Daily Influence

Most goals don’t fail because they lack ambition — they fail because they lack structure. In this episode of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores why milestones are the missing link between setting a goal and actually achieving it. Without milestones, goals drift, accountability becomes emotional, and progress is assumed instead of managed. With milestones, leaders gain clarity, teams gain confid...

In this powerful conversation, Gregg-Brooke Koleno welcomes Carolyn Litton, Founder of Hearts for Hope and creator of The Vision Project, to talk about the transformation that occurs when we choose authenticity, alignment, and faith over fear and busyness. Carolyn shares her journey from high-performing mortgage professional to purpose-driven nonprofit leader and transformational coach. Through th...

In this revisit to episode 388 of Daily Influence, Gregg Koleno shares insights from a powerful presentation on business growth and transformation through the lens of IA Business Advisors' proven methodologies. Founded in 1996, IA Business Advisors specializes in leveraging Individual Advantages (IA) and the principles of S.M.A.R.T. Management to help businesses overcome challenges, identify g...

In this powerful episode of Daily Influence, Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Dr. Zuri Tau—Founder and CEO of Social Insights, a pioneering organization helping foundations, nonprofits, and government agencies turn data into deeper understanding and measurable, community-centered change. With over two decades at the intersection of research, justice, and healing, Dr. Tau invites us to rethink ho...

In this revisit to episode 469 of Daily Influence, Brian Smith dives into one of today’s most dynamic and debated topics—Artificial Intelligence. Through the lens of the SMART Management model, Brian explores how AI can responsibly amplify human judgment rather than replace it. He shares personal experiences coaching clients on AI adoption, and gives a grounded perspective on how AI can support st...

In today's revisit to episode 471 of the Daily Influence, Brian Smith tackles how leaders can navigate uncertainty by applying S.M.A.R.T. Management tactics. Whether facing economic instability, shifting tariffs, or market disruptions, being Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely builds organizational resilience. Learn how transparency, strategic communication, and small measur...

In today’s empowering episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Shenali Rajaratnam—visionary leader, global changemaker, and co-founder of Power of Women and We Are the Hope. Through storytelling, service, and conscious innovation, Shenali is raising the vibration of communities worldwide and redefining what it means to lead with love, purpose, and responsible influence....

In this revisit to Episode 73 of the Daily Influence we explore (I)individual responsibility. Understanding (I)individual responsibility can confuse many. Our responsibility extends each time we influence. This is why we believe our influence is our biggest responsibility.

In this inspiring episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Sarah Johnston—performance coach, transition guide, and former corporate leader turned entrepreneur—whose work centers on helping people navigate life’s biggest shifts with clarity, confidence, and intention. Sarah shares her own winding journey from 12 years in the corporate world to building a coaching practice...

Welcome to 2026 with this revisit to episode 375. As we step into a new year, Brian S. Smith reflects on the power of purposeful reflection and intentional action. Learn how to turn fleeting resolutions into meaningful progress using SMART principles—Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely. Discover the keys to balancing personal and professional growth, building sustainable influen...

In this powerful episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg Koleno breaks down one of the most transformative tools for personal and professional growth: SMART goals. If you’ve ever felt stuck, unfocused, or unsure how to turn your ideas into action, this episode is your blueprint. Gregg walks you through the full SMART framework—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely—using real exampl...

On this New Year’s Day episode of Daily Influence, Brian Smith opens 2026 with a simple but powerful reminder: today is about direction, not speed. After a week of reflection and letting go, this episode focuses on intentional orientation—choosing how you want to show up, who you want to be more intentional with, and what direction you want your influence to move this year. Momentum can wait. Clar...

On this New Year’s Eve episode of Daily Influence, Brian Smith offers a grounded reminder as one year closes and another begins: influence doesn’t reset—but responsibility does. Rather than focusing on resolutions, this episode centers on releasing what no longer serves you—old habits, assumptions, emotional weight, and reactive behaviors—and choosing to move forward with greater intention. Brian...

In this powerful episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with retired Navy SEAL and Marine Corps infantryman Tommy Richardson, founder of Divine Savagery. Once a bullied, “skinny, dorky kid” who nearly ended his life, Tommy shares how a life-changing encounter with God, decades of military service, and extreme adversity forged his mission: to help others build unshakable str...

As the year comes to a close, Brian Smith explores one of the most overlooked responsibilities of leadership: reflection. In this episode of Daily Influence, Brian challenges the idea that reflection is nostalgic or optional. Instead, he reframes it as a leadership discipline—one that prevents repeated patterns, exposes blind spots, and restores clarity before momentum is built. This conversation...

In this episode of Daily Influence, Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Melissa Dotson, leader, author, and champion of conscious leadership, to explore what it truly means to lead from the inside out. After nearly three decades rising through the ranks at Rieke Interiors, Melissa purchased the company and began shaping a culture rooted in personal growth, open communication, and authentic leadersh...

On this Christmas Day episode of Daily Influence, Brian Smith reflects on gratitude—not just as a feeling, but as one of the most powerful forms of influence we have. Christmas is a reminder that giving and receiving with grace strengthens relationships, reinforces human value, and deepens connection. Brian shares why gratitude matters in leadership, in teams, and in everyday human interaction—and...

On this Christmas Eve episode of Daily Influence, Brian Smith offers a quiet, reflective message about the power of presence. As the year slows and the holidays invite us to pause, Brian explores the unseen influence we create simply by showing up—without answers, without noise, and without ego. Leadership, he reminds us, isn’t always about direction; sometimes it’s about standing shoulder to shou...

In this moving conversation, Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Camilla, co-founder of Mylas Beleaf, a nonprofit born from unimaginable loss and transformed into a force of compassion, advocacy, and change. After her daughter Myla was diagnosed with Wilms tumor at age six and passed at eight, Camilla refused to let grief be the end of the story. Instead, she stepped into advocacy, education, and l...

In this revisit to Episode 372 of The Daily Influence, we explore what it means to feel unappreciated and how to shift the narrative to reclaim your sense of value. Brian S. Smith offers practical advice on self-reflection, open communication, and modeling positive behavior to inspire gratitude and appreciation in your personal and professional life. Discover how embracing your influence can help...

In this revisit to episode 127 of Daily Influence we discuss our belief in I am We and it is why We all matter; we all have amazing influence. I am We. Yes, I am the accumulation of all those people who have influenced me prior to this moment, it does not define me but they have all influenced me and are part of the me/we of today.  

In this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Carolann Valentino, 15-time award-winning entertainer, positive psychology practitioner, and creator of the Heart Coherence Method, to explore what happens when purpose, humor, and heart all align. From running a $40M steakhouse in the heart of New York City to performing her sold-out Off-Broadway show Burnt at the Stake,...

Today we revisit Daily Influence episode 171 where we tackled the topic of Communication Organization. We are bombarded by many different kinds of communication: email, text, in-person, phone and then there is body language and other written forms. How we manage our communication is one of life's biggest challenges!

In this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Ronnie Loaiza (RonnieLo), Master Certified Professional Life Coach, Certified Habit Coach, and Certified Personal Trainer, who helps people do one powerful thing: stop stopping. Blending science-based habit strategy with joy, play, and real-life compassion, Ronnie shows how small, consistent actions can move us past resist...

On Today's Daily Influence we revisit episode 182 where we discussed the foundation of being a good leader is your ability to listen. Listen to how we teach this required skill for everyone.