In this bonus episode on Confessions of a Shop Owner, Charlie tells me his story of migrating from Greece to owning a multi-location repair shop. His story is what I think of what "American Dream" is mentioned, because this dude was a hard worker, would not take no for an answer, and found a way to find a way. We can all learn something from guys like Charlie. What is one ingredient he would say made him successful? Listen and find out!01:25 – Charlie’s Early Years: From Greece to Boston at 1703:20 – The First Jobs: Gas Stations, Chasing Work, and Learning English05:43 – Launching Pleasant Car Care: Starting with Almost Nothing08:11 – Naming the Shop & Choosing a New Standard for the Industry11:11 – How Coaching Helped Charlie Think Bigger12:15 – Meeting Todd & Bill: The Crucial Lessons of Early Coaching13:31 – “Customer Pays for Everything” – A Lesson That Changed It All15:09 – Moving from Technician to True Business Owner17:23 – Why Most Shop Owners Think Too Small19:24 – The Trap of Doing Owner Work Instead of CEO Work21:04 – Why Your Time as an Owner Is Your Most Valuable Asset23:14 – How One Decision Could Make Your Shop $6 Million More24:07 – Four-Day Work Weeks, Six-Day Service: Staffing & Customer Service Debate25:52 – Letting Your Staff Choose: Four, Five, or Six Days?26:25 – The Challenge & Opportunity of Sunday Operations27:17 – Saturdays, Sundays, and Putting Customer Convenience First28:22 – Why Small Shops Can Be Super Profitable29:36 – The Power of Efficiency in Small Shops30:13 – Outro & Final Thoughts from Charlie and Mike

In this episode, we explore the power of the Sectigo Premium Wildcard SSL—an advanced solution for businesses that need to secure unlimited subdomains under a single trusted certificate. Designed for high-assurance encryption, this certificate offers strong protection, dynamic site seals, and extended validation options, helping businesses build customer trust and meet compliance standards.

His journey is a story of innovation, leadership, and community impact. As the CEO of Boyd Biomedical, Stephen’s teams have helped design, build, and launch groundbreaking biomedical solutions. But his path began much earlier, with a childhood defined by curiosity, exploration, and an entrepreneurial spirit. From his first painting business in high school to studying psychology and religion at Middlebury College, Stephen learned the value of persistence, adaptability, and collective wisdom.In this episode, Stephen reflects on his journey, sharing how his diverse experiences shaped his leadership style and his approach to building resilient communities. From his early entrepreneurial ventures, inspired by his family’s business acumen, to his college years where he balanced academics with a passion for skiing and outdoor exploration, Stephen reveals how a spirit of adventure fueled his drive to innovate.Stephen also delves into his professional evolution, from working in finance in New York City to returning to the Berkshires to take on leadership at Boyd Biomedical. He discusses the challenges and opportunities of steering a family business into the biomedical field, emphasizing the importance of building strong, collaborative teams and fostering a culture of continuous learning. His philosophy of "stronger for the experience" serves as a guiding principle, highlighting the power of growth through adversity.A key theme of the episode is Stephen’s belief in the power of collective wisdom. Stephen’s dedication to fostering collaboration across generations and industries makes this episode a thought-provoking exploration of what it takes to build lasting community impact in a world of complexity.Links:Boyd Biomedical: https://www.boydbiomedical.com/Berkshire Innovation Center: https://www.berkshireinnovationcenter.com/Narrative Research Group: https://narrativeresearchgroup.org/For more information or to share a question or insight, please email Shannon [at] narrativeresearchgroup [dot] orgProduced by Nate Christy, BIC Studios

Send us a textWhat happens when you take on 7 marathons in 7 days with barely one under your belt? Join Hannah Cox and Joel as they run, stumble, and laugh their way across 300km of wild British terrain on the iconic Coast to Coast route. Van life, foot tape, team dynamics, and total exhaustion this so-called training run turned into something much bigger.GiveStar1% For The PlanetBetter Not StopLike the Podcast? Help the project by supporting us on GofundMe & leave us a review or share with your friends, family and most loathed enemies!Get in touch at contact@projectsaltrun.com Join the Better Business Network Visit our WebsiteIn the face of unprecedented environmental challenges, Project Salt Run aims to inspire action through an extraordinary journey of transformation. Hannah Cox, a sustainability advocate with Indian heritage and a first-time runner, will undertake a life-changing challenge across India, following the historic Inland Customs Line. This colonial-era boundary enforced a devastating salt tax, causing immense suffering and millions of deaths, but has been largely forgotten from history.By retracing this route, Hannah seeks to honour its legacy and transform its meaning, inviting others to discover their own version of extraordinary. This journey is not about guarantees of success—Hannah faces the real possibility of failure—but it’s a powerful reminder that taking bold steps, even in uncertainty, can inspire meaningful change.The ChallengePartnering with Givestar, Hannah will run 100 marathons in 100 days, covering 4,200 km, to raise £1,000,000 for 1% for the Planet. This journey is a powerful testament to the potential within all of us to make a real difference.Want to get involved in Project Salt Run? Shoot us a message at contact@projectsaltrun.com we would love to hear from you!(You may notice a change in the episode countdown. Due to a miscalculation, the numbering has been corrected to reflect the accurate episode order. Sorry for any confusion!)

Elizabeth Sheinkman joins Stephanie to chat about how she went from turning her passion for reading and writing into her profession of being a Literary Agent. Elizabeth is a native New Yorker whose publishing career has spanned both sides of the Atlantic. She worked within the US editorial department of Oxford University Press and Alfred A. Knopf before joining the Elaine Markson Literary Agency in 1996. In 2004, she moved to London to set up and run their UK office before joining Curtis Brown in 2006 as a Senior Agent and Director, where she continued to represent the Markson Agency in the UK and further develop her own list. In 2012, she moved to WME, representing a broad range of award-winning and best-selling authors, including works of literary fiction, biography, journalism and cultural history. Elizabeth is on the Creative Council of the Aspen Institute’s Summer Words Festival; has served on the faculty of the Breadloaf Writers’ Conference in Middlebury, Vermont; and has been a featured speaker at the University of East Anglia MFA writing program, the Oxford Summer Books Program, and Trinity College Dublin.Elizabeth can be found working at Peters, Fraser and Dunlop. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Policing is a complex system that requires strong leadership. To effectively guide their organizations, police leaders must create a shared vision of organizational purpose and values that align with community needs and expectations. This can be achieved by engaging with the community, involving officers and staff in discussions, and conducting internal analysis to ensure alignment with the purpose and values. This will lead to a culture of trust and confidence in the department and its leadership, creating a sustainable and effective policing model for the future. To learn more about the Future Policing Institute visit us at futurepolicing.org.

Send us a textIs your AI being too nice?In this episode, I unpack the recent backlash against OpenAI after an update reportedly turned ChatGPT into a sycophantic yes-man—agreeing with everything from quitting your job to harming animals. Following user complaints, OpenAI rolled back the update and admitted the model had become “overly supportive [and] disingenuous.” If you’re using AI in your work—or plan to—you need to hear this. Need More Support? If you’re ready to explore how AI can make your marketing smarter and more efficient, check out my Professional Diploma in AI for Marketers. Or, if you’re looking for in-company training, I can help get your team up to speed. Use the code AISIX10 for a special discount just for podcast listeners. https://publicsectormarketingpros.com

Welcome back to Drop the Act, the podcast brought to you by Performing Perfectly, where we explore the power of communication, presence, and performance in leadership. Hosted by Christopher Key, this show draws from the worlds of theatre, aviation, sport, and business to reveal what it really takes to perform when it matters most. In Part 2 of this episode, Chris is joined by Daniel Lowes, former Red Arrows pilot and RAF Qualified Weapons Instructor. Strap in for an intense, inspiring conversation about leadership in high-stakes environments, the role of trust and communication in elite performance, and what business leaders can learn from one of the most precise teams on the planet. 🎧 What You'll Learn: How the Red Arrows use tone and timing for split-second decisions Why communication isn’t optional—it's life or death What business teams can learn from military preparation and debriefs The power of visual signals and body language How Daniel mentally prepared to fly at 1,300 mph, 250 ft off the ground Why self-belief and ego (in the right measure) are essential to performance 👨‍✈️ About Daniel Lowes: Daniel is a former Red Arrows pilot and RAF Qualified Weapons Instructor who served for over 16 years. His experience spans global combat training missions, elite-level aerobatics, and the kind of trust-driven teamwork that only exists at 700 mph in tight formation. Connect with Dan Lowes: 🌐 Website: www.daniellowes.co.uk 📸 Instagram: @daniel.lowes 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/daniellowes 🐦 X (Twitter): @Daniel_Lowes 🎭 About Christopher Key & Performing Perfectly: Christopher Key is a theatre director, communication coach, and founder of Performing Perfectly—a training company that helps business leaders improve how they connect, influence, and lead through the power of performance. Connect with Performing Perfectly: 🌐 Website: www.performingperfectly.com 📸 Instagram: @performingperfectly 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/performing-perfectly 🔁 Don’t Miss Part 2: This episode is just the beginning. In the next instalment, Chris and Dan dive even deeper into the mindset of elite performers, sharing more stories, strategies, and takeaways for anyone serious about communication and leadership. 📢 Like What You Heard? Subscribe, share, and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more leaders who need to hear what it means to Drop the Act and lead with clarity and confidence

What if home fire suppression systems could work faster, do less damage, and actually adapt to the situation? In this episode of Fire Protection Insights: The Fire Safety Podcast, host Justin Hassell is joined by Yusuf Muhammad, Co-founder and Chief Design Officer at Plumis, to talk about Automist — a water mist fire suppression system built for today’s homes. They’re also joined by Matt Fix, President of Flow Fire Protection, who shares what it’s been like to install and promote Automist across Colorado. They break down how the system works, why it detects fires more intelligently than traditional sprinklers, and how it uses 90% less water to protect homes while minimizing damage. From regulatory hurdles to smart sensor integration, this conversation covers the real-world applications of one of the most forward-thinking fire safety tools on the market today.Follow UsFacebook @FergusonOfficialInstagram @FergusonEnterprisesLinkedIn @Ferguson-EnterprisesHave Questions or Feedback?Reach out at Podcasts@Ferguson.comPresented by Ferguson Fire & Fabricationwww.Ferguson.com

In this episode, I’m opening up about a behavior I used for years that sabotaged my relationships: the silent treatment. I share how it became my go-to response in conflict, why it felt justified at the time, and the deeper emotional roots that kept me stuck in emotional childhood. Is there something that you may be weaponizing in your closest relationships? Or maybe bad behavior that you keep returning to, even if you don’t want to? In this episode, I walk you through the four steps that helped me shift into emotional adulthood – learning to walk away the right way, calm down, analyze my triggers, and verbalize my truth. If you’ve ever found yourself shutting down or stewing in silence, this one's for you.Find full show notes, episode resources, and more here.Connect with me on Instagram: @coachingwithteresia Life Lessons in Hindsight is produced by Heart Centered Podcasting.