In this episode of the Balancing Act podcast, Andy interviews Andrew Wittman. Andrew is a United States Marine Corps infantry combat veteran, former police officer, and federal agent. He is the author of Seven Secrets of Resilience for Parents, and his latest book is Inner Armor: Perpetual Resilience.They discuss Wittman's journey from being bullied in high school to becoming a leader in high-pressure environments. Wittman shares insights on mental resilience, emphasizing that it is a trained system rather than a mindset. He introduces his Inner Armor Resilience System, which focuses on pre-decisions, identity statements, and habit stacking to build resilience. Tune into episode 206 to hear Andrew's amazing story, his rocket-booster moment, and his thoughts on building mental resilience.#leadership #resilience #mentalresilience #emotionaldiscipline #personalgrowth #stressmanagement #habitstacking #usmc

In this episode of the Balancing Act podcast, host Andy speaks with Jeremy Sirota, CEO of Merlin, about his journey to becoming a leader in the music industry. They discuss the challenges faced by independent artists, the importance of resilience and creativity, and the evolving landscape of music licensing. Jeremy shares valuable advice for musical professionals and reflects on his leadership style, emphasizing the need for empowerment and presence in a rapidly changing industry. The conversation concludes with insights into the future of music and Jeremy's personal growth journey. Tune into episode 205 to hear Jeremy's story, his rocket-booster moment, and his thoughts on music rights and the business of music. andrewtemte.com

In this episode of the Balancing Act Podcast, Andy talks with Ron Green, co-founder and CTO of KUNGFU.AI, to explore the transformative role of artificial intelligence in business and personal growth. Ron shares his extensive experience in AI, discussing how it can solve previously intractable problems and enhance decision-making processes. The conversation emphasizes the importance of focusing on business value when implementing AI, overcoming resistance to change, and the future potential of AI technologies. Ron also highlights the significance of curiosity and continuous learning in adapting to the evolving landscape of AI. Tune into episode 204 to hear Ron's story, his rocket-booster moment, and his thoughts on the future of work and business in the age of artificial intelligence. andrewtemte.com

Are you ready to both learn and "unlearn" to prepare for the future of work? In this episode of the Balancing Act Podcast, Andy speaks with Dr. Ja-Nae Duane and Steve Fisher, authors of 'SuperShifts'. They discuss the concept of SuperShifts, which are tectonic changes in how we live, learn, and work in the age of intelligence.  They explore the importance of unlearning outdated beliefs and adapting to new technologies, particularly AI. The discussion also highlights opportunities for entrepreneurs and the need for resilience in the face of change. They emphasize the potential for the next generation to thrive in this age of intelligence and share personal growth experiences that inform their work. Tune into episode 203 to hear Dr. Ja-Nae and Steve's stories, their rocket-booster moments, and their thoughts and advice on how to not only survive but thrive in an era of massive change. andrewtemte.com

In this episode of the Balancing Act podcast, Doug Brown, CEO of CEO Sales Strategies, shares his extensive journey in sales and business development. He discusses his early experiences in sales, transformative moments in his career, and the unique approach of his consulting firm, which focuses on metrics and optimization. Doug also delves into the concept of intrapreneurship and offers insights on how individuals can find their voice and ask for more within their organizations. He explores the transition from being a sales professional to a sales manager, emphasizing the different skill sets required for each role.  Doug also highlights the importance of desire and authenticity in sales, arguing that while skills can be trained, the intrinsic desire to succeed is crucial for top performance. He shares insights on the skills new sales professionals should focus on and concludes with a reflection on trusting one's instincts and experiences from the past. Tune into episode 202 to listen to Doug's story, his rocket-booster moment, and his thoughts on the keys to success in sales. andrewtemte.com

In this episode of the Balancing Act podcast, host Andrew Temte speaks with Tracy Nolan, a Fortune 100 executive and board director, about her journey in leadership, the importance of mentorship, and the challenges women face in the corporate world. Tracy shares her experiences of stepping outside her comfort zone, the significance of communication in business transformations, and her commitment to empowering women through organizations like Dress for Success. The conversation emphasizes the need for courage, continuous learning, and collaboration in achieving career success. Tune into episode 201 to listen to Tracy's story, her rocket-booster moment, and her coaching and mentorship for women in business and leadership. andrewtemte.com

It's a very special episode of the Balancing Act Podcast! We're celebrating our 200th episode with a return to the show's beginnings and a conversation with Kaplan's Chairman & CEO, Andy Rosen.  In this 200th installment of the show, I welcome back my former boss for an unforgettable episode full of insight, candor, and warmth. Rosen opens up about how a rare heart condition almost ended his life as a child and how surviving it shaped his outlook on life, work, and leadership. Rosen and I explore Kaplan’s growth, the promise of AI in education, and the balancing act between innovation and consistency in a fast-changing world.  https://www.andrewtemte.com/

What is evidence-based medicine and why should healthcare consumers care? What role does cognitive bias play in everyday healthcare decisions? What separates a quality, informative research paper from dubious, low quality research papers? As a healthcare consumer, how can you tell the difference? To help answer these questions, we have Dr. Brandon Temte joining us today on the Balancing Act Podcast. Brandon is the outgoing Chief Pulmonary and Critical Care fellow at the University of Wisconsin, where he will be staying as faculty in the fall of this year.  Tune into episode 199 for an update on Brandon's story (he is our FIRST repeat guest) and his thoughts and guidance on how to navigate through the mis- and disinformation that is seemingly everywhere on the internet. https://www.andrewtemte.com/

What is the Objectives & Key Results (OKR) framework? Why is the measurement and transparency of operating results so important to organizational health? How does the adoption of the OKR framework help make achieving balance between trust and accountability more achievable? To help answer these questions, we have Philipp Schett joining us today on the Balancing Act Podcast. Philipp is the founder and CEO of Wave Nine – a strategy execution consultancy focused on helping companies get the most out of the OKR framework. Tune into episode 198 to hear Philipp's story, his career rocket-booster moment, and his thoughts on the use of OKRs to improve organizational trust and accountability. To learn more about Philipp Schett, visit: https://wavenine.com/ To learn more about Andrew Temte, visit: https://www.andrewtemte.com 

What is Sawubona Leadership? Should generational differences be considered when investing in organizational health? Does cross-generational mentorship lead to improved employee engagement? To help answer these questions, we have Susan Inouye joining us today on the Balancing Act Podcast. Susan is an executive coach, author of Leadership’s Perfect Storm, and co-founder of Sawubona Leadership. With a two-decade career helping to transform over 600 companies, she’s renowned for integrating millennial insights into corporate strategy. Tune into episode 197 to hear Susan's story, her career rocket-booster moment, and her thoughts on mentorship, Sawbona Leadership, and the importance of millennial insights to organizational health. To learn more about Susan Inouye, visit: https://susaninouye.com/ To learn more about Andrew Temte, visit: https://www.andrewtemte.com 

What are the top three ways musicians can make money from their work? What is sync licensing and why does it matter to a musician's economic success? Why is understanding the business side of music as, or more, important than the intellectual property creation process? To help answer these questions, we have Lionel Lodge joining us this week on the Balancing Act Podcast. Lionel is the co-founder and CEO of SyncLodge–an award winning music IP management platform, and is on the board of The International Association for Artists & Rightsholders (IAFAR). We’re going to be talking about demystifying the business side of the music industry. Tune into episode 196 to hear Lionel's story, his career rocket-booster moment, and his thoughts on the business side of the music industry. To learn more about Lionel and SyncLodge, visit: https://synclodge.com/ To learn more about Andrew Temte, visit: https://www.andrewtemte.com 

Why is a growth mindset essential for success in medical careers? What should high school students be doing to set themselves up for success in their journey to becoming a doctor? Why is building mental resilience one of the most important things a prospective physician can do? To help answer these questions, we have Brandon Deason joining us today on the Balancing Act Podcast. Brandon is the founder, CEO, and lead educator at DDQX Learning, a medical education business operating with the mission to empower medical students to graduate with greater mental resilience, reduced financial burden, and improved clinical reasoning. Tune into episode 195 to hear Brandon's story, his career rocket-booster moment, and his thoughts on the future of medical education and physician training. Learn more about Brandon Deason at: https://ddqxlearning.org/about-us/ Learn more about Andrew Temte at: https://www.andrewtemte.com 

How can leaders build a "great place to work" organizational culture? What are the twenty tenets of culture? What's the one thing that will torpedo a journey to build a great corporate culture that most leaders aren't thinking about? To help answer these questions, we have Brett Hoogeveen joining us today on The Balancing Act Podcast. Brett is a co-founder of BetterCulture, a technology and training company intently focused on making the world a better place to work. He’s a former engineer, an experienced healthcare executive, a coach, consultant, trainer, entrepreneur, startup investor, and keynote speaker. Tune into episode 194 to hear Brett's story, his career rocket-booster moment, and his thoughts on building great corporate cultures. Visit Brett's website for more into: https://betterculture.com/thebalancingact/ Learn more about Andrew Temte at: https://www.andrewtemte.com 

What does it mean to be a 'tech humanist?' What are the most common challenges of technical transformation projects? Should business leaders 'move fast and break things' or is there another approach? To help answer these questions, we have Kate O'Neill joining us today on the Balancing Act Podcast. Known globally as the 'Tech Humanist,' Kate is a leading voice on AI ethics, responsible tech, and human-centric digital transformation. As a sought-after expert, she advises Fortune 500 leaders and speaks at high-profile events worldwide on navigating our tech-driven future while prioritizing human experiences. Tune into episode 193 to hear Kate's story, her career rocket-booster moment, and her thoughts on the all-important balancing act between technology and humanity. Learn more about Kate O'Neill at: https://www.koinsights.com/about-kate/ Learn more about Andrew Temte at: https://www.andrewtemte.com 

What does it mean to be a Broadway producer? What are the most important skills an aspiring Broadway producer needs to hone? What's the most important balancing act a Broadway producer has to play? To help answer these questions, we have Jeffrey Seller joining us today on the Balancing Act Podcast. Jeffrey is one of the most successful American producers of our time. He produced the Tony Award–winning musicals Rent, Avenue Q, In the Heights, and Hamilton. His shows have garnered twenty-two Tony Awards, including four for Best Musical. Jeffrey is the author of Theater Kid: A Broadway Memoir which landed on store shelves on May 6. Tune into episode 192 to hear Jeffrey's amazing story, his career rocket-booster moment, and his thoughts on what it takes to succeed on the business-side of Broadway. Pick up your copy of Theater Kid today at: https://www.amazon.com/Theater-Kid-Broadway-Jeffrey-Seller/dp/1668064189Learn more about Andrew Temte at: https://www.andrewtemte.com 

Why do so many continuous improvement journeys fail? What are the essential ingredients to any successful continuous improvement journey? What's the link between continuous improvement and change management principles? To help answer these questions, we have Scott Burgmeyer joining us today on the Balancing Act Podcast. Scott is the founder and CEO of BecomeMore Group, a business transformation and optimization consultancy. Scott is also the co-author of Chief Optimization Officer: Shattering the Status Quo. Tune into episode 191 to hear Scott's story, his career rocket-booster moment, and his thoughts on all things continuous improvement and business transformation. Learn more about Scott Burgmeyer at: https://www.becomemoregp.com/ Learn more about Andrew Temte at: https://www.andrewtemte.com 

What does it mean to truly listen? What myths about listening should we debunk? How can you build the skill of active listening? How can we improve the quality of our meetings? To help answer these questions, we have Oscar Trimboli joining us today on the Balancing Act Podcast. Oscar is an award-winning author, host of the Deep Listening podcast, and a sought-after keynote speaker. His third book is How to Listen – Discover the Hidden Key to Better Communication – the most comprehensive book about listening in the workplace. Tune into episode 190 to hear Oscar's story, his career rocket-booster moment, and his advice on how to improve the skill of listening and why it matters for life and career success. Learn more about Oscar Trimboli at: https://www.oscartrimboli.com/ Learn more about Andrew Temte at: https://www.andrewtemte.com 

What's the most important thing a college graduate can do right now to set themselves up for success in a career in sales? How can a corporate warrior make the shift to entrepreneur and business founder? How can a late-stage career professional reignite the passion they once had for their work? To help answer these questions, we have Ursula Mentjes joining us today on the Balancing Act Podcast. Ursula is a five-time bestselling author, award winning entrepreneur, business growth expert, and is the CEO of Ursula, Inc. in Minneapolis, MN. Our focus today is going to be on building sales expertise and entrepreneurship. Tune into episode 189 to hear Ursula's story, her career rocket-booster moment, and her advice to pursue and achieve excellence in sales and entrepreneurship. Learn more about Ursula at: https://www.ursulainc.co/ Learn more about Andrew Temte at: https://www.andrewtemte.com 

How important are storytelling skills for entrepreneurs and business founders? What are the benefits of engaging with a start-up accelerator or incubator? What's the Amazon PRFAQ Framework and why does it matter? To help answer these questions, we have Marcelo Calbucci joining us today on the Balancing Act Podcast. Marcelo is a founder, product and engineering leader, and an innovator with a passion for solving customers’ biggest pain points. He is also the author of The PRFAQ Framework: Adapting Amazon’s Innovation Framework to Work for You. We’re going to be talking about startups, entrepreneurship, and storytelling. Tune into episode 188 to hear Marcelo's story, his career rocket-booster moment, and his advice for entrepreneurs and new business founders. Learn more about Marcelo at: https://calbucci.com/ Learn more about Andrew Temte at: https://www.andrewtemte.com 

What happens when businesses don't take product design seriously? What are the benefits of investing in design resources? Why haven't we made more progress toward solving big societal challenges and how can solve them through innovation and design? To help answer these questions, we have Todd Bracher joining us today on The Balancing Act Podcast. Todd is the founder of BetterLab, a science-based design platform addressing global challenges through innovative solutions. Todd’s work at BetterLab and his award-winning design firm BRACHER has transformed industries, creating impactful products for major brands worldwide. Tune into episode 187 to hear Todd's story, his career "rocket-booster" moment, and his advice for business leaders on the benefits of investing in product design excellence. Learn more about Todd Bracher at: https://www.toddbracher.com/ Learn more about Andrew Temte at: https://www.andrewtemte.com