Are you running on autopilot? Do you know how to turn off the autopilot? Today’s guest says that people spend more time on autopilot than they’d like to think, and it can prevent them from getting on the right path. Listen in to this interview with Steve Divitkos, an entrepreneur and the former CEO of Microdea. In this episode, you’ll hear about how Steve views entrepreneurship, why introspection is so difficult, and what Steve did right and wrong as a new CEO.
Topics Discussed in This Episode
Four exercises to help create a set of criteria against which to evaluate potential career paths:
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Quotes From the Show
“The best definition of entrepreneurship that I’ve ever heard is the relentless pursuit for opportunity without regard or resources currently controlled.”
“Maybe the better way to put it is I remember the moment where I decided I didn’t want to stay on the path that I was in.”
“The concept that…was helpful for me, is this entire concept of being deliberate. Don’t just let life happen to you.”
“I think being an entrepreneur, being a CEO, was the hardest thing that I have ever done in my entire life.”
Today’s podcast episode guest is Jon Dwyer. Jon has a lot of experience in entrepreneurship and dealmaking. In today’s episode, Jon talks about the origin of his curiosity, why he feels able to take risks in his professional life, and why vulnerability is such an important quality. Listen in to hear what Jon has to say about the innate qualities and consistent characteristics that he’s seen among great dealmakers that he’s met along the way. Topics Discussed in This Episode Jon’s background Where Jon’s curiosity comes from Why Jon takes risks What Jon thinks about innate qualities How to convince younger people of the value of vulnerability Where the motivation to come back after bad experiences come from Jon’s view on spreading himself too thin Attributes that Jon has seen consistently among great dealmakers Where young entrepreneurs should get started How Jon stays grounded Related Links Jon Dwyer Jon on Twitter Quotes From the Show “I look at my career as being defined by a lot of the things that didn’t go right.” “Honesty is everything in this game.” “I’ve always had this innate need to – I don’t want to say satisfy people – but to prove to people that I was doing a good job and I was worthy.” ...
Frank Baylis is an entrepreneur as well as a politician. He’s the president of the medical technology firm Baylis Medical. He also ran for office to represent the riding of Pierrefonds—Dollard in the House of Commons of Canada and was elected in 2015. In today’s episode, Frank will discuss what he’s learned from running a medical technology firm, what inspired him to get involved in politics, and why having the right business partner is so important. Topics Discussed in This Episode Frank’s early life and how he got to Canada What it means that Frank thinks of himself as a politician How it was for Frank joining his mother’s business What Frank has learned about picking a good partner What Frank has learned about the partnership dynamic What the aligning vision looks like today Writing down goals Why you need a board of directors What the experience of transitioning the business was like for Frank What Frank has learned from producing ventilators What Frank has learned from having a global mindset How Frank’s learned to do business in other countries without making mistakes How Frank moved into politics How Franks avoided getting too frustrated with politics Whether anyone can be anything they want to be The value of self-awareness Frank’s end goal Related Links Frank Baylis Quotes From the Show “We may disagree what’s a priority or where we put the emphasis, but the majority of us, we’re almost in agreement 95% of what we want to do.” “When you become aligned and then find someone that’s aligned and wants to do the same thing you do, that’s the foundation that you build upon.” “There’s no such thing as a self-made man.” ...
Do you ask for things when you want them? Many people find it difficult to reach out and ask for something, but the people who can do it often find that they get what they asked for, and this contributes to their success. Today’s guest is Bryan Gelman, one of the founders of Albert Gelman Incorporated. He’s built a business in the insolvency world, and he’s also the first guest on this podcast who reached out and asked to be on the podcast. Listen to the episode to hear what Bryan has to say about how he ended up working in insolvency, why he’s passionate about his work, and why people have such a hard time with the ask. Topics Discussed in This Episode Bryan’s background Why the store that Bryan’s parents opened was so pivotal in his childhood Why Bryan’s parents didn’t want him to go into business with them Bryan’s interest in starting his own business What attracted Bryan to the insolvency world The correlation between authenticity and memorability Bryan’s passion for both the process of building his business and the work he does What Bryan thinks about nature vs. nurture What Bryan thinks his parents did right The early years of building Bryan’s business Why people have a hard time with the ask Building your team How to think about hiring What Bryan thinks the market will look like over the next year or so Related Links Bryan Gelman Quotes From the Show “I think it’s gotta be a combination, because you’re born with your parents’ DNA, and then they need to teach you things.” “When you’re in a family with a small business, and you lose that business, it’s the dinnertime conversation.” “If you’re an honest guy, and you do good work and ...
