Monday Morning Radio

Jeff Kikel helps business owners and entrepreneurs attain what he dubs their “Freedom Day,” that juncture in their lives when work becomes optional, not a financial necessity. Jeff has helped many people who believed they’d have to work until retirement, and perhaps beyond, get their finances and investments under control, freeing them from financial worries. His formula for reaching “Freedom Day” begins with a mindset shift in relationship to money: It should work for you, not vice versa. If the idea of working for pleasure, not for survival, appeals to you, you absolutely don’t want to miss a minute of this week’s Monday Morning Radio. Monday Morning Radio is hosted by the father-son team of Dean and Maxwell Rotbart. To show your appreciation for Monday Morning Radio and keep it commercial-free, we encourage you to contribute using this link. Donations of all sizes are welcome. Photo: Jeff Kikel, Freedom Day Wealth Management Posted: November 13, 2023 Monday Morning Run Time: 39:41 Episode: 12.19 POPULAR E

Three years ago, Nick Barrett had an idea — and little else. He envisioned a new, weighted, portable gadget that could keep cords and wires from getting entangled. Nick’s CordBrick is only a tad longer than a large paperclip and about as thick as a quarter. At this year’s National Retail Federation trade show in New York, one of the largest consumer products showcases in the nation, CordBrick was named “coolest product,” nabbing a $10,000 prize. Nick’s experience launching CordBrick mirrors that of many first-time entrepreneurs. He’s made mistakes, learned from them, had the support of friends and mentors, and is now steadily growing his business. Other inventors and entrepreneurs can learn a lot — and save themselves big headaches — by discovering how Nick went from pitching his innovative home and office gadget at flea markets to being a major Amazon and retail success story.  You don’t have to be an entrepreneurial rookie to benefit from Nick’s inspirational story and to relive the magic of starting your

Zeynep Ekemen has ridden the rollercoaster of COVID-19 and its impact on small businesses. She is the founder of Silver Defender, a company that sells antimicrobial-protected film for high-touch areas — such as door bars and handles, elevator buttons, and guide rails. She launched her business in 2018. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit less than two years later, her sales took off like a rocket, stretching her company’s production and distribution capabilities to the max. But now, as demand has waned, Zeynep is fighting to avoid the fate of so many other businesses that were whipsawed by COVID-19. It's a common dilemma for many small businesses when a product or service they provide experiences a surge in popularity and then fades almost as quickly. Zeynep herself is determined to demonstrate that what comes down can always go back up. Monday Morning Radio is hosted by the father-son team of Dean and Maxwell Rotbart. To show your appreciation for Monday Morning Radio and keep it commercial-free, we encourage yo

In 1855, Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote in his journal: “If a man has good corn, or wood, or boards, or pigs, to sell, or can make better chairs or knives, crucibles, or church organs, than anybody else, you will find a broad, hard-beaten road to his house, though it be in the woods.” In time, his words were somehow conflated as the oft-cited quote: "Build a better mousetrap, and the world will beat a path to your door." Carina Ramirez Cahan, co-founder of Cobalt Rose Company, is testing Emerson’s thesis, having worked with her husband, a respected breast surgeon, to build a better bra. The Cobalt Rose bra utilizes a radically new design that replaces rigid underwires — which many women rely on but hate — with a flexible, patented polymer insert that is molded right into the cups.  Carina promises that her bra will be the most comfortable, supportive, and flattering bra her customers have ever worn. But is that enough? Will that translate into a hefty slice of the annual $12 billion U.S. lingerie market? As Carin

On October 16, 1923 — precisely 100 years ago today — Walt Disney and his older brother Roy launched Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio. In time, their business would morph into one of the world’s best-known and most beloved companies. To mark this milestone anniversary, co-hosts Dean and Maxwell Rotbart review the history of The Walt Disney Company and Disneyland, paying special attention to the many practical lessons that executives and entrepreneurs can glean from the Disney successes and failures of the past century. Listeners will also hear from Michael Goldsby, a professor of entrepreneurship at Ball Street University and the co-author of Entrepreneurship the Disney Way. Professor Goldsby was a guest on the podcast in September 2019. As a special feature, Maxwell shares the incredible story of how he uncovered, buried deep in the archives of a Kansas museum, an original prospectus for Disneyland written in 1953, roughly two years before the first park opened. If you’re a Disneyphile or grown-up Mouseketee

Curt Tueffert describes himself as “America’s Master Sales Motivator.” That he is. But as he demonstrates in this week’s episode, Curt is also gifted with NI — Natural Intelligence. He has spot-on answers to some of the most vexing questions confronting business owners and sales professionals. How can I best qualify customer prospects? What can I do about a prospect who says, “let me think about it?” How can I remain positive in the face of rejection? Curt acquired his expertise working in sales for almost four decades and motivating and training sales teams at companies, including UPS, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Penske Automotive Group, and Liberty Mutual Insurance.  Curt’s company, Peak Sales Strategy, provides in-person and remote sales training and personalized coaching.  As an in-demand speaker, he leaves his audiences with fresh ideas, actionable insights, and supercharged energy. AI, be warned! Monday Morning Radio is hosted by the father-son team of Dean and Maxwell Rotbart. To show your appreci

When Vicky Brown launched her HR consultancy — Idomeneo Enterprises —  in 2001, she knew she was wading into shark-infested waters dominated by giants, including Accenture, ADP, Deloitte, and KPMG. By focusing on emerging and mid-size companies and providing concierge services to her clients, Vicky’s West Hollywood firm has won an impressive roster of clients from coast to coast. Trying to cope with ever-changing state and federal employment regulations, the work-from-home migration, and the impact of artificial intelligence, Vicky says that more and more owners and entrepreneurs are outsourcing their HR and payroll functions. Lean closer to your podcast player as Vicky shares her personal success formula and reveals not only how to foolproof hiring but also the best way to let an employee go when it’s time. [To receive the free bonus gift that Vicky is making available to Monday Morning Radio listeners, click here.] Monday Morning Radio is hosted by the father-son team of Dean and Maxwell Rotbart. To show y

The universities Gregory Shepard sought to attend wouldn’t admit him. When he volunteered for the U.S. Navy, the recruiters said, “no thanks.” Admittedly, Greg is not your textbook job candidate: He is autistic, dyslexic, and has a sensory condition known as synesthesia, which is commonly described as having the brain’s wires crossed. Greg could have allowed his neurodivergent struggles — and there are plenty of them —  to defeat him. Instead, he’s leveraged his atypical mind to build and sell 12 businesses, co-lead a global investment syndicate in the technology sector, and use his earned wealth as a philanthropist. This week, in a poignant conversation with co-host and award-winning author Dean Rotbart, Greg makes a strong case for integrating neurodiverse people — who see the world differently — into the workforce. To show your appreciation for Monday Morning Radio and keep it commercial-free, you can make a contribution using this link, or scan the QR code below. We welcome donations of all sizes. Photo:

To obtain power and influence, you don’t need wealth or privilege. Better yet, anyone can become widely known and respected if they can generate a compelling idea and communicate it effectively. That is the conclusion of Robert L. “Bob” Dilenschneider, an author, historian, and legendary strategic communication advisor who has been studying and dissecting the elements of power and influence for more than four decades. Bob, who is best known as the founder of the acclaimed consultancy, The Dilenschneider Group, is the author of the newly released book The Ultimate Guide to Power & Influence: Everything You Need to Know. The seminal book arms its readers with intellectual, technical, and moral weapons — essential tools in the increasingly competitive and ever-evolving business world. “Acquiring both power and influence is crucial to advancing not only your personal interests but also a more prosperous society at large,” Bob writes. This week, Bob shares with Monday Morning Radio hosts Maxwell and Dean Rotb

Forty years ago, when Lori Poland was only three years old, she was kidnapped from her front yard, molested, and left for dead at the bottom of a remote mountain outhouse. By chance, after three days, a bird watcher answering the call of nature heard the little girl whimpering 12 feet below. “What are you doing there?” he called down. “I live here,” the confused child answered. Today, married with children of her own, Lori is co-founder and chief executive officer of the National Foundation to End Child Abuse and Neglect, or EndCAN. As host and award-winning author Dean Rotbart notes, Lori is also a striking example of how it’s possible to give meaning to life’s misfortunes and build a purpose-driven career. Listen in as Lori shares her unique approach for turning adversity — regardless of the source —  into strength. Last Week’s Episode: Management Strategies That For-Profit Businesses Can Glean from a Volunteer Fire Company’s Enduring Success Photo: Lori Poland, EndCAN Posted: September 11, 2023 Monday Mo

This week’s edition of Monday Morning Radio tells the remarkable story of Genesee Fire Rescue (GFR), a little volunteer engine company that could, and has, for five decades. Located in the majestic foothills of the Rocky Mountains, 20 miles west of downtown Denver, the unincorporated community of Genesee is home to approximately 4,000 residents and 1,500 homes.  Monday Morning Radio host Dean Rotbart spent 18 months chronicling GFR’s half-century evolution, growing from a three-person company of well-intended amateurs into a force of 40 of the most professional, well-equipped volunteer firefighters in Colorado.  Dean’s new book, Dedication And Service: 50 Years on Call with the Volunteers of Colorado’s Genesee Fire Rescue, is available now on Amazon. The book is co-authored by GFR Lieutenant Hank O’Brien. The odds of a small enterprise surviving for 50 years are minute — fewer than one in a hundred. That’s even truer when the organization's employees are volunteers who regularly risk their lives to provide a

Ken Paskins, a third-generation entrepreneur, witnessed his father and grandfather struggle to run a successful business. He was determined to find a better way. So Ken went to work for giant companies, including Oracle and BEA Systems, until he could deconstruct the leadership, HR, sales, and finance formulas for success. Today, Ken is the co-founder of The Shift Spot, a CEO coaching and peer advisory community that shows owners and CEOs of companies with 100 or fewer employees how to achieve their goals. Rather than rely on a single guru for sage advice, Paskins tells host and award-winning author Dean Rotbart, his clients learn from experts and peers. Photo: Ken Paskins, The Shift SpotPosted: August 7, 2023Monday Morning Run Time: 43:45Episode: 12.08 RECENT EPISODES: What Are You Waiting For? Selling to Uncle Sam Can Be Very Lucrative Why You Should Prepare to Sell Your Business Long Before You’re Ready To Walk Away No Matter the Circumstances, Resilience is a Muscle Anyone Can Develop

If you want your talent and brilliance to be recognized, SPEAK UP! Take it from Bret Ridgway, author of The Spotlight on Speaking Newsletter. Bret is an evangelist for the many benefits that accrue to owners and entrepreneurs who take to the podium. Among the clients he has worked with are Ryan Deiss, Alex Mandossian, Joe Polish, and Wendy Lipton-Dibner. During his 25-plus-year career, Bret has witnessed a couple of thousand speakers. He knows what works and what doesn’t. You needn’t have the oratory skills of Tim Cook, Richard Branson, or Ginni Rometty to be the type of speaker who wins over customers, employees, and shareholders. All it takes, Bret tells host and award-winning journalist Dean Rotbart, is a genuine passion for sharing your message with the world and being your authentic self.  Then brace yourself for a standing ovation. Photo: Bret Ridgway, The Spotlight on Speaking Newsletter Posted: July 31, 2023 Monday Morning Run Time: 41:28 Episode: 12.07

Back by popular demand, Dr. Noah St. John returns to Monday Morning Radio for the third time to share insights from his new book, The 7-Figure Life: How to Leverage the 4 FOCUS FACTORS for Wealth and Happiness. Success has been kind to Dr. St. John, the self-described “nerdiest nerd.” When he started out 25-plus years ago, he was living in a 300-square-foot apartment with no money, no girlfriend, and very little hope. The core idea for how to turn his life around — and that of the more than 1.8 million others he’s helped since — came to him one day in the shower. Today, Dr. St. John is happily married, lives in a 6,000-square-foot mansion on a hill, and is a highly paid consultant, speaker, and author of 20 self-improvement books and counting. His proprietary formula for success is surprisingly simple, Dr. St. John tells host and award-winning author Dean Rotbart. If it worked for a nerd like him, it can work for anyone. Popular Books By Dr. St. John The 7-Figure Life: How to Leverage the 4 FOCUS FACTORS f

Ricky Howard has awarded or managed more than $1 BILLION in purchase contracts, many with small businesses. In good economies or bad, his client is a reliable buyer, and once your company is selected as a vendor, it’s likely to be a vendor for years, if not decades, to come. Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) Richard C. “Ricky” Howard, founder of DoD Contract Academy, is an expert on how to win lucrative government contracts, from office supplies and HVAC equipment to sophisticated computer programming and weapons systems.  During his service in the U.S. Air Force, Colonel Howard flew 555 combat hours. He understands the importance of preparation and practice. DOD Contract Academy guides, trains, and mentors small business owners and sales executives on how to pull down multi-million-dollar government contracts. Many businesses that could qualify as government contractors don’t even realize it. Once they do, their profits are on a flight path to soar up, up, and away. Photo: Lt. Colonel Richard C. “Ricky” Howard, DoD

In 1998, Mickie Kennedy started eReleases as a discount press wire service, providing the same media reach as the industry heavies at a fraction of the cost. Twenty-five years later, Mickie’s company is still going strong and saving companies tens of millions of dollars, having helped hundreds of thousands of small businesses reach journalists, investors, trade associations, and customers. Moreover, Mickey has become a news release maestro, able and willing to share the secrets of distributing news releases that get results. In this era of Tik Tok, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and now Threads, do news releases still have a meaningful role in helping companies deliver their messages? Unsurprisingly, Mickie tells host and award-winning journalist Dean Rotbart that now more than ever, a well-crafted news release will ricochet through social media and deliver an exponentially larger impact. Get the scoop on this week’s episode. Photo: Mickie Kennedy, eReleasesPosted: July 10, 2023Monday Morning Run Ti

For many small business owners, finding a buyer for their company is an elusive goal. Mac Lackey has done it six times.  His latest venture, ExitDNA, guides entrepreneurs on how to best position their companies to be acquired, should they ever wish to sell. Monday Morning Radio host Maxwell Rotbart engaged Mac in a wide-ranging discussion about what entrepreneurs need to know at each stage of their operations — from inception to disposition. Among the advice Lackey shares is how to choose a location for your company, the role that passion plays in starting a venture, hiring strong employees, the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make, and what pitfalls to avoid when selling your company. Mac even touches on what entrepreneurs looking to acquire other businesses need to know. How can you achieve the success that Mac has? The answers abound on this week’s podcast. Upper Photo: Mac Lackey, ExitDNALower Photo: Host Maxwell RotbartPosted: July 3, 2023Monday Morning Run Time: 49:05Episode: 12.03 RECENT EPISODES:

Dr. Michael Lenox, a consultant, author, and business professor at the University of Virginia, is an expert on artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, and other agents of digital transformation. He knows both the challenges and opportunities posed by today’s rapidly advancing digital technologies. In his new book, Strategy in the Digital Age: Mastering Digital Transformation —  out this week, Dr. Lenox explains that businesses need to be innovative and agile or risk going the way of so many brand-name companies — digital and brick-and-mortar — that could not adjust with the times and no longer exist. As he writes in his book, “Ultimately, your digital transformation is a journey with no end.” Dr. Lenox is interviewed by host Dean Rotbart, a flesh-and-blood journalist. But in the not-too-distant future, as this week’s podcast demonstrates, Dean could very well be replaced by a sophisticated algorithm. (Please, don’t tell Mrs. Rotbart.) Photo: Michael Lenox, University of Virginia's Darden School

[This edition of Monday Morning Radio begins our 12th year of podcasting in conjunction with the non-profit Wizard Academy and its co-founder, Roy H. Williams. This is our 550th episode.] When it comes to career moves, bestselling author Joanne Lipman has been very successful and resilient.  She was the first woman to become a deputy managing editor at The Wall Street Journal. She was the founding editor-in chief-of Condé Nast’s award-winning Portfolio magazine. She served as editor-in-chief of USA Today and chief content officer of its parent company, Gannett. Currently, Joanne is a regular contributor to CNBC and a lecturer at Yale University. In her latest book, Next!: The Power of Reinvention in Life and Work, Joanne provides countless examples of people who reinvented themselves - some willingly, others who had no choice. As she tells host Dean Rotbart, anyone following the methods she prescribes can make the successful leap from one career to the next and the next after that.  [Joanne discussed her bes

Dave Albin helps business executives and employees face and overcome their fears. But that’s nothing special. Dave’s methods, however, make him unique among corporate coaches. Dave is the #1 firewalk instructor in America, having cajoled more than one-half million people to tiptoe, barefoot, over a bed of coals exceeding 1,000 degrees in temperature.  A disciple of Tony Robbins, Dave ran firewalks for the mega-motivator for almost two decades before striking out on his own to form Firewalk Adventures.  As Dave tells host and award-winning author Dean Rotbart, firewalking is a 1,000-year-old rite of passage. F.E.A.R., in Dave’s way of thinking, either stands for Forget Everything and Run or Face Everything and Rise. In Dave’s experience, those who muster the courage to firewalk return to their careers and personal lives with much more self-confidence. In addition to firewalking, Dave and his crew at Firewalk Adventures also offer confidence-building glass walks, board breaks, arrow breaks, and fire eating. Wh