The Hard Way w/ Joe De Sena Joe De Sena

Kevin Kaiser has an unconventional approach to business that was shaped by his roots growing up on a farm in Canada. As a professor at Wharton, one of the top business schools in the world, Kaiser is challenging the status quo.
 
In this fascinating podcast episode, Kaiser shares the philosophies that have made him an outlier - treating companies like living organisms that must constantly adapt to survive. He believes success breeds complacency if you don't disrupt yourself.
 
You will learn Kaiser's unique strategies for avoiding complacency and staying motivated through unpredictability. You'll discover why he argues against giving employees clear goals and instead pushes them outside their comfort zones.
 
Kaiser also dives into mindset, explaining how to "own" your thoughts and emotions rather than identify with them. For business leaders and entrepreneurs, this podcast provides an invigorating fresh perspective on value creation, leadership, and turning assumptions on their heads.
 
Highlights:
00:00 Intro
01:01 Kevin Kaiser’s background
02:08 Business as a living organism
03:55 Who decides how to deploy resources?
06:03 Students at Wharton and fragility
09:44 How do big companies like Kodak fail?
13:18 Staying relevant as a company
15:33 Don’t listen to evolutionary wants
19:26 Challenges and the example of Toyota
22:26 Being the manager of your mind, body, and emotions
24:58 How can people find Kevin?

Dr. John Jaquish discovered a revolutionary way to build strong bones that goes against everything you've been told.
 
In this insightful conversation with Joe De Sena, Dr, John reveals how he cured his own mother's osteoporosis and created a $100 million business - all by ignoring conventional wisdom.
 
He will also open your eyes to why workouts like weightlifting don't work, and share his portable home gym that packs serious muscle-building power. By the end, you'll be left wondering what other "facts" about health and fitness are actually dead wrong. Dr. John will change what you think you know about building muscle and strength.
 
Don't miss this eye-opening conversation that just may transform your health forever. Tune in now!
Highlights:

00:00 Intro
01:15 Dr. John Jaquish and his biomedical company
02:49 Dr. John’s childhood, college, and entrepreneurship
06:32 OsteoStrong - a medical device that treats osteoporosis
11:13 Exposure to cold and health benefits
14:19 The importance of hip joint strength
16:07 Joe’s accident and dislocation of hip joint
18:55 Bone density, weight lifting, and the X3 System
26:24 Veganism and ancestral animal-based diet
33:54 Where can people find Dr. John?

In this episode, Joe se Sena is having an insightful conversation with TeamSnap CEO Pete Frintzilas. Pete shares how facing challenges as a child of immigrants built his resilience and success. He discusses lessons learned on instilling a strong work ethic in kids without spoiling them.
 
Joe and Pete also discuss how continuous learning and seeking guidance from mentors fueled their growth and empowered them to overcome obstacles. Discover actionable advice on prioritizing your career early, developing an immigrant work ethic, and showing appreciation to accelerate your success from scratch.
 
Tune in now!
 
Highlights:
00:00 Intro
01:01 Pete Frintzilas's background and childhood
03:55 Raising resilient children
07:31 Overprinting of the first child
09:05 Challenges of being a CEO of a big company
10:56 Hard work, mentors, and professional growth
13:24 Communication, gratitude, and working hard
15:55 Regret for not starting a business earlier
17:54 Where can people find Pete?

Victor Antonio knows what it's like to struggle. Growing up in poverty-stricken Chicago housing projects, he faced an uphill battle. But through grit and determination, he climbed his way to the top.
 
In this fascinating episode, Victor pulls back the curtain on his amazing success story. From food stamps as a child to writing bestsellers, he shares the pivotal moments that changed his trajectory.
 
Learn Victor's unorthodox tactics for understanding customers on a deeper level. Discover how he trains sales teams to minimize objections and build lasting relationships. You'll be inspired by the man who turned adversity into advantage through education, hard work, and never giving up.
 
Highlights:
01:01 Victor Antonio’s childhood and family
03:45 Family dynamics and education
06:28 Culture shock of going to college
08:35 Fundamental attribution error and personal growth
13:31 The value of an engineering degree
16:01 Leaving his job and writing a book
18:53 Sales Ex Machina book and understanding AI
22:38 Data is the new oil
24:06 Sales engineer: Pre-internet and post-internet sales
27:23 The latest book Relationship Selling
28:36 Life or Debt reality show

In this episode of The Hard Way podcast, Joe De Sena interviews Paul Foster, the founder of the iconic fitness brand Reebok.
 
Tune in as Foster recounts growing up in a family shoe business plagued by infighting, and his risky decision to break out on his own with his brother. Listen how this small startup found its big break by pivoting to capitalize on the aerobics craze just starting to sweep the nation.
 
Foster shares the story of how resilience, innovation, and an openness to new opportunities allowed Reebok to outmaneuver giants and become the #1 brand in women's fitness worldwide. De Sena and Foster also discuss invaluable lessons around turning obstacles into opportunities and how perseverance can pay off big for entrepreneurs willing to work hard and think outside the box.
 
Highlights:
00:00 Intro
00:49 How did Reebok start?
04:16 Selling Reebok and going into aerobics
06:24 Surviving and thriving in business
08:07 Working with family members
09:23 Why do most companies fail?
10:43 The role of luck in success
11:28 The importance of sports
12:55 Writing a book - Shoemaker
15:42 How can people find Joe?
16:08 Preparing the second book
17:53 Just keep going

The Lovesac founder Shawn Nelson started with a silly college project - giant beanbags. Now he leads the top-selling couch brand in America. How did he go from dorm room side hustle to building a business worth billions? Tune in as Shawn shares his wild journey of overcoming failures, bankruptcy and naysayers.
 
Plus, hear Shawn and Joe discussing the couch controversy and finding common ground in their philosophies of pushing limits. Get practical tips on developing grit, balancing work and rest, and achieving your potential through consistent effort and facing fears.
 
This inspiring conversation provides valuable lessons for entrepreneurs, parents, and anyone striving to maximize success while maintaining well-being. Don't miss Shawn Nelson's intriguing rise from beanbags to billions.
 
Highlights:


00:00 Intro
00:49 Overnight success story of Lovesac
02:24 Furniture that evolves with you
04:01 Do we really need a couch?
06:36 Rewiring your brain to be active
11:11 Pushing your kids until it works
17:00 Opening dopamine pathways
20:34 Spartan race Massachusetts
21:05 Finding your own thing
24:50 Where can people find Shawn