What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw Mike Irwin & Simon Daw

Steve Fleck is the voice many people hear in their hardest moments, when their heart is jumping out of their chest, their mind is crushed, and the finish line is in sight. Fleck is a broadcast commentator for athletics, cycling, endurance, and running competitions. He’s the familiar soundtrack to events streamed on media like CBC, FLOBIKES, Ironman Live, and others. But how does one become the voice of sport, or anything else, for that matter?

It starts by knowing your stuff. And, in Steve’s case, doing it. He was an early competitor in triathlon. He’s a 9-time Ironman finisher with a best time of 9:04 and competed in the Ironman World Championships. In addition to broadcasting, Steve has coached elite athletes and is a founding board member of the Canadian Endurance Sports Alliance. In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin and Simon Daw, Steve shares how his athletic career influenced his business career, how he transitioned from corporate work to a broadcasting career, and how he delivers a sense of the moment to his audience. He also offers a point of view on what event organizers should learn from the pandemic era.

It’s a story of expertise, resourcefulness, resilience, and, yes, endurance too. And it applies to anyone trying to turn a passion into a profession.

What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw...

Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, and difference makers. They all have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you. Visit us at http://www.whatiwishiknewshow.com or email to hello@whatiwishiknewshow.com

Please like, share, and subscribe to What I Wish I Knew wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

Is there a secret to success? Absolutely. And it's probably not what you may think. 

Bert Thornton spent 40 years shaping careers (including his own) as Waffle House grew from a few restaurants in the American south to become a pillar of communities around the country. As president and chief operations officer, he believed that the growth of the company relied upon the development of its people. Building leadership skills throughout an organization is both an obligation and an opportunity. Now, there’s a gap between emerging leaders and those who can help guide them along the way. Mentoring can help bridge that gap…and, when done well, it can transform lives and organizations. 

In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin and Simon Daw, Bert shares why mentoring can matter so much, the elements of an effective mentor/mentee relationship, and how to get started. He also covers how to foster creativity within systems…in a way that led to a product that Waffle House sells 11 million times a year. 

Bert is author of Find An Old Gorilla: Pathways Through the Jungle of Business and Life. The book is an essential guide for rising high achievers. He collaborated with Dr. Sherry Hartnett to write High-Impact Mentoring: A Practical Guide to Creating Value in Other People’s Lives. Available here: https://highimpactmentoringbook.com/

Bert currently serves as vice chairman emeritus of Waffle House, the largest full-service, 24-hour, sit-down restaurant in the world. He has served on the boards of the Georgia Tech Alumni Association, the Georgia Tech Foundation, the Studer Community Institute, and the Museum School of Avondale Estates. He was a college football player at Georgia Tech and served in the US Army. 


“Ships don’t drift into port. And good people don’t drift into important positions. Both require guidance and support.” 
“See my friends, see my future. One of the most common questions I’m asked is this: is there one thing to do, a silver bullet for success? The answer is yes, surround yourself with successful people. The most important thing, though, the gold bullet for success, is to find a good mentor.” 
“My happiest friends aren’t the ones who play the most golf. They’re the ones who live a life of gratitude and reciprocation. Appreciating what they have and committed to helping others get to where they want to go.” 
“Two kinds of people in the world: a sink and a source. A sink absorbs energy and brings things down. A source radiates energy and brings people up.” 

What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw... 

Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, and difference makers. They all have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you. http://www.whatiwishiknewshow.com 

Please like, share, and subscribe to What I Wish I Knew wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

Josh Hotsenpiller is one of those people you wish you’d known your entire life. And when you meet him, you’ll feel like you did. You see, Josh, devotes a big chunk of his time to building community and he does it with a goal to have a positive impact for all.   

He’s done it in as an entrepreneur, leader, and pastor. He’s founder & CEO of JUNO, a rapidly scaling online events platform that delivers connection, education, and engagement. He founded Wisdom Capture which helps organizations share the collective insights of experience across geography and time. He founded Profits 4 Purpose to help companies and their employees support their most passionate causes with charitable giving. He founded Crowd Hub which helps organizations and brands build ongoing connection and engagement with their most important audiences. His companies have served clients ranging from Apple, Google, and Unilever to the United Nations.   

In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin and Simon Daw, Josh shares principles and lessons he collected along the way that have fueled the growth of his teams, companies, and even his own sense of happiness.


“People get stuck in their competency…there is a way out and it involves being confident in your ability to solve problems, not in having all the answers.”
“Give yourself the freedom to be the one to not solve the problem. Give yourself the community to solve it.”
“If your identity is wrapped up in your job, you’re destined for an unhappy life.”
“You are the greatest variable to your success.”
“Nobody speaks to you more than you do.”
“If you can get you under control then there are no limits to what you can accomplish.”
“Solve your story…not your problem…go find your own way of doing it.”
“Don’t meet people in their crazy.” 

What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw...  

Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, and difference makers. They all have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you. http://www.whatiwishiknewshow.com   

Please like, share, and subscribe to What I Wish I Knew on Anchor, Apple, Google, Spotify, and wherever you find your favorite podcasts.  

Get in touch with Josh Hotsenpiller: https://www.junolive.com/ 

Ambition is defined as a strong desire to achieve. But what does it really mean, in real life? And how do you turn your ambitions into reality? In this mini episode from What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw, we talk with four people who absolutely can offer insights on how to achieve your ambition.


Ann Hiatt was an executive partner to Jeff Bezos during the formative years at Amazon and to Eric Schmidt at Google. Her new book Bet On Yourself is available now.
Bob Rief was CEO of Merrell Footwear, Reef Sandals, and Sanuk. As head of Nike Golf, he hired a young player named Tiger Woods.
Cody Horton had a distinguished career in the US Navy before leading roles at Walmart, Microsoft, and Deloitte. He now runs Diversity Recruiters and has hired thousands of people.
Hannah Ingram-Moore started a company in Spain that she sold to Motorola and held leading roles with Swatch, Mulberry Group, and The Gap. She founded the Maytrix Group in the UK as well as the Captain Tom Foundation.

In 13 minutes, they share 4 secrets to turn your ambitions into reality. It’s the sort of advice that anyone pursuing higher goals can readily apply to their daily work.

What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw

Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, and difference makers. They all have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you.

Please subscribe, follow, and rate us on your favorite podcast platform. And join our community at WhatIWishIKnewShow.com

Camilla Barnard believes people should be able to feel good about loving food, not guilty. Her starting point was one of those good-for-you foods that may not taste so good: muesli. Trouble is that muesli is a commodity category dominated by big food companies, famous brands, and basic store products. Few would have the audacity to start there. She wasn’t a veteran of the food industry nor an expert in consumer marketing. And yet, her company, Rude Health, has become a familiar sight on store shelves and shopping baskets across the UK and Europe.   

In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin and Simon Daw, Camilla talks about how not knowing can be a strength, how Instagram has changed consumer behavior, and how creativity and attitude often leads to better solutions than expertise alone. 

Camilla Barnard co-founded Rude Health in London in 2005 with her husband, Nick. Rude Health is on a mission to make the healthy choice a celebration, not a sacrifice, with their range of over 75 foods and drinks and a team of 45 glass-half-fullers. As well as being a full-time mum of two, Camilla is the creative brain behind the business’s marketing and brand development and is on a mission to inspire everyone to be in rude health by joyfully challenging the assumption that health food has to be bland and boring.

What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw... 

Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, and difference makers. They all have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you. http://www.whatiwishiknewshow.com 

Please like, share, and subscribe to What I Wish I Knew wherever you find your favorite podcasts. As always, we welcome your ideas and feedback at hello@whatiwishiknewshow.com

Connect with Camilla Barnard: https://rudehealth.com/

David Taylor has been named one of the world’s 50 leading marketing thinkers by the Chartered Institute of Marketing. His specialty, however, is in real-world, applied marketing…the sort that delivers growth in revenue and in regard. And whether the brand is a product or the proverbial brand you, Taylor has pragmatic advice shaped by 28 years’ experience leading growth projects for some of the world’s biggest global brands. 

In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin and Simon Daw, David talks about his transition from engineer to marketer, crucible moments in life, the four classic marketing mistakes to avoid, and the rise of insurgent brands.  

Taylor is also author of eight acclaimed branding books, writes one of the world’s top branding blogs, and is a highly rated teacher at London Business School. He has designed and delivered training programs for leading companies including AB InBev, Mars, Mondelez, Old Mutual, Pladis, and WD-40. Prior to founding The Brandgym in 2002, David worked with P&G before doing an MBA at INSEAD and running the Paris office of Kantar Added Value. Taylor also delivers brand training available to all called Mastering Brand Growth. 

What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw... 

Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, and difference makers. They all have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you. http://www.whatiwishiknewshow.com 

Please like, share, and subscribe to What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw wherever you find your favorite podcasts. We welcome your feedback and ideas for guests. Contact us at hello@whatiwishiknewshow.com

Connect with David Taylor: 

https://thebrandgym.com/

https://thebrandgym.com/blog/

https://academy.thebrandgym.com/courses/brandgym-mastering-brand-growth-program-4