My Quest for the Best with Bill Ringle

Bill Ringle
My Quest for the Best with Bill Ringle

Hey leaders and rising stars of small and mid-market firms, get ready to learn from the best in the business! Bill Ringle interviews business leaders who have built remarkable companies, thought leaders who have broken new ground, and community leaders who have led movements in order to glean insights that can help you with your management, marketing, leadership, sales, operations, and mindset right away. Subscribe to My Quest for the Best for interviews that dig below the surface. Visit My Quest for the Best with Bill Ringle, MyQuestForTheBest.com, for more details on the guests, special offers, and show notes.

  1. NOV 4

    You are stuck without being open to workplace experiements

    Gustavo Razzetti, author of Remote Not Distant: Design a Company Culture That Will Help You Thrive in a Hybrid Workplace Bill Ringle and Gustavo Razzetti discuss how leaders and those who say nothing to hurtful behavior are jointly responsible for toxic work cultures and what to do instead to be effective leading from anywhere for small business leaders. >>> Visit MyQuestforTheBest.com  for complete show notes and more expert advice and inspiring stories to propel your small business growth. My Quest for the Best is a top-rated small business podcast with over 300 episodes of thought-provoking and insightful interviews with today’s top thought leaders and business experts. Host Bill Ringle’s mission with this show is to provide the strategies, insights, and resources that will unlock the growth potential of your business through these powerful conversations. Interview Insights Top 3 Takeaways Productivity theater is when employees are very active, doing 'busy work,' like escalating zoom calls or posting questions to show they are making an effort even if they are not working. Managers should focus more on the output or the outcome rather than the effort on hand. If a culture becomes toxic, there are two parties to blame: The leader who is behaving badly and the subordinates who enables the bad behaviour. Identify the values that strengthen your tribe and the behaviours that make them weak should be eliminated during the reset process. Read the Show Notes from this Episode His grandfather from his mother's side who was a doctor was his inspiration growing up. Through him, Gustavo learned the power of observation. [01:41] Gustavo discusses the two things that make up a toxic culture: One is the leader, and the other is the people who do nothing. [03:30] The definition of resetting your business culture and when and why you should do it. [07:07] Gustavo discusses how what gets attention gets rewarded and the two things that get us rewarded at work. [10:23] No matter the size of the business, we should come up with a purpose and an answer to who they serve.[13:28] Gustavo highlights the importance of being a part of a tribe. [17:42] The Netflix culture memo; how the streaming giant gave their employees the sense of being respected and valued. [19:48] My Quest for the Best lightning round begins. [25:47] Expert Bio Gustavo Razzetti is the CEO & Founder of Fearless Culture. Gustavo is passionate about helping teams do the best work of their lives. He is a sought-after speaker, culture consultant, and author of three books. After 25 years of helping organizations build purpose-driven brands and teams, Gustavo realized that most companies don't lack ideas, resources, or talent but a conducive culture. He created Fearless Culture to help organizations become purpose-driven, agile, and innovative. Razzetti is also the creator of the Culture Design Canvas, a culture mapping tool used by consultants, coaches, and organizations worldwide. Gustavo's work has been featured in Psychology Today, The New York Times, Forbes, BBC, and many other publications. Throughout his career, he has advised companies in multiple business sectors, including GM, Continental, Coca-Cola, Mars, and Comcast. He is the author of four books, including the recent Remote, Not Distant – a roadmap to build a strong culture for remote and hybrid teams. Razzetti has built a career at the intersection of marketing, innovation, and leadership. He participated in the by-invitation-only Change Leadership Program at Stanford University. An avid road cyclist and cook, Gustavo lives in Chicago with his wife Moira and sons Tristan and Fausto. Contact Info and Social Media for Gustavo Razzetti Primary website Travels from: Highland Park, IL Connect on: Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube | Resources Mentioned During the Interview

    31 min
  2. OCT 28

    The world of work improves when we include and support women's voices and leadership

    Beate Chelette, author of Happy Woman Happy World Bill Ringle and Beatte Chelette discuss insider perspectives on how to create a work culture that is genuinely collaborative and inclusive for female and male small business leaders. >>> Visit MyQuestforTheBest.com  for complete show notes and more expert advice and inspiring stories to propel your small business growth. My Quest for the Best is a top-rated small business podcast with over 300 episodes of thought-provoking and insightful interviews with today’s top thought leaders and business experts. Host Bill Ringle’s mission with this show is to provide the strategies, insights, and resources that will unlock the growth potential of your business through these powerful conversations. Interview Insights Top 3 Takeaways Position yourself to succeed with your peers instead of wanting only you, and you alone, to succeed. Know your price and the number needs to be the number where you don't have to work anymore; that way, you'd know when it's time to sell. When somebody tries to throw you off your game through their words or actions, you have the option not to let that land. Read the Show Notes from this Episode Beate proudly recalls her father who taught her that every person in the company, from the janitor to the top executives is vital to making a culture work. This is a lesson she carried throughout her life. [01:27] With $135,000 debt, a teenager she raised alone, and a lawsuit with a former employee, Beate's resiliency was the fuel that kept her running. [03:32] How do we know when it's time to sell? Beate highlights the importance of knowing your price and advises us to make sure it's a figure enough that we don't have to work anymore. [05:01] Knowing her numbers, Beate found a perfect buyer in Bill Gates. [07:16] A common problem in the US and many parts of the world is the gender pay gap. Beate gives her insights as for why many women are paid less and how they could address this. [10:39] Mary was a client of Beate's who, despite being a top 1% in the fabric world, was not taken seriously as a business leader. After working with Beate, Mary became more confident in positioning herself as the leader that she is. [12:24] Why insecurity is ugly and a cavemen mentality that women need to shed. [16:58] "You're too emotional" is only a checkmate move if we allow it. Beate advises women getting these comments to laugh it off and carry on with business as usual. [20:24] Beate recalls a former colleague and teammate Sandy who despite having a healthy and friendly relationship with her when Beate first joined the company, became embittered and resentful of her promotion. [23:12] My Quest for the Best lightning round begins. [30:00] Expert Bio Beate Chelette is the Growth Architect and Founder of The Women’s Code and provides visionaries and leaders with strategies that grow your authority so they can scale their impact. A first-generation immigrant who found herself $135,000 in debt as a single parent, Beate bootstrapped her passion for photography into a highly successful global business and eventually sold it to Bill Gates in a multimillion-dollar deal. She is amongst the “Top 100 Global Thought Leaders” by PeopleHum and “One of 50 Must-Follow Women Entrepreneurs” by HuffPost.Recent clients include Amazon, Reckitt (the maker of Lysol), Chevron, Merck, Johnson & Johnson, the Women’s Legislative Caucus of California, Cal State University Dominguez Hills, Shelter Inc., Mental Health First Aid and thousands of small businesses. Beate is the author of the #1 International Award-Winning Amazon Bestseller “Happy Woman Happy World – How to Go from Overwhelmed to Awesome”–a book that corporate trainer and best-selling author Brian Tracy calls “a handbook for every woman who wants health, success and a fulfilling career.” Contact Info and Social Media for Beate Chelette

    39 min
  3. OCT 14

    Use the power of narrative to take your business to the next level

    Gregory Diehl, author of Brand Identity Breakthrough: How to Craft Your Company's Unique Story to Make Your Products Irresistible Bill Ringle and Gregory Diehl discuss the importance and use of story narrative to give your business the attention it deserves for small business leaders. >>> Visit MyQuestforTheBest.com  for complete show notes and more expert advice and inspiring stories to propel your small business growth. My Quest for the Best is a top-rated small business podcast with over 300 episodes of thought-provoking and insightful interviews with today’s top thought leaders and business experts. Host Bill Ringle’s mission with this show is to provide the strategies, insights, and resources that will unlock the growth potential of your business through these powerful conversations. Interview Insights Top 3 Takeaways Invest in your clients as much as you can but do not be afraid to step back if they are unwilling to invest in their self-improvement as well. Creating your identity is important because customers buy into the story as much as they buy into what we're selling. There are three ways to get money. Beg, steal, and earn. But only through earning do we give someone of great value worthy of their money. Read the Show Notes from this Episode Gregory passionately shares how Goerge Lucas and his vision that ultimately changed the film industry greatly inspired him growing up. [01:02] How Goerge Lucas relates to his book Brand Identity Breakthrough. [04:32] As teenagers, Gregory and his friends first came to truly appreciate the importance of the story in a brand when they were busking in California. [06:23] Olivier Wagner is a client of Gregor's whose job is to help American ex-pats with their taxes whom he helped create his personality brand. [14:34] How Olivier's business changed for the best after working with Gregory: He became more active in reaching out to people who are asking questions in platforms like Quora and Facebook. [18:28] Beg, steal, or earn- Gregory elaborates on the three ways he thinks entrepreneurs earn money. [21:22] Exploring the concept of Street Cat Marketing. [24:28] Why emotional bond is a perfect hook for selling. [27:43] My Quest for the Best Lightning Round begins [29:00] Expert Bio Gregory V. Diehl is an educator and personal development mentor whose ideals include self-inquiry, challenge, and analysis. He writes and teaches to assist others in undoing faulty narratives about their identities and how life works so that they may begin to make more meaningful choices and resolve their deepest burdens. Diehl spent many years studying cultures around the world and now lives a quiet life in a rural village in Armenia with his cats, books, and music. Gregory's latest business book is Everyone Is an Entrepreneur: Selling Economic Self-Determination in a Post-Soviet World. In it, he examines why entrepreneurship has been so slow to spread in post-Soviet cultures like Armenia, how it hinders individuals' ability to improve their own lives, and how to fix it. Contact Info and Social Media for Gregory Diehl Primary website Travels from: CARLSBAD, California Connect on: Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook Resources Mentioned During the Interview Below are key people, places, books, quotes, websites, and other resources we discussed so that you can explore further. Quora Facebook Olivier Wagner - If you are an American living abroad and need help with your taxes, click this link. Published by Gregory Diehl

    36 min
  4. SEP 23

    When you aim for EPIC, the cream always rises to the top with guest expert Justin Breen

    Justin Breen, author of Epic Life Bill Ringle and Justin Breen discuss how directness weeds out distractions and magnetizes greatness to you and your company for small business leaders and entrepreneurs. >>> Visit MyQuestforTheBest.com  for complete show notes and more expert advice and inspiring stories to propel your small business growth. My Quest for the Best is a top-rated small business podcast with over 300 episodes of thought-provoking and insightful interviews with today’s top thought leaders and business experts. Host Bill Ringle’s mission with this show is to provide the strategies, insights, and resources that will unlock the growth potential of your business through these powerful conversations. Interview Insights Top 3 Takeaways You want to work with people who see things as investments, not costs. Adapt the right mindset to attract the right people. There are few people who will ride the plane without a parachute. In business, these are the people you want to keep. Read the Show Notes from this Episode Justin's father was a war hero who made him appreciate people who get in a plane without a parachute. [01:14] While not everyone is a risk taker like Justin's father, some are brave enough to do the same feat, metaphorically in business. Justin shares how he identifies this special breed of people. [03:05] Justin talks about investing thousands of dollars and gives an idea of how to know it's worth it. [07:09] How Justin makes so many valuable business connections. [10:16] The different stages of filtering people. [13:13] How his career as a journalist for 20 years helped him be a more successful entrepreneur. [14:50] The importance of naming your years. Plus the year that became his book title. [17:26] My Quest for the Best lightning round begins. [21:53] Expert Bio Justin Breen is the Founder/CEO of the global PR firm BrEpic and exclusive connectivity platform BrEpic Network. His newest book, Epic Life, features a foreword from Dr. Peter Diamandis. It has been the No. 1 overall book for sales on Amazon Kindle, and it recently made the Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestseller lists. Contact Info and Social Media for Justin Breen Primary website Travels from: Northbrook, IL Connect on: Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook Resources Mentioned During the Interview Below are key people, places, books, quotes, websites and other resources that we discussed, so you can explore further. Man's Search for Meaning by Victor Frankle Published by Justin Breen

    31 min
  5. JUL 1

    Building your content marketing muscles with guest expert Pamela Wilson

    Pamela Wilson, author of Master Content Marketing Bill Ringle and Pamela Wilson discuss how content marketing differs from social media marketing and what steps to take to attract leads that become profitable customers for small business marketers. >>> Visit MyQuestforTheBest.com  for complete show notes and more expert advice and inspiring stories to propel your small business growth. My Quest for the Best is a top-rated small business podcast with over 300 episodes of thought-provoking and insightful interviews with today’s top thought leaders and business experts. Host Bill Ringle’s mission with this show is to provide the strategies, insights, and resources that will unlock the growth potential of your business through these powerful conversations. Interview Insights Top 3 Takeaways People should stop asking whether to put high-quality content or not. Our content should always be high-quality. Focus on building your content on your primary website. While posting on sites such as LinkedIn is great, there is a chance you may be taken off at any moment. It is not content marketing without a call to action. Read the Show Notes from this Episode The power couple of Eleonor and Franklin Roosevelt are Pamela's biggest inspirations. [01:17] Pamela talks about how she got into content marketing. [03:44] Why call to action are necessary. [05:26] Pamela gives tips to address the concern of where we should put our content and why it is better to do it on your OWN website. [11:14] Why do we have to put our best stuff and post consistently? [15:56] Pamela talks about Roberta, a client she used to work with who manages a sales team, and how practicing consistency on high-quality posting got them a lot of traffic. [18:20] To lessen the pressure, Pamela reminds us that everyone just starting content marketing should not feel like they should immediately be able to post the best pieces. [24:59] My Quest for the Best lightning round begins. [27:22] Expert Bio Pamela Wilson is a 30+ year business owner, executive coach, and corporate consultant. She's published three books and has created and marketed dozens of online courses for herself and others. Pamela is a keynote speaker and frequent podcast guest. Pamela created the Offer Accelerator Program and serves as the program's head coach and business advisor. In her role as a digital marketing consultant Pamela has worked with local, national, and international clients. Contact Info and Social Media for Pamela Wilson Primary website Travels from: Nashville, Tennessee Connect on: Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook Resources Mentioned During the Interview Below are key people, places, books, quotes, websites, and other resources that we discussed, so you can explore further. Eleanor Roosevelt Franklin Roosevelt Published by Pamela Wilson

    33 min
  6. JUN 3

    The best leaders value profits and people with guest expert Andrew Bryant

    Andrew Bryant, author of The New Leadership Playbook: Being human whilst successfully delivering accelerated results Bill Ringle and Andrew Bryant discuss details of decisiveness, inclusiveness, and accountability as leadership plays that leaders of small and mid-size companies can use now. >>> Visit MyQuestforTheBest.com  for complete show notes and more expert advice and inspiring stories to propel your small business growth. My Quest for the Best is a top-rated small business podcast with over 400 episodes of thought-provoking and insightful interviews with today’s top thought leaders and business experts. Host Bill Ringle’s mission with this show is to provide the strategies, insights, and resources that will unlock the growth potential of your business through these powerful conversations. Interview Insights Top 3 Takeaways Responsibility is personal. I am responsible for my thoughts and my actions. Accountability is an agreement. It's something that people use to forge a contract. A single universal type of leader is a myth. Different leaders excel under different circumstances. Talent is rare, but strength is something each of us can acquire. It may be by strengthening ourselves or hiring someone whose strong suit complements our weak areas. Read the Show Notes from this Episode Andrew's first work experience was at his father's hardware store when he was 10. By observing his father's interactions with clients and employees, he learned how to have an executive presence. [01:14] His father's teaching of honesty, authenticity, and being true to oneself played a major role in Andrew's career in landing him his first CEO client. [02:46] Why is leadership a process? [05:21] Explain more about how no perfect leadership style fits all businesses at all times under all circumstances. [06:16] What are responsibility and accountability, and how they differ from each other? [09:44] Why decisiveness is critical to good leadership. CASE: Gustav responded to a crisis of his company's baby formula possibly being contaminated. [13:28] What can wel learn from the insight that people and profits are not an either-or consideration, but that both can be served? [17:55] My Quest for the Best lighting round begins. [22:41] Expert Bio Andrew Bryant is the founder of Self Leadership International and the world's leading expert on self-leadership. He has written two books on the topic, Self-Leadership: How to Become a More Successful, Efficient, and Effective Leader from the Inside Out (Bryant & Kazan, 2012) and Self Leadership: 12 Powerful Mindsets & Methods to Win in Life & Business (Bryant, 2016), and The New Leadership Playbook – Being Human whilst delivering Accelerated Results (Bryant, 2022). He has also contributed to many blogs, books, and articles on self-leadership and leadership. Andrew has coached hundreds of leaders and leadership teams to become the best version of themselves and to scale their companies. He has international experience with clients from Asia, Australasia, the United States of America (USA), Europe, The Middle East, and Africa. Not only has Andrew worked across geographical locations and cultures, but he has also transformed and developed leaders across industries, including the airline industry, software and hardware companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, professional services, banking, finance, manufacturing, hospitality, and travel. Contact Info and Social Media for Andrew Bryant Primary website Travels from: Kennebunk, ME Connect on: Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook Resources Mentioned During the Interview Below are key people, places, books, quotes, websites and other resources that we discussed, so you can explore further. Brian Tracy Nelson Mandela Published by Andrew Bryant

    28 min
  7. MAY 7

    Retaining top talent demands that you create a culture of growth, respect, and opportunity with guest expert Merrylue Martin

    Merrylue Martin, author of The Big Quit Survival Guide: Tools and Tactics to Attract the Best, Retain Top Performers & Nail the Talent War Merrylue Martin and Bill Ringle discuss the dangers of a dull work culture or toxic interactions that go unchecked and what you can do to attract and retain top talent for small business leaders. >>> Visit MyQuestforTheBest.com  for complete show notes and more expert advice and inspiring stories to propel your small business growth. My Quest for the Best is a top-rated small business podcast with over 400 episodes of thought-provoking and insightful interviews with today’s top thought leaders and business experts. Host Bill Ringle’s mission with this show is to provide the strategies, insights, and resources that will unlock the growth potential of your business through these powerful conversations. Interview Insights Top 3 Takeaways The pandemic ushered in an era in which 'respect' is the currency that makes people stay in their job. Leaders who make an extra effort to keep their top performers usually do. No matter how high the pay, if employees feel that they are undervalued, disregarded, and disrespected, they move on. At least those with the most potential and ambition move on. Know your employees. Take a quick survey of what they like and dislike, or ask any questions that will give you a better understanding of who they are. This way, you'll know how to give them respect in a way that matters most. Each person defines respect differently. Show Notes from this Episode Merrylue shared about her friend Joanna who, during one of the darkest moments, reminded her that our quest is not to be perfect but only to be our best. [01:44] The pandemic accelerated changes that were already been building up tensions. Merrylue explains why today's work environment is no longer "your grandfather's workplace." [07:26] Why is it important to avoid overloading top performers? [11:16] What is one of the dangers of top performers quitting? It tends to be a domino effect. After all, these are people their peers look up to. [13:40] What are stay interviews? What are some of the advantages stay interviews have over exit interviews? [17:20] Respect is defined differently by different people. Sally and Leroy's answer to the question, "What is it that would be most respectful to you," could not be further from each other. [20:15] What are the 3Rs that can be used to retain talent? Requirements, Rewards, and Respect. [24:16] CASE: Sandy works in the film industry in LA. She feels like she doesn't get enough respect at work, so despite the excellent pay, she dreads her working hours. [27:52] CASE: Jim works for a start-up company. Unlike Sandy, Jim isn't paid that much, but Jim loves his work. He is always looking forward to going to work, and that is because he feels like he is being treated like gold. [29:34] My Quest for the Best lightning round begins. [34:56] Expert Bio Merrylue Martin is a celebrated leadership strategist with decades of successfully working with global leaders and business owners of all types and sizes to make their employees feel uniquely respected, appreciated, fulfilled, and engaged. The recent release of her new book, The Big Quit Survival Guide, has received rave reviews and best-seller status in Amazon’s Office Management category. As a Fortune 50 senior executive, educational administrator, management consultant, and business owner, she has comprehensive experience in creating and delivering strategies that engage and retain top performers. Dr. Martin is an honored graduate of the Women’s Leadership program at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Her doctorate in organizational leadership and published dissertation from Pepperdine University uncovered the research that resulted in business and leadership practices that directly drive an employee’

    43 min
  8. APR 1

    The invaluable lessons contained in feedback with guest expert Chuck Mollor

    Chuck Mollor, author of The Rise of the Agile Leader: Can You Make the Shift? Chuck Mollor and Bill Ringle discuss insights about how you can benefit from messages contained in feedback from 1:1s to 360s for small business leaders. >>> Visit MyQuestforTheBest.com  for complete show notes and more expert advice and inspiring stories to propel your small business growth. My Quest for the Best is a top-rated small business podcast with over 300 episodes of thought-provoking and insightful interviews with today’s top thought leaders and business experts. Host Bill Ringle’s mission with this show is to provide the strategies, insights, and resources that will unlock the growth potential of your business through these powerful conversations. Interview Insights Top 3 Takeaways When our business grows, so do our responsibilities. As leaders, we need to learn how to change where we spend our time, delegate obligations, and know when to hire external help. Receiving 360 feedback will give us words that can hurt us. But feedback is critical because we might be 100% assured that we are competent enough with a job that sometimes we need our people to point out when and where we're falling short. When our own people are hesitant to share their honest feedback even when asked, that is a sign of lack of trust and an urgent matter we need to fix. Read the Show Notes from this Episode Chuck talks about his greatest influence growing up, his best friend's father Frank, who is also a father figure to him. [01:44] Understanding how the size of our organization affects how we communicate and how we care about our people. [04:28] How does a manager's time shift as an organization grows? [07:31] The five drivers of growth: growth, direction, integrity, innovation, engagement, and urgency. [09:33] Recognizing when we're not doing our job and when to seek external help. [11:42] What can you learn from receiving 360 feedback that can make you a better leader?.[14:26] CASE: Mike and why lack of trust alarm bells sound if our people don't talk to us even when asked. [18:37] My Quest for the Best lightning round begins. [26:22] Expert Bio Chuck Mollor is the founder, CEO, advisor, and executive coach at MCG Partners, an organization that helps develop leaders and teams, optimizing both businesses and individual talent. His new book and best-selling book, The Rise of the Agile Leader: Can You Make the Shift?, is a guide for the aspiring, mid, and seasoned c-leader and executive that introduces a new leadership paradigm, a roadmap of what makes a great leader, and what organizations must do to develop great leaders. Contact Info and Social Media for Chuck Mollor Primary website Travels from: Middleboro, MA Connect on: Twitter | LinkedIn Resources Mentioned During the Interview Below are key people, places, books, quotes, websites and other resources that we discussed, so you can explore further. Item Published by Chuck Mollor

    30 min
4.9
out of 5
146 Ratings

About

Hey leaders and rising stars of small and mid-market firms, get ready to learn from the best in the business! Bill Ringle interviews business leaders who have built remarkable companies, thought leaders who have broken new ground, and community leaders who have led movements in order to glean insights that can help you with your management, marketing, leadership, sales, operations, and mindset right away. Subscribe to My Quest for the Best for interviews that dig below the surface. Visit My Quest for the Best with Bill Ringle, MyQuestForTheBest.com, for more details on the guests, special offers, and show notes.

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