The Relentless Pursuit of Winning Podcast

🔥 Excerpt "If you're not sure what your superpower is, ask those around you—because everybody else knows." ⚡ TL;DR Sales strategist Kristie K. Jones joins me to map the path from unexpected layoffs to intentional leadership. We dig into superpowers, proactive career design, and how founders can stop playing "accidental VP of Sales" and build a real revenue engine—starting with the first rep, a p...

🔥 Excerpt "I love you just the way that you are—and I love you too much to leave you there." That's not just a quote—it's the DNA of Hallelujah Johnson's approach to storytelling, innovation, and self-discovery. ⚡ TL;DR Digital storyteller Hallelujah Johnson joins Rick Meekins to break down how she made history—launching the world's first AI-assisted, feature-length animated film produced entire...

🔥 Excerpt "You can't outwork your thought habits. If your inner wiring says 'scarcity,' your calendar and pricing will obey." ⚡ TL;DR I sit down with strategist and author Amy Kemp to dismantle the grind-equals-growth myth. We get into subconscious thought habits, why self-worth sets your rates (not hours), the energy of money, and how boundaries let founders earn like CEOs while living like hum...

🔥 Excerpt We don't experience the world—we experience our thinking about the world. Once you spot the difference, stress stops running the show.   ⚡ TL;DR Executive coach and author Tracey Gazel joins me to dismantle the myths founders carry about stress, mindfulness, and "hustle." We break down a practical, three-tier framework (physiology → mental training → social dynamics) to recognize trigg...

🔥 Excerpt "Winning feels great—but it's not just about results. It's about doing something hard, pushing through resistance, and being proud of who you became in the process." ⚡ TL;DR Entrepreneur, author, and multi-discipline competitor Lloyd Ross joins me from the Goldilocks zone of Australia to break down what it really means to pursue winning across life and business. From training for a 100...

🔥 Excerpt "Most people talk at their prospects instead of with them—and then wonder why they don't close. The win is in the listening ." ⚡ TL;DR Sales strategist and author Leslie Venetz joins Rick Meekins to rip the curtain off outdated, tone-deaf selling tactics and rewire your thinking around what it takes to actually win in modern B2B sales. From AI-fueled noise to signal-based selling, Lesl...

🔥 Excerpt "AI doesn't fix a broken marketing engine—it just lets you do more of the wrong stuff, faster."   ⚡ TL;DR Marketing strategist Tim Fitzpatrick joins Rick Meekins to break down the essential components of a high-performing marketing engine. From nailing down strategy to bridging the sales–marketing gap, this episode delivers a no-nonsense blueprint for founders who are tired of random t...

🔥 Excerpt "Grant money is free-ish. You get the funds, but you better have the paperwork to back it up—because if you don't, you'll pay it back, with interest. Grants are a game, and Crystal Petry plays to win."   ⚡ TL;DR Grant strategist Crystal Petry shatters the myth that founders can't access grant funding. She unpacks where the real opportunities are for both for-profit and nonprofit busine...

🔥 Excerpt "You either have big dreams, or you work for someone who does. There's no third lane. Decide which one you're in."   ⚡ TL;DR Cliff Beach—musician, author, and creative entrepreneur—joins Rick Meekins to dismantle the starving artist myth and expose the real numbers behind betting on yourself. From building a creative career without starving, to managing energy and priorities as you age...

🔥 Excerpt "I've grossed over $2.5 billion in sales—but the real pitch is believing in yourself when the world tells you you're not enough."   ⚡ TL;DR Dr. Forbes Riley joins Rick Meekins to deliver a masterclass in mindset, sales, and surviving the odds. From a horrific bus crash in Iceland to building a fitness empire, Forbes unpacks the psychology of pitching, the cost of not healing your past,...

🔥 Excerpt "Punishing yourself doesn't get you to the goal faster. It's not a strategy. It's self-sabotage disguised as discipline."   ⚡ TL;DR Mental health isn't just a subplot in entrepreneurship—it's part of the main storyline. In this episode, I sit down with Bradley Rausch, consultant and mental health advocate, to talk about navigating anxiety, panic, and self-doubt while building a busines...

🔥 Excerpt "When you're ambitious and unfulfilled, it's not a productivity issue—it's a clarity issue. You're climbing fast... but is it even the right ladder?"   ⚡ TL;DR Former McKinsey partner turned transformation coach Nicolai Nielsen joins me from Italy to talk about what happens when the success you've built no longer fits the life you want. We dive deep into how high performers sabotage th...

🔥Thot "If you develop a practice that makes your health and prosperity your number one priority, you radically increase the odds of getting everything you want out of life."   ⚡ TL;DR Serial entrepreneur Jon Sabes joins Rick Meekins to unpack the science and strategy behind longevity, prosperity, and sustainable success. From gene expression to journaling, this episode redefines what it means to...

"Extraordinary isn't some pedestal reserved for celebrities. It's just ordinary—with extra effort. Most people never tap into their potential—not because they don't have it, but because they never define it. That's the real tragedy."   TL;DR Jacob Lawson, founder of Extraordinary Flooring and author of Make It Extraordinary , joins Rick Meekins to explore mindset, resilience, leadership, and the d...

"The supply chain doesn't care about your plans. It cares how fast you can pivot when the port shuts down, the costs spike, or the bridge collapses. My job? Stay calm and find a way through it." — Kerim Kfuri   TL;DR In this episode of The Relentless Pursuit of Winning , Kerim Kfuri, CEO of The Atlas Network, shares strategic insights on managing global supply chain disruptions, building resilienc...

"When I saw that grocery cart drifting in my rearview mirror, I realized—I was still a hypocrite. You can't live one way at work and another at home and expect anyone to take you seriously."   TL;DR Kyle McDowell joins The Relentless Pursuit of Winning to reveal how his 10 principle-based "We" leadership model transforms toxic teams into high-trust cultures. Learn how to lead with authenticity, dr...

"There's no such thing as job security anymore—only career security. And that's something you have to build for yourself."   TL;DR: Fired after 23 years in corporate? Lyndsay Dowd turned that gut punch into a leadership revolution. Hear how she built Heartbeat for Hire, became a sought-after speaker, and now drives transformation as CRO at Intry. This episode of The Relentless Pursuit of Winning i...

"Your altitude is someone else's floor. Learn from the best, start where they left off—and stop trying to figure it all out alone." - Carl Sharperson TL;DR In this episode, Rick Meekins interviews Carl H. Sharperson, Jr., Marine pilot turned leadership coach, to unpack how adversity, discipline, and feedback form the foundation of authentic leadership. Learn how to lead with purpose, build trust,...

"Entrepreneurship isn't about building an empire. It's about building a life—and sometimes, knowing when it's time to hand over the keys. Eric Grafstrom shows us why exit planning is just as critical as your startup plan—and why your heart better be in it, or you'll never survive the journey." TL; DR:  Eric Grafstrom, founder of ExitGuide, joins Rick Meekins on The Relentless Pursuit of Winning po...

"If you're not doing anything with AI yet—trust me, your competitors are. Start small, solve one real problem, and build from there. But don't sit this one out. " - Olga Topchaya   TL;DR Rick Meekins talks with AI strategist Olga Topchaya about how companies are misusing AI—and what they should do instead. Learn how to identify real AI opportunities, avoid common mistakes, and build solutions that...

"Referrals are the new résumé. And in a world where AI can fake credentials, the only thing that still carries weight? People who've actually worked with you. That's the foundation of Narwhal Network—and the future of fractional work." - Arti Istrefi   📝 Show Notes: When we talk about the future of work, most people throw around buzzwords and remote-first philosophies. Arta Istrefi? She's buildin...

"Most leaders don't realize communication isn't just what you say—it's how you create safety for others to speak. If you want real feedback, you better build a culture that rewards honesty, not punishes it." - Matthew P. Hoffman Show Notes: You want to know what derails businesses, even the well-intentioned ones? Communication. Or more accurately, the lack of it. I sat down with Matthew P. Hoffman...

"Your brand is what you say about yourself. Your reputation is what people say when you're not in the room. The fastest way to ruin both? Leading with a sales pitch instead of a real relationship." - Mark J. Carter Show Notes What if the secret to growth, referrals, and real influence wasn't your pitch—but your people? In this episode, I sit down with Mark J. Carter—interviewer, author, and relati...

"We can get in our own way by thinking it has to be all or nothing or that it has to be immediate. But if you slow down, realign with what you actually want, and take small, intentional steps, you'll get to where you need to be." – Alyssa Gioscia Show Notes: Getting Out of Your Own Way: Overcoming Mental Roadblocks to Success Transitions are scary—whether it's shifting from a stable corporate care...