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 LindseyChannel ProductsVoice Dialogue InternationalSheer ClarityJKM 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 ClarityJKM 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 VulnerabilityPoem: The InvitationThe Worksheet: ‘Sharing your Story: Discovering, disclosure, openness, and vulnerability’Sheer ClarityKevin McHughKevin McHugh on LinkedInJKM ManagementSheer 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 ClarityJ. Kevin McHughJKM Management DevelopmentSheer Clarity on TwitterAmin ToufaniThe Invitation By Oriah Mountain DreamerOriah 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 ClarityJ. Kevin McHughJKM Management DevelopmentSheer Clarity on TwitterWalt RakowichWalt Rakowich on TwitterTransfluenceHalftimeThe WayTrammell Crow CompanyPrologisPennsylvania 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 ClarityJ. Kevin McHughJKM ManagementSheer Clarity on TwitterBrian Hayward on LinkedInThe Great ChairRabindranath 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:Bridge2RwandaDale Dawson on TwitterPaul KagameHalftime InstituteFounders AdvisorsDiamond State VenturesKPMGStephens Inc.WalmartJack StephensSam WaltonJ.B. HuntSheer ClarityJ. Kevin McHughJKM ManagementSheer 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 LinkedInKim Riley on TwitterHylantMike HylantSheer ClarityJ. Kevin McHughJKM ManagementSheer 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 UniversityJim Collins’ Book | Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don'tSheer Clarity | Loving People and Loving What You Do with Keith AlperTHANKS 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 kevin@sheerclarity.com. 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 PodcastChris Bello on InstagramChris Bello’s Free Guide | 5 Productivity Hacks to Implement TODAYEntrepreneur Motivation Podcast | Episode 205:  Achieving Sheer Clarity with Kevin McHughSheer 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 kevin@sheerclarity.com. Follow Sheer Clarity on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook! 

Taking over the reins of a successful generational company as someone without the family name is a prospect most people would find daunting. Being responsible for carrying on that legacy could even be considered a burden. But that’s not the case for my guest today. For him, an obligation to the employees of the company, to the next generation of leadership, and the legacy of the Higley name is a responsibility he has happily taken on.Today we’re coming at you from right in my backyard in Northeast Ohio with another great leader and friend who I’ve known for over 10 years, Gareth Vaughan. Gareth Vaughn is the President and CEO of The Albert M. Higley Co. He received a BEng in Civil Engineering in 1991 from the University of Trent in the United Kingdom, and in 1993, an M.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Cincinnati. Gareth joined The Albert M. Higley Co. in 2001 as a Regional Manager and was elected President in 2010 and named CEO in 2017. Gareth’s mentorship from Bruce Higley contributed significantly to his leadership style and combined with his values and commitment, he is truly a great example of what it means to be a leader by attraction.In this episode, Gareth and I talk about how the Albert M. Higley Co. has responded to the pandemic, the guiding principles the company is committed to, how Gareth’s childhood experiences propelled him into a high-performance career, what it means to dive headfirst into a brand-new role, battling imposter syndrome, lessons in leadership with humility, and so much more! Key Topics:How Gareth and I have connected over the years (1:22)The evolution of The Albert M. Higley Co. (2:37)The Albert M. Higley Co.’s commitment to becoming a better and more profitable company during the pandemic (5:28)The guiding vision that steers the company during good and difficult times (7:39)Articulating a 20-year plan (9:23)How the company is flipping the concept of making money on its head (10:30)The importance of strong company values (11:10)Gareth’s warning to potential employees (12:14)Gareth’s childhood in Cape Town and London (13:19)The difficult experiences from Gareth’s time in high school (15:18)How Gareth transformed his life from high school into college (16:09)Gareth’s early career and move to Columbus (17:08)The career-changing call from a headhunter (18:06)The surprising request Gareth made while interviewing for a role at The Albert M. Higley Co. (19:01)Diving headfirst into a brand-new role (20:05)The discomfort of becoming president (22:19)Battling imposter syndrome (23:48)Lessons in leadership from Bruce Higley (25:36)Gareth’s approach to building on the existing legacy of The Albert M. Higley Co. (28:50)Why a focus on legacy makes Gareth’s job simpler (30:45)What working with Bruce and Gareth taught me (32:31)The huge impact Bruce had on how Gareth responds to his team (34:00)How Gareth’s mother taught him about strength (36:43)The advice Gareth would give to his 23-year-old self (38:39)And much more!Mentioned in this Episode:The Albert M. Higley Co.Sheer Clarity | Battling Imposter SyndromeSheer 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 kevin@sheerclarity.com. Follow Sheer Clarity on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook! 

Today’s interview is with a leader in a non-traditional category who I’ve known for years, Mike Swiger. Mike is the Executive Director of True Freedom Ministries, an evangelical, non-profit organization dedicated to reaching people locked in jails and prisons, the homeless, and those trapped in addiction across Ohio. While a student at Case Western Reserve University, Mike was convicted as an accomplice to a crime his older brother committed and ended up serving 17 years for involuntary manslaughter. While incarcerated, he became a Christian and began the process of preparing himself for a better life once he was back home.In this episode, Mike and I talk about how he ended up in prison and the unconventional path he took into the non-profit world, what you think about when you have the time to examine your own heart, how the pandemic is affecting prisoners, what Mike has learned over the years about leadership, the lessons we can learn from lifers about vulnerability, and so much more!Key Topics:Commonalities between leadership in non-profit and for-profit enterprises (2:00)The True Freedom mission (3:03)The unique path that led Mike to his current role and ministries in the non-profit world (4:30)Why high performers have a hard time prioritizing self-reflection (6:05)How Mike used his time while incarcerated to start to heal and transform himself (7:50)The book that helped Mike gain valuable perspective on himself (8:29)The choice you have in how you respond to your trauma and live your life (9:22)Mike’s spiritual awakening in prison and the clarity it brought him (12:17)Recognizing that you are in control of your destiny (13:36)How the pandemic is impacting prisoners and Mike’s prison ministries (16:10)What the pandemic has taught Mike about leadership (18:28)Being the rock of reassurance for your team (20:41)What we can learn about hope from the Stockdale Paradox (22:34)Recovering from the damaging effects of false hope (23:45)The devastating news that became a defining point for Mike in the early 90s (25:35)Finding joy through extremely difficult circumstances (26:47)How I used my career to guide me during my first prison visit with Mike (30:29)Deep insights from the hearts of lifers (32:01)Heightening connection by stretching your discomfort with vulnerability (34:40)Why you need to ask yourself the difficult questions right now (36:52)How you can get involved with True Freedom Ministries (38:18)And much more!Mentioned in this Episode:True Freedom MinistriesDavid A. Seamands’ Book | Healing for Damaged EmotionsDr. Edith Eva Eger’s Book | The Choice: Embrace the PossibleJim Collins’ Book | Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don'tKeith Alper’s Book | From Like to Love: Inspiring Emotional Commitment from Employees and CustomersSheer Clarity | Loving People and Loving What You Do with Keith AlperTHANKS 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 kevin@sheerclarity.com. Follow Sheer Clarity on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook! 

When we stop preening and performing, that’s when we open ourselves up to our people and the community around us and embrace the fact that a good leader is one who recognizes it’s not about them. If you’re still wondering what love has to do with leadership, this episode is for you.Keith Alper is the CEO and co-founder of CPG Agency and author of From Like to Love: Inspiring Emotional Commitment from Employees and Customers. With over 30 years of expertise in marketing, branding, business strategy, and event production, Keith has produced events, video/film, broadcast, and major entertainment projects across the world. His uniquely strategic, creative leadership helps steer the agency while leaving room for his love of producing large-scale projects. An active member of the entrepreneurial community, he serves as a high-level strategist, innovator, board member, and consultant for many Fortune 500 companies, CEOs, and executives, as well as large non-profits.In this episode, Keith and I talk about how he’s been able to do what he loves his whole life, meeting his business partner while working at Six Flags as a teenager, how he brings authenticity and a focus on engagement to all his businesses, what loss has taught him about love, why great leaders are those that understand it’s not about them, your five basic needs as a leader, and so much more! Key Topics:Keith’s early dreams of a career in show business (2:55)The single toughest experience of Keith’s life (3:45)How Keith met his business partner of over 35 years (4:54)Why coaching young people is Keith’s favorite aspect of his business (6:09)Being ahead of his time with Geniecast (6:45)How Julian Assange lit the spark for Geniecast (7:50)Don't build the pipeline, build great content (9:34)Using Geniecast to combat Zoom fatigue (10:36)The messages I’ve been getting about creating video content (12:07)Key elements of good content (13:53)How engagement is driving how we communicate (14:45)The need to genuinely connect with yourself first (15:59)Working on your mind, body, and soul as a daily practice (18:55)Why great leaders are those that understand it’s not about them (20:26)How Southwest Airlines embodies love at every level of their company (21:15)The exponential value of hiring people who love their job (23:09)Why I use the voice dialogue model for self-development (23:56)Being the kind of leader who genuinely loves their people (25:15)Recognizing that you can’t save every employee (26:47)Why doing good for your community is a power driver for your company (28:05)Leadership lessons from the CEO of Carnival, Arnold Donald (30:23)The obstacle you create when you’re focused on performing (33:13)When I started waking up to what love means (34:30)Why it’s important to take a day off to escape (36:45)Keith’s evolution as a leader (38:14)Why diversity and inclusion are vital for all companies (41:13)What we can learn from Ken Frazier, CEO of Merck, and Randall Tucker, Chief Inclusion Officer at Mastercard (42:44)The five basic needs for every leader (46:25)Why I’m talking to you (47:11)The advice Keith would give to his 25-year-old self (50:31)And much more! Mentioned in this Episode:GeniecastCPG AgencyYoung Presidents’ Organization (YPO)Keith Alper’s Book | From Like to Love: Inspiring Emotional Commitment from Employees and CustomersSheer Clarity | Why Leaders Must Move from Push to Pull Leadership with Toby LaVigneDan Sullivan | Strategic CoachThe Executive Leadership Council 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 kevin@sheerclarity.com. Follow Sheer Clarity on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook! 

Today we visit with Rob Follows.  Rob is the Chairman and CEO of STS Capital Partners.  Rob helps people who are ready to sell their business, giving them the freedom to contribute their time, treasure and talent to make the world a better place.As leaders, we can create success from challenges in life.  If we view adversity as a friend and teacher, there’s a potential for significant self-understanding. Listen as Rob shares his stories of adversity and the lessons he learned from it.He also explains how reflection and meditation are keys to self-understanding, the importance of finding a mentor, and putting a life plan in place.Key Topics:Rob gives us an overview of his company, STS Capital PartnersThe two things that led Rob to look for a mentor and the resulting mental exercise that helped him look forward and create a plan for his lifeRob explains how he aligned his life to his end of life objectivesRob explains how adversity built his inner strength leading him to make decisions to define his happinessAs a leader, Rob explains how he became unafraid to receive honest feedbackHow life planning, making a list and putting a 5-year date on it, leads to a focus on self-understanding, improvement, and learningKevin shares his sheer moments of clarity from his discussion with RobRob gives advice to his 23-year-old self

Every organization has or should have core values in place.  However, just writing them down and displaying them on a poster isn’t enough.  The hard part comes in living them. Today, I’m talking with Buddy Teaster, CEO of Soles4Souls. Buddy talks about his organization, what they do and how their core values have been integral to Soles4Souls’ success. We go in depth about what it means as a leader to put your core values into practice and how that benefits not only your organization’s bottom line, but also provides meaning to everyone in the organization. Key Topics: Buddy Teaster is the CEO of Soles4Souls. His organization collects unwanted shoes and clothing and puts them to good use – providing relief, creating jobs and empowering people to break the cycle of povertyBuddy is based in Nashville. He speaks to the devastation recent tornadoes left behind and how the community came together to help one another He also speaks to how recovery efforts are affected and other challenges they’ve faced due to the CoronavirusBuddy gives actionable advice to leaders when a crisis hits Meaning and Transparency are two of Sole4Souls core values. Buddy goes in depth about how these values have been so powerful for the organizationHow a leader can deal with being riled up due to frustration from constantly defending their position and why that is so importantBuddy discusses his path to becoming the CEO of Sole4SoulsHow long it took to reconcile with his father after choosing to take his own pathKevin goes over his moments of sheer clarity during this episodeBuddy gives his 23-year-old self some advice

In business, it’s important to not only make sure your executives, directors, and managers have the skills to lead, but it’s also crucial to help your employees unlock their own potential.  Ryan Niles is the CEO of Niles Industrial Coatings and Niles Plant Services. It’s his purpose to help his employees be the best they can be in all facets of their lives.In this episode, Ryan opens up to Kevin McHugh about his moments of sheer clarity as a leader, the values and characteristics he believes have helped him in his own journey and advice about tackling change and learning to trust. Stay tuned.Key Topics:[2.05] Ryan talks about his two companies and what his focus and purpose is for his employees[3:30] Ryan explains his approach to getting to know each of his employees[5:06] The response from Ryan’s employees when he launched the DISC assessment, what they’ve learned and the benefits they’ve seen[11:06] Ryan talks about the lessons and challenges he had growing up and how he used those to be successful in life[16:25] How encouraging employees to try new things and not be scared to make mistakes has resulted in success for the company[18:58] Steps to take if you feel you have a crappy boss[21:00] Change is hard!  How to push through the fear[26:06] Ryan discusses values he learned from his  father and uncle[28:14] The biggest people lesson Ryan has learned[31:54] Kevin goes over his moments of sheer clarity during this interview[36:14] Ryan’s advice to his younger self

No matter how well trained and educated you are, it’s important to remember that who you are as a person can sometimes bring as much value to your team as your qualifications. This rings true for our guest on the show today, Annie Yoder, who is Director of Development at Rea & Associates, a 300+ employee accounting firm with a national footprint. Annie is a trained CPA, CFF, and CPE but significantly she does no accounting work at her firm, having rather moved into a position that is strictly concerned with the interpersonal. In today’s episode, Annie shares the story behind how this happened and gives listeners a few golden nugget tips on the subject of good leadership, trust, and self-reflexivity. She talks about the lessons learned from her mother and her Amish upbringing, the idea that everybody has value and that people who hurt others themselves are hurt. Our conversation moves to the role she plays at Rea & Associates, and she shares some of the ways she leads employees to their growth, and the exercises she takes coworkers through to help them build trust in each other. We also hear from Annie about her growth process, the things that made her take a look in the mirror, and the idea that a person takes themselves everywhere they go. Ultimately, our interactions cause ripple effects in each other which have huge potential to help us be more compassionate humans or trustworthy leaders, so tune in to hear how these have taken effect in and through Annie today. Key Points From This Episode: What led Annie into accounting: her need for financial stability.How Annie has transitioned from being a CPA to Director of Development in her firm.A skillset of connecting dots, or leading people to answers they seek that Annie has.Coaching, conflict resolution, and ‘home-finding’ duties Annie does during her day job.Whether it is usual for qualified accountants to move into People Development.Four pillars that Rea & Associates prioritizes: people, clients, growth, and firm.The cornerstone at Rea & Associates which is investing in their employees.How investing in people leads to a feedback loop benefiting everybody.Ways that Annie’s Amish background and mother’s prioritization of education has shaped her.Annie’s career path from her MBA to litigation support as a CFE leading to the present.How her auditing and litigation support ‘dot-connecting’ background helps Annie today.Transactional vs relational interactions and Annie’s mom’s lesson that all people are valuable.Dealing with hurt people who hurt you, and whether both parties can grow.How people can help each other find a sliver in themselves to see the good in everybody.Ripple effects caused by interactions that lead people toward positive growth.How conflicts with coworkers, reading, podcasts, and Annie’s husband help her self-reflect.What Annie’s boss taught her about advocacy and trust by making her feel safe.Building trust between coworkers Annie uses: encouraging consistent behavior.The two branches of the trust tree: competency and character, and their offshoots.Future-focused thinking and other ripple effects of Richard Rea’s legacy in the firm today.Advice Annie would give to her younger self: stop worrying so much. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Annie YoderAnnie Yoder on LinkedInRea & AssociatesTrust ChartThe Speed of TrustRichard ReaSheer ClarityJ. Kevin McHughJKM ManagementSheer Clarity on Twitter

Neal Sherman is the Founder and President of TAGeX Brands, a company that liquidates restaurant equipment and other unused assets. Neal formed the company more than 30 years ago after seeing a lot of restaurant operators getting stuck without a paddle when it was time for them to shut down their businesses. Neal not only focuses on liquidation of assets but also the redeployment of assets and keeping equipment, furniture, and fixtures in the food industry out of landfills. He helps keep the world a little greener and he also helps people from the restaurant and food service deal with closures, remodels, and the corresponding equipment that comes into the market. Neal has also built a marketplace called RestaurantEquipment.Bid, which is an auction platform for unused restaurant equipment.Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: What Neal focuses on everyday in his line of businessHow Neal got into the restaurant equipment liquidation businessKevin discusses the importance of being self-aware and focusing on being a leader by attractionWhat Neal learned from his father’s work ethic and the critical nature of relationshipsThe 3 things Kevin has learnt from Neal's childhoodNeal's take on whether being a great leader and relationship-oriented person can be learnedWhy inner peace is necessary in order to be able to truly help and serve other peopleNeal's advice to his younger selfWhere to learn more about Neal's TaGeX Brands and  restaurant equipment businessesIn this episode…Whenever a restaurant or any other business in the food industry decides to close shop and shut down it’s business operations, one of the most stressful things for the owners tends to be the disposal of their store equipment. This, on top of the paperwork and letting go of their employees can give anyone a headache.Neal Sherman worked in the food industry more than 30 years ago and it was there that he came to find out about this particular dilemma that restaurant owners often go through when it’s time to close shop. What should they do with all of their unused equipment? He took it upon himself to help these people and thus TAGeX Brands was born.In this episode, Kevin McHugh is joined by Neal Sherman to talk about how he got into the business of liquidating restaurant equipment and what he focuses on in his line of business. Neal also shares his advice for nurturing great relationships and the importance of having inner peace in order to serve others. Stay tuned.Resources Mentioned in this episodeSheer Clarity J. Kevin McHughTAGeX BrandsRestaurantEquipment.BidNeal Sherman on LinkedInSponsor for this episode...JKM Management Development was developed by J. Kevin McHugh himself in 1990. They provide executive life and leadership coaching and the development of leadership teams that operate with extreme trust and honesty-based on the Sheer Clarity principles.They work with founding entrepreneurs, Fortune 500 executives, and closely-held family businesses of every size and shape. They have helped these entities develop and integrate trust, honesty, and a certain sense of vulnerability into their organizations.

Kevin McHugh is the President of JKM Management Development, a management consulting firm specializing in increasing organizational performance and coaching business leaders to develop emotional awareness, conflict resolution capabilities, and maximize executive effectiveness. Over the past twenty years, Kevin has traveled the world facilitating retreats and off-sites within North America, South Africa, Australia, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Europe.McHugh has also served as an executive coach to hundreds of CEOs, helping them to improve their personal and professional leadership competencies. His clients include: American Funds Distributors, Anthem, Estée Lauder, Parker Hannifin, Sprint-Nextel, The Entrepreneurs’ Organization, CEO Roundtable, and Vistage.Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: [02:47] Kevin explains what leadership by attraction means[04:14] How to cultivate and develop the ability to practice leadership by attraction[09:07] Kevin talks about the emotional intelligence pyramid and the role it plays in leadership[10:57] What self management or self-regulation means and what it involves[13:35] Why time and curiosity are important  for leaders who want to practice in self-management[16:30] Roadblocks that Kevin faces when helping leaders to overcome their insecurities[18:34] How leadership by attraction works and why it’s considered as a lifelong journeyIn this episode…Some people are natural born leaders and that’s great. But leadership is something that can be cultivated and developed, especially when you’re looking to practice leadership by attraction. And for Kevin McHugh, there are steps that you can take to become the leader that will inspire the people who are set to follow you.In this episode, J. Kevin McHugh is interviewed by John Corcoran of Rise25 where they discuss what leadership by attraction means, how the emotional intelligence pyramid plays a role in leadership, and the challenges that leaders and CEOs face as they try to work on their own brand of leadership. Stay tuned.Resources Mentioned in this episodeSheer Clarity J. Kevin McHughSponsor for this episode...JKM Management Development was developed by J. Kevin McHugh himself in 1990. They provide executive life and leadership coaching and the development of leadership teams that operate with extreme trust and honesty-based on the Sheer Clarity principles.They work with founding entrepreneurs, Fortune 500 executives, and closely-held family businesses of every size and shape. They have helped these entities develop and integrate trust, honesty, and a certain sense of vulnerability into their organizations.

Lisa Stein is the Founder and CEO of Revolutions Inc. She is a tech entrepreneur from Columbus, Ohio who previously worked in an industrial design firm and Cardinal Health. Lisa also founded a software company that was called ORIS Intelligence which was purchased in July last year by PriceSpider.Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: [01:19] Kevin McHugh introduces his guest, Lisa Stein[02:38] Lisa talks about her company, what she does, and what keeps her focused [06:09] Lisa reminisces on her childhood and her family’s entrepreneurial background[08:29] How growing up with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) child with a supportive family worked to Lisa’s benefit[10:26] Lisa shares what she learned from working for companies and how this helped ignite her entrepreneurial side[11:58] Lisa’s first entrepreneurial venture and her first mentor as a budding entrepreneur[12:51] The value of a mentor and learning from others before embarking on entrepreneurship[15:47] Why the fear of failure will always exist and what you can learn from the inevitable experience with it[19:04] What Lisa has learned about leading people and why there is no downside to transparency and in owning up to your own mistakes[20:12] How being a woman in her 50s has helped Lisa expand her self awareness and her ability to accept her own shortcomings[22:53] Lisa looks back at experiencing being fired and what she was learned from that moment[24:56] Lisa  and Kevin talk about receiving negative feedback and how you can see it in a positive note[27:24] The value of having effective and consistent communication when working and managing a remote team[32:45] The importance of institutionalizing the company’s value system and having every person in the team on board[34:31] Kevin and Lisa talk about the imposter syndrome and how it can affect you more than it can affect your team[36:22] How being optimistic about your chances of winning and working with people with collaborative energy is a recipe for success[37:55] Kevin shares his takeaways from the book Good to Great[39:54] Lisa talks about what it’s like running a generational family business[42:47] Kevin's summary of sheer clarity moments from this episode[44:18] Lisa's advice to her younger self: Worry less about what other people think and don’t assume that people’s behavior has anything to do with you[46:05] Where to learn more about Lisa's companiesIn this episode…Being a leader is a tough job, but learning how to accept that your team might be failing because of you is an even tougher pill to swallow. But this comes with the territory, and learning how you can improve things to make everything work better for everyone is crucial in bringing your company to a pinnacle of success.Lisa Stein is the CEO of Revolutions Inc., the largest retailer of durable medical equipment in the US. She comes from a family of entrepreneurs and she has been exposed to the ups and downs of entrepreneurial life from an early age. And Lisa has so many things to share with budding and established entrepreneurs alike when it comes to business.On this episode of Sheer Clarity, J. Kevin McHugh talks to Lisa about what it was like growing up within such a vibrant entrepreneurial environment, and how this shaped her view of what it means to be an entrepreneur. They also talk about the value of efficient and consistent communication when working with a remote team, why it’s important to remain transparent and open as a leader, and how self-awareness helps you become the best version of yourself. Stay tuned.Resources Mentioned in this episodeSheer Clarity J. Kevin McHughRevolutions IncSpinLifeLisa Stein on LinkedInPriceSpiderGood to GreatSponsor for this episode...JKM Management Development was developed by J. Kevin McHugh himself in 1990. They provide executive life and leadership coaching and the development of leadership teams that operate with extreme trust and honesty-based on the Sheer Clarity principles.They work with founding entrepreneurs, Fortune 500 executives, and closely-held family businesses of every size and shape. They have helped these entities develop and integrate trust, honesty, and a certain sense of vulnerability into their organizations.