Daily Influence

In this revisit to Episode 258 of the Daily Influence, Brian S. Smith delves into the transformative power of positive influence within organizations. Discover practical strategies for fostering empathy, transparent communication, and effective teamwork. Learn how individual actions can create a ripple effect, shaping a positive organizational culture. Tune in to explore how you can become a beaco...

What does it take to rebuild your life after everything changes and come out stronger on the other side? On today’s Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno, MBA, sits down with Hope Firsel, a women’s life coach and certified divorce specialist whose journey through infertility, cancer, and divorce inspired her mission to help others heal and rise. With a master’s in Organizational Psychology fro...

In revisit to Episode 477 of The Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores The Art of Letting Go—a powerful reframing of delegation as an act of empowerment, not abdication. Drawing from his S.M.A.R.T. Management methodology and The I in Team Series, Brian reveals how effective delegation starts with self-awareness and ends in trust. Learn how to align responsibilities with individual competencies, fo...

What does it mean to lead with kindness in a world that often values speed over sincerity? In this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno, MBA sits down with Emily Tyler, Director of Development at Food for Greater Elgin, to explore how positivity, integrity, and service come together to create lasting community impact. From her early years as a music teacher to leading one of the re...

In this revisit to episode 494 of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores how the principles of S.M.A.R.T. Management—Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely—can help leaders navigate today’s increasingly complex and diverse environments. Whether your sphere of influence is local or spans continents, Brian explains how specificity, cultural empathy, and proactive communication can bri...

In this revisit to episode 324 of The Daily Influence, Brian Smith delves into the increasingly emotional and complex nature of political conversations. He discusses the importance of maintaining empathy and respect while navigating these challenging discussions. With a focus on core values, emotional intelligence, and self-awareness, Brian shares practical strategies to foster meaningful dialogue...

What if forgiveness wasn’t about others but about freeing yourself? On today’s Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno, MBA sits down with Dr. Dravon James, transformation specialist, author of Forgiveness: The Pathway to Happiness, and founder of Everyday Peace. From her beginnings on the South Side of Chicago to her remarkable career in healthcare, acting, and personal development, Dr. Dravon...

In this revisit to episode 286 of The Daily Influence, Brian S. Smith dives into the nuances of effective delegation—an essential leadership skill that can make or break team success. Brian explores the concept of delegation as an art form, emphasizing the importance of trust, clear communication, and matching tasks to individual strengths. Learn how empowering your team through thoughtful delegat...

What if your voice could open doors, build trust, and inspire lasting change? On today’s Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Leisa Reid, Founder of Get Speaking Gigs Now and CEO of the International Speaker Network. With over 600 talks delivered and nine books authored, Leisa has helped countless business owners transform their message into meaningful influence and measurable...

In this revisit to episode 284 of the Daily Influence podcast, Brian Smith delves into the transformative power of positive thinking. Drawing from the core principles of The "I" in Team Series and the SMART Management System, Brian explores how a positive mindset can not only change your perspective but also act as a strategic tool for achieving success. Learn how to cultivate a culture of...

In this Revisit to episode 263 of the Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores strategies for effective transition management, which he refers to as improvement management. Learn how to engage your team and stakeholders in the process of change by adopting a SMART management approach. Brian discusses the importance of clear vision, effective communication, continuous training, and the allocation of p...

What does it take to shift from fear and scarcity into abundance and fulfillment? On today’s Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno welcomes Joel Salomon, TEDx speaker, best-selling author, and Master Prosperity Coach. Joel shares his incredible journey from hedge fund manager on Wall Street to purpose-driven coach helping people worldwide manifest prosperity and freedom. Through his books Mind...

In this Revisit to Episode 376 of Daily Influence Brian Smith as he dives into actionable strategies for measuring the impact of leadership on organizational success. Using SMART goals and the principles from The I in Team Series, this episode explores how to define success, use data effectively, foster accountability, and build a culture of resilience and sustainable growth. Listen in to transfor...

On this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Anusha Kalyanasundaram, Senior Manager of Business Development at Blue Ops Partners and founder of Veda for Education, a nonprofit providing education to underprivileged children around the globe. From growing up with parents who instilled the value of service, to mentoring women in male-dominated industries, to launching...

In Episode 583 of The Daily Influence, Brian Smith sits down with Cindy Capistran, Group Fitness and Small Group Training Coach and Events Coordinator at Life Time Fitness Algonquin. Cindy shares how her journey from the back row of a fitness class to the front of the stage became a lesson in confidence, authenticity, and service. She discusses the mental and emotional benefits of movement, the po...

It’s easy to see the faults in others—but real growth begins when we have the courage to look inward and ask, “Am I the problem?” In this episode, Brian Smith explores how self-awareness can transform negative influence into positive impact. Drawing from The I in Team Series and S.M.A.R.T. Management principles, Brian helps you identify repeating patterns, manage emotional reactions, and practice...

What does it take to rise in a profession historically dominated by men and then create space for others to do the same? On today’s Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Vanessa Seiler, attorney, partner, and co-founder of MAS Law, an all-female boutique firm reshaping the future of law. Practicing since 1999, Vanessa shares her journey from navigating courtrooms where women wer...

In this episode of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores the power of writing as a tool to slow down, reflect, and lead with intention. Drawing from The I in Team Series and the S.M.A.R.T. Communication Discipline, Brian shares how writing helps transform emotion into clarity, reaction into reflection, and thought into responsible influence. Discover how just a few minutes of writing each day can...

What does it take to thrive in a sport where opportunities are limited—and still create a legacy beyond the rink? In this inspiring episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Hayley Williams, a trailblazer in women’s ice hockey and founder of Hockey Worldwide Academy. From her triple-overtime championship goal as a teenager to playing professionally across North America, R...

In today’s revisit of episode 326 of the Daily Influence, Brian Smith dives into the challenge of finding common ground during these highly divisive times, especially as we near election season. With emotions running high across social media, at work, and in public spaces, it's crucial to take a step back and approach these conversations with empathy and understanding. Brian shares actionable...

In this episode of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores the quiet but powerful force of decision fatigue—how too many choices drain focus, clarity, and influence. Whether you’re a leader, parent, or simply managing life’s constant decisions, fatigue can erode your judgment and relationships.

What does it really mean to have a village and how do we build one in today’s world of disconnection and busyness? On this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Florence Ann Romano, nationally recognized keynote speaker, media personality, and author of Build Your Village: A Guide to Finding Joy and Community in Every Stage of Life. Florence Ann shares her journey fro...

In this revisit of Daily Influence Episode 172 we asked, Have you been ghosted? Have you ghosted someone? Have you wondered why or what drives ghosting to happen? We have some definite opinions on the act of ghosting and how inappropriate it is in day-to-day communication. Don't let exceptions guide you here!

What happens when strategy meets spirit—and scale follows alignment? In this conversation, Camille L. Miller, transformational business strategist and founder of the Soul Professional Business School, shares how she turned a coffee-club idea into a global movement for soul-led entrepreneurs. Camille walks through her 14-week Accelerator (from concept to launch), why mindset is the true “trump card...

In this revisit of episode 275 of The Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores the critical role that accountability plays in achieving both personal and organizational success. Accountability is more than just meeting deadlines—it's about building trust, fostering teamwork, and driving continuous improvement. Brian delves into how accountability serves as a pillar of trust within teams and highl...