Monday Morning Radio

The client list of corporations that Steven Gaffney and his colleagues at the Steven Gaffney Company have consulted reads like a Who’s Who of America’s best corporations, including Allstate, Amazon, American Express, Best Buy, Booz Allen, and BP.  And those are just some of the “A”s and “B”s on the roster. Steven’s expertise lies in building consistently high-achieving teams and organizations that set goals, overcome obstacles, and achieve their desired results. The founder and CEO of the eponymous consultancy, he asserts that honest communication and the right mindset will overcome most business maladies. His latest book, Unconditional Power: Thriving in Any Situation, No Matter How Frustrating, Complex, or Unpredictable, offers actionable methods to empower executives and entrepreneurs to maintain a resilient state even in the face of adversity.  It is achievement, not performance, that counts in the long term, Steven counsels. While performance covers behavior and effort, achievement is about outcomes. Th

[With this episode, we launch our 14th year delivering weekly All You Can Eat Business Wisdom. That’s more than 650 episodes — and we’re on the verge of celebrating our one-millionth download.] In two words, Johnny Molson distills what it takes for a business to soar above the ordinary in its advertising and marketing campaigns to attract and keep lifelong customers. Johnny is one of the elite global Wizard of Ads partners. Building on the groundbreaking strategies developed by the legendary Roy H. Williams, he and his fellow Wizards work individually and collectively to help businesses craft powerful brand identities and turbocharge their results. At the heart of Johnny’s method, he explains, is a sharp distinction: the difference between messaging that drives immediate sales and short-term gain — and marketing that builds and sustains long-term customer loyalty and cascading profitability. He also unpacks the proven “60/40 Rule” for marketing budgets and shares why repetition — not reach — is the real key

Are the tradeoffs that highly successful executives make — prioritizing wealth and recognition over family and a more grounded life — truly worth it? That’s the central question that prompted Butch Meily to write From Manila to Wall Street, a memoir reflecting on his time nearly 40 years ago as a close aide to the brilliant but often brash Reginald F. Lewis, the first African-American to build a billion-dollar company. Lewis was a trailblazing businessman and investor who, in the 1980s, bulldozed through racial barriers. Financier and philanthropist Michael Milken described him as “the Jackie Robinson of American business.” Although Lewis died of a brain tumor at age 50 in 1993, the actionable insights gleaned from Lewis’s business life remain relevant to this day, chief among them his motto: “Keep going no matter what.” Lewis reached extraordinary heights, bringing Meily along with him. Nevertheless, the lives of both men serve as a cautionary tale of the price each paid for their achievements. Their enduri

Like father, like son, entrepreneur Rob Kessler is a talented and ambitious business owner. His company, goTIELESS, has just passed a dozen years of marketing a brand of shirts with proprietary inserts [Million Dollar Collar] designed to be worn without ties. Rob is the son of Richard Kessler, who for 35 years reigned as the diamond engagement ring “King” in Wisconsin and was one of the very first guests this podcast showcased when it launched in June 2012. Among the insights you’ll hear listening to Rob are: Adapt or die Bet on yourself Start lean Serve obsessively Rob’s path has been different than his dad’s. You might say he’s still a diamond in the rough. Yet Rob’s experience, as he shares this week, offers a study in entrepreneurial persistence, innovation, and market adaptation. Monday Morning Radio is hosted by the father-son duo of Dean and Maxwell Rotbart. Photo: Rob Kessler, goTIELESSPosted: May 26, 2025 Monday Morning Run Time: 42:53 Episode: 13.47 POPULAR EPISODES: Kickstarter’s CTO S

After more than 15 years as an executive at Meta, eBay, and Target, Anya Cheng set out to launch her own venture, Taelor. Her company uses artificial intelligence and personalized styling to rent clothing to men who dislike shopping, but need to look put-together for professional and social occasions. As she candidly shares this week, her two-year-old company has encountered a full buffet of challenges — from limited resources, both financial and human, to the steep personal transition of relying entirely on her own judgment. Drawing from her successes and missteps, Anya offers ten actionable recommendations that every new and most established businesses should heed. Be sure to have a tablet or pen available to take notes. Above all else, Anya’s journey underscores the grit and adaptability required to build and maintain a new business in today’s startup landscape. Monday Morning Radio is hosted by the father-son duo of Dean and Maxwell Rotbart. Photo: Anya Cheng, Taelor Posted: May 19, 2025 Monday Morning R

Business owners and entrepreneurs who mess up royally might take cold comfort in Al Lewis’s Substack, BusinessBlunders.com, which regularly details the boneheaded choices and outright illegal antics of a rogues gallery of today’s and yesteryear’s CEOs and senior executives. For most readers, Al’s independent newsletter is an opportunity to learn from other people’s mistakes, which is, as he puts it, “is a lot less costly than learning from your own.” Among his recent posts is an article titled Lost In Love: Top CEOs who kissed away their jobs, featuring, among others, Kohl’s CEO Ashley Buchanan, BP CEO Bernard Looney, and McDonald’s CEO Steve Easterbrook. Al is a veteran journalist and editor, having served as business editor of the Houston Chronicle and The Denver Post, and Markets Editor at CNBC. You won’t want to miss this episode. Doing so would be a business blunder of the first order. Monday Morning Radio is hosted by the father-son duo of Dean and Maxwell Rotbart. Photo: Al Lewis, BusinessBlunders.com

Can a timber-framed cottage built in tiny Frogholt, England, in 1450 and its current occupant and owner teach 21st-century business executives and entrepreneurs valuable insights about leadership and collaboration? Absolutely. Douglas Squirrel, who goes by the mononym “Squirrel,” is a multi-decade technology trailblazer and business scale-up expert. He uses his home, Old Kent Cottage, which required extensive restoration help from plumbers, electricians, structural engineers, and thatchers, as a practical business case study in managing complexity and as a metaphor for demonstrating that those with diverse skills must collaborate harmoniously or risk structural failure.   As Squirrel explains, if the many artisans who worked on Old Kent Cottage hadn’t communicated and worked together closely, the roof would have fallen in.  It’s the same, he says, with every business. Squirrel is a proponent of using the human power of conversation to build effective, high-performing teams that lead to “insane” profits. Alon

Michael Drew is an expert at transforming big ideas into influence and income. An evangelist for powerful communication, Michael helps clients express their messages in the most compelling, persuasive, and distinctive ways possible. His favorite vehicle? Books. Since 2003, Mike and his book promotion firm, Promote A Book, have guided more than 130 titles onto major bestseller lists — including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. Moreover, Mike’s methods aren’t just for seasoned authors. He helps business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals write and publish books to fast-track their goals — from raising capital and commanding higher speaking fees to standing out in a noisy market. Another of Mike’s companies, BookRetreat.com, offers an immersive, month-long program held in Guatemala that teaches his proprietary process to produce a complete first draft of a book by the end of the retreat. Do you have big, original ideas in need of a megaphone? If so, be sure to hear the actionable insights t

When it comes to late-career transitions, Gigi Meier’s reinvention is nothing short of remarkable. After three decades in banking — reaching the boardroom level of a multi-billion-dollar Texas institution — Gigi has reinvented herself as a successful romance writer. She has self-published 16 books, some quite steamy, across three ongoing series.  The cover of her books — not for every taste — typically feature a shirtless, ripped stud and a one-word title: Paolo, or Hamilton, or Giovanni. One of Gigi’s best-selling books is her first, Tomlin, the tale of a small-town romance between a foul-mouth car restorer and a determined Judo Olympian who refuses to take no for an answer. While you might expect Gigi to draw on her extensive banking experience to fuel her publishing success, as she explains on this week’s episode, she’s discovered valuable insights as a romance publisher that would have been useful during her banking career — and they offer actionable lessons for any business or entrepreneurial venture.

At first, Maria Fraietta considered naming her organizing system the “death box.” After all, the idea for her product arose after her father passed away in January 2021, leaving Maria and her brothers to sort through their dad’s scattered files, financial accounts, bills, titles, and possessions. Eventually, Maria landed on calling her kits Nokbox — N.O.K. box — for Next of Kin. Her vision was to save others priceless hours of frustration trying to piece together the puzzle of their deceased loved one’s accounts and possessions. A high school teacher when she began, Maria invested just $50 to launch her company and ran the business from her living room with help from family and friends. Less than four years later, Maria’s company has grown into a $34 million-a-year success story.  Your homework this week is to learn valuable lessons from a teacher-turned-business-owner on this week’s episode. Monday Morning Radio is hosted by the father-son duo of Dean and Maxwell Rotbart. Photo: Maria Fraietta, NokboxPoste

One of 2024’s most popular episodes of Monday Morning Radio featured Australian author and illustrator Andrew Matthews, who, along with his wife, Julie, has built a publishing empire that has sold more than 8 million global copies of his inspirational books about happiness and resilience. Last time, Andrew focused on the uplifting messages his books convey. On this, his second appearance from Queensland, Andrew pulls back the curtain on the persistence, relationship-building, adaptability, and strategic growth that have rocket-fueled his and Julie’s global business success.  Andrew and Julie’s methods offer a roadmap that anyone looking to propel their business to a higher orbit can utilize. [Hear Andrew Matthews’s First Appearance on Monday Morning Radio] Monday Morning Radio is hosted by the father-son duo of Dean and Maxwell Rotbart. Photo: Andrew Matthews Posted: March 17, 2025 Monday Morning Run Time: 44:44 Episode: 13.40 BOOKS BY ANDREW MATTHEWS INCLUDE: Bouncing Back!: How You Rebound From Disappoin

Robert L. Dilenschneider, founder and principal of The Dilenschneider Group, is well known as a venerated strategic communications advisor and counselor to many of the world’s most influential business and political leaders. Bob’s extensive knowledge as a historian is less commonly known, especially one who can look to the past to identify role models whose lives are worth emulating today and in the future. Following on the heels of his two most recent history-focused books — Decisions: Practical Advice from 23 Men and Women Who Shaped the World and Nailing It: How History’s Awesome Twentysomethings Got It Together — Bob’s latest volume, available to pre-order now, is Character: Life Lessons in Courage, Integrity, and Leadership. Courage profiles a diverse group of 31 historical figures who drove society to be the best it could be. Among the disparate luminaries are Lou Gehrig, Winston Churchill, Julia Child, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Stephen Hawking, Margaret Chase Smith, Bill Russell, Jimmy Stewart, and S.P. H

“We’re in the news business,” Dick Grove insists, “Not the PR business." His reasoning is straightforward: Individuals and companies must think like journalists, not self-promoters, to earn media coverage. Dick is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Inkinc Public Relations and author of the quasi tell-all, It’s the Media Stupid! pr without the bs.  For more than five decades, Dick has been at the forefront of the public relations industry. His media relations philosophy aligns closely with that of Monday Morning Radio founding host Dean Rotbart, whose courses at Wizard Academy — Newsroom Confidential, Buzz Snatching, and Reputation Tool Chest — all taught the necessity of understanding how journalists and news organizations think and operate. Before hiring a PR agency or pitching journalists and social media influencers yourself, hear firsthand from Dick and Dean what it truly takes to win the media’s favor. Monday Morning Radio is hosted by the father-son duo of Dean and Maxwell Rotbart. Photo: Dick Grove, In

“You’re Fired!” Two words that are never easy to speak and are even harder to hear. Dismissing employees is complicated — legally, emotionally, and professionally. Mastering the art of letting employees go isn’t taught in business school, and too many managers fumble the process. Mahesh Guruswamy, chief technology officer at Kickstarter, has spent much of his career delivering tough news — not just to employees but also to customers, investors, and even higher-ups. Now, he’s sharing his hard-earned wisdom in a new book — How to Deliver Bad News and Get Away With It: A Manager Guide. Whether you’re a seasoned executive or a first-time manager, Mahesh's insights will arm you with tools to handle difficult conversations while building trust, retaining talent, and, yes — keeping your sanity intact. Monday Morning Radio is hosted by the father-son duo of Dean and Maxwell Rotbart. Photo: Mahesh Guruswami, How to Deliver Bad News and Get Away With ItPosted: February 17, 2025 Monday Morning Run Time: 52:16 Episode:

Israel Duran describes himself as an “impact architect,” helping successful business owners deliver turbocharged profits and coaching them to find a societal purpose beyond profits. Israel, founder of Israel Duran & Associates, has shown thousands of owners and CEOs how to transform their businesses and use their newfound achievements to impact, inspire, and influence their communities and beyond. Born out of personal adversity — his father died when he was still an infant — Israel shares how he has dedicated his career to showing others how to go beyond accumulating wealth to making a meaningful difference in the world. At the heart of his teachings is servant leadership. Israel champions the "Four Cs" of leadership: Consistency, Conviction, Charity, and Compassion. These principles aren’t just theoretical; they’re the foundation for his success and that of his clients. Books by Israel Duran: The Service of Speaking: How to Impact, Inspire, and Influence the Masses with Your Message Money Management

Jason Schappert reminds founding host Dean Rotbart of a young Steve Jobs, Apple’s co-founder, who Dean met and wrote about when he was a financial columnist with The Wall Street Journal. Like Jobs, Jason is dynamic, a visionary, and at only 36 years old, well along the fast track to success. Jason and his wife, Magda, built an aviation education company, MzeroA, and sold it for an impressive 8-figure sum.  As an encore, the couple recently launched an AI-driven investment platform — Moola — directed at middle-class consumers, providing the same insights and tools typically reserved for the rich and ultra-rich.  Jason knows what it takes to build a business from scratch, scale it, and — when the time is right — exit profitably. Sit back and take notes as Jason offers a clinic on ways to leverage passion, identify opportunities, and make bold decisions. Monday Morning Radio is hosted by the father-son duo of Dean and Maxwell Rotbart. Photo: Jason Shappert, Moola Posted: February 3, 2025 Monday Morning Run Time

Are leaders born or made?  In this week’s episode, Robert E. “Bob” Kaplan, co-founder of Kaplan DeVries and a pioneer in leadership development, tackles this age-old question.  With more than 30 years of experience helping executives and organizations thrive, Bob shares actionable insights into overcoming mental roadblocks, embracing feedback, and boosting self-confidence. Drawing from his latest book, Grappling: Leaders Striving to Improve, Bob illustrates how even high-performing leaders can unlock new levels of effectiveness.  Discover why leadership is as much about introspection and mental resilience as it is about technical skill.  Whether you’re a seasoned executive or an aspiring leader, this episode offers invaluable strategies to elevate your leadership game.  Monday Morning Radio is hosted by the father-son duo of Dean and Maxwell Rotbart. Photo: Bob Kaplan, Kaplan DevriesPosted: January 27, 2025 Monday Morning Run Time: 46:10  Episode: 13.33 Pick up a signed copy of All You Can Eat Business Wisdo

Mike Frick never intended to get into the business of selling specialized construction equipment, including rock screens, bedding boxes, and concrete washout tubs. But what started as a side hustle and a way to help his son earn extra cash while in college has turned into a thriving business with a large and diverse nationwide customer base, including construction sites, farms, quarries, mines, and the US military. Bear Iron Works, headquartered in Grand Junction, Colorado, features made-in-America products and embodies all-American values. A commitment to innovation is at the heart of Bear Iron Works’ success. Mike’s background in construction, ranching, and mining has shaped the company's product development. He combines practical experience with creative problem-solving to design equipment tailored to the needs of his clients. Mike’s entrepreneurial journey is a reminder that successful business owners come in all varieties and serve many less-than-glamorous markets. But the keys to success remain consist

You don’t have to be an author or would-be author to profit from the reputation-building insights our guest, W. Terry Whalin, shares on this week’s episode. Among executives in the book publishing industry, Terry is a rock star. He alone has written more than 60 mainstream books, including a popular biography of Billy Graham.  Among Terry’s most popular books is 10 Publishing Myths: Insights Every Author Needs to Succeed. Currently, Terry serves as acquisitions editor for Morgan James Publishing — a hybrid book publishing house — signing business owners and entrepreneurs as authors and coaching them. Founded in 2003, Morgan James became the first publisher to blend the strength, credibility, and distribution of traditional publishing with the flexibility, author involvement, and time to market of self-publishing. When it comes to the publishing industry, Terry has seen it all. This week, he shares the naked truths — good and bad — that all would-be authors must know before they sit down at their keyboards in

Many owners and entrepreneurs complain that overseeing their companies is like running a zoo. That’s good news, says Terry Rich, who led the Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines from a $600,000 deficit to profitability. His keys to success centered on rethinking the visitor experience and introducing innovative events that attracted fresh customers. Building on his strong entrepreneurial background, Terry subsequently served as CEO of the Iowa Lottery, president of the North American Lottery Association, and a Powerball board member. Terry is the author of two blockbuster books: The $80 Billion Gamble and Dare to Dream, Dare to Act.  He is also an in-demand international keynote speaker. This week, Terry regales co-hosts Dean and Maxwell Rotbart with actionable business insights and colorful anecdotes, including recognizing the undiscovered value in elephant poop and how he cracked the largest lottery fraud in US history. [See Terry’s appearance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson] Photo: Terry Rich, Rick Keynote