Start Thinking Forward Podcast Serebro Studios Inc.

In this episode of the Start Thinking Forward podcast, we welcome Dr. Anne Dranisaris and Heather Dranisaris-Hillard, a mother-daughter duo with extensive experience in leadership and entrepreneurship. Our focus today is on organizational dysfunction, and we are excited to explore this topic and provide valuable insights. Heather reveals that she and Anne became business partners in 1998 after her adoption, and their different backgrounds in psychotherapy and organizational consulting complement each other in their work. We delve into how their personal history and reunion shaped their professional journey, and I express my admiration for their powerful story.

We discuss how their business partnership developed over time, despite living in different parts of the country initially. I ask how their reunion in 1985 influenced their professional paths and how they believe their lives would have been different had they not crossed paths. Heather explains that Anne's expertise in understanding human behavior and driving factors complemented her own business background, allowing them to create a successful company.

I emphasize the unique aspect of our work as both mother and daughter and Sagittarians. We test everything on our family, making our stories and examples richer for our clients. Building our leadership systems while nurturing our relationship was not easy due to our different personality types and brain functionality. Heather is extroverted, while I am introverted, but our complementary strengths make us a great fit. However, we had to navigate the challenges of running a joint business while maintaining a personal connection.

We reveal that we kept our mother-daughter relationship a secret for the first 10 years of our business. Now, everyone knows, but we waited until we were both ready to disclose our relationship, as I wanted us to be seen as equals and partners. We discuss the importance of addressing dysfunctions within organizations and the necessity for leaders to actively engage in leading and setting expectations.

We delve into the issue of a lack of accountability among leaders and organizations and stress the importance of fostering followership and accountability through effective leadership. We also touch on the pressure on leaders to keep their employees happy and engaged and the need for them to strike a balance between empowerment and performance tracking.

We highlight the significance of emotional intelligence and leadership development, as well as the need to tackle systemic issues within organizations. We believe that investing in leadership development and understanding brain functioning can help create a culture of trust and support. We discuss the imposter syndrome and the importance of leaders setting clear expectations and providing feedback.

To address dysfunctional dynamics within organizations, leaders, and individuals, we provide practical and pragmatic actions. We have a YouTube channel with content covering various topics and an Ultimate Accountability Experiences program designed to drive accountability in organizations and shift leadership behavior. We emphasize the importance of addressing issues and creating a supportive work environment.

Discussing the imposter syndrome and its impact on leaders and organizations, we recommend books for thought leaders looking to elevate their organizations to the next level. We also touch on permissive leadership and the need to implement an accountability system and train leaders in managing performance and development.

Overall, our conversation centers around the crucial importance of addressing dysfunctional dynamics and offering practical solutions to leaders and organizations. By understanding brain functioning and implementing accountability initiatives, leaders can create thriving work environments and drive success for their teams. I wholeheartedly agree...

In this segment of the Start Thinking Forward podcast, we have the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Todd and Kim Saxon from Indiana University. These esteemed guests bring a wealth of knowledge and experience in advising startups and entrepreneurship, making them the perfect experts to shed light on the challenges and strategies for success in the startup world.

We kick off the conversation by highlighting their passion for educating entrepreneurs and preparing them for the obstacles they may face along their journey. Dr. Todd and Kim emphasize the critical phases that startups go through, which we outline as pre-revenue, minimal viable product, replicable product, and scaling. Understanding these phases is key to achieving long-term success.

One important takeaway from our discussion is that success as an entrepreneur is not limited to raising venture capital or going through all four stages. Being self-employed and creating jobs for others is also a meaningful and valuable achievement. We also delve into the three P's: punt, pivot, and proceed, which are essential considerations as entrepreneurs navigate through the different stages. Thoughtful decision-making is crucial to make the most of the opportunities and challenges that arise.

Moving on, we dive into the concept of a lean startup versus traditional business plans. We stress the importance of formulating hypotheses, conducting thorough tests, and avoiding careless assumptions. We draw examples from startups that failed to gather market feedback and adjust their strategies accordingly, leading to their downfall. The need for startups to adapt and attract their target audience is emphasized throughout the conversation.

Furthermore, we explore the concept of hidden liabilities and debts that startups often overlook, likening them to the hidden dangers faced by the Titanic. These mistakes, or "icebergs," can have serious consequences. To help entrepreneurs navigate these treacherous waters, we share 32 common mistakes that entrepreneurs should avoid. Hard work and equity earned through efforts are underscored as essential ingredients for success.

Next, we address the challenges of being the first in the market and stress the importance of having a profitable mission. We discuss various revenue generation strategies and the significance of considering customer preferences and market dynamics when choosing a business model. Continuous experimentation and learning based on customer feedback play a crucial role in staying ahead of the curve.

Throughout the conversation, we emphasize the value of setting milestones, resisting the temptation to cut corners, and prioritizing customer needs and desires. We also touch on the importance of personal relationships, support from partners and family members, and the imperative of taking action and creating opportunities.

As we wrap up the conversation, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Todd and Kim Saxon for sharing their insights and expertise. We encourage our listeners to go back and rewatch the episode, take notes, purchase their book, and visit their website for further guidance. We sign off by reminding everyone to always start thinking forward, innovate fearlessly, and push the boundaries of what is possible in the world of entrepreneurship.

In this episode of the Start Thinking Forward podcast, host Brandon L. Draper welcomes Jeff, a seasoned executive and serial entrepreneur, to discuss the process of building successful empires from startups. Jeff shares his extensive experience in the software industry and his passion for empowering people and creating successful businesses. He talks about his last startup, Deerwalk, and how they hired and trained professionals in software development in Nepal to address the challenges of finding technology workers in the United States. Brandon and Jeff discuss the importance of training programs and address the issue of low pay for trainees.

They also highlight the initial stages of product development and the value of breaking down ideas into manageable tasks before handing them off to a team. While they offer outsourced software developers and operations staff, their main focus is on consulting and mentoring startup founders and entrepreneurs, helping them turn their ideas into viable products for the market.

Jeff shares his journey as a serial entrepreneur, including the lessons he learned from a failed company called Resonate. He emphasizes the importance of paying attention to users and customers and validating ideas with potential clients. He also discusses the challenges of transitioning from small to large companies and why he decided to start his own company after working for a larger corporate environment.

The importance of having the right mindset and dedication when starting a company or working for a startup is discussed. They emphasize the need to be problem solvers, good listeners, and committed to the venture. Building a strong team with diverse perspectives and complementary strengths is crucial, along with understanding one's own capabilities and weaknesses when selecting team members.

The conversation also explores the financial aspects of structuring a startup, including the division of equity and decision-making power among partners. They acknowledge the advantages of expanding beyond being a solopreneur, as it allows for a stronger team. However, they stress the importance of focusing on growth and leveraging the strengths of each team member rather than solely on the division of equity.

The potential of AI as a tool for entrepreneurs is introduced, with a discussion on its limitations and the need for human expertise. They stress the importance of asking the right questions and seeking knowledge when using AI effectively. The conversation also delves into client engagement and the significance of understanding and addressing clients' needs and feedback.

Jeff shares his insights on building a strong company culture, highlighting the importance of leaving ego at the door and viewing everyone as equals. He emphasizes the value of humble leadership, teamwork, and making decisions based on the merit of ideas rather than personal bias. Creating a positive and enjoyable work environment is also discussed.

The podcast concludes with a discussion on leadership and the qualities of effective managers who understand how to scale a business while maintaining a strong company culture. They stress the importance of focusing on team effectiveness rather than team size and fostering a supportive environment that values all employees.

Overall, this episode provides valuable insights and advice for entrepreneurs and startup founders on building successful businesses, training programs, outsourcing, team building, company culture, and the integration of AI into operations.

In this episode of the Start Taking Forward podcast, our special guest Chris Hood, a digital oracle with over three decades of experience, shares his insights on customer transformation and the importance of aligning businesses with evolving customer needs. Chris emphasizes that businesses should prioritize customer expectations and aspirations, rather than solely focusing on digital transformation. He also highlights the need for a culture of innovation, where everyone in the organization feels empowered to contribute ideas and accepts failures as part of the process. Chris introduces the seven-stage strategy for customer transformation and explains how it helps organizations stay connected with their customers. He also provides advice for startups, emphasizing the importance of understanding the customer and solving their problems. The conversation explores topics such as psychological safety in fostering innovation, the distinction between digital transformation and digital acceleration, and the significance of purpose-driven technology. Chris discusses the misconceptions around artificial intelligence (AI) and cautions businesses against investing in AI without understanding its purpose or their customers' needs. The episode concludes with Chris highlighting the need for intentional technology integration in businesses and promoting his book, "Customer Transformation."

In this episode, I am joined by Derrick Johnson, an army veteran, life coach, and trainer, who shares his mission of helping others tap into their true potential. Derrick discusses his upbringing and how he used fitness as an outlet for his pain as a bullied and shy child. I share my own journey of using fitness and faith to break free from family patterns of addiction and anger.

We highlight the importance of pushing ourselves physically and mentally to achieve new heights and experience confidence and satisfaction. We discuss the obstacles of pride and ego that hinder individuals from being honest with themselves and acknowledging their shortcomings. Setting high standards and living by them is crucial, as how we do one thing is how we do everything.

I encourage listeners to have specific and measurable goals and hold themselves accountable. Seeking external resources and guidance can also help elevate productivity and efficiency. We discuss the concept of creating a clear vision of what we want by listing out things we don't want. Starting with the body and incorporating physical activity into a morning routine can clear the mind and generate ideas.

Stress management is essential, along with quickly returning to a calm and confident state after being thrown off. We explore the correlation between mental and physical health and how pride and ego can limit beliefs. I challenge listeners to stop allowing others to control their reactions and instead choose a different response. Identifying repetitive patterns and no longer giving expected reactions can lead to personal growth.

We delve into the topic of success in relationships and friendships, emphasizing the importance of aligning visions to avoid conflicts. Celebrating each other's accomplishments and surrounding ourselves with supportive individuals is key. Success can sometimes make others uncomfortable, so it's important to focus on personal achievements and choose uplifting people who will support us.

Lastly, we discuss how success can impact friendships and relationships. Evaluating the history and dynamic of a relationship is essential to determine if it's positive or negative. I share an example of someone who asked for help but then ghosted when assistance was offered. Prioritizing our own well-being and mental health is crucial.

We wrap up by recommending the book "Outwitting the Devil" by Napoleon Hill to explore intentional living.

In this riveting episode, we dive deep into the art of building unbreakable bonds with clients and why going the extra mile can make all the difference. Learn how to be a "yes" person, offering more than just your expertise to win trust and loyalty. From connecting clients with industry experts to advocating for their needs, our guest Bruce Weinstein shares real-world examples that underscore the importance of genuine care in business relationships.

We also touch on the transformative power of setbacks. Hear about a pivotal moment in 2016 that led to a renewed sense of purpose and passion for helping others. Bruce opens up about the importance of legacy and how sharing his message has become his ultimate goal.But that's not all! We explore the concept of financial dignity—having the resources for a comfortable retirement and the freedom to choose your path.

Bruce shares invaluable insights from his workshops and webinars, using vivid metaphors to drive home the importance of financial planning. In a heartfelt segment, Bruce talks about personal challenges that have shaped his views on money and life. From a family history marred by illness and divorce to professional experiences that tested his integrity, Bruce's journey is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.

As we wrap up, Bruce offers his wisdom on financial and insurance matters, emphasizing his open-door policy for free consultations. We also delve into books that have influenced his approach to money and time management, such as "The Power of Broke" and "Buy Back Your Time."Don't miss out on this enriching conversation!

Bruce leaves us with thought-provoking questions about legacy and what truly matters in life. So, if you're looking to elevate your client relationships, gain financial freedom, or find inspiration to overcome life's hurdles, this episode is for you!