When you meet Lou Radja for the first time, most people are struck by the warmth of his smile, followed by his remarkable ability to command a room with his wonderful stories. If you hang around long enough after he’s finished speaking, you’ll be one of the lucky ones to get a hug from this incredible man. Lou was born in Boston, but spent the next 16 years of his life in the Congo when his parents moved there with him and his siblings. It was in the Congo where he developed his love of storytel...
Mar 21, 2017•36 min
What can we learn from having a bad boss, or working with a really bad coach? Emotional Intelligence expert Dr. Tracey Adams says plenty! Tracey and I recently met via a mutual friend and PYP MVP Elizabeth Case (thanks, Elizabeth!) and we hit it off immediately. Enthusiastic is an understatement when it comes to describing this powerhouse. I learned so much from our conversation on today’s episode, and I know you will love what she shares. One of the big takeaways is this: when we allow other pe...
Mar 07, 2017•43 min
100 is a nifty number. It’s many people’s favorite currency denomination (who doesn’t like having a pocket full of Benjamins). It carries a certain and enviable weight. Just saying the words “one hundred” can send currents of excitement through our brains. Did you know, for example, that the numerology number 100 represents energy that's self-determined, independent, and has infinite potential? That the number 100 can be seen as a practically unlimited number 1? That it is highly self-sufficient...
Feb 28, 2017•18 min
If you were deathly afraid of spiders, would you deliberately spend the night in the jungles of Borneo? Today’s PYP MVP Sue Ritchie did, and said it was one of the best experiences of her life. Sue is a leadership coach who knows how to shake things up and move us out of our comfort zones so we can thrive in the new world of work and life. No stranger to taking calculated risks, Sue walks her talk and can attest to the importance of stretching ourselves so we know life in a new way. She is an ex...
Feb 21, 2017•46 min
I first met Karen Lopez McWilliams in the lobby of a Hilton Hotel in Southlake, Texas. It was late June 2015 and she arrived with all the materials she’d agreed to bring for our two day strategy session together on her passion project: big post-it paper, colored markers, legal pads, pens. For the next 48 hours, we hashed out the game plan she would use to create her book, The Ones Who Believed: True Inspirational Stories Honoring Everyday People Who Took a Chance, Shaped a Life and Made a Differ...
Feb 14, 2017•36 min
I love the Super Bowl. I was not happy with the outcome on Sunday as I wanted the Falcons to win. But hats off to Tom Brady and the Patriots for pulling out of their tailspin and coming back to win the game. History making event. But enough about football. Ha! Today I want to talk about the halftime show because it was out of this world and I couldn’t help myself...I was enjoying it not just for the entertainment value, but also for the business value...looking at Lady Gaga as the epitome of an ...
Feb 07, 2017•16 min
When I was in my twenties, I loved buying expensive shoes at Nordstrom. While I’m not nearly as obsessed with fancy shoes as I was in those days, I still enjoy splurging once in awhile on a great pair of kicks. In fact, I know plenty of women whose appetites for shoes and other fashion accessories have only increased over the years. Honestly, it doesn’t matter what people decide to spend their money on because it’s a personal decision. Some women like shoes. Some men like motorcycles. Most peopl...
Jan 31, 2017•19 min
In the second half of my conversation with Thor Conklin, Thor gets into the details of how to execute on the plans we make for our lives, our businesses, our careers. Think that’s easy? It’s actually not. For the last 16 years, Thor has been obsessed with finding out what makes the difference between the people who succeed wildly in life and the ones who say they want to succeed wildly -- but never do. With the same energy and enthusiasm as he put forth in the first half, Thor doesn’t skimp on t...
Jan 24, 2017•23 min
It’s fun listening to Thor Conklin. He is full of energy, insights and passion for helping people achieve peak performance. What I noticed right away about Thor was his conviction: what he shares with us in the first half of our conversation in today’s episode is nothing less than spectacular -- and totally doable. That’s another quality I admire in Thor. He breaks down big ideas that may at first seem too far out reach to someone just getting started or in a place of confusion. There is a reaso...
Jan 17, 2017•23 min
Being the Best. I’ve been reading Seth Godin’s book The Dip this week. If you haven’t read this book, I recommend it. In a nutshell, The Dip is a book about helping readers figure out when to keep going, when to quit and “having the guts to do one or the other.” Sounds simple enough, but it really isn’t. A Short Book with a Long Punch. The Dip is a short book, but it packs a long-lasting punch. It gets you thinking about what you’re doing, and whether or not what you’re doing is worth it. It tel...
Jan 10, 2017•16 min
“The best professionals I’ve ever met are always improving. They are never stuck in one place.” Claudio Toyoma, PYP #62 The end of one year and the beginning of a new one is always a great time to reflect, ruminate, and recharge. What better way than to showcase the best and brightest insights from the 2016 roster of PYP MVPs than with a highlight reel? Today’s episode continues the spirit of compiling key plays from each guest’s playbook to inspire you to kick off 2017 with energy, excitement a...
Jan 01, 2017•31 min
Personal branding is all the rage today and it’s one of the most difficult concepts to grasp, let alone get right. But for people who work with today’s PYP MVP, Britney Gardner, things fall into place with their brands and they get results. As a brand strategist, Britney Gardner translates what it feels like to work with you into messaging you will use to build a business (or career) full of the best clients for you. Creator of The Badass Brand and host of the The Know, Like & Trust Show pod...
Dec 20, 2016•41 min
It's almost 2017 and the publishing industry has been turned upside down in the last few years by tech giants like Amazon who allow anyone to publish anything, anywhere, anytime. Given our highly digital world, a big question on book lovers' minds everywhere is -- do books still matter in a Snapchat world? Today's PYP MVP Ally Machate has a unique perspective on the state of books today. She is the founder of The Writer’s Ally, an award-winning business that offers expert writing and editorial s...
Nov 29, 2016•37 min
Kids today are experiencing greater health challenges than any generation in our history. From too much time sitting in front of screens to highly processed diets, our children need alternatives to developing healthy habits for life. Today's PYP MVP, Jeremy Barnhart, is a co-owner and VP of Franchise Development at Apex Fun Run and is providing a terrific solution to this problem. Apex Fun Run helps schools raise funds for equipment and other campus needs through a two week character building an...
Nov 15, 2016•28 min
The Chicago Cubs just won the World Series after 108 years of dashed hopes, high expectations, faith, belief, doubt, and generations of fans wondering if it would ever happen. One week later, on November 8, 2016, America will elect a new president, and we will witness a new round of dashed hopes, high expectations, faith, belief, doubt and generations of citizens wondering what just happened. Regardless of who wins on Tuesday, it's Election Season 2016 and the stakes are high...or are they? In t...
Nov 06, 2016•15 min
Jo Miller is Founding Editor of BeLeaderly.com , CEO of Women’s Leadership Coaching, Inc ., and the creator of the Women’s Leadership Coaching® system, a roadmap for women who want to break into leadership positions in business. Used successfully by thousands of women worldwide, the system identifies the key steps women must take to advance into positions of influence and leadership—especially in industries long considered “a man’s world,” such as technology, finance, and energy. Jo is an intern...
Nov 01, 2016•36 min
Dave Sanderson is an inspirational survivor, speaker, and author. When US Airways Flight 1549, or "The Miracle on the Hudson," ditched into the Hudson River on January 15, 2009, Dave Sanderson knew he was exactly where he was supposed to be. The last passenger off the back of the plane on that fateful day, he was largely responsible for the well-being and safety of others, risking his own life in frigid water to help other passengers off the plane. Despite the hazards to himself, Sanderson thoug...
Oct 18, 2016•34 min
Just saw the movie “Sully” starring Tom Hanks and directed by Clint Eastwood. It tells the story of what happened on January 15, 2009 when US Airways flight 1549 landed in the Hudson River six minutes after taking off from LaGuardia Airport in NYC. Given the circumstances, Captain Sully with the assistance of his co-pilot made decisions that ended up saving the lives of all 155 passengers on board the plane that day. Yet...almost immediately, government authorities questioned whether or not he c...
Oct 11, 2016•9 min
Nate Osborn is a partner with the law firm Montgomery Little & Soran in Denver, Colorado. He specializes in real estate law, but also frequently helps entrepreneurs and small business owners with various legal issues including business formation, contracts, and business disputes. When Nate isn't practicing law, he's writing for BoyCave Books, a brand he recently launched that publishes books specifically tailored to the interests of boys like his own. His first book, The Disgusting & Ina...
Oct 04, 2016•35 min
An All-American kid growing up, Tanner Gers (Pronounced "Gears") is a man who's been forced to reinvent himself over and over again throughout his life, but the biggest reinvention he had was moving forward and learning how to thrive after waking up in the hospital totally blind. Since that day, Tanner has influenced the world as the host of The Creative Success Show, his health and fitness blog, ABSolutelyLean.com, a professional speaker, and as a Paralympian. Tanner finds the fuel to achieve m...
Sep 27, 2016•26 min
These days, podcasts and books crop up as fast as dandelions in the spring. Sometimes it's hard to differentiate one from another. That's why I always appreciate getting a referral from someone I like and trust about a great source of information, inspiration, or education. Books and podcasts remain some of the best places to get high quality content. I called this week's audible for that very reason...to pass along 2 high quality podcasts and 1 excellent book recommendation to you, Team PYP. Th...
Sep 20, 2016•15 min
Hello Team PYP. Today is September 11, 2016 and for today’s show I’m calling a special audible in remembrance of the events that unfolded 15 years ago. Like most people who are old enough to remember where they were on that fateful day in 2001, I have an ache in my heart for the victims of that terrible tragedy we now call 9/11. I invite you to join me in honoring those who served that day and those who continue to serve now to protect our freedom to show up and be ourselves in life and work. Cr...
Sep 13, 2016•14 min
Nellie Akalp is a serial entrepreneur, small business advocate, speaker and author. Through the various "Do-It- Yourself" and "Business-Startup" services she has founded since 1997, she has formed over 200,000 corporations and LLCs for small business owners. Her last company was acquired by Intuit in 2005. Today, she and her husband, Phil, operate CorpNet.com where they help entrepreneurs start and maintain a business in compliance with state filing requirements for a new or existing business. N...
Sep 06, 2016•28 min
Marina Darlow is a systems pro and productivity expert. She sees her job as helping impact-driven entrepreneurs get 10-20 more productive hours a week, stop leaking money, and prevent stress-fuel breakdowns. An engineer by training, Marina came to a realization a couple years ago: working for a conglomerate is not as inspiring as she wants her life work to be. The quest for inspiration brought her to found Vision Framework, a company that builds small, purpose-driven businesses from the inside, ...
Aug 30, 2016•36 min
Go inside the world of franchising with today's PYP MVP, Paul Maskill. Sitting in a cubicle for 12 hours a day while building someone else’s business was not Paul’s idea of a living the dream. So, he quit! In 2011 he invested in his first TGA franchise, combining his business experience with passion for sports. TGA brings golf and tennis to students through afterschool programs, summer camps and family events. Paul grew his business to four franchises, impacting 1,000’s of kids, with $420k in an...
Aug 23, 2016•27 min
Brandon Gaille gets over 2 Million visitors to his blog every month -- yet he’s only been blogging since 2013. How is this possible? Brandon’s approach to everything comes from a process of reverse engineering what works, so he can make what he does that much better. In today’s show, Brandon talks openly about systems he uses to grow his audience and business, all while staying true to himself and playing his position. Stay updated with what's happening at PYP here!...
Aug 16, 2016•33 min
How can you play your position at peak performance and give it what it really needs every day? Listen in as the Founder of Mobius Nutrition, David Taylor, shares insights about optimizing your nutrition profile for excellence throughout your day. A detour during college into eating mostly junk food was enough to show David how important proper nutrition is to enjoying a fantastic and productive life. His company is already changing lives and is set up for great success for years to come. Are you...
Aug 09, 2016•26 min
Hello Team PYP! Happy summer. It’s been a great summer here at PYP Headquarters. Gearing up for the start of the 3rd official season of Play Your Position. I've got a fantastic fall line up in store for you with amazing guests. So exciting! Here's a shout out to the Rio Summer Olympics which are set to begin soon. And a special hello to all my faithful listeners down in Brazil… Ola! Que os jogos comecem! Are you ready for kick off? Let's go! Links from the show: Subscribe to the Find Your Footba...
Aug 02, 2016•12 min
Kris Miller is a woman on a mission: she wants to live in a world where people celebrate their lives when they retire, not scrimp and worry if their money is going to last. She’s advised over 6,000 families over the last 25 years and has never lost a single penny of their money. As a transformational money coach, she’s been featured on hundreds of radio and TV programs; published in magazines, and spoken on stages across the country for top financial organizations including Citibank. Kris is the...
Jul 05, 2016•36 min
New York pianist and composer Jane Leslie has been honored with several ASCAP Awards for her original music. She holds Bachelors and Masters degrees from the Juilliard School and a Doctoral degree from the Manhattan School of Music. Blending elements from classical and popular music, Jane Leslie has created her own signature 'crossover' style of music. Her beautiful melodies convey a sense of peace and tranquility, with a romantic and expressive sound that can touch the heart of the listener. He...
Jun 21, 2016•28 min
