The Greatness Machine

Today's episode of The Greatness Machine sees Darius sitting down with Doug Erwin, a serial entrepreneur who has made the shift to nonprofit executive, working as the Senior Vice President of Entrepreneurial Development at the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada (EDAWN). He raised $10 million to build an at-home sperm counting machine from Japanese hedge funds back in the 1990s, founded a company with his Navy Seal brother, and is actively involved in disruptive angel investing. Beyond business, Doug is a maker and buddhist who loves to tour hot springs in his airstream with his family. He believes in healing people through love and supporting men. You'll learn how one of his visits to a hot spring following the election of Donald Trump included "naked hippies," a sign (for Doug) that things were going to be alright. You'll discover the importance of leaving behind the multiple masks we wear (one for work, one for family, etc.) and showing up everywhere as your authentic self. You'll also learn about the multiple thresholds we encounter as we grow, and the fears we must overcome to move closer to our authentic selves. Join Darius and Doug as they explore these subjects and much more in today's episode. Enjoy! What We Discussed in this Show: Hot springs, naked hippies and a cure for the "Trump blues." Showing up as your authentic self. Overcoming fear and moving past the thresholds that hold us back. And so much more... Resources: EDAWN The Real Darius Darius Class Website Facebook Instagram YouTube Twitter LinkedIn This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Building and growing a successful business is about more than just having a great idea or product. It's largely about having the right people around you, particularly as you scale. Today's guest discovered this simple truth and is here to share his insights. In today's episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius chats with Brian Scudamore, a serial entrepreneur probably best known for pioneering the professional junk hauling industry through 1-800-GOT-JUNK. Since conquering that market, he's gone on to apply his O2E (ordinary to exceptional) formula to the painting and home-detailing industry with Wow 1-Day Painting and Shack Shine. You'll learn exactly what goes into being a so-called "overnight success." You'll discover the one mistake that a great many entrepreneurs make at some point in their journey.  You'll also learn why it's vital to be surrounded by people in your business who share your vision and core values. Join Darius and Brian for this amazing and eye-opening discussion! Enjoy! What You’ll Learn in this Show: The reality of the "overnight success." One common mistake most entrepreneurs make. The importance of having the right people in business. And so much more... Resources: 1-800-GOT-JUNK Brian's LinkedIn The Real Darius Darius Class Website Facebook Instagram YouTube Twitter LinkedIn This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius chats with Monique Rhodes, singer/songwriter and mindfulness meditation expert with The 10-minute Mind. She brings her unique insights, calm, cool demeanor and infectiously positive outlook on the world to this discussion. You'll learn the value of taking time to truly reevaluate what's serving you and what isn't) during this "slow-down." You'll discover how shifting our habits is vital to shifting our minds. You'll also learn some team mediation practices you can implement for your organization. Join Darius and Monique for this fun, thoughtful and inspiring discussion. Enjoy! What You’ll Learn in this Show: Taking time to reevaluate during the "slow-down." How to shift our habits in order to shift our minds. Team meditation practices you can try. And so much more...  Resources: The 10-minute Mind The Real Darius Darius Class Website Facebook Instagram YouTube Twitter LinkedIn This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's guest has faced many challenges in his life - a difficult childhood, trouble with the law as a teenager, parents divorcing, homelessness - and yet he has risen above it all to share his insight with us.  In today's episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius chats with Glenn Lundy, Husband, father of eight children, auto industry leader, and a motivational speaker on a mission to change the way you start your day. Glenn is also the pioneer of the 800% Club, host of #riseandgrind, an author, a speaker, and a former GM of Dan Cummins Chevrolet Buick. You'll gain some insight into Glenn's background, from his mixed race parentage and difficulties fitting in, to his brief but life-changing struggle with homelessness. You'll learn how you can build an audience in your business, but also, how to build one within yourself. You'll also discover the four key components for creating a movement online. Join Darius and Glenn for this eye-opening and inspiring discussion! Enjoy! What You’ll Learn in this Show: Some insight into Glenn's fascinating life and experiences. How to build an audience in business, but also in oneself. The four key components for creating a movement online. And so much more... Resources: #RiseAndGrind Podcast The Morning Five book The Real Darius Darius Class Website Facebook Instagram YouTube Twitter LinkedIn This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Imagine working in a business with no managers and, seemingly, no structure or hierarchy. A business run on that model would be an exercise in chaos ...or would it?  That's just one of the many misconceptions people have about holacracy, a new form of business management promoted and developed by today's guest. In today's episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius chats with Brian Robertson, seasoned entrepreneur, organization builder, recovering CEO, and developer of holacracy, a management practice that promises to embrace people's individual humanity, autonomy, and creative problem-solving capacities. You'll learn what holacracy is, along with some of the most common misconceptions people have about the system. You'll discover a little of Brian's background, as well as how holacracy works within an organization. You'll also learn about the concept of roles and why boundaries are so vital in a business run on the holacracy model. Join Darius and Brian as they explore this exciting new way to do business! Enjoy! What You’ll Learn in this Show: An explanation of what holacracy is, along with some of the most common misconceptions people have about the system. A little of Brian's background, and how he came to develop his work with holacracy. The concept of roles and why boundaries are so vital in a business run on the holacracy model. And so much more... Resources: Holacracy website The Real Darius Darius Class Website Facebook Instagram YouTube Twitter LinkedIn This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you make your investment choices? What philosophies or beliefs do you rely on to select a suitable investment? Everyone seems to have their own way of determining the answer to those questions, and today's guest is here to provide his own insights! In today's episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius chats with Christopher M. Schelling, an educator, Director of Alternative Investments for Venturi Private Wealth, and the author of "Better Than Alpha." He holds degrees in psychology, business, and finance and is an expert at incorporating insights from behavioral finance into investment decision-making.  You'll learn how Chris made his way into the world of finance after receiving a degree in psychology, as well as a primer on the various philosophies people use to choose funds. You'll discover the differences between stocks and "alternative" investments (hedge funds, private equity, private real estate, etc.) You'll also learn about the ins and outs of private equities. Join Darius and Chris as they discuss everything you need to know about investing, stocks, funds, and so much more! Enjoy! What You’ll Learn in this Show: A little of Chris' background and the different philosophies that go into investing in funds. Stock market investments vs. alternative investments. The ins and outs of private and public equities. And so much more... Resources: Chris' LinkedIn Better than Alpha book The Real Darius Darius Class Website Facebook Instagram YouTube Twitter LinkedIn This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Imagine hiking and cycling from the northernmost point in Alaska, all the way down the coast to the southernmost tip of Argentina. Now imagine doing it with no experience, little research and no real plan. It sounds crazy, but today's guests decided to embark on that very adventure and are anxious to share their experiences! It's a story of incredible revelations, unforgettable encounters (like being six feet from a mother black bear and her cubs!) human connections and lessons learned. In today's episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius chats with Ville and Kristen Jokinen, a dynamic traveling duo who have made the conscious choice to travel. They've just completed a 20-month, 18,000-mile cycling odyssey from Alaska to Argentina - with zero experience.  You'll learn what sparked the decision to give up their traditional lifestyles and travel the world, often in conditions many of us would find impossible. You'll discover why Ville and Kristen believe that life should be lived without hesitation - it's too short not to chase adventure and discovery. You'll also learn why people with the least to give are often the most generous, while those with wealth tend to be more guarded, and what that says about our society. Join Darius, Ville and Kristen as they discuss their epic journey and the revelations they made along the way! Enjoy! What You’ll Learn in this Show: The many lessons Ville and Kristen learned on their epic cycling journey from Alaska to Argentina. Why we should all strive to live without hesitation and embrace the brevity of life. How people who have more tend to be more guarded, while those with nothing are often the most generous and giving people you'll meet. And so much more... Resources: Ville and Kristen's Travel Blog The Real Darius Darius Class Website Facebook Instagram YouTube Twitter LinkedIn This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's no secret that we tend to like to be around people who make us laugh. Whether it's a comedian on a stage, a partner who brings positive energy to a relationship or even a co-worker who makes the work day fun, it's a powerful draw. But do you learn how to be funny? Is there a formula for engaging with people in a way that entertains and amuses? As you're about to learn, there is no secret formula. It's a gift we've all been given - we just need to learn how to embrace it. In today's episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius chats with Stephanie Paul, a coach who works with executives, sales teams, TEDx speakers, fundraisers, and experts of all kinds, helping them to become master communicators. Her areas of expertise seem almost endless, having worked as an actress, an improv, stand-up, and sketch comedian, a director and producer for live events, stage and video, a writer, and as a public speaker.  You'll discover some of the secrets of the entertainment industry, and how Stephanie has worked her way through nearly every area of the field, both in front of and behind the camera. You'll learn how a chance meeting with a friend led to her transition from the entertainment industry to the world of corporate coaching, and how many of her skills have successfully transferred over. You'll also learn some of the key components for building and delivering a compelling and engaging talk to any audience - and it's probably not what you think! Join Darius and Stephanie as they discuss the power of being an engaging communicator in all areas of your life. Enjoy! What You’ll Learn in this Show: The in's and out's of the acting business and how Stephanie worked her way through nearly every area of the field, both in front of and behind the camera. Her surprising transition from the acting world to the corporate world. The key components for building and delivering a compelling and powerful talk to any audience. And so much more... Resources: Stephanie's Website Darius Class Website The Real Darius Facebook Instagram YouTube Twitter LinkedIn This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most of us would like to live longer lives, but only if those extra years are healthy and happy. The science of longevity may seem relatively new, but in fact we've been increasing our own lifespans for the last century or so. We've gone from an average age of about 35 to something closer to 70-75 years, and that trend shows no sign of slowing down. In today's episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius chats with Sergey Young, longevity investor, speaker and author of "The Science and Technology of Growing Young" about our desire to live longer and happier lives, and his mission to extend the healthy lifespans of one billion people worldwide. You'll discover the origins of longevity research and what brought a longtime investor such as Sergey into this field. You'll learn five habits we should adapt to promote longevity and health in our own lives.  You'll also learn why Sergey believes that greater longevity is inevitable, as well as a concept he calls "the near horizon of longevity innovation." Join Darius and Sergey as they discuss finding the fountain of youth, being young and feeling young! Enjoy! What You’ll Learn in this Show: The origins of longevity research and what brought Sergey to the field as an investor. Five things we should be doing to improve our own longevity. Creating and extending life and something Sergey calls "the near horizon of longevity innovation." And so much more... Resources: Sergey's website The Real Darius Darius Class Website Facebook Instagram YouTube Twitter LinkedIn This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are few things more demoralizing than pouring your heart and soul into a job (not to mention countless hours of dedicated work) only to have your employer let you go with barely a thank you for your hard work. Today's guest has experienced this first hand, but rather than allow it to stop her, she's used it to fuel her own massive success. In today's episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius chats with Hala Taha, entrepreneur, CEO of YAP Media and LinkedIn's Podcasting Princess. Her path to success has been a long and challenging one, despite her relatively young age, and she's ready to share her insights on today's episode. You'll learn about Hala's journey through the ups and downs of the entertainment industry, a difficult path that provided tremendous experience and eventually led her to the corporate world where more lessons awaited. You'll discover some surprisingly effective habits and tactics used by successful leaders. You'll also learn how Hala's extensive experience inspired her to create her #1 rated Young and Profiting podcast and more recently, YAP Media, a full-service social media and podcast marketing agency for top podcasters, celebrities and CEOs. Join Darius and Hala and get inspired by her story, her determination and her insights! Enjoy! What You’ll Learn in this Show: The process Hala used to become an "overnight success." Surprising habits and tactics of successful leaders. The reasons why Hala decided to start the Young And Profiting podcast. And so much more... Resources: Hala's website The Real Darius Darius Class Website Facebook Instagram YouTube Twitter LinkedIn This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices