THE IGFY NEWSLETTER

8/21/18 8/21/18

Higher Purpose Podcast Episode 56: How to Find Your Purpose with Nick Craig

Nick Craig is the Founder and President of the Core Leadership Institute, and his expertise comes from over 25 years of working with top teams, leadership programs, executive coaching, and much more, with companies like Ben and Jerry’s, Lego, Heineken, Unilever, and the US Military. What makes Nick’s approach truly unique is that he focuses on helping leaders tap into their deeper wisdom rather than giving them rote instructions on how to be a good leader. Today, Kevin and Nick talk about some key takeaways from his new book, Leading from Purpose.

So many of us have great ideas but lack the belief in ourselves to carry them out and share them with others. Nick is no different. He briefly shares with Kevin how he went through several challenges of his own bringing his unique leadership training to the world. It began as Authentic Leadership and is known today as the Core Leadership Institute, and it all hinges on purpose, something he had reservations about from the start.
Kevin notes the forward of the book, Leading from Purpose, and the “CAUTION” written there might give you second thoughts about reading the book. We can’t put the exact text here, but in short, once you live your purpose, you can’t unlive it. There’s no going back. Nick has his own purpose, naturally, but he defines it in two parts: the key to get into the room, and the room itself. Have you ever thought about your own purpose in this way?
Do you have a purpose statement, and if so, does it sound like a mission statement? Or worse, is it filled with corporate speak? According to Nick, purpose is the unique gift you bring to the world – keyword ‘unique.’ He shares some of the most delightful, meaningful statements of purpose he’s heard, including one from the president of Hershey’s, that aren’t at all what you think a purpose statement should be.
Many of us have lived our lives trying to live up to the expectations other people have of who we SHOULD be, instead of living according to the purpose of who we were MEANT to be. That’s a paraphrase of a line in Nick’s book, and he and Kevin dive deeper into what it means, and more importantly, how it can keep us unhappy with what we do. Do you ever feel like a fish trying to climb a tree? Then this will resonate with you.
Finding the key to get into your own purpose room can be a real challenge, and Nick has an exercise for you. Sit down and write out a story of a magical moment from your childhood, but not from your own perspective. Write it like a movie script: what happened, who was saying it, what happened next. Nick shares what to do with that story, and it’ll floor you how easy it can be to locate your purpose.
Once you discover your true purpose, you may realize that you’re in for a rough time. Think about it: are you the one who tells people what they don’t want to hear but need to? It’s not always the case, but a lot of people Nick has worked with find that their purpose is edgier than they ever realized. And that’s fantastic. Out of ‘10,000 encounters,’ there are some that really stand out for Nick, and he shares some of them. They’ll touch your heart.
You might be Gandalf or Buzz Lightyear in your personal statement of purpose, but that doesn’t mean you should proclaim that to everyone you meet. While you should absolutely stay true to the spirit of it, Nick also advises you to keep another version of your purpose statement to share with others, once your relationship with them deepens.
Nick closes with some very poignant thoughts on choices, time, perspective, the Divine, and more, and it’ll put you in the right state of mind to dig in and find your OWN purpose.

An Extraordinary ExperimentThank you for listening to this episode of the Higher Purpose Podcast. Remember, if you ever think that your work could be less ordinary, there’s not much between you and something extraordinary. Just 13 weeks, and a bold experiment. Find out more about the Extraordinary Experiment here!If you liked this...Then you'll like the interview Kevin did last year with Thom Winninger about Divine Gifts. You can give it a listen right here!Nick CraigLeading from Purpose Assessment Core Leadership Institute Website LinkedIn Facebook Twitter YouTubeLeading from Purpose Book

8/14/18 8/14/18

Higher Purpose Podcast Episode 55: Change Your Brain, Change Your Life with Kevin Breeding

Kevin Breeding started Mindset Engine as a way to generate leads for his business. But he soon realized that it was far more than that. In fact, he realized he was rewiring his own brain in creating it. Kevin realized that when you change your brain, you change your life. Today, he shares how you can rewire your own brain to change your mindset and enjoy a far better life.

Kevin shares the story how he created his Mindset Engine app, how he ‘rewired’ his brand, and of his personal VA who used to suffer from daily panic attacks in a corporate setting before using the app. It’s been two and a half years since her last attack.
Some people don’t understand the importance of mindset – they wave it off as ‘woo.’ Kevin asks his guest how important the connection is between mindset and success in leadership, business, and life. As you might have guessed, it’s integral. He responds to the question with something he’s observed over the years. Some of the most successful entrepreneurs and influencers would change one very important thing about their trajectory: they would put the mindset stuff first. Many of them believe they would have gotten to where their business is today twice as fast for half the cost.
It might seem like Kevin was throwing spaghetti at a wall and the Mindset App was what stuck, but that isn’t the case. Intuitively, Kevin knew he needed a coach for himself after a midnight panic attack. His life was ‘on fire,’ and Kevin believed he’d be dead from stress by the end of the year, both from bankruptcy and a divorce. And he knew the place to start was in the way he thought about things. Kevin shares the story of how he began journaling and eventually got to the Mindset Engine.
Do you ever wonder where the best coaches get the material they use to help others? In Kevin’s case, it was the journal he kept. He explains how he captured his emotions, the progression of his own brain rewiring, and turned it into lessons he uses to this day to help others through his 5-part framework.
You might cringe at yet another guru touting how, if you mimic what he did exactly, you can succeed, too. But that’s not what Mindset Engine is. Rather than focusing on a single path to success, it focuses on principles – and Kevin believes that to be successful, you have to do it in a way only YOU can, not how a guru did it.
It’s a shift in mindset that results in a shift of action, of ‘milestone moments.’ Kevin shares a poignant thought: “My fear of failure is nowhere as big as my fear of mediocracy.” Think on that a moment – it takes bravery to succeed and to fail, and bravery is a mindset. Kevin reveals how this shift in his life took him from extreme fear to where he is today.
Kevin has a free resource available, Mastering Mindset, and he shares some of his favorite insights. The first is about focusing on the process rather than the goal (contrary to what many people teach), and the second is that we are to be a witness of ourselves, not a judge. Powerful thoughts, and Kevin goes into more detail. He also shares some powerful actions you can take today to begin the shift in YOUR life.

An Extraordinary ExperimentThank you for listening to this episode of the Higher Purpose Podcast. Remember, if you ever think that your work could be less ordinary, there’s not much between you and something extraordinary. Just 13 weeks, and a bold experiment. Find out more about the Extraordinary Experiment here!Kevin BreedingWebsite (Mastering Mindset Resource)Get Mindset Engine for Free Join Catalyst U Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Rick Rigsby’s The Wisdom of a Third Grade Dropout Speech

8/7/18 8/7/18

Higher Purpose Podcast Episode 54: The 6 Obstacles to Success

"Make us to choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong and never to be content with a half truth when the whole can be won." That is the West Point Cadet Prayer, but it’s not just for cadets. It‘s for all of us, especially those of us who strive to live our purpose. Today, Kevin talks about thing things that get in his way on his path to purpose. If you’re anything like him, you have probably experienced them, too.

If you’ve been listening, you’ve heard about the 13 weeks to purpose, and this week, it’s all about encouragement. Socrates said, to paraphrase, ‘always be kind because you don’t know about another person’s battles.’ Kevin shares how his fans did just that for him.
Frustration is first on the list of things that Kevin confronts often. Has anyone ever asking you why you're SO frustrated? And do you take it as a complaint or a compliment? In fact, it’s an invitation, and Kevin talks about why he’s shifted his beliefs around frustration to become the source of something positive in his life. Specifically, you can use your frustration as fuel.
Have you ever suffered from Imposter Syndrome? It’s when you doubt your accomplishments and live in fear of being exposed as a fraud. Kevin has a wealth of experience, accomplishments, credentials, and proof that he’s everything he says he is, and even HE suffers from imposter syndrome. He shares how it’s been crippling in his life even when his friends tell him otherwise. It’s time for you to stop living in the scarcity loop and start living in the abundance loop.
Have you been caught in the belief that there’s nothing ordinary about yourself? Maybe you grew up in a middle-class family, average income, average schooling, average… everything. It can be hard to see anything extraordinary in yourself, but you’re blind to the truth. Being extraordinary doesn’t have much to do with that. Kevin explains how you can be extraordinary every single day.
It’s time for you to adopt the belief that getting it right is overrated. For all you perfectionists out there, Kevin understands completely, and he’s let that perfectionism stop him short many times before. He’ll be the first to tell you that there are so many things he should and could have done if not for giving up before he started because he knew it wouldn’t be perfect. Getting it right is overrated; keeping it real is where your head should be.
One of the things that goes hand in hand with getting it right is overthinking it. Fortunately, Kevin has a wonderful friend he can call on when he realizes he overthinking things, because in truth, overthinking leads to underacting on something. The correction to overthinking is to take action. Do something, move forward, make progress. Imperfect action always trumps perfect inaction.
Finally, do you downplay success? And worse, do you replay failure? This is yet another of the struggles Kevin faces, but how about you? Have you found yourself sapped of all motivation because of this way of thinking? Kevin’s got a challenge for you. Take time to celebrate success. Learn from your failures but don’t cling to them. In fact, you need to redefine what failure means to you because if you’ve learned something, THAT is a success.

7/31/18 7/31/18

Higher Purpose Podcast Episode 53: Better Together with Rusty George

As we’ve often said, purpose thrives in community and dies in isolation. Today’s guest, Rusty George, agrees. In fact, he published a book entitled Better Together where he talks about the power of community. Rusty is a pastor, speaker, and leader, and in today’s episode, Rusty and Kevin talk about what community really means when you’re living a purpose-filled life.

We are more connected than ever before, so why does it feel like we’re more alone than ever? In the UK, they’ve added an empty chair and called it the Minister of Loneliness because of the epidemic they perceive in their country. Rusty shares a story about wanting one thing but getting another, like how social media is supposed to be social – do you resonate with his message? It’s not about how many online friends you have; it’s about how many people really know YOU.
Rusty was inspired to write Better Together after a very lonely period in his life where he didn’t interact outside of his family and work. He spent a lot of time doing solo activities, and it made him realize how empty it made him feel. What Rusty realized is that the only thing he hadn’t tried was community, a group of like-minded people he could talk to and relate with. He decided that the way to fix me is with
How do you define your reality? Do you get frustrated and tired of all the people around you and finally retreat to the safety of the people closest to you then tell yourself the story that ‘this is enough?’ There’s a long-term problem associated with that, and it can BREAK the people closest to you. It’s a dangerous reality that doesn’t help you at all.
Have you spent a lot of time in self-discovery? You’re probably putting your thumb on the scales as you weigh your strengths and weaknesses. More importantly, there are some things that you can ONLY discover by being with others. Rusty talks about some of his own issues, like considering himself a strong leader when he’s actually a control freak.
As leaders, we often think that we need to be perfect and to not show our vulnerability. But the opposite is true. Rusty agrees that the incomplete leader is one we should praise and strive to be, because we’ll never truly be complete or perfect. To try to be otherwise will only isolate us more.
There’s a trend online to be hyper-vulnerable, but it’s not the same. It does very little for your personal growth to be vulnerable with people who don’t know you. In fact, those who share on social media rarely share the whole story of why they feel the way they do, so they really aren’t connecting and letting other people know who they are. Rusty believes that you don’t have to be vulnerable to all, but you have to be vulnerable to some.
One important thing to point out is that vulnerability doesn’t go one way. It’s just as important to find someone who you can be vulnerable with as it is to be engaged as they share themselves with you. Realize that you won’t always understand exactly what someone else is going through, but simply being there for them is enough. That’s where connection begins.
One thing we’re all guilty of from time to time is going into things with certain expectations, and according to Rusty, expectations are pre-arranged resentments. You’re setting yourself up, in many cases, for disappointment, and that leads to the belief that others have somehow failed you. It’s no way to live, and you need to hear what Rusty has to say.
In a community, listening is essential. The best way to do that is to try to ask 3 questions. Rather than formulating your witty reply, discover more about the person you’re with. Not only will it impress the person you’re with; it will help you get to know who THEY are rather than steamrolling them with who YOU are. It’s one of the most generous things you can do.
Have you noticed how the act of ‘consumerism’ has invaded our social circles? Certainly, you’ve talked with someone who was only interested in what you could do for them, but have you noticed it in yourself? Consumerism is the anathema of community; you can never connect on a deep level if you’re only in it for yourself.

An Extraordinary ExperimentThank you for listening to this episode of the Higher Purpose Podcast. Remember, if you ever think that your work could be less ordinary, there’s not much between you and something extraordinary. Just 13 weeks, and a bold experiment. Find out more about the Extraordinary Experiment here!Rusty GeorgeFacebook Website Better Together BookGet a free copy of the book!Tweet @kevin_monroe, and let him know you heard about the book on the Higher Purpose Podcast! You could win a free copy of Better Together by Rusty George.

7/24/18 7/24/18

High Purpose Podcast Episode 52 - Looking Back with Purpose

Kevin reflects on 52 weeks of the Higher Purpose Podcast, sharing some of the things he’s learned and experienced along the way. Kevin discusses five ways that purpose benefits all of us - a retrospective on the incredible guests that have been on the show and some of the big takeaways from a year of energizing and inspiring conversations.

Kevin shares the story of how, at the outset, the Higher Purpose Podcast almost didn’t happen! How does purpose help you persevere in difficult times? This podcast itself is an example of how purpose can prop us up and help us through the challenges we face.
When we’re frustrated, there is a gap between our experience of reality, and what we believe is possible. What isn’t coming together in your life as you had hoped it would? How can you tap into the power of purpose in order to regroup, and focus on the things you are here to do?
Purpose attracts. It attracts great people to each other, to important causes, and to inspired projects. It helps us forge relationships and form community, so we can support each other and better achieve our purpose, together.
Purpose connects. It is like glue that holds people together. Kevin reflects on the guests who have joined him this year, and the amazing web of inspired thought formed by these conversations.
Purpose inspires. Which conversations on the show inspired you? And what is a conversation you’d like to hear or have on the Higher Purpose Podcast?
Purpose energizes. It has a way of energizing the most routine tasks, of enlivening and enriching conversations. The higher the purpose, the greater the energy. It inspires us to aspire to be more than we would otherwise be.
If you or someone you know is interested in bringing the benefits of higher purpose to your enterprise, let us know! Email Kevin at kevin@higherpurposepodcast.com, or call Kevin at 678-744-5111!

An Extraordinary ExperimentThank-you for listening to this episode of the Higher Purpose Podcast. Remember, if you ever think that your work could be less ordinary, there’s not much between you and something extraordinary. Just 13 weeks, and a bold experiment. Find out more about the Extraordinary Experiment here!

7/19/18 7/19/18

Why are you so frustrated? Here's the real answer

Has anyone ever asked you, "Why are you [so] frustrated?" Have you been asked that question more than once? Perhaps thousands of times.If that doesn't make your list of frequently asked questions, stop reading now -- this post isn't for you.Since you're still reading, I'm assuming you're no stranger to frustration. Since we've got that in common, let's explore this topic deeper.When you hear that question, do you interpret it as a compliment or a complaint? I've heard the question a lot in life -- seems like about a million times, I'm sure that's slightly exaggerated. It's not like I was keeping count or anything.If you're anything like me, you most often heard that question as a complaint. It was framed negatively and expressed judgmentally. You know, like a "what's wrong with you?" accusation. Even when you were asking the question of yourself.What if the question wasn't actually an accusation? What if it was an invitation? An invitation to take action? To innovate?Let me share how the dots finally connected for me.For decades, I understood frustration as the feeling of being upset or annoyed. That's probably the most widely held understanding of frustration. It's also incomplete and, in my opinion, a misunderstanding of what it means to be frustrated.Being upset or annoyed is a fruit of frustration, not the cause. What then is the root?Read the rest of the definition: the feeling of being upset or annoyed especially because of inability to change or achieve something. That's eyeopening. But there's still more. An expanded definition includes this entry, "the prevention of the progress, success, or fulfillment of something." If you ponder that definition of frustration maybe you'll reach the same conclusion I did -- frustration need not be negative.[clickToTweet tweet="Why are you so frustrated? Frustration is rooted in the awareness that your current reality is not living up to your potential reality. You see a gap that needs to be closed." quote="Frustration is rooted in the awareness that your current reality is not living up to your potential reality." theme="style5"]In other words, there’s a gap between what is and what could be. That's why you're frustrated!Put that another way, it means you see a better, brighter future possible than what you are currently experiencing. That, my friend, is a sign that you are a visionary, an idealist.It harkens the George Bernard Shaw idea popularized by Robert F. Kennedy,

Some men see things as they are and say, why; I dream things that never were and say, why not.

What's really going on when you're frustrated is you see a gap between what is and what could be. Seeing that gap creates tension. That's the source of your frustration.Now you know. Now you have a choice.Will you express your frustration as anger and annoyance which results in friction and thwarts your progress even more? Or will you channel it as fuel for innovation and change?What's frustrating you most now? How can you close the gap?

7/17/18 7/17/18

HPP Episode 51 - Why Hierarchy is Bad for Business with Brian Robertson

What would your workplace look like without any managers? Brian Robertson says that management hierarchies create a parent-child dynamic between managers and workers that actually undermines organizations. Through experimentation in his own entrepreneurial enterprises, he found a new kind of organization – one that allows us to use our collective consciousness for a purpose. He called the system Holacracy, and now it is implemented by thousands of businesses worldwide.

Brian became an entrepreneur because, after coming up against bureaucracy in the companies he worked for, he thought: there must be a better way to do things.
Individuals often are conscious – they see problems and have ideas about how to fix them. But how can we build an organization where anyone who identifies a change that would improve the organization will be able to implement that change?
Many people assume that management hierarchy is the only option for organizing business. But when Brian became a CEO himself, he realized that even from the top, the structure was limiting how effective he could be in supporting the purpose of his organization.
If employees need the boss to empower them, that means they are fundamentally in a disempowered position. Brian has created a system that involves everyone in defining the boundaries, rules, and responsibilities, in a non-hierarchical business environment.
With Holacracy, when you fill a role and have a purpose to express, you can take any action to achieve your purpose - as long as there is not already a rule against it. This is the opposite of how things work in most workplaces – where the manager has to okay any new initiative. Brian says this kind of system creates a fundamentally empowering, and much more effectual, workplace.
How is Holacracy implemented? Brian explains how eliminating managers actually works, and the benefits of increased flexibility and distributing burden and responsibility throughout an organization.
For more information, check out Brian’s website, his book about Holacracy, or check out his network of licensed Holacracy trainings offered throughout the world!
If you or someone you know is interested in bringing the benefits of non-hierarchical empowerment to your enterprise, let us know! Email Kevin at kevin@higherpurposepodcast.com.

7/10/18 7/10/18

Make Work More Human with Renee Smith

How can we make work more human? Kevin talks to Renee Smith about the high cost of fear, and the deep impact of love. Renee Smith is the Director of Organizational Development at Washington state’s Department of Enterprise Services. She’s not just bringing love into workplace, but into government – the most stereotypically bureaucratic kind of workplace! She has her work cut out for her – but her story is that much more inspirational for it.

What is the most significant job of a leader? Renee says the answer is simple – to eliminate fear from the workplace.
When you take away fear, what takes its place? The opposite of fear is love – and we can’t feel both at the same time. Renee says that when we eliminate fear, we build organizations that are based on love.
Renee has done qualitative research on the long-term impacts of fear and love in the workplace. Out of the interviews she conducted came evidence for the long-term negative impacts of fear, and the benefits of love. She tells the story of this large-scale research project.
Talking about love in the workplace makes a lot of people feel uncomfortable. But why? As a society, we’ve locked love away out of whole spheres of our lives. But what happens to our humanity when we divide our lives in this way? And what benefits might love bring to the quality of our work and lives?
What are the different facets of love? A feeling of belonging, a feeling that you matter, and feeling cared about. Feeling respected and feeling included. Love doesn’t just mean romance – the concept of love includes aspects that can make our workplaces and whole lives more fulfilling.
Renee shares the 4 themes associated with fear coming out of her research, and the 3 themes associated with the deep impact of love.
Learn more about how you can make work more human, and Renee’s research, here!
If you or someone you know is interested in bringing the benefits of love to your enterprise, let us know! Email Kevin at kevin@higherpurposepodcast.com.

7/2/18 7/2/18

HPP 49 - Conscious Capitalism with Alexander McCobin

Alexander McCobin was on his way to a Ph.D. and a career in academia when he changed life paths and started Conscious Capitalism, an organization and global movement that blends philosophy and practicality to promote ethics in business. Alexander discusses how he helps businesses find their purpose and discover what they can contribute.

Most people are taught that the purpose of business is maximizing profit. This is what is taught in business school. Conscious Capitalism says that the purpose of business is not profit – it’s creating value in the world.
The origin of capitalism in the 1700s was actually grounded in moral theory. Alexander tells the story of why he started Conscious Capitalism – to promote purpose and ethics in business, getting back to the philosophy that was historically at the heart of capitalism.
Too many people hear the words “conscious capitalism” and think the idea is an oxymoron. But through the dedication of individuals focused on purpose and ethics, a culture shift is changing the meaning of business in our society.
Alexander says free enterprise capitalism is the most powerful system for social cooperation and human progress ever conceived. Sounds different from our stereotypes about capitalism, doesn’t it?
Conscious Capitalism has 4 key pillars. Business is good because it creates value. It’s ethical because it’s based on voluntary exchange. It's noble because it can elevate our existence. And it's heroic because it lifts people out of poverty and creates prosperity.
Business should be about creating value for other people and lifting people up, and helping humanity flourish. Conscious Capitalism is spreading this philosophy and creating a change in business culture worldwide.
Alexander discusses the importance of leaders embodying not only high IQ, but also spiritual intelligence – and explains what that could mean for your business.
To find out about upcoming events, sign up for groups and mailing lists, and find learning experiences and master classes, you can visit the Conscious Capitalism website.
If you or someone you know is interested in bringing the benefits of Small Giants’ secrets to your enterprise, let us know! Email Kevin at kevin@higherpurposepodcast.com.

6/26/18 6/26/18

HPP 48 - The Secrets of Small Giants with Bo Burlingham

Just over 10 years ago, Bo Burlingham wrote Small Giants - a book about “companies that choose to be great, instead of big.” Now Small Giants is a movement, a community, and an annual Forbes list. Kevin talks to Bo about the rise of entrepreneurship, his personal journey, and the role of purpose in doing business differently, and succeeding.

There was a time not that long ago when “entrepreneur” was an insult. Bo tells his story, from becoming a magazine writer, to being one of the first journalists to focus on entrepreneurship before it was a respected business path.
Small Giants was inspired by Zingerman’s, a company you may recognize from a previous episode. When Zingerman’s was a young up-and-comer, they had the opportunity to franchise, but found a new and different way to grow – by launching a series of totally unique and high-quality businesses.
Bo began wondering if there were other companies that had made similar choices – to focus, not on becoming as big as possible as fast as possible, but on something more important. This was the question behind Small Giants, and Bo’s decades of research in small business journalism helped him discover some shining examples of just this kind of business.
The first key feature of successful, purposeful business is creating a deep link to the community you’re in. Bo shares the other 5 qualities that he identified in entrepreneurial leaders who achieved real success while also pursuing goals beyond the profit margin.
Catch up with Bo through his website, or check out another movement inspired by a different book he wrote, The Great Game of Business.
If you or someone you know is interested in bringing the benefits of Small Giants’ secrets to your enterprise, let us know! Email Kevin at kevin@higherpurposepodcast.com.

6/19/18 6/19/18

HPP 47 - An Experiment in Developing Human Capability with Bruce Ballengee

Kevin sits down with Bruce Ballengee, founder and CEO of Pariveda Solutions. Pariveda is a tech consulting company doing things differently. The mission of Pariveda is helping people achieve their highest potential – including both their clients and their employees. Bruce discusses how focusing on purpose has translated into success for his business.

What happens when a new business claims, as its purpose, lifting up lower- and middle-class people? Bruce shares his journey in selling his previous company and conceiving of a new business to serve a new purpose.
Can a technology consulting firm become successful by focusing, first and foremost, on growing the individual to their greatest potential? Bruce says that Pariveda is not the exception, but the rule. Changes in industry standards towards purpose-driven business have a reason behind them – evidence says they work.
Bruce treats business as an experiment – he started out in business with a hypothesis. This is how people become pioneers in their field – by trying something new.
Bruce “evaluates” employees using something called the expectations framework. The goal? Developing employees to the level of an effective executive – people capable of generating business.
What is the relationship between empathy, self-actualization, belonging, and success in business? Bruce explains how these elements all come together in servant leadership.
If you or someone you know is interested in bringing the benefits of positive social impact to your enterprise, let us know! Email Kevin at kevin@higherpurposepodcast.com.

6/12/18 6/12/18

HPP 46 - Business as Poverty Reduction with Brandale Randolph

Brandale Randolph is a social activist and entrepreneur who is working to alleviate the cycle of poverty through business. He runs the 1854 Cycling Company, a company that employs those who are most at risk of living in poverty – specifically, mothers with criminal records. He also runs Project Poverty, a non-profit aimed at reducing poverty. Brandale discusses the power of business to give back to society and break the cycle of poverty.

Brandale tells the story of his trajectory from hedge fund broker to social activist, and how he found purpose through social organizing against poverty.
The 1854 Cycling Company is named after the first meeting of the Anti-Slavery Society on July 4th, 1854. Brandale locates the inspiration for his business in this history of social activism, and the purpose of supporting women leaving prison.
For women leaving prison, the re-offending rate is lower than men, but their poverty rate is much higher. Brandale asks: are they really free if they are living in such poverty? Who is going to stand up for these women in the way people stood up for enslaved African Americans? The 1854 Cycling Company is a small piece of that puzzle.
Kevin and Brandale discuss the challenges that The 1854 Cycling Company has faced due to stigma against formerly incarcerated people, and the importance of preserving the humanity and futures of these women and their children.
Can a for-profit business operate in a way that makes even more impact than a non-profit? Brandale says yes – businesses actually have more ability to create meaningful impact.
What does effective leadership look like? Brandale says that effective leadership allows people to do what they do best, and supports them through this process.
You can support The 1854 Cycling Company by visiting their website, Facebook, or Instagram!

Visit the Purpose Profiles website for access to all of Kevin’s interviews with purpose-driven leaders worldwide.

6/5/18 6/5/18

HPP 45 - Upleveling Your Business, Leadership, and Life

Kevin is currently in the first phases of the Extroardinary Experiment. What is the Extraordinary Experiment? It’s a program open to anyone who wants to join - anyone who believes that living an extraordinary life is within your reach. Each week incorporates a simple challenge that is tailored specifically to you. Kevin gives us a rundown of what being extraordinary means, and how to move beyond the ordinary.

What comes to mind when you think of the word extraordinary, and what does it mean to you? Can you think of an experience you’ve had that you would call extraordinary? Kevin invites you to examine and dissect your remarkable experience, and apply those lessons to your life and business.
Kevin proposes an interesting theory – that an extraordinary message or experience is actually very simple, and very ordinary! Learn what takes it to the next level.
What is it that takes certain experiences to the next level and makes them stand out in our memories? How can we apply those lessons to our own lives? Kevin shares the story of an extraordinary experience he had with the health care system during his time caring for his mom.
As you develop your skills, talents, and abilities, what’s a stretch for you today becomes more comfortable in the future. Kevin talks about the importance of reevaluating and redefining the extraordinary for yourself.
The path to extraordinary achievement is easier to find than you might think. It’s not about what you do, but how you’re going about doing it. Kevin explains the key difference between ordinary and extraordinary performance.
If you or someone you know is interested in upleveling your business, leadership, or life, let us know! Email Kevin at kevin@higherpurposepodcast.com.

5/29/18 5/29/18

HPP Episode 44 - The Changing Face of Investing with Lisa Cooper

Kevin talks with Lisa Cooper of Figure 8 Investment Strategies, a group that brings a multicultural perspective to financial advice and investment management. Lisa describes her purpose as creating positive social change through business. Business is potentially a really powerful tool – it’s all about learning how to use it to create positive change. Figure 8 helps people meet their financial goals, while using their investments to positively impact others.

Lisa tells the story of how a group of nuns helped her start her career, and what it was like getting into investing with purpose at a time when socially conscious business wasn’t a very common idea.
Lisa describes her purpose as creating positive social change through business. Business is potentially a really powerful tool – it’s all about learning how to use it to create positive change. Figure 8 helps people meet their financial goals, while using their investments to positively impact others.
What does it mean for a workplace to be intentionally diverse? And what are the benefits of that for a business or investing group? Lisa shares how diversity has helped Figure 8 refine and achieve their impact.
Some firms use an “asset test” – a minimum asset level for clients of the firm. Figure 8 strives to help everyone with their investments – not just the 1%.
How could a refugee support organization turn into a financial investment group? Lisa tells the story of her past working with refugees, and how bringing those voices onto her team has improved Figure 8’s global perspective.
The risk of not doing something is often not weighed in our decision-making process. We think, “what if I do this and I fail?” without considering the negative impact of not trying at all. Lisa shares some words of inspiration for people starting out on a new business, project or enterprise.
To learn more about Figure 8, go to https://figure8investing.com.
If you or someone you know is interested in bringing the benefits of impact investing to your enterprise, let us know! Email Kevin at kevin@higherpurposepodcast.com.

5/22/18 5/22/18

HPP Episode 43 - Shaping Your Legacy with Tom Ziglar

Kevin sits down for a rich and inspiring conversation with Tom Ziglar, of Ziglar Inc. Tom was the President and CEO of Ziglar until eight years ago, when he began speaking and motivating others to change their lives. Tom and Kevin discuss how to live life on purpose, without regret.

Tom Ziglar sets the bar high. Whenever he interacts with someone, he says, his aim is to help them become the person that God created them to be – the ideal version of themselves. Tom shares his personal journey to find his purpose.
What is the key to not regretting the decisions you’ve made and the things you’ve done in life? Tom says the secret is giving it everything you’ve got, and being aware of the open doors as they come along.
We all experience anxieties and challenges we need to overcome in living our purpose. Zig Ziglar, Tom’s dad, always told his kids: do whatever you want in life, but whatever you do, do it it with 100% integrity and 100% effort. Tom discusses how to take this message and live its truth, and what that meant for him in overcoming his doubts and anxieties around speaking.
We’re all leaving a legacy. The question is, is it by design, or by chance? It’s ordinary to make a choice. It’s a bit extraordinary to make an intentional choice. And it’s extremely extraordinary to make a series of right choices, on a regular basis. Tom discusses your legacy, and how you can make the right choices.
What’s worse than not setting a goal? The answer is a bit surprising – it’s actually worse to set the wrong goal, and achieve it. Tom discusses the importance of defining success for yourself, not according to social expectations or the definitions of others.
You are what you are and where you are becaushttps://www.facebook.com/groups/HigherPurposeCommunity/e of what’s gone into your mind. What’s your input, and how do you control it? You can change what you are and where you are by changing your input.
Find out more about Tom and Ziglar Inc. at www.ziglar.com, and you can reach Tom at tom@ziglar.com.
If you or someone you know is interested in bringing the benefits of designing your legacy to your enterprise, let us know! Email Kevin at kevin@higherpurposepodcast.com.

Network, Share Ideas, and GrowReady to connect to other purpose powered people like yourself, so you can network, share ideas, and grow together? Join us at in the Higher Purpose Community on Facebook for conversation, extra content, and access to Kevin. If you want to replace ordinary outcomes with extraordinary results, click here to learn more about the Extraordinary Experiment for Business.

5/15/18 5/15/18

HPP Episode 42 - Writing Your Own Story with Cyndee Lake

Cyndee Lake says her purpose is helping other people become their best selves. Cyndee is the Chief Purpose Officer of Blank Page, a company that helps people connect to their purpose through designing meaningful experiences and creating the space to have big conversations. Your purpose defines your priorities, and your priorities determine what actions you actually take. Cyndee and Kevin unpack the philosophy behind Blank Page.How do we give the very substantial amount of time we spend at work meaning? Cyndee shares her story of changing paths, from climbing the corporate ladder and seeking success through traditional routes, to realizing that a purposeful life means helping others.Blank page helps people write their own stories, their own ways. We all have the permission to turn the page and craft a story that has meaning, that we’re excited about – Cyndee talks about how empowering it can be for people to reclaim authorship of their own story.Do you think just six words could change your approach to your work? Cyndee shares the six words that she sees as guiding her in helping people become their best selves and be more purpose-centred in their work and lives.Your purpose, whether you like it or not, drives the decisions and choices that you make every day. Whether you’re owning that and making it a public, visible statement, it’s there somewhere. It’s reflected in how you choose to show up and how you choose to lead your organization. It may even show up in the work you choose to prioritize. By allowing yourself to own that, it will give you and your team more choice in how you choose to do great work.The extraordinary is within the reach of all of us, and it’s often by doing something ordinary with just a slightly different focus that we achieve that. Cyndee offers advice to business leaders and owners who are pondering how to better integrate their personal and professional purpose.Cyndee discusses the links between leadership, listening, compassion, and care. How can leaders harness the power of listening to help the people we serve become more inspired and engaged?If you or someone you know is interested in bringing the benefits of writing your own story to your enterprise, let us know! Email Kevin at kevin@kevindmonroe.comBring Something Extraordinary to Your BusinessIf you have or work for a company, and you want to develop your leadership team, inspire your employees or find new ways to delight your customers, then I invite you to learn about the Extraordinary Experiment for Business.

5/8/18 5/8/18

HPP Episode 41 - Find a Way to Say Yes With James Boettcher

When James Boettcher was just starting out as a young entrepreneur, the new business he had just bought burned to the ground right before opening day – after he had already invested all of his loan money in renovations. That was Fiasco Gelato, a now-thriving purpose-driven enterprise. James explains how he persevered to bring Fiasco to where it is today, and the benefits of Fiasco’s flexible and humanistic workplace culture.

James says Fiasco Gelato isn’t really a gelato company, even though they do make delicious desserts. Kevin and James discuss purpose and how entrepreneurs can build something bigger than themselves for their communities.
It’s the little things that matter in creating a purposeful workplace culture – and you never know what little thing is going to matter most, to whom, when. James shares some of the not-so-little things that Fiasco Gelato does, from providing every employee with free lunch every day, to running a breakfast program for schoolchildren in the community, to simply making sure the employees have good coffee to drink!
Have you ever heard of a business where employees are free to leave at any time if something comes up in their personal lives? What about a business where employees still get paid, even if they go travelling in Europe for six weeks? Kevin and James discuss how employees are treated differently at Fiasco, and how a flexible and understanding philosophy allows workers and enterprise to thrive together.
James has a saying – “find a way to yes.” People often find reasons not to do things, or reasons why things are impossible. James says that we need to focus on finding a way we can say yes instead.
“Workplace culture” is a buzzword these days – but what does it mean? James says it is the DNA of your organization – what your organization does when no one is looking. He shares some of the specific things Fiasco does differently.
For more information about Fiasco or to hear more from James, follow @jamesboettcher on Twitter, @fiascogelato on Instagram, or visit www.fiascogelato.ca.
If you or someone you know is interested in bringing the benefits of innovative workplace culture to your enterprise, let us know! Email Kevin at kevin@higherpurposepodcast.com.

5/1/18 5/1/18

HPP Episode 40 - Inside Look at the Profiles of Purpose in Business

Forty episodes, that’s nine months of podcasting - it’s been quite a journey! Kevin talks about some of the biggest things he’s learned along the way, first among those is that if he had waited for clarity before starting the podcast, he’d never have started it! Join Kevin for some heart-touching stories from his listeners, and also for a sneak peek of what’s coming in the next few weeks.

You can’t steer a parked car. If you’ve been listening to the podcast, you’ve heard Kevin say it over and over again. In fact, the Higher Purpose Podcast is living, breathing proof of it. It’s action that brings clarity.
Our focus the last few weeks has been on the Profiles of Purpose in Business. We set out to interview 12 different business leaders who are living and working with purpose. Kevin reveals some of the most impactful episodes he’s done so far, starting with Gary Adamson.
Gary and Kevin delved into the meaning and actualization of transformation. It’s one of the most profound things we can experience, and not often something you expect to see in your workplace. In fact, companies around the globe are transforming into a force for change. Kevin shares how it’s happening.
This podcast is a vehicle for connection, conversation, innovation, and action. Kevin shares some touching stories of the people he’s met since starting, and how his listeners and fans have connected with each other in surprising ways.
Kevin lists some of the upcoming episodes in the Profiles of Purpose in Business and the stellar guests that are lined up. Make sure to make a note of the episodes and check back! (Or head over to the websitewhere you can be notified automatically!)

Have you missed any of the Profiles of Purpose Episodes? Listen to them all on Kevin’s site!

4/24/18 4/24/18

HPP Episode 39 - Zingerman's and Beyond with Ari Weinzweig

Ari Weinzweig opened Zingerman’s Deli in Ann Arbor, Michigan 36 years ago with one business partner and 2 employees. Now Zingerman’s has grown to include 700 employees, the original deli, a bakery, a candy manufactory, a Korean restaurant, a coffee company, a roadhouse, a mail order company, and a leadership training enterprise. Kevin sits down to talk to Ari about the special culture and philosophy at Zingerman’s that has allowed the enterprise to thrive.

What is purpose, and what does it mean to start a purpose-driven business? The answer is simple, really. When you set out to be really good at something, provide a great experience, and take care of people, you’re already engaged in purposeful work.
Modern economic theory normally says that people will always act in self-interest, but it doesn’t have to be like that – in fact, mutual aid might be better for your business and for your soul! Ari talks about the idea of mutual aid and how Zingerman’s incorporates this approach into how they do business.
People who have hope perform better and are happier than those without. How can you can foster hope and train people to have hope in your business? Ari talks about the 6 things that are necessary to have and encourage hope.
How do you define success? Ari talks about success as owning your own life and coming closer to living your vision of your life.
Want to see Zingerman’s in action? Watch the short documentary “What is Zingerman’s Anyway?”
You can hear more from Ari by reading his series of books about management and leadership, including his most recent book, The Power of Beliefs in Business.
If you or someone you know is interested in bringing the benefits of mutual aid and fostering hope to your enterprise, let us know! Email Kevin at kevin@higherpurposepodcast.com

Network, Share Ideas, and GrowReady to connect to other purpose powered people like yourself, so you can network, share ideas, and grow together? Join us at the Higher Purpose Community on Facebook for conversation, extra content, and access to Kevin.

4/17/18 4/17/18

HPP Episode 38 - Social Enterprise with Russ Stoddard

Kevin sits down with Russ Stoddard, founder of Oliver Russell, a consulting business that is all about creating social and environmental impact. Oliver Russell focuses on four core values: social responsibility, creativity, collaboration, and moving forward by embracing change.

The world is starting to change for the better as more and more people become aware of social and environmental issues. Kevin sits down with Russ to talk about the role of business in making the world a better place.
Have you ever heard the claim that business and environmental responsibility are incompatible? Well, it’s just not true – Oliver Russell is a public benefit corporation that creates social benefit in the same way that you might create financial profit. Russ explains how this category of company creates new forms of social and legal accountability in business.
It’s not about being the best company in the world – it’s about being the type of company that creates the best change for the world. From Patagonia to Ben & Jerry’s, companies all over the world are changing their corporate governance to be more socially accountable.
What happens when you make financial profit a by-product, and not the central goal, of being in business? Russ talks about the importance of doing good in defining your purpose.
We can define purpose in different ways – mastery of skills, serving the community, or helping someone beyond yourself. Once you’ve experienced purpose in a job that provides more than a paycheck, you’ll never go back.
If you or someone you know is interested in bringing the benefits of social and environmental consciousness to your enterprise, let us know! Email Kevin at kevin@higherpurposepodcast.com.

Network, Share Ideas, and GrowReady to connect to other purpose powered people like yourself, so you can network, share ideas, and grow together? Join us in the Higher Purpose Community on Facebook for conversation, extra content, and access to Kevin. You can also download the Purpose Manifesto if you're looking for a wakeup call about being aligned with your purpose at work as well as in your life.

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