The Find Your Influence Podcast with Anton Guinea

CEO Sladen Moses speaks with Anton Guinea on the Leaders of Influence podcast about what real influence and leadership look like in practice. Sladen defines influence not as being the loudest voice, but as the compound effect of small moments, comments, ideas, and actions that continue to shape teams and outcomes long after a meeting ends. He describes his leadership style as a “greatest hits album” made up of mentors, colleagues, bosses, and family who taught him customer obsession, candor, hard decision-making, and showing up for others even when there’s nothing in it for you. A core theme is service-driven leadership and sales: instead of pushing for end-of-quarter deals, his company focuses on deeply understanding customers’ problems and helping solve them, trusting that sales will follow naturally. Sladen also emphasizes psychological safety and high standards within a small, highly specialized startup team, comparing business more to a high-performing sports team than a family; everyone is accountable, aligned to a shared goal, but treated well especially when things are hard. He explains how Lexon Solutions leverages deep industry experience in mining, oil & gas, and heavy industry to help clients manage spare parts and indirect materials, using credibility and empathy from ex-industry professionals rather than traditional hard-sell tactics. The discussion closes with Sladen’s belief that sometimes the only thing carrying an idea forward is your belief in it, so leaders must hold strong convictions while staying adaptable in how they reach their goals. Takeaways: Influence is built from small, consistent moments Sladen sees influence not as big speeches or titles, but as the compound effect of everyday comments, decisions, and behaviors that quietly shape culture and outcomes over time. Service-first leadership makes sales and trust easier By obsessing over customers’ problems and genuinely trying to help (even if it means saying “you don’t need our product”), Sladen shows that integrity and service naturally create credibility and long-term business. High standards plus psychological safety create high-performing teams He leads like a coach of a high-performance sports team: the best idea wins regardless of title, tough conversations are normal, and people feel safe enough to hear and give hard feedback while staying aligned to a shared mission. Quotes: "Influence to me is more of a compound effect of several tiny moments instead of big speeches and planning sessions, and executive oversight." "We tell the truth, especially if it's a tough conversation to have. We get comfortable having uncomfortable conversations. We obsess over our customers, and we treat people well when things are hard, not just when things are going to plan." "Sometimes your belief can be the only thing that will take an idea forward. So maintain those strong beliefs, but be able to adapt." Timeline: 0:00 – Influence as a team sport 0:30 – Sladen’s background and leadership journey 3:59 – What “influence” means to Sladen 5:32 – “Best idea wins” culture at Lexon 8:32 – Service-first mindset in sales and leadership 13:54 – Standards, hard conversations, and long-term impact 15:14 – Life inside a high-pressure, bootstrap startup 19:19 – Psychological safety, DISC, and team dynamics 24:05 – High-performing sports team vs “family” analogy 27:17 – Aligning individual goals with company vision 28:54 – What Lexon actually does for heavy industry clients 32:46 – From consulting to product-led SaaS and long-term integrity 36:00 – Final message: strong belief plus adaptable strategy Conclusion: Sladen Moses shows how real influence comes from service, standards, and shared ownership rather than titles or loud voices. He leads Lexon like a high-performing sports team, where the best idea wins, hard conversations are normal, and psychological safety lets people do their best work. By obsessing over customers’ problems and bringing deep industry expertise to the table, his team builds trust and long-term relationships instead of chasing quick wins. Sladen’s story underlines that when you align strong personal belief with adaptability and a people-first culture, business performance and impact follow naturally.

Seasoned strategist and grants/tenders specialist Robyn Baker traces her journey from starting at Brisbane City Council in 1980 to becoming a sought-after advisor who helps SMEs secure funding and scale with confidence. She reflects on breaking through as a woman in a male-dominated environment, fueled by mentors who pushed her into stretch roles and modeled strong leadership. Robyn shares practical stories of resolving team conflict, supporting distressed staff, and transforming tense relationships into deep trust, highlighting the importance of psychosocial safety and genuine care at work. For her, real influence is built on authenticity, word-of-mouth trust, and the responsibility that comes when people act on your recommendations, with leadership success measured by whether you leave the workplace better than you found it.   Takeaways: Influence is built on trust, not titles Robyn sees real influence as what happens when people act on your recommendations because they trust your values, integrity, and track record—not because you call yourself an “influencer.” Great leadership leaves people and places better than you found them Her measure of leadership success is simple: if your workplace, team, and individuals are in a better state when you leave than when you arrived, you’re doing leadership right. Psychosocial safety is now a core leadership responsibility Robyn believes leaders must create environments where people feel safe, heard, and supported—especially when they’re struggling—while also ensuring leaders themselves are supported and equipped to handle emotional and relational challenges at work.   Quotes:   "I think finding your influence, I think people who trust you, who have the same values and morals as you, and they go, well, if she's doing that, then I'm going to do that." Description: Robyn links true influence to shared values and trust, not status or labels. "If you can leave your workplace in a better place than you found it, then you're probably a good leader." Description: Her simple benchmark for leadership success is the positive change you leave behind. "If their safe place isn't at home, then their safe place should be at work. They need a safe place somewhere." Description: Robyn underscores the responsibility leaders have to create emotionally safe environments for their people.   Timeline:   0:00 – The hidden factors behind losing a tender 1:10 – Anton introduces “Leaders of Influence” and Robyn Baker 3:36 – Robyn hints at her new diagnostic funding tool 4:18 – Exclusive tool for funding suitability and individual fit 5:24 – Starting in 1980 at Brisbane City Council 7:06 – Learning tenders, grants, and big-project funding from experts 9:06 – Leaving council to care for her sick child and starting consulting 11:33 – Launching her own consultancy from scratch in 2016 13:54 – Why some tenders lose: competition, location, social fit, and bias 17:04 – Defining influence: authenticity, trust, and real‑world referrals 19:40 – Early mentors, breaking glass ceilings, and tokenism vs. opportunity 24:30 – Growing as a leader and being pushed into bigger roles 26:40 – The team member ready to quit and how Robyn stepped in 31:28 – Facilitating hard conversations between leaders and staff 35:56 – Turning two people who “hated each other” into lifelong friends 39:18 – Psychosocial safety and why work must be a safe place 41:43 – The emotional load on modern leaders and the need to decompress 42:56 – Why leaders themselves need support, systems, and resources 44:34 – Robyn’s leadership test: leave the workplace better than you found it 46:37 – Anton’s wrap‑up and key lessons from Robyn’s story   Conclusion:   Robyn’s journey is a reminder that technical excellence—like knowing grants and tenders inside out—only truly scales when it’s paired with character, care, and courage. The way she navigated male-dominated rooms in the 1980s, backed younger women, and even turned workplace enemies into bridesmaids shows how far patience and genuine curiosity can go. Her stories underline that leaders don’t need grand gestures as much as they need consistency: listening when people want to quit, advocating when things get political, and quietly setting a standard of psychosocial safety before it had a name. Influence, in her world, is almost accidental—it accumulates over decades of doing the right thing when no one’s clapping, until one day your name is the one people whisper when someone asks, “Who can we really trust with this?”        

Casuarina Smith, known as Trucking with CJ, shares how she uses her platform and road-train experience to advocate for the transport industry and educate everyday drivers about road safety, especially around heavy vehicles. She explains her unconventional journey from a corporate insurance career into trucking, helped by a few people who saw her potential and by her own decision to invest personally in gaining her truck license. Casuarina speaks candidly about being a woman in a male-dominated field, the tough realities, and how her values, authenticity, positive representation, and refusal to sexualize her image or promote harmful products guide what she will and won’t do for money. She describes receiving emotional messages from people who are inspired to change careers or start driving, and from families whose children feel seen through her content and her self-published children’s book, “My Auntie’s Truck.” A recurring theme is the idea of “being in the right room”: your value doesn’t disappear when people don’t respond, it often just means you’re showing your work to the wrong audience, and the key is to find communities and spaces that genuinely want you to succeed.   Takeaways: 1. Influence is a responsibility, not a label Casuarina sees influence as the power to shape how people view trucking and safety, so she treats it with care—sticking to honesty, positivity, and being a real role model rather than chasing clicks. 2. Your values are more important than quick money She turns down lucrative offers (like gambling or sexualized content) that don’t align with her principles, choosing long-term integrity over short-term cash, even if it means going back to full-time trucking. 3. You’re not “wrong,” you might just be in the wrong room From her kids’ book to her online content, she’s learned that poor reactions often mean the audience is a bad fit, not that the work has no value—success comes from finding the right people and spaces who appreciate what you do.   Quotes: “You have the ability to shape someone's perception of something, so make sure that with that power you do it correctly.” – Casuarina Smith “Just because someone doesn’t see your value doesn’t mean you’re not valuable; you might just be in the wrong place.” – Casuarina Smith “I’m not just working in the industry, I’m working for it, and I’m advocating for it.” – Casuarina Smith   Timeline:  0:00 – Casuarina shares practical road safety tips for driving around trucks, including giving space, avoiding blind spots, and using UHF radios on channel 40. 1:14 – Anton sets up the podcast focus on leadership, influence, and impact, and introduces the theme of real-world influence. 2:10 – Brief overview of who Casuarina is: road train driver, content creator, and advocate known as Trucking with CJ. 3:10 – Casual chat about where she lives now, helping her partner with interstate freight, and flying to Tasmania for AgFest. 4:23 – Discussion about the truck she’s currently in (Kenworth 950 Legend), bunk beds in the cab, and a shout-out to Emerald Carrying Company. 6:04 – Reflection on how everyone is connected to the transport industry without realizing it, from office supplies to clothes. 6:51 – Exploration of the mental fatigue of trucking: dealing with traffic, being brake-checked, and constant risk management. 7:47 – Concrete advice for everyday drivers on making truckies’ lives easier through space, awareness, and respectful driving. 9:06 – Anton asks how to practically use a UHF to talk to a truck driver and what to say when wanting to overtake. 10:18 – Light-hearted discussion about the Bruce Highway, road quality, and what politicians should experience before allocating road budgets. 10:48 – Story of how she moved from insurance into trucking, including early ride-alongs with her dad and investing in a truck license. 13:50 – Conversation about her dad’s fears, gender stigma, and the early challenges of being a woman entering trucking. 16:58 – Casuarina explains how she thinks about influence and why she treats it as a serious responsibility rather than a trendy label. 18:08 – She outlines her personal values: being a positive role model, avoiding sexualization, rejecting gambling promotions, and only backing brands she trusts. 22:39 – She talks about burning out from full-time trucking, changing how she works, and holding her ground on not compromising her principles for money. 23:58 – Stories of people she’s inspired, from career changers to young women who started driving after following her content. 29:23 – Discussion about the financial and training commitment of getting a truck license, and why investing in yourself gives you independence. 32:31 – Anton and Casuarina unpack how some people close to you may not truly support your success and what that feels like in business. 34:31 – Reflection on the idea that lack of recognition often means you’re in the wrong room, not that you lack talent or value. 35:58 – Quick snapshot of her social media reach and the growing community around trucking and road safety. 36:31 – She explains why she created her children’s book about trucks and the gap she saw in positive truck-related stories for kids. 37:31 – Description of how the book teaches kids about different trucks, their drivers, and how each supports daily life. 39:59 – Realities of self-publishing: paying illustrators and printers, marketing it herself, and dealing with imposter feelings. 40:40 – Contrast between events where the book barely moves and others where it sells out, reinforcing the “right room” idea. 42:46 – Anton’s leadership-focused summary on influence, values, and staying aligned with what matters despite pressure. 46:23 – Casuarina’s closing reflection that she’s not just working in transport but working for it, as an advocate for the whole industry. 46:58 – Final wrap-up, subscription call-to-action, and encouragement for listeners to apply the lessons about influence and values.   Conclusion: Influence often starts quietly, one person deciding to do their work with integrity, even when nobody seems to be watching or buying. What stands out is how far values can carry someone: from a truck cab to kids’ bookshelves, from a UHF radio to hundreds of thousands of followers. The story shows that staying true to what you stand for might limit your options in the short term, but it multiplies your impact over time. Sometimes the real shift happens not when you change who you are, but when you change the rooms you walk into and the people you choose to serve.   Casuarina’s YouTube channel: Trucking with CJ Casuarina’s Instagram and other socials: Trucking with CJ

Former pro triathlete and high-performance coach Grant Giles about anxiety, endurance sport, and influence. Grant explains how he suffered from pervasive anxiety and discovered that accepting and embodying it, rather than resisting it, reduced its power- a lesson he now applies in both sport and life. He describes his evolution from 1990s professional triathlon into a coaching career that integrates psychology, mindfulness, embodiment, and neuroscience, heavily influenced by the example of Mark Allen and the legendary 1989 Iron War. Grant outlines his coaching methods with triathletes, fighters, and big wave surfers, focusing on grounding in the body, breathwork, visualization in the “felt sense,” and preparing mentally for key “pinch points” where things get hardest. He closes with his coaching mantra of authenticity, honesty, integrity, and truth, arguing that stripping away personal “bullshit” and being fully yourself is the real source of influence and performance. Takeaways: Accept, don’t resist anxiety Grant explains that trying to get rid of anxiety makes it stronger; accepting and fully feeling it (like a wave that comes in and goes out) allows it to subside and become manageable. Performance comes from embodiment and flow High performance in Ironman and other extreme sports comes from “becoming the process”—using felt-sense visualization and staying in the body rather than overthinking, which enables flow even during very hard efforts. Real influence is grounded presence, not tactics Grant defines influence as the steady, calm “ground you hold” for others—being authentic, honest, and present—rather than clever strategies; athletes respond most to a coach’s integrity and grounded energy. Quotes: "What I found out about anxiety is the more you try to get rid of it, the stronger it gets. The more of it you can accept and embody and feel, the more it pulls back." Description: Grant reframes anxiety as something to be accepted and felt, not fought, showing how non-resistance reduces its power. "Be with the process. Don’t try and escape the process." Description: Grant’s core performance principle: instead of wishing discomfort away in sport (or life), immerse yourself fully in what you’re doing. "Influence to me is… the ground that you hold for other people… so basically, at the end of the day, it’s just be more of yourself, and there’s influence." Description: Grant defines influence as grounded presence and authenticity, not strategy or tactics. Timeline: 0:00 – Anxiety as a Superpower Grant explains his history with anxiety and how accepting it (not resisting it) changed everything. 1:00 – Who Is Grant Giles? Anton introduces Grant’s journey from pro triathlete to high-performance and mental skills coach. 4:07 – Old-School Triathlon & Ironman Basics They compare 90s triathlon to today and break down Ironman race distances. 6:06 – Hypnotherapy, Embodiment & Flow How visualization in the “felt sense” and non-resistance helped Grant take 45 minutes off his Ironman time. 9:42 – Anxiety in Racing and Life Grant’s “wave on a beach” metaphor and the principle: what you resist persists. 10:59 – What Real Influence Means Influence as the calm ground you hold for others, not tactics—rooted in Grant’s experience coaching a pro squad. 15:01 – Iron War & Mark Allen’s Impact The 1989 Iron War story and how Mark Allen’s psychological approach shaped Grant’s philosophy. 20:52 – Coaching Fighters & Big Wave Surfers Grounding, breathwork, and becoming an “immovable object” when safety and fear are on the line. 28:56 – Ironman as an Internal Battle Handling the darkest patches of the race and training to cope with “feeling bad,” not just feeling good. 36:27 – Grant’s Coaching Mantra: Authenticity Grant closes with his core values—truth, honesty, integrity, and being fully yourself as the real source of influence. Conclusion: Triathlon and high-performance coaching become a lens for understanding anxiety, influence, and leadership in everyday life. Grant Giles shows how accepting and embodying discomfort—rather than resisting it—unlocks flow, resilience, and better results, whether you’re racing Ironman, fighting in a ring, or leading a team. His methods of grounding, breathwork, and visualization in the “felt sense” turn abstract talk about mindsets into practical tools anyone can use. Above all, Grant argues that real influence isn’t about tactics; it’s about the authentic, steady ground you hold for others. Sport, in his world, is just the arena where we practice being more fully ourselves.

Ashley Hayden, a Melbourne-based commercial growth and marketing leader who also runs a small wine business as a creative outlet. Ashley defines influence primarily as the perception you create in others, emphasizing that what really matters is how people receive and interpret your words, actions, and positioning. He links influence closely to trust, connection, and storytelling, arguing that everyone is in sales because we are constantly selling ideas, ourselves, or our work, whether we realize it or not. Ashley highlights the power of creative storytelling to build relationships in both business and personal life, and stresses that genuine influence also depends on being an excellent listener—using our “two ears and one mouth” in the right proportion. Throughout, he and Anton use examples like movies, wine, and workshops to illustrate how recommendations and stories shape others’ perceptions and decisions.   Takeaways:   Influence is perception-based Ashley defines influence as the perception you create in others—it’s less about what you say about yourself and more about how others receive, interpret, and talk about you when you’re not in the room. Everyone is in sales (whether they know it or not) From coders to executives, everyone is constantly “selling” themselves, their ideas, or their work. Recommendations about movies, books, or restaurants are all everyday examples of selling through enthusiasm and belief. Storytelling and listening are core influence skills Creative storytelling builds connection and trust, but it must be paired with deep listening—using “two ears and one mouth” in proportion—to really understand others’ problems and influence their thinking in a meaningful, respectful way.   Quotes: "I think that influence then is about the perception that people create... you can talk about yourself as much as you want, you can talk about your business as much as you want, but it's really about how other people receive that." "I always say... we're all salesmen, we're all [in sales]... that person at some point had to get the opportunity to be able to write their code, so they sold themselves at some point." "We have two ears and we have one mouth for a reason... you should listen twice as much as what you should speak."   Timeline:   0:00 – 1:20 | Ashley’s definition of influence (perception and trust) Influence as the perception you create in others; trust as a core part of that. 1:20 – 3:56 | Anton’s intro: Leaders of Influence & Ashley’s background Podcast positioning, why influence matters, and Ashley’s corporate/consulting bio. 3:56 – 5:35 | The wine side-hustle story Ashley’s small wine business, being his own best customer, and mixing passion with business. 5:35 – 7:18 | Learning wine by doing & creative outlet Leaving corporate comfort, learning winemaking hands-on, and using wine as a creative outlet. 7:18 – 9:26 | Defining influence: perception created, not words said Ashley explains influence as perception, pitches, and how others talk about you when you’re not in the room. 9:26 – 13:07 | Everyone is in sales (movies, recommendations, and influence) How everyday recommendations are selling; influence in workshops and casual conversations. 13:07 – 15:35 | Storytelling, movie choices & shaping perception Using favorite movies as icebreakers, how your choices create a specific perception. 15:35 – 19:00 | Storytelling, connection, and the power of listening Campfire origins of storytelling, two ears/one mouth, and why listening is a core influence skill. 19:00 – 23:58 | Mentors, stewardship, and long-term influence Ashley’s 17-year mentor story, values, trust, and when the mentor becomes the mentee. 23:58 – 28:21 | Family influence, spouses, and leadership loneliness Influence of parents and partners, feedback from spouses, and how lonely leadership can be. 28:21 – 32:41 | Hospitality leadership and seeking support Influence challenges in hospitality, transient teams, and the need for mentors/peer circles. 32:41 – 35:45 | Pride in others’ growth: mentees and entrepreneurs Stories of people Ashley has mentored, from note-taking lessons to a dance & kids’ science business. 35:45 – 39:13 | People, planning, and performance: the execution triad Right people, clear plan, and actually performing—why execution is where many get stuck. 39:13 – 41:00 | One team, one message: Ashley’s leadership mantra Lessons from elite teams, avoiding silos, and aligning everyone around a simple, shared message. 41:00 – end | Anton’s recap and call to action Summary of key influence ideas, book mention, and how to go deeper with Leaders of Influence.   Conclusion:   This episode centers on Ashley Hayden’s core idea that influence is the perception you create in others, not just the story you tell about yourself. Through examples from consulting, wine-making, and everyday life, Ashley and Anton show that everyone is in sales, constantly “selling” ideas, values, and character in how they show up. They highlight storytelling and deep listening as the practical skills that turn influence into trust and real connection. Ashley’s experiences with mentors, mentees, and hospitality leaders underline that growth comes from supportive relationships, clear plans, and committed execution. The conversation lands on a simple leadership mantra—“one team, one message”—as the anchor for any leader who wants to influence with clarity, consistency, and integrity.  

The conversation centers on leadership, influence, and the pivotal role of coaches and women leaders in sport and beyond. Carol Fox shares how her background as an athlete and swimming/water polo family shaped her views on dedication, mindset, and the importance of nurturing coaching. She defines influence as the impact we have before, during, and after we speak, essentially how people experience us and how they feel after interacting with us, with validation as a core leadership behavior. Carol emphasizes that great coaches and leaders deeply understand the individuals in front of them, adapt their style to different needs, and recognize the ripple effect of their behavior on athletes, teams, families, and communities. A major theme is kindness: Carol’s leadership and parenting mantra is to be kind to yourself and others, challenge negative labels like “difficult,” and consciously choose positive assumptions, especially in the context of increasing women’s representation and visibility in coaching, governance, and sports leadership roles. Takeaways:  Influence is felt, not just heard – Leadership impact comes from how people experience you before, during, and after you speak, especially whether they feel seen, heard, and emotionally validated. Great coaches adapt to the individual – The most effective coaches and leaders take time to understand each person’s needs, mindset, and communication style, then tailor their approach rather than using one style for everyone. Kindness creates powerful ripple effects – Leading with kindness, positive assumptions, and respect—while championing more women in coaching and leadership—quietly shapes cultures, role models, and future generations far beyond the initial interaction. Quotes: "For me, influence is how are people experiencing us, and so that's why a lot of my work is, you know, how are you projecting yourself, and how do people feel when they leave you?" "The most important thing you can do as a leader is to validate the person in front of you, because the experience they're having is real." Timeline: 0:00 – Coaches under pressure – Grassroots coaches juggling athletes, parents, and club politics. 0:47 – Podcast intro & who is Carol Fox? – Anton frames the show and introduces Carol’s leadership and coaching work. 3:42 – 40+ years in sport – Carol’s long career and early life as a swimmer, water polo player, and surf lifesaver. 7:15 – Validation in a post‑pandemic world – Why people need their feelings and stress responses acknowledged. 8:29 – Seen, heard, felt – Different communication styles (visual, auditory, kinesthetic) and why they matter. 9:34 – Self-awareness & situational awareness – Understanding yourself and others to adapt your leadership. 11:22 – Family, Olympians, and early coaches – How Carol’s elite-sport family shaped her mindset and standards. 18:41 – The hidden load of coaching – Parents, committees, politics, and the pressure on (often volunteer) coaches. 20:35 – Small moments of impact – Why Carol treasures quiet feedback from clients years later. 23:24 – The ripple effect of influence – How one coach’s shift changes athletes, families, and communities. 25:27 – Take it on, give it a go, live it – Carol’s three-step approach to applying leadership tools. 26:51 – Women in sport leadership – Why visible female coaches, umpires, and board members matter. 29:26 – Progress and programs for women coaches – Representation stats and initiatives like W32 for 2032. 31:01 – Role models for boys and girls – How both genders benefit from seeing women and men in leadership. 37:30 – How we treat each other matters – Culture cues, from whiteboard slogans to “Believe” signs. 38:09 – Being human and fixing it – We all slip; what matters is noticing, apologizing, and realigning. 40:00 – Anton’s recap of key lessons – Validation, mindset, small moments, and the pebble-in-the-pond metaphor. 41:58 – Carol’s closing message – Be kind, create space, and validate people’s experiences. Conclusion: Carol Fox highlights that real leadership and influence are less about titles and more about how we make others feel—seen, heard, and validated. Through stories from sport, coaching, and governance, Carol shows that the most impactful leaders are those who know themselves, understand the unique people in front of them, and deliberately adapt their communication. Her focus on kindness as a non‑negotiable leadership mantra reminds us that positive assumptions and small, respectful actions can create far-reaching ripple effects. The push for greater representation of women in coaching and sport leadership is not just about fairness; it’s about enriching decision-making and role modeling for the next generation. Ultimately, Carol’s message is that if we choose kindness, validation, and genuine curiosity about others, our influence will extend far beyond what we can ever see.

This episode of the Leaders of Influence podcast features Denise Mokadsi, a Melbourne-based integrative health practitioner and belief transformation coach who works with midlife women on energy, clarity, and confidence. The conversation centers on influence as the often-invisible forces, external (like social media, family, society) and internal (beliefs, values, meanings) that shape how we think and act. Denise emphasizes that the true power of influence lies in how much meaning we assign to experiences and how consciously we choose what to let affect us, especially in relation to our core values. She also highlights the darker side of influence as manipulation, in which people may be persuaded to act against their values in exchange for validation, success, or material rewards, unless they remain aware of and aligned with what they truly believe. Takeaways: Influence starts internally, not externally – The impact any person, platform, or situation has on us is determined by the meaning we assign to it and how consciously we choose to let it affect us. Life direction is shaped by who we let influence us – Especially when younger and less self-confident, we may over-rely on respected figures (like parents) and pursue paths that fit their view of our strengths rather than our true passions.   Quotes: "The amount of influence that something or someone has on us is only going to be determined by the level of our experience or meaning we give that interaction with someone or something."   Timeline: 0:00 – Opening Reflection on Influence & Leadership 1:13 – Podcast Introduction & Guest Bio 5:46 – The Role of Beliefs in Influence 8:47 – Trading Values for Validation or Success 10:26 – Influence, Values, and Leadership Integrity 13:27 – Returning to Teaching and Coaching 17:23 – The Puzzle Piece Metaphor 23:41 – Belief, Trauma Work, and a Turning Point 24:34 – From Wheelchair to Dancer 28:05 – Leadership and Influence: Why Leaders Matter 32:46 – Borrowing a Leader’s Confidence 33:45 – Host’s Appreciation and Closing on Leadership 34:29 – From Science to Nursing to Education   Conclusion:  Denise shows that influence isn’t something we chase outside ourselves, but something we consciously reclaim from within. By becoming aware of the meanings we attach to experiences and how those meanings shape our values, health choices, and leadership, we regain agency over our direction in life. Her stories, from being steered by others’ expectations to helping her son transform a devastating diagnosis into a dancing future, underline the power of curiosity, self-trust, and aligned action. Listeners are left with a clear invitation: know your values, trust your inner signals, and choose your influences deliberately so you can lead yourself and others with integrity.

Brent reflects on how his lifelong love of rugby league began in childhood, when his mum signed him up to channel his energy, and how the game shaped his identity, friendships, and career. He and the host explore the idea that influence is primarily about daily behaviors and setting an example, especially for children, teammates, and colleagues, rather than just words or status. Brent also speaks candidly about the pressures of professional sport, the physical toll of repeated serious injuries, and how his resilience and self-talk were tests of character he refused to fail, with support from influential mentors like Wayne Bennett, Craig Bellamy, Mick Devere, and his brother-in-law Steve Price.   Takeaways:    Influence is behavior, not title Influence shows up in what you consistently do—your routines, discipline, and how you treat people—more than in what you say or the position you hold. Kids, teammates, and colleagues “watch” you more than they “listen” to you. Resilience is a daily test of character Brent viewed his serious injuries as tests of character he refused to fail. Through self-talk, self-motivation, and disciplined action (showing up to rehab, doing the hard work), he kept coming back, building his “willpower muscle” over time. Great leadership creates belief and clarity Coaches like Wayne Bennett, Ivan Cleary, and Paul Green influenced Brent through structure, clear roles, high standards, and genuine care. Strong leaders give people confidence, clear expectations, and a standard of excellence that lifts performance and culture.   Quotes:   On willpower and resilience “Willpower, it's like they say, it's a muscle, the more you use it, the stronger it gets.” Description: Brent sums up his philosophy on resilience here—treating willpower as something you train every day, especially through rehab and setbacks, not something you either “have” or “don’t have.” On what influence really is “When I think about influence, it's behaviors, and people observe and watch behaviors… that's the biggest influence of all, how you act and the behaviors that you display on a daily basis.” Description: This captures the core theme of the episode: influence isn’t about titles or speeches, it’s about the small, consistent actions others see you take. On discipline, standards, and culture “When people talk about culture, culture’s behaviors at the end of the day… if you've got good standards and good behaviors, well, you've got a great culture.” Description: Brent boils “culture” down to something practical and controllable—everyday standards and behaviors—making it highly applicable for both sports teams and organizations.   Timeline: 0:00 – Brent on injuries & self-talk Using setbacks as tests of character, daily self-talk, willpower as a muscle. 1:00 – Podcast intro & Brent’s career highlights Anton introduces the Leaders of Influence / Find Your Influence podcast and runs through Brent’s NRL, Origin, and Test career. 4:00 – How Brent fell in love with rugby league Childhood memory in Toowoomba, mum signing him up, watching Bulldogs vs Wests, and never looking back. 5:40 – Rugby league shaping character and behavior Mum threatening to take league away, behavior turnaround, how the sport set him on a better path. 6:00 – What rugby league has given (and taken) him Friendship circles, providing for family, joy of watching footy, and acknowledging the physical costs. 8:20 – Defining influence: behaviors over words Influence as daily behavior, routines, fitness, and how kids and colleagues copy what you do (“monkey see, monkey do”). 10:30 – Key influences and mentors Wayne Bennett, Craig Bellamy, Mick Devere’s professionalism, and being deliberately paired with disciplined role models. 11:50 – Family influence: Steve Price and support network Emotional reflection on his brother-in-law Steve Price, the importance of good people in your corner. 13:20 – The pressure cooker of professional sport Public scrutiny, constant pressure (e.g., Reece Walsh), and the “rope off the chest” feeling when he retired. 16:00 – The magic of the Maroons jersey What it feels like to run out for Queensland, deep emotional connection to Origin and Suncorp. 17:40 – Injuries, pain, and long-term impact Lasting knee issues, being unable to run, and the physical toll of a long NRL career. 18:20 – Comebacks, mindset, and inner drive Doctors and physios helping, but why the hard work must come from within; seeing rehab as a test of character. 20:00 – Self-influence and mental strength Daily self-talk, self-reassurance, discipline to do the work, and strengthening willpower over time. 21:00 – Stepping into leadership at the Warriors Craving a leadership role, Ivan Cleary pushing him to “find your voice,” calling out soft options. 23:20 – Leadership, confidence, and readiness Moving from being ready to lead to actually speaking up and influencing the group. 23:50 – Senior leadership and parenting as leadership Leadership groups at Warriors and Cowboys; parallels between parenting and leadership. 25:45 – Lessons from great coaches Wayne Bennett’s “better humans make better footballers,” Paul Green’s standards and excellence, and structure and routine. 27:05 – Culture = behaviors and standards Simple definition of culture: daily behavior when people walk through the door; the standards and behaviors that drive performance. 29:10 – Hard work, discomfort, and reward Discipline, early mornings, extra work, and the idea that “nothing worth getting comes easy.” 30:55 – Life after footy and corporate ambitions Enjoying the corporate world, board role at the Cowboys, Fox commentary, and wanting to keep making an impact. 32:00 – Staying connected to the game & media Why staying connected eases retirement, pros and cons of media, and rugby league as entertainment and constant storylines. 33:50 – Host’s recap of influence and leadership themes Anton summarizes Brent’s story, early influences, resilience, leadership lessons, and staying connected to the game. 37:30 – Brent’s closing motivational thoughts Willpower as a muscle, controlling what you can control, and the quotes he lives by. 38:10 – Episode close & call to action Anton’s outro: subscribe, share, and mention of the Leaders of Influence book and framework.   Conclusion:    Brent Tate’s story illustrating how influence, resilience, and discipline play out in real life—not as abstract ideas, but through daily choices. From his mum’s decision to sign him up for rugby league, to mentors like Wayne Bennett, Ivan Cleary, Paul Green, and Steve Price, Brent shows that the right people and standards around you can shape your character and career. His perspective that “willpower is like a muscle” and that culture is simply “behaviors and standards” offers a clear, practical blueprint for leaders in sport, business, and at home. Ultimately, Brent’s journey—from an injured player constantly fighting back to a corporate leader, board member, and commentator—reinforces that nothing truly worth having comes easily, and that we each have more control than we think over the person and leader we become.    

Gen Dohrmann, CEO of Table Tennis Victoria, shares her journey into sports leadership, explaining how a background in communications and marketing across multiple sports led her to her current role. She describes the recent overhaul of table tennis membership structures in Australia, expanding beyond simple “social” and “competitive” categories to better reflect different levels of play and introducing a free “fan and fun” membership to capture the many informal players outside the formal system. Gen emphasizes that influence for her is rooted in clear communication and getting genuine buy‑in so others come on the journey with her, especially when balancing the needs of traditional members and new participants. She highlights key influencers in her own career, particularly former CEO Jamie Parsons, mentor Carol from Women’s Sport Australia, and her parents, and how they encouraged her leadership aspirations and board involvement at a relatively young age. Now, Gen is focused on “handing the ladder down” by mentoring younger professionals (especially women in sport), sharing her story publicly, modeling flexible leadership as a part‑time job‑share CEO and mother, and contributing to the Global Institute of Sport advisory board to help grow pathways into sports careers. Takeaways: Influence is built on clear, honest communication. Gen sees influence as getting genuine buy‑in by communicating the vision, strategy, and reasoning behind decisions so people feel part of the journey, even when changes are unpopular. Female leadership in sport needs visibility and pathways. Her drive to lead was sparked by seeing too few women applying for CEO roles in female‑dominant sports, and mentors like Jamie and Carol helped her step into board and executive positions earlier than she thought possible.   Quotes: On influence and communication "Influence is so important to be able to do what you do and do it well. You need to have the buy-in of others, and I think that communication plays such a key role in this." On women stepping into leadership "That for me was like a lightning bolt of like, okay, well that's not good enough; like, females can do this job, and a female sport should be represented by a female at the helm."   Timeline: 0:00 Updated membership model at Table Tennis Victoria 1:25 Leaders of Influence podcast intro 2:15 Introducing CEO Gen Dohrmann 3:54 Gen reacts to her bio and sets the scene 4:40 What influence means to Jen as a leader 6:14 Gen’s career journey into sports administration 8:55 Deciding to pursue CEO roles and female leadership 10:25 Balancing traditional members and new participants 11:14 Detailed breakdown of the new membership categories 17:00 How Gen pays it forward and supports her team 19:46 Being a mum, job-share CEO, and female leader in sport 20:06 Never saying no to a coffee and helping early‑career talent 24:19 Building pathways into sports careers 25:42 The most important character trait of a good leader 26:02 Empathetic leadership versus old-school authoritarian styles 27:18 Leading by example at tournaments and “all hands on deck” 28:18 Communicating hard decisions with transparency 29:18 Real-life example: cutting and reinstating prize money 31:14 Making prize money fair and equitable for women 32:14 Call for sponsors and supporting community table tennis 32:31 Wrapping Gen’s impact on women’s sport 33:19 Can you make a living playing table tennis? 34:35 Pathways, overseas competition, and Brisbane 2032 34:51 Role of Table Tennis Australia and home Olympics opportunity 35:38 Future talent and excitement for a home Games 36:14 Host’s recap of Gen’s leadership and influence 38:05 Gen’s closing quote: “Those that need to know, know” 39:04 Podcast outro and call to action for listeners   Conclusions: Gen Dohrmann’s story is a powerful example of how modern leadership in sport is built on empathy, clarity, and a genuine commitment to lifting others. From reshaping Table Tennis Victoria’s membership model to better reflect how Australians actually play, to challenging the status quo on female leadership and board representation, she shows that influence is less about titles and more about how effectively you communicate, include, and develop people. Guided by mentors and now mentoring others, Gen “hands the ladder down” to the next generation of women in sport while proving that flexible, family-friendly leadership at CEO level is not only possible but highly effective. Her journey underscores that when leaders are transparent in tough calls, willing to get hands-on with their teams, and intentional about creating pathways, they don’t just grow a sport—they change its culture.

Melissa Williams, an award-winning global authority on adult learning, joins leadership expert Anton Guinea to explore how true influence is built through learning. Melissa shares her journey from believing she was “dumb” at school to becoming CEO of a successful learning organization, thanks to discovering the FORMAT model and her own learning preferences. Together, they unpack the difference between influence and manipulation, the power of intent, and why creating a love of learning is one of the greatest gifts a leader, parent, or educator can give. They break down the four learning preferences—why, what, how, and what if—and show how designing for all of them transforms engagement, confidence, and results. The conversation also dives into psychological safety, handling mistakes, and practical ways leaders can build cultures where people feel supported in learning, growing, and taking risks.   Takeaways: Influence vs. Manipulation Comes Down to Intent Influence and manipulation can look similar on the surface—both change how people think or act—but the key difference is the intent behind them. Leaders must constantly check their motives and use their power responsibly. Learning Works Best When You Honor Different Preferences Melissa’s use of the FORMAT model (why, what, how, what if) shows that people learn in different ways and sequences. When leaders, trainers, and parents design conversations, meetings, or training to touch all four, engagement and retention go up dramatically. Psychological Safety Fuels Growth and Performance A powerful leadership move is to respond to mistakes with “What happened?” and “How can I support you?” rather than blame. This builds trust, encourages risk‑taking, and creates a culture where people feel safe learning, experimenting, and improving. Quotes: "The only difference between manipulation and influence is intent." Description: Melissa highlights that what truly separates healthy influence from manipulation isn’t the tools or techniques, but the motive behind them. "Learning is simply the making of meaning, and meaning is always personal." Description: She reframes learning as a deeply individual process of connecting new information to past experience, which explains why the same lesson lands differently for different people. "If a leader can actually encourage their people to embrace learning through authentically doing it themselves, then you come together as a team whilst you're leading, whilst you're growing." Description: Melissa underlines that the best leaders role‑model learning, turning growth into a shared team journey rather than a top‑down directive.   Timeline: 00:00 – Opening: Melissa’s view on learning vs. grades 00:53 – Show intro and Melissa’s background and awards 05:03 – Growing up “dumb” and discovering the FORMAT model 08:56 – Definition of influence and intent vs. manipulation 10:54 – Authenticity, mistakes, and learning like riding a bike 16:45 – The four FORMAT learning preferences (why, what, how, what if) 20:09 – Brain, VAK styles, and how we code learning visually 23:37 – Learning as “the making of meaning” 25:44 – Who influenced Melissa and seeing herself in adult learners 30:12 – Pebble in the pond: the ripple effect of teachers and leaders 35:12 – “Bouncy boys,” non‑judgment, and respecting learning preferences 40:04 – Melissa’s definition of leadership and psychological safety 43:34 – Two culture‑shaping questions: “What happened?” and “How can I support you?” 44:55 – Parenting, leadership, and learning as a lifelong gift   Conclusion:   Melissa Williams leaves us with a powerful reminder that learning is less about grades and more about meaning, confidence, and possibility. When leaders, teachers, and parents understand how people learn—and design experiences that honor different learning preferences—they don’t just transfer knowledge; they ignite potential. Influence, as Melissa frames it, is about intent and about artfully guiding others to see and act differently without ever stripping away their agency. And leadership at its best creates a safe space for people to say, “I stuffed up,” and still feel supported in growing. If there’s one takeaway to carry forward, it’s this: when you commit to your own learning and create spaces where others can safely learn, experiment, and make meaning, your impact ripples far beyond what you’ll ever see.  

Leadership coach Anton Guinea interviews storytelling expert Gabrielle Dolan about how storytelling functions as a core leadership and influence skill, not a “nice to have.” Gabrielle explains that stories make messages “sticky” by creating emotional connection and long-term memory, drawing on examples from First Nations cultures, safety storytelling, and her work in change management and values communication. She outlines a simple framework—be crystal clear about your message, choose a personal story, keep it tight (60–90 seconds) with a clear beginning–middle–end, and finish with an inviting, reflective close rather than a moral. Through stories about leaders she’s coached (including a once-skeptical CFO and a values-driven “touch the wall” moment), she shows how sharing authentic and even vulnerable experiences humanizes leaders, builds trust and credibility, and brings organizational values like “doing the right thing” to life in day-to-day decisions.   Takeaways:   Stories make messages “sticky.” Storytelling creates emotional connection and locks ideas into long-term memory, which is why people remember stories from a presentation or tour long after they’ve forgotten the facts and figures. Leadership, influence, and values live in stories, not slogans. You can’t meaningfully communicate values like “doing the right thing” or “safety first” with posters and bullet points alone—concrete stories (like the “go back and touch the wall” example) show what those values look like in real decisions. A simple story structure beats polished slides. Be crystal clear on your message, choose a short (60–90 second) often-personal story, start with time and place, give it a clear beginning–middle–end, and end with a reflective question or thought rather than “the moral of the story is…”   Quotes:   "Get into the habit of saying, would a story help me communicate this more effectively?" Description: Gabrielle encourages leaders to make storytelling a default consideration whenever they need to deliver an important message, whether at work or at home. "Stories make your messages sticky." Description: This captures Gabrielle’s core point that stories help people actually remember and act on what you say, unlike standalone data or bullet points. "Leadership is a verb, it's not a noun, and it is certainly not a title." Description: Gabrielle’s definition of leadership emphasizes action and influence over role or status, aligning with her view that anyone can display leadership through how they show up and communicate.   Timeline:   00:00 – Storytelling as a leadership skill 00:55 – Anton’s intro and Gabrielle’s bio 03:35 – Why Anton invited Gabrielle on the show 03:57 – What influence means to Gabrielle 05:29 – Discovering storytelling in change management 06:05 – Why humans are wired for stories 07:22 – Emotion, memory, and “sticky” messages 10:03 – Storytelling as a learnable leadership skill 10:49 – PowerPoint vs. stories 12:24 – Gabrielle’s simple story framework 15:18 – How to start and end a story well 16:47 – Who influenced Gabrielle most 18:55 – Early resistance to storytelling in business 21:33 – The skeptical CFO who became a CEO 23:07 – Vulnerable storytelling and brand change 26:19 – Learning from others’ failures 28:33 – Safety culture and “safety shares” 29:52 – You can’t communicate values without stories 30:53 – Values, behaviors, and lived examples 33:08 – The “go back and touch the wall” story 36:25 – Using stories to guide real decisions 37:09 – What leadership means to Gabrielle 38:37 – Leadership as a verb, not a title 40:53 – A non-example of leadership in action 43:26 – Anton’s wrap-up and key lessons   Conclusion:   Gabrielle Dolan shows that storytelling isn’t a soft extra for leaders but a core tool for influence, culture, and values in action. By making stories short, clear, and often personal, leaders can turn abstract ideas—like safety, integrity, and “doing the right thing”—into vivid moments people remember and act on. When leadership is treated as a verb, not a title, the stories leaders choose to tell (and live) become the most powerful way they earn trust, shape behavior, and create lasting impact.  

Canberra-based community care leaders Lisa Walker and Natashia (Tash) Telfer share how their personal histories. Lisa’s transition from high-level government finance roles into family-run care businesses, and Tash’s battle with stage 4B Hodgkin’s lymphoma at 18, shaped a leadership style built on kindness, culture, and advocacy. They discuss what influence means beyond social media likes: creating long-term, positive impact on vulnerable clients and on the nurses and support staff whose careers they help shape. Through their work at National Community Care, they’ve moved long-term “bed-blocker” patients with tracheostomies from hospital into community homes, designed their own specialist training where none existed, and repeatedly fought underfunding in the NDIS, often sacrificing their own financial comfort rather than compromising safety or dignity. Using tools like DISC profiling, strong governance, and modern HR/rostering systems, they hire and develop people for values first, skills second, fiercely protect a healthy culture, and invest heavily in staff wellbeing. Their story is also one of a profound partnership: two contrasting DISC profiles in a “yin–yang” dynamic who have navigated divorce, domestic violence, IVF, postnatal depression, and neurodivergence together, turning those hardships into fuel for a mission-driven, people-first approach to leadership and care.   Takeaways: Influence = Long-Term Impact, Not Likes Lisa and Tash define influence as the lasting, positive change you create in people’s lives and careers, not popularity or social media metrics. Culture Is Built by Who You Let In (and Who You Don’t) They hire for values and common sense over resumes, protect their caring culture fiercely, and remove “culture killers” even when it’s hard. Advocacy Means Putting Clients Before Profit They repeatedly fight systems (like NDIS underfunding), create their own clinical training when none exists, and even sacrifice their own finances to ensure clients get safe, dignified care.   Quotes: “We can teach you skills and we can teach you learnings and how to do things, etc. But we can't teach you the culture – you need to either fit in, or, you know, don't be here, don't break it.” On why they hire for values first and protect culture fiercely. “Do good and the good will come – we've always put our people, whether that's our clients or our staff, always first.” On leading with service, even when it costs them financially in the short term. “It's probably only been in the last two, three years that we've actually gone, they're not really tethered together anymore. We're literally in the one dinghy… we are now in the one boat.” On how their partnership has deepened from two separate leaders to a single, united leadership team.   Timeline: 00:00 – Lisa’s early life, caring upbringing, and shift from government finance roles to wanting more human impact 01:03 – Anton’s podcast intro, show purpose around leadership and influence, and introduction of Lisa 02:48 – Introduction of Tash, her background in disability and community services, and leadership roles 04:30 – Reveal that Tash is an author and brief intro to her book “Project Kind” 04:39 – Tash explains why she wrote “Project Kind” and how lessons and kindness shape her work 05:27 – Tash defines influence as a positive impact beyond social media likes and spreading that through their team 06:43 – Lisa expands on unseen influence, long-term impact on students and team members 08:07 – Story of a long-term staff member whose career and life kept circling back to their organization, “feels like home” 09:01 – Another staff story about their youngest employee, inspired by the care given to her grandmother 10:05 – The grandmother’s relatives visit the office to express gratitude for the care provided 11:03 – Anton asks who influenced them to become kind and caring leaders 11:04 – Lisa’s detailed story: mum as a nurse, early assistant nurse work, government career, then taking over the family agencies 13:38 – Tash’s “complete opposite” path: rebellion, rejecting uni, then stage 4B Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis and treatment experience 17:10 – Discussion of culture: family culture, culture of care, culture killers, and how deliberate they are about culture 18:23 – Hiring philosophy: can teach skills but not culture, importance of common sense and advocacy for vulnerable people 19:16 – Anton links “don’t break our culture” to leadership principles and comments on their strength of conviction 19:36 – DISC profiling of their team, Anton guesses their profiles, and they reflect on people-focused profiles in care 19:58 – How opposite DISC profiles can repel yet complement; Lisa’s directness balanced by Tash’s systems and processes 20:55 – Using their DISC differences as a yin–yang leadership model 21:01 – Lisa’s leadership growth from “iron fist” to more collaborative, empathetic leadership with her teams and kids 22:28 – Anton ties DISC back to communication as the foundation of strong culture 23:14 – Who they are most proud of: Lisa names Tash and explains why 23:24 – Story of the Beyond Blue event: Tash freezes on stage and Lisa carries the presentation 24:13 – Contrast to now: Tash speaks internationally, on TV, and at major events like the Australian Embassy in Paris 25:38 – Their boats/dinghy metaphor: moving from tethered boats to being in the same boat together with their families 26:37 – More on the “same boat” idea and rowing together, even if sometimes in circles 27:02 – Anton relates their styles back to DISC in practical decision-making terms 27:41 – Example: performance management and termination decisions, Lisa as decider, Tash ensuring process and care 28:13 – Protecting culture and clients while following due process and supporting staff 28:40 – Beginning of the COVID/TV story: their work didn’t stop during lockdown, and they had long-term “bed-blocker” clients to move 30:53 – Tash’s detailed account of the tracheostomy clients’ situation, delays and promise to get them out of hospital 31:24 – Long fight to create a community home, design, furnish it, and get clients moved safely during COVID 34:45 – Intention to become an RTO and gift their tracheostomy training package to raise national standards 34:49 – How the Today Show segment came about; Lisa nominates Tash and her husband to help them buy a home 35:28 – Tash and her husband receive fifteen thousand dollars toward a deposit, eventually buying their own family home 36:28 – Ongoing advocacy: NDIS significantly underfunds a client, they keep providing care at their own cost 37:17 – Refusal to return clients to hospital or risk nurses’ registrations despite funding pressures 37:45 – “Do good and the good will come”: they accept personal financial sacrifice to protect clients and staff 39:02 – Lisa’s persistent campaigning to local MPs and ministers to recover 18 months of unpaid services 40:50 – Systems and tech investment: implementing AI-enabled HR and rostering tools to free staff for care 41:08 – Anton reflects on how fortunate clients are to have Lisa and Tash as advocates 41:15 – Example of another provider returning a similar client to hospital, contrasted with their philosophy 42:36 – How they prioritise people over flash: industrial-area office, reinvesting in training and staff instead of status 44:36 – External partners: HESTA, Amanda Thompson, Nutrition Australia, helping staff with money, super, nutrition, and shift work 45:06 – Anton’s closing reflections on their story of influence, impact, advocacy and kindness, plus his calls to action for listeners   Conclusion: Lisa Walker and Natashia (Tash) Telfer show what real influence looks like when kindness, courage, and culture sit at the center of leadership. Their stories move from personal hardship—serious illness, family breakdown, financial pressure—to a shared mission of lifting standards in community care, even when that means fighting systems and sacrificing their own comfort. They redefine influence as long-term impact: shaping staff careers, keeping high-needs clients safely at home, and challenging a funding and regulatory environment that often falls short. Supported by a complementary DISC “yin–yang” partnership and strong governance, they’ve built an organisation where values come before profit, advocacy is non-negotiable, and “do good and the good will come” is more than a slogan—it’s the way they operate day to day.

What happens when a straight-talking boilermaker with real-world experience in gas, coal, and agriculture steps into the halls of power? In this episode, you’ll hear a raw, no-filter conversation about politics, work, and life from someone who built a career with their hands long before they ever set foot in parliament. Colin shares why so many modern politicians are out of touch with everyday Australians, how a lack of genuine business and life experience leads to bad decisions, and why representing Central Queensland means understanding the realities of mining, resources, heavy industry, and agriculture – not just reading about them in briefing notes.  You’ll discover how he went from earthmoving contractor to high-pressure pipe welder in his 40s, proving it’s never too late to change direction, upskill, and take control of your future. He opens up about the values that shaped him, from hard work and self-sufficiency to raising kids who understood the importance of earning their way in life. We dig into the growing gap between metropolitan Australia and regional communities, the hypocrisy of exporting energy resources we refuse to properly use ourselves, and the importance of honest, direct communication in leadership – even when the truth is uncomfortable. The conversation also tackles some of the biggest challenges facing young people today, including why so many struggle to buy a home, how lifestyle and financial choices compound over time, and the failures of an education system that doesn’t teach basic money skills like interest, debt, and credit cards. Along the way, you’ll hear the influence of conservative figures like Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher, learn why “don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t” is more than just a slogan, and be reminded that if you’re going through hell, you really do have to keep going. This episode is a must-listen if you care about politics grounded in reality, personal responsibility, and the power of backing yourself at any age.    Takeaways:  Real-world experience matters – Politics needs more leaders who’ve actually worked in industries like mining, gas, and agriculture, not just career politicians.  It’s never too late to reinvent yourself – You can start a new trade, upskill, and change direction even in your 40s and beyond.  Honest communication builds trust – People respect leaders who tell the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable, instead of dodging questions.  Young people lack financial preparation – Schools fail to teach basic money skills like interest, debt, and credit cards, leaving many struggling to get ahead.  Mindset and choices shape your future – Your attitude, work ethic, and decisions over time matter more than the cards you’re dealt.  Quotes:  “First and foremost, don’t ever let anyone tell you you can’t, and don’t ever think it’s too late.”  “If you want something bad enough, go out and get it, because nobody’s going to hand it to you on a plate.”  “If you’re going through hell, keep going.”    Timestamps:  [00:00:00] – Never Too Late to Change Your Life  [00:00:45] – From Workboots to the World of Politics [00:03:00] – The Problem with Career Politicians  [00:05:30] – Central Queensland & the Port of Gladstone [00:08:30] – From Local Council to Federal Parliament  [00:11:30] – Young People, Housing, and Hard Choices [00:15:00] – How School Fails on Money and Life Skills Critique  [00:18:00] – Leadership, Communication, and Telling the Truth [00:22:00] – City vs Country: A Growing Divide  [00:26:00] – Reinvention at 40 and the Churchill Mindset    Conclusion:  Colin Boyce, a trade-qualified politician representing Central Queensland, discusses the lack of real-world experience among many politicians. He emphasizes the importance of practical experience in industries like coal, gas, and agriculture for effective representation. He criticizes the hypocrisy of exporting resources while not utilizing them domestically. Speaker 1 advocates for community interests, citing his background in boilermaking and earthmoving. He highlights the education system's failure to prepare youth for financial independence and stresses the importance of communication and honesty in leadership. He concludes with a motivational message about personal growth and resilience. 

Melissa Dunbar, a highly respected Australian entrepreneur and founder of Big Fish Events Group (est. 2004), whose three-decade career spans events, marketing, communications, and innovation, and includes recognition as a 2019 Telstra Businesswoman of the Year finalist. Melissa recounts how, after returning from London and Texas and finding traditional roles hard to land, she tapped into her network and was offered a massive first project by former Australian cricketer Dean Jones—a 37‑day, 113‑event journey from Cairns to Sydney celebrating 25 years of State of Origin. The team transported a custom-made trophy “ball” via surfing, kayaking, walking, running, cycling, cars, trains, and a flotilla of boats into Sydney Harbor, raising about $250,000 for Make-A-Wish and granting 11 wishes for children, showcasing her talent for ambitious, high-impact event design rooted in sporting culture and state rivalry.   Takeaways:   Create Your Own Opportunities (The Big Fish Origin Story) Melissa didn’t wait for the “perfect job.” After returning from overseas and struggling to find a role, she leaned on her network, said yes to a big challenge from Dean Jones, and turned a single opportunity—a 37-day, 113-event State of Origin tour—into the foundation of a 20+ year events business. Influence = Intentional Knowledge Transfer Melissa defines influence as the intentional transfer of knowledge from one person to another—spoken, written, or visual. She emphasizes that influence carries responsibility: your actions and words should have clear, positive intent, because every interaction has the potential to shape someone else’s thinking or behavior. Values, Boundaries, and “No Compromise” As a woman working in male-dominated, high-profile sporting and events environments, Melissa’s guidance is to never compromise your values. You always have a choice—silence is still a choice—and you likely have more influence than you think. Her approach is to stay safe, uphold standards, and sometimes step in to “shut down” behavior that isn’t okay, focusing on getting it right, not needing to be right.   Quotes:   "We talk a lot at Big Fish Events about getting what you need, not necessarily what you want." Used while describing creative problem-solving (like funding the Opera House sails turning blue). Melissa’s focus is on outcomes and resourcefulness, not perfection or wishful thinking. "You don't always have to be right, but you've got to get it right." Melissa’s philosophy on leadership and decision-making: drop the ego, own mistakes, and stay focused on delivering the best result for the team, clients, and stakeholders. "You have more influence than you think." Shared in the context of women (and anyone) in male-dominated or high-pressure environments. Melissa stresses that every person, regardless of title, can shape behavior and outcomes by using their voice and values.   Timeline:   00:00 – Anton’s intro to the Find Your Influence podcast and to guest Melissa Dunbar, outlining her background and achievements. 04:42 – Melissa explains returning from overseas, struggling to find a job, and how reconnecting with her network led to launching Big Fish Events. 06:34 – Detailed story of the first Big Fish project: 37 days, 113 events, 86 legends, and raising $250,000 for Make-A-Wish. 11:25 – Behind-the-scenes “footballers on tour” story and early leadership boundaries on that first big event. 12:35 – Melissa describes creatively getting the Sydney Opera House sails turned blue and finding a last-minute sponsor. 14:48 – Discussion of Melissa speaking on stage at the Sydney Opera House in 2025 and what that experience felt like. 17:14 – Melissa defines what influence means to her: intentional transfer of knowledge plus responsibility and intent. 20:56 – “Create your own stage” concept: you don’t need a big stage to influence; you can build your own platforms and opportunities. 22:10 – Advice for women working with “blokey blokes” in male-dominated industries: never compromise, always choose, and understand that silence is a choice. 26:27 – Key line: “You don’t always have to be right, but you’ve got to get it right” and “You have more influence than you think.” 27:13 – Early influences: growing up one of six, brothers, lots of kids at home, and the people skills that created. 29:16 – The impact of dance training: discipline, professionalism, presentation, and “excellence as base level.” 31:48 – What Melissa learned from elite athletes and why they “don’t compromise” on excellence. 35:20 – Favorite elite sportspeople and notable figures she’s worked with, including Dean Jones, Darren Lehmann, David Beckham, Olivia Newton-John, and Queen Elizabeth II. 39:11 – Melissa’s definition of leadership: do what you say you’re going to do, own your mistakes, and always bring a solution.   Conclusion:   This conversation with Melissa Dunbar showcases how intentional influence, uncompromising values, and a commitment to excellence can shape a remarkable career in events and leadership. From her audacious first project—a 37‑day, 113‑event State of Origin tour that raised significant funds for Make-A-Wish—to turning the Sydney Opera House sails blue and eventually speaking on its stage, Melissa demonstrates what’s possible when you back yourself, create your own opportunities, and refuse to compromise your standards. Her philosophy—influence as responsible knowledge transfer, leadership as doing what you say you’ll do, and the reminder that you have more influence than you think—offers powerful guidance for anyone wanting to build a meaningful career, especially in high-pressure or male-dominated environments.  

Les Moir explores how business-level AI is transforming service-based small and medium businesses that have strong capability but hit a capacity and infrastructure plateau. They distinguish task-level AI (e.g., ChatGPT for emails, ads, and content, like upgrading from a hammer to a nail gun, but still requiring the owner’s time and skill) from business-level AI, systems that run core functions on your behalf, such as 24/7 call handling, instant follow-up, and reputation management. Les argues that missed calls and slow responses quietly erode revenue and lifetime client value, with data showing that speed of response can mean six figures a year in extra revenue. Together, they frame AI as an infrastructure and leverage tool for influence: the goal isn’t to “learn AI” but to have AI learn your business, freeing owners from being the bottleneck and shifting from product-focused to client-experience-focused operations. They also connect AI with better communication and leadership, suggesting that leaders who lean into AI and learn to ask clearer questions will become more influential by scaling their insight and improving the client journey at every touchpoint.   Takeaways: Business-level AI vs. task-level AI – Stop just using AI as a faster tool; use it as infrastructure that runs entire functions (like 24/7 reception and follow-up) for you. Speed-to-lead = revenue – Slow or missed responses quietly kill sales; business-level AI protects six-figure opportunities by replying instantly and consistently. Leverage your influence, don’t learn to “be AI” – The goal isn’t to become an AI expert; it’s to have AI learn your business so you can scale your impact and client experience without becoming the bottleneck.   Quotes: "You don’t need to learn AI, you need AI that learns your business." "If you believe that your product’s going to help fix their business and make it better for them, then you’ll continue follow up." "It’s not the microphone that influences; it gets you the ability to voice."   Timestamps:  00:49 – Anton introduces the Find Your Influence podcast, the focus on influence, and guest Les Moir’s background working with businesses up to $1.5B. 02:20 – Les’ core insight: most established service businesses plateau not from lack of skill but from missing infrastructure. 05:59 – Clear distinction between task-level AI (you still operate the tool) and business-level AI (systems that operate core functions for you). 08:30 – Les explains 24/7 call handling, systematic follow-up, and reputation management as examples of business-level AI. 10:03 – Discussion on speed-to-lead and why fast response times can be worth six figures a year in extra revenue. 13:54 – Les frames influence as internal belief, the questions you ask yourself, and who you choose to be influenced by. 17:42 – Anton predicts AI will make leaders better communicators because good outputs require clear questions and instructions. 21:56 – Shift from product focus to client experience focus, using McDonald’s as an example of systemized customer journey. 27:00 – The cost of doing nothing: missed calls, lost reviews, and unasked referrals adding up to major revenue loss. 33:54 – Les on objections to AI and why owners must move from “why not” thinking to “how can I” thinking. 39:35 – Framework for choosing AI: decide whether you want a business that depends on you or one that can operate without you. 43:01 – Les outlines next steps: starting with a demo where AI answers calls as your receptionist and is refined from there.   Conclusion: The conversation closes by underscoring that many strong service businesses are capped not by their skills, but by their capacity and missing infrastructure—and that business-level AI is now a realistic way to fix that. Les and Anton highlight that the real win isn’t dabbling with shiny AI tools, but delegating whole client-facing functions (calls, follow-up, reviews, client journey) to systems that learn your business so you, as the owner, stop being the bottleneck. For leaders, that shift is both a leverage play and an influence play: when you pair clear thinking and communication with scalable AI-powered systems, you can serve more clients, faster, with a consistently better experience—without burning yourself out.

Sean Phillip is an Australian-based mental health and suicide prevention advocate and director of The Shaka Project, based in Torquay, Victoria. Drawing on his own lived experience with mental health challenges from a young age, and the openness of his parents in discussing their diagnoses, Sean has delivered hundreds of workshops and keynotes across Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and Europe. In this conversation, Sean shares how his family’s honesty about mental health shaped his ability to seek help, the frightening periods of his own journey, and how becoming a father deepened his commitment to creating a more empathetic world for the next generation. He explains the origins of The Shaka Project, including how a simple hand gesture between him and his stepson became a powerful, wordless check-in, and describes the organization’s mission to reduce stigma around suicide (particularly among men) and normalize everyday conversations about mental health. Sean also offers his view of influence as the ability to have a positive impact on others without expecting anything in return, highlighting the crucial role of “everyday influencers” in small communities, not just celebrities or social media figures.   Takeaways: Lived experience fuels real impact Sean’s own long-term journey with mental health, shaped by parents who openly discussed their diagnoses, underpins his work and shows how honest family conversations can literally save lives. The Shaka as a silent check-in A simple hand gesture between Sean and his stepson evolved into The Shaka Project—using the shaka as a non-verbal way to say “I’m okay” or “I’m here for you,” helping normalize mental health check-ins, especially among men. Influence belongs to everyone Sean defines influence as making a positive impact without expecting anything in return, emphasizing that people in small communities—parents, teammates, coworkers—can be more powerful influencers than high-profile “influencers.”   Quotes: "I think influence is simply the ability to have a positive impact on someone without getting anything in return." "Suicide prevention is everybody's responsibility... it starts every day, it ends every night, it starts again every morning." "We really want to focus on the people that are closest to us all... the footy coach, or the bloke who runs the pub, or the mum of two that's struggling with her own demons." Timestamps: 00:00 - Sean talks about the different historical origins of the Shaka and its connection to surfing and checking in with friends. 01:00 - Anton introduces the Find Your Influence podcast and Sean Phillip’s role as a mental health and suicide prevention advocate and director of The Shaka Project. 03:30 - Sean shares his early mental health diagnosis, his parents’ openness about their own struggles, and how that shaped his ability to seek support. 07:31 - Sean tells the story of how a silent Shaka exchange with his young stepson at a playground inspired the name and concept for The Shaka Project. 11:30 - Sean defines influence as having a positive impact on someone without expecting anything in return and explains why “everyday people” can be the most powerful influencers. 21:06 - Sean and Anton discuss current suicide statistics in Australia and the ongoing challenge of reducing those numbers. 28:53 - Sean outlines the vision for The Shaka Project: building a community that gives people permission to talk about their mental health, with a strong focus on regional and everyday communities.   Conclusion: Sean Phillip shows how powerful lived experience can be when it’s shared openly and without shame. From growing up in a home where mental health was talked about honestly, to surviving his own crises, to founding The Shaka Project, Sean demonstrates that prevention starts with everyday conversations and simple signals of care. By redefining the shaka as a check-in gesture and championing “everyday influencers” in small communities, he reminds us that suicide prevention is everyone’s responsibility—something we practice in how we show up for colleagues, friends, family, and even strangers, every single day.

What does a family dinner table have in common with a high-performance leadership one-on-one? More than you might think. In this conversation with Graham and Alison Sheppard, the founders of the Aligra Group, we dive deep into the foundations of long-term influence—both at home and in the corporate world. We tackle the tough conversations around the irreplaceable value of making real-world memories and why the simple tradition of family dinners can shape the leaders of tomorrow. Alison and Graham also share their insights on professional branding, discussing why the way you present yourself externally is a direct reflection of what is happening on the inside. As business growth advisors, they reveal what it truly means to broaden your business footprint through clarity of vision, strategic alignment, and personal integrity. If you want to intentionally design how you show up in business and life, this wrap-up is packed with actionable insights you cannot afford to miss. Enjoyed this conversation? Please be one of the 10% of listeners who take a moment to 🚨Subscribe 👍Like 💚and share this video. Your support helps us continue bringing these incredible insights to light! #BusinessGrowth #IntentionalLeadership #ProfessionalBranding #FamilyValues #FindYourInfluence #AligraGroup #CentralQueensland

Ultra-endurance strategist Greg Huppatz shares how he leads a 12-person crew to guide cyclist Al Jefferson across America in one of the world’s toughest races. Greg unpacks the math behind performance, from speed, distance, time, calories, and wattage to sleep cycles, hydration, and recovery, and shows how numbers, teamwork, and trust turn a 5,000 km ride into a repeatable winning system. Along the way, he reveals powerful lessons on leadership, influence, and building high-performing teams under extreme pressure.   Takeaways: Numbers drive performance, not just effort Greg runs the race like a math problem—constantly balancing speed, distance, time, calories, wattage, hydration, and sleep so Al can sustain 20+ hours of riding a day. A “solo” race is actually a team sport Behind Al is a 12-person crew (doctor, paramedic, therapists, mechanics, drivers, coordinators) all clear on their roles, empowered to act, and aligned to one goal: keep Al safely and efficiently moving. Great leadership = clarity, trust, and preparation Greg sets clear boundaries, communicates expectations early (newsletters, briefings), gives people ownership of their tasks, and builds in redundancy so the team can adapt quickly when plans fail.   Quotes: “People say this is a bike race, and obviously it is, but for me, it’s a maths competition.” “He doesn’t understand why other people get so excited about what it is that he does, because in his mind he says, ‘I’m just riding my bike.’” “Surround yourself with good people and good things will follow.”   Timestamps:   0:00:00 – Welcome to the Find Your Influence podcast and introduction of guest Greg Huppatz and rider Alan “Bad Al” Jefferson. 0:02:55 – What Race Across America is: 3,069-mile single-stage time trial from Oceanside, CA to Atlantic City, NJ. 0:04:31 – Who Al is, why he rides, and the causes he supports: suicide prevention and men’s health. 0:06:44 – Al’s results, his 2022 overall win, and how he became the oldest winner of the race. 0:08:09 – Why Greg sees the race as a “maths competition”: speed, distance, time, calories, wattage, and sleep. 0:11:40 – How Al influences Greg, and what makes Al a “special human” in Greg’s eyes. 0:16:14 – Total trust: why Al hands over all key decisions (sleep, food, pacing) to Greg and the crew. 0:21:02 – Inside the 12-person support team: follow vehicle, RV, doctor, paramedic, mechanic, and therapists. 0:25:26 – The numbers strategy that changed their approach: energy “bucket,” sleep cycles, and structured rest. 0:32:35 – Managing saddle issues and chafing: kit changes, special saddles, and risk mitigation. 0:36:06 – Nutrition at 12,000 calories a day: liquid diet, Ensure Plus, and gradual reintroduction of solid food. 0:41:14 – Greg’s leadership playbook: clear expectations, ownership, communication, and giving people the tools to perform. 0:45:40 – Closing reflections on ultra-cycling, influence, and surrounding yourself with good people.   Conclusion:   Pushing a rider 5,000 km across America might look like a test of one person’s toughness, but Greg Huppatz shows it’s really the product of numbers, planning, and a tightly led team. By obsessing over data—speed, calories, sleep, hydration—and pairing it with deep trust and clear leadership, Greg helps Alan “just ride his bike” while the crew handles everything else. Their story is a powerful example of how influence, preparation, and the right people can turn an impossible goal into a repeatable system for winning under extreme pressure.      

Ray Boggiano, a senior sports education executive and regional director APAC for the Global Institute of Sport (GIS). Ray discusses what influence means to him—shaping understanding, then longer-term attitudes, values, and behaviors—and how this plays out both on the pitch in team culture and off the pitch in organizational and educational settings. He explains how GIS supports athletes and non-athletes at different career stages, particularly around the difficult transition out of professional sport, by helping them study the business of sport while competing and by tailoring industry engagement and career pathways. Ray reflects on influential figures in his own journey, including David Moyes and Roy Keane, whose diligence, preparation, and work ethic shaped his views on professionalism. He emphasizes that his leadership and marketing work ultimately aim to create careers in sport for students. He describes his leadership philosophy as hard-working and people-centric, focused on caring deeply about both the mission and the people involved, prioritizing values, and recognizing the importance of relationships, especially during high-pressure periods such as major student intakes.   Takeaways: Influence is Long-Term Behavior Change Ray defines influence as shaping understanding first, then attitudes, values, and behaviors—showing up in team culture on and off the pitch. Creating Careers in Sport Is the Core Mission The Global Institute of Sport exists to create careers in sport, boasting around 80% of graduates working in the industry within nine months—about double the global norm. Supporting Athletes Through Tough Transitions GIS helps both rising and retiring athletes study the business of sport and plan for life after competition, tailoring pathways around each person’s “why.”   Quotes: On what influence really is “Ultimately, it's affecting people's understanding… but then also affecting longer term attitudes, values, and behaviors as well.” – Ray Boggiano On GIS’s core purpose “We would not exist as a university for very long if we didn't have an end goal of creating careers… our number one goal is to ensure that once a student graduates from us, they have got the best opportunity to go and get a career in sport.” – Ray Boggiano On crisis leadership and values under pressure “That's where your values and your leadership is tested, and you need to come through.” – Ray Boggiano   Timestamps:   00:00 – Intro story about David Moyes and his diligence and preparation as a guest speaker 01:00 – Podcast intro by Anton Guinea and overview of Ray’s role and GIS background 02:53 – Ray thanks Anton for the intro and defines what influence means to him in sport and education 05:00 – Discussion of how influence shows up in team culture on and off the pitch and in organizations 06:28 – Question about athletes as role models and how GIS helps guide behavior and growth 07:27 – Ray explains how GIS works with athletes and non athletes at different career stages and tailors support 10:11 – Conversation about the difficulty of transitioning out of professional sport and the strengths athletes bring 11:25 – Ray notes that athletes often do not see their own transferable skills and values 12:54 – Anton reflects Ray’s influence back to him and shifts to leadership and parenting context 19:31 – Light chat about Ray’s two young children and parenting parallels with leadership 20:02 – Question about who Ray himself has influenced and whose careers he has impacted 20:34 – Ray describes influencing future sports careers through course design, advisory boards, speakers, and partnerships 23:56 – Discussion of marketing as influence and GIS growth from a small cohort to a global sports education brand 26:05 – Ray states GIS’s core goal of creating careers in sport and shares strong employment outcomes for graduates 27:28 – Connection to Belinda as the mutual contact and praise for Ray’s reputation in the industry 28:00 – Mention of a business summit at Allianz Stadium and the privilege of collaborating with industry leaders 29:13 – Anton asks about Ray’s leadership mantra and philosophy 29:30 – Ray outlines his leadership approach as hard work and being strongly people focused and relationship driven 31:15 – Example of prioritizing work based on values during busy intake periods and conflicting demands 33:20 – Anton notes that leadership quality shows under pressure and in crisis moments 33:45 – Ray shares an early career crisis story with a ticketing startup overselling a major opening night 36:07 – Lesson from that crisis about staying calm, transparent, and solution focused while protecting the client 38:10 – Anton closes with reflections on Ray’s stories, the theme of hard work and “why,” and reframing crises as opportunities   Conclusion:   Ray unpacks what real influence means in sport and beyond—shaping long-term attitudes, values, and behaviors—and shares how the Global Institute of Sport is built around one clear mission: creating careers in sport. He reflects on lessons from elite figures like David Moyes and Roy Keane, and explains why hard work, people-centric leadership, and calm transparency in crisis are essential for guiding athletes and students through high-performance careers and tough transitions.  

In this episode of the Find Your Influence podcast, host Anton Guinea interviews chartered accountant and wealth strategist Gary Brown about money, influence, and financial freedom. Gary shares his journey from arriving in Melbourne at 18 with $1,500 to building a net worth of about $75 million, emphasizing hard work, integrity, and learning from both his own and clients’ financial decisions. They explore how financial stress drives relationship breakdowns, the importance of shared financial transparency in couples, and Gary’s concept of “play money” so both partners can spend guilt‑free within an agreed structure. Gary defines influence as helping people make the right choices for the right reasons, contrasts it with manipulation, and explains how poor, consumption‑driven habits versus investing behaviors shape long‑term outcomes. He also discusses looming tax and structural changes for small businesses, concerns about government policy impacts on housing and investment, and his philosophy of becoming financially free so you can do what you want, when you want, with whom you want.   Takeaways: Financial transparency + play money = healthier relationships Gary strongly advocates for couples pooling income into a joint account for shared bills, then giving each partner personal “play money” to spend guilt‑free. This reduces conflict, guilt, and secrecy around money and supports trust. Influence is helping people choose what’s right for them He defines influence as helping someone make the right choice for the right reasons, contrasted with manipulation (getting them to choose for the wrong reasons). His work is largely about presenting clear choices and guiding clients toward decisions that support their long‑term goals. Wealth comes from knowing the rules and investing early, not just working hard Gary’s journey from $1,500 to ~$75M highlights that the difference between “rich” and “poor” behavior is often how money is used: Poor mindset: primarily consuming (cars, houses, lifestyle). Wealth mindset: consistently investing (shares, property, assets that grow). He stresses starting early, being consistent, and understanding how tax and policy rules shape your strategy.   Quotes   On what influence really is “Influence, the way I would think about influence is, it's helping someone to make the right choice for the right reasons, because you know you have influence, and then you have manipulation, and manipulation is for the wrong reasons.” — Gary Brown On financial freedom and choice “If you become financially free, you have the choices to do whatever you want, whenever you want, with who you want, and that's something that's pretty special.” — Gary Brown On the difference between rich and poor mindsets “Most people consume, and that's the poor mindset. The rich mindset is to also invest… First, become financially free, invest your time and energy into building that passive income, getting yourself in the right position. Then do whatever you want to do.” — Gary Brown   Timestamps:   00:00 – Gary on knowing “where all the money is” and the idea of joint accounts plus personal “play money” 00:58 – Anton introduces the Find Your Influence podcast and today’s guest, Gary Brown 01:48 – Anton’s intro of Gary’s background, qualifications, and business achievements 03:00 – Story of HNB Accounting rebranding to Hatcher Advisory to enable scaling 03:55 – Gary’s journey: from $1,500 and a $14k start-up to ~$75M net worth, long hours, and keeping promises 06:21 – Integrity in business: “We say what we do, and we do what we say” and frustration with flaky service providers 07:28 – Critique of some tradies’ billing practices and how short‑term thinking hurts business 08:37 – Transition to the topic of influence 08:47 – Gary defines influence vs manipulation; example of warning a client not to buy a Porsche with ATO debts 10:15 – His “why”: helping people make better financial decisions, shaped by his parents’ mistakes 11:15 – Financial stress, money arguments, and high divorce rates linked to finances 12:40 – What accountants see: hidden spending, vices, and marriages breaking down 14:23 – Communication, trust, and why spouses should have full access to finances 15:15 – Discussion of women’s and partners’ agency in money; everyone should know their financial position 16:12 – Gary’s system: both partners must understand strategy; joint account plus personal “play money” 18:35 – “Play money” rules, guilt‑free spending, and avoiding blow‑ups over small purchases 20:34 – Splitting roles: one partner focusing on income, the other on growing wealth (e.g., SMSF) 21:25 – Positive influence from his mum: early maths, Monopoly, Rich Dad Poor Dad, seminars 23:02 – Good intentions vs poor execution; how repeated micro‑decisions shape outcomes 24:23 – White‑out vs paper‑and‑tape story as an analogy for scarcity thinking 25:20 – Breaking cycles of welfare and low income; environment and choices over time 26:52 – Scarcity vs generosity; how financial hardship can change giving behavior 27:13 – Federal budget discussion begins; concerns for small business owners 28:07 – Anticipated need for costly restructures and hard client conversations 30:21 – Macro view: fear, reduced investing, fewer dwellings, continued migration 32:12 – Impact on rents, housing affordability, and why some policies help investors but hurt the country 34:26 – How people “learn the rules” of new government schemes (e.g., NDIS) and profit from them 36:30 – Why current tax changes may discourage investing and slow economic growth 38:21 – How high future capital gains tax can change saving and investing behavior for young people 40:05 – Risk of creating “modern day slavery” through policy that keeps people stuck in 9–5 with no upside 40:57 – Housing supply, social housing pressure, and taxes feeding a cycle towards more state control 41:30 – What Gary is most proud of: clients and team members buying their first investments 42:31 – Helping people “get out of the rat race” (Cashflow game analogy) 43:06 – Anton’s family examples: first house, kids’ property choices, and starting points 43:46 – Knowing what you know now vs then; hindsight on interest rates and asset choices 45:38 – Family member example: lifestyle debt vs being almost debt‑free and ready to invest 46:18 – Keeping up with the Joneses, friendship groups, and lifestyle arms races 47:05 – Wealthy behavior vs poor behavior: more money in investments than lifestyle assets 47:42 – People reaching 50–60 with no saleable business and insufficient retirement assets 48:10 – Gary’s current work habits: early starts, obsession, and scheduling choices because he can 49:00 – Obsession as a choice; effort, focus, strategy toward success 49:56 – Anton’s hesitation implementing Gary’s advice due to income dip and fear 50:52 – How Gary built a multi‑million‑dollar share portfolio: investing a fixed percentage of revenue 51:10 – Sticking to an investment rule even when the business struggled (e.g., COVID lockdowns) 52:23 – Personal targets: wanting to pay $1M in tax (legally minimized) as a success metric 52:50 – His rule for buying a Ferrari: be able to afford it twice in cash and not care 53:26 – Additional rule: own more in shares of the car company than the car is worth 55:26 – Consumer mindset vs investor mindset; the iPhone/Apple stock example 56:09 – Most people consume, the rich also invest; starting with 10% of income for financial freedom 00:20 – Teaching his daughter maths and money concepts early, inspired by his mum 02:28 – Final message: financial freedom requires action, not talk 02:50 – “If you become financially free, you have the choices to do whatever you want, whenever you want, with who you want…” 03:30+ – Closing reflections, gratitude, and recap of key ideas around influence, choices, and money   Conclusion: Gary Brown brings together money, influence, and personal responsibility into one clear message: your financial future is built on the choices you make today. From his journey starting with $1,500 to building substantial wealth, Gary shows that financial freedom doesn’t come from luck or income alone, but from understanding the rules, communicating openly about money, and consistently investing rather than just consuming. His ideas on joint accounts, guilt‑free “play money,” and starting early with simple, disciplined investing give listeners a practical roadmap to reduce stress, strengthen relationships, and create the freedom to do what you want, when you want, with the people you choose.

Jeff (Jeffrey) Burke, a Pilbara-based civil construction operator and international entrepreneur. Jeff describes how a failed motorcycle-brand idea in Vietnam led to the creation and rapid growth of Onya Bike Adventures, now operating in six countries, as well as a paint manufacturing company, Revolution Paint. He reflects on Vietnam’s appeal, its rawness, family-centered culture, and homestay experiences, and how the business began as a “hobby” that unexpectedly exploded. Shifting to the core theme of influence, Jeff explains that for him, influence is about the “center of influence”, the people you surround yourself with. Throughout his career, from early days as an apprentice working for a successful Canberra builder who helped him buy his first block of land, to his time at Rio Tinto, to learning from billionaires and experts (including time on Necker Island with Richard Branson), Jeff has deliberately sought out capable, values-aligned people, asked them lots of questions, and modeled their thinking. He emphasizes constant learning through mentors, self-development (e.g., Tony Robbins programs), and voracious reading as the engine behind his business growth and personal development.   Takeaways: Influence = proximity to the right people Jeff sees influence as the “center of influence” around you—deliberately choosing to be near experts, high performers, and people who think bigger, then learning by asking lots of questions. Apprentice mindset never stops From his early days with a wealthy Canberra builder who helped him into land development to modern-day billionaires and business leaders, Jeff consistently approaches others as a learner, not as “the expert.” Turn setbacks into new ventures His original motorcycle brand in Vietnam failed, but that exposure opened the door to adventure motorcycle touring and Revolution Paint, which then grew far beyond the original “hobby” idea.   Quotes: On influence and proximity “For me, influence is really about the center of influence – the people around you at the time. I’m always looking for who’s the expert, who’s done well, then I get around them and ask a lot of questions.” – Jeff Burke On learning and self-development “I’m constantly reading and listening. I don’t waste time with radio or TV – I’ve always got a book or audio on. You might read something and think there’s not much in it, then six months later one piece pops up and changes how you handle an opportunity.” – Jeff Burke On work, luck, and opportunity “Yeah, there’s luck in success, but you’ve still got to get up every day and earn the luck. Constant education and being open to opportunity – that’s what lets you move when something like COVID or a crash hits.” – Jeff Burke   Timestamps: 01:00 – Anton introduces the Find Your Influence podcast and Jeff Burke’s background across WA civil construction and Vietnam ventures 04:00 – Jeff explains going to Vietnam, the failed motorcycle brand, and how adventure bike tours and Revolution Paint began 06:43 – Jeff describes Vietnam homestays, village life, and how the “hobby” bike tour business grew into six countries 08:07 – Jeff defines influence as his “center of influence” and the importance of surrounding himself with experts 11:35 – Jeff discusses diversification, building nine companies, and learning from high-level entrepreneurs on Necker Island 17:39 – Jeff talks about early influencers, a Canberra builder who helped him buy land, and his heavy focus on self-development and audiobooks 19:10 – Jeff and Anton dive into learning M&A with JT Fox, Dennis, and Adam Coffey, and buying companies instead of only building from scratch 21:50 – Jeff shares how Adam Coffey shifted his focus to culture, A-players, and working on the business, not in it 25:35 – Discussion of discipline, daily training, and how endurance events and the gym support performance in business 30:00 – Jeff reflects on who he’s most proud of: his younger self, his kids, and the people he’s developed in his businesses 32:50 – Jeff talks about his Vietnamese wife, elevating women in the family, and creating a stable home life that supports his work 39:01 – Jeff and Anton connect dots between coaching, JT’s events, Adam Coffey, and the power of saying yes to big opportunities 43:21 – Jeff explains how a Tony Robbins event during the GFC led to a Defense Housing deal that saved his business 46:32 – Conversation on “luck,” preparation, recovering from setbacks, and the idea that the harder you work, the luckier you get 51:00 – Jeff’s closing focus on legacy, contribution, and building businesses that support future generations, not just money   Conclusion: Jeff Burke’s journey leaves us with a powerful blueprint: put yourself in the right rooms, stay endlessly curious, and be prepared to reinvent when things don’t go to plan. From an apprentice chippy learning property from a local builder to international ventures in Vietnam to scaling multiple companies and playing in the M&A space, Jeff shows that success isn’t a single breakthrough—it’s the compound effect of who you surround yourself with, what you’re willing to learn, and how hard you’re prepared to work. And now, with his focus firmly on health, leadership, and legacy, Jeff reminds us that the real game is building something that outlives us while enjoying the process along the way. If this conversation resonated with you, share it with someone who needs a nudge to level up their own center of influence—and start choosing your “hard” a little more intentionally from today.  

What do you actually see when you walk onto a worksite? Do you see a hazard, or do you see the human consequence? In this powerful episode of the Find Your Influence podcast, Anton Guinea sits down with Patrick (Pat) Fordyce, COO of Berg Engineering and Author of 'The Stability Cycle', to look at what it truly takes to drive operational discipline and human-centred leadership. Anton shares a life-changing story from a safety walk he did with Pat years ago. While Anton saw a physical hazard, Pat saw the real-world consequence: an injury, an ambulance turning up, a devastating phone call to parents, and a family disrupted. This conversation dives deep into the foresight leaders need to build true psychological safety and protect their teams. We also explore: • The 4 pillars of operational discipline: Systems, Symbols, Behaviour, and Structure. • Patrick Lencioni’s 'Five Dysfunctions of a Team'—how to move an executive team from healthy conflict to convergence and total commitment. • Strategic leadership alignment: Why Pat placed Anton into a tough, technical commissioning role to leverage his high-influence energy and lift an entire workforce. • Shifting from unconscious habits to conscious change, and why great leaders "expect people to fail" during a transition so they can support them through it. Leadership work is hard, complex, and sometimes lonely—but the results are entirely worth it. Tune in for an hour of pure executive coaching. If you enjoyed this conversation, please be one of the 10% of legendary viewers who hit that subscribe button, like the video, and drop a comment below! 👉 Want to sponsor the podcast or suggest our next guest? Reach out to us directly! #FindYourInfluence #LeadershipDevelopment #CultureChange #SystemsLeadership #PsychologicalSafety #PatrickFordyce #TheStabilityCycle #SafetyCulture #OperationalDiscipline #HumanCentredLeadership

Craig Keegan—a Melbourne-based M&A and roll-up operator focused on dental practice consolidation—shares key lessons from his entrepreneurial journey. He emphasizes the importance of owning your own product, system, and IP after being burned by failed partnerships and unethical operators, which led him to always build his own platforms and processes. Craig outlines his four rules for relationships and partnerships (know what you can and can’t do, never lie, never ignore) and stresses that business is fundamentally about relationships and trust. He explains his view of influence as what people say about you when you’re not in the room (or even in the same country), describing how consistent content creation—80 podcasts and 200 LinkedIn articles in 12 months—has attracted global interest in his Dental Exit Cooperative model. Craig also reflects on his personal evolution from a troubled, rebellious student with a violent upbringing to “version five” of himself, deeply influenced by mentor JT Fox, whose knowledge, care, and similar background earned Craig’s respect and reshaped his approach to learning, mentoring, and adding tangible value in every interaction.   Takeaways:   Own the IP and stay in control Craig’s biggest business lesson is to control your own product, systems, and strategy. When he relied on others’ platforms or integrity (the failed internet business and property education scheme), everything could disappear overnight and he had no control. Building your own system keeps both the upside and the responsibility with you. Relationships and integrity are the core of influence His four rules for working with people (be clear on what you can/can’t do, never lie, never ignore) show that long-term success in M&A, teams, and partnerships is built on trust and reliability. Influence, to him, is what people say about you when you’re not in the room—even on another continent—which comes from consistently adding real value in every interaction. Content and execution create opportunities By producing 80 podcasts and 200 LinkedIn articles in 12 months, Craig made his Dental Exit Cooperative model visible, attracting partners from places like Auckland, London, Houston, and Dallas. He pairs this with a bias for execution—being the person who steps in when “the steam train has no brakes” and making billion‑dollar deals actually work in practice, not just on paper.   Quotes:   On relationships and integrity in business “Every time I deal with someone, I always go through my four rules. Rule number one, tell me what you can do. Rule number two, tell me what you can't do… Rule number three: never lie to me or my customer. Rule number four: never ignore me or my customer.” - Craig Keegan On what real influence means “Your reputation is what people say when you're not in the room… I'm not even in the country. What are they saying about me?” - Craig Keegan On the importance of accountability “Accountability is the key… If you're not accountable, you are not getting stuff done, and you can't be accountable to yourself. You can't coach yourself. If you coach yourself, you're a fool.” - Craig Keegan   Timestamps: 00:00 – Anton opens the Find Your Influence podcast and introduces guest Craig Keegan and the topic of influence. 01:01 – Craig’s background in M&A, roll-ups, dental consolidation, and prior exits including AI and recycling businesses. 03:06 – Biggest lesson: always control your own product, service, and IP. 04:24 – Stories of failed internet and property ventures that taught Craig to build his own systems and tech. 06:07 – Craig’s four rules for working with people and partners. 08:52 – “Make it easy to buy” and why this mindset applies to every relationship. 09:26 – How a coach pushed Craig to start a podcast and build influence through content. 10:30 – 80 podcasts and 200 LinkedIn articles leading to global inbound interest in his Dental Exit Cooperative model. 11:45 – Influence as what people say about you when you’re not in the room or even in the same country. 12:50 – Adding tangible value in every meeting and spotting credibility gaps like broken LinkedIn links. 14:40 – Positive word-of-mouth about Anton and a light moment about their matching vest and tie. 16:26 – Craig’s son as a key source of accountability and moral compass. 17:06 – Tough upbringing, running away at 15, living in a refuge, and becoming “version five” of Craig. 20:13 – Why mentor JT Fox was the first person Craig truly respected and related to. 22:10 – Government help desk story and building a team that could solve issues on the first call. 25:27 – Outsiders calling the help desk because of Craig’s reputation for fixing problems. 27:30 – Leadership now: drop the ego, work together, and do whatever is needed to get the job done. 29:49 – Most important leadership trait: be upfront about what you can and can’t do. 31:39 – 87 percent of M&A deals fail due to poor execution; Craig as the fixer when all hell breaks loose. 32:58 – Billion-dollar Australian deal likened to a runaway train that he stabilised at the last minute. 34:00 – Accountability as the key to results and why you can’t effectively coach yourself. 35:43 – Creating a mastermind group to drive implementation and real deal-making. 37:43 – Examples of introductions that lead to seven- and potential nine-figure deals. 39:10 – Using specialists for exits and matching the right skills to the right roles. 39:34 – Building great teams using AI, profiling, recorded interviews, and transcript analysis for culture fit. 41:20 – Anton’s wrap-up on influence, accountability, leadership, and an invitation to subscribe and follow.   Conclusion: Craig shows that real influence is built at the intersection of control, integrity, and accountability. Craig’s journey—from failed ventures and a tough upbringing to leading complex M&A roll-ups and the Dental Exit Cooperative—highlights why you must own your IP and systems, choose partners by clear principles, and relentlessly add value so your reputation works for you when you’re not in the room. His stories of rescuing billion-dollar deals, transforming teams, and engineering high-value introductions all reinforce a simple truth: ideas and content only matter when they’re backed by execution and external accountability, supported today by smarter tools like AI and robust team profiling.    

Lee Campbell, a Gold Coast-based manifestation trainer and women’s empowerment mentor. Lee explains her core archetypes (Warrior/Wonder Woman, Lover, Magician, Queen) and how women can consciously “call in” different identities to support self-leadership, resilience, and growth. Using the Wizard of Oz and Wonder Woman as metaphors, she describes the idea of taking continual “two-millimeter shifts” on the path to one’s “Emerald City” life, supported by tools like vision boards, embodiment (posture, anchors, props like a wand), and powerful mentors. She shares how mentors such as Lauren Lahav and the Tony Robbins ecosystem helped her move from corporate IT and single motherhood into a life of global travel, speaking (including on stage in a Wonder Woman outfit), and running masterminds, and how she aims to pass this level of self-leadership, adventure, and possibility on to her children and clients.   Takeaways: Archetypes as self-leadership tools Lee uses intentional archetypes—Warrior/Wonder Woman, Lover (Aphrodite), Queen (Arata), and Magician (Dorothy)—to step into different versions of herself. Naming and “calling in” these identities helps her access specific qualities like courage, softness, wisdom, or creativity on demand. “Two millimeter shifts” toward your Emerald City Personal transformation doesn’t have to be a giant leap. Lee frames growth as tiny, consistent 2 mm shifts—new beliefs, small actions, or daily habits—that cumulatively redirect your life path toward your own “Emerald City” (your ideal life and goals). Vision boards as focus and manifestation tools Lee treats vision boards as focus boards: what you see often is what you focus on, and what you focus on is what you attract. She uses images, symbols, and even AI-generated pictures of herself (e.g., Wonder Woman in a canyon) to align her inner world with her outer reality, supporting big manifestations like international travel, speaking on stage, and life experiences with her kids. Quotes:   You are only like, if you just shift two millimeters, you will go on a totally different course in your life, whether that's a new belief, a new action, something new that you do at the gym, something that you do in your career or in finance, everything's a two millimeter shift." — Lee Campbell "To me, that's what self-leadership is. It's being able to lead yourself first, but sometimes we can't do that unless we've got a little bit of help. So, these have been my little bit of guidance in helping me along the path every day to go, come on, like, who is this next 2.0 version of you that needs to get to that goal?" — Lee Campbell "Sometimes people aren't always going to be aligned on your dream, but just keep staying true to you and your beliefs, and you know what you really truly stand for, and you can show people the path, but not everybody's gonna follow the same path as you." — Lee Campbell   Timeline: 0:00 – Multiple archetypes and calling in “Wonder Woman” energy 0:54 – Anton opens the Find Your Influence podcast and introduces Lee 2:55 – Lee reacts to the intro, and Anton credits his researcher, Debbie 3:14 – The Wizard of Oz, the yellow brick road, and “two millimeter shifts.” 5:46 – “Who do you need to become?” and looking beyond your immediate circle 7:42 – Wonder Woman’s creator and why the warrior archetype gets tired 9:55 – Lee’s four archetypes: Warrior, Lover, Magician, and Queen 12:13 – Can you be all these archetypes in one day? 13:48 – Anchors, a magician’s wand, and the power of visual triggers 15:13 – Vision boards as focus boards: what you focus on, you attract 18:03 – Manifesting a dream house and real-life proof of vision boards 19:09 – Lee’s mentor Lauren Lahav and the Tony Robbins connection 22:10 – From corporate IT and single mum to global travel and speaking 24:45 – Writing down “impossible” goals and the Wonder Woman stage story 27:52 – Why Lee’s proudest influence is on her two teenage sons 30:33 – Monument Valley, Wonder Woman photos, and staying true to your dreams 32:11 – Raising boys, wild experiences, and focusing on four dreams at a time 33:56 – Anton’s journey to becoming a five-figure speaker 36:15 – Wrap-up: archetypes, self-leadership, and finding your influence   Conclusion: Lee weaves together archetypes, micro-shifts, and vision boards into a practical framework for self-leadership and influence. Lee shows how intentionally stepping into identities such as Wonder Woman, Lover, Magician, and Queen can help us access the courage, softness, wisdom, and creativity required at different moments in life. Through the metaphor of the yellow brick road and “two millimeter shifts,” she reframes transformation as a series of small, conscious choices that ultimately lead to our personal “Emerald City.” Supported by mentors like Lauren Lahav and the Tony Robbins community, Lee’s own journey—from corporate IT and single motherhood to global speaking and masterminds—illustrates how clear vision, aligned action, and powerful influences can reshape a life. Her story ultimately reinforces that influence starts with how we lead ourselves, the dreams we dare to put on our boards, and the person we are willing to become to make those dreams real.

Troy describes his 30+ years as a strategic financial planner and founder of Collins Financial Group, emphasizing that true financial planning is strategic, not transactional, built around his core pillars of direction, control, and choice. He links financial strategy with triathlon coaching: starting with the end in mind, creating a clear long‑term goal, then working backward with structure, discipline, and systems that run consistently over time. Troy highlights the importance of trust, respect, and likability in client relationships, often turning clients into long‑term friends, and notes how money and financial stress can make or break marriages, which is why he sees his work as partly “financial and marriage rescue.” He gives practical markers for retirement planning (e.g., ~$60k–$100k per year in today’s dollars, and roughly $500k of capital for every $30k of income, assuming ~6% returns) and stresses conservative assumptions, long-term thinking, and starting as early as possible. Throughout, both men reinforce the value of being coachable, humble, and open, investing in mentors and coaches, and using disciplined consistency, whether in business, money, or sport, to create genuine financial independence and life choices over decades.   Takeaways:    Strategic, not transactional, financial planning Troy argues that real financial planning is about long‑term strategy—starting with the end in mind, setting clear goals, and then building structure, systems, and processes—rather than chasing short‑term products or “deals.” Direction, control, and choice create calm and confidence His framework is: Direction (clear goals and plan) → calm and clarity Control (systems, cash flow, debt strategy, investments) → confidence Choice (financial independence) → freedom to design your lifestyle, work less, or retire. Be coachable, humble, and open—for money, business, and life Troy links triathlon, business, and money: success comes from discipline and being coachable. He continually invests in coaches and mentors, and encourages others to do the same, because outside perspective and experience accelerate both financial independence and personal growth. Quotes: On what influence really looks like in financial planning "My belief in regards to financial planning should be strategic, not transactional… my three key words are direction, control, and choice… that direction creates calm… the control… creates confidence… and then lastly, the choice is the end outcome, in regards to the freedom that they get." — Troy Collins [0:04:13] On money, relationships, and why his work matters "I actually say to a lot of clients, I think I’ve saved more marriages… because that is what creates a lot of… destroyed relationships… personally as well. They don’t talk about money, they’re fearful of talking about money, and so having that third party that can influence decision‑making… is absolutely critical." — Troy Collins [0:19:53–0:21:05] On being a leader and a learner at the same time "We’ve got to be coachable… be humble and learn from other people… go and find the people who’ve done it… I invested in traveling interstate… I went to Tony Robbins seminars… I traveled every quarter to basically have a one‑day coaching session… I’m still doing it… always be open to new learnings and new opportunities." — Troy Collins [0:37:23–0:41:17]   Timestamps:   0:00:00 – Troy explains his long-term relationships with clients and how trust, likeability, and respect have grown over decades. 0:01:00 – Anton formally opens the Find Your Influence podcast and introduces Troy’s professional background. 0:04:13 – Troy defines influence in his work and introduces his framework of direction, control, and choice. 0:06:57 – Troy talks about “starting with the end in mind” in financial planning and setting time-and-dollar goals. 0:09:29 – Troy describes his education, professional qualifications, and the evolution of financial planning from transactional to strategic. 0:13:20 – Troy reflects on early influences: parents, coaches, and how he joined his father’s business after trying to be a pro triathlete. 0:19:52 – Troy and Anton discuss how money and finances strain relationships, and Troy describes his role in “saving marriages.” 0:23:14 – Troy explains how clients become long-term friends and how his triathlon life and client base overlap. 0:30:19 – They explore strategy vs. tools in investing, stressing planning first and only then choosing assets. 0:37:23 – Troy talks about leadership, being coachable, and continually investing in coaches and mentors throughout his career.   In conclusion, this conversation with Troy Collins is a masterclass in how long-term thinking, disciplined strategy, and coachability shape both money and life. Troy shows that true financial planning is not about quick wins or products, but about clarity of direction, control through systems, and the freedom of real choice over decades. By tying his work as a financial strategist to his journey as a triathlete, husband, and business owner, he models how consistency and humility—being willing to seek coaches, stay teachable, and invest in yourself—create enduring results. Listeners are left with a clear message: if you start with the end in mind, get honest about your goals, and commit to structured action with the right guidance, you can build not just financial independence, but a life of meaningful relationships, health, and impact.   Visit https://collinsfinancialgroup.com.au/

In this powerful conversation, leadership and safety expert Chad Hymas shares how a catastrophic workplace accident at 27, when a 2,000‑pound bale of hay shattered his neck and left him a quadriplegic, completely transformed his life, work, and view of leadership. He describes the harsh realities of living without the use of his legs, core, or hands, the strain and tenderness in his marriage and caregiving relationship with his wife Shondell, and the crucial support role his children and strangers play in his daily independence. Chad opens up about men’s mental health, depression, and suicidal thoughts, arguing that while physical challenges can be managed, the mental game is the same for all of us. He explains how his purpose evolved from farming land to “farming people” through his ranch (Royal Creek Ranches), global keynotes, and leadership retreats, emphasizing proactive kindness and service—reaching out before being asked—as the true heart of influence and leadership. Grounded in his faith in God and hard‑won perspective, Chad challenges listeners to stop “robbing themselves” of purpose, to actively serve others, and to recognize that even small, sincere acts of encouragement can change lives.   Takeaways:   The real battle is mental, not physical. Physical limitations can be adapted to; the “hard part” is the mental game, which is the same for everyone, regardless of their specific challenge. One plus one doesn’t equal two—it can equal three or infinity. Chad’s idea that 1 + 1 = 3 (or infinity) reflects how collaboration, support, and shared struggle multiply impact far beyond what individuals can do alone. Independence is built on dependence. Chad insists he is not truly independent—his independence is created by being willing to depend on and ask for help from others, often complete strangers. Caregiving deeply impacts relationships. Having his wife, Shondell, help with intimate, daily care creates emotional and relational tension, challenging traditional views of a man’s role as “protector and provider.” Quotes:   On the real challenge being mental, not physical, “The mental game is where it's really hard. I mean, the physical part, we deal with that, we figure it out, but the mental game, it's the same for all of us…” – Chad Hymas On proactive kindness and leadership “Proactive kindness and proactive service, that's a whole different way to live a life… People will help when they're asked. Will you do it when you're not asked?” – Chad Hymas  On honoring loss by how you live, “If you focus on what you lost, you end up staying stuck. But if you focus on the little bit you still have, more comes to you in the process… You honor the loss by the way you change and live your life moving forward.” – Chad Hymas   Timestamps:   [00:00:00] – The Mental Game & 1+1=3 Chad opens by arguing that the mental game is harder than the physical, and introduces his “1 + 1 = 3 / infinity” view of leadership and support. [00:03:25] – The Accident Story Chad recounts the workplace accident with the 2,000‑pound bale of hay that shattered his neck and changed his life at 27. [00:08:28] – Independence Through Dependence He explains his physical limitations, using a manual wheelchair, traveling alone, and why he says he’s not independent—he’s dependent on strangers. [00:10:35] – Marriage, Caregiving & Masculinity Candid discussion about Shondell’s caregiving, how it affects intimacy, pride, and his sense of being a husband and man. [00:13:28] – Men’s Mental Health & Suicidal Thoughts Chad opens up about depression, suicidal ideation, and skyrocketing male suicide rates, and why he advocates for men’s mental health. [00:26:22] – The Mental Game is the Same for All of Us He revisits Anton’s knee injury, asserts that no one’s pain is “less than”, and expands on the shared mental struggle we all face. [00:29:20] – Proactive vs Reactive Kindness Core leadership lesson: the difference between helping when asked and seeking people to serve without being asked, plus the simple “send a text today” challenge. [00:33:20] – Raising the Bar with Recognition Practical examples of lifting kids and spouses by recognizing effort (even a C grade), flipping criticism into positive expectations. [00:39:14] – First Speaking Gig from One Church Visit The story of stopping at church after the accident, going back once to say thank you, and how that directly led to his first paid speaking engagement. [00:48:55] – Honoring Loss by How You Live Forward Closing message: don’t focus on what you lost; honor loss (death, divorce, bankruptcy) by how you change and live your life going forward.   Conclusion:   Chad Hymas is a masterclass in perspective, purpose, and proactive leadership. Chad doesn’t just tell a story about surviving a catastrophic accident; he shows what it means to win the mental game day after day while living with profound physical limitations. From redefining independence as dependence on others to challenging us to practice proactive kindness and to honor loss in how we move forward, Chad turns tragedy into a deeply practical roadmap for influence, resilience, and service. Listeners walk away not just inspired, but invited to act: to send that text, recognize the people closest to them, and stop “robbing themselves” of the chance to serve, grow, and live with a renewed sense of faith and purpose.   

Brad Eisenhuth explores what real influence and leadership look like in practice. Brad defines influence as creating movement in others and emphasizes generating a disproportionate return on time and effort by choosing the right environment, method, and intent. He explains that true change requires motivation, ownership of problems, and a shift in both thinking and behavior. Using concepts like the red zone/green zone of human needs (safety, control, status vs. learning, teamwork, purpose), Brad shows why people resist change and how leaders can create safety and clarity so that teams lean into growth rather than avoid it. The conversation dives into leadership as the blend of inspiration (leadership) and structure (management), and finishes with a key insight: stop starting with your “gold nugget” and instead deeply understand what the other person needs first. Takeaways: Influence = creating movement: Real influence is about generating movement in others with a disproportionate return on your time and effort by aligning intent, method, and environment. Change starts with motivation and safety: People only embrace change when they see why it matters to them and feel safe in their core needs—security, control, and status (red zone)—so they can move into learning, teamwork, and purpose (green zone). Lead from their needs, not your agenda: Effective leaders don’t start with “their” gold nugget; they reverse-engineer influence by understanding what the other person values, how they see the problem, and tailoring questions, structure, and support to that.   Quotes: "Influence... it's about creating movement in others... How do I get people to move towards the behavior or the change that I want to see happen in the most efficient way, in the most effective way, with the least amount of effort?"  "The real skill is being able to pick the communication method and design the environment with clear intent." "You don't need to influence, you just need to find out what the other person needs."   Timestamps: 00:00 – Opening on change, motivation & stepping into the unknown 01:10 – Podcast intro & Anton introduces Brad Eisenhowth 02:14 – What is influence? “Creating movement” & disproportionate return 05:56 – The key skill of influence: environment, method, intent 11:42 – Who influenced Brad? Mentors, Tony Robbins, sport & observation 16:12 – Pride, ownership of problems & personal growth 19:46 – Change, motivation, and tension between present and future 23:09 – Human needs: red zone vs green zone (safety, control, status) 28:20 – Real‑life resistance to change: personal stress & leadership response 33:00 – Hard leadership moments when the chips are down 35:03 – Leadership vs management: inspiration vs structure 39:32 – Anton’s recap of influence & leadership themes 40:53 – Brad’s final “gold nugget”: stop thinking about you, start with their needs 42:21 – Closing thanks & call to like/subscribe Conclusion: This conversation between Anton Guinea and Brad Eisenhuth shows that real influence and leadership aren’t about clever tactics, but about creating meaningful movement in others by understanding their needs, context, and motivations. Influence works best when leaders align intent, method, and environment; support core human needs such as safety, control, and status; and invite people into the green zone of learning, teamwork, and purpose. Leadership, as Brad frames it, is the blend of inspiration (emotion, story, destination) and management (logic, structure, clarity)—and the most powerful shift any leader can make is to stop centering their own “gold nugget” and instead start with a deep curiosity about what the other person truly needs to change and grow. 

Dominique Lamb is a premier Australian governance, policy, and advocacy leader currently serving as the Director of Community Affairs to the President of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Dominique explains how the 2032 Games are shifting away from traditional, isolated sporting events toward a distributed, 14-host-city model designed to act as a catalyst for "public value", ensuring long-term infrastructure, economic development, and generational change impact regional communities that have historically been left behind. She describes how she defines influence as a collaborative, place-based journey rooted in storytelling rather than rigid corporate hierarchies, allowing her to advocate effectively across government bodies, industry associations, and regional stakeholders. Drawing from her diverse career as a lawyer, CEO, and the Queensland Small Business Commissioner, Dominique shares profound insights into leadership as an act of psychological safety, navigating isolation at the executive level, and why leaders must consciously define their own value compass to stay grounded when making hard decisions. Takeaways: Shifting from Profit to Public Value: Dominique highlights how leading in community and government spaces requires a mindset shift from standard corporate profitability to maximizing positive, lasting impact for the greatest number of people. Leadership is Psychological Safety: She defines the core of organizational leadership as creating a secure bond where employees can show up as authentic human beings, voice their struggles on hard days, and build mutual loyalty. Owning Your Value Compass: Reflecting on her time in a high-performance bodybuilding team, Dominique emphasizes that personal and professional values must be a conscious, daily choice that dictates your behavior, serving as a critical anchor during times of executive pressure. Quotes: "Influence is about taking people on a journey. Storytelling predominantly. Because I don't think that you can influence in a hierarchical sense. I don't think you can do it through aggression. I don't think that you can create true or long-term influence unless you bring people on a journey." — Dominique Lamb "When you work with the government, the government's focus is around where can I achieve the public value... impacting the most people in the most positive way." — Dominique Lamb "People spend their whole lives trying to get to the top and they think that you get to the top and then you're good... But in actual fact it gets harder... The single thing that gets anyone through are the people around them. You're the sum of the five people around you." — Dominique Lamb Conclusion: This episode demonstrates that true leadership isn't about imposing decisions on a community, but navigating the journey with them. Dominique’s insights are a powerful reminder for any leader to deliberately choose their values, protect their team's safety, and focus on leaving a legacy of public worth.

Paul Harazim is an Australian business leader focused on industrial safety and efficiency in the water, wastewater, and transport sectors. Paul explains how his company, Mass Products, bridges the gap between engineers and frontline operators by designing operator-led, practical access and safety solutions that reduce bureaucracy and paperwork while improving real-world safety. He describes a new standalone access program and a major contract in Brisbane that oversees planning, engineering, and design to ensure that new infrastructure is safe, maintainable, and efficient over the next 30 years, particularly amid aging assets. Paul also shares how he uses influence—which he defines as awareness plus guiding others on a journey—to connect operator feedback with senior executives, identify pain points, and implement change across multiple levels of an organization. Finally, he reflects on his entrepreneurial journey, early influences from his father, the importance of backing yourself, and his parallel work on Road Pod, an innovative containerized transport system that improves safety and efficiency in freight operations.   Takeaways: Bridge between design and operations: Paul’s work focuses on closing the gap between engineers and frontline operators, ensuring infrastructure is practical, maintainable, and safe rather than just “compliant on paper.” Influence as awareness and guided change: He defines influence as raising awareness, helping people understand and accept new information, and then guiding them on a journey of change across all organizational levels. Back yourself and solve real problems: Paul’s entrepreneurial journey shows the value of backing yourself early, focusing on solving real operational pain points, and adding value first—whether through safer water infrastructure or innovations like the Road Pod freight system.   Quotes: "When you can add that kind of efficiency and safety in the same sentence, that's when that kind of excites me, because the world went crazy with safety... and we're kind of really enjoying disrupting the industry and pioneering the change, where we're taking away all of this bureaucracy, red tape, paperwork."  "We're bridging the gap between people actually doing the work and people who are designing and building some of the work, so we've become this kind of communication company where we're almost a counseling company in both." "I would call it… I'd almost call it awareness and an ability to accept, understand, and navigate other people through that journey. That's what influencing is."   Conclusion: This episode shows that real influence is about turning frontline pain points into safer, smarter systems that serve workers for decades. Paul’s journey is a reminder to back yourself, challenge the status quo, and design solutions where safety and efficiency go hand in hand.    🔥 𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗢𝗥 𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗧𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 This episode is proudly sponsored by Les Moir, Business Mentor, Coach, and creator of the No Limits to Success program. For more than 18 years, Les has helped trades professionals and small business owners break free from the constant grind, stabilize their income, and reclaim their time so they can build businesses that support both success and lifestyle. If you’re ready to work smarter, grow sustainably, and create more freedom in your business and life, this resource is worth checking out. https://nolimitstosuccess.com/  IG: https://www.instagram.com/les.moir/  LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesdmoir/ YT: https://www.youtube.com/@NoLimitsToSuccess  

Michellie Jones, an Australian triathlon legend, discussed her career highlights, including winning the ITU World Championship in 1992, the Olympic silver medal in 2000, and the Ironman World Championship in 2006. She emphasized the importance of consistency and overcoming challenges, sharing personal anecdotes about her high school coach's influence and her transition to equestrian sports. Jones also highlighted her recent achievements, such as winning the 55-59 age group at the 2022 Wollongong ITU Short Course Age Group World Championships and the 70.3 World Championships in Spain. She stressed the value of community, self-care, and the impact of actions on others.   Takeaways:   Michellie’s core message: “You don’t have to be extraordinary, you can just be ordinary and still tick off the boxes.” Her real “talent” is consistency over decades, not some magical gift. Her high school sports master John White started a simple run group, bought her first triathlon bike, and backed her when she had little money. He attended key moments (Sydney Olympics, Kona win, Wollongong worlds), showing how one believer can shape an entire career. Comments like “you’re not Olympic medal material” or “why bother with sport, you’ll just get a boyfriend and quit” became motivation to prove people wrong. She used disappointments (e.g., missing the Athens Olympic team) to pivot into Ironman, which led to her Kona world title.   Quotes:   “You don’t have to be extraordinary, you can just be ordinary and still tick off the boxes.” “I don’t think I was always the most talented athlete. Yes, my talent was consistency. Consistency is king, if you want to do something well.”  “Be happy with the race you had rather than the race you wished you had… As long as you can walk away having learned something, that is a big, huge win in my book.” Conclusion:    This episode is ultimately a masterclass in how an “ordinary” person creates an extraordinary career through consistency, community, and courage to pivot. From a modest upbringing and a high school coach who believed in her, Michellie built a legacy that includes an Olympic silver medal, an Ironman World Championship, and world titles spanning decades—yet she keeps returning to the same themes: show up, take action, and let consistency be your superpower. She turns criticism and setbacks into fuel, treats every race as a learning opportunity, and leans on self‑care and smart adaptation to stay durable over time. Above all, her story shows that influence isn’t about trying to be an influencer; it’s about being authentically yourself, acting on your values, and never underestimating how your actions—big or small—might change someone else’s life.   🔥 𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗢𝗥 𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗧𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 This episode is proudly sponsored by Les Moir, Business Mentor, Coach, and creator of the No Limits to Success program. For more than 18 years, Les has helped trades professionals and small business owners break free from the constant grind, stabilize their income, and reclaim their time so they can build businesses that support both success and lifestyle. If you’re ready to work smarter, grow sustainably, and create more freedom in your business and life, this is a resource worth checking out. https://nolimitstosuccess.com/  IG: https://www.instagram.com/les.moir/ LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesdmoir/ YT: https://www.youtube.com/@NoLimitsToSuccess

Tiffany English, founder and CEO of Access Offshoring, discusses the concept of influence with Anton Guinea on the Find Your Influence podcast. Tiffany defines influence as the ability to positively change behavior, even when not present. She emphasizes consistency, authenticity, and long-term impact in leadership. Tiffany shares her journey, highlighting early influences, such as a female boss in a male-dominated industry, and the importance of adding value. She stresses the importance of core values, goal-setting, and creating a psychologically safe environment for her team. Tiffany believes in making the world a better place through personal and professional growth. Key Takeaways: Influence is measured by how people behave when you are there, not by how they act when you are watching. Consistency in energy communication and behavior is the backbone of effective long-term leadership. Great leaders focus on creating vision, providing opportunities, and removing roadblocks so their people can grow. Intentional goal setting across personal, professional, and financial areas creates deeper alignment and commitment in teams. The journey of influencing others starts with doing the inner work to influence and evolve yourself first.   Quotes: If people continue to behave in a certain way when I am not in the room, that to me is influence, not control. Your team and your family are feeding off your leadership energy, even on the days you do not want to show up. I walk into every room asking how I can add value here and prove my competence. The company and the people we are today are not the people we need to be to run this company in twelve months' time. When I look at the growth I have had and the hardships I have been through, the person I am most proud to have influenced is me.   Timestamps:   00:00 Introduction and a bold definition of influence 03:01 Consistency control and how leaders shape behavior that lasts 04:58 Leading global teams at a distance and creating lasting impact 09:06 Early role models, confidence, and adding value in any room 13:25 Clarity in communication and letting people learn through their own decisions 17:17 Discovering values, obligation, and the drive to be better 21:26 Vision opportunities and removing roadblocks as a leadership blueprint 28:17 Personal, professional, and financial goal setting with the team 32:55 Influence happiness and the joy of watching people grow 34:42 Why the person you are most proud of should be yourself 36:18 Final reflections on legacy impact and leaving people better than you found them   Conclusion:   This episode is a masterclass in what influence really means when the microphones turn off, and real life begins. You will walk away seeing leadership not as a title but as an obligation to bring your best energy and use your unique gifts fully. The stories shared here prove that you can come from humble or even difficult beginnings and still create a powerful ripple of impact across teams and generations. You will hear how clarity of values and vision turns into daily decisions that shape culture and performance. The conversation also shows that the courage to be proud of your own growth is not arrogance but a necessary fuel for helping others. Above all, it invites you to ask where you can add more value and create more opportunity in the rooms you enter. If you are ready to influence yourself first, so you can better influence others, this episode will challenge and inspire you to level up.   This episode is proudly sponsored by Les Moir, Business Mentor, Coach, and creator of the No Limits to Success program. For more than 18 years, Les has helped trades professionals and small business owners break free from the constant grind, stabilize their income, and reclaim their time so they can build businesses that support both success and lifestyle. If you’re ready to work smarter, grow sustainably, and create more freedom in your business and life, this resource is worth checking out. https://nolimitstosuccess.com/  IG: https://www.instagram.com/les.moir/  LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesdmoir/ YT: https://www.youtube.com/@NoLimitsToSuccess  

In this episode of the Find Your Influence podcast, Anton Guinea sits down with award-winning author and emotional intelligence expert Nikki Langman to unpack what it means to be an unbreakable and restorative leader in a world facing an ongoing crisis. After overcoming early technical hiccups, they explore Nikki’s Unbreakable program, which blends emotional intelligence with Lego Serious Play to make complex human behavior and hard topics like mental health accessible and engaging. Nikki explains her current focus on somatic and restorative leadership and argues that modern leaders must first learn to truly listen, build psychological safety, and restore burned-out, fragmented teams. Together, they redefine influence as a blend of credibility, likability, and trust, grounded in genuine care and vulnerability. Nikki also shares her journey through addiction and adversity and introduces her badass framework, which emphasizes bravery, authenticity, direction, action, self-love, and self-talk as the path to self-mastery and resilient leadership.   Key Takeaways: Influence begins when credibility meets likeability and is held together by trust. Leadership is simply making the person in front of you the most important person in the world for that moment. When you stop reacting from fear and start responding with intention, you reclaim your power as a leader. Restorative leadership heals burned-out teams by listening first and fixing later. Emotional intelligence is the art of turning complex human behavior into clear, practical action.   Quotes:   True influence is built on the trio of credibility, likability, and genuine trust. Restorative leadership is urgently needed to reconnect fragmented, exhausted teams in a world living through an ongoing crisis. Listening to understand rather than to respond transforms mutually exclusive monologs into real connection and psychological safety. Tools like Lego Serious Play and metaphor can safely surface hard topics like trauma and mental health in highly engaging ways. Nikki’s Unbreakable and badass frameworks show that overcoming adversity and addiction is possible through bravery, authenticity, direction, action, self-love, and powerful self-talk.   Timestamps:   00:00:00 Technical setup and welcoming Nikki 00:10:21 Introducing the Find Your Influence podcast and Nikki’s bio 00:12:28 Unbreakable emotional intelligence and Lego Serious Play 00:15:27 Somatic leadership and restorative leadership in a world in crisis 00:19:19 Listening as the core skill of restorative leadership 00:23:18 Empathy versus advice and why I know how you feel is dangerous 00:27:28 Defining influence credibility, likeability, and trust 00:31:21 Psychological safety, vulnerability, and role modeling as a leader 00:36:12 Proactive communication metaphors and the airplane example 00:40:25 Reacting from fear versus responding with your thinking brain 00:43:39 Unbreakable workshops, Lego Serious Play, and mental health 00:48:05 Nikki’s addiction story and the origins of How to Be a Badass 00:50:27 The badass framework and being kind to yourself 00:51:30 A space where truth is sacred and shame cannot breathe 00:52:30 Future part two ideas and closing remarks   Conclusion:   In this episode, Anton and Nikki explored what it really means to lead and influence in a world under pressure, showing that unbreakable leaders are those who listen deeply, build trust intentionally, and create spaces where truth is honored, and shame cannot survive, while they guide themselves and others from fragile survival to courageous self-mastery.   This episode is proudly sponsored by Les Moir, Business Mentor, Coach, and creator of the No Limits to Success program. For more than 18 years, Les has helped trades professionals and small business owners break free from the constant grind, stabilize their income, and reclaim their time so they can build businesses that support both success and lifestyle. If you’re ready to work smarter, grow sustainably, and create more freedom in your business and life, this is a resource worth checking out. https://nolimitstosuccess.com/  IG: https://www.instagram.com/les.moir/  LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesdmoir/ YT: https://www.youtube.com/@NoLimitsToSuccess  

Shane Kempton, CEO of Harcourts Western Australia and mental fitness coach, discussed his journey from the Australian Army to leadership roles in real estate. He emphasized the importance of mental fitness, particularly for veterans, and his work with the Military Brotherhood and the Steak Sandwich men's group. Shane highlighted his upcoming book on leadership, "Command Soldier to CEO," which combines military leadership principles with corporate strategies. He shared his influences, including his family and mentors like Matt Church. Shane also reflected on the impact of his work on individuals and businesses, stressing the need for a compelling vision to drive success. Key Takeaways: Influence is about inspiring people to take action they did not believe was possible by igniting something inside them. Genuine leadership begins with caring enough to truly understand what your people need to feel safe, valued, and able to belong. Mental fitness, like physical fitness, requires ongoing training, community, and proactive habits rather than waiting for a crisis. A compelling vision creates the sense of duty, purpose, discipline, and urgency that drives consistent action and results. Your lived experiences and scars become powerful leadership tools when you take the time to reflect on them and share the lessons with others. Quotes: True influence is helping people do what they never thought they could by lighting a fire inside them, not under them. A compelling vision creates the discipline, courage, and urgency you need to follow through when things get hard. Leadership starts with a genuine sense of care, where you understand what makes your people feel safe, valued, and able to grow. Your best days are still ahead of you when you commit to mental fitness, continuous learning, and doing the inner work. Purpose‑driven leadership turns personal stories, scars, and experiences into a powerful force for change in others. Timestamps: 00:00 -  Intro 01:12 – Introducing Shane Kempton and His Leadership Background 04:20 – Military Service, SAS Support, and Mental Fitness for Veterans 08:41 – Men’s Mental Health, Brotherhood, and Community 12:47 – What Real Influence Is and Why Intent Matters 14:59 – Leading with Genuine Care and Understanding Your People 16:04 – Family, Early Role Models, and Key Leadership Mentors 21:36 – The Agents and Business Owners Shane Is Most Proud to Have Influenced 26:53 – Shane’s Books and Purpose‑Driven Leadership Philosophy 32:34 – Vision, Discipline, and the “Sense Of” Framework for Leaders 40:29 – Wrapping Up: Books, DISC Profiles, and Plans for Part Two Conclusion: Shane’s journey from army life to the CEO seat shows that true influence starts with a compelling vision and a genuine care for people. His stories of serving veterans, building community for men, and lifting real estate leaders prove that leadership is less about titles and more about impact. When you combine discipline, purpose, and mental fitness, you do not just grow a business; you change lives. Shane reminds us that our best days are still ahead if we are willing to do the inner work and back ourselves. Take what you have heard today and ask yourself where you can lead with more care, more courage, and a stronger sense of duty and purpose. 𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗢𝗥 𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗧𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 This episode is proudly sponsored by Les Moir, Business Mentor, Coach, and creator of the No Limits to Success program. For more than 18 years, Les has helped trades professionals and small business owners break free from the constant grind, stabilize their income, and reclaim their time so they can build businesses that support both success and lifestyle. If you’re ready to work smarter, grow sustainably, and create more freedom in your business and life, this is a resource worth checking out. https://nolimitstosuccess.com/  IG: https://www.instagram.com/les.moir/  LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesdmoir/ YT: https://www.youtube.com/@NoLimitsToSuccess

Dr. Christopher S. Taylor powerfully reframes influence as something far deeper than persuasion. It is the result of environment, mentorship, and aligned living. Drawing from his journey in mental health leadership and his research in social learning theory, he reveals that lasting change doesn’t come from willpower or pressure, but from reshaping the environments that shape us. From the pivotal guidance of Master Sergeant Robert Doty to his work helping individuals break cycles of addiction and rebuild their lives, Dr. Taylor shows that true influence is about investing in people, creating spaces for transformation, and living in alignment with your values. His message is clear and compelling: if you want to change your life, or impact others, you don’t start with control, you start with environment, authenticity, and the courage to become who you’re meant to be. Key Takeaways: Influence is built through relationships, not authority. The environment shapes behavior more than motivation alone. True leadership creates space for growth, not control. Authenticity is about alignment with values, not unfiltered expression. Investing in people (human capital) creates long-term impact. Self-actualization means living in alignment with who you truly are. Emotional intelligence is key to navigating influence responsibly. Quotes: “The only thing worth investing in is yourself.” “We don’t change people, we create environments where they can change.” “Authenticity isn’t about saying everything you think—it’s about living in alignment with your values.” “If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.” “There is no carrot sweet enough or strong enough to beat addiction—but the environment can.” Timestamps: 0:00 – Introduction and Dr. Taylor’s background in mental health 2:40 – Defining influence and early reflections on mentorship 5:30 – Master Sergeant Robert Doty and life-changing guidance 9:20 – The role of mentors in personal development 13:10 – Environment vs willpower in shaping behavior 18:00 – PhD journey and social learning theory explained 24:30 – Addiction, environment, and breaking destructive cycles 30:10 – Human capital and employee-first leadership 35:20 – Creating space for transformation, not control 39:40 – Self-actualization and living authentically 44:10 – Authenticity vs honesty and emotional intelligence 49:00 – Final reflections on influence and growth Conclusion: Dr. Christopher S. Taylor’s perspective reframes influence as something far deeper than persuasion, it’s about how we shape environments, invest in people, and live in alignment with our values. His work in mental health and social learning theory makes one thing clear: lasting change doesn’t happen through pressure, but through support, structure, and connection. By emphasizing human capital, authenticity, and emotional intelligence, Dr. Taylor provides a practical roadmap for leaders, professionals, and individuals seeking meaningful growth. His message is both simple and powerful: if you want to influence others, start by investing in yourself, surrounding yourself with the right people, and creating spaces where others can thrive. That’s where real transformation begins.

Luke Flanagan shows that real leadership in emergency services is built in quiet “peacetime” long before a crisis hits. Drawing on more than 17 years across policing, road safety, fire communications, and now Tasmania SES, he explains why “leadership capital” comes from investing in people, trust, and clear processes, not rank or volume. Raised by a single mum who was a police inspector and shaped by mentor Peter Flanders, Luke has learned as much from poor leaders as from great ones—especially how damaging bad leadership can be to health and morale. His core mantra, People, Purpose, Performance, places wellbeing and meaning ahead of KPIs, and underpins his approach to psychological safety in traditionally paramilitary cultures. From supporting traumatized colleagues and inspiring his teenage son by example to inviting listeners to volunteer with SES, Luke proves that influence is a daily choice available to anyone willing to show up, listen, and serve. Key Takeaways: Influence is helping others, not manipulating them. Bad leaders can teach powerful lessons about what not to do. Leadership capital is built in peacetime and spent in crises. People, Purpose, Performance must be in that order. Psychological safety requires honest, human conversations. Leadership is a mindset and practice, not just a title. Volunteering offers deep purpose and community. Quotes: “The hard work of leadership isn’t in the crisis; it’s in peacetime when no one’s watching.” “If your people aren’t right, nothing else matters—no plan or KPI can fix that.” “You don’t have to know everything, but you do have to keep showing up for your people.” “If you don’t like where you are, move—you’re not a tree.” “All most people want is to know they’re not crazy, that their reactions just mean they’re human.” Timestamps: 0:00 – Luke’s background and emergency services leadership journey 3:00 – Defining influence vs manipulation 7:10 – Paramilitary culture, psychological safety, and leadership capital 12:20 – Mentorship from Peter Flanders and learning to be a sounding board 16:00 – Trauma, drinking culture, and finding healthier ways to cope 23:30 – Leading at home and inspiring his son’s leadership journey 27:50 – People, Purpose, Performance framework 39:10 – The unseen impact of lives saved in road policing 42:00 – Invitation to volunteer with SES and serve the community Conclusion: Luke Flanagan’s story makes one truth unmistakable: effective leadership under pressure is the result of consistent, people‑first choices made long before sirens ever sound. By focusing on people, clarifying purpose, and letting performance flow from that foundation, he shows how emergency services—and any high‑stakes environment—can become safer, healthier, and more human. His distinction between influence and manipulation, his honesty about trauma and culture, and his example as both a public leader and a father offer a practical, hopeful model of influence at every level. In the end, Luke’s message is that leadership isn’t reserved for those with rank; it’s available to anyone willing to invest in others, own their impact, and serve. That is how culture changes—one leader, one relationship, and one decision at a time. This episode is made possible by Troy Sawdy, who’s deeply committed to growing people and building lasting impact in the industry. As the Founder of Titan Ind. Pty Ltd, Board Director at Reboot Mindset Academy, and a key force behind Titans of Coal, Troy continues to champion growth, investment, and lasting impact, values we dive into in today’s episode. Take a moment to explore the powerful work Troy and his teams are building 👇 https://titanind.com.au/ https://www.rebootmindsetacademy.org/ https://www.yourtitansofcoal.com/

Heavy-vehicle diesel mechanic-turned-founder Ashley Belteky shows how real influence in the trades starts with human skills, not just technical expertise. From Cummins workshops to remote Bowen Basin mine sites, she’s seen that new starters don’t need to “know everything”, they need to feel included, valued, and safe to learn. Through her company, Blue Leader, and the “Tradies Who Lead” podcast, Ashley helps trade teams build trust, improve communication, and foster psychological safety without corporate jargon. She shares honest lessons from mentoring apprentices, a leadership scholarship, and 360 feedback that taught her leadership is a mindset and daily practice long before it’s a job title. Her mission is to empower trade teams to work better together so the industry becomes not just more productive, but genuinely healthier and more human.   Takeaways: Influence is about soft‑touch encouragement, not control. Inclusion and feeling valued matter more than what a new starter knows. Leadership is a mindset and practice before it is a formal title. Senior leaders must empower and stay connected to ground‑level teams. Psychological safety grows from everyday empathy, feedback, boundaries, and trust.   Quotes: “The most important thing for a new starter is feeling included and valued as the person they are, not just the tradie they’re going to be.” “You can have the best intentions in the world, but if your impact breaks trust, you still have to own it.” “Leadership is a practice and a mindset long before it ever shows up as a title on your shirt.” “Tradies want to be great mentors and leaders—no one’s really shown them how, and that’s something we can change.” “When you empower teams at the ground level to think, decide, and solve problems, that’s when culture and performance truly shift.”   Timestamps: 0:00 – Intro and Ashley’s background as a diesel mechanic 0:03:50 – Why Ashley created Blue Leader for trade teams 0:07:35 – Defining influence as soft‑touch encouragement 0:11:21 – From Cummins workshop to Bowen Basin mining work 0:14:34 – What apprentices and new starters need to feel safe and grow 0:18:21 – Lessons from mentoring apprentices and breaking trust 0:21:13 – Message to senior leaders about empowering tradies 0:26:30 – Leadership scholarship, 360 feedback, and redefining leadership 0:29:41 – Blue Leader’s mission to transform culture in the trades   Conclusion: Ashley Belteky bridges the gap between the workshop and the boardroom, proving that leadership in the trades is as much about inclusion, trust, and self‑awareness as it is about tools and tickets. Her journey from diesel mechanic to founder of Blue Leader shows that influence grows when leaders own both their intentions and their impact, empower teams to solve problems, and make apprentices feel like they belong from day one. By stripping away corporate jargon and focusing on real-world skills—empathy, feedback, boundaries—she offers a practical roadmap for tradies, supervisors, and executives who want safer, healthier, higher‑performing teams. At its heart, her message is hopeful: anyone, at any level, can choose to practice leadership and help shift the culture of the trades for the better.   𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁‼️ This episode is made possible by Troy Sawdy, who’s deeply committed to growing people and building lasting impact in the industry. As the Founder of Titan Ind. Pty Ltd, Board Director at Reboot Mindset Academy, and a key force behind Titans of Coal, Troy continues to champion growth, investment, and lasting impact, values we dive into in today’s episode. Take a moment to explore the powerful work Troy and his teams are building 👇 https://titanind.com.au/ https://www.rebootmindsetacademy.org/ https://www.yourtitansofcoal.com/

Katrina “Lady O” Wyrzykowski proves that sex, faith, and influence don’t have to live in separate worlds. Known as the “orgasm lady” and creator of the Lady O Method, she helps men, women, and couples harness sexual energy not just for pleasure, but for healing, creativity, abundance, and deeper connection, with themselves, their partners, and God. Drawing on exercise science, clear energy therapy, and a deeply Catholic, faith-aligned practice, Katrina dismantles shame and taboo around sex, reframing orgasm as a free, powerful resource for emotional, relational, and spiritual growth. Moving far beyond techniques, she describes how clearing subconscious blocks, trauma, and inherited beliefs lets clients finally look in the mirror and like what they see, come home to relationships that feel safe instead of heavy, and use sexual energy as fuel rather than something to suppress. Grounded in a personal story that runs from prison ministry with her father to mystical experiences of Mary and God, Katrina’s core message is bold and simple: you are divinely created, not an accident; your sexual energy is sacred; and true influence is using your gifts to help others heal, feel whole, and live a life that is enjoyed—not endured. Takeaways: Sex, faith, and influence can be fully aligned. Katrina shows that your sexuality, spirituality, and impact on others are meant to work together, not live in conflict or shame. Sexual energy is a sacred, practical resource. When you understand and circulate sexual energy, it can fuel healing, creativity, money, confidence, and a deeper connection—not just physical pleasure. Clearing subconscious blocks changes everything. Releasing trauma, shame, and inherited beliefs around sex lets people finally like what they see in the mirror and feel safe, loved, and desired in their relationships. Quotes: “Your sexual energy isn’t a problem to manage; it’s a sacred resource you can harness for healing, love, and abundance.” “It’s not actually about the orgasms, it’s about clearing what blocks you from loving yourself and feeling truly alive.” “You are not an accident; you are divinely created, and that includes your body and your desire.” “We were taught the mechanics of sex, but no one taught us how to use pleasure as fuel for our soul, our relationships, and our purpose.” “Life is to be enjoyed, not endured and that starts when you stop suppressing your energy and start honoring it.” Timestamps: 0:00 – Intro and welcome to Katrina “Lady O” 2:14 – Who Katrina works with and why sexual energy matters 3:02 – The Lady O Method overview 7:42 – Sex, money, and the power center 10:13 – 50 Shades, kink, and exploding public curiosity 12:13 – Six client categories and key life stages 14:53 – Clearing limiting beliefs “permanently” with energy work 18:22 – Beyond sex: healing family and life issues 23:06 – Catholic roots, prison ministry, and faith foundation 25:26 – Building her spiritual “team” (Mary, Jesus, Archangels) 29:14 – The mirror moment: finally liking what you see 33:41 – Working with men on multiple orgasms 35:16 – Breath, presence, and removing phones from the bedroom 38:14 – Numbing vs truly living and “seventy summers” Conclusion: Katrina “Lady O” Wyrzykowski takes one of the most taboo topics—orgasm—and reveals it as a doorway into something much larger: healing, self‑acceptance, faith, and influence. By combining exercise science, clear energy therapy, and a deeply personal relationship with God, Mary, and the Archangels, she turns sexual energy from something people hide or feel shame about into a sacred, practical resource for better relationships, stronger boundaries, more creativity, and genuine joy. Her work stretches far beyond the bedroom, helping high‑achieving professionals who dread their own front door, long‑term couples who’ve lost their spark, and singles grieving breakups or fearing they’re “too broken” to love again. The through‑line is constant: you are not an accident; your body is a gift, not an enemy; and your life is meant to be enjoyed, not merely endured. For anyone ready to rethink sex, faith, and influence from the inside out, Katrina offers both a challenge and an invitation: clear what no longer serves you, harness the energy you already have, and step into a life where pleasure, purpose, and presence finally align. This episode is proudly supported by Troy Sawdy, a true leader committed to shaping stronger futures within our industry. As the Founder of Titan Ind. Pty Ltd, Board Director at Reboot Mindset Academy, and a key force behind Titans of Coal, Troy continues to champion growth, investment, and lasting impact, values we dive into in today’s episode. Take a moment to explore the powerful work Troy and his teams are building 👇 https://titanind.com.au/ https://www.rebootmindsetacademy.org/ https://www.yourtitansofcoal.com/ 

Andy Khan proves that long‑term influence in sales is built on consistency, care, and credibility—not charisma or job titles. From founding Cloud Solutions Group and being acquired by Deloitte, to relaunching the business right as COVID hit and growing it faster the second time, he’s kept 70–80% of his customers for 10–15+ years (including his first client from 20 years ago) by refusing to let his “care factor” depend on deal size or timing. An introvert who never planned to work in sales, Andy learned to “wear a different mask” in front of customers while staying anchored in his core values: don’t sell something just to hit numbers, treat every order with equal attention, and focus on relationships that outlast buying cycles, restructures, and even ownership changes. With major lessons learned from his long‑time mentor Josh Rubens and deep experience in both enterprise and mid‑market environments, Andy now applies the same leadership mindset to clients, colleagues, and his own kids: care about people, help them, build trust, and earn respect through your actions over time.    Takeaways:    Influence in sales is earned through long‑term relationships, not quick wins—Andy has kept most clients for 10–20 years by prioritizing trust over transactions.  Clarity, care, and credibility are the core pillars of influence—he treats every deal with the same attention, regardless of size or immediate revenue.  Mid‑market customers need agility, not enterprise red tape—leaving Deloitte let Andy bring big‑enterprise learnings back to clients at mid‑market speed and price.  Introverts can be exceptional sales leaders—Andy “wears a different mask” in meetings while staying grounded in his values and quiet consistency.  Leadership is how you treat people who rely on you—from clients to kids, Andy defines leadership as caring, helping, and earning respect through actions over time.    Quotes:    Sales is influence—if you don’t have influence, you’re probably not going to do well in sales.”  “My care factor doesn’t change depending on how much revenue I’m going to get from a customer this year.”  “A lot of salespeople care when there’s a deal on the table and stop caring when there isn’t—I made it a point never to do that.”  “Respect is earned, not given—even parents have to earn their kids’ respect.”  “I never thought I’d be a sales guy; I’m an introvert and a man of few words, but I’ve learned to wear a different mask in the field while staying true to who I am.”    Timestamps:    0:00 – Intro & setup  2:52 – Company origin story  4:30 – Restarting the business in 2020  5:54 – Experience at Deloitte  8:59 – Leaving Deloitte & restarting  10:46 – Long‑term customer relationships  12:08 – Credibility and trust  13:16 – Personal journey into sales  18:48 – Care factor in sales  19:09 – Three pillars of influence  21:32 – Leadership and trust  23:44 – Mentor: Josh Rubens  26:59 – Consistency in sales  29:33 – Being an introvert in sales  32:06 – Influencing his kids  37:20 – Parenting as leadership  37:55 – Core leadership message  38:53 – Networking and CIO connections      Conclusion:  In this conversation, Andy Khan shows that sustainable influence in sales isn’t about being the loudest or chasing the biggest deal—it’s about consistency, character, and care. He’s grown a mid‑market business through an acquisition, a separation from Deloitte, and a global pandemic by turning enterprise‑grade lessons into agile, right‑sized solutions while keeping relationships at the center. An introvert who never planned to sell, Andy built a 20‑year career on three simple rules—clarity, care, and credibility—refusing to sell what isn’t right and keeping his “care factor” steady regardless of revenue. Whether serving customers, learning from mentor Josh Rubens, or raising his kids, his philosophy is simple: leadership is how you treat the people who rely on you, especially when there’s nothing in it for you today.    This episode is made possible by Troy Sawdy, someone who’s deeply committed to growing people and building lasting impact in the industry. As the force behind Titan Ind. Pty Ltd and actively involved in Reboot Mindset Academy and Titans of Coal, Troy’s work reflects what it truly means to invest in the future. Curious about what he’s building? Check it out below: https://titanind.com.au/ https://www.rebootmindsetacademy.org/ https://www.yourtitansofcoal.com/

Andrea Hayden shows that in HR and people & culture, influence is earned, not given and because HR rarely owns the P&L, real impact comes from trusted relationships, credibility in the bank, and evidence‑based recommendations, not job titles. She reframes positive psychology as wellbeing science, clear goals, boundaries, courageous conversations, and leaders who listen to understand, and ties it directly to psychological safety through mental health champions, EAP, and anonymous pulse surveys. Guided by the mantra “the behavior you walk past is the behavior you accept,” and passionate about multi‑generational leadership from Boomers to Gen Z (and soon Gen Alpha), Andrea’s message is simple and uncompromising: leadership is how you show up, how you treat people, and what you’re willing to tolerate.   Takeaways: Influence without authority relies on three pillars: trusted relationships, credibility built over time, and evidence‑based recommendations. Positive psychology / wellbeing science is practical, not “woo‑woo”—it’s about goals, boundaries, feedback, and daily habits that support financial, physical, mental, and behavioral wellbeing. Psychological safety demands clear expectations, leaders who truly listen, and multiple safe channels (EAP, mental health champions, anonymous surveys) for raising concerns. Leadership is a behavior, not a title—anyone can lead by role‑modeling desired behaviors, addressing issues instead of walking past them, and acting with honesty, integrity, and genuine care. Modern leaders must be adaptable, handling difficult conversations with fairness and kindness and flexing their style to different generations and motivators on their teams.   Quotes: Influence is earned, not given—and without relationships, credibility, and evidence, it’s just noise.” “Leadership is not your job title; it’s what you tolerate, what you challenge, and how you show up every day.” “The behavior you walk past is the behavior you accept.” “People don’t just want a paycheck anymore—they want purpose, clarity, and a voice that’s actually heard.” “The best leaders don’t avoid hard conversations; they tackle them with honesty, courage, and kindness.”   Timestamps: 0:00 – Intro, tech setup, and welcoming Andrea 2:23 – Andrea’s background: HR exec, culture strategist, positive psychology 4:47 – What “influence” means in HR without owning the budget 5:51 – Three pillars of influence: relationships, credibility, evidence & facts 8:45 – Positive psychology as “wellbeing science,” not “woo‑woo” 11:25 – How psychological safety connects to wellbeing and leadership 13:09 – Mental health champions, EAP, and pulse surveys in practice 14:39 – The first visionary leader who shaped Andrea’s approach 18:22 – Becoming that kind of leader for others (mentoring story) 21:42 – Defining leadership: behaviors you model and what you accept 23:32 – “The behavior you walk past is the behavior you accept” 24:21 – Shift from old‑school management to modern, collaborative leadership 27:03 – Leading multi‑generational teams and Andrea’s generational cheat sheet 30:06 – Andrea’s “superpower”: understanding people through curiosity 31:26 – Advice for new leaders: courageous conversations and kindness 35:57 – Profiling tools and using data to better understand people Conclusion: In the end, Andrea Hayden makes one thing unmistakably clear: real influence and leadership have nothing to do with titles and everything to do with how you show up—building trust, earning credibility, backing yourself with evidence, and refusing to walk past behavior that doesn’t match your values. By treating wellbeing as science, not sentiment, and psychological safety as a daily practice, not a poster, she offers a roadmap for modern leaders who want more than compliance—they want purpose, courage, and workplaces where people feel safe enough to do the best work of their lives.   This episode is proudly supported by Troy Sawdy, a true leader committed to shaping stronger futures within our industry. As the Founder of Titan Ind. Pty Ltd, Board Director at Reboot Mindset Academy, and a key force behind Titans of Coal, Troy continues to champion growth, investment, and lasting impact, values we dive into in today’s episode. Take a moment to explore the powerful work Troy and his teams are building 👇 https://www.linkedin.com/in/troy-sawdy-2769a2165/ https://titanind.com.au/ https://www.rebootmindsetacademy.org/

What does it take to lead one of Australia’s most significant industrial assets through a period of massive change? In this episode of the Influence In Action podcast, Anton Guinea sits down with Trent, General Manager of Queensland Alumina Limited (QAL). They dive deep into the evolution of leadership, from the "iron fist" supervision of the 90s to the modern necessity of psychological safety, empathy, and consistency. Trent shares his personal journey from an apprentice on the "QAL Apprentice Wall" to leading the organization, offering a rare look at how Gladstone’s major industrial leaders (Rio Tinto, BSL, and more) are collaborating more closely than ever to secure the community’s future. Key highlights in this episode: Leadership vs. Influence: Why you can be an influencer without being a leader, but never the other way around. The Venn Diagram of Success: Articulating a future state, showing deep commitment, and maintaining consistency. Leading Under Pressure: Lessons learned from major industrial incidents and the importance of "Trust Deposits." The Future of Gladstone: How the GMs of QAL, BSL, and Yarwun are working as "umbilical twins" for the region's success. This Episode is sponsored by Troy Sawdy, a leader who truly embodies the "Leader Led, AI Powered" and "Influence in Action" philosophies. Troy is a powerhouse in both industry and community impact. Troy’s commitment to high-performance culture and mental health advocacy is why we are proud to have him as a partner. His work ensures that the people behind our biggest industries are just as strong as the machinery they operate. Check out Troy’s work below: Titan IND: https://titanind.com.au/ Reboot Mindset Academy: https://www.rebootmindsetacademy.org/ Titans of Coal: https://www.yourtitansofcoal.com/ Subscribe for more conversations on high-performance leadership, AI integration, and psychological safety.

Natalie Moore speaks with Anton Guinea about her journey from corporate life to becoming a mindset coach, sharing how stress, motherhood, and lack of fulfillment pushed her to question what work and life should really feel like. She explains how embracing a possibility mindset helped her move from uncertainty into aligned action, even without having a clear path, and how starting a small side hustle became the foundation for her long-term career transformation. The conversation explores how influence begins with self-awareness, and how quietly changing your own behavior can impact others, as seen when her husband decided to start his own business after witnessing her shift. Natalie also shares her work in breaking the stigma around menopause, highlighting how open conversations created real impact for women and organizations, while exposing the resistance many workplaces still have toward these topics. She emphasizes that strong leadership is rooted in emotional intelligence and psychological safety, where people feel safe to express themselves fully, leading to better performance, deeper engagement, and more meaningful work. Takeaways: Influence starts with how you lead yourself before others Possibility mindset = curiosity + openness + trust Doing what aligns with you improves wellbeing and performance Quiet actions can influence others more than direct persuasion Psychological safety drives engagement and honest conversations Leaders should focus on transformation, not just transactions Bringing your full self to work leads to better fulfillment Purpose evolves across different life stages Businesses benefit when employees grow even if they eventually leave Personal authenticity builds stronger connection and influence Quotes: “There has to be more to life than just feeling stressed.” “You don’t need the full path you just need to believe there’s possibility.” “Quietly doing you influences others more than you think.” “We’re one person we shouldn’t have to split who we are at work and home.” “Leaders need to create space where people feel safe to be themselves.” “If people grow with you, they become your strongest advocates.” “Possibility starts with curiosity and an open mind.”  Timestamp Outline: 0:00 – Intro and guest overview 8:49 – Natalie’s background and career shift 11:23 – From stress to possibility mindset 13:29 – Running journey and discipline 14:38 – What influence means 15:42 – Impact on others (husband story) 19:59 – Menopause advocacy and impact 24:01 – Challenges working with organizations 26:39 – Possibility mindset in workplaces   Conclusion: This episode focuses on moving from stress-driven living to intentional, self-aware action, as Natalie Moore shares how burnout, motherhood, and career pressure led her to rethink her direction. Her shift into acting on possibility without full clarity eventually led to a career in coaching and wellbeing, built through small but consistent steps. The conversation highlights how personal change influences others, breaks workplace stigma, and reflects leadership rooted in awareness, emotional intelligence, and daily action.

James King speaks with Anton Guinea about his journey into sex education and relationship coaching, starting from a personal experience with a partner who struggled with sexual trauma and emotional disconnection, which pushed him to question his understanding of intimacy and relationships. He describes how this experience exposed gaps in his sexual knowledge, leading him to explore communication, pleasure, and emotional safety, and how this process gradually shifted his identity from uncertainty into deep curiosity and long-term study of human sexuality. The conversation explores how shame, fear, and lack of communication block sexual expression in men, and how these internal barriers often show up as performance anxiety, erectile issues, and emotional disconnection in relationships. James explains how his coaching process helps men move from silence into open expression by gradually building comfort through writing, speaking, and guided conversation, which leads to improved confidence and stronger intimacy with partners. He also reflects on how sexual compatibility is deeply tied to emotional trust and vulnerability, emphasizing that lasting relationships require ongoing communication, willingness to explore, and the ability to stay honest about desires and boundaries. Takeaways: Sexual confidence is strongly linked to emotional safety and communication. Many sexual issues come from mental pressure, not physical dysfunction. Couples improve intimacy when they openly discuss desires and boundaries. Novelty and exploration keep long-term relationships sexually alive. Vulnerability from men increases trust and deeper connection in relationships. Sexual satisfaction often improves overall life confidence and performance.   Quotes: “Sex is the glue in the relationship.” “Most men have never verbalized their sexual fantasies.” “You don’t know what you don’t know about sex and intimacy.” “Vulnerability is powerful in building connection.” “Everything outside the bedroom affects what happens inside it.” Timestamp Outline: 0:00 – Background and early life discussion 8:15 – Origin story of becoming a sex educator 13:29 – Creativity and novelty in sexual relationships 17:11 – How men can safely express fantasies 20:38 – After-sex communication and feedback methods 22:34 – Masculinity, vulnerability, and relationship dynamics 27:20 – Sexual performance issues and psychological causes 31:51 – Medical approaches vs holistic solutions discussion 34:30 – Coaching journey and transition into purpose-driven work 39:21 – Communication in relationships and sexual openness   Conclusion: The episode shows that sexual health is closely tied to communication, trust, and emotional maturity. James King’s perspective highlights how many relationship problems come from silence rather than physical issues. He emphasizes that learning about intimacy is an ongoing process, not a fixed skill. The conversation also shows how vulnerability can strengthen both attraction and long-term stability. Overall, the message is clear: better communication leads to better relationships and deeper connection. Listeners walk away with a clear message: Sexual confidence and relationship quality are built through communication, not performance Most intimacy problems come from silence, shame, and fear of judgment Early sexual experiences and beliefs shape adult confidence and behavior Avoiding conversations about sex creates distance between partners Emotional safety is required for real sexual openness Vulnerability strengthens trust and deepens connection Novelty and curiosity keep long-term relationships alive Performance pressure often drives sexual dysfunction more than physical causes Small communication changes can shift confidence and desire Healthy intimacy comes from honesty about needs, limits, and desires

Anton Guinea speaks with Dr. Stephen Paul Edwards about his life journey from childhood trauma, repeated running away from home, and emotional instability into self-awareness and personal responsibility. He explains how early experiences shaped his identity and how unresolved pain followed him into adulthood, affecting his relationships, work, and sense of self. A major focus of the conversation is his fourth divorce and the burnout that followed a high-pressure life in personal development and speaking. He describes a pattern of building success and then tearing it down, driven by internal conflict and lack of emotional grounding. The episode then shifts into a powerful story about a toxic and obsessive relationship that became a turning point in his life. He explains how emotional addiction formed, how identity blurred inside the relationship, and how both individuals mirrored each other’s trauma, control patterns, and fear-based behaviors. Dr. Edwards connects this experience to deeper lessons about shame, self-image, and freedom. He shares how speaking openly about his past removed internal fear and helped him release long-held shame. He emphasizes that hiding parts of yourself creates psychological pressure, while honesty creates relief and clarity. A key philosophical shift in the conversation is the belief that “nothing happens to you, everything happens for you.” This reframing allows him to move from victimhood into responsibility faster, shortening emotional suffering and increasing self-awareness. He also reflects on his work with Tony Robbins, his background in spiritual counseling, and how he developed his coaching practice. He explains how influence, behavior change, and emotional awareness became central to his work in leadership and human development. The conversation closes with a broader reflection on identity, authenticity, and freedom, emphasizing that real transformation happens when people stop performing an identity and start living with honesty and self-awareness. 📖 Curious if you can handle the truth? You can check out the first three chapters of his provocative new book, The Venus Fly Trap, and see if you can handle the consequences here: https://bit.ly/47za3EU 🤝 Ready for a deeper transformation? If you're interested in professional coaching and counseling to help navigate your own journey, reach out to Dr. Stephen directly here: https://vft23.com/coaching-and-counselling/?utm_source=Anton+Guinea&utm_medium=%22The+Find+Your+Influence+Podcast+%22&utm_campaign=Podcast+Interview+-+Anton+Guinea Takeaways: Childhood trauma shapes adult identity and behavior patterns People often repeat cycles of success and self-destruction Toxic relationships mirror unresolved emotional wounds Emotional addiction can replace identity inside relationships Shame loses power when it is spoken and owned Victim mindset delays growth and keeps people stuck Reframing life as “happening for you” builds resilience Awareness shortens emotional recovery time Hiding your truth creates internal pressure and fear Honesty creates psychological freedom Influence and leadership start with self-awareness Personal growth requires responsibility, not blame Quotes: “I was running away from my own home, which is me.” “Wherever you go, there you are.” “I became addicted to her.” “We were mirrors of each other.” “Nothing happens to you, everything happens for you.” “You create it all.” “The ultimate dare is being who you really are in front of others.”   Timestamp Outline: 0:00 – Introduction and background conversation (UK to US transition, influence of language and identity) 1:20 – Working with Tony Robbins and early influence in personal development 2:14 – Leadership, organizational development, and team performance work 3:16 – Introduction to Dr. Stephen Paul Edwards and The Venus Flytrap 4:32 – Spiritual counseling and purpose of the book 5:00 – Childhood trauma and repeated attempts to run away from home 6:08 – Realization of self-running patterns and internal identity conflict 6:39 – Cycle of success and self-destruction 7:18 – Fourth divorce and emotional burnout 8:25 – Journaling, personal development practices, and internal misalignment 9:31 – Limits of tools without self-awareness 10:00 – High travel lifestyle and loss of passion 10:38 – Meeting the woman and emotional obsession begins 11:46 – Facing shame and releasing hidden identity 13:13 – Freedom through truth and openness 14:00 – Helping others through shared experience and pattern recognition 15:00 – Writing The Venus Flytrap and expanding it into a series 16:21 – Risk-taking behavior and attraction dynamics 17:11 – “Master teacher” dynamic in toxic relationships 18:02 – Responsibility and ownership of life patterns 19:19 – Introduction to relationship extremes and book context 20:00 – Mirror dynamics: shared trauma and control patterns 21:23 – Control behavior driven by fear in relationships 22:22 – “Bird of paradise vs Venus flytrap” metaphor introduction 23:27 – Recognition of destructive attraction pattern 24:35 – Letting go and emotional separation 25:41 – Healing through solitude and rebuilding identity 26:46 – Redefining marriage, independence, and relationship structure 27:53 – Non-traditional relationship philosophy and boundaries 29:07 – Identifying toxic relationship patterns and warning signs 30:12 – Self-abandonment and control dynamics in relationships 31:42 – Justification of unhealthy relationships and fear of loss 32:45 – Early influences: mother, father, humor, and emotional contrast 34:11 – Influence of Tony Robbins and manifestation philosophy 35:00 – Writing process and creative transformation 36:32 – Spiritual counseling path and licensure journey 37:15 – PhD in spiritual counseling and coaching authority 38:42 – Book impact, coaching work, and publishing direction 39:13 – Vision: community, podcast, and transformation ecosystem 40:10 – Events, retreats, and long-term vision 41:19 – Materialism, identity, and psychological freedom 42:21 – Performance identity vs authentic self 43:40 – “Ultimate dare” concept: authenticity under judgment 44:44 – Acceptance, rejection, and self-definition 45:00 – Reader offer: free chapters and coaching session 46:16 – Host reflection and book positioning 47:13 – Closing reflection on coercive control and toxic relationships   Conclusion: This episode centers on one shift: moving from unconscious identity patterns into conscious responsibility. Dr. Stephen Paul Edwards describes how trauma, shame, and emotional dependency shaped his early life and relationships, and how repeated breakdowns forced deeper self-awareness. The toxic relationship at the center of his book becomes a catalyst for change. It exposes attachment patterns, emotional addiction, and the loss of self that happens when identity merges with another person. The core message is direct. When you stop interpreting life as something happening to you and start seeing it as something revealing you, your behavior changes. Emotional recovery becomes faster. Patterns become visible sooner. Personal responsibility increases. At its core, the conversation is about identity. Not the version you perform, but the one you choose to live with when everything external is stripped away. Listeners walk away with a clear message: Your identity is shaped by early emotional experiences, not just adult choices Success without self-awareness can lead to repeated self-destruction Toxic relationships often reflect unresolved internal patterns Emotional dependency can slowly replace your sense of self Shame loses power when you stop hiding your story Responsibility shortens emotional suffering and builds clarity Victim thinking keeps you stuck in the same cycles Reframing life as meaningful helps you respond instead of react Awareness is the first step toward changing behavior patterns Authenticity removes pressure and creates internal freedom

Anton Guinea speaks with child and family connection strategist Jess Robertson about how early relationships shape a child’s identity, emotional development, and lifelong ability to navigate the world. Jess explains that a child’s sense of self begins forming from the earliest stages of life, including pregnancy, and is heavily influenced by the emotional state and availability of primary caregivers. The conversation explores the importance of connection over correction, emphasizing presence, eye contact, emotional safety, and the role of a supportive “village” around new parents. Jess highlights how modern isolation has replaced traditional community structures, placing excessive pressure on parents, especially mothers, while reducing access to natural support systems. Jess challenges common parenting approaches, especially the overuse of praise, and introduces the idea of “prize over praise,” in which effort is valued over outcomes. She explains how excessive praise can create a dependency on external validation, while intentional language helps children develop internal confidence and self-awareness. The discussion expands into emotional intelligence, behavior as communication, and the importance of seeing the child behind the behavior. Jess emphasizes that children must feel seen, heard, and valued, and that adults must first model the emotional regulation and behaviors they expect from children. The episode also connects parenting with leadership, arguing that influence is shaped by how adults choose to show up in relationships. Jess stresses that unlearning disconnection is now a societal challenge, especially in a technology-driven world where basic social skills are declining. Takeaways: A child’s identity begins forming from the earliest stages of life. Connection, not correction, is the foundation of healthy development. Parents need support systems; isolation harms both caregiver and child. Praise can create dependency; effort-based feedback builds resilience. Children develop internal identity through how adults respond to them. Behavior is communication, not defiance or failure. Emotional intelligence starts with adult self-regulation and modeling. The “village” approach strengthens both parent and child wellbeing. Technology is reducing natural social skill development in children. Influence starts with how adults choose to show up consistently. Quotes: “Connection is everything in the first years of life. It shapes how a child walks in the world.” “Prize over praise focus on effort, not outcome.” “Behavior is a message. It’s not who the child is.” “Let others in. Parenting was never meant to be done alone.” “You are the mirror. Children learn who they are from how you show up.” “If a child isn’t being seen or heard, the behavior will escalate until they are.” “We are unlearning social skills as a society.” Timestamp Outline: 0:00 – Introduction and Jess Robertson’s background 2:00 – Why early childhood development matters 5:00 – Connection as the foundation of identity 8:00 – Early signs of emotional development in children 11:00 – Neuroscience and brain development in early life 14:00 – Caregiver wellbeing and the impact on children 17:00 – The “village” concept and modern parenting isolation 20:00 – Asking for help and building support systems 23:00 – Outsourcing support vs replacing parenting responsibility 26:00 – Effort over praise (“prize over praise”) 29:00 – Language, validation, and building internal confidence 32:00 – Behavior as communication and emotional signals 35:00 – Modeling emotional regulation as adults 38:00 – Seen, heard, and valued: shaping identity in children 41:00 – Technology, social skills, and emotional intelligence decline 44:00 – Parenting as leadership and influence Conclusion: This conversation reframes parenting and leadership around one core principle: connection shapes identity. Jess Robertson emphasizes that children do not develop confidence from praise alone, but from consistent emotional safety, modeled behavior, and meaningful adult presence. The discussion extends beyond parenting into leadership and society, highlighting a growing risk of disconnection in a technology-heavy world. Listeners walk away with a clear message: Children build identity through relationships, not instruction. Adults shape outcomes through presence, not pressure. Emotional intelligence starts with how adults regulate themselves. Human connection is becoming a critical skill, not a given This episode is proudly brought to you by W Daniel Cox III. We are grateful for their support in helping us share these vital stories of leadership and impact. https://wdanielcoxiii.com/

Anton Guinea speaks with executive coach and LinkedIn expert Rachel Lounds about how self-doubt, perception, and identity shape professional success. Rachel breaks down imposter syndrome as a perception of competence rather than a lack of ability, drawing from her work with world-leading researcher Dr. Valerie Young. She explains five competence types: perfectionist, expert, natural genius, soloist, and superhuman, and how these patterns quietly drive insecurity and underperformance. Rachel shares her personal transition from a 25-year advertising career to coaching, following a toxic workplace experience and a forced career reset. She reflects on how imposter syndrome showed up even while training with top global experts, and how COVID became a turning point for rebuilding her career in coaching and LinkedIn strategy. The conversation moves into leadership, influence, and self-perception. Rachel emphasizes that influence starts internally: you must first influence how you see yourself before you can influence others. She also discusses real-world leadership failures, workplace bullying, and the importance of support, care, and psychological safety in organizations. The episode closes with her thoughts on influence in practice, helping clients own their achievements, like a two-time Winter Olympian who learned to publicly embrace her identity and unlock new visibility and opportunities.   Takeaways: Imposter syndrome is driven by how you perceive your competence, not your actual ability. Five competence patterns shape most self-doubt: perfectionist, expert, natural genius, soloist, and superhuman. Most people experience imposter syndrome; it is not rare or gender-specific. Progress comes from three actions: normalize the feeling, reframe the thought, and take action anyway. Confidence does not come first; it develops through repeated action. Self-influence is the foundation of external influence. Toxic workplaces often create long-term psychological and physical harm. Reinvention is possible after burnout, job loss, or systemic workplace failure. LinkedIn success comes from clarity, consistency, and confidence in your message. Owning your achievements unlocks visibility and new opportunities.   Quotes:   “I may not know everything right now, but I’m smart enough to find out.” “Confidence comes from doing the thing. You can’t wait for it first.” “Imposter syndrome is not about confidence, it’s about your perception of competence.” “Normalize it. Most people in the room are feeling the same way you are.” “Why not me? That question changes everything.” “Leadership is taking care of people.”   Timestamp Outline: 0:00 – Introduction and Rachel’s background in LinkedIn and coaching 1:30 – Imposter syndrome research origins and Dr. Valerie Young 4:00 – Moving from advertising to coaching career 6:30 – Experiencing imposter syndrome while training with experts 9:00 – Five competence types explained (perfectionist, expert, natural genius, soloist, superhuman) 13:00 – Childhood conditioning and shaping self-belief 15:30 – Normalizing, reframing, and taking action framework 18:00 – Self-influence and how confidence is built 20:00 – Toxic workplace experience and internal politics 24:00 – Psychological and physical impact of workplace stress 27:00 – COVID career reset and rebuilding through coaching 30:00 – Client case study: Olympic athlete and identity ownership 33:00 – Defining influence and leadership 35:30 – Closing insights on self-doubt and action   Conclusion:  This episode reframes imposter syndrome as a pattern of perception rather than a personal flaw. Rachel Lounds shows how competence is often present but unrecognized, and how most limitations come from internal narratives rather than external reality. The conversation connects mindset, workplace culture, and personal reinvention into a practical framework for building confidence and influence. Listeners walk away with a clear shift in thinking: Self-doubt is common and predictable. Confidence is built through action, not preparation. Leadership starts with how you manage your own thoughts.   This episode is proudly brought to you by W Daniel Cox III. We are grateful for their support in helping us share these vital stories of leadership and impact. https://wdanielcoxiii.com/

Anton Guinea reconnects with long-time friend Aaron Tselepy to unpack a life defined by early responsibility, hard lessons, and deep personal growth. Aaron shares how a rugby scholarship took him from a rough North Queensland upbringing to Nudgee College, where exposure to privilege lit a fire for ambition. He describes becoming a husband at 19 and a father of three by 22, and how that pressure pushed him from packing shelves at Safeway to building a thriving chiropractic practice, then multiple practices, and later a hot yoga (Bonfire) business. A devastating wrist injury forced Aaron to stop hands-on chiropractic and reinvent himself as a teacher, mentor, and eventually yoga teacher and farmer, while living with bipolar disorder and exploring biochemistry, endocrinology, dopamine, and cortisol as part of his philosophy of self-leadership. The conversation spans boarding school bullying, skepticism of religion in education, Rotary exchange, Burning Man, his three high-achieving yet very different adult children, and why Aaron ultimately sees his greatest legacy not in businesses built, but in the relationships he’s forged with his kids and the future he hopes to shape as a grandfather. Takeaways Early fatherhood became Aaron’s greatest safety rail—forcing him to grow up fast instead of going off the rails. A single injury ended his chiropractic career but unlocked a complete reinvention as teacher, yogi, and farmer. Real leadership, Aaron insists, is mastering your own choices—around work, pleasure, health, and temptation. Unearned dopamine (from screens, substances, and shortcuts) quietly destroys you; earned dopamine builds you. For all his business wins, Aaron’s true legacy is not clinics or companies—it’s the deep, messy, loving relationships with his three kids and future grandkids.   Quotes: “Without being married at 19 and having three kids by 22, I would have been off the rails 100%—responsibility saved my life.” “You are never glued to who you are right now; body and mind are rebuildable at any age.” “The only person who can truly heal your life is you—everyone else is just a guide or a mirror.” “Real leadership isn’t controlling others; it’s mastering your own choices in the face of comfort and temptation.” “My real legacy isn’t the businesses I built—it’s the love, scars, and stories I share with my children and future grandchildren.” Timestamp Outline: 0:00 – Reconnecting and casual banter 2:30 – Standing out at Nudgee College 5:45 – From small-town kid to scholarship student 7:50 – Experiencing class and wealth shock 10:40 – Life-changing Rotary year in Sweden 14:10 – Early self-education and personal growth 18:00 – Uni life with a young family 19:30 – Turning tutoring into real income 22:50 – Launching the first chiropractic practice 24:30 – Career-ending injury and forced pivot 27:00 – Reinventing as teacher and mentor 29:40 – Discovering hot yoga and physical healing 32:00 – Semi-retirement and simpler living 34:20 – Three very different, high-achieving kids 38:00 – A son’s addiction, homelessness, and hope 41:20 – Grieving, acceptance, and choosing hope 44:10 – Children as greatest influence and legacy 46:05 – Bullying, boarding school, and religion 49:40 – Obsession with biochemistry and hormones 53:00 – The danger of unearned dopamine 55:30 – Bipolar as a managed “superpower” 57:40 – Burning Man and late-life experimentation   Conclusion: This episode is a raw, wandering, and deeply human look at how a life can be shaped by early responsibility, injury, mental health, and relentless reinvention, without ever fitting the neat mold of a “success story.” Instead, Aaron Tselepy offers a lived-in picture of self-leadership, where real influence is measured not by titles or trophies, but by the daily choices you make around family, work, health, and even dopamine. Listeners are left with a powerful reminder that your life is never finished, and that the most important person you’ll ever learn to lead is yourself. Listeners walk away with a richer understanding that: Parenthood can be both constraint and salvation. Failure—of bodies, businesses, and plans—can be the doorway to reinvention. Science and spirituality can coexist without religion. You’re never done building who you are. For anyone feeling behind, broken, or mid-rebuild at 30, 40, 50, or beyond, this conversation is a reminder that your story is still being written—and that the most important person you’ll ever learn to lead is yourself.   This episode is proudly brought to you by W Daniel Cox III. We are grateful for their support in helping us share these vital stories of leadership and impact. https://wdanielcoxiii.com/

In this episode of the Find Your Influence Podcast, host Anton Guinea sits down with Damon Davis—AI strategist, healthcare innovator, and creator of the Who Am I Really? podcast—to explore how influence is shaped by both preparation and the deepest parts of our personal story. Damon shares how a “spontaneous” keynote on stage was actually the result of a year of preparation, embodying his belief that “if you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready.” He then opens up about the powerful and painful influence of his father, Willie Davis, who rose from poverty to a huge business exit but ended his life broke and alone due to a lack of money mentors. The conversation dives into Damon’s adoption and reunion journey, including the extraordinary discovery that his birth mother worked just three blocks away from him in Washington, DC while he served under President Barack Obama. Motivated by the many adoptees whose experiences are far from “Disney endings,” Damon created Who Am I Really? to amplify adoptee voices and tell the full, often complex truth about adoption, identity, and belonging.    Summary:    Throughout the conversation, Damon and Anton unpack how positive and negative influences shape who we become, from Damon’s father’s financial missteps to the missing “chapter one” of his own life as an adoptee. Damon explains how his father’s story became a negative example that fueled better decisions about money, mentorship, and legacy, while his adoption story—culminating in an almost cinematic reunion with his birth mother—revealed how powerful it is to finally know the truth about your origins. This personal journey led Damon to launch the Who Am I Really? podcast, where he has recorded hundreds of adoptee stories that span joyful reunions, painful rejections, closed records, and lifelong questions. Woven through it all are Damon’s experiences in leadership and public service, including his work in the Obama administration democratizing health data, and his belief that true influence blends service, honesty, and diverse perspectives rather than perfection.    Takeaways:  Influence comes from both positive and negative experiences.  Preparation is the hidden engine behind “effortless” influence.  Adoption always begins with loss—and that reality matters.  Sharing hard truths creates space for others to speak.  Leadership is about service, curiosity, and diverse voices.    Quotes:  “If you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready.”  “Success is where opportunity meets preparation.”  “My father’s lack of money mentors was a negative influence that became a positive motivator for me.”  “Adoption never starts from a good place—every child available for adoption is there for a not‑so‑positive reason.”  “In the absence of facts, we create our own narrative—and for adoptees, that missing chapter one shapes everything.”    Timestamps:    0:00:53 – Stage Speaking: Preparation And Staying Ready  0:03:21 – Meet Damon Davis: AI Strategist And Podcaster  0:05:00 – What Influence Really Means  0:05:40 – Damon’s Father: Rich Exit, Broke Ending  0:08:56 – Money Mentors: Assets Vs. Liabilities  0:12:40 – Anton’s $2M Collapse And Comeback  0:16:00 – Launching The “Who Am I Really?” Adoption Podcast  0:16:55 – Working In Obama’s Administration  0:17:20 – Birthday Reunion With His Birth Mother  0:18:00 – Beyond “Disney” Reunions: Real Adoptee Stories  0:20:12 – Closed Records, Blocked Searches, And Rejection  0:21:27 – Adoption Myths Vs. Reality  0:23:19 – Growing Up Without “Chapter One”  0:28:21 – Missing Months In Foster Care     Conclusion:    Damon Davis’ story shows that real influence is forged where vulnerability, preparation, and purpose meet. His father’s rise and fall, his own decades-long search for identity, and his decision to publicly embrace his adoptee experience all became catalysts for serving others more deeply—through policy work, technology, and storytelling. By refusing to gloss over the hard parts of adoption and family history, Damon models a form of leadership that is grounded in truth, empathy, and the courage to give others a voice. For listeners who want to understand what influence looks like beyond titles and achievements, this episode is a powerful reminder that our greatest impact often grows out of the very stories we once struggled to tell.    𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 is proudly brought to you by W Daniel Cox III - CMA, CFM. We are grateful for their support in helping us share these vital stories of leadership and impact. https://wdanielcoxiii.com/

Dr. Jae Koonce breaks down the gap between traditional healthcare and true performance-driven health. Drawing from over a decade as a pharmacist, he shares how most patients are treated with medication rather than addressing the root causes of chronic pain, obesity, and metabolic decline. Through his work with Proof of Work Fitness, Dr. Koonce shifts the focus toward prevention, movement, and long-term lifestyle sustainability—especially for high-performing individuals who often neglect their physical health while chasing success. The conversation explores the importance of influencing yourself before influencing others, emphasizing behavior change over motivation. Dr. Koonce highlights how discipline, consistency, and self-awareness are the real drivers of transformation—not quick fixes. Blending healthcare insight with performance coaching, he reframes health as a leadership responsibility and a foundational pillar for long-term success. Takeaways: True health transformation starts with behavior change, not just motivation or inspiration. The modern healthcare system often treats symptoms instead of addressing root causes. High performers must align physical health with professional success to sustain long-term performance. Preventative health and movement are critical to avoiding chronic disease and burnout. Self-influence is the foundation of leadership—if you can’t lead yourself, you can’t lead others. Quotes: “You have to influence yourself before you can influence others.” “I don’t want you to just be motivated—I want you to change your behavior.” “Most healthcare is built around managing symptoms, not solving problems.” “If you ignore your body long enough, it will force you to pay attention.” “Real performance starts with how well you take care of yourself.” Timestamps: [0:00:00] Studio Intro and Setting the Tone [0:02:00] The Power of Self-Influence and Personal Responsibility [0:04:30] Why Motivation Fails Without Behavior Change [0:07:00] Meet Dr. Jae Koonce: Pharmacy to Performance [0:10:00] Inside Healthcare: What’s Broken [0:13:30] Chronic Disease, Obesity, and Lifestyle Patterns [0:17:00] Treating Symptoms vs Solving Root Causes [0:20:30] Shift Toward Preventative and Performance Health [0:24:00] Movement, Fitness, and Sustainable Lifestyle Change [0:28:00] High Performers: The Cost of Ignoring Health [0:31:30] Discipline, Consistency, and Long-Term Results [0:35:00] Leadership, Self-Awareness, and Influence [0:38:30] Health as the Foundation of Performance [0:42:00] Closing Reflections and Key Takeaways Conclusion: This episode challenges the traditional view of healthcare by exposing its overreliance on medication and symptom management. Dr. Jae Koonce makes a compelling case for shifting toward prevention, movement, and personal responsibility—especially for leaders and high performers. At its core, the conversation is not just about health, but about influence. The ability to lead, perform, and grow sustainably begins with how well you manage your own body and behavior. In a world chasing productivity and success, this episode serves as a reminder that true performance starts from within.   This episode is proudly brought to you by W Daniel Cox III. We are grateful for their support in helping us share these vital stories of leadership and impact. https://agency.antonguinea.ai/ai-demo

In this episode, Anton explores the concept of influence with Kristina Katsanevas, a transformation leader and podcaster who interviews high-profile guests and top performers. Kristina shares how her podcast journey has connected her with A-list celebrities and visionary entrepreneurs, revealing the human stories behind their success. She reflects on key mentors who shaped her career, including a trailblazing female CEO in sport and a director she met through a simple “yes” to a late event entry request. Kristina defines influence as a learnable skill—about energy, confidence, and helping people say yes more often in relationships, conflict, and decision-making. Throughout the episode, Anton and Kristina connect the dots between influence and leadership, showing that truly great leaders are, by definition, deeply influential.   Takeaways   Influence is about walking into a room with the kind of energy that makes people say, Who is that person, I want to meet them. If you are not influential, you might be a manager, but you are not a leader. Babies can’t run, and neither can brands—you have to respect the life cycle and stay patient. Sometimes the most powerful career move you can make is simply saying yes when it would be easier to say no. The mentors who change your life are the ones who trust you to run the national awards when you are still an intern. Quotes:   Influence is about walking into a room with the kind of energy that makes people say, Who is that person, I want to meet them. If you are not influential, you might be a manager, but you are not a leader. Babies can’t run, and neither can brands—you have to respect the life cycle and stay patient. Sometimes the most powerful career move you can make is simply saying yes when it would be easier to say no. The mentors who change your life are the ones who trust you to run the national awards when you are still an intern.   Timestamp: [0:00:00] Pre-Show Banter and Audience Setup [0:02:00] Introducing Khristina: Transformation Leader and Podcaster [0:04:41] Transforming the Game: Launching a Podcast to the Stars [0:05:52] Celebrity Insights: Charlie Sheen and UGG Founder Brian Smith [0:08:36] The Art of Influence and Why It’s a Learnable Skill [0:10:12] Mentors, Sliding Doors, and the Power of Saying Yes [0:17:44] Paying It Forward: Teen Mentoring and the Raise Program [0:22:31] Rocking-Chair Moments, Time, and Smart Business Systems [0:27:35] How AI Is Really Changing Work, Data, and Productivity [0:33:32] AI Adoption Curves, Leadership Fears, and New KPIs [0:37:45] What Great Leadership Looks Like When You’re Not in the Room [0:40:01] Gladstone Roots, Future Plans, and Closing the Conversation   Conclusion: This episode shows that influence is not reserved for a chosen few; it is a practical skill that anyone willing to learn and practice can develop. Through Kristina’s stories—from A-list podcast guests to early mentors and serendipitous networking moments—we see how saying yes, staying patient, and showing up with intention can completely reshape a career. Anton and Kristina remind us that real leadership is simply influence in action, expressed through the way we make decisions, handle conflict, and inspire others. Whether you are building a billion-dollar brand, leading a small team, or just starting out, the principles shared here can help you become more trusted, more visible, and more impactful. Take these lessons, apply them in your own world, and start transforming the game of how you lead and influence today.

Ever wonder why some brilliantly funded startups still crash and burn while others quietly scale into eight and nine figures? In this episode, commercialization and go-to-market specialist Craig T. Ingram breaks down the brutal data on business failure—and the rare strategies that actually flip the odds. We dive into his powerful four-part framework of awareness, attention, adoption, and retention, and how it separates the 55% that shutter from the few that survive and thrive. Along the way, Craig exposes why MBAs, big-brand experience, and corporate titles often matter less than real-world execution and extreme ownership. If you’re serious about turning influence into income and wisdom into long-term profitability, this conversation will challenge how you see leadership, strategy, and success in business.   Summary: Craig Ingram, a US-based commercialization and go-to-market leader, discussed the challenges and strategies for startup success. He highlighted that 55% of US businesses with 500 employees or less fail within five years, and 72-77% fail between their eighth and tenth anniversaries. Craig's advisory firm focuses on a four-part framework: awareness, attraction, adoption, and retention. He emphasized the importance of effective commercial strategies and leadership, advocating for extreme ownership and accountability. Craig also shared his experience with venture capital and the potential of Malta's business-friendly policies, offering a 1.5 million euro grant to companies that stay for 12 months.   Takeaways   Commercial failure is rarely about funding alone; it’s usually about weak awareness, attraction, adoption, and retention. Academic credentials and big-company titles often mask a lack of real, zero-to-one business-building experience. Effective leadership means taking 100% responsibility for outcomes while equipping others to own and fix their part of the work. Strategy options are limited, but small tactical execution choices—like which door you knock on and how—change everything. Long-term business survival and meaningful exits demand wisdom and execution, not just intelligence, theory, or corporate politics.   Quotes: Without high levels of customer adoption, companies go under period. We are not anemic in intelligence in the world, but we are anemic in wisdom, because wisdom is the proper use of intelligence. Leadership is being able to get your team, however big it is, to buy into the vision, the mission and the execution. Leaders are not just people in leadership positions; leaders lead from the front, they don’t tell you what to do, they say, Let’s go do it. The vast majority of people in business are not successful, because success has to be defined as revenue converting into profitability.   Timestamp: [00:00:00] Tech Glitches, Warm-Up, and Guest Introduction [00:04:25] Why Most Businesses Fail and Craig’s “Why” [00:06:50] Surviving Beyond Five and Ten Years in Business [00:08:46] The Four-Part Commercial Framework: Awareness to Retention [00:12:10] Startups, MBAs, and the Illusion of Business Expertise [00:17:01] Strategy vs. Tactics and Selling into Healthcare [00:20:49] Real Influence, Proof of Results, and Questionable “Experts” [00:32:22] Craig’s Origin Story: Family Businesses, Cancer & Early Medtech Sales [00:37:39] Corporate Politics vs. Performance at Johnson & Johnson [00:40:31] Extreme Ownership, Leadership, and Shared Accountability   Conclusion: Business today is brutally simple: if you don’t create real adoption and real profit, you disappear. Craig’s story shows that wisdom, not just intelligence or an MBA, is what actually bridges the gap between a struggling venture and a scalable company. The leaders who win are the ones who own everything in their world, care deeply for their people, and execute with uncommon tactics on a clear strategy. In a market where 55% of companies shut their doors within five years, mediocrity in commercialization and leadership is no longer an option. If you want to beat the statistics, you need influence that nudges people to act, leadership that owns the outcome, and a relentless focus on turning awareness into long-term, profitable clients.