Taking the Leap Robert Dickie III

Adam Hancock is a national award-winning State Farm Agent from Montrose, Colorado. He has a wealth of experience as a third-generation state farm agent and is a recipient of their prestigious President’s Club. Adam got his professional start in the United States Navy, owned a landscaping business, and then followed in his family's footsteps into the insurance industry. Adam studied engineering at Colorado Mesa University and has his BA in Business Management from the University of Phoenix.
 
In this conversation, we'll explore Adam’s journey from the Navy to State Farm and the key questions young people, middle-career professionals, and those nearing retirement should ask about their insurance coverages and needs for their life stage.
 
I’m interested in unpacking these questions and many more to ensure our listeners have the proper protections for their families and that your long-term objectives are being met so lets jump in!

William Norvell, the co-founder and President of Forte, a company that's revolutionizing the way businesses support their most valuable asset: their people. Under William's leadership, Forte's mission is not just to provide counseling services but to transform the culture of corporate mental health. 
 
William brings a wealth of experience from venture capital, private equity, and investment banking. He has a degree in Finance from the University of Alabama and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He is a principal at Sovereign’s Capital, co-founder, podcast host, and contributor of The Faith Driven Entrepreneur.
 
In this conversation, we'll explore William's journey from a keen investor to a compassionate entrepreneur, the challenges and triumphs of building a startup to tackle workplace stress, and his vision for a world where mental health is prioritized as physical health in our work environments.
 
Join us as we unpack the story behind Forte and learn from William's incredible insights on mental health, entrepreneurship, and creating change within the corporate landscape.
To learn more about Forte visit their website: https://www.getforte.com/
To listen to The Faith Driven Entrepreneur visit their website: https://www.faithdrivenentrepreneur.org/podcast

Todd Wilcox has a fascinating career journey, truly living the American rags-to-riches story. Born in a low-income neighborhood in South Tampa with a single mother Todd grew up helping raise his siblings when a mentor changed his life. Convinced that education was his path out he earned an Army ROTC scholarship to the University of Tampa. Upon graduating, he went on to serve as a rifle platoon leader with the 101st Airborne Division during Operation Desert Storm. Upon promotion to Captain, Todd volunteered to transfer to the US Army Special Forces branch, and after earning his Green Beret, he commanded a Special Forces A-team in counter-terrorism in East Asia. After 8 years of military service, he resigned to accept a position with the CIA to join the global war on terrorism.
 
Todd left the CIA in 2006 to create Patriot Defense Group (PDG), a defense contracting company dedicated to serving those who defend America. Since then, Todd has started multiple other related businesses and has been recognized by the Wall Street Journal and through awards such as the Orlando Business Journal “Veterans of Influence” and the Ernst and Young "Entrepreneur of the Year."  Todd serves on the board of the National Defense University Foundation, the Rand Corporation Center for Middle East Public Policy and the Orlando Economic Partnership. He has a degree in Finance from the University of Tampa and is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Presidents Program. Todd is also an active member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO). 
Show Notes:
3:00 – Todd shares how to prepare as an entrepreneur for future threats and the importance of instilling resilience in yourself. 
 
5:00 – Todd gives insight into the events that are happening in the Middle East and Ukraine.
 
9:00 – Bob asks Todd to share what he has learned throughout his career as he has accomplished a myriad of different disciplines. Todd shares his upbringing, beginning in Tampa. He opens up about the key learnings that he believes contributed to his future success. 
 
15:00 – Todd touches on the culture shock that came with joining the army. He then talks about the biggest inflection point that he noticed moving from a young army officer to special forces and the challenges that accompanied these transitions.
 
23:00 – Hollywood vs. Reality– Todd touches on the differences he sees in his career in the agency as opposed to the way it is depicted in media that we consume.
 
“It would be a really boring show if they showed you everything that actually went on.”
 
28:00—Todd discusses how much of Patriot Defense is working with the US government versus commercial services. Todd defines “open source intelligence” and “big data analytics.”
 
“The amount of data that is publicly available is kind of scary.”
 
35:00 – Todd gives his advice as an intelligence officer to traveling business executives and young people looking to limit digital exhaust, those wanting to be more mindful of their data. 
 
41:00 – The popular topic of TikTok is brought up as Todd discusses his thoughts on whether or not the app is tracking and collecting your data as you use the app. He shares that he doesn’t know what the firewall is and doesn’t trust it. 
 
48:00 – Bob asks Todd to delve into his unique experiences. He shares how he took the leap to pursue hybrid training with multiple organizations. 
 
53:00 – Entrepreneurship is growing rapidly. Todd shares his advice on where he believes young people who are wanting to pursure entrepreneurship should focus their time and energy on this journey. He believes that you should pursue a business in what you know best and are passionate about.
 
“Do what you know best. Build your business around what you know.”
 
58:00 – Todd talks about what originally motivated him to pursue making a difference in politics in Washington DC.
 
1:03:00 – From his pursuit in politics, Todd shares the

Our guests today are Cody Newton and Dr. Doug Cleveland. Cody Newton is a serial entrepreneur, having started or been involved in over 20 companies, including professional sports, franchising, direct sales, and the energy markets. He is dedicated to democratizing renewables, carbon credits, and recycling for home and business owners in his latest project with Carbon X Solutions. Dr. Douglas Cleveland is a trained Anesthesiologist from the University of Chicago with a Medical Economics Certificate from the Harvard Business School. Doug is also an entrepreneur with expertise in process and operational efficiencies and shares Cody’s passion for the energy and renewables space and the impact it can have on the environment. I found this story fascinating, as two entrepreneurs with vastly different backgrounds saw the same problem and figured out a way to complement each other with their diverse approaches to business. They built a team and tackled a problem many experts said was impossible. This conversation will highlight the complexities and challenges of starting a new venture when everyone around you says it can’t be done. If there is one thing I have learned from all these interviews, it is that entrepreneurs almost always have to defy the odds and many naysayers along the way to launch a product or service that is new, innovative, and world-changing.
Learn more at www.CarbonXSolutions.com
Show Notes:
3:00 - Doug begins by sharing how he entered his entrepreneurial journey. He shares how he started out in med school to become an anesthesiologist and started practicing anesthesiology but became restless to do more and learn more.

6:00 - Doug shares his background, where he got his various degrees, and where he completed his professional training.

7:00 - Cody shares his background of growing up in a small farm town, embarking on getting a degree from Kansas State and pivoting to become an entrepreneur. 

13:00 - Doug discusses breadth vs. depth in the medical field and how that translates to his entrepreneurial journey.

Quote: “Riches are in niches.” 

16:00 - Doug and Cody share some “key lessons” they learned early in their careers that would be valuable to young people starting out in their careers to help speed up their entrepreneurial journey. They share the 

26:00 - Cody and Doug share how they discovered carbon credits and why they were led to participate in this “green movement” to help the environment, as well as businesses and homeowners participating in this movement.

31:00 - Cody discusses the posture of his heart toward smaller and medium-sized businesses when involving them in this industry. He shares his goal to make this attainable for small and medium-sized companies to utilize this business opportunity. 

Quote: “We can expand this green revolution faster as we make it more accessible.”

40:00 - Cody shares the story of how he found himself in the right spot at the right time to make a partnership and how this reflects the entrepreneurial experience of living intentionally in everyday life. 

Quote: “If you always plant seeds, the harvest will come over time.”
“If you’re passionate about something, the worst thing you can do is keep it inside.”

42:00 - Doug chimes in and shares his story when meeting Cody and beginning their partnership.

48:00 - Cody and Doug discuss the struggles and obstacles they have faced and had to overcome throughout their journey. They share what they have learned from that process.

54:00 - Bob asks how they balanced seeking counsel and guidance while pursuing their goals when they may have been advised not to.
Quote: “The experts don’t always have the same vision that you do… take what they say with a grain of salt.”

59:00 - Doug and Cody share what they foresee the next 3-5 years to look like for this industry and talk about what they hope to accomplish in these future opportunities. 

1:07:00 - Bob asks Doug and Cody to share t

Danny Fehsenfeld is a multifaceted talent in the entertainment industry, known for his versatile contributions as an actor, singer/songwriter, public speaker, and writer. With a rich career that spans across various mediums, Danny has left his mark on audiences worldwide. He is recognized for his role as "Gil" on "The Young & The Restless" and his compelling presence on YouTube with over 250 million views. As the face of national campaigns for brands like Jeep, Chrysler, and 5 Hour Energy, Danny's influence in advertising is undeniable, with award-winning Super Bowl commercials and notably setting trends with his viral campaign for Nordnet.
His voice acting prowess is showcased in the Oscar-winning "Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse," and he stars in several major animation features, including "Chickenhare & The Hamster Of Darkness" and "Latte & The Magic Waterstone," both acclaimed on Netflix. Danny is also the voice behind "Bogota" in the globally celebrated series "Money Heist" (La Casa De Papel).
On-screen, Danny's notable roles include Nelson Stone in the TV series "Scarlett" and appearances in "The Upshaws" and "The Day You Found Me." His vocal talents extend to the music industry, backing icons like Celine Dion and John Legend, and leading the praise band at the Crystal Cathedral.
Growing up on the road with a public speaker father, Danny's early life was filled with travel and homeschooling experiences that shaped his passion for art and communication. Today, he continues to inspire through his performances and as a speaker at various events, embodying the transformative power of creativity and imagination.
Show Notes:
4:00 – Danny shares his story, his “La La Land” journey, as he falls in love with singing and acting and begins to follow his dream. He talks about the tenacity and faith it takes to follow a dream to Hollywood.12:00 – The entertainment industry is built on selling perception. The entertainment industry is not so much interested in what is best but what is being bought. He shares how to become and remain relevant in the industry.“Art itself is always a reflection of the culture from which it is derived… anytime you try to regulate art, it ceases to exist; art in its purest form is freedom.” 20:00 – Danny shares his first “big break” and how that altered his perception of his finances. He then talks about experiencing an empty feeling after starring in a #1 film as he immediately started to think about what came next. “Who I am as a man always takes precedence over my accolades.” 26:00 –  “How soon can I buy my freedom?” Danny shares what things were most important to him– not being bound to a day job, freedom to travel, etc– and what he did to achieve those goals financially.32:00 – How to be an entrepreneur in the entertainment industry, the mindset and habits needed to have success!“All that fear and anxiety is excitement with a negative outlook.” 48:00 – Danny shares his background and how he began his journey of self-discovery. He talks about how he reprogrammed his mind to restructure his life. He talks about the power that the words you speak and the thoughts you possess have over your reality.1:05:00 – Major career “breakthroughs” followed a changed mindset and lifestyle. He discusses the differences in the genres he has worked within– musicals, animations, comedies, and more– and what he enjoys about each process.1:10:00– Danny discusses the industry logistics of how the studio works when recording animation films and the creative methods that he can implement when acting.“The four deepest fears of humanity are the fear of death, rejection, failure, and public speaking. I think the fear of public speaking is connected to some of those other fears.” 1:15:00 – Danny talks about the different segments of voiceovers and the commercial industry segments. He then talks about the process of casting within commercials.1:24:00 – Danny gi

Today's distinguished guest is Hervé Larren, the entrepreneurial force behind Airvey.io, a company dedicated to building, supporting, and providing expert advice to Web 3.0 ventures.
 
Hervé emerged as a pioneer in the cryptocurrency realm, adopting Bitcoin and blockchain technology early in 2013 and becoming one of the early initial crypto miners in the United States. His strategic foresight led to capitalizing on his mining endeavors through public vehicles with Grayscale, and he has recently been elected to be a special council member for the ApeCoin DAO.
 
Throughout his illustrious career, Hervé has imparted his knowledge to over a dozen prestigious projects, such as Horizen Labs and the innovative Yuga Labs’ ApeCoin. His vision was instrumental in the early work in Decentraland and helping create one of the largest commercial zones in the the Metaverse. He also played a key role in developing the Horizen ZEN token.
 
Hervé's expertise has not gone unnoticed; his profile has been elevated through features in leading publications, including CoinTelegraph, Forbes, Bloomberg Magazine, and The Huffington Post, as part of the American Express Spotlight Series. His insights have graced television screens on Bloomberg, KTLA, and E! News. As a guest speaker, Hervé has shared his knowledge of the crypto and blockchain economic revolution at over 30 international conferences across 10 countries.
 
Before venturing into the entrepreneurial landscape, Hervé honed his skills with prestigious tenures at luxury conglomerates LVMH and Pernod Ricard.
 
An alumnus of the Harvard Business School Presidents' Program, Hervé also holds an MBA from Columbia Business School. His leadership qualities and keen insights have earned him membership in the elite Young Presidents' Organization (YPO).
Show Notes:
"Nothing discussed in this podcast should be considered investment advice. This conversation is for informational and, hopefully, entertainment purposes only. Enjoy!"
03:47 - Hervé discovers "Plan B" = Bitcoin08:30 - "If you mistrust your country, you will mistrust a digital currency they create."12:30 - How did Hervé manage psychologically living at the cutting edge of a new technology movement when most of his peers did not understand it and thought it was crazy? 18:00 - What are the problems crypto was solving? This is what entrepreneurs do...find a problem and solve it.20:00 - What are Hervé's predictions for the future and things he is excited about?Value investing and linear growth vs. network effects and metcalfe's law.30:00 - Real-world problems and use cases for blockchain technology.35:00 - These projects provide new governance opportunities to protect the community.38:00 - The power of community and the network.52:00 - "The swings are very big in Web 3.0...because of this, it is quite easy to see who is committed to the space." Commitment is everything, especially when things are down. Your best relationships will be built during bear markets. Book RecommendationsOutlive - Dr. Peter AttiaCurtis Jackson - Hustle HarderAtomic Habits 1:00:00 - Personal longevity hacks as a global traveler"You are the CEO of your health! Know your numbers."1:03:00 - Where is a good place to start your journey in this space? Everyone's journey is different. "Everyone will get Bitcoin at the price they deserve!"What would Hervé say if he were asked to give a State of the World address? Follow Hervé on LinkedIn at Hervé Larren and on X @hervelarren_ (Airvey), and Instagram at Hervelarren.