Summary

In this conversation, Marques Colston, a former NFL player transitioned to leading the boardroom playbook, dives into the dynamic world of sports and business ventures. Marques discuss his innovative investments in the sports value chain, including sports medicine, technology, and fan engagement. The conversation covers Marque's insights on the socioeconomic impact around stadiums, the rising popularity of lacrosse, and his hands-on approach to parenting. He also opens up about coaching his son's football team and the importance of instilling resilience in his children.

Marques also shares his football crossover strategy to finding sustainable and scalable investments, his philosophy on team dynamics, and the challenges athletes face when transitioning from professional sports. From founding Champion Venture Partners to raising a $100 million fund, Marques Colston's story is a testament to innovation and resilience.

Takeaways

• Marques’ investment portfolio focuses on the sports value chain.
• From athlete to investor, Marques seamlessly transitioned from the field to venture capitalism.
• Marques introduces his three levels of awareness—self, peripheral, and situational.
• Understanding team dynamics and individual roles can maximise collective performance.
• A focus on democratising investments, making it more accessible for others.
• Marques shares his parenting approach to build resilience.

Chapters

(00:00) From Football Field to Business Strategy with Marques Colston.

(03:43) Run down of Marques Colston’s 10-year football career.

(06:13) Introducing Champion Venture Partners, a fund that invests in sports companies.

(07:00) Democratising private investments for average investors.

(12:51) Humble beginnings and embracing challenges to strengthen growth.

(14:37) Sports teach resilience and self-awareness through adversity.

(16:59) Marques Colston’s career highlights include consistency.

(20:04) Motivation as an internal standard.

(21:50) Transitioning from professional football to next career.

(23:36) Early career investments built skills and confidence for the next steps.

(30:16) Evaluating scalability and sustainability of businesses.

(35:37) Creating access to opportunities in alternative investments.

(37:27) Changes to opportunities in the pandemic.

(40:10) Taking football team experience into executive coaching.

(45:12) Culture and leadership impact performance and rewards.

(46:06) Quick fire questions with Marques Colston.

(49:12) Book recommendations.

About Marques Colston

Marques Colston is a former NFL star now leading wins in the business field of venture capitalists. He is a Founding Partner at Champion Venture Partners, a fund dedicated to innovative investment opportunities that generate meaningful returns in the sports ecosystem.

Marquesis humble about his outstanding 10 year career as a wide receiver for New Orleans Saints. He was the Saints all time leader in receptions, receiving yards, touchdowns, and he played a key role in their super bowl victory in 2009. Since stepping off the field, he's seamlessly transitioned into the world of business applying the same Creating Separation mindset that defined his football career.

Over the last 15+ years, he has become a trusted leader in business strategy, private equity, and sports business, driving sustainable growth for companies across various sectors. He's passionate about supporting athletes in navigating the shift from professional sports to business, creating a pathway and holding the door open for those coming up behind him.

Marques wants to democratise investment capability or the ability of people to invest in early stage businesses. His current $100 million fund...

Summary

In this conversation, Minette Norman, a seasoned leader and author, explores psychological safety, leadership myths, and managers' real impact on employee wellbeing. Minette shares her journey from technical writer to leading an enormous team of 3,500 engineers at Autodesk without learning any code.

Minette has a genius way of simplifying the complex. She shares insight from her two books, The Boldly Inclusive Leadership and The Psychological Safety Playbook, giving you tangible how-to’s. Minette successfully navigated resistance to collaboration in her long-held position in Silicon Valley. From book recommendations to actionable insights for creating safe and productive work environments, this episode is packed with wisdom for aspiring leaders and curious minds alike.

Takeaways

• Debunking leadership myths and offering a model of vulnerability.
• Psychological safety fosters an environment where team members can openly ask questions, make mistakes, and share ideas without fear.
• Career pathway options for leaders and individual contributors.
• Building an inclusive workplace with the tipping point percentage.
• Offering the How-To guidance leaders are seeking.
• The importance of having an open mind in business.

Chapters

(00:00) Collaborating Ideas With An Open Mind With Minette Norman.

(03:08) Minette’s Journey From Technical Writer To Leader.

(04:59) Transforming Workspace Culture and Unify Teams.

(06:54) Overcoming Resistance To Collaborative Coding and Internal Competition.

(10:57) Importance of Yearly Summit In-Person Gathering.

(12:01) Adapting Meetings to Equalise Space & Include Quieter Individuals’ Insights.

(14:52) Reasons Behind The Boldly Inclusive Leader.

(17:36) Conceit of Leadership.

(21:47) Psychological Safety, Inclusion & Interpersonal Risk Taking.

(24:28) Co-Authoring Focused on How To Increase Psychological Safety.

(26:27) Asking For Other Points of View With An Open Mind.

(28:16) Learning From Mistakes.

(31:59) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leadership Conference.

(35:17) Overcoming Affinity Bias To Embrace Diverse Groups.

(38:49) Loneliness in the Workplace.

(41:39) Quickfire Q&A with Minette Monkhouse.

(47:02) Book Recommendations.

About Minette Norman

Minette Norman is an author, speaker, and leadership consultant who previously spent decades leading global technical teams in the software industry.

Minette has extensive experience leading internationally distributed teams and believes that when groups embrace diversity in all its forms, breakthroughs emerge, and innovation accelerates. Before starting her consultancy, her most recent position was as Vice President of Engineering Practice at Autodesk. Responsible for influencing more than 3,500 engineers around the globe, she focused on state-of-the-art engineering practices while nurturing a collaborative and inclusive culture.

​Minette is a keynote speaker on inclusive leadership, psychological safety, collaborative teams, and empathy. Named in 2017 as one of the “Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business” by the San Francisco Business Times and as “Business Role Model of the Year” in the 2018 Women in IT/Silicon Valley Awards, Minette is a recognised leader with a unique perspective.

​Minette is the author of The Boldly Inclusive Leader and the co-author of The Psychological Safety Playbook.

Minette holds degrees in Drama and French from Tufts University and studied at the Sorbonne Nouvelle in Paris.

Follow Minette Norman

Website: https://www.minettenorman.com/

LinkedIn:

Summary

In this conversation, Alan Miltz, a renowned financial analysis and business strategy expert, shares insights into scaling up a business and improving its cash flow. He dives deep into the intricacies of financial management, from optimising cash flow and managing working capital to the fine art of pricing strategy.

Alan keeps the conversation simple, outlining how small 1% changes in one day can revolutionise a company's financial health. He offers his understanding of The Magic Number 200 and practical tools for improving cash flow and sustaining growth, even in challenging economic climates. Finally, Alan provides some excellent book recommendations for anyone looking to find hidden value in their business segments.

Takeaways

• Mastering the seven financial levers to enhance cash flow.
• Understand the power of incremental 1% improvements.
• Ensure your financial strategies are aligned with your bank's focus.
• Keep financial reports simple and relatable.
• Manage meetings so everyone understands the company’s story.
• Overcome the hesitation to raise prices.
• The Magic Number 200 explained simply.

Chapters

(00:00) Discussing Cash Flow, The Power of One and More With Alan Miltz

(05:13) Cash Flow Is Crucial In The Current Economy

(9:58) Seven Levers and Four Chapters In Business

(13:53) Management Team Responsibilities

(17:08) Cash Flow Burn

(20:42) Relationship of Price vs. Volume to Cash Flow and Profit

(25:37) Identifying Profit Segments Using Cash Flow Ladder

(34:12) Magic Number of 200

(38:58) Cash Flow Story Software Tool

(41:02) Book Recommendations for Improving Business

About Alan Miltz

Alan Miltz has dedicated his life to helping business leaders and everyone in their team love the numbers. Revenue is vanity, Profit is sanity and Cash is king (or queen) are usually his opening words.

Alan is a co-author of Verne Harnish’s global best-selling book Scaling Up (having written the financial component of the book).

Alan believes that running a business is like managing a sports team: Everyone needs to know the score. Every business wants to scale up its profit, cash, and value. The Power of One, developed by Alan and the team at Cash Flow Story, is your company’s code. How many 1% or 1-day changes do you need to make to achieve your desired financial results?

Everything Alan has developed has had one common theme – to make the complex simple. As a founder of Inmatrix (known as Optimist software) in 1998, which is now the global standard for over 500 banks in more than 90 countries. More recently co-founded Cash Flow Story allowing non-financial individuals to easily analyse and improve business Profit, Cash & Value. This has helped 1000’s of businesses to scale 2xProfit, 3xCash and 10xBusiness Value.

Alan has been voted best speaker in Australia for TEC (the world’s largest CEO forum) and continues to speak at many CEO conferences globally, including the CEO syndicate in Australia, Entrepreneurs Organisation, and YPO. He also sits on the boards of 15 well-recognised companies globally.

Follow Alan Miltz

• Website
• LinkedIn

Mentioned in this episode:

Get Mind Your F**king Business

Summary

In this conversation, Nick Bradley - world-renowned author, speaker, and business growth expert - shares his insights on private equity, business exits, and the common myths and mistakes entrepreneurs make when preparing to sell their businesses. He emphasises the importance of leadership, understanding the dynamics of private equity, and the need for businesses to focus on growth and valuation strategies. Nick also discusses the impact of customer concentration on business value and the transition from being a business owner to an investor. Throughout the conversation, he highlights the significance of personal growth, defining success, and the role of culture in scaling businesses. Finally, Nick offers book recommendations that can aid entrepreneurs on their journey.

Takeaways

• Common myths about exiting businesses can lead to mistakes.
• Leadership plays a vital role in business growth and scaling.
• Understanding private equity dynamics is essential for business owners.
• Valuation is influenced by both tangible and intangible assets.
• Customer concentration can significantly impact business value.
• Preparing for a successful exit requires strategic planning.
• The transition from business owner to investor can be rewarding.
• Personal growth and defining success are key to a fulfilling entrepreneurial journey.

Chapters

(00:00) The Importance of Recording Interviews

(02:57) Navigating Private Equity and Exits

(05:56) Common Myths and Mistakes in Exiting Businesses

(08:53) The Role of Leadership in Business Growth

(12:00) Understanding Private Equity Dynamics

(15:06) Valuation and Growth Strategies for Businesses

(18:03) The Impact of Customer Concentration on Value

(21:01) Preparing for a Successful Exit

(24:04) The Transition from Business Owner to Investor

(27:00) The Evolution of Business Owners

(29:56) The Role of Culture in Scaling Businesses

(32:50) Defining Success and Personal Growth

(35:52) The Next Act After Exiting a Business

(38:59) Book Recommendations for Entrepreneurs

(42:07) Quickfire Questions with Nick Bradley

Mentioned in this episode:

Get Mind Your F**king Business

Summary

In this conversation, Jade Green discusses sustainable business growth through effective recruitment strategies. She emphasises the importance of understanding client needs, creating attractive job descriptions, and nurturing new hires. The discussion also covers the significance of company culture, purpose, and values in attracting and retaining top talent. Jade shares insights on the war for talent, interviewing techniques, and the ideal recruitment process, along with recommended readings for further understanding of these concepts.

Takeaways

• Sustainable business growth requires fixing people problems.
• There is always a war for A-plus players in the job market.
• Understanding the job to be done is crucial for recruitment.
• Selling the opportunity to candidates is essential.
• Culture is caught, not taught; leaders must model desired behaviors.
• What you permit in your organisation, you promote.
• Nurturing new hires is key to their success and retention.
• Defining purpose, mission, and values helps attract the right talent.
• An attractive employer brand is vital for recruitment success.
• Effective interviewing techniques can reveal a candidate's true potential.

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction to Sustainable Business Growth

(02:53) The War for Talent

(05:47) Understanding Client Needs in Recruitment

(09:04) The Importance of Job Descriptions

(11:55) Recruitment Challenges and Solutions

(15:08) Interviewing Techniques for Success

(18:01) Creating an Attractive Employer Brand

(20:54) Executive Recruitment Strategies

(24:10) The Ideal Recruitment Process

(26:54) Nurturing New Hires

(30:03) Defining Purpose, Mission, and Values

(32:57) The Role of Culture in Recruitment

(36:10) Recommended Reading for Recruitment Success

About Jade Green

As a transformational teacher, best selling author, global speaker, and adventurer, Jade has built an international reputation as a hard-charging, rule-breaking, serial entrepreneur and high performance coach. As a certified trainer and facilitator for Mindvalley and The Genius Group (Entrepreneur Resorts/Entrepreneurs Institute/GeniusU), Jade combines world class content and methodologies with two decades of experience building businesses. Among other accolades, she has been honoured as one of StartUp Daily's Top 50 Women Entrepreneurs Under 40, received two Bronze International Stevie Awards for Women in Business, and her Search Firm, Velocity Consulting, was the very first business to receive investment from The Entourage Growth Fund.

Follow Jade Green

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Youtube
• Spotify
• X

Mentioned in this episode:

Get Mind Your F**king Business

Summary

In this conversation, Dan Pontefract discusses his journey as a leadership strategist, focusing on the importance of emotional intelligence, culture change, and the impact of nurturing curiosity within organisations. He shares insights from his experience at TELUS, where he helped transform the corporate culture and introduced innovative programs like the TELUS MBA.

The discussion emphasises the need for a unified leadership philosophy and the significance of treating employees with kindness and respect to foster a thriving workplace. In this conversation, Dominic Monkhouse reflects on the evolution of corporate culture and leadership, emphasising the importance of emotional intelligence, collaboration, and a unified purpose within organisations. He discusses the identity crises faced by companies like Starbucks and Wells Fargo, highlighting the need for leaders to foster a culture of learning and development.

Dominic also shares insights from his books and recent readings, advocating for a more human-centric approach to leadership and work-life dynamics.

Takeaways

• Emotional intelligence is crucial for effective leadership.
• Organisations often promote individuals without considering their EQ.
• Culture change requires a unified leadership philosophy.
• Learned helplessness can hinder organisational growth.
• Leaders should focus on developing their teams.
• A supportive work environment fosters collaboration and innovation.
• Work-life balance is not always achievable; it's about blooming.
• The canoe metaphor illustrates the need for aligned leadership.
• CEOs play a significant role in shaping organisational culture.
• Continuous learning is essential for personal and professional growth.

Chapters

(00:00) Building Bridges: The Journey Begins

(03:14) Leadership Strategies: Transforming Organizations

(05:54) Culture Change: Lessons from TELUS

(09:11) The Importance of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership

(11:52) Learned Helplessness: A Barrier to Growth

(14:47) Nurturing Curiosity: The Key to Engagement

(18:07) Creating a Unified Culture: The TELUS Leadership Philosophy

(20:53) Measuring Success: Engagement and Performance Metrics

(27:04) Reflecting on Leadership and Culture

(29:00) The Identity Crisis of Corporations

(31:22) The Importance of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership

(33:42) Collaboration and Constructive Conflict

(35:59) The Shift from Know-it-alls to Learn-it-alls

(39:54) The Role of Leaders in Team Development

(40:50) Exploring the Books of Dominic Monkhouse

(44:30) Navigating Work-Life Dynamics

(46:51) Recent Reads and Inspirations

(49:39) Quickfire Questions and Insights

About Dan Pontefract

Dan is an award-winning author, leadership strategist, culture change expert, and renowned keynote speaker. His books and keynotes are a great starting point for transforming your team or corporate culture into a competitive advantage.

His five books include WORK-LIFE BLOOM, LEAD. CARE. WIN., OPEN TO THINK, THE PURPOSE EFFECT, and FLAT ARMY.

WORK-LIFE BLOOM won the 2024 Axiom Business Book Gold Medal in the Leadership Category and is one of the Thinkers50 Top New Management Books for 2024.

LEAD. CARE. WIN. won the 2022 Nautilus Book Awards Silver Medal in the Leadership/Business category. It was a short-list finalist for the 2021 getAbstract International Book of the Year.

OPEN TO THINK won the 2019 getAbstract International Book of the Year and the 2019 Axiom Business Book Silver Medal winner in the Leadership Category.

Dan has presented at four different TED events and also writes for Forbes and Harvard Business Review.

Previously as Chief Envisioner and Chief Learning...

Summary

In this conversation, Dominic Monkhouse and Ben Arendt, author of 'How to Suck Less as a Manager: A Practical Guide to Making Your Team Less Miserable Today', discuss the challenges and nuances of effective management and leadership. They explore the importance of understanding team members, adapting to change, and fostering a culture of trust and autonomy. The discussion also touches on the impact of leadership on employee wellbeing, the significance of company values, and the lessons learned from both good and bad management experiences. Arant advocates for a more empathetic approach to leadership, encouraging managers to connect with their teams and prioritise mental health and engagement.

Takeaways

• Management is about continuous improvement, not perfection.
• Understanding your team's personal goals can enhance motivation.
• Mental wellbeing is crucial for productivity and engagement.
• Trust and autonomy are key to effective leadership.
• Company values should be authentic and practiced, not just stated.
• Not everyone is cut out for management roles.
• Effective communication can resolve conflicts and improve team dynamics.
• Leaders should invite skepticism and differing opinions to foster innovation.
• Self-awareness is essential for effective management.
• Leadership impacts employee wellbeing significantly.

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction to Management Insights

(03:11) The Importance of Understanding Your Team

(06:00) Adapting to Change and Mental Wellbeing

(08:52) Trust and Autonomy in Leadership

(12:13) The Role of Values in Company Culture

(15:07) Learning from Bad Management Experiences

(17:48) The Transition from Individual Contributor to Manager

(21:08) The Impact of Leadership on Wellbeing

(23:57) Effective Communication and Conflict Resolution

(27:12) Final Thoughts and Recommendations

About Ben Arendt

Ben is the author of the Amazon best-selling “How To Suck Less as a Manager: A Practical Guide to Making Your Team Less Miserable Today!” and the founder of Depth Charge Consulting.

Ben’s years in the US government, CEB, and Gartner shaped his approach to serving leaders and their organizations. Through these experiences, Ben has supported hundreds of executives around the C-Suite, empowering leaders to achieve their goals, whether double-digit growth, improved employee experiences, or successful transformation.

At Depth Charge, Ben's two main customer groups include: Development-focused executives looking to improve manager quality at their organizations

GTM leaders seeking to improve sales efficacy, messaging, and commercial acumen.

Industry/Sector Expertise: Technology (incl/ SaaS), Energy, Retail, Manufacturing, Government, Education, Healthcare, Insurance, Financial Services, Professional Services, BioTech/Pharma, Nonprofit

Mentioned in this episode:

Get Mind Your F**king Business

Summary

The conversation explores the concept of high-performing sales behaviour and the challenges faced by sales professionals in the current market. It delves into the importance of understanding buyer indecision and the four key behaviours that help overcome it. The conversation also touches on the role of persuasion in sales, the need for sellers to adapt to changing buyer behaviours, and the potential retirement of salespeople who are not effective in their roles. In this conversation, Ted McKenna and Dominic Monkhouse discuss the importance of establishing trust and expertise in the sales process. They emphasise the need for sellers to own the flow of information and demonstrate their knowledge and experience to buyers. They also explore different profiles of business developers, with the activator profile being the most successful. Ted shares his thoughts on success, the most significant risk he's taken, and the worst business advice he's received.

Takeaways

• High-performing sales behaviour is defined as the top 20% of performers in a company, and it is important to study their behaviour to replicate their success.
• Buyer indecision is a common challenge in sales, and it is driven by fears such as options overload, analysis paralysis, and fear of failure.
• Sellers should be cautious about using persuasion techniques when buyers are indecisive, as it can backfire and make the situation worse.
• To help buyers overcome indecision, sellers should focus on understanding the depth of indecision, making firm recommendations, limiting excessive exploration, and managing risk.
• The sales profession needs to evolve and keep pace with changing buyer behaviours and preferences.
• There is still a need for salespeople, as buyers rely on them for guidance, assurance, and personalised recommendations. Establishing trust and expertise is crucial in the sales process.
• Sellers should own the flow of information and demonstrate their knowledge and experience to buyers.
• The activator profile is the most successful in business development.
• Success is measured by doing right by the people you love and finding joy in your work.
• Trying to be all things to all people is not effective in business.

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction to High-Performing Sales

(02:53) Defining High Performance in Sales

(06:04) The Role of Salespeople in Modern Buying

(09:05) Understanding Buyer Indecision

(11:48) The Jolt Effect and Overcoming Indecision

(18:00) Key Behaviors of Successful Sellers

(24:11) The Activator Advantage in Sales

(29:56) Professional Services and Selling Dynamics

(36:00) Books and Resources for Sales Professionals

(41:49) Personal Insights and Closing Thoughts

About Ted Mckenna

Ted McKenna is one of the world's leading experts in sales, business development, and customer experience and a co-author of the bestselling book The JOLT Effect: How High Performers Overcome Customer Indecision and the upcoming book The Activator Advantage: What Today's Rainmakers Do Differently (April 2025).

Mentioned in this episode:

Get Mind Your F**king Business