was full of life and great with people

25:37 Cold calling and getting rejected

• The only job that made her cry
• Her husband helped her to understand how important that experience was

26:57 Working for Harley-Davidson

• She was a tomboy and bought her first motorcycle at 17
• Moving to North Carolina and getting a job at Harley-Davidson
• She was the only female and no.1 sales person every month
• Very motivated and passionate

32:47 Dealing with jealousy

• Her husband was very successful and traveled a lot
• One comment made her jealous and suspicious
• There is no plan B advice

39:41 Starting a wine label company

• Having a daughter and her husband having a heart attack
• Decided to have their own company
• Started a wine label company

45:23 What is porn?

• The definition of pornography
• The dividing line between porn and not porn
• Nakedness on Instagram

51:25 Statistics about the porn industry

• The global pornography industry brings $97 billion a year
• 46 million Americans regularly visit porn sites
• People don’t talk about pornography

59:35 The transition from the wine to the adult business

• Brandi and her husband got an offer to build their adult content website
• Started their first company in the adult business
• They already had an open marriage
• At 18, won a bikini competition
• Danced for a few years at a men's club

1:07:25 Approaching the adult industry as a business

• Created a business plan
• Built a website, took photos, and uploaded them
• Learned a lot along the way, especially about marketing
• Persistently wrote letters to Howard Stern
• Got invited to Howard Stern’s show
• Their business took off

Sponsors:
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Welcome to the second part of our interview with the amazing Joe Mansueto.

Joe is the founder and former CEO of Morningstar, a financial services and investment research firm that is one of the most recognized companies in finance. It provides investment research and investment management services to many millions of people around the world.

If you haven't yet listened to part one, be sure to check that one out first

00:55 The importance of parental support

• Joe’s dad was buying saving bonds for his children for years
• He gave the accumulated money to Joe to start his business
• Joe made sure every dollar was spent wisely

05:07 Can parents give proper advice to children in today’s business environment?

• You should listen to your own instincts
• But also take into account your parents’ advice

09:06 The importance of cold calling

• You learn about perseverance, handling rejection, processing, and not taking it personally
• Cold calling is a very valuable skill to have

13:40 Bootstrapping and raising money

• Entrepreneurs should not raise a lot of money if they can avoid it
• Subscription model for Morningstar
• The pressures of raising outside money

20:11 Becoming rich should not be your primary goal

• Joe is more about independence, creativity, and autonomy
• One of the byproducts is building wealth
• His goal was to build a viable, enduring, independent company, that would survive for a very long time
• You should want to make money, but not at all costs

23:42 Joe’s soccer investments

• Wanted to diversify his investments
• Loves soccer and it became his passion
• Bought MLS team in Chicago

28:37 The importance of Extreme Preparation

• Preparation is essential
• Importance of understanding the client and his needs
• If you can move the needle for a company, any company will hire you
• Show the company how you can add value to it

33:26 Reaching out to successful people

• Trust your gut and do something that no one else does
• People are much more accessible than you think
• Successful people want to help and give back

36:56 The responsibility of giving back

• Giving back is important
• Finding meaningful ways of giving back

39:20 The pressure of giving money and being generous

• We shouldn’t judge others on their philanthropy
• Joe signed a giving pledge to set a good example
• Most wealthy people are trying to make the world a better place

42:56 Fill in the blanks to excellence

• Joe's biggest lesson in life
• Joe's number one professional goal
• Joe's number one personal goal
• The importance of family and spending time with your children
• The one piece of advice that you would give your 21-year-old self is
• Joe's biggest regret
• And more...

Sponsors:
Sandee | Bliss: Beaches

Want to Connect? Reach out to us online!
Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

Joe is the founder and former CEO of Morningstar, a financial services and investment research firm that is one of the most recognized companies in finance. It provides investment research and investment management services to many millions of people around the world.

Morningstar has a market value of $10.6 billion and Joe earned his spot on the Forbes 400 with a reported net worth of $5.6 billion.

Joe also owns magazines Inc. and Fast Company, as well as two professional soccer teams – the Chicago Fire in the MLS and FC Lugano in UEFA League.

Time stamps:

02:11 Joe’s childhood

• Had a lot of unstructured time
• Liked to do various projects

06:33 Joe’s first entrepreneurial experience

• Went to a ham fest with a friend
• Bought Drake 2B receiver for $200

09:19 The Room 607

• Studied at the University of Chicago
• Lived in a new dorm with no place to buy soda or snacks

11:20 The magic of boldness

• You grow by going beyond your comfort zone
• Just give it a try and be willing to stand out

16:34 The Christmas tree business

• Rented a truck, bought Christmas trees, and set up a shop
• Learned that managing your inventory is the key to success
• Broke even, but learned a lot

19:50 Should starting a company be fun?

• It should be fun and you should enjoy it
• Finding something you are passionate enough

21:04 How important is perseverance as part of the passion?

• Left it and went into investing
• Real entrepreneurs won’t give up until they find a solution

26:27 Funding an entrepreneur that failed

• Joe would fund entrepreneurs that failed
• Failure is a great lesson, not a black mark

28:07 A night manager at Arby’s

• Wanted to start a concept of healthy fast food
• Got a job of a night shift manager at Arby’s in Chicago
• Found out he hated it

32:06 How important is customer satisfaction and customer service to our success?

• Satisfying customers is extremely important
• Learning to deal with people is highly valuable

34:18 How did Joe get excited about investing?

• Book mention: John Train, The Money Masters
• Started working in an investing company - Harris associates

38:47 The great revelation about the mutual fund industry

• Had a lot of reports and other material
• Realized that he had valuable data
• Looked deeply at the mutual fund industry
• It was a very obscure industry

49:27 How important is it to do research when starting a company?

• Research + instincts + judgement
• The data is out there and it is extremely important to research

Sponsors:
Sandee | Bliss: Beaches

Want to Connect? Reach out to us online!
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Welcome to the second part of our interview with the incredible Tony Capuano, the President and CEO of Marriott International.

Tony is the President and CEO of Marriott International, the world's largest hospitality company with nearly 8,600 properties in 139 countries and over 31 brands, including JW Marriott, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, BVLGARI Hotels & Resorts, The Ritz-Carlton, Westin Hotels and Resorts, and Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, among many others.

Marriott also has the travel industry's largest customer loyalty program, Marriott Bonvoy, which has more than 186 million members! Tony sits on the board of directors of McDonald's Corporation and Save Venice, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the artistic heritage of Venice, Italy, which since its founding in 1971, has funded the conservation of nearly 2,000 individual artworks.


00:45 Becoming the CEO of Marriott

- FILO (First In, Last Out)
- Control the factors that you can control
- Arne Sorensen died of pancreatic cancer
- Arne was a friend, mentor, humble, iconic leader
- Tony became the new CEO six days later
- Had to compartmentalize his grief and start working immediately
- Buying Starwood and a round-the-world tour
- Bill Marriott’s advice to Arne Sorensen
- Randall’s experience with Arnie
- Arnie knew how to listen and connect with people


11:00 The biggest 3 lessons Tony learned from COVID

- Core values and culture have never mattered more than in the pandemic
- The value of authentic and transparent communication
- The value of thoughtful stewardship of the company's financial position
- The resilience of travel and wise business plan
- Arnie’s pandemic video


16:22 Interaction with employees and customers

- Reads every email he gets
- A face-to-face business


18:04 The importance of Extreme reparation

- Prepares extremely for earnings calls
- Prepared for the audience with the Marriott board for 4 nights


22:12 The importance of giving back

- It’s critically important to give back
- Tony responded to every person who reached him out


23:52 Fill in the blanks to Excellence

- The biggest lesson I've learned in my life is
- Listen to the advice of your parents
- My number one professional goal is
- To give back
- My number one personal goal is
- To give back
- And more!

Sponsors:
Sandee | Bliss: Beaches

Want to Connect? Reach out to us online!
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Welcome to another episode of In Search of Excellence. It’s a true pleasure to have Tony Capuano as our guest today! Tony is the President and CEO of Marriott International, the world's largest hospitality company with nearly 8,600 properties in 139 countries and over 31 brands, including JW Marriott, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, BVLGARI Hotels & Resorts, The Ritz-Carlton, Westin Hotels, and Resorts and Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, among many others.

Marriott also has the travel industry's largest customer loyalty program, Marriott Bonvoy, which has more than 186 million members! Tony sits on the board of directors of McDonald's Corporation and Save Venice, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the artistic heritage of Venice, Italy, which since its founding in 1971, has funded the conservation of nearly 2,000 individual artworks.


01:56 Tony’s family, childhood and early years

- The importance of work ethic
- The impact of Tony’s father and grandfather
- His parents divorced, lived with his father
- Very self-sufficient from an early age
- Played lacrosse at school
- First job as a pot washer at Toby’s Dinner Theatre
- Fell in love with the hospitality business
- There are no bad jobs, everything can be a learning opportunity


09:39 Interns and the operating side of the business

- Tony’s experience with his interns
- A member of the Dean's Advisory Board at the Hospitality School at Cornell
- Students who have a passion for the operating side of the business
- Tony has a lot of optimism for the future of the industry


12:58 Job interviews after graduation

- Cornell School of Hotel Administration
- After 8 job interviews, got 7 offers and 1 rejection from Marriott
- The importance of humility
- Tony had deep admiration for the Marriott Company
- Joined them in 1995


16:24 Working in a consulting firm

- “A and B work” message from his boss that changed his perspective
- Your work impacts your team, customers, and investors
- Catchphrases from Bill Marriott and his father
- Success is never final


22:02 Joining Marriott during their hardships

- Worked under Kenneth Leventhal as a consultant
- Got to do significant international work
- But he had a burning desire to be inside the projects
- Was always impressed with Marriott’s intellect, integrity, and innovation


24:36 The importance of being in the right place at the right time

- Working until 10 pm
- Raised with a strong work ethic
- Carol Wagner and a trip to New York
- Working until the job was done

Sponsors:
Sandee | Bliss: Beaches

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Welcome to part two of my amazing conversation with Jason Belmonte, the greatest bowler of all time. He has won a record number of 15 major championships and has been named PBA Player of the Year 7 times. He is also the second person in PBA history that has won the Super Slam, winning all 5 PBA major titles in the same year.

If you haven't yet listened to part one, be sure to check it out first.

00:00 Dealing with the defeat in 2008

- At first, 60th of 63 contestants
- Jason thought he was better
- Watched what the best players in the world were doing
- Won the eighth event

03:48 Tim Mack and the first contract

- Tim was the best amateur player in the world
- Called his sponsor to see Jason
- Flew to Las Vegas for the tournament
- Signed the contract for Storm Bowling

08:06 The courage to ask for what you want

- You have to be OK to hear No
- Finding the best way to ask for something
- Show value and give them a reason not to say No

10:46 How to deal with hate and loneliness

- Cheating accusations affected his mental health
- Being constantly on a defense drained him
- The jealousy of his competitors
- Decided to focus on his supporters, not haters
- The small inner circle of family and friends

20:24 Dealing with people that envy your success

- His roommate wasn’t happy about his first win
- Becoming successful very young feels lonely
- The story of Norm Duke coming to his defense

36:13 Bowling with two hands

- Jason doesn’t know the science behind it
- Bowling with two hands became popular

39:17 The growth of the bowling industry

- The industry is a wild beast
- It has many opportunities to grow
- The sport needs the right people in the right places

42:43 The importance of mental preparation and confidence

- World Series comeback after 71 games
- Self-belief is a huge element in the recipe for success
- Understanding your own success

46:27 Throwing a ball outside of a NASCAR car

- Promoting the game in an unusual and funny way
- An incredible moment

50:25 The importance of Extreme Preparation

- An honest discussion with yourself about why you are not as good as you can be
- The goal is to figure out where you can improve and dedicate time to doing that

52:54 Fill in the blanks to excellence

- The biggest lesson I’ve learned
- Number one professional goal
- Number one personal goal
- And more...

Sponsors:
Sandee | Bliss: Beaches

Want to Connect? Reach out to us online!
Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

My guest today is Jason Belmonte, the best bowler in the history of this sport. He has won a record number of 15 major championships and has been named PBA Player of the Year 7 times. He is also the second person in PBA history that has won the Super Slam, winning all 5 PBA major titles in the same year.


01:30 Off days during world tours

- It is brutally hard to compete
- Tournaments are exhausting for both mind and body
- Days off are mostly for sleep and relaxation

04:17 The first event outside of Australia

- At 16, he traveled to Malaysia on a mini tour
- Bowling conditions in Asia
- That was the catalyst for understanding

10:35 The preparation for tournaments

- Tries to leave Australia as late as he can
- Most people like to play in the middle part of the lane
- Bowling in a new tournament is a puzzle that you need to solve
- Japan bowling centers

17:36 Types of lane surfaces and bowling balls

- Synthetic lanes are made of tough plastic
- Bowling balls are very similar to golf balls
- Jason carries 20 balls on his tours
- Bowling balls weigh up to 16 pounds
- Materials and designs vary depending on the goal

26:32 Jason’s childhood

- His parents built the bowling center after he was born
- He started bowling at 18 months
- The ball was too heavy so he had his own way of bowling
- That difference gave him the advantage

31:16 Norm Duke and the Beast

- Norm Duke is one of Jason’s favorite bowlers
- Norm Duke’s ball was called the Beast
- Got the Beast from his parents
- Met Norm and competed against him

34:50 The culture of bowling

- The popularity of bowling shirts, shoes, and other apparel
- Breaking the stereotype of the burger-eating and beer-drinking bowler

39:02 Focusing on a bowling career

- As a kid, besides bowling, played rugby and cricket
- Realized he had to commit to one
- Quit his job at Blockbuster
- Dad fired him, his safety net was gone

45:07 What did Jason do with his first prize money

- The first thing he bought was a Nokia 5110
- Invested the money into his career
- Losing and not generating income
- Became incredibly analytical of his game

Sponsors:
Sandee | Bliss: Beaches

Want to Connect? Reach out to us online!
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Welcome to the second part of In Search of Excellence featuring Kelly Hansen, the lead singer of the legendary rock band Foreigner which has had five platinum records and sold more than 80 million albums. He was also the lead singer of the heavy metal band Hurricane, popular in the 80s. 

03:46 The importance of being proactive

- Kelly was frustrated with where he was
- Realized he had to be proactive
- You have to handle criticism
- Believe in yourself enough that you can take the risk
- Keep moving forward
- Is fear our greatest motivator to success?

 
11:47 Sex, drugs & rock ’n’ roll

- Learned a huge lesson in Hurricane
    - They became famous rock stars
    - 6 months after the label went under, no one knew who they were
- What popularity projects to you is not reality
    - You have to know who you are as a person
- Experienced some things of a rock star life
    - Never did drugs

 
16:05 Playing in front of 50 000 people

- There are a lot of types of audiences
    - You have to treat each kind differently
- Responsible for converting the audience
- How to keep your energy night after night?
- Show hours have to be the apex of the day

 
23:02 Priorities in life

- Re-prioritized his life
- Currently on the farewell tour
- Has other passions besides music
- Wants to spend time with his family

 
26:05 Popular songs vs. “bathroom” songs

- The band had 16 Top 30s
- Every single song did well
- Fortunate to be in a band with so many popular songs

 
28:28 The importance of Extreme Preparation for success

- Your 100% might be somebody else's 70%
- When you over-prepare, it's like muscle memory
- Bands in the 70s and 80s looked rebellious and unhappy
- 45 years later, not trying to prove how dark and cool they are
    - Smiling is a huge part of that

 
34:15 The current state of the music business and where's it going?

- Talked with a famous rapper about his revenue stream
- Live is the only place you're making any money
- Everybody's stealing and no one’s paying
- A cynical view of what's going forward
- AI created content
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

 
40:44 Giving back to others

- Started working with Grammy Foundation
    - To raise awareness about the lack of funding for school music programs
- Did a lot of work for the Shriners Hospital
    - Helping parents pay bills for their sick children

 
42:18 Fill in the blank for excellence

- When I started my career, I wish I had known
    - More about collaboration
- The biggest lesson I've learned in my life is
    - You are insignificant
- And more

Sponsors:
Sandee | Bliss: Beaches

Want to Connect? Reach out to us online!
Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

Welcome to another episode of In Search of Excellence! My guest today is Kelly Hansen, the lead singer of the legendary rock band Foreigner, which has had five platinum records and sold more than 80 million albums.

He was also a lead singer of the heavy metal band Hurricane – one of the most popular bands in the 80s. Kelly is a great musician with an amazing life story.

 
00:00 Kelly’s Family and Growing Up

- A vivid picture from his childhood of his parents carrying albums under their arms
- Mom had a GTO convertible
- At school, he sang in the school choir – a part of the curriculum
- Discovered that he can sing almost accidentally
- Didn’t know how to use his voice, took some singing lessons
- Realized he could do that as his job


09:55 The Beginnings of Kelly’s Singing Career

- The first gig was at teen dance night
- He was a part of a cover band
- Later, they played at high school dances
- Ended up playing all over Southern California
- Played a military base in Yuma, Arizona
- Music requires a lot of sacrifices and hard work
- The band Hurricane
- Parents were supportive


18:00 After High School

- Left the high school band
- Had his own bands - Kelly Hansen band, The Last Tango
- Played around LA
- His father was his manager
- Also started doing sessions
- Played in a couple of cover bands
- Played 5-6 days a week
- Tried to connect to the audience
- Played with Ross Bolton, a great guitarist
- The Guitar Institute of Technology - GIT


23:39 The Rise and Success of Hurricane

- Met the drummer of the band
- Later on, met bassist Tony Cavazo and guitarist Robert Sarzo
- Started making music together
- Found a new drummer - Jay Shelton
- That's when they really became Hurricane
- Did some demos with the producer called Kevin Beamish
- Mixed them themselves
- Sent them around to record labels
- Made an EP with the producer Max Norman
- The record label noticed them
- Went on a tour
- Went on the road
- Made their second record
- The third record
- Continued doing shows and making songs
- Doug Aldrich came to the band
- Enigma records
- Doing shows on the road, trying to sell records
- Canceling the rest of the tour


41:48 Becoming a Foreigner’s Lead Singer

- In the early 90s, a new style of music was coming in
- Tackled the other aspects of the recording business that he loved
- Album production started to slowly sank down as technology advanced
- Realized he had to go back to what he does best - being the lead singer
- Foreigner was trying to get back together
- Set up a meeting with Tom Gimbel of Foreigner
- Back and forth conversation with management of Foreigner
- Received 5 Foreigner tracks - the original recordings, but without any vocals
- Mick Jones got to hear that CD in New York
- Kelly was one of the first ones to jam with the guys
- He got into the band
- Printed lyrics of songs and was memorizing 24/7

Sponsors:
Sandee | Bliss: Beaches

Want to Connect? Reach out to us online!
Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

Welcome to another episode of In Search of Excellence! My guest today is Kelly Hansen, the lead singer of the legendary rock band Foreigner, which has had five platinum records and sold more than 80 million albums.

He was also a lead singer of the heavy metal band Hurricane – one of the most popular bands in the 80s. Kelly is a great musician with an amazing life story.

 
00:00 Kelly’s Family and Growing Up

- A vivid picture from his childhood of his parents carrying albums under their arms
- Mom had a GTO convertible
- At school, he sang in the school choir – a part of the curriculum
- Discovered that he can sing almost accidentally
- Didn’t know how to use his voice, took some singing lessons
- Realized he could do that as his job


09:55 The Beginnings of Kelly’s Singing Career

- The first gig was at teen dance night
- He was a part of a cover band
- Later, they played at high school dances
- Ended up playing all over Southern California
- Played a military base in Yuma, Arizona
- Music requires a lot of sacrifices and hard work
- The band Hurricane
- Parents were supportive


18:00 After High School

- Left the high school band
- Had his own bands - Kelly Hansen band, The Last Tango
- Played around LA
- His father was his manager
- Also started doing sessions
- Played in a couple of cover bands
- Played 5-6 days a week
- Tried to connect to the audience
- Played with Ross Bolton, a great guitarist
- The Guitar Institute of Technology - GIT


23:39 The Rise and Success of Hurricane

- Met the drummer of the band
- Later on, met bassist Tony Cavazo and guitarist Robert Sarzo
- Started making music together
- Found a new drummer - Jay Shelton
- That's when they really became Hurricane
- Did some demos with the producer called Kevin Beamish
- Mixed them themselves
- Sent them around to record labels
- Made an EP with the producer Max Norman
- The record label noticed them
- Went on a tour
- Went on the road
- Made their second record
- The third record
- Continued doing shows and making songs
- Doug Aldrich came to the band
- Enigma records
- Doing shows on the road, trying to sell records
- Canceling the rest of the tour


41:48 Becoming a Foreigner’s Lead Singer

- In the early 90s, a new style of music was coming in
- Tackled the other aspects of the recording business that he loved
- Album production started to slowly sank down as technology advanced
- Realized he had to go back to what he does best - being the lead singer
- Foreigner was trying to get back together
- Set up a meeting with Tom Gimbel of Foreigner
- Back and forth conversation with management of Foreigner
- Received 5 Foreigner tracks - the original recordings, but without any vocals
- Mick Jones got to hear that CD in New York
- Kelly was one of the first ones to jam with the guys
- He got into the band
- Printed lyrics of songs and was memorizing 24/7

Sponsors:
Sandee | Bliss: Beaches

Want to Connect? Reach out to us online!
Website | Instagram | LinkedIn