In Search Of Excellence

Sammy Hagar is one of the most prolific artists in the history of Rock and Roll.  Playing in bands like Montrose and Van Halen, and with a successful solo career that included the rock anthem “I Can’t Drive 55,” Sammy has had 25 platinum albums and has sold more than 60 million albums worldwide.  Sammy is also an extremely successful serial entrepreneur and was the first celebrity to create his own tequila brand which he sold more than 20 years ago for nearly $100 million.  He is also devoted to giving back and is a generous philanthropist.  But who was Sammy before fame and fortune? How did he become the successful rock icon and entrepreneur he is today?  Sammy’s journey is filled with many challenges, incredible perseverance, a lucky coincidence, and an ability to change.  Sammy attributes his success to the lessons he learned about resilience and appreciation while growing up in poverty in Salinas, CA where he often slept in a car with his mom and siblings to get away from his alcoholic father.  When Sammy fell in love with music at a Rolling Stones concert at age 14, the scrappy, adaptable young man bought a guitar from Sears and decided he would stop at nothing to pursue his dream of becoming a rock star.In this fascinating episode, Sammy and Randall talk about Sammy’s journey from poverty to the big stage, Sammy’s experience with the bands Montrose and Van Halen, his creativity and marketing abilities in building Cabo Wabo Cantina and Cabo Wabo Tequila, and his dedication to philanthropy and making a difference in local communities.Topics Include:  - The odd jobs Sammy had while growing up which taught him the value of a strong work ethic;- Sammy’s first realization about what having money would be like;- Sammy’s first concert experiences and learning to play the guitar;- The lessons Sammy learned from growing up poor;- The ups and downs and experiences of playing with Van Halen for 20 years;- The sale of Cabo Wabo Tequila for nearly $100 million to Gruppo Campari;- His creativity, branding, and marketing tactics used to build the Cabo Wabo brand;- Sammy’s three most important ingredients in the path to excellence;- His ability to finding joy and happiness in the simple things;- The origins of Sammy’s Beach Bar and Grill and the restaurant’s commitment to give back; - And other topics…Sammy Hagar is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and entrepreneur.  In the 1970s, Sammy’s career took off with the rock band Montrose, and continued after he launched a successful solo career that included some of the greatest rock anthems ever written with songs like “I Can’t Drive 55,” “Right Now,” and “Why Can’t This be Love.”  Sammy was the frontman for Van Halen for nearly 20 years, has had 25 platinum albums, and has sold 60 million records worldwide.  He is a Grammy award winner and inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Sammy is also an incredibly talented entrepreneur, starting companies such as Cabo Wabo Tequila, Cabo Wabo Cantina, Sammy’s Beach Bar and Grill, Sammy’s Beach Bar Rum, and Santo Mezquila. He is also a two-time New York Times best-selling author and a dedicated philanthropist.  In 2008, Sammy started the Hagar Family Foundation, a private non-profit that focuses on food relief and children’s causes including children with cancer.Coaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn 

The incredible story of Orlando Bravo’s journey from a tuna fishing village in Puerto Rico to the most successful private equity investor in the world, is one of incredibly hard work and a fierce determination to succeed.  When Orlando’s childhood dream of becoming a professional tennis player ended, he went to Brown on a tennis scholarship, was terrified he wouldn't succeed, graduated Phi Beta Kappa in the top 2% of his class, and later earned a JD / MBA from Stanford. After not being offered a summer internship position at a prestigious private equity firm and graduating from Stanford without a job, Orlando made 100 cold calls to potential employers, one of whom was Carl Thoma who is considered one of the founders and pioneers of private equity.  It was here that Orlando put himself on the map.  After making a series of poor acquisitions of technology companies that survived the dot.com bust in 2010-2011, he pivoted and began investing in software companies.  His first deal was the acquisition of Prophet 21, a product distribution software provider based in San Diego where he worked for five days in the garage of the company’s founder before going forward with the deal.  The investment made a 4x return and earned Orlando a seat at the table, and by the age of 30 Orlando became a partner in the firm.  Since its founding, Thomas Bravo has completed more than 350 acquisitions worth nearly $155 billion, and presently oversees a portfolio of 50 software companies that generate $21 billion in annual revenue and employs more than 72,000 people around the world. In this inspirational episode, Randall and Orlando discuss Orlando’s journey from tennis to higher education, why he focuses on investing in well-established software companies instead of startups, the importance of learning from investment mistakes and other failures, and why he believes the next generation is always better than the previous one.Topics Include: - Lessons about work ethic learned from his parents and grandfather- How “soft landings” and limiting pressure can build environments where people thrive- Why Orlando prefers cold calling to introductions- How the dot-com bubble influenced his investment strategy - The story of the Profit 21 acquisition- How he made a $9 billion profit in 18 months by buying and selling Ellie Mae- How to attract and retain top talent- The place cryptocurrency in our society- The value of preparation- Mentorship- The importance of philanthropy and his incredible efforts after Hurricane Maria, and what he’s doing to help Puerto Rico and young entrepreneurs there- And other topics… ​​Orlando Bravo is the Founder and Managing Partner of Thoma Bravo, a private equity firm with a focus on software and technology that has been rated the top-performing private equity firm in the world.  Orlando is an incredibly generous philanthropist and serves as the Founder and Chairman of the Bravo Family Foundation whose mission is to provide access and opportunities to young adults in Puerto Rico.  He has committed over $100 million to the Foundation’s Rising Entrepreneurs Program (REP), a program that promotes entrepreneurship in Puerto Rico.  Resources Mentioned: Memos from the Chairman by Alan GreenbergCoaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn 

Trina Spear is the Co-CEO and Co-Founder of FIGS, a healthcare apparel and lifestyle brand that has a current value of $4 billion.  What has grown into a spectacular success started with a simple idea and question – what if we put as much thought into healthcare apparel as we do with athletic apparel?  What if we invented apparel for healthcare professionals by selling fitted, fashionable, cool, and comfortable medical scrubs?Trina and her partner Heather Hasson began working on this idea in 2012, and a year later they were selling medical scrubs in parking lots of hospitals out of the trunk of Heather’s car.  The rest is history.  In May 2021, FIGS became the first company ever to go public that was led by two female co-founders. In today’s episode, Trina and Randall discuss Trina’s early life and educational pursuits, how her background in investment banking and private equity prepared her to navigate life as an entrepreneur, the future of female entrepreneurship, why outsiders are better equipped to disrupt industries, and much more.Episode Topics: - Pros and cons of college- The importance of internships- Female entrepreneurship - Mentorship under Strauss Zelnick- Taking the leap to become an entrepreneur- The importance of cold calling and communication skills- FIGS’ biggest mistakes- Taking FIGS public on the New York Stock Exchange- Finding funding- Direct to consumer products- The power of being underestimated- FIGS’ charity initiative Threads for Threads- And other topics…Trina Spear is the Co-CEO and Co-founder of FIGS, a $4 billion healthcare apparel and lifestyle brand. Trina’s many accolades include being named Goldman Sachs’ 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs in 2018 and 2019 and Los Angeles Entrepreneur of the Year in 2018, and in 2021 Trina made the Forbes list as one of America’s wealthiest self-made women with a net worth of $600 million.  Prior to FIGS, Trina was an associate with the Blackstone Group and spent several years in investment banking and private equity at Citigroup.  She received her BA from Tufts University and her MBA from Harvard Business School.Coaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn 

David Rubenstein grew up in a modest, blue-collar home in Northwest Baltimore.  He never considered himself a brilliant student or excellent athlete, but he did believe that hard work leads to success.  This drive and work ethic paid off, and today, David is a billionaire businessman and a member of the Forbes 400 list.  David’s journey has taken him from humble beginnings in Baltimore, MD, to Duke University, Chicago Law School, and a job as a white house staffer, to eventually co-founding one of the largest private equity firms in the world, the Carlyle Group. David and Randall talk about David’s career journey, his passion for philanthropy, the struggles he overcame when starting a business, three past investment mistakes, the skills necessary to become a leader, investment strategy, parenting, and much more.  Topics Include: - How to create your own luck- Education, the investment no one can take from you- The “biological clock” for entrepreneurs- The beginnings of the Carlyle group - Patriotic philanthropy- The American Dream- The challenges of parenting - Lessons from investment “mistakes”- Bitcoin, cryptocurrency, and NFTs- David’s three-part philosophy on life- And other topics…David Rubenstein is a Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of The Carlyle Group, one of the world’s largest and most successful private investment firms. He is the author of several books, including The American Story: Conversations with Master Historians (2019), How to Lead: Wisdom from the World's Greatest CEOs, Founders, and Game Changers (2020), and The American Experiment: Dialogues on a Dream (2021).  David is also the host of The David Rubenstein Show: Peer-to-Peer Conversations on Bloomberg TV and PBS.  David is an active philanthropist and serves on the board of many organizations, including the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Council on Foreign Relations, The Brookings Institution, Lincoln Center of the Performing Arts, and more.  David graduated magna cum laude from Duke University, where he was elected Phi Beta Kappa.  David went on to graduate from the University of Chicago Law School, where he was an editor of the Law Review.Resources Mentioned:The American Story: Conversations with Master HistoriansHow to Lead: Wisdom from the World's Greatest CEOs, Founders, and Game ChangersThe American Experiment: Dialogues on a DreamCoaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn 

Randall Kaplan is joined by former professional hockey player Jimmy Carson to discuss his early and long-term success in the NHL, his experiences as a first-generation American, his post-professional life as a father and husband, his success after he retired, his views on being part of the biggest trade in sports history, and much more.Topics Include:The influence of Jimmy’s parents and his ancestry.  The American Dream and what it meant to Jimmy and his family.  The role of mentors in shaping our success.  Growing up near Olympia Stadium and attending his first Detroit Red Wings games.  Moving to Canada at age 16 to play hockey.  Being selected as the second overall draft pick by the Los Angeles Kings.  Being traded to the Edmonton Oilers for Wayne Gretzky.  Jimmy’s keys to success.  And other topics...Jimmy Carson is a former American professional hockey player who played for the Los Angeles Kings, Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks, and Hartford Whalers. In 1988, he became the second teenager to score 50 goals in a season - the first was Wayne Gretzky.  He scored more goals as a teenager than any player in NHL history – 92 goals.  After he retired from hockey, Jimmy has built a very successful career in financial services - something he planned during his early days in the NHL.Coaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn 

Randall Kaplan is joined by serial entrepreneur and media personality Kevin O’Leary.  Known to many as Mr. Wonderful on SharkTank, Kevin talks about how his unique life experiences made him the successful entrepreneur and investor he is today.  In this episode, Kevin and Randall talk about Kevin’s upbringing and what Kevin learned from his mother about financial independence and investing.  Kevin shares stories about the moment he knew he needed to work for himself, the greatest lesson he learned in business school, and his first entrepreneurial success.  Kevin also talks about why culture matters in business, entrepreneurship and investment strategy, and much more.  Topics Include: Growing up with an alcoholic father.How Kevin’s childhood experience informed how he thinks about investing.  When he decided to become an entrepreneur.  His first success as an entrepreneur.  Overcoming dyslexia and education.  Investment strategy and entrepreneurship.  The war of business.  What he learned as an intern at Nabisco.  Women in finance and investment.  Cryptocurrency, decentralized finance, and NFTs.  The value of failing as an entrepreneur.  And other topics...Kevin O’Leary is a serial entrepreneur, best-selling author, and investor.  Kevin was a co-founder of Softkey Software Products (later The Learning Company) which Mattel bought for $4.2 billion1999.  Today he leads the O’Leary Financial Group, including O’Leary Funds, O’Shares EFTs, O’Leary Publishing, and O’Leary Ventures.  He is also the founder and Chief Sommelier of O’Leary Fine Wines. Kevin is fondly known as “Mr. Wonderful” on ABC’s Shark Tank, is the host of the CNBC show Money Court, and is also a host and personality on Discovery’s Project Earth and CBC’s Dragons’ Den.  Kevin’s is also the author of three best-selling books about financial literacy.Resources Mentioned:nft.comCoaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn 

You probably know Chris Voss as the FBI Hostage Negotiator that wrote the best-selling book Never Split the Difference. What you probably don’t know about Chris is that he grew up an average kid in the Midwest.  There was nothing extraordinary about him, he claims.  He wasn’t popular, academically gifted, or notably athletic. But there is one thing that sets Chris apart from the rest, and he is well aware of what it is – a commitment to getting better every day.No matter where you are in life, Chris has tools to help you unlock your potential.In this episode, Randall Kaplan and Chris Voss talk about reframing setbacks as setups that lead to something better.  They discuss the two caveats for taking advice from someone, the three techniques to a safe resolution, and the exponential benefits of incremental improvement.  Chris shares how his experience in hostage negotiation has transferred to business and provides actionable techniques for negotiating in both our personal and professional lives.Topics Include:Post-traumatic growth.Victim mentality and bullies.Negligible shifts that can result in major differences in outcome.The “win or learn” mindset.Ways to unofficially recruit a mentor.Mirroring, labeling, and delivery in negotiations.Lessons from hostage negotiation that taught Chris about preparation and making mistakes.The art of listening.The ability to say no and protect your time.The value of kindness.The ways to lead a team.The most valuable investment you can make.And other topics...Chris Voss spent 24 years working for the FBI in their crisis negotiation unit.  He was the FBI's chief international hostage and kidnapping negotiator where worked on more than 150 cases, including the 1993 world trade bombing and the 1996 TWA flight 800 explosion.  He is the recipient of the Attorney General's Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement and the FBI Agents Association Award for Distinguished and Exemplary Service.  Today, he is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University School of Business and a lecturer at USC Marshall School of Business.  He's the CEO of the Black Swan Group, which provides training, negotiation, and leadership skills for executives. He is also the author of the bestselling book Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on It.Resources Mentioned:Chris’ WebsiteSign Up For Chris’ Weekly NewsletterBook: Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss Beyond Board WebsiteSarah Zapp’s WebsiteCoaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn 

Randall Kaplan is joined by professional NHL hockey player and Olympic athlete Bobby Ryan. They discuss how, at age 10, Bobby and his family lived in hiding under an assumed name for years after his father tried to murder his mother and escaped bail, Bobby’s rise to becoming an NHL All-Star, his battle with alcoholism, his views on why you need to eliminate the takers in your life, and much more.Topics Include:Separating great athletes from elite athletes.  Excelling at hockey from an early age.  Going 39-0 with the LA Kings junior team.  Winning a national championship at age 12. Being drafted as the second overall pick in the NHL as an eighteen-year-old.  Shifting goals and priorities with age.  Learning about work ethic and dedication from his parents.  Asking for help when you can’t stop drinking.  Making a comeback and being a leader.  And other topics...Bobby Ryan is a professional NHL hockey player who has played for the Anaheim Ducks, Ottawa Senators, and Detroit Red Wings.  He began his hockey career on the Los Angeles Kings junior team, winning a national championship at age 12.  Bobby has also represented the United States in international and Olympic hockey, winning a silver medal in the 2010 Winter Olympics.  After taking a leave for substance abuse in 2020, Bobby was awarded the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, an annual award to the NHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey.Coaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn 

Randall Kaplan is joined by Ben Sherwood to discuss what is missing from the conversations and books on excellence. They discuss pursuing your dreams when the odds are overwhelmingly against you, the murder of journalist David Kaplan while Ben was sitting next to him in a car during the Bosnia-Herzegovina conflict, canceling the hit sitcom Roseanne in 2018 when he was in charge of ABC Television, moving from coast to coast several times to pursue professional opportunities balances against personal and family needs, and much more.Topics include:Explaining why love is the greatest motivator. Learning guiding principles for making career decisions. Becoming a Rhode Scholar.  Admiring Robert Iger, former long-time CEO of Disney.  Starting Mojo, Ben’s newest business venture. Learning the significance of patience and self-forgiveness in our pursuit of excellence.  Explaining the value of kindness and generosity.  Understanding the meaning of what it means to live your deepest questions in life. And other topics…Ben Sherwood is an award-winning journalist, the former executive producer of Good Morning America, the former president of ABC News and CEO of Disney-ABC Television Group, and the former Co-Chair Hulu. He is also the author of four best-selling novels and a non-fiction book titled The Survivors Club: The Secrets and Science That Could Save Your Life.  Ben is also the founder of MOJO, a coaching app for parents designed to revitalize youth sports.Coaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn 

Randall Kaplan is joined by award-winning journalist Lara Logan to discuss the crisis in Afghanistan, the importance of critical thinking, the pursuit of truth in the age of misinformation, the courage to speak your mind even when it’s unpopular, the fear of reporting from dangerous war zones in times of conflict in locations around the world, the experience of being a sexual assault and rape victim, today’s current events which she calls the “fight of our lifetime,” and much more.Topics Include:Lara’s early life growing up in apartheid South Africa.  Providing her thoughts on the presentation of opinion as fact and how it is killing American media and sowing division. Sneaking into Afghanistan and Egypt during extremely dangerous circumstances when her boss refused to “send Barbie to war.”  Experiencing a brutal attack and rape and what it taught Lara about life, death, personal choice, and integrity.  Fighting and beating breast cancer.  Making mistakes as a journalist, the importance of saying your sorry when you’re wrong, and the consequences from reporting errors regarding the Benghazi attack. Defining success in her life today.  Discussing what Lara would do if she were was the President of the United States.  And other topics...Lara Logan is an award-winning journalist who has been reporting from war zones around the world for more than twenty years. She has covered stories during times of conflict in Afghanistan, Iraq, Egypt, Kenya, Liberia, and many other countries. She spent 16 years at CBS news serving in a variety of roles including Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent and a 60 Minutes Correspondent.  Lara has been the recipient of many awards for her journalism including three Emmy Awards, two Edward R Murrow Awards, and the prestigious Daniel Pearl Award for Outstanding International Investigative Reporting. Lara has spent more time reporting in Afghanistan during the last twenty years than all but a few reporters. She is currently the host of Lara Logan Has No Agenda for Fox Nation.Coaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn