Serve Strong Finish Strong

In today's episode, we're diving deep into a captivating business tale. The relationship between Alcoa and their vendor, LW Nash (the company my grandfather began), serves as a vivid illustration of the pitfalls a company can face when dependencies are unchecked. This story also showcases the importance and resilience of the Switzerland Structure from John Warrillow's Value Builder System. The inh...

In this inspiring episode, I chat with Lois McGuire, a 75-year-old dynamo who defied the typical norms of retirement. Lois's zest for life and her determination to create her own path is the embodiment of the 4th quarter freedom we often talk about on Serve Strong Finish Strong. Key Points: 1. **Lois's Early Retirement Life: Why traditional retirement wasn't a fit for her and how she struggled wit...

"It's a good busy." How many times have you said or thought that? If you're like me, I bet many times. Busyness has become a badge of honor among business owners. But it's astounding what being over-busy is doing to the value of our businesses. In this episode, we'll talk about the reasons why we're so busy and what you can start doing the moment you finish listening. Take action. Don't let your b...

What's behind the title of the show, "Serve Strong Finish Strong"? In this episode, I introduce a slight pivot in the direction of the podcast. Founders of businesses who are in their 50's and older have a unique set of circumstances. These situations span both their professional and personal lives. The show will begin to address these unique circumstances. I will explain why the pivot and what yo...

What's behind the title of the show, "Serve Strong Finish Strong"? In this episode, I introduce a slight pivot in the direction of the podcast. Founders of businesses who are in their 50's and older have a unique set of circumstances. These situations span both their professional and personal lives. The show will begin to address these unique circumstances. I will explain why the pivot and what yo...

In this episode, we're diving deep into an often under-discussed aspect of midlife reality: caring for aging parents with dementia.  This is a journey filled with love, challenges, and resilience, and I know many of the listeners are walking this path right now. I understand it can be a delicate balance, trying to navigate your career, personal life, and the responsibility of caring for loved...

Stay with me here. We are going to delve into the world of manufacturing. You may be wondering, what in the world does manufacturing have to do with designing a fantastic 4th quarter? Well, my guest is all about asking why. And asking why is a powerful skill as you grow up. Curiosity and reflection. These are skills that become increasingly important as we age. Without it, we enter the dark abyss...

Planning for the future. It's a necessary part of growing up. Some might say it's a necessary evil and would rather just live by the seat on your pants.  But there is a distinct difference in living life by default and living life by design. My guest has enough knowledge for a 4-hour episode. But we're going to keep it to the normal length and pick his brain for as much information as we can....

In this enlightening episode, we delve into the world of "corporate refugees" - those who have escaped the constraints of traditional 9-5 roles to pursue work that truly ignites their passion. We explore their journey to finding fulfilling work that not only brings joy but also ensures financial stability. My guest, David Shriner-Cahn, shares his expert insights on how to transition from a secure...

Sometimes you are so happy you can't stand it. Sometimes you're so angry you could spit. Other times you are scared out of our wits and fearful. Other times you are completely and utterly nervous and anxious.  What is it about these emotions and can we understand them enough that they have no rule over us? My guest offers a way to regain your agency when it comes to your emotions. You don't h...

Have you ever felt like you were happy, but....? There was something gnawing at your spirit and you thought maybe it means a change in your life? How do you know if it's real? If it is real, how do you make the change?  My guest and I talked about how this dynamic is a real thing in people who are approaching, or currently in, their 3rd quarter (40-50's). Listen as Steve articulates how to kn...

Have you ever felt the desire to challenge yourself to jump out of your comfort zone, and everything you know, and do something crazy?  Perhaps you feel like you're on the inside, looking out. Life is squeezing you. Because you're thinking of the number of years ahead versus the number of years behind you. Everything you've built over the, your 20s and 30s, and maybe even 40s has been built....

Pursuing your next adventure will not be all roses and cream. There will be setbacks. You will feel defeated among the wonderful moments of triumph. You need a healthy measure of resilience. In today's episode, we're diving into the remarkable story of the Wright Brothers, two self-taught engineers who, against all odds, revolutionized the world of aviation. Their persistence in the face of numero...

To get where you're going, you can travel by default and hope you get there, which is risky. Or you can travel by design and greatly increase the probability that you will go further, faster, and with deeper meaning. In this episode, I pulled an excerpt from a recent coaching session I had with a client who was wrestling with the concept of setting goals. Perhaps you can relate to my client. If so...

So what's your story? What, what is it that brings you right to this episode? What have you been through? What have you experienced? Where have you failed? Where have you succeeded?  In this episode, my guest and I talk about how important stories are.  Why are we talking branding, marketing and sales on the server strong finish strong podcast? Well as because in our 40s and 50s, somewhe...

Ah, the fountain of youth. You seek it because you don't want to miss out on life. You chase after purveyors of promises and potions only to find they don't work. Well, we may be onto something that may just be what reverses our aging. Brian and I talk about that and the trinity of behaviors that are already a fountain of youth (a fountain we have carried around in our own back pocket all our live...

Disruptions happen in the most unusual ways. For me it was losing an entire career at age 50. For my guest, it was a combination of a couple of things. First, it was a growing sense in her heart that God was calling her to something different than architecture. Second, she was diagnosed with cancer. Our discussion takes you through her journey and how it has shaped her 4th quarter so far. Be encou...

This episode is primarily for the person "on the inside looking out." You're busy with your work (and you may even love what you're doing), but you have a growing compulsion to do something new, something different. But you don't know where to start. My conversation with Bill McGinnis might be just what you're looking for. Having grown a whitewater rafting company to a very successful endeavor ove...

The Serve Strong Finish Strong podcast is becoming the podcast that empowers individuals over 50 to take charge of their lives and embark on a journey of self-discovery and transformation. In this age of rapid change, it's never too late to embrace new opportunities and redefine what's possible for you. In this episode we geek out and go deep into the inner workings of the neurons of the brain. Th...

You have regrets. Welcome to the human condition. We all have regrets. But not all of us are living under the weight of those regrets. Many are seeing the opportunity in regrets and are taking steps to grow personally and professionally. Dealing with regrets is vital as we age. Why? Because our time is diminishing. If you want to make a difference with your life, you are going to have to get serio...

Every hour of every day, you are faced with (and make) multiple decisions. Some are insignificant, like which shirt to wear. Others are profound, like whether or not to quit your job and go out on your own. As you age, the weight of your decisions gets heavier and heavier. That's due to the fact that the time you have to recover from a bad decision is much shorter than it used to be. So in this ep...

It's time to get serious about where you're going in life. Time is your enemy. Messing around with complacency, confusion, or procrastination will only lead to increased regrets. In this episode, I cover 5 questions (probably the most important questions) you should be asking yourself as you design your future. Don't live life by default. To learn more, visit: www.servingstrong.com Listen to more...

At some point in your journey, you will need to implement. After all, anything worth while comes down to the walk. Look around you. Everything you see was not only an idea at one point, but an idea that was implemented. When you go to implement, your greatest opportunity is in how productive you are. Luckily, my guest and I delve into a bunch of ideas and principles related to productivity. Enjoy!...

You founded it. You built it. And now you have no idea what to do with it as you age. Join us on this episode to get clarity on what's going on and what you can do to transition out of your business and thrive. NOTE: Although this episode touches primarily on the dynamics of transitioning out of a family business, the principles shared can apply to virtually any season of transition you may be fac...

You've thought about retirement. You've wondered what it is like to retire. But you don't have any examples from which to draw. In this episode, my guest Dr. Karen Sibert shares how she went from having no intention of retiring to actually retiring quite successfully.  Some of the topics we touch on include:  How stakeholders are impacted when we make changes, not just retirement but any...