Million Dollar Relationships

Kevin Thompson
  • 5.0 (14)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

Have you ever been introduced to a person that completely changed the course of your business or your life… so much so, that much of what you have today wouldn't be possible, if not for this person? Each week on The Million Dollar Relationships Podcast, your host Kevin Thompson interviews successful entrepreneurs, founders, and CEOs as they share their personal stories and experience around this very question. Your invitation is to have a seat at the head of the table as they honor and introduce you to the most valuable people in their lives and remind us that relationship capital is the most valuable asset we possess. Each week you'll be inspired and motivated to intentionally create more meaningful, rewarding and profitable relationships in your life so that together we can make a far bigger impact in this world.

  1. 13h ago

    Being-Based vs Performance-Based with Dr. Fred Johnson

    What if the leadership style you were taught is the very thing destroying your team? In this episode, Dr. Fred Johnson, founder of InitiativeOne and one of the NFL's most trusted behind-the-scenes culture architects, shares a career built not on credentials but on authenticity. He has transformed locker rooms for six NFL teams including the Seahawks and Packers, coached a world-renowned cancer researcher back from the brink, and helped over 800 organizations find the best version of themselves. But the most powerful thing Dr. Fred has ever done is admit he was a recovering addict. And the man who taught him that vulnerability is a superpower, not a weakness, was John Maxwell, 45 years ago.   [00:04:00] What He Does and Who He Serves Founder of InitiativeOne, a global leadership company in Green Bay, Wisconsin Works across 29 professional fields in seven countries Helps leaders transform to the best version of themselves [00:05:30] How the NFL Relationships Started John Schneider credits Fred with saving his career when he wanted to leave the profession Fred coached him back from deep discouragement without charging a dollar When Schneider became GM of the Seahawks, he asked Fred to build the culture there too Every NFL team Fred has worked with came through that one relationship [00:08:00] What Inspires Him Loves helping people find hope, clear direction, and purpose Believes you are only as strong as the quality of people around you Every large multi-year engagement in 27 years came from an unsolicited referral [00:13:30] The Mentor Who Started It All: Dr. Rosetta Riley Was a pastor in his early 30s when Dr. Rosetta Riley joined his congregation She was the leading female influencer in manufacturing worldwide She saw something in him he couldn't see in himself and mentored him for four and a half years His first clients were McDonnell Douglas, Boeing, McDonald's, and Chase Manhattan Bank [00:17:30] Client Impact: The Cancer Researcher Who Almost Took Everything Down Was called in to coach a world-renowned pancreatic cancer researcher whose ego was destroying the organization The researcher had already fired seven coaches; Fred told him he would never be number eight Six months from shutting down, the organization turned around completely Today that institute leads on at least a dozen major cancer therapies [00:26:00] The First Relationship That Changed Everything: John Maxwell Maxwell is widely regarded as the most influential voice in leadership today Taught Fred that leadership has nothing to do with authority and everything to do with people Taught him you cannot coach people hard if you do not love them hard first Introduced Fred to authentic, vulnerable leadership 45 years before it became a buzzword [00:29:00] The Leader with a Limp In his early 30s Fred was a recovering addict living a double life while teaching leadership When it came out, Maxwell told him: from now on you are a leader with a limp Fred resisted at first; today he says the limp is the best part of him People do not want perfect leaders; they want authentic ones [00:31:30] Being-Based vs Performance-Based Leadership The average American leader has a self-belief level of 2.7 out of 10 Performance-based leaders push people to perform so they can feel good about themselves Being-based leaders attract talent, build momentum, and stop starting over every three years Fred turned over his entire staff every three years until being-based leadership broke that cycle [00:36:30] The Second Relationship: Mr. Gault Mr. Gault was Fred's ninth grade Sunday school teacher Fred was 5'1", 98 pounds, covered in acne, and thought nothing of himself Every week Mr. Gault told him: Freddy, I believe in you and great things are in store Fifty-five years later those words still play in his mind on the hardest days   KEY QUOTES "You can't coach people hard if you don't love them hard first." - Dr. Fred Johnson, quoting John Maxwell "The best part of me is the limp. From that, wisdom and growth accelerated and came out." - Dr. Fred Johnson "No one succeeds by themselves. You are only as strong as the quality of the relationships you build and the people you surround yourself with." - Dr. Fred Johnson CONNECT WITH DR. FRED JOHNSON Website: https://www.initiative-one.com Personal: https://www.drfredjohnson.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drfredjohnson Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fred.johnson.77736310   Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, please LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe! Find me on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeart Radio | Stitcher

    42 min

  2. 5d ago

    The Loneliness Epidemic with Dr. Julie Radlauer

    What if the loneliness you feel isn't a personal problem but a public health emergency nobody is talking about loudly enough? In this episode, Dr. Julie Radlauer, founder of Collectively, TEDx speaker, and bestselling author of CONNECT: 100 Ways to Create Happiness in Your Life, shares how 25 years working at the intersection of behavioral health and public health led her to one unavoidable conclusion: mental health is deeply shaped by social health. What changed everything wasn't a textbook or a theory. It was 50 families from across the country who looked Julie in the eye and said: we're sick of talking about the problem. Fix it. Those conversations didn't just change her research. They changed her entire mission.   [00:04:00] What She Does and Who She Serves Founder and CEO of Collectively, focused on improving the mental health narrative Works with nonprofits, governments, and academia at every level Facilitates a leadership academy for emerging nonprofit leaders [00:05:30] How She Got Here Started as a licensed mental health counselor working with low-income children and families Climbed into administration as director of children's services at a large community mental health center Started a consulting business for flexibility; ended up working even more hours as an entrepreneur [00:07:00] What Inspires Her: Prevention Over Intervention Sees a global mental health crisis and a loneliness epidemic playing out at the same time Focuses on the social aspects of life that people can actually control Wants to give leaders practical tools to prevent mental health struggles before they start [00:08:00] Client Impact: Giving Communities a Framework to Change Conducts comprehensive assessments of organizations, communities, and systems Uses data, surveys, and conversations to identify what is not working Delivers strategic reports showing exactly what needs to change and how [00:10:00] The Research That Changed Everything: 50 Families Got frustrated watching families stabilize and then cycle back into crisis months later Earned a doctorate in public health to understand prevention at the population level Conducted a national study interviewing 50 families of children in public behavioral health systems Families said: we don't want clinical support; we want family, faith, friends, and community [00:12:30] What the Families Taught Her Families challenged her directly: what are you going to do with this information? A group of parents collaborated to co-create curriculum based on what they said was needed Some of those parents now travel the country training behavioral health professionals The families didn't just change her research; they became her mission [00:16:00] The Vision Going Forward Her main client groups are nonprofits, governments, and academia; all are under serious pressure The professionals she works with are exhausted and navigating constant change Focuses on giving leaders tools to support themselves, their teams, and the people they serve [00:17:30] Resources and Final Word Visit collectivelyus.org to learn about the organization and its work Specializes in translating research into practical, accessible tools anyone can use One in three people is currently struggling with mental health; the need has never been greater   KEY QUOTES "What we need is support with our family, our faith, our friends, our community. We need to figure out how to help communities support each other." - The families, as shared by Dr. Julie Radlauer "The people I interviewed in that study changed my life. They were in the most challenging situations, and they said: fix the problem." - Dr. Julie Radlauer "I focus on the social influences of mental health: the social aspects of your life that we actually have some ability to control." - Dr. Julie Radlauer CONNECT WITH DR. JULIE RADLAUER Organization: https://www.collectivelyus.org Personal: https://www.julieradlauer.com Book: https://www.amazon.com/CONNECT-Ways-Create-Happiness-Your/dp/B0CGM51W8Q TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_v9nJlVvKFs LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-radlauer-doerfler-drph-lmhc   Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, please LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe! Find me on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeart Radio | Stitcher

    21 min

  3. Jun 30

    One Introduction, 25 Years of Business with Jason Henneberry

    What if the person who pulled you out of the wrong room turned out to be the right partner for the next 25 years? In this episode, Jason Henneberry, founder of Dependency Design and senior partner in a national Canadian mortgage brokerage with over 600 professionals, shares the story of a career that has spanned market peaks, a near-bankruptcy in 2008, a dramatic rebuild, and a bold acquisition spree that captured 2% of the Canadian mortgage market in 12 months. At the center of it all is a man who walked into a bank branch, pulled a young Jason out of the corporate world, and said: come do mortgages with me. That was 2003. They still work together today.   [00:03:30] What He Does and Who He Serves Senior partner in a national Canadian mortgage brokerage with over 600 agents Runs a coaching platform and SaaS tools for the mortgage industry Tests ideas externally before bringing them in-house; it proves demand and pays for development [00:07:00] What Inspires Him: The Creative Process Loves coming up with new ideas and testing them in the market Protects the core business while running two or three experiments at a time Goes deep on whatever works and drops the rest [00:11:30] Client Impact: Helping Mortgage Brokers See the Full Picture Coaches mortgage professionals on advanced financial strategies most brokers never explore Helps brokers connect mortgages to tax, wealth, and estate planning Watches clients implement and grow without being involved in the transactions [00:13:30] The Relationship That Changed Everything: His First Mentor Was working in a bank branch when a gentleman pulled him out and said: come do mortgages with me That was 2003; they have worked together every year since The mentor now sits as chairman of the board of the company they built together Nearly 25 years later that one moment still underpins everything Jason has built [00:15:00] The 2008 Collapse: Everything Came Apart Ran 300 homeowner seminars and put 20,000 people through the program in 2006 and 2007 Wrote a 12-month marketing check in August 2008; the market collapsed on September 14th Had to sell everything including a house with an ocean view Reset from zero with three young kids and no runway [00:18:00] The Capital Markets Mentor Who Rebuilt Everything Around 2016 met someone deeply experienced in raising capital That relationship led to the formation of Tango and a major capital raise Used the capital to acquire brokerages across the country Captured roughly 2% of the Canadian mortgage market in 12 months [00:20:00] The Leadership Lesson from All Three Mentors All three mentors had different skill sets but shared one principle Point good people in the right direction and get out of their way People with the right skills and direction will always exceed what you could do alone [00:21:30] Dependency Design: The Book and the Mission Wrote a free 15-minute PDF called Dependency Design, available at dependencydesign.com Explores why founders build businesses that feel like freedom but end up like traps Helps leaders see where responsibility has quietly settled and how to rise above it   KEY QUOTES "When you let good people apply their skills with a little bit of direction, they can do things that far exceed anything you could possibly imagine doing for yourself." - Jason Henneberry "No one wakes up and says I want to be a mortgage broker. My first choice didn't work out, so I did this instead." - Jason Henneberry CONNECT WITH JASON HENNEBERRY Website: https://dependencydesign.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonhenneberry Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/henneberryjason   Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, please LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe! Find me on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeart Radio | Stitcher

    24 min

  4. Jun 26

    The Room of 400 That Became One Business with Tyler Ryan

    What if the question nobody in the room could answer became the business you spent a decade building? In this episode, Tyler Ryan, founder of LTV Numbers and former NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory engineer, shares how a physics degree, a baseball bleacher conversation, and a single moment at a business event in 2018 led him to build a software company that helps online entrepreneurs finally see what has been invisible in their own data for years. Tyler didn't set out to build an analytics company. He set out to start something, anything, that would let him use his engineering brain in a business context. What he found was that the people around him needed him more than they knew. And one relationship in particular taught him the single most important lesson he has ever learned about business partnerships.   [00:03:30] What He Does and Who He Serves Founder of LTV Numbers, a software platform for online course creators, coaches, and digital businesses Helps businesses understand customer lifetime value at day 0, 30, 60, 90, and beyond Serves e-commerce, info product, and online businesses that sell to customers more than once [00:07:00] How He Got Here Dad was a career musician; that entrepreneurial mindset shaped Tyler from an early age Majored in physics at UCLA; got his master's in mechanical engineering Landed an internship at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory through a bleacher conversation at a high school baseball game Fell in love with coding through that internship and knew he would use it to build something [00:09:00] The Startup Apartment and the Fork in the Road Left NASA with a college friend to build a company in a Burbank apartment Spent two years going all in with zero revenue; nearly exhausted all savings His co-founder went back to Google; Tyler refused to quit Emptied retirement and investment accounts to join masterminds and get into the right rooms [00:12:00] The Moment That Built a Business Was the only tech person in a room full of fitness coaches and online business owners Started helping people with websites and automations for free without thinking anything of it With less than 30 days of money left, announced he was offering tech consulting to the group Made $3,000 in seven days; that was the proof of concept that changed everything [00:14:30] The Event That Crystallized Everything: Joel Marion Attended Craig Valentine's Perfect Life Retreat in 2018 and watched a talk by Joel Marion of BioTrust Marion asked 400 entrepreneurs how many knew their LTV at day 0, 30, 60, 90, and 180 by product, funnel, and traffic source Four hands went up; their businesses were doing $15M, $25M, $35M, and $50M Marion said: the reason we scaled BioTrust from zero to nine figures in 18 months was because we knew that answer better than anyone [00:17:30] What Inspires Him: Lifting the Fog Was an engineer who knew nothing about business; that insecurity held him back for years Sees brilliant business people constrained not by their ability but by their visibility Loves the moment a business owner finally sees what has been invisible for years Mission: make data-driven decision-making the default for every online business [00:20:00] Client Impact: Joe DiGalbo and Live Anabolic Joe was one of his earliest LTV Numbers clients; they met in the original mastermind Joe's fitness business had been stuck at $5 million a year for three years After deep work on LTV visibility and scaling decisions, the company hit $13 million last year Has been on a weekly call with Joe for years; Joe is one of his favorite people in the world [00:23:30] The First Relationship That Changed Everything: Steven Cornford Steven was the father of a high school baseball teammate; Tyler ran into him in the bleachers a year after graduation One conversation about physics led to an internship at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory that summer That internship introduced him to programming and set the entire trajectory of his career The lesson: say yes early to opportunities you can't fully see; the path reveals itself later [00:25:00] The Relationship That Healed Everything: Joe DiGalbo Got into several business partnerships from a place of desperation and insecurity Partners looked great on paper but produced negative results; the company went backwards Joe was different; not because of his skill set but because of who he is as a person That relationship taught him to over-index on character and values, not skills [00:28:00] The Compound Effect of One Great Relationship Joe introduced him to Robbie, a mentor and advisor who became a close friend Has been on a weekly three-way call with Joe and Robbie for years Robbie's company is finishing an acquisition; a new chapter together may be forming One great person leads to more great people; pour into the relationship without needing to see where it goes [00:37:30] Final Word: Seven Minutes of Terror and Knowing Your Numbers Was in the JPL auditorium when the Curiosity Mars rover landed in the early 2010s Due to signal delay, the auditorium was only finding out what had already happened as they listened When mission control said "touchdown confirmed" the entire auditorium burst into tears The rover landed within a mile of its target after flying through space entirely on its own; that is what knowing your numbers makes possible   KEY QUOTES "Your skill set determines your potential. But if your visibility is terrible, you are going to operate well below that potential." - Tyler Ryan "I could partner up with a person I loved with very little marketing skills, who would run through a wall for me, and they probably would have produced a better outcome." - Tyler Ryan "Once you find that one person where you're like, I don't know how, but I would want to work with this person on anything, just keep pouring into it. It might be three years later, but it changes your life." - Tyler Ryan CONNECT WITH TYLER RYAN Website: https://www.ltvnumbers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerjryan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetylerjryan   Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, please LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe! Find me on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeart Radio | Stitcher

    45 min

  5. Jun 23

    The Detour That Built Five Companies with Justin Gray

    What if the wrong turn that changed your life wasn't even yours to take? In this episode, Justin Gray, serial entrepreneur and Managing Partner at In Revenue Capital, shares how five exits worth more than $500 million in enterprise value all trace back to one unexpected introduction at a Phoenix bar. His girlfriend at the time ran into a founder, turned down a job offer, and said: talk to my boyfriend instead. That detour led Justin to employee number six at a fintech startup, his first liquidity event, and everything that followed. Today he invests in early stage B2B vertical SaaS companies, not just with capital but with his team's hands deep in the work alongside founders every single day.   [00:03:30] What He Does and Who He Serves Serial entrepreneur with five successful exits worth over $500 million in enterprise value Managing partner at In Revenue Capital, an early stage B2B vertical SaaS venture fund Invests at seed and Series A with a hands-on operator-immersive model Two portfolio companies have already exited since the firm launched in 2023 [00:05:00] How He Got Here Wanted to be a writer in college; pivoted to business and marketing when the money wasn't there Left school four credits shy of a degree; graduated into the post-September 11th job market Took a string of marketing jobs he hated; became a self-taught Swiss Army knife of go-to-market Frustrated by the siloed, arts-and-crafts lane that marketing was stuck in [00:08:00] The Startup That Changed Everything Joined a five-person payments startup in 2006 as employee number six Took three to four months to evaluate the decision; it turned out to be the best of his life Grew the company from roughly $1 million to $294 million in annual revenue Cashed out his equity and went on to found four more bootstrapped companies [00:13:30] What Inspires Him: Upleveling People Running a services firm taught him that people are the most important asset in any business Created a phantom equity program at LeadMD; half the enterprise value went to employees at exit Over a third of those employees have since gone on to start their own companies The freedom to build something is what most people need; liquidity is the key that unlocks it [00:17:30] How In Revenue Capital Actually Works Does not maintain a traditional venture fund; operates under a fundless sponsor SPV model Flies into new portfolio companies for a day and a half workshop after closing Builds a three-pillar assessment framework using market data, portfolio benchmarks, and AI One firm partner is currently serving as CRO for a portfolio company full time [00:23:30] What the Engagement Looks Like Day to Day Founders have the team on Slack, email, and phone; communication is always on Helps with hiring, messaging, pricing, customer success, CRM rollouts, and deal cycles If there is one thing that creates outsized value, it is helping founders hire the right people Knowing what great looks like at each stage is context most first-time founders don't have [00:28:30] The Relationship That Changed Everything: The Founder at the Bar His girlfriend ran into a founder at the Coach House bar in Phoenix; a disagreement led to an apology The founder offered her a job; she declined and said: my boyfriend hates his job, talk to him That introduction led to the payments startup, the first liquidity event, and everything after Without that random bar encounter, Justin says he would still be sitting in a cubicle [00:33:30] The Painful Lesson That Came With It The same founder later invested in two of Justin's subsequent companies out of shared camaraderie Their definitions of success were completely different; misalignment became costly and painful Justin had to buy the founder's half back at multiple seven figures he didn't have earmarked for that The lesson: alignment on goals, exit paths, and vision must come before any partnership [00:38:30] Final Word: Unscalable Things Drive Success Hosts the Cheat Code and Friends podcast with relationships-driven conversations Published The GTM Cheat Code in February 2025; a national bestseller about doing unscalable things All of In Revenue Capital's deal flow comes through venture partners who trust the team The model: provide value to partners first and the doors open on their own   KEY QUOTES "The sixth ingredient that builds a great tech ecosystem, more important than all the others, is context. You have to know what great looks like." - Justin Gray "Everyone thinks they need to only do things that scale. But if you create a culture of hyper value, reward first and revenue second, the relationships open every door." - Justin Gray CONNECT WITH JUSTIN GRAY Website: https://www.inrevenue.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/inrevenue   Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, please LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe! Find me on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeart Radio | Stitcher

    41 min

  6. Jun 19

    From Prison Yard to Boardroom with Doug Noll

    What if the most powerful leadership skill in the world could be taught in a maximum security prison? In this episode, Doug Noll, lawyer turned peacemaker, mediator, and author of the upcoming Empathy Leadership, shares how walking away from a $10 million law career led him to one of the most profound discoveries in human communication. For 10 years he trained over 3,000 incarcerated men and women in maximum security prisons to prevent gang riots using a skill that can be learned in minutes and practiced in seconds. That skill is two words: You feel. The story that changed everything wasn't in a boardroom. It was a woman on a hospital bed in the world's largest women's prison, writing letters to a son who hadn't spoken to her in 18 years. What happened next is something Doug will never forget.   [00:05:00] What He Does and Who He Serves Lawyer turned peacemaker with a master's degree in conflict studies Left the practice of law in 2000 after 22 years as a trial lawyer Teaches nervous system leadership to executives, founders, and C-level leaders [00:06:00] The Three Questions Every Brain Asks Every brain in every meeting asks three questions every microsecond Am I safe? Can I trust you? Do I matter to you? If leaders don't get solid yeses, they've already lost the room A leader's first job is to regulate their own nervous system [00:07:30] How a Lawyer Became a Peacemaker Took up martial arts in his mid-30s and earned a second-degree black belt His teacher sent him to learn Tai Chi; it taught him soft is strong and vulnerable is powerful In a courtroom in the late 90s the thought hit him: what am I doing in here? [00:09:00] The River Trip That Changed Everything Spent 10 days alone on a raft on the Salmon River in Idaho thinking Could only count five people in 22 years of law who came out better than they went in Heard a radio announcement for a peacemaking master's degree and enrolled at 48 Gave one week's notice, left $10 million on the table, and walked away [00:11:00] What Inspires Him Wants to teach as many people as possible to stop fights before they spiral The skill: say "you feel" and name what the other person is experiencing When you name someone's emotions, their amygdala calms and they can think again [00:13:30] Client Impact Trained senior analysts at the Congressional Budget Office to de-escalate members of Congress Mediated a three-day dispute at a billion-dollar company where stakeholders could barely be in the same room Hardened business people regularly break into tears from the release of tension they've been carrying [00:15:00] The Relationship That Changed Everything: Laurel Klaffer and Sarah In 2009 a woman serving life without parole wrote letters from a hospital bed One letter landed with Doug's colleague Laurel Klaffer; she called Doug and read it to him Eight months later they were standing in front of 15 women in California's largest women's prison [00:16:30] Sarah's Letter: The Moment That Defined the Mission Sarah had been in prison 18 years for a fatal DUI that killed a family of four She gave up her three-year-old son when she entered prison; he never visited or wrote back Using what she learned, she wrote naming how he must feel For the first time in 18 years he wrote back: Mom, I love you; I'm bringing my girlfriend to visit [00:18:00] Prison of Peace: A Program That Went Global Sarah's story confirmed the work was about restoring humanity, not just peacemaking The program expanded to Corcoran State Prison, one of California's two supermaxes Prison of Peace is now operating in prisons across the world [00:22:00] Mike's Story: A Father Reconnected from Behind Bars Mike, a gang member at Corcoran, had a daughter who ran from him during visits He started naming her emotions on their weekly calls; within weeks she was a changed girl She began requesting her own weekly call just to be listened to On the next visit she ran and jumped into his arms; the guards looked the other way [00:27:30] Final Word: Two Words That Change Everything Conflict is inevitable; the painful emotions around it are not Every fight is a cry: please listen to me Say "you feel" and the argument dissolves; the problem can finally be solved   KEY QUOTES "Every fight, every argument is nothing more than a cry: please listen to me." - Doug Noll "When you name what someone feels, you choose humanity over ideology. You choose connection over being right." - Doug Noll "If the most violent men I've ever worked with could learn how to listen people into existence, imagine what it could do for everybody listening to this show." - Doug Noll CONNECT WITH DOUG NOLL Website: https://www.dougnoll.com Substack: https://www.dougnoll.substack.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dougnoll   Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, please LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe! Find me on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeart Radio | Stitcher

    30 min

  7. Jun 16

    The 30,000 Feet Conversation with Carrie Waible

    What if the most important business introduction of your life happened in a middle seat at 30,000 feet? In this episode, Carrie Waible, founder of CW and Co., shares a career that reads like a map of New York City's most iconic moments. Star-studded galas, Nobu's 20th anniversary, Donna Summer and John Legend at the Beacon Theater, Robert De Niro's charity events, and a 20-year client relationship that started with a phone call she almost said no to. None of it would have happened without a stranger on a plane named Stan Heath, a first boss named Tony who saw something in her before she did, and a client named Thomas who told a 26-year-old she should start her own company. She did. Twenty years later she is still at it and still evolving.   [00:04:00] What She Does and Who She Serves Runs CW and Co., a full service marketing and production company Started in 2004 producing nonprofit galas and celebrity events in New York Has worked with some clients for 10 to 20 years [00:05:00] From Events to Full Service Marketing Was churning out 12 major events a year with a team burning out A dear team member said she didn't want this to be her life Started shifting toward full service marketing and content production [00:07:30] The Client Who Gave Her the Best Advice An old client named Charlie took her to lunch when she first started out He told her: keep putting yourself in front of people and do a good job He also said at 26: lean into your PR talents; that's what will carry you She didn't fully hear it until years later when the pivot became necessary [00:10:30] What Inspires Her: People Gets her energy entirely from people; not one cup of coffee a day Feels most present when directing videos, producing events, or in the field If she is connecting with people and doing meaningful work, she feels amazing [00:11:30] Client Impact: Nobu and a Charter School Network Helped Nobu transition from a 190-seat Tribeca restaurant to a global brand without losing its heart Helped nonprofits raise what adds up to billions of dollars over the years Spoke at a charter school career day; a student asked what inspires her; she said: you do [00:19:00] The Relationship That Started Everything: Stan Heath Was flying to New York to visit friends after graduating college Got into conversation with a stranger named Stan Heath in the middle seat He said PR was her fit; his ex-business partner Tony was hiring Stan faxed her resume; she had a meeting that same weekend [00:21:30] Tony: The First Boss Who Changed Her Life Tony offered her the job after watching her work a fashion industry event He needed to see how she moved before making the offer New York clicked immediately; she has never left That first job eventually led her back to PR and to starting her own company [00:23:00] Thomas: The Client Who Told Her to Start Her Own Business A former client told her: anywhere you go, people will just ask for Carrie Waible anyway Within weeks he offered her a live event six weeks from his nonprofit's biggest fundraiser She started the company at 26 to take on that first event That night on the event floor confirmed she had found where she belonged [00:25:30] Cathy: The Referral That Led to Robert De Niro A past client named Cathy called to pass on a piece of business she couldn't take She was stern: my reputation is on the line too; I need to know you're ready The event was a star-studded benefit at the Beacon Theater with Donna Summer and John Legend The after party was at Nobu; that relationship kept growing for five to six years [00:28:30] Raven: The 20-Year Client Relationship Her first VP at her first New York job called when Carrie started her agency Asked her to do PR for the New York Boat Show; Carrie almost said no That one job opened the door to recreational boating, now one of her biggest business streams The National Marine Manufacturers Association has been a client for 20 years [00:31:30] Venice 2021: The Trip That Cracked Everything Open Was invited to manage VIPs and heads of state at a humanitarian event in Venice Went alone with only a local assistant; no team, no safety net Realized she didn't need a multimillion-dollar agency; she needed to love the work every day From that moment she began more fully embodying her gifts and what she really wanted [00:34:30] Final Word: Just Connect People find relationship building daunting; just extend a smile, a word, a handshake Trust your gut about who feels right; the spidey sense gets sharper over time Those small connections build into things you could never have imagined   KEY QUOTES "Keep putting yourself in front of people and do a good job, because no one ever wants to change who they're working with if they don't have to." - Charlie, as shared by Carrie Waible "I get my energy from people. Not one cup of coffee." - Carrie Waible "You have nothing to lose. Those things build and build into something that you just could never imagine." - Carrie Waible CONNECT WITH CARRIE WAIBLE Website: https://www.cwandco.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carrie-waible-658b972   Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, please LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe! Find me on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeart Radio | Stitcher

    39 min

  8. Jun 12

    Every Client Came Through a Relationship with Joel Strauss

    What if you never made a cold call, never sent a cold email, and still built a global agency with 140 clients across four continents? In this episode, Joel Strauss, founder of Strauss Communications, shares how being fired at the start of Covid with zero clients led to building a boutique PR agency that has now worked with over 140 companies across four continents. Almost every single one came through a relationship. Joel's story has three chapters: starting the business, scaling it, and saving it. Each one hinged on a personal relationship at exactly the right moment. Including the meeting in Madrid that pulled his agency back from the brink after October 7th changed everything overnight.   [00:03:30] What He Does and Who He Serves Runs Strauss Communications, a boutique PR agency for tech startups Services cover organic media coverage, content, and social media 95% of clients are tech companies; most are referred through relationships [00:04:30] How He Got Into PR Idealized politics; left after nearly two years deeply unhappy Quit, traveled South America, then went on a boys' trip to Montreal Met his brother's former roommate who connected him to a PR firm in Tel Aviv He packed up everything in New York and moved within two weeks [00:06:00] The Introduction That Started Everything His brother's former roommate saw a fit between his background and the agency The firm had political and tech clients; Joel had just enough experience to be relevant That one connection opened the door to a new industry and a new country Every step of his career since traces back to that trip to Montreal [00:07:00] What Inspires Him Gets a bird's eye view of tech across fintechs, AI, semiconductors, and more Works directly with founders, CMOs, and CEOs of innovative companies Has helped companies go from unknown to dominant positions in their markets [00:08:30] Client Impact A niche plywood replacement client started getting people knocking on their door from PR alone Several clients successfully raised investment rounds after investors cited media coverage All contracts are month to month; some clients have stayed for over three years Retaining clients through results rather than contracts is the proof of delivery [00:11:30] Starting the Business: The Boss Who Fired Him Was called into a hearing to be fired at the start of Covid Kept his cool and told his boss he understood and didn't take it personally That same boss became a mentor and referred several of his first clients Joel's wife co-founded the business with him; their relationship has been foundational [00:13:00] Scaling the Business: A Former Colleague A former colleague he stayed close with over the years eventually joined his team That person brought in key client relationships that led to major results The companies he helped raise in the US all came through this one relationship Maintaining cordial connections over time is what made it possible [00:13:30] Saving the Business: The Madrid Meeting After October 7th, Israeli tech clients sent staff into reserve duty overnight Lost half the client base almost overnight A founder from South America emailed out of nowhere; they met in Madrid by chance That relationship became a client and turned the company around [00:17:00] Vision Going Forward Wants to scale without sacrificing service quality Growing through relationships rather than cold outreach remains the core model Using AI to handle busy work so the team has more time with clients Boutique, high-quality, and relationship-driven is the identity they will not trade away [00:19:30] What Makes Them Different Most agencies charge $15,000 to $25,000 a month and put junior staff on accounts At Strauss Communications, senior people handle everything Contracts are month to month; they have to earn it every single time That pressure is what keeps the work sharp and the results consistent [00:20:00] Why He Started His Own Agency Was hired in-house at a tech company and told to bring in expensive PR firms It was him landing TechCrunch and Reuters; the firms were getting paid for his work Saw the gap and built an agency that actually delivered at the senior level [00:23:30] Thinking Broader Than Coverage Most agencies just pitch placements; Strauss Communications thinks strategically Also offers white papers and content with both PR and marketing value Measurable deliverables make it easier for marketing teams to justify the spend A webinar built from one piece of content recently generated 150 sign-ups [00:25:00] Final Word: Relationships Are a Cultural Advantage Noticed that relationship building is more open in Israel and Spain than in the US In the US, getting to the CEO requires going through several gatekeepers first Being of service and being known for it builds a reputation that compounds over time   KEY QUOTES "Every step of my story is intimately intertwined with personal relationships." - Joel Strauss "A lot of good and innovation can happen when people are more open to giving of themselves and giving their time." - Joel Strauss CONNECT WITH JOEL STRAUSS Website: https://www.strausscomms.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelstrauss1   Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, please LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe! Find me on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeart Radio | Stitcher

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About

Have you ever been introduced to a person that completely changed the course of your business or your life… so much so, that much of what you have today wouldn't be possible, if not for this person? Each week on The Million Dollar Relationships Podcast, your host Kevin Thompson interviews successful entrepreneurs, founders, and CEOs as they share their personal stories and experience around this very question. Your invitation is to have a seat at the head of the table as they honor and introduce you to the most valuable people in their lives and remind us that relationship capital is the most valuable asset we possess. Each week you'll be inspired and motivated to intentionally create more meaningful, rewarding and profitable relationships in your life so that together we can make a far bigger impact in this world.

Information

  • Creator
    Kevin Thompson
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    401
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2022 - All Rights Reserved
  • Show Website
    Million Dollar Relationships