Life, Money, and Living Well Ben Beshear

Today, we’re going to be talking a whole lot of....bulls**t.
What you might not realize, though, is that BS could be the very thing that leads to your next breakthrough. At least, that’s what my guest, John W. Wright, believes.
A high-school All-American in football, John was recruited by over 60 schools before committing to the University of Illinois. By the time John had finished there, he was the schools’ (and the Big 10’s) leading receiver, landing at #5 overall in NCAA history.
He spent three years in the NFL before injuries forced him out of the game he loved. He might have taken off the helmet and pads, but he never lost the fire and grit.
A keystone of his leadership style? Empowering others.
Nowadays, John uses his 80 acre estate, Greyfield, as a training center for leaders. One of his secrets is what he calls “positive bulls**t.” Today, he’s going to unpack that for us, and we’ll get into what it takes to build great teams, the role of mentors, and how to have lasting impact.
 
Affiliate Links:
John's Book: Bulls**t: A Good Word and a Vital Part of Leadership
The Alchemist: A Fable about following Your Dream
Angela Duckworth: Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance
 
After 20 years as a financial services professional and completing thousands of financial plans for clients…Ben shares the secrets to building wealth, but more importantly building a fulfilling life.
Brief legal disclaimer: This podcast is intended for informational purposes only. The ideas and opinions on this episode do not constitute tax, legal or investment advice. 

Listeners should seek the input of their own tax, legal, and financial planning professionals before acting on any of the information provided. Any speaker on this podcast expresses ideas that are subjective to the time of the recording, and are subject to change without notice, and are not always indicative of the opinions of the underwriters of this show.

This episode should not replace the diligence of a full financial plan with a financial planning professional that can take your specific situation into account.

If someone is reckless, is that a good thing? Or a bad thing?
Beth Guckenberger has a strong opinion about that.
Beth lives in Cincinnati, Ohio. Along with her husband, Todd, they serve as co-executive directors of Back2Back Ministries, an international nonprofit dedicated to being a voice for orphaned and vulnerable children. Through a multipronged approach that meets spiritual, physical, educational, emotional and social needs, Back2Back is helping children across the globe overcome their life circumstances and break free from the cycle of generational poverty.
Through Back2Back, over 30,000 people have traveled to serve orphaned and vulnerable children. 250 students have gained access to high school and college education. 37 children’s homes are making the transitions away from institutional care to family-style care. And over 500 organizations have been trained in Trauma Competent Care, rippling out to influence over 250,000 children in 68 countries.

Between biological, foster, and adoption, the Guckenbergers have raised 11 children. Beth has also authored 13 books, including Throw the First Punch, Reckless Faith, and her most recent work, Warrior of Eden.

Beth's Book: Reckless Faith (affiliate link)

After 20 years as a financial services professional and completing thousands of financial plans for clients…Ben shares the secrets to building wealth, but more importantly building a fulfilling life.

Brief legal disclaimer: This podcast is intended for informational purposes only. The ideas and opinions on this episode do not constitute tax, legal or investment advice. 





 
Listeners should seek the input of their own tax, legal, and financial planning professionals before acting on any of the information provided. Any speaker on this podcast expresses ideas that are subjective to the time of the recording, and are subject to change without notice, and are not always indicative of the opinions of the underwriters of this show.
 
This episode should not replace the diligence of a full financial plan with a financial planning professional that can take your specific situation into account.

According to the statistics, men aren’t doing well—at all.
 
Men have a life expectancy 5 years less than women. Men are 4x more likely to commit suicide, and are 2x more likely to have an alcohol related incident or death. The CDC says half of all men, age 18 or over, already have hypertension, and 40% are obese. Men are quickly being outpaced by their female counterparts in education, with nearly 70% of all graduate students being female. 98% of all mass shootings are carried out by a male perpetrator.
 
What’s going on? Men are floundering. And the key to living well is learning to rise together.
 
My friend, Brian Tome, thinks he has an answer. The founding pastor of Crossroads Church in Cincinnati, recognized as one of the largest and fastest growing churches in the nation, Crossroads has purposefully run after men for the past 30 years... and it’s working.
 
Brian's Book "5 Marks of a Man" (affiliate link)
 
Besides pastoring, Brian started MAN CAMP, a primitive weekend camping experience helping men reclaim the ancient code of manhood. Since its inception, some 30,000 men have attended, from all over the country and world.
 
Brian is also the best-selling author of The FIve Marks of a Man, a book which was not only instrumental for me, but for thousands upon thousands of men looking for practical, actionable wisdom on how to live in our changing world.
 
After 20 years as a financial services professional and completing thousands of financial plans for clients…Ben shares the secrets to building wealth, but more importantly building a fulfilling life.

Brief legal disclaimer: This podcast is intended for informational purposes only. The ideas and opinions on this episode do not constitute tax, legal or investment advice. 
 
Listeners should seek the input of their own tax, legal, and financial planning professionals before acting on any of the information provided. Any speaker on this podcast expresses ideas that are subjective to the time of the recording, and are subject to change without notice, and are not always indicative of the opinions of the underwriters of this show.
 
This episode should not replace the diligence of a full financial plan with a financial planning professional that can take your specific situation into account.

Entrepreneurship is a sexy word to some… until they realize just how much work, grit, and bravery it takes to start your own business. It’s not easy, and it’s not for the faint of heart.
Data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that 20% of new businesses fail during the first two years; 45% during the first five years; and 65% during the first 10 years. Only ¼ of all businesses will make it to the 15 year mark.
Steve Wanamaker is an entrepreneur and businessman defying those odds.
In 1998, along with his wife, Steve took out a $20,000 loan on his house to start a print magazine out of their spare bedroom. The rest is history. Since then, Steve has started multiple successful media companies, two of which have been acquired.
In 2004, Steve’s magazine, Inspire, was purchased by Gannett, a Fortune 500 media powerhouse that also owns The USA Today. And just last year, Steve sold his incredibly popular CDO Magazine, born from his time as co-director of MIT’s Chief Data Officer Information Quality Symposium, to private equity firm Growth Catalyst Partners. Today, this online magazine has a global readership of 400,000 in more than 184 countries, and has been recognized as one of America's fastest-growing private companies.
Steve remains at CDO Magazine as founder and publisher, as well as sitting on the board for UC Health and FC Cincinnati.
We’re going to talk about the real life of an entrepreneur, what it’s like to sell one of your businesses, what’s next for his career, and much, much more.
After 20 years as a financial services professional and completing thousands of financial plans for clients…Ben shares the secrets to building wealth, but more importantly building a fulfilling life.

Brief legal disclaimer: This podcast is intended for informational purposes only. The ideas and opinions on this episode do not constitute tax, legal or investment advice. Listeners should seek the input of their own tax, legal, and financial planning professionals before acting on any of the information provided. Any speaker on this podcast expresses ideas that are subjective to the time of the recording, and are subject to change without notice, and are not always indicative of the opinions of the underwriters of this show. This episode should not replace the diligence of a full financial plan with a financial planning professional that can take your specific situation into account.

What if you could know what was coming down the line? What if you could plan for the next stage of your life? What if you could learn that the wins and losses you were experiencing right now were perfectly normal?
What if life was... well... surprisingly predictable?
That’s what my guest, Bobb Biehl, believes. And he has the resume to prove it.
For nearly 50 years, Bobb has been an executive mentor, helping thousands of leaders clearly define, and reach, their dreams. Since 1976, he has consulted with over 500 clients—Chick Fil A, the European Leadership Forum, and Logos Software just to name a few—and over 5,000 executives. He’s the author of 35 leadership and management tools in the area of personal and organizational development, and has been on the executive staff for World Vision Inc and a board member for Focus on the Family.
Bobb's Book: Decade by Decade (affiliate link)
Bobb has spent his life helping others, and along the way, has gained invaluable insights into the predictability of life. His newest book, Decade by Decade, walks readers through what to expect at each stage of life. As you learn what is “normal,” it brings perspective to your own life, and it builds empathy for what your family members, friends, coworkers, and neighbors are experiencing in their respective phases of life as well.
With a goal to help us confront the unpredictable, so we can enjoy the life we have right now, Bobb’s book is a game changer.
After 20 years as a financial services professional and completing thousands of financial plans for clients…Ben shares the secrets to building wealth, but more importantly building a fulfilling life.

Brief legal disclaimer: This podcast is intended for informational purposes only. The ideas and opinions on this episode do not constitute tax, legal or investment advice. Listeners should seek the input of their own tax, legal, and financial planning professionals before acting on any of the information provided. Any speaker on this podcast expresses ideas that are subjective to the time of the recording, and are subject to change without notice, and are not always indicative of the opinions of the underwriters of this show. This episode should not replace the diligence of a full financial plan with a financial planning professional that can take your specific situation into account.

Ben and Dave look at the past year in podcast guests, television, life highs, lows and what to look foward to in the new year.
After 20 years as a financial services professional and completing thousands of financial plans for clients…Ben shares the secrets to building wealth, but more importantly building a fulfilling life.

Brief legal disclaimer: This podcast is intended for informational purposes only. The ideas and opinions on this episode do not constitute tax, legal or investment advice. Listeners should seek the input of their own tax, legal, and financial planning professionals before acting on any of the information provided. Any speaker on this podcast expresses ideas that are subjective to the time of the recording, and are subject to change without notice, and are not always indicative of the opinions of the underwriters of this show. This episode should not replace the diligence of a full financial plan with a financial planning professional that can take your specific situation into account.