The Greatness Machine Darius Mirshahzadeh

What are you grateful for the most?

Gratitude leads to greater happiness and joy in life. It allows us to reflect upon our accomplishments and appreciate the things that we have at the moment. The act of gratitude allows us to embrace everything that makes our lives meaningful.

Today, I am flying solo to talk about my journey of discovering the gift of gratitude and how it changed my life for the better.

In this episode, I will talk about how I managed to fight the voice of discontent in my head, how I turned from being ungrateful to realizing all the good things in my life, and all the lessons I learned from living an ungrateful life for so long.

Topics include:

How I discovered the gift of gratitude and how that moment changed me

What prompted me to almost quit my nine-figure business

Why I started writing a list of things I want to accomplish

How I realized that I was living a life of ungratefulness

Why being ungrateful is costing you happiness

And others topics…


Resources mentioned:
Power of One More: https://www.amazon.com/Power-One-More-Ed-Mylett/dp/1119815363 

Connect with Darius:
Website: https://therealdarius.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariusmirshahzadeh/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imthedarius/
YouTube: https://therealdarius.com/youtube
Book: The Core Value Equation https://www.amazon.com/Core-Value-Equation-Framework-Limitless/dp/1544506708
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Would a purpose-driven approach make a difference in how we care for the elderly?

When it comes to caring for the elderly, a purpose-driven approach can make a big difference. By creating value beyond profits, we focus on the well-being and happiness of those we serve. 

There is no better example of this concept than Chuck Hall's journey. After years of success in the construction industry, he recognized an opportunity to make a meaningful impact in senior care. Chuck’s business, Vitality Living, evolved from a fee-for-service model to a vertically integrated structure, providing services that extend beyond basic care. 

This transformation underscores the positive outcomes of a purpose-driven approach. Through his leadership, the business shifted focus to not only building facilities for seniors but also providing comprehensive care through a variety of ancillary services. 

In this episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius is joined by Chuck Hall to discuss his journey from the construction industry to the senior care sector. Chuck shares how he transitioned from a fee-for-service model to a vertically integrated approach, focusing on providing high-quality care for the elderly. He explains the importance of conscious leadership, the benefits of vertical integration, and the role of partnerships in building successful businesses.

Topics include:

Chuck talks about his early entrepreneurial influences

Creating vertically integrated system in his senior care business

The benefits of having an entrepreneurial mindset

Chuck looks back working for Turner Construction in New York City

How failure served as a catalyst for Chuck to start his own business

Chuck explains the value of co-investing in projects

Recognizing the strengths and weaknesses of your business partners

And other topics…


Connect with Chuck:
Website: https://www.vitalityseniorliving.com/ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-hall-53a259/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/c4build/ 

Connect with Darius:
Website: https://therealdarius.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariusmirshahzadeh/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imthedarius/
YouTube: https://therealdarius.com/youtube
Book: The Core Value Equation https://www.amazon.com/Core-Value-Equation-Framework-Limitless/dp/1544506708
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you create a high-performing team?

A good leader is someone who empowers their team and focuses on team dynamics, which is crucial in order for the members to perform at their best. When a team has a healthy dynamics, the team members become problem solvers.

Dane Espegard, a culture consultant who teaches, assists, and executes the implementation of a culture centered around Dream Achieving, joins us on the Greatness Machine to talk about his book, The Dream Machine: A Leader’s Guide to Creating Teams of High Performers Who Achieve Extraordinary Outcomes.

In this episode, Darius and Dane discuss why dreams matter, the benefits of having a dream list, how having a “dream culture” can improve the performance of a team, and how leaders can help their members achieve their dreams. They also touch on the topic of best practices for making dreams a reality.

Topics include:

How Dane’s book The Dream Machine came about

The importance of having a dream list

How Dane leads and helps his team achieve their dreams

The best practices for making dreams into reality

The coolest dream Dane has seen someone turned into reality

What the readers can learn from The Dream Machine


How businesses can show their appreciation for their team members

And other topics…


Resources mentioned:
The Dream Manager: https://www.amazon.com/Dream-Manager-Matthew-Kelly/dp/1401388442 
 The Rhythm of Life: https://www.amazon.com/Rhythm-Life-Everyday-Passion-Purpose-ebook/dp/B013GYKKRO?ref_=ast_sto_dp 

Connect with Dane:
Website: https://daneespegard.com/ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daneespegard
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daneespegard/?hl=en 
Book: https://thedreammachinebook.com/ 

Connect with Darius:
Website: https://therealdarius.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariusmirshahzadeh/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imthedarius/
YouTube: https://therealdarius.com/youtube
Book: The Core Value Equation https://www.amazon.com/Core-Value-Equation-Framework-Limitless/dp/1544506708
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the key to personal growth is learning to embrace stress and break free from people pleasing?

In this special solo episode, I celebrate my 46th birthday by sharing reflections on the most profound lessons I have learned over the past year. I will take you through my personal growth journey, sharing with you the pivotal moments that shaped my understanding of self-worth, stress management, and building meaningful relationships. 

In this episode of The Greatness Machine, I will dive into the importance of embracing stress to test personal growth and explore how starting a new business brought unexpected challenges. I will also share my struggle with anxiety and my realization about the pitfalls of people pleasing. Join me as I discuss the tools that have helped me build the muscle of awareness and the power of confronting conflicts early for healthier relationships.

Topics include:

Understanding your own worth and finding a healthier approach to stress and anxiety

Darius shares two challenges he faced during the launch of his new business

The importance of building the muscle of awareness

Darius talks about his No People Pleasing (No PP) mantra

The value of embracing conflict earlier to ensure healthier relationships

And other topics…


Connect with Darius:
Website: https://therealdarius.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariusmirshahzadeh/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imthedarius/
YouTube: https://therealdarius.com/youtube
Book: The Core Value Equation https://www.amazon.com/Core-Value-Equation-Framework-Limitless/dp/1544506708
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever found yourself puzzled by subtle smiles, raised eyebrows, or furrowed brows? What if you could decipher the hidden language of facial expressions and gain a deeper understanding of human interaction?

Understanding facial expressions is like unlocking a secret code to human communication. It is the silent language that often speaks louder than words, offering valuable insights into people's thoughts, emotions, and intentions. 

Annie Sarnblad, a renowned expert in the field of facial expression analysis, sheds light on the hidden language embedded within these seemingly mundane gestures. She also shares valuable insights gleaned from her extensive experience in decoding facial cues, offering practical applications for navigating various social situations. 

In this episode of The Greatness Machine, Annie joins Darius to delve into the intricate world of facial expressions and nonverbal communication. Drawing from her extensive expertise, Annie shares practical tips and strategies for enhancing interpersonal communication skills from decoding micro-expressions to navigating negotiations and social dynamics.

Topics include:

What inspired Annie’s interest in teaching facial expressions

Annie talks about her involvement with Young Presidents Organization (YPO)

The importance of understanding nonverbal cues such as micro-expressions

Annie emphasizes the universal nature of facial expressions

Developing the skill of being comfortable with uncomfortable conversations

And other topics…


Connect with Annie:
Website: https://anniesarnblad.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annie-sarnblad 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annie.sarnblad/ 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS_F6qDv7H3_oLdoz8fZ4pw 

Connect with Darius:
Website: https://therealdarius.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariusmirshahzadeh/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imthedarius/
YouTube: https://therealdarius.com/youtube
Book: The Core Value Equation https://www.amazon.com/Core-Value-Equation-Framework-Limitless/dp/1544506708
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Flow refers to the state of being completely immersed in an activity. It is defined as a mental state in which a person’s full attention is held by a single task while enjoying the process. It is a level of consciousness where you are most comfortable and performs at your best.

An individual experiencing flow can be said to be completely absorbed in what they are doing, with a resulting transformation in their perception of time.

Steven Kotler, New York Times bestselling author, award-winning journalist, and the Executive Director of the Flow Research Collective, joins us to give us a sneak peek into his upcoming book, Gnar Country: Growing Old, Staying Rad, where he shares his personal experiences pushing himself beyond preconceived limits. 

In this episode, Darius and Steven talk about park skiing, the psychology behind flow state and its benefits, and how to reach peak performance. They also tackle how having a positive aging mindset can slow down the effects of getting older.

Topics include:

How Steven got into writing and journalism

Steven gives a sneak peek into his book Gnar Country


What park skiing is all about

Five major intrinsic internal motivators

What is a flow state and what are its benefits

Steven explains what “ghost dog” means

What does peak performance look like

Steven explains why grit is a limited resource

Embodied cognition and its applications

The benefits of having a positive aging mindset

And other topics…


Resources mentioned:
Gnar Country: www.gnarcountry.com
The Art of Impossible: https://www.amazon.com/Art-Impossible-Peak-Performance-Primer/dp/0062977539 

Connect with Steven:
Website: www.stevenkotler.com 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenkotler/ 

Connect with Darius:
Website: https://therealdarius.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariusmirshahzadeh/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imthedarius/
YouTube: https://therealdarius.com/youtube
Book: The Core Value Equation https://www.amazon.com/Core-Value-Equation-Framework-Limitless/dp/1544506708
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices