BOLD ENCOUNTERS PREMIUM

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Bold Encounters: Get Unstuck. Lead Life's Work!

Mark Spencer Cook
  • 5.0 (20)
  • CAREERS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Listen free or subscribe for premium access, action plans, and more: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/markspencercook/subscribe Discover world-class guests free: • Top Shark Tank winner
• Mother Teresa’s coworker
• $8-million CEO
• inventor of the cell phone
• founding Swiftie
• creator of GPS Go beyond career to love life's work with new confidence and proven steps. Host, Mark S. Cook, a NYT–bestseller, CEO Plan & Pivot Consultant has led: • startup and turnarounds • the largest-ever studiy of award-winning pivots • 4000+ client wins. Watch now!

  1. Father of GPS: How to Lead to ROI in Your Space, Dr. Brad Parkinson

    2D AGO

    Father of GPS: How to Lead to ROI in Your Space, Dr. Brad Parkinson

    You don’t lead breakthroughs by guessing casually: “You have to be sure where you are first.” “Precision steps respect reality.” “Expertise is accountability, not hope.” What happens to turn direction into destiny… See BoldEncounters.TV. Stanford Speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6I6wFf-X_c Google Speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8fXdGpp4ow Today we share Dr. Brad Parkinson, father of GPS, who graciously said “sure” years ago to an on-the-spot interview at a busy time. The call came at a time we all still used analog home phones. Be amazed at this re-edit of my original interview with Dr. Parkinson—he’s one of the most impactful interviews I’ve ever experienced. Dr. Brad Parkinson’s leadership shaped five technology teams, human life, and the finding of people, places, and promising destinations. This is a rare leadership conversation about responsibility, precision, long-range thinking, and what it takes to create massive impact, taking theory and moving it into the whole world. Inside This Episode • Why true leadership starts with knowing exactly where you are and where to arrive. • How accountability scales when decisions affect nations, not just teams • The difference between “destinational vision” and individual choice • What leaders often misunderstand about innovation and risk • Why long-term ROI demands patience, rigor, and moral clarity Go Deeper — Premium Action Plan This episode includes a Premium Action Plan for members of Bold Encounters Club. It translates Dr. Parkinson’s leadership principles into a concrete framework you can apply to your own decisions—especially when the stakes are high, timelines are long, and precision matters more than speed. Moments to Revisit • The moment GPS stopped being theoretical and became inevitable • How Parkinson detected failure before it happened • What “precision” really means when lives depend on outcomes • The leadership cost of skipping foundational steps Final Thought Breakthroughs don’t come from inspiration alone—they come from leaders willing to measure reality honestly, take responsibility for consequences, and commit to milestones and long horizons when shortcuts are tempting. Dr. Parkinson’s work reminds us that direction is not a metaphor—it’s a discipline.

    1h 3m
  2. Father of GPS w/ Premium Action Plan: How to Lead to ROI in Your Space, Dr. Brad Parkinson

    3D AGO • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    Father of GPS w/ Premium Action Plan: How to Lead to ROI in Your Space, Dr. Brad Parkinson

    You don’t lead breakthroughs by guessing casually: “You have to be sure where you are first.” “Precision steps respect reality.” “Expertise is accountability, not hope.” What happens to turn direction into destiny… See BoldEncounters.TV. Stanford Speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6I6wFf-X_c Google Speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8fXdGpp4ow Today we share Dr. Brad Parkinson, father of GPS, who graciously said “sure” years ago to an on-the-spot interview at a busy time. The call came at a time we all still used analog home phones. Be amazed at this re-edit of my original interview with Dr. Parkinson—he’s one of the most impactful interviews I’ve ever experienced. Dr. Brad Parkinson’s leadership shaped five technology teams, human life, and the finding of people, places, and promising destinations. This is a rare leadership conversation about responsibility, precision, long-range thinking, and what it takes to create massive impact, taking theory and moving it into the whole world. Inside This Episode • Why true leadership starts with knowing exactly where you are and where to arrive. • How accountability scales when decisions affect nations, not just teams • The difference between “destinational vision” and individual choice • What leaders often misunderstand about innovation and risk • Why long-term ROI demands patience, rigor, and moral clarity Go Deeper — Premium Action Plan This episode includes a Premium Action Plan for members of Bold Encounters Club. It translates Dr. Parkinson’s leadership principles into a concrete framework you can apply to your own decisions—especially when the stakes are high, timelines are long, and precision matters more than speed. Moments to Revisit • The moment GPS stopped being theoretical and became inevitable • How Parkinson detected failure before it happened • What “precision” really means when lives depend on outcomes • The leadership cost of skipping foundational steps Final Thought Breakthroughs don’t come from inspiration alone—they come from leaders willing to measure reality honestly, take responsibility for consequences, and commit to milestones and long horizons when shortcuts are tempting. Dr. Parkinson’s work reminds us that direction is not a metaphor—it’s a discipline.

    1h 16m
  3. Trust, Sacrifice, Appreciation = Stealthy Elite Results: Kevin Ames, Ames Leadership Institute

    FEB 6

    Trust, Sacrifice, Appreciation = Stealthy Elite Results: Kevin Ames, Ames Leadership Institute

    Great work happens when you trust then notice exceptional cooperation and team leadership: “We value your work because you are valuable to all of us.” “Shhh. Until someone values me, I’ll just take my paycheck.” “One only gets trust with trustworthiness or sacrifice for others.” What changes when recognition becomes a habit is surprising… See BoldEncounters.TV. Episode 2 with Kevin Ames goes beyond appreciation as a leadership idea and turns it into something concrete: the difference between workplaces where nobody cares about the work—and workplaces where people become the kind of professionals who naturally do great work. Kevin and Mark contrast two unforgettable service experiences, then connect the deeper thread: trust is often built faster through sacrifice than through speeches, policies, or “programs.” Inside This Episode • Two radically varied “great work” events—and their cause • Why people don’t do great work if nobody cares about them • How sacrifice builds instant trust faster than anything • Why most people live “in a vacuum of appreciation" • One way to appreciate excellence now—before week's end Go Deeper — Premium Action Plan This episode includes a Premium Action Plan (for members) of Bold Encounters Club. You’ll get a simple, step-by-step way to practice elite appreciation, build trust through one measurable sacrifice, and turn “great work” into repeatable culture—not just a rare personality trait. Kevin Ames Founder, Ames Leadership Institute Leadership researcher, speaker, and executive coach Known for practical frameworks on trust, appreciation, and performance Works with leaders to turn recognition into real results Moments to Revisit • The “gentleman’s club” jacket story reveals so much... • What thinking, “Nobody cares about their work …” creates. • “Eight out of ten… live in a recognition vacuum." Why it matters. • The friendship built through doing meaningful work together • “You only get trust when you’re trustworthy or sacrifice.” Final Thought Organizations don’t become “the best” because they claim it. They become the best when individuals inside them decide to be extraordinary...and recoginze the extraordinary. When leaders make people feel seen, great work becomes worth doing.

    32 min
  4. Trust, Sacrifice, Appreciation w/ Premium Action Plan for Stealthy, Elite Results: Kevin Ames, Ames Leadership Institute

    FEB 5 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    Trust, Sacrifice, Appreciation w/ Premium Action Plan for Stealthy, Elite Results: Kevin Ames, Ames Leadership Institute

    Great work happens when you trust then notice exceptional cooperation and team leadership: “We value your work because you are valuable to all of us.” “Shhh. Until someone values me, I’ll just take my paycheck.” “One only gets trust with trustworthiness or sacrifice for others.” What changes when recognition becomes a habit is surprising… See BoldEncounters.TV. Episode 2 with Kevin Ames goes beyond appreciation as a leadership idea and turns it into something concrete: the difference between workplaces where nobody cares about the work—and workplaces where people become the kind of professionals who naturally do great work. Kevin and Mark contrast two unforgettable experiences, then connect the deeper thread: trust is often built faster through sacrifice than through speeches, policies, or “programs.” Inside This Episode • Two radically varied “great work” events—and their cause • Why people don’t do great work if nobody cares about them • How sacrifice builds instant trust faster than anything • Why most people live “in a vacuum of appreciation" • One way to appreciate excellence now—before week's end Go Deeper — Premium Action Plan This episode includes a Premium Action Plan (for members) of Bold Encounters Club. You’ll get a simple, step-by-step way to practice elite appreciation, build trust through one measurable sacrifice, and turn “great work” into repeatable culture—not just a rare personality trait. Kevin Ames Founder, Ames Leadership Institute Leadership researcher, speaker, and executive coach Known for practical frameworks on trust, appreciation, and performance. Kevin works with leaders to turn leadership and recognition into greater results. Moments to Revisit • The “gentleman’s club” jacket story reveals so much... • What thinking, “Nobody cares about their work …” creates. • “Eight out of ten… live in a recognition vacuum." Why it matters. • The friendship built through doing meaningful work together • “You only get trust when you’re trustworthy or sacrifice.” Final Thought Organizations don’t become “the best” because they claim it. They become the best when individuals inside them decide to be extraordinary...and recognize the extraordinary. When leaders make people feel seen, great work becomes worth doing. Get another unstuck! Lead life's work.

    53 min
  5. ROI of Appreciating Great Work: Kevin Ames, Founder, Ames Leadership Institute

    JAN 30

    ROI of Appreciating Great Work: Kevin Ames, Founder, Ames Leadership Institute

    You don’t get great work by rewarding it—you get it by valuing people first: “If you need a reminder to recognize somebody, you’re not a good leader.” “There is no such thing as a recognition program.” “Until someone values me, I’m just going to get a paycheck.” Why appreciation turns effort into meaning for the giver of gratitude… See BoldEncounters.TV. In this conversation, Kevin Ames dismantles one of leadership’s most expensive myths: that not having recognition or turning it into a system creates engagement. Drawing from decades of leadership research and real-world experience, Ames explains why appreciation isn’t a tool, a program, or a reminder—it’s a behavior that shapes leadership performance, leader loyalty, and meaning for anyone at work. This episode explores why people don’t do great work because they’re incentivized, but because they feel genuinely valued—and how leaders quietly lose influence when appreciation is outsourced alone, automated, or delayed. Inside This Episode • Why recognition programs fail to produce great work • The difference between appreciation and incentives • How influence—not authority—is a leader’s real power • Why money is rarely the primary driver of performance • How great work becomes a source of meaning, not burnout Go Deeper — Premium Action Plan This episode sets up a second part of the episode that includes a Premium Action Plan for members of Bold Encounters Club. Kevin Ames and Mark walk through micro steps for how to give your first exceptional appreciation moment as a leadership act—turning everyday moments into catalysts for trust, work energy, and consistently great work. Moments to Revisit • Why reminders to recognize people signal leadership failure • The story that proves appreciation changes behavior instantly • How values of behavior outperform values of intention • Why people remember how work made them feel—years later Final Thought Great work doesn’t come from systems or slogans. It comes from leaders who notice, value, and respond to real effort in real time. When appreciation becomes behavior instead of policy, people don’t just perform better—you and they live better through their work.

    47 min
  6. 2037 Thinking Now w/ Premium Action Plan: Choosing Vision Over Comfort, James Dixon, PhD

    JAN 22 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    2037 Thinking Now w/ Premium Action Plan: Choosing Vision Over Comfort, James Dixon, PhD

    You don’t wait until it makes sense: “You decide while it still creates friction.” “Vision is tested by resistance, not applause.” "Most leaders quietly retreat at this stage." This is where the future starts demanding something back… See BoldEncounters.TV In the second half of this conversation, James Dixon moves from survival and identity into decision and consequence—what happens after you know who you are, but before the world agrees with you. James walks through the external battles that emerge once vision becomes operational: institutional resistance, cultural pressure to conform, and the subtle incentives to choose comfort over responsibility. This is not just an internal struggle. It’s the collision between long-horizon vision and systems designed to protect the present. This episode isn’t about motivation. It’s about how leaders act when the wrong vision creates cost. Inside this episode • Why real vision often feels mistimed before it feels right • How external resistance tests vision's is reality • The difference between foresight and fantasy in leadership • What choosing comfort too early quietly costs over time Go deeper — Premium Action Plan James stays to translate long-horizon thinking into action—how to assess your true time horizon, recognize where comfort is limiting vision, and choose next steps that serve the future you’re responsible for. That deeper application is available inside Bold Encounters Club, where Premium Action Plans turn clarity into action. Listen + Connect BoldEncounters.TV Final Thought Do you feel stuck between where you are today… and who you’re meant to become? Join the Bold Encounters club for premium access to premium action plans at: BoldEncounters.TV.

    55 min
  7. 2037 Thinking Now: Choosing Vision Over Comfort, James Dixon, PhD

    JAN 22

    2037 Thinking Now: Choosing Vision Over Comfort, James Dixon, PhD

    You don’t wait until it makes sense: “You decide while it still creates friction.” “Vision is tested by resistance, not applause.” Most leaders quietly retreat at this stage. This is where the future starts demanding something back… See BoldEncounters.TV In the second half of this conversation, James Dixon moves from survival and identity into decision and consequence—what happens after you know who you are, but before the world agrees with you. James walks through the external battles that emerge once vision becomes operational: institutional resistance, cultural pressure to conform, and the subtle incentives to choose comfort over responsibility. This is not just an internal struggle. It’s the collision between long-horizon vision and systems designed to protect the present. This episode isn’t about motivation. It’s about how leaders act when the wrong vision creates cost. Inside this episode • Why real vision often feels mistimed before it feels right • How external resistance tests vision's is reality • The difference between foresight and fantasy in leadership • What choosing comfort too early quietly costs over time Go deeper — Premium Action Plan James stays to translate long-horizon thinking into action—how to assess your true time horizon, recognize where comfort is limiting vision, and choose next steps that serve the future you’re responsible for. That deeper application is available inside Bold Encounters Club, where Premium Action Plans turn clarity into action. Listen + Connect BoldEncounters.TV Final Thought Do you feel stuck between where you are today… and who you’re meant to become? Find your next step inside Bold Encounters Premium at BoldEncounters.TV — you can also give the gift of Premium success to someone else you care about.

    41 min
  8. Superman After Amputation: Confronting Yourself, James Dixon

    JAN 15

    Superman After Amputation: Confronting Yourself, James Dixon

    You have to listen to this interview! Dr. James Dixon, PhD began transforming here: “At 11, I woke up and my leg was gone…” “That moment could have ended everything—or forged everything.” “He earned a college basketball scholarship—one of many hard-won victories.” What happened next changed how he leads, speaks, and lives… James Dixon’ story is not about temporary inspiration—it’s about confrontation. After losing his leg at eleven years old, he faced a choice most people never see clearly: become defined by trauma or turn inward, and rebuild himself from the inside out. James walks through internal battles most people avoid—the anger, the fear, the scarcity, and the moments where life feels unfair and irreversible. He explains why growth doesn’t begin with motivation or positivity, but with a hard, honest encounter with yourself. James Dixon presses through external battles too. After losing his leg, the physical grind, the visible difference, and competing in spaces where expectations quietly dropped. Those challenges forced discipline, responsibility, and a decision to move forward anyway. Inside this episode • The moment trauma either freezes growth or becomes fuel • Why anger, when understood, can sharpen focus instead of destroy it • How scarcity creates urgency—and clarity—that comfort never will • What “confronting yourself” actually looks like in real life • Why your first Bold Encounter is internal, not external Go deeper — Premium Action Plan Go beyond the story and into application. In the Premium Action Plan, James breaks down how to: • Identify the moments you’ve been avoiding—and why • Channel emotion into disciplined forward movement • Build a personal framework for growth under pressure • Turn past pain into present authority Premium members gain access to deeper breakdowns, bonus conversations, and step-by-step clarity designed for real progress—not passive listening. Listen + Connect Premium club access: BoldEncounters.TV Guest: Dr. James Dixon, PhD — LinkedIn Book: Absolute Motivation: https://www.amazon.com/Absolute-Motivation-Battle-tested-Principles-Next-level/dp/B0CCXKY4SY Final Thought Host Mark S. Cook — “Do you feel stuck between where you are today… and who you’re meant to become? Find your next step inside Bold Encounters Premium at: BoldEncounters.TV — you can also give the gift of Premium success to someone else you care about.” Terms & Tags resilience, overcoming adversity, leadership mindset, personal transformation, trauma to purpose, confronting fear, growth under pressure #Leadership #Resilience #Bold Encounters #Determination #Work #Vision

    46 min
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Trailer

5
out of 5
20 Ratings

About

Listen free or subscribe for premium access, action plans, and more: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/markspencercook/subscribe Discover world-class guests free: • Top Shark Tank winner
• Mother Teresa’s coworker
• $8-million CEO
• inventor of the cell phone
• founding Swiftie
• creator of GPS Go beyond career to love life's work with new confidence and proven steps. Host, Mark S. Cook, a NYT–bestseller, CEO Plan & Pivot Consultant has led: • startup and turnarounds • the largest-ever studiy of award-winning pivots • 4000+ client wins. Watch now!

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