Daily Influence

How can a simple thank-you letter create lasting influence? In this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno speaks with Erica Gerard Di Bona, author of A Letter Is Better: The Art of Thank You, fundraising consultant, speaker, and advocate for intentional gratitude. Erica explains how handwritten or typed thank-you letters can strengthen personal and professional relationships, build...

In this revisit to episode 248 of the Daily Influence podcast, Brian Smith discusses the critical role of emotional intelligence in leadership. Reflecting on the recent July 4th celebrations, Brian emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and managing emotions to enhance personal and team effectiveness. Learn how to identify emotional triggers, practice empathy, and create a positive and respon...

Yesterday, Gregg-Brooke Koleno and Gretchen Gullo reminded us that gratitude can exist even during life's most difficult moments. Today, Brian Smith takes that conversation into the workplace by exploring why gratitude isn't simply an emotion—it's a leadership discipline. Great leaders intentionally reinforce what matters. They recognize progress, celebrate effort, and build cultures w...

How can you experience joy and gratitude while carrying unimaginable grief? On this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno speaks with Gretchen Gullo, founding broker with @properties in Park Ridge, Illinois. After losing her son and husband within days of each other, Gretchen made the intentional choice to lean into her faith, practice gratitude, and continue serving others. Gretche...

Artificial intelligence has made information more accessible than ever. But information alone has never been the defining characteristic of great leadership. In this episode of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores why the future belongs to leaders who think critically, ask better questions, and apply sound judgment—not simply those with the latest technology. As AI transforms how organizations ga...

What does it take to move from caring about a problem to actively helping solve it? On this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno speaks with Chason Forehand, founder of HR-4U and creator of Transformation Kitchen, about building workplaces and communities that put people first. Drawing from his career in the culinary industry and his own experience with addiction and incarceration,...

Artificial intelligence is transforming the way organizations work. It can generate reports, draft policies, analyze data, and provide recommendations in seconds. But one thing AI cannot do is accept responsibility. In this episode of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores why the rise of AI makes leadership more important—not less. While technology can accelerate decisions, only people can exercis...

What if the greatest source of influence isn't authority—but responsibility? In this episode of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores why responsibility is the foundation of leadership and why every decision we make shapes the culture around us. Long before we earn titles, build systems, or lead teams, we influence others through our actions, attitudes, and choices. Brian challenges listeners...

Networking is not about collecting business cards—it is about building relationships with intention. In this episode of Daily Influence, Gregg Koleno welcomes back Tom Gosche, business strategist, networking expert, speaker, and creator of the Networking Navigator. Tom shares practical strategies for developing referral relationships, communicating effectively, creating a memorable personal brand,...

Artificial intelligence is changing the speed of business—but it doesn't replace leadership. It raises the standard for it. In Episode 785 of Daily Influence, Brian Smith welcomes executive leadership advisor Eva Minkoff, founder of Bold Being, for a timely conversation about decision fatigue, grounded agency, and leading through uncertainty in the age of AI. Drawing from her work with healthc...

Why do so many high performers struggle with people-pleasing, fear of judgment, self-doubt, and the pressure to constantly prove themselves? In this episode of Daily Influence, Gregg Koleno speaks with Dr. Liz DuBois Erskine, PhD conflict analyst and executive coach, about breaking the patterns that undermine confidence, leadership, and personal fulfillment. Dr. Liz shares how her own experiences...

What happens when an organization depends on one person to make every important decision? In this episode of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores why being indispensable may sound like a compliment, but often reveals a deeper leadership challenge. As organizations grow, success depends less on heroic individuals and more on building systems that create clarity, consistency, and confidence across...

In this revisit to episode 322 of the Daily Influence, Brian Smith tackles the impact of artificial intelligence and automation on the workforce. He provides insights on how to prepare yourself and your team to embrace AI as a tool for enhancing human skills and creativity. Discover how to leverage AI for deeper critical thinking and innovation while avoiding the pitfalls of technology integration...

On this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno welcomes Hal Stinespring, real estate attorney, investor, and founder of Path of the Grateful Warrior, for a powerful conversation about resilience, identity, gratitude, and responsible influence. After surviving two cardiac arrests and being diagnosed with cardiac sarcoidosis, Hal’s life changed in ways he never expected. Once deeply co...

In this revisit to episode 232 of The Daily Influence, Brian Smith from the I in Team Series dives into the transformative rise of the gig economy and what it means for both organizations and professionals. With over 28 years of experience in providing fractional leadership and tactical services, Brian shares invaluable insights into the benefits and challenges of this evolving work landscape. Dis...

In this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno welcomes Lyndsay Dowd, founder of Heartbeat for Hire, leadership strategist, speaker, coach, podcast host, and two-time author, for a powerful conversation about human-centered leadership, workplace culture, trust, accountability, and positive influence. After more than 23 years at IBM, where she built and led high-performing sales teams...

In this revisit to episode 230 of The Daily Influence, Brian Smith from the I in Team Series delves into the critical role of leaders in guiding their teams through economic uncertainty. As organizations worldwide face rising costs, tightening job markets, and fluctuating interest rates, transparent communication and strategic planning become paramount. Brian shares actionable insights on fosterin...

Most organizations don't struggle because people lack motivation—they struggle because people lack clarity. In this episode of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores one of the most overlooked leadership responsibilities: creating clarity throughout an organization. From unclear delegation and assumption-driven decision making to the semantic struggles that derail communication, Brian explains...

In this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Ben Fischer, Founder and CEO of ZivZo Marketing Group, to explore what decades of entrepreneurship can teach business owners about leadership, accountability, marketing, and responsible influence. With more than four decades of hands-on experience across restaurants, franchising, real estate, consulting, marketing, adverti...

Your team is working hard. Emails are flying. Meetings fill the calendar. Everyone looks busy—but is the business actually moving forward? In Episode 775 of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores one of the most common leadership challenges facing small and medium-sized businesses: confusing activity with progress. Through the lens of SMART Management™ and The I in Team Series, Brian explains why o...

In this inspiring episode of Daily Influence, Gregg-Brooke Koleno welcomes award-winning author Lorraine Smith, whose journey is a powerful reminder that delay does not mean defeat. Lorraine first wrote her manuscript, Still Searching, in the early 1990s and sent it to 60 publishers only to receive 60 rejection letters. Rather than giving up, she chose to focus on raising her son, building her car...

Artificial Intelligence is changing business faster than almost any technology in history. It can organize information, summarize meetings, automate repetitive work, and improve efficiency across nearly every industry. But there is one thing AI cannot replace: the human responsibility of leadership. In this episode of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores why judgment, empathy, accountability, and...

Dive into the vibrant intersection of empowerment and inspiration with this revisit to Daily Influence's episode 210 "Elevate and Ignite: The Power Duo of Empowerment and Inspiration." Discover the dynamic synergy between enabling individuals and sparking their inner fire to achieve extraordinary heights. - **The Essence of Empowerment and Inspiration**: We open the dialogue by definin...

In this episode of Daily Influence, Gregg-Brooke Koleno welcomes Moe “Mr. Cool Beans” Mondesir, husband, father, former classroom teacher, stage 4 chronic kidney disease advocate, and host of The Chronic Brew Podcast. After a life-changing kidney episode forced Moe to leave the classroom and redefine his future, he chose not to let his diagnosis become the end of his influence. Instead, he turned...

Step into the orchestra of interpersonal connections with this revisit to Daily Influence’s episode 208, "The Social Symphony: Fine-Tuning Your Emotional Intelligence." Discover the harmonious blend of skills that can amplify your social repertoire and resonate through every interaction. - **Mastering Active Listening**: Learn the art of truly hearing others and showing your engagement, tr...