Million Dollar Relationships

Kevin Thompson
  • 5.0 (13)
  • 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. 1D AGO

    What the Forest Taught Me About Business with Chris Gilmour

    What if the best business mentor you never had wasn't a person at all? In this episode, Chris Gilmour, educator, wilderness guide, course creator, and resilience consultant, shares how a fascination with wildlife tracking in his early twenties led him to one of the most unique and meaningful careers imaginable. Over two decades, Chris has taught thousands of people how to grow food, navigate the wild, and build resilience, not as a doomsday prepper, but as a practical, grounded human being who understands that nature has been solving complex problems long before we arrived. His work sits at the intersection of ecology, emergency preparedness, and ancestral wisdom, and it all traces back to one man: John Young, who taught Chris to track deer and inadvertently taught him how to see the patterns that run through everything.   [00:03:40] What He Does and Who He Serves Educator, wilderness guide, and resilience consultant Helps individuals and organizations reconnect with nature and build resilience Works with businesses, municipalities, and hospitals on preparedness and resilience audits [00:04:40] Where It All Started Got into wilderness guiding in his early twenties Became obsessed with reading wildlife tracks, weather patterns, and birdsong Those skills taught him pattern recognition and how to connect the dots in complex systems [00:06:00] Reconnecting People with the Land Humans have lost a deep connection to the land that shaped us for thousands of years Ancestral skills still train our brains and bodies in ways that matter today Time in nature calms the nervous system and restores balance amid constant tech and noise [00:07:00] Holistic Preparedness Not doomsday prepping; a practical, non-fear-based approach to an uncertain world Helps individuals, communities, and organizations adapt to extreme weather, pandemics, and financial disruption Bridges emergency management expertise with ecology for a uniquely holistic angle [00:08:20] Resilient Design Lives on a small homestead, growing food and balancing land-based living with consulting work Applies sustainable agricultural thinking to how businesses and individuals hold up under pressure What makes a food system locally resilient also makes a business resilient to disruption [00:09:40] What Inspires Him: Million Dollar Relationships Sitting alone in a hotel restaurant at 10pm on a work trip, had a profound epiphany Realized no amount of money would make him stop doing this work Sent Kevin an email that same night after thinking about what a million dollar relationship really means Confirmed he is living his life's purpose and would not trade it [00:14:40] How He Helps People Who Feel Overwhelmed Most people either ignore the anxiety or spiral into extreme prepper mode; neither works Humans are born survivors; reframing that story is the first step Audits organizations, maps every vulnerability, then finds the low-hanging fruit Small proactive steps create immediate relief; you sleep better when you've done something [00:19:20] Client Impact: The Young Man Who Came Full Circle Worked with at-risk youth in his early guiding days, taking young offenders into the wilderness One young man with a severe alcohol problem resurfaced years later in a very dark place Chris used his network to land him a summer job with a park warden in remote backcountry He is now seven years sober, a father, and works with at-risk youth through nature connection [00:24:00] The Relationship That Changed Everything: John Young A friend introduced Chris to John Young in his early twenties John is an author, TED speaker, and founder of schools focused on land connection Chris went to learn tracking but John was really teaching pattern recognition and systems thinking That foundation led Chris to study emergency management and eventually consult with hospitals and municipalities [00:27:40] What John Planted That Grew into Everything John introduced the idea that culture can be designed intentionally That sparked Chris's obsession with patterns across healthy cultures, communities, and ecosystems The pattern thinking John taught is the foundation for every client conversation Chris has today [00:31:20] What Being a Tracker Really Means Tracking started as reading animal prints; it became something far bigger Now it means tracking ripples across time, culture, business, and human relationships The mission is applying ancient pattern wisdom to the most complex modern challenges Healthy humans, ecosystems, and businesses all share the same resilience patterns   KEY QUOTES "I realized that if I had millions of dollars in the bank, I would still be sitting here working on my notes to go serve this community. That relationship is literally worth more than a million dollars to me." — Chris Gilmour "John taught me to track deer. That led me down this deep rabbit hole that basically led to how I do my work today." — Chris Gilmour "Healthy humans are more resilient. Healthy ecosystems are more resilient. Healthy businesses are more resilient. How do we put those all together? That's my sacred question." — Chris Gilmour CONNECT WITH CHRIS GILMOUR 🌐 Website: https://www.chrisoutdoors.ca 🌲 Consulting: https://www.chrisoutdoors.ca/consulting 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisoutdoors   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

    37 min

  2. 5D AGO

    Built Behind a Hidden Door with Jeremy Barker

    What if everything you were meant to build was already waiting on the other side of a door you almost never opened? In this episode, Jeremy Barker, founder and CEO of Murphy Door, shares the origin story behind one of the most inventive brands in home design. Murphy Door now controls roughly 92% of global search for hidden doors, ships a door every six minutes, and has served everyone from homeowners building Barbie rooms to the creators of the John Wick experience in Las Vegas. Jeremy didn't start as a businessperson. He was a full-time firefighter paramedic who wanted to build a hidden theater room for his daughters on a tight budget. That creative problem turned into a multi-million dollar company, a patented ladder brand, a real estate portfolio, and a peer review software platform. At the center of all of it is a man who almost missed everything because he used to burn the bridges other people were trying to build for him.   [00:03:40] What He Does Founder and CEO of Murphy Door, a Utah-based manufacturer of hidden-door furniture and experiential design Also created Murphy Ladder, a patented collapsible ladder, and Purebrand, a peer-powered customer review platform Holds a growing portfolio of commercial real estate and hotels Ships a door every six minutes; Murphy Door owns roughly 92% of global search for hidden doors [00:04:20] How Murphy Door Started Was a full-time firefighter paramedic trying to build a small hidden theater room for his daughters Couldn't find anyone making the door hardware he needed, so he designed his own hinges Sold the hinges as a side business while still fighting fires; grew to $5 million in revenue by 2016 His wife pointed out he was working 520 hours a month; he left full-time firefighting to focus solely on the business [00:08:00] What Inspires Him Loves helping businesses create immersive experiences, not just products Built the hidden door systems for the John Wick experience in Las Vegas for Lionsgate Gets to work with everyone from 8-year-olds wanting a Barbie room to 70-year-olds building speakeasies and humidors Feels like Forrest Gump every day: sitting across from people he has admired for years and wondering how he got there [00:12:20] The Relationship That Changed Everything: John Porter John Porter was the state president of his local LDS congregation who took a liking to Jeremy despite Jeremy not being a churchgoer He saw something in Jeremy that Jeremy couldn't see in himself and provided the financial backing to help him get there Jeremy openly admits he used to burn bridges, take personal credit for everything, and dismiss the role others played in his success Two bankruptcies and a period of serious depression were what finally shifted his perspective on relationships [00:15:00] How He Pays It Forward Looks for opportunities every day to give, ideally in ways that help the most people with the same amount of effort Helped bring PulsePoint software to his county in Utah, which notifies all first responders of nearby cardiac arrests so anyone can run and help Also supports drug rehabilitation efforts and various community programs Believes giving money is the lazy version of giving; giving time is the real currency [00:21:00] The Vision: Murphy Door as a Manufacturing Laboratory Sees Murphy Door not as a door company but as a laboratory for the future of domestic manufacturing and mass customization Because they source domestic commodities and manufacture locally, their inventory tail is essentially zero This allows full customization: customers choose wood type, handle, size, swing, and finish with delivery in around 30 days Believes tariffs are important because they push companies to manufacture closer to home, reducing logistics waste and supply chain vulnerability [00:26:00] Taking Care of People First Murphy Door employees receive 100% health, dental, and vision coverage, 4% 401k match, tuition reimbursement, maternity leave, and five weeks off Operates on an inverted pyramid: employees come first, customers come second Learned the hard way that happy employees produce happy customers; he was doing it backwards for years Murphy Door holds a 4.9 Google rating across hundreds of reviews [00:33:40] What Every One-Star Review Is Really Worth Doesn't believe in one-star or five-star reviews as true measures of quality Sees every one-star as a 360-degree review opportunity to understand the full experience that led someone there Prefers customers call him directly before leaving a bad review; he will take the call and fix it Created Purebrand specifically to help businesses get more honest, actionable, and complete customer feedback [00:36:20] Founder Fallout: The Book Published a book called Founder Fallout covering 100 questions to ask before taking on a business partner or splitting equity Designed for entrepreneurs who have a great idea and a good friend but haven't asked the hard questions yet Includes a workbook for sitting down with a current or future partner Available on Amazon; his uncle said he should have read it before getting married   KEY QUOTES "Murphy Door owns about 92% of the world's search of hidden doors right now. We became the category, which you always dream of." — Jeremy Barker "As much as you hunt for growth in work, you should hunt just as much for the opportunity to give." — Jeremy Barker "I put my employees first and my customers second. It's really hard to have super happy customers if you have super unhappy employees." — Jeremy Barker CONNECT WITH JEREMY BARKER 🌐 Website: https://www.murphydoor.com 🌐 Personal: https://www.jeremybarker.com 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejeremybarker   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

  3. APR 28

    Half a Billion Reasons to Believe with Michael Thomas

    What if the people nobody believed in turned out to be the ones worth believing in most? In this episode, Michael Thomas, CEO of ConnectIDD and former 14-year CEO of My Possibilities, shares how nearly 20 years in the disability space has brought him to one clear conviction: we are at a tipping point. Adults with disabilities are running Ironmans, graduating from purpose-built college campuses, and landing jobs at companies that actively seek them out. The systems are finally starting to catch up. Michael built a 16-acre, 72,000 square foot campus for higher learning in North Texas from the ground up, led a $30 million capital campaign to make it happen, and is now channeling everything he learned into ConnectIDD, a disability empowerment agency helping organizations across the country do the same. At the center of all of it are two mentors who shaped not just his career, but the kind of leader he became.   [00:03:40] What He Does and Who He Serves Runs ConnectIDD, a disability empowerment agency that plugs into organizations looking to grow their impact Works with nonprofits, foundations, and businesses serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities Leads complex projects like capital campaigns, program launches, and organizational growth strategies Every engagement is individualized; there is no one-size-fits-all approach [00:06:40] How He Got Here Grew up around disability; his sister, mother, grandmother, and uncle all share a genetic condition Spent time as a kid at Scottish Rite Hospital in Dallas, a specialized children's hospital Started college in music therapy, switched to philosophy when the program was cut, and found his way to the Muscular Dystrophy Association right out of college A fraternity mentor pointed out that the volunteer work he loved, Special Olympics and fundraising events, was actually a career [00:09:40] What Inspires Him: Rooting for the Underdog His father instilled a lifelong habit of rooting for the underdog in any situation People with disabilities are the quintessential underdogs; systems were never designed to elevate them A father in Florida recently led 16 adults with autism and Down Syndrome to complete an Ironman The fuel in the tank is watching expectations get shattered and systems finally start to change [00:13:00] Client Impact: The Garden Foundation in Las Vegas Engaged with the Garden Foundation, led by an exceptional founder who built it for her sister and others like her They had a waiting list for services but were limited by space; helped them identify and acquire a property in Las Vegas The property includes a house and a renovated 16,000 square foot office space with a view over the city The ribbon cutting is in 10 days; they are now serving more people with plans to grow further [00:15:20] We Are at the Disability Tipping Point Twenty years ago nobody talked about inclusive housing or actively hiring people with autism Today companies recognize the talent and loyalty of employees with disabilities Educational campuses, workforce development programs, and inclusive residential communities are now being built across the country His hope: by the time he retires, inclusion is simply the norm and not the exception [00:17:20] The First Relationship That Changed Everything: Linda Smith Linda Smith spent 40 years as chief development officer of Opportunity Village in Las Vegas, named the Mother Teresa of the Desert by the governor of Nevada Her son was born with Down Syndrome and was denied US citizenship not because of immigration but because of his disability She raised more than half a billion dollars for people with disabilities over her career She took Michael under her wing, showed him what intentional relationship building looks like, and has been in his corner for 16 to 17 years since [00:20:20] The Second Relationship: Larry Solomon Larry Solomon was vice president of Human Resources at Dr. Pepper and husband of the founder of My Possibilities Michael joined the organization at 26 and needed refining; Larry was the professional coach who helped him get there The core lesson Larry instilled: take care of your people because they take care of people He was a behind-the-scenes mentor whose influence shows up in everything Michael does today [00:22:40] The Impact: A 16-Acre Campus for Higher Learning Young adults with disabilities were being parked in day programs watching Disney movies; they wanted college and nobody was building it Michael led the vision to build a university-style campus for adults with disabilities in North Texas Linda came out to speak to the board; Larry's coaching drove the professional execution; the team delivered The campus now sits on 16 acres with 72,000 square feet of educational space, offering college-style programs tailored to each person's goals [00:28:40] Go Find Real Community The most important thing missing right now is the ability to truly connect and find community Humans are communal by nature; as we have become less connected, stress, depression, anxiety, and suicide have all risen Real community means being able to say "I'm not well" to people who genuinely care about you His 11-year-old twin sons are already better at communicating emotion than most adults; the younger generation may be the teachers here   KEY QUOTES "I think we're at the disability tipping point. Twenty years ago, nobody talked about inclusive housing communities for people with disabilities." — Michael Thomas "We have to take care of our people because they take care of people. It doesn't make any sense not to lean into the support of your team." — Michael Thomas "A lot of therapy wouldn't be needed if we still had community. We would just go talk with people that care about us." — Michael Thomas CONNECT WITH MICHAEL THOMAS 🌐 Website: https://www.connectidd.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connectidd   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

    35 min

  4. APR 24

    Built in the Dark with Aaron Hale

    What if the worst thing that ever happened to you turned out to be the very thing that made you unstoppable? In this episode, Aaron Hale, retired Army Staff Sergeant, EOD Team Leader, speaker, podcaster, real estate investor, and small business owner, shares one of the most extraordinary stories of resilience you will ever hear. In 2011, an IED blast in Afghanistan took his eyes. Four years later, bacterial meningitis took what was left of his hearing. He is now both blind and deaf, and he just ran 205 miles across Kenya and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, believed to be the first blind-deaf person to ever accomplish that feat. Aaron doesn't call himself a victim. He calls his injuries divine direction. And through his podcast, speaking, and the way he shows up every single day, he is busy proving that the story of your struggle can become the blueprint for someone else's survival.   [00:04:20] Just Back from Africa: The Seed to Summit Trek Ran 205 miles from Mombasa, Kenya to the base of Mount Kilimanjaro over nine days Climbed the tallest peak in Africa, completing a full seed to summit expedition Believes he is the first blind-deaf person to ever accomplish this Fulfilled a plan made 11 years earlier, interrupted by the meningitis that stole his hearing [00:06:20] What He Does Now Speaker, podcaster, real estate investor, and co-owner of Extra Ordinary Delights, an artisan chocolate company Calls himself an excuse killer; uses adversity as fuel, not an anchor Hosts the Point of Impact podcast to show people how to become their best selves [00:09:00] Blind, Deaf, and Still Showing Up Lost his eyes in an IED blast in 2011 while serving as an Army EOD technician Bacterial meningitis in 2015 took the rest of his hearing and destroyed his inner ear balance Uses a cochlear implant connected directly to his auditory nerve to communicate [00:12:20] How He Got Here: From Navy Chef to Army Bomb Technician Got asked to leave college, joined the Navy, and became a chef to a three-star admiral in Italy Left cooking, joined the Army, and became an EOD bomb technician Was on his third deployment when the IED blast happened, just days after seeing his firstborn son turn one [00:14:40] The Relationship That Changed Everything: Kyle Kyle, a fellow EOD team leader, was injured two weeks before Aaron and was already at Walter Reed when Aaron arrived He wheeled into Aaron's room, made him feel the beard he had grown out of defiance, and cracked jokes about his condition He was at full spirit just two weeks after losing a leg That moment showed Aaron he had no excuse to quit; warriors up and down those halls were all still fighting [00:19:20] What Inspires Him: The Gift of a Story In the military, relationships mean survival; you trust the people on your left and right with your life After his injury, he felt like he lost that brotherhood, but it transformed into something new He was given the gift of a story and the ability to flick the light switch on for others Getting to help someone see their situation differently is both altruistic and deeply personally rewarding [00:22:40] The Relationships That Opened the World: Eric Weihenmayer and Lonnie Bedwell Began searching online for blind people living actively: blind plus outdoors, blind plus fitness, blind plus anything Found Eric Weihenmayer, the first blind person to climb all seven summits; went climbing with him in the Peruvian Andes at 19,000 feet Found Lonnie Bedwell, the first blind person to kayak the entire Grand Canyon solo; went kayaking with him too These men took his thinking from a peephole to a bay window; he had been thinking far too small [00:26:00] What That Perspective Unlocked Registered for four marathons before ever running longer than a 10K Three of those qualified him for the Boston Marathon, which he ran in 2015 In 2023 became the first blind-deaf person to finish Badwater 135, the toughest foot race on Earth [00:29:40] The Impact He Got to Make: Kilimanjaro with 25 Friends When he arrived at Kilimanjaro, 25 friends, family, and associates had come to be part of the climb Many had never done anything like it; his story inspired them to say yes A close friend from his military real estate mastermind, someone he had spoken with weekly for years, climbed it right alongside him [00:31:00] Aaron's Marathon Training Day Reached out to Team Red, White and Blue for help training for his first marathon They organized a weekly Sunday run called Aaron's Marathon Training Day, open to anyone at any pace Week after week more people showed up; it outgrew him and became a full community movement He got to be the catalyst; it kept snowballing long after it needed him to carry it   KEY QUOTES "The difference between a rut and a grave is how long you lay there. I did not want to get stuck on the couch." — Aaron Hale "Someday the story of your struggle may be the blueprint for somebody else's survival." — Aaron Hale "We can't control the blast, but we can control the next step. And almost always, we can't accomplish the impossible without a team." — Aaron Hale CONNECT WITH AARON HALE 🎙️ Podcast: https://www.pointofimpactpod.com 🌐 Website: https://www.outtasightventures.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-hale-1861477 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aclayhale   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

    37 min

  5. APR 21

    The Partnership That Changed Everything with Latif Hamilton

    What if the business relationship that challenged you the most was also the one that taught you the most? In this episode, Latif Hamilton, CEO of SpiritHoods and founder of The Growth Operative, shares the story behind one of the most creative and resilient brands in fashion e-commerce. Over 16 years, SpiritHoods has generated more than $55 million in revenue, won multiple PETA Libby Awards, and built a cult following that includes artists like Doja Cat and Justin Bieber, all while donating 10% of net profits to animal conservation. This episode isn't just about building a brand. It's about what Latif learned when a complementary business partnership forced him to grow in directions he never would have chosen on his own. And it's about the hard-won lessons around inventory, cash flow, transparency, and the kind of character-driven business that earns customers for life.   [00:04:20] What He Does and Who He Serves CEO of SpiritHoods, a faux fur animal-inspired apparel brand, and founder of The Growth Operative consultancy The Growth Operative focuses on e-commerce companies in the $1 to $10 million revenue range Offers a mix of doing the work and educating clients; the goal is never to leave clients dependent Covers SEO, creative marketing, email infrastructure, product development, and design [00:06:40] Why He Fired His Agencies Fired his ad, SEO, and email marketing agencies after repeatedly damaging experiences with all three The problem was not always the agencies; it was going into those relationships without foundational knowledge Ad agencies are incentivized to run more ads, not make them efficient Understanding your own business fundamentals is what gives you real financial freedom [00:11:00] What Inspires Him Loves blowing people's minds with nuances they didn't know existed in their own business SpiritHoods ranks top three for "faux fur coat," a keyword with hundreds of thousands of monthly searches Transparency matters: he is not a gatekeeper and shares everything that benefits the client Character and morality are the lens he uses when choosing who to work with [00:13:40] How SpiritHoods Started Left a remodeling business after the 2008 crash and started researching product-based opportunities A friend wore a faux fur hat made for Burning Man out to dinner and had the most incredible night of his life The three founders wrote the business plan that same night, including the 10% giveback to endangered animals Was in Guatemala working with sea turtles when the call came: get home, there's a trade show in three weeks [00:17:40] The Trade Show That Launched Everything Flew back early and walked into a buttoned-up Vegas fashion trade show as a group of playful young hooligans Their booth was full of stuffed animals and energy while everyone else was stiff and serious Did $40,000 at that first show with only samples and no production locked in Energy and group comradery drew people in; the fun stood out in a room full of pretension [00:19:20] Navigating Tariffs, Fashion's Hard Season, and the Pivot Products are made in Asia and cannot realistically be manufactured elsewhere; tariffs are hitting hard Saw the writing on the wall two years ago and began deliberately downsizing SpiritHoods to stay nimble Major fashion conglomerates have filed for bankruptcy; the sector is under serious pressure Pivoted to consulting full-time, applying 16 years of hard-earned e-commerce knowledge to help other brands [00:22:40] The Content Rule: Entertain or Educate, Nothing Else Every piece of content must sit on a pillar of entertainment or education If you are only reaching out to sell, you are not providing value and you will lose people Giving 150% value, paid or not, is how cult-like brand loyalty is built SpiritHoods items retailed for $120 and later resold on eBay for $2,000; that is what real desirability creates [00:24:40] The Black Friday Story: Transparency That Built a Tribe Realized mid-sale that body suits were discounted too low after customers had already purchased at a higher price Standard practice would be to quietly deepen the discount without telling anyone; they chose not to Manually refunded every previous buyer the difference, which was harder and more costly to do The result was a flood of loyalty emails from customers saying: this is exactly why we love SpiritHoods [00:30:40] The Relationship That Changed Everything: His Former Business Partner Met his ex-partner through a domestic faux fur supply relationship that grew into a full business partnership His partner ran a $50 million B2B company; finance-driven, analytical, and strong-willed They were opposing ends of the entrepreneurial spectrum, which caused friction and created enormous learning They parted amicably, and the lessons in finance, international operations, and inventory thinking shaped everything after [00:33:20] What the Dichotomy Taught Him His partner's rigid, finite thinking protected the bottom line in ways creative thinking alone never could Latif built the brand; his partner built the business infrastructure Artists like Doja Cat and Justin Bieber found and bought SpiritHoods without ever being approached The tension between their styles was uncomfortable in the moment and invaluable in hindsight [00:35:40] The Real Impact: Inventory Turnover and Cash Flow Discipline After the split, Latif blended his partner's financial lens with his own SEO knowledge to build a smarter product system Too much inventory ties up cash; that is one of the top reasons businesses fail As a creative and founder, cutting a product you love is hard; doing it anyway is essential You have to look at your inventory with a critical eye, not an emotional one [00:39:00] What the First Big Knockoff Taught Him Did $1 million in year one and $4 million in year two on the back of celebrity buzz and pop culture momentum Then got knocked off; sales dropped and they had no playbook for what came next That moment forced them to actually become entrepreneurs; the real learning began when the easy ride stopped Challenges are not obstacles to success; they are the education required for it [00:41:40] Scrutiny Is a Year-Round Practice Financial discipline, like meditation, must be built before you need it When things are going well, the temptation to relax on inventory and cash flow is exactly when you can't afford to Keep the same critical eye in a strong year as you do in a hard one How you narrate what you're experiencing is one of the most powerful variables in your outcome   KEY QUOTES "Nobody understands your business better than you do. When you outsource without understanding the fundamentals, you're losing." — Latif Hamilton "Businesses don't go out of business because they're bad businesses. A lot of times they go out of business because they don't have enough cash flow, and that money is tied up in inventory." — Latif Hamilton "Short discomfort, long-term growth. Do the right thing even when it costs you, and it pays dividends." — Latif Hamilton CONNECT WITH LATIF HAMILTON 🌐 Website: https://www.thegrowthoperative.com 👕 SpiritHoods: https://www.spirithoods.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/latifhamilton 📝 Substack: https://substack.com/@latifhamilton   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

    47 min

  6. APR 17

    Stop Guessing and Start Knowing with Daniel Burrus

    What if uncertainty isn't the problem — it's that you haven't learned to tell the difference between what can change and what can't change? In this episode, Daniel Burrus, one of the world's leading futurists and a New York Times bestselling author of seven books, shares the framework he has used for four decades to predict technological change with remarkable accuracy. From describing Netflix in 1993 to advising the Department of Defense and Fortune 500 companies on AI strategy, Daniel has built a reputation as someone who doesn't just see what's coming; he teaches others how to see it too. As CEO of Burrus Research and creator of the Anticipatory Organization model, Daniel's work has one core goal: help people find certainty in an uncertain world so they can make bold moves, presolve problems, and shape their own destiny. And in an age where AI is reshaping every industry, that ability has never been more valuable.   [00:04:40] What He Does and Who He Serves Runs Burrus Research, a firm monitoring global innovations across AI, robotics, genetics, fiber optics, and more Has been doing this work for four decades, starting out as a biology and physics teacher Serves Fortune 500 companies, the Department of Defense, and entrepreneurs worldwide Works as a translator: takes complex technology trends and makes them actionable for anyone [00:05:20] The Science of Certainty Uncertainty causes hesitation; certainty drives bold moves and big decisions Accurately predicted Netflix, Amazon, and smartphones in his 1993 book Techno Trends Has authored seven books including New York Times bestseller Flash Foresight and Amazon number one bestseller The Anticipatory Organization His goal is not just to share trends but to teach a repeatable process anyone can use [00:08:20] Hard Trends vs. Soft Trends All trends fall into two categories: hard trends based on future facts that cannot be changed, and soft trends based on assumptions that may or may not happen Hard trends let you see disruptions before they hit and presolve problems before they occur Soft trends are changeable; if you don't like one, you can influence it The litmus test: can this trend be stopped or changed? If not, it is a hard trend [00:13:40] The Three Categories of Hard Trends Technology is a hard trend category: wireless went from 3G to 4G to 5G and will keep accelerating Demographics is a hard trend category: 10,000 Americans turn 70 every single day and that is not reversing Government regulation around areas like cybersecurity is a hard trend category regardless of the current political climate Combining two hard trend categories, like demographics and technology, is how low-risk, high-reward innovations are born [00:15:00] Billion-Dollar Ideas Hidden in Hard Trends There is currently no easy-launch boat trailer designed for aging seniors, despite a massive and growing market of older boaters An exoskeleton designed for seniors could prevent the falls that lead to broken hips, one of the leading causes of death in older adults A small Bluetooth sensor attached to a shoe and linked to a hearing aid could warn seniors of steps, obstacles, and uneven surfaces All three ideas are grounded in demographic hard trends that are already certain [00:25:40] The Skip It Principle: Your Problem Is Not Your Problem Whatever you think your biggest problem is, that is not it; you are working the wrong problem Drill down by asking why two or three times until you find the real, solvable problem underneath A drug company CEO thought he needed 2,000 PhD researchers; the real problem was unsolved molecular challenges, solved by crowdsourcing solutions globally online The makers of Jaws couldn't make the shark look real, so they skipped that problem and showed the shark's perspective instead; the rest is cinema history [00:33:00] AI: Hard Trend, Not a Threat AI getting more powerful is a hard trend; it cannot be stopped or reversed AI gets you 80% of the way to any task fast, but the human 20% is where trust, relationships, creativity, and judgment live Letting AI do everything makes you obsolete; using it to eliminate busy work frees you to do higher-level, more meaningful work Think of AI as a magnifier, not a replacer [00:36:40] What AI Means for CPAs and Every Other Industry Has been contracted by the global accounting association AICPA to map out what 2040 looks like for the profession Tax preparation and auditing will be fully automated, but CPAs will not disappear; their role will shift to anticipatory problem solving and trusted advisory No industry will be decimated; every industry will be redefined and reinvented The mistake is waiting to be replaced; the opportunity is reinventing yourself now with a more consultative, forward-looking skill set [00:43:00] Shape Your Own Destiny Ask yourself what parts of your current work are repetitive and could be handled by AI Use hard trends to identify what your future role needs to look like, and start learning those things now Download his free 25 Tech Trends Report at www.25techtrendsreport.com Download his free AI Strategy Report, with top AI tools across categories and real company case studies, at www.aistrategyreport.com   KEY QUOTES "When you're uncertain, you hesitate. When you have high levels of certainty, you write the big check, you make the bold move." — Daniel Burrus "AI is not good at establishing trust. AI is not good at relationships. You gotta remember that this is a machine." — Daniel Burrus "There is more opportunity right now than any other time in history to not just change, but transform every business, product, service  and career." — Daniel Burrus CONNECT WITH DANIEL BURRUS 🌐 Website: https://www.burrus.com 📊 Free Report: https://www.25techtrendsreport.com 🤖 Free Report: https://www.aistrategyreport.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielburrus 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danburrus   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

    48 min

  7. APR 14

    The Power of Relationships Over Money with Dr. Froswa' Booker-Drew

    What if everything you've been chasing is already one relationship away? In this episode, Dr. Froswa' Booker-Drew, PhD, shares how over 30 years of community work across Dallas, Texas and the nation shaped her into one of the most sought-after voices on social capital, relational leadership, and community development. As President and CEO of Soulstice Consultancy, she helps health systems, philanthropic organizations, and institutional leaders connect more deeply with the communities they serve. Froswa' didn't stumble into this work. She built it, role by role, relationship by relationship, from the State Fair of Texas to World Vision US programs to keynote stages at the United Nations and the US State Department. And at the center of it all is a conviction she returns to again and again: relationships are currency, and the right ones change everything. She shares the story of the man who hired her while she was visibly pregnant and on the verge of bed rest, kept her job for months, and became one of the most formative figures of her career.   [00:03:40] What She Does and Who She Serves Runs three buckets of work: community engagement strategy, organizational culture and internal social capital, and executive coaching Serves health systems, large institutional organizations, and philanthropic groups Has been doing this work since 1995 and returned to full-time consulting four years ago Rooted in a spiritual belief system, her work always connects leaders to purpose before strategy [00:07:20] What Inspires Her: Watching Organizations Finally Get It Loves the moment organizations shift their strategy and start hitting targets they couldn't reach before Does GIS mapping to help clients identify communities they hadn't thought to connect with Helped design a workforce program for a health system where participants now graduate, get livable wage jobs, and support their families The ripple effect of her work reaches people she may never meet, and that drives her every day [00:09:20] Client Impact: Doubling and Tripling Nonprofit Budgets Worked with organizations connecting into rural and urban communities where they previously couldn't gain participation After a year of training and strategy work, those organizations hit their participation targets Helped design a support services ecosystem around a workforce program, connecting nonprofits to grant writers and partners Several of those nonprofits went on to double or triple their budgets and scale their staffing and infrastructure [00:12:00] Making Money and Doing Good Are Not Mutually Exclusive Pushes back on the idea that profit and community impact are in tension Believes generosity and thriving business can coexist, pointing to the biblical model of Boaz as an example Giving is not just financial; time, talent, and testimony are all resources to steward You can make your community better, profit, take care of your family, and help others all at the same time [00:15:40] The Relationship That Changed Everything: Dr. Terry Flowers Met Dr. Flowers while pregnant and interviewing for a role, after another interview was shut down the moment she disclosed her pregnancy Dr. Flowers offered her the job knowing she was pregnant, then held the position for her through months of bed rest At St. Philip's School and Community Center, she learned program development, budget management, relationship building, and community strategy He gave her one instruction whenever she brought a new idea: figure it out and make it happen [00:17:40] A Mentor Who Never Left Left St. Philip's in 2005 but Dr. Flowers remains in her life as a mentor to this day A former student painted her portrait, which now hangs on the wall at the school His daughters are still in her life; she had dinner with one of them just recently She credits his investment of time and wisdom as the foundation for everything she does now [00:20:20] Paying It Forward: The Story of Misha Met a young woman named Misha at a speaking event in Dallas and committed to being accessible, because she remembered being shut out early in her own career Brought Misha on as a volunteer, hired her, and took her along to World Vision and then the State Fair of Texas Misha eventually became a VP and hired Froswa' as a consultant, then brought her into a new project she had been building for years That morning, Misha was texting her about an upcoming event, still leaning on her wisdom and knowledge [00:23:20] Relationships Are Currency Tells entrepreneurs directly: you don't have a money problem, you have a relationship problem The right relationships give access to everything you need Real networking is not passing out cards; it is thinking about how to serve people well In an AI-driven world, relationships and trust are the most durable currencies anyone can build   KEY QUOTES "You don't have a money problem. You have a relationship problem. You get the right relationships, you'll get access to what you need." — Dr. Froswa' Booker-Drew "Anything that you want is usually connected to people. So build relationships and love people well." — Dr. Froswa' Booker-Drew CONNECT WITH DR. FROSWA' BOOKER-DREW 🌐 Website: https://www.drfroswabooker.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/froswabookerdrew 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/froswa.bookerdrew   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

    27 min

  8. APR 10

    Relationship Capital Is the Real Currency with Lyndsay Dowd

    What if the most valuable investment you could make isn't in your business, but in the people around it? In this episode, Lyndsay Dowd shares how nearly 30 years in sales and leadership, including 23 decorated years at IBM, led her to found Heartbeat for Hire, a consultancy helping executives build cultures that actually drive results. She didn't take the easy route to get there. She got fired six months after leaving IBM, sat with the shame of it for a month, and then asked herself three questions that changed everything. Today Lyndsay coaches C-suite executives, delivers bold keynotes, hosts a top 2.5% globally ranked podcast, and runs a live leadership show on LinkedIn. Her message is simple but radical: the best leadership tool you have is your humanity. Lyndsay shares how one unexpected LinkedIn connection led to a Harvard lecture, a Times Square billboard, and a personal board of advisors that keeps her grounded as an entrepreneur.   [00:03:40] The IBM Years, the Exit, and the Firing That Changed Everything Spent 23 of her 25 corporate years climbing the ranks at IBM, leading broken and first-of-a-kind businesses Left for a new opportunity and was fired just six months later, a total shock for someone known as the person you call to do the hard stuff I sat with shame for a full month before asking: what am I good at, what do I love, and how can I help people the most? Those three questions led to the founding of Heartbeat for Hire [00:05:40] What Heartbeat for Hire Does Coaches individual leaders and C-suites on modern leadership Delivers keynotes, has published two books, hosts a top-ranked podcast and a live LinkedIn show Also runs LinkedIn and storytelling workshops for executives [00:06:00] What Inspires Her: The Gap Between Bad and Great Leaders When she asks a room who has had a bad leader, a hundred percent of hands go up instantly Far fewer hands rise when she asks who has had a great leader Her mission: show the world what good leadership looks and feels like Good leadership is not complicated; it is small behavioral changes in language and awareness [00:09:00] Client Impact: Humanizing the CFO-Turned-CEO Worked with a CEO who admitted: I think people respect my work, but I don't think they like me Coached her to welcome every new employee publicly on LinkedIn, a seven-second action with an outsized impact Taught her to speak about her company the way she would over cocktails, not in boardroom monotone Core lesson: introduce the personal; leaders no longer need to separate work identity from human identity [00:14:20] Power Skills: Why Trust Is Your Currency Rejects the term "soft skills" and calls them power skills instead Trust is the foundational currency of leadership; fracturing it in front of others reverberates far and wide Safe spaces unlock inspiration, risk-taking, and people's best work How a leader handles failure, their own and their team's, is just as important as how they celebrate wins [00:16:00] The Relationship That Changed Everything: Scott McGregor and the Outlier Project Noticed one man kept showing up across all her LinkedIn connections and set up a coffee chat; that man was Scott McGregor His community, the Outlier Project, brings together roughly 800 entrepreneurs, veterans, athletes, and leaders choosing to live extraordinary lives Has since brought over 70 people into the community herself [00:17:00] What the Outlier Project Unlocked Opportunities flowed from the community: a Harvard lecture, a Times Square billboard, and appearances on over 100 podcasts Her entire personal board of advisors is made up of Outliers, the people she calls when she doubts herself The community solved the loneliness of entrepreneurship when family and friends couldn't understand what she was building Members share best practices on podcasting and speaking, and get direct access to legends like Guy Kawasaki every week [00:19:40] The Mavericks and Hustlers: Her Most Memorable Leadership Moment A leader who promoted her twice asked: how do you want to run the business? And meant it She took that autonomy back to her team and launched a storytelling program: explain what you sell with zero jargon, as if speaking to a retired school teacher The first story sparked immediate collaboration, with salespeople realizing they had solutions their clients were already asking for The program grew to 500 attendees per call, and that team still calls her years later to talk about it [00:24:20] Lead with Heart Because Results Depend on It Leadership done well isn't about feeling good; it's about generating results Her storytelling team crushed their numbers quarter after quarter because they had trust and psychological safety Churn-and-burn leadership signals to your team that burnout is expected, and they will follow your model Simple reminder: take a breath before reacting, and always lead with heart   KEY QUOTES "I don't call them soft skills. I call them power skills. Creating trust and creating psychological safety is a power skill, and the best leaders understand that trust is your currency." — Lyndsay Dowd "When you become somebody's leader, you become the topic of dinner conversation. So you better be thinking about every move you make." — Lyndsay Dowd "If you wanna 10x your results, start leading with heart. That's the big difference maker." — Lyndsay Dowd CONNECT WITH LYNDSAY DOWD 🌐 Website: http://www.heartbeatforhire.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyndsaydowdh4h 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lyndsaydowd 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lyndsaydowdh4h 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lyndsaydowdh4h   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

    28 min
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5
out of 5
13 Ratings

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
    383
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2022 - All Rights Reserved
  • Show Website
    Million Dollar Relationships