In his 1937 book Think and Grow Rich, author Napoleon Hill breaks down six steps leaders can take to increase their wealth and success. After reading his book, I knew I had to talk to someone who could take his classic advice and turn it into lessons for modern manufacturing leaders—and I knew Ann McNeill would be just the person! Ann is the president of MCO Construction Services and MCO Consulting, and the founder of the National Association of Black Women in Construction. She’s also an accomplished public speaker and the founder of the International Mastermind Association, which helps professionals with goal setting and financial empowerment. In this podcast, Ann highlights some of the key aspects of Think and Grow Rich, plus shares stories and tips for using Hill’s steps for success in everyday life. 2:13 – “Niche to be rich” 2:30 – To become rich, you have to start with the right mindset 3:00 – Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill is a great book on this subject 3:30 – In his book, Hill shares six steps and questions for success. 3:37 – How much money do you want to make? What are you going to do to make that money? What date do you want to have that money by? 4:00 – Create an affirmative statement to help find success, then say this statement to yourself twice a day 5:00 – Accountability is key to success 5:43 – “A confused mind makes no decisions.” 8:00 – What about people who don’t care about the money, but simply want to add value or serve others? 9:00 – Without money, you can’t fuel your passions 10:00 – You can’t just start a fire! First, you need to add the fuel and wood 11:40 – If you give, you will get back 14:00 – Think and Grow Rich includes some great stories to highlight the lessons in this podcast 16:30 – If you want to be rich and successful, you must be clear about your mindset and purpose 18:00 – You can train your brain and set yourself up for positive outcomes 21:00 – The path to riches and success isn’t always easy or perfect Connect with Ann McNeill If you’d like additional resources on the steps outlined in Think and Grow Rich, text “Ann” to 55678. Website  

When it comes to improving diversity and inclusion in your manufacturing workplace, it’s not always an easy road! Creating a more diverse environment can mean having difficult conversations—with yourself and others—about issues like unconscious bias, unintentional divides, and how employees with different views can support each other. Luckily, Reggie Davis is here to help! Reggie is the founder and CEO of Uplift Coaching and Consulting, where he helps organizations improve equity and promote unity. In this powerful and candid podcast, he breaks down some of the common diversity issues that organizations face. He also shares his own stories about bias and growth, offering valuable insights to help manufacturing leaders create more harmonious workplaces. 0:45 – We previously talked about unconscious bias with Michelle Maldanado in Episode 22 1:30 – When companies didn’t keep up with changing technology, they ended up failing or going out of business – the same thing can be said about diversity and inclusion 2:30 – Many organizations have conversations about diversity, but don’t fully or authentically embrace it 3:13 – Don’t be all talk and not action! 4:25 – It’s a human instinct to be defensive when challenged or corrected 5:18 – How can people bring their “full selves” to the workplace? 6:00 – In an ideal workplace, a very conversative person and a very progressive person should be able to work in harmony, despite their different views 7:05 – Starting conversations about diversity and differences in the workplace can be awkward 10:21 – “What’s from the heart reaches the heart” 13:07 – Questions are a great way to start productive conversations 16:35 – Many people want growth, but don’t know where to begin 18:22 – Diversity and inclusion start at the “roots” of your organization 21:40 – Approach difficult conversations with intention and trust Connect with Reggie Davis: [email protected] (901)483-7199  

In manufacturing, so much revolves around our brains. How we use our brain (and how well we take care of it!) can have a huge impact on many factors on the manufacturing floor, from how we communicate with our teams to how we budget our time. To gain a better understanding of the brain’s role in leadership, I welcomed Dr. John B. Molidor onto the podcast! Dr. John is the CEO and president of the Brain Based Leadership Institute and professor emeritus at Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine. In this episode, he shares some key details about brain structure and why people act the way they do, plus offers a few ways leaders can utilize a better understanding of brain power to help motivate, inspire, and empower others in their organization. 1:00 – Brains don’t fully form until we turn 25, so people from younger generations may have different ways of responding and behaving than older generations 2:42 – The main function of the brain is regulating energy 3:15 – Given a choice, your brain will focus on tasks that don’t expend a ton of energy 5:00 – To better help people understand and remember what you say, start with the big picture first, then move onto the details 6:17 – Your brain loves water, so stay hydrated! 6:56 – Later in the day, be mindful of the fact that people’s brains are trying to maintain their energy 9:15 – Help people understand the “why” behind your statements 10:40 – When assigning tasks to someone, try not to give them too many things at once 10:57 – If someone has a lot of tasks, they will probably focus on the easiest ones first 12:28 – Rewards and rest are important 13:51 – The brain is unique because it’s the only organ that can rewire itself 17:16 – Tell people which tasks you want them to focus on first, and what order you want them to accomplish the tasks in to help them prioritize 20:00 – Avoid “by the way” tasks thrown in with the others 21:02 – Set others by for success 24:00 – Brains are very predictive 27:00 – Culture often separates the head and the heart Contact John: Email  

Stuff, things, literally, simply . . . how often do you use these words when communicating with your team? “Naughty words” like these might be popping up in your speaking more often than you think, as I quickly learned during this week’s podcast with Patricia Fripp! As an executive speech coach, Hall of Fame keynote speaker, and the first female president of the National Speakers Association, Patricia knows all the secrets for how manufacturing leaders can improve their speaking skills and find the magic words for inspiring action, creating well-crafted communications, and showcasing the best possible version of themselves and their organization. 0:45 – The best manufacturing leaders are the ones with the best communication 5:45 - “7% is what you say, 30% is how you say it, and 55% is how you look” – is there any truth to this? 8:00 - If your words are well crafted and well-delivered, you can change your organization 8:11 – In a busy industry like manufacturing, it can be easy to lose sight of the importance of words in our everyday lives 8:22 – When there’s a miscommunication, leaders might assume the other person just didn’t understand, but it’s often an issue with words and phrasing 8:36 – “Stuff” is a rubbish word 9:00 – By being specific with your word choices, you inspire confidence and build credibility 10:00 – “If it weren’t a thing, what would it be?” Use specific words to replace unclear words like stuff or things 10:30 – Specific communication is especially important when you’re speaking to someone who doesn’t speak English as their first language 11:57 – If it’s not fruit, it’s not a bunch! Use numbers and specifics instead 13:16 – When possible, use shorter sentences to communicate and keep your communications to one idea per sentence 13:40 – Speak with the aim of being remembered and repeated 14:20 – By taking a pause, you give yourself a chance to breathe and allow the other person time to process 15:11 – “Literally” and “simply” are also naughty words! 18:48 – To improve your communications, record yourself and listen to the words you frequently use 21:00 – Depending on their background and culture, people may express themselves differently 22:00 - To inspire commitment and quality, ask them if their work would be good enough to sell to their own mother 23:00 – Ask as an advocate for your audience 24:52 – Every leader needs to show the person they are beyond their position Connect with Patricia Fripp Website Fripp VT

With the rise of artificial intelligence and new types of technology coming out every year, the manufacturing industry could be on the verge of some big changes—and the technology hub of San Francisco could be at the center of it all. That’s why I’m so excited to have my friend and San Francisco-based executive coach Michael Neuendorff on this week’s podcast. Michael is the president of Bay Area Executive Coach, and brings some great insights on how manufacturing industry leaders can learn from others, improve their collaborative mindsets, and ask the right questions for reaching creative, actionable solutions. 00:30 – “Seek to understand, then to be understood.” – Stephen Covey 2:48 – To stay curious in the workplace, adopt a “student’s mind” 3:09 – Even if it’s your tenth or twentieth year on the job, there is still something you can learn today 3:27 – As long as you stay curious, you can learn from anyone—even someone who you previously thought you couldn’t learn anything from 4:29 – Due to the rise of AI and other emerging technology, manufacturing could be in for some big and unique changes, and we need to prepare for that 5:40 – If you don’t know what didn’t work in the past, it’s harder to prepare for the future 5:45 – Work with people to find solutions, instead of just telling them what to do 6:13 – If someone is consistently told what to do, they can click off the part of their brain that focuses on understanding and problem-solving 6:58 – By staying curious, we can better work with others to find creative, productive outcomes 7:21 – Ask how you can invest in others 9:23 – If people feel like you believe in them, they’re more likely to rise to the occasion 10:18 – To ask questions that foster creativity and collaboration, consider your audience – are you talking to your peers at a leadership level, or someone a few levels below you? 11:14 – Be open to new and different perspectives 12:59 – Look back at your last 30 days. How have you tackled problems? What can you do differently in the next 30 days? 13:56 – When talking to others or setting meetings, consider the time of day. For example, some people may be at their best in the mornings when they’re feeling fresh and energized 20:55 – Believe in the power of collective idea generation 21:53 – By building stronger relationships, you can build more trust and engagement levels will increase Connect with Michael Neuendorff: Website for executive coaching Website for executive coach training LinkedIn

At Empowered Electric in Kanas City, Missouri, it’s all about people! That’s why I was so excited to welcome Empowered Electric CEO Josh Levin onto the podcast to talk about all the unique and amazing ways he puts his people over profit. In this high-energy conversation, Josh talks about how leaders in the construction industry and beyond can practice accountability, harness their passion, and focus on their organization’s culture to create an environment that encourages their team to show up. 0:37 – In some organizations, people are treated like batteries, which can be easily used and quickly replaced 2:04 – How can we shift our mindsets to focus on people over profit? 2:40 – If your team members don’t feel valued, they aren’t going to show up and do their best work 4:30 – Your employees, their needs, and their lives outside of work should matter to you as a leader 5:37 – Regular, thoughtful employee evaluations are a great way to show effort and retain employees 6:46 – Being the leader doesn’t mean you have to be the voice or face of the entire organization 9:17 – Even if your business has a great brand, you can’t thrive unless you have good culture 13:26 – Accountability and honest dialogue are an important part of building trust and relationships 14:45 – To improve, study the behavior of successful people—and pay attention to the behavior of non-successful people, too 20:18 – Remember that employees may have motives for showing up beyond simply loving your company, like needing to support their families 22:48 – As a leader, keep your “passion tank” filled 26:00 – Invest in your employees, especially those who are willing to put in the work 25:55 – “There’s never a traffic jam on the extra mile.” 28:10 – Someone’s past doesn’t have to dictate their future Connect with Josh Levin: To learn more about Empowered Electric, visit their website.

Welcome to part two of my podcast with my father Ziggy Blondeel and his long-term team member Ronny Ledoux, who are sharing the stories and secrets they’ve learned over the many years they’ve worked together at Ziggy’s business, Blondeel Nursery. In this continuation of their conversation, Ronny and Ziggy talk more about they’ve built and maintained a successful connection, plus share how leaders across all industries can use trust and respect to create positive, productive workplaces where employees want to do their best possible work. 2:05 – When an issue arises, approach it with calmness 3:14 – Think about the whole team when making big decisions 3:42 – When your treat your employees with trust and respect, they will treat you in the same way 6:22 – Leaders can create workplace environments where employees want to do their best possible work 8:00 – When a leader sets a positive example, it rubs off on everyone 10:17 – You get what you give 13:05 – How you make people feel has an impact on how they show up and engage 19:20 – When hiring a new employee, you can usually tell right away if they’ll be a good fit or not 20:44 – Make your best attempts to get along with other people, especially your team members  

A great working relationship can last a lifetime! Just ask my father Ziggy Blondeel and Ronny Ledoux, the guests of this week’s podcast. Ronny has been an employee with Ziggy’s nursery business for over 40 years, and the two of them came onto the podcast to share the lessons they’ve learned together about handling conflict, building respect, and creating long-lasting connections. 2:30 – What can leaders do to retain their employees for a long time? 3:25 – Respect plays a big role in building strong relationships 4:30 – In times of disagreement, look for common ground 8:40 – It’s important to think about long-term resolutions when settling disagreements 10:50 – Leaders can learn more about their employees by doing the work – to find out the problem, you have to be on the job 13:45 – There are ways to express emotions and handle conflict without losing your temper or tearing other people down 15:54 – Learn the difference between disagreement and disrespect 17:50 – Don’t be afraid to take time to pause when needed to handle a conflict 22:23 – Take care of your people and you’ll build productive, respectful relationships

During a recent visit to Kearney, Nebraska, I had the pleasure of staying at a property run by Younes Hospitality, where I observed how friendly and motivated all the staff members were, from the housekeeping staff to the employees at the front desk. To learn more about this positive environment, I spoke with owner Paul Younes, who shared some amazing insights about fostering employee relationships, creating a supportive workplace, and how leaders can learn to really treat their employees like family. 1:00 – The manufacturing industry can learn a lot from the hospital industry 1:20 – When everyone on the team is happy, customers, clients, and others can tell 3:18 – To cut down on retention issue, create a great environment for your employees 4:20 – You’re only as good as your employees 5:25 – Without great team members, a leader can’t thrive and succeed 7:00 – It’s important to use empathy and understand that all employees have different needs 10:29 – It’s simple: respect others and they will respect you 11:50 – In both manufacturing and hospitality, a little connection can go a long way 13:30 – Opportunities for career advancement help to draw in new employees, especially young employees 15:25 – Take care of “your people” in the best way you can Connect with Younes Hospitality: Website Careers

As a manufacturing leader, you’ve probably had emotional times where you’ve felt “stretched” like a rubber band. In this podcast, corporate energy expert Kathy Parry joins me to talk about why the stretch doesn’t have to be a negative thing. Using her background in both business and wellness, Kathy shares her favorite tips for how leaders and their team members can handle conflict, improve their communications, and learn when to take a step back instead of blowing up or burning out. She also shares more about how times of tension can encourage leaders to embrace their own resilience. 1:20 – Resilience is how we bounce back and grow 1:29 – We need that “stretch” in our lives to keep us moving forward 2:03 – Everyone has different reactions and it’s important to honor that 2:32 – Knowing how people are going to react in different situations can make for great team building 3:04 – Differences in reactions can be handled through honest and efficient communications 6:32 – If emotions are trivialized or not respected, it can lead to retention and motivation issues 7:16 – Lack of emotional support in the workplace often leads to mental health issues or problems outside of work 11:02 – To create productive conversations, you may have to reframe things 12:47 – When needed, it’s okay to take a step back. Pauses have power! 13:07 – If there’s an issue, taken time to process and reframe instead of steamrolling ahead 17:17 – When people are overly emotional or don’t take a pause, it leads to low productivity and safety issues 19:46 – In times of “stretch” and challenges, there are opportunities for growth and energy 23:10 – Sometimes, tension can create energy Connect with Kathy Parry: Website