How'd it Happen‪?‬ Mike Malatesta

As entrepreneurs, we tend to think that the world is full of competition and that certain markets are too saturated for us to stand out in, but the truth is that although the world is full of people, that doesn’t mean it’s full of competition. Chances are, what you need to do to stand out from the crowd isn’t as challenging as you think it is. It just means you need to serve people’s needs and do it in a way that is better than most. Today’s guest explains why he quit his unfulfulling job to pursue freelance writing and landed an opportunity to write for the Washington Post with very little experience and zero connections.
Jason Feifer is the editor in chief of Entrepreneur Magazine, author of the book “Build For Tomorrow”, a startup advisor, and host of the podcasts Build For Tomorrow, and Problem Solvers. LinkedIn named him a “Top Voice in Entrepreneurship” for 2022.
In this episode, Jason and Mike discuss the topic of entitlement, why boundaries are not what they seem, and why Jason believes in the power of just getting someone on the phone. Jason shares his story of how it happened for him and his entrance into the entrepreneur world. Jason had an overwhelming feeling that there was a gap between the work he was doing and what he was capable of, so instead of staying stagnant and working at the level that someone else had placed him in, he bet on his ability and his hustle. Jason provides insight on how to pitch yourself even if you have no connections and very little experience.
Quote from the episode:
“You think that the world is full of competition but it's not. The world is just full of people and a lot of those people are actually not great competition. All you need to do is just make sure that you are serving someone else’s needs and they will really like you for it.” - Jason FeiferKey Highlights:
Why Jason doesn’t set goals he can’t controlHow he got to write for the Washington Post with little experience and no connectionsHow to pitch properlyThe meaning behind the phrase “I can't wait to do this a second time.”Episode resources:
Check out episode 198: Jeff Peterson, I Don’t Call Myself an Entrepreneur (#198)Connect with Jason Feifer:
Twitter: @heyfeiferInstagram: @heyfeiferFacebook: Jason FeiferLinkedIn: Jason FeiferWebsite: jasonfeifer.comGet Jason’s book: Build For TomorrowCheck out Jason’s podcasts: Build For Tomorrow and Problem SolversTo Connect with Mike:
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In this solo episode, Mike channels Celeste Headlee’s TED talk called “10 Ways to Have a Better Conversation.” Mike puts his own spin on them by using his experience of releasing over 300 podcast episodes and interviewing many amazing people along the way. There are certain habits and questions that take a conversation to the next level by eliciting interesting topics and showing others that you are invested in what they have to say.
This episode is part 1 of 2, so you will hear Mike’s first 5 tips for having a great conversation. Those tips are: Don't multitask, don't pontificate, use open-ended questions, go with the flow, and understand that it’s okay to say you don't know something. Mike dives into each of these and why they are important to make a great conversation. Tune in next week for part 2, where Mike will cover his remaining 5 conversation tips.
Episode resources: 
CelesteHeadlee.com
Listen to Celeste’s Ted Talk: 10 Ways to Have A Better Conversation
To Connect with Mike:
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We’re sharing this guest episode again because it is full of such innovative and exciting medical advances that more of us should be aware of. If you didn't catch this one the first time, here is your chance. Dr. Timothy Nelson is the founder of HeartWorks, an organization that developed from the Todd & Karen Wanek Family Program for Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome founded at the Mayo Clinic in 2010. Tim’s work specializes in the creation of stem cells to create heart muscle and hopefully cure pediatric congenital heart defects in the near future.

The HeartWorks team has developed a platform that enables multiple cell-based clinical trials to be conducted simultaneously in collaboration with a consortium of world-class medical institutions. Check out this short video that chronicles the transformative technology of bioengineered cardiac tissue by converting a piece of skin from an individual to a beating heart muscle.

Dr. Nelson earned his MD and his Doctor of Philosophy from the Medical College of Wisconsin, and he’s been a physician at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN since 2005

In this episode, Dr. Nelson dives into the incredibly exciting technology that he and his team at HeartWorks are working on in an effort to create positive outcomes for those born with congenital heart defects. Statistics show that 1 in 100 children are born with a congenital heart defect and 1 in 4 of those born with a CHD will require a life-saving surgical procedure within their first year of life. Even with these interventions, 50% of children born with CHD won’t make it to their fifth birthday. HeartWorks is working tirelessly to give children and adults with CHD a promising and fulfilling future.

Dr. Nelson explains what exactly stem cells are, and how they are being used to have the potential to rebuild the heart. This is a fascinating episode, and I know you won’t want to miss it.

Quote from the episode:

“We are on the tip of an iceberg and when we show this model can work, it is catalytic” - Dr. Tim Nelson

To learn more about Dr. Tim Nelson, please see the links below:
Website: heartworksinc.org

Case2Cure Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cause2cure/id1489215831

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-nelson-cause2cure/

Facebook (personal): https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010438424147

To Connect with Mike:

Website: https://mikemalatesta.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemalatesta/

Get Mike’s book “Owner Shift”: https://mikemalatesta.com/owner-shift-book-by-mike-malatesta/

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To Connect with Mike:
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Today’s solo episode of the How’d It Happen podcast was inspired by Jordan Peterson and his book, titled “12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos. After reading this book, Mike felt drawn to create his own 12 rules of life, and in this episode, he breaks down his 12.5 rules of life. Those rules are:
Hold doors open, look people in the eye, say hello, and smile.Words matter.Surround yourself with people you like and who care about you.Progress, not perfection.Be a parent that your child wants to emulate and not one that they feel they need to emulate.We've all got problems, but remember yours before you expose or take advantage of others.Shiny objects might be horseshit.How does doing this hard thing make me better?All progress starts with the truth.Take the best away from every interaction and leave the rest behindSay what you mean to the best of your abilityHave fun and be okay with it. Don't take yourself too seriously.And here's a bonus, Mike’s 12.5 rule of life: pay attention to what's in front of you, and be kind to whatever that is, to the best of your ability.
Tune in as Mike breaks each of these down and explains why they are important to maximize the greatness in you.
Episode resources:
Book: 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote for Life by Jordan Peterson
To Connect with Mike:
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Kyle McDowell is a man who traded corporate might for the mightier power of collaborative leadership. Kyle shares all about his transformative journey, chronicled in his compelling book "Begin With We," where the shift from an 'I' focused worldview to a 'we' centered philosophy is not just theoretical but lived. In this episode, Kyle peels back the layers of leadership, examining how personal growth and professional excellence can indeed be synonymous when vulnerability and collective success are placed at the heart of one's ethos.
Kyle and Mike dig into the raw and often unseen struggles leaders face when aligning personal values with the culture of the corporate giants they steer. Kyle recounts the turning point that led him to walk away from a high-profile role, sparking a drive to pen principles that now guide leaders toward more holistic and effective management styles. Hear the tales that breathe life into the "10 We's" framework and how embracing challenges within a team can build trust and forge stronger relationships, transforming skepticism into exemplary leadership.
This conversation with Kyle traverses the emotional landscape from shame to liberation, underscoring the importance of small victories in the journey of self-discovery and confidence building. Kyle's personal narrative exemplifies how living one's professional principles in everyday life extends beyond the boardroom, shaping a legacy of integrity and authenticity. This episode is an invitation to leaders and change-makers alike to embrace action, accountability, and excellence, inspiring a new wave of leadership that is as empowering as it is effective.
Key highlights:
Discovering Purpose]Corporate America Transformation StoryNavigating Career Changes and ChallengesBreaking the Cycle of Bad LeadershipEstablishing Workplace Principles for AccountabilityNavigating Personality Conflicts in LeadershipFostering Strong Professional RelationshipsNavigating Self-Doubt and Imposter SyndromePersonal Principles in Professional LifeEmbracing Mistakes for Team GrowthConnect with Kyle McDowell:
Get his book: Begin with WEWebsite: kylemcdowellinc.comInstagram: @kylemcdowellincTo Connect with Mike:
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In this solo episode, Mike dives into a topic that is near and dear to his heart, and that is when people call their business “small.” Businesses come in all sizes, but none of them are small. 
Politicians like to refer to small businesses, and how they are the backbone of our economy, and they can talk about business as they wish, but the problem comes in when business owners talk about their own businesses as small. Why does this matter? Because words matter! What you say and how you describe yourself matters and reflects how you think about yourself. 
You are not small, and your business isn’t either. Every business started with a big idea, and even though you may have started small, continuing to describe yourself as small will eventually make your thinking small. Over time, thinking small can become a crutch or an excuse upon which to lean instead of making constant progress, learning new things, or making the business as productive and impactful as it can be. Small is not about the size of your company. It's about the size of your thinking. Mike offers a great mental reframe to stop thinking of your business, and therefore yourself, as “small.”
To Connect with Mike:
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