Business of Success Podcasts

Empire of Debt with Agora Financial's Addison Wiggin

Doing justice to this next intervew with maverick financial writer Addison Wiggin, Editorial Director and publisher of highly successful The Daily Reckoning and author of the book Empire of Debt: The Rise of an Epic Financial Crisis will prove difficult.  Not only is it facinating, but it's also pretty alarming as we hear America has abandoned its private virtures of personal liberty, economic freedom, and fiscal restraint as its character shifts to accommodate a new imperial role, favoring instead government control of the economy, unfettered deficit spending, gluttonous consumption, and fearless military adventurism, all of which have ravaged the business environment, devastated personal balance sheets, and led the global economy to the brink of financial crisis.

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Tune in as Addison and Alan discuss the state of the nations finances and how the USA could be headed for financial ruin.  Once you've listened to this inteview you may want to put your credit card away and then start realligning your investment protfolio!

Mapping the Traders Brain

Ever wondered what goes on in a Wall Street trader's brain? Or why, when  presented with the same set of facts, do some traders see gold while others see dross? And what do sex, drugs and buying risky stocks have in common?

Here on BOS we have the answer as talk to Adam Levy, author of the Bloomberg Markets Magazine cover story, Mapping the Trader's Brain - Scientists plumb the secrets of making money, as he explores the mysteries of the traders brain through the science of neurofinance. 

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Don't miss this great interview as Levy gives a highly entertaining and fascinating glimpse into the mind of the trader.

 

Turning a $10,000 Investment into a $6.3 Million Return

In a behind the scenes conversation with Alan Rothman of BOS, the former CEO and Chairman of Control Data, Robert M. Price, drew on 40 years at the forefront of the computer industry and illustrates how today’s business leaders and entrepreneurs can apply it. He explains the principles that transformed those 34 employees into a company with 45,000 people with revenues topping $1 billion in less than 14 years from its start. And by August of 1968, an initial investment of $10,000 grew to be worth $6.3 million.  

The starting point for this conversation was based on a review of The Eye for Innovation: Recognizing Possibilities and Managing the Creative Enterprise (Yale University Press) in which Mr. Price shared the insights and experiences he has experienced at the helm of his organization.

Price argues that innovators are made, not born, and what made Control Data so successful was based on creating a culture of innovation using sometimes radical business techniques, that today’s companies can apply:

• Outmaneuver Giants: When Control Data filed an anti-trust lawsuit against IBM, Control Data’s small team of lawyers was able to reach a settlement valued at $700,000 ($3.1 billion in 2004 dollars) that helped fuel Control Data’s growth. Control Data also helped its case by developing an information database system specifically for litigation support in antitrust actions.
• Innovation Needs to be Another “Line Item”: Policies and budgets for stimulating innovation are needed as much as other corporate planning. Boards and/or management need to audit innovation efforts and provide the personnel and finances to support those initiatives.
• Face the Ugly Facts: Control Data learned that innovation and determination cannot overcome all obstacles. In the mid 1980s when the company hit a financial and management crisis, Robert Price made the hard decisions to return the company to profitability by 1987, and the investment community responded with rising stock prices.
• Download robertprice.mp3

“Control Data forged a heritage of innovation that lives on as a compass for the company of the future.”  Hear it revealed in Rothman’s probing questions that inspired Price to reveal the inside secrets that can be applied for your own success!

Blueprint To A Billion with David Thomson

Our fascination with companies that turn billion dollar ideas into billion dollar businesses is aptly sated in this next interview as we talk to the charming David G. Thomson, author of the book, Blueprint To A Billion: 7 Essential Steps to Achieve Exponential Growth.

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Click the above link and hear Thomson's give a fascinating account of what it takes for companies to hit the critical billion dollar benchmark, as he gives a down-to- earth account of the 7 essential principles required to get you there.

Think Google, eBay, Microsoft, Starbucks, Nike and Harley Davidson.... these are just a few examples of an elite group of companies that have managed to turn billion dollar ideas into billion dollar companies. Thomson has written a terrific book that is the product of a 3-year in depth research and analysis of the commonalities between all of these billion dollar companies. Hear the common characteristics that have proven to be the magic formula, and where the next billion dollar companies are likely emerge from. 

If you have a big picture vision for your company, then this is the interview for you!

John Maxwell on the 360 Degree Leader

In this interview the finer points of leadership are explored as our resident BOS host, Alan Rothman talks to John Maxwell, world renowned motivational speaker and author of the book, The 360 Degree Leader: Developing Your Influence From Anywhere in the Organization.

In this interview Maxwell tells us what motivated him to write yet another book on leadership, and how he almost called it, 'Leading From the Middle.'  Indeed leading from the middle of the pack aptly describes his philosophy. Tune in and hear how, irrespective of your position within your company, you can apply simple techniques to grow your circle of influence and develop your sphere of influence by leading up, down and sideways -- basically 350 Degrees!

                           

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Crowning the Customer with Feargal Quinn

In this interview we take you across the Atlantic Ocean to Dublin, Ireland where we hook up with Feargal Quinn, the supermarket magnate, who also happens to be an Irish Senator and the author of the international best seller, Crowning the Customer. In his homeland Quinn is a household name, and in international business circles, he is widely recognized as one of the greatest retailers in the world.

In this interview Quinn shares with us the secrets to his success. Listen in and learn about the The Boomerang Principle; the essence of which is all about a good customer experience, so that your customers come back for more. A principle that is successfully instilled throughout his organization and sets the standard for supermarket chains and businesses throughout the world.  Wearing the crown as the Master of Loyalty, Quinn is also accredited with creating the first and most successful loyalty program in the world. His loyalty principles are replicated by business the world over. And his simple approach to loyalty? Reward your loyal customers!

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Even though this is a 30 minute packed interview (with commercials edited out!), the charming and entertaining Senator Quinn leaves us wanting more as he shares many anecdotal examples of how he has crowned the customer and customer is king!  And that folks, is the real measure of a great interview!

And as for the book? Well it is also excellent and worthy of the Five Star reviews it received on Amazon. Indeed one reviewer, bought multiple copies of Crowning the Customer to give away to everyone who claims to understand customer care. This book is a real hands-on guide for anyone running a business and well worth a read!

Deals From Hell with Robert Bruner

This is a facinating interview borne out a natural curiosity to list the top M&A "Deals from Hell." So who better to talk to than Robert Bruner author of the book Deals from Hell: M&A Deals that Rise Above the Ashes. Bruner is recogniszed as one of the foremost thinkers and educators in the field of Mergers and Acquisitions and he shares with us the real reasons for many of the largest M&A blunders in history. Another great entertaining interview that gives a great insight into the complex world of Mergers and Acquisition.

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Click above link to hear this interview!

Mastering the Trade with John E. Carter

In this interview we speak to John Carter, veteran trader and author of Mastering the Trade,  who shares his hard-won five-point technique for successful swing trading. Listen in as this interview is loaded with some great advice as Carter explains how you can move to the next level of confidence by explaining how markets really work and detailing behind-the-scenes market mechanics. Hear what Carter sees as the "strong sectors" to buy for the long hold for 2006!

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John F. Carter, CTA, is president of Trade the Markets, Inc., and principal of the money management firm Razor Trading. Carter speaks often at Trader's Expo and other trading industry events, and is a regular contributor to SFO magazine, award-winning website tradethemarkets.com  and Chicago Board of Trade publications.

Why Johnny Can't Brand -- But Schley Certainly Can!

On BOS, we've interviewed so many experts on branding, that it's just not funny! Some have been great and others have been... just mediocre. But let me assure you, this next interview is one of the more practical and entertaining interviews we've done on branding so far. This one should by now be on your must hear list of of great BOS branding interviews!

 

So sit back and be prepared to go back-to-basics with branding expert Bill Schley of David Inc. and author of Why Johnny Can't Brand: Rediscovering the Lost Art of the Big Idea.  Listen in as Bill outlines some of the 17 critical elements of creating a winning brand (all of which you'll find in the book of course!) and hear some great examples of companies who have moved to the #1 spot in their industries by simply defining their Dominant Selling Idea (DSI).  If you happen to think that you're above the back-to-basics approach, be warned -- failure to do so could seriously damage your brands health!

Take this recommendation from one who has been privy to some of the greatest branding experts in the world. Listen to the interview and get a copy of the book -- it's essential to healthy branding.

Leadership through the Samurai Code

In this interview we talk to Bill Diffenderffer author of The Samurai Leader: Winning Business Battles With The Wisdom, Honor and Courage of the Samurai Code.  Deffenderffer has been studying the Samurai Code for decades, using it to help lead companies as Continental Airlines and IBM.  This is another great interview, so listen in and hear how to use the Samurai Code so that you can discover:

• How to choose the right battles every time
• When to hold your ground during negotiations
• How true leaders build loyal teams
• The right way to execute change

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