• 122: Will Acuff — Find Joy in Life's Struggles
    Apr 2 2025

    ➡️ Get my Newsletter (Intentional Letter): https://courses.calwalters.me/signup

    Discover Your Core Values: https://calwalters.me/course

    Get Will's book: https://noelevatortoeverest.com/

    Learn about Corner to Corner: https://cornertocorner.org/

    In this conversation, Will Acuff shares his journey of finding joy amidst life's challenges, particularly through his experiences with his family and the transformative 'trauma camp' that helped him shift his perspective. He discusses the importance of self-compassion, the struggles of parenting a child with disabilities, and the pressures of maintaining a facade of having it all together. The dialogue emphasizes the significance of recognizing small sparks of joy and the power of community and support in navigating difficult times.

    In this conversation, the speakers explore the themes of love, mercy, and personal responsibility within relationships. They discuss the drama triangle concept, emphasizing the importance of shifting from a hero mentality to one of ownership and self-compassion. The dialogue also touches on thriving in tough circumstances, the significance of self-awareness, and practical practices for cultivating joy in daily life.

    00:00 Finding Joy in Hardship

    02:53 The Journey to Trauma Camp

    11:42 Transformative Experiences at Trauma Camp

    22:02 The Power of Joy in Difficult Times

    24:35 The Context of Love and Mercy

    25:08 Understanding the Drama Triangle

    29:04 Shifting from Hero to Ownership

    30:44 The Impact of Codependency

    32:07 Self-Compassion and Ownership

    35:31 Thriving in Tough Circumstances

    36:40 Exploring Joy and Self-Awareness

    42:22 Practical Practices for Daily Joy Please visit my website to get more information:

    https://calwalters.me/

    🔔𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬. https://www.youtube.com/@intentionalleader_calwalters/?sub_confirmation=1

    Show more Show less
    45 mins
  • 121: Dr. Steve Graves — Work-Life Balance Tools to Win at Home and at Work
    Mar 28 2025

    Sign up for The Intentional Letter: https://courses.calwalters.me/signup

    Discover Your Core Values Course: https://courses.calwalters.me/offers/DmXNju9f/checkout

    The Work-Life Balance Toolbox: https://www.stephenrgraves.com/balance

    Steve's book, Flourishing (for free!): https://www.stephenrgraves.com/flourish

    Cornerstone+ Membership: https://www.cornerstoneco.com/

    In this episode of the Intentional Leader Podcast, Cal speaks with CEO coach Steve Graves about the intricacies of leadership, coaching, and achieving a balanced life. They explore the importance of holistic coaching, the courage required to make meaningful life choices, and the challenges of work-life balance. Steve shares insights from his experiences coaching top leaders and discusses frameworks for personal development, including the significance of understanding one's capacity threshold and the art of saying no. The conversation emphasizes the need for intentional living and aligning one's life with core values to lead effectively at work and home.

    00:00 Leading Well at Work and Home

    02:38 The Role of a Coach

    07:15 Work-Life Balance Toolbox

    08:30 A Tale of Two Funerals

    13:16 The Importance of Courage 1

    9:33 The Cost of Saying Yes

    24:44 Understanding Capacity Threshold

    36:51 The Art of Saying No

    Show more Show less
    47 mins
  • 120: Katie Quesada — Master Storytelling with Story Expert to Fortune 500 Companies
    Mar 12 2025

    ➡️ Sign up for my Intentional Letter: https://courses.calwalters.me/signup

    Follow Katie's work: https://katiequesada.com/

    In this conversation, storytelling expert Katie Quesada discusses the profound impact of storytelling on personal and professional lives. She emphasizes the importance of storytelling in leadership, how it can create emotional connections, and the science behind why stories resonate with us.

    Katie shares her journey into storytelling consulting, practical frameworks for effective storytelling, and the significance of personal and family narratives. The discussion also highlights the difference between macro and micro storytelling, encouraging leaders to weave stories into everyday interactions to foster connection and engagement. In this conversation, the speakers delve into the intricacies of storytelling, emphasizing its importance in leadership and personal relationships.

    They discuss the three essential components of a story: context, conflict, and conclusion, and how to effectively balance these elements to engage an audience. The conversation also touches on the significance of vulnerability in leadership, the process of restoring meaning to personal experiences, and the value of storytelling in everyday interactions, particularly within families. The speakers encourage listeners to embrace their unique stories and share them in ways that resonate with others, ultimately highlighting storytelling as a powerful tool for connection and influence.

    00:00 The Power of Storytelling

    02:59 Katie Quesada's Journey into Storytelling

    06:01 The Science Behind Storytelling

    09:04 Practical Applications of Storytelling in Leadership

    11:56 Mining, Refining, and Reminding Stories

    14:59 Personal Storytelling and Its Impact

    17:59 The Importance of Family Storytelling

    20:57 Macro vs. Micro Storytelling

    28:05 The Art of Storytelling

    31:24 Understanding the Three C's of Storytelling

    35:35 The Balance of Context, Conflict, and Conclusion

    40:39 Vulnerability in Leadership

    43:00 Restoring Meaning to Personal Stories

    46:43 Finding Your Storytelling Platform

    48:44 Relational Storytelling Techniques

    Please visit my website to get more information: https://calwalters.me/

    🔔𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬. https://www.youtube.com/@intentionalleader_calwalters/?sub_confirmation=1

    🔗 Support Me Here! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/calwalters

    🔗 Stay Connected With Me.

    Linkedin (Cal Walters):

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/cal-walters-5571b824/

    Linkedin (Intentional Leader):

    https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-living-leadership/

    Website:

    https://calwalters.me/

    📩 For business inquiries: cal@calwalters.me

    Show more Show less
    54 mins
  • 119: Rich Diviney — Navy SEAL Secrets to Master Stress with Retired Navy SEAL Commander
    Feb 24 2025

    Get weekly insights from me: https://courses.calwalters.me/signup

    Take the Attributes Assessment (make sure you use coupon code INTENTIONALLEADER15 to get 15% off at check out): https://theattributes.com/assessment-tool

    Get Rich's new book, Masters of Uncertainty: https://www.amazon.com/Masters-Uncertainty-Navy-Stress-Success/dp/B0DMGYW5YH/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3E4HOYQ84M5H7&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ya84ZhsafB6rPwbEySGGDg.98hhrIiRMlraDT4SDOw9Dih-3Y1Z1b772CBQOmMDIBw&dib_tag=se&keywords=masters+of+uncertainty+rich+diviney&qid=1732210579&sprefix=masters+of+uncertainty+rich+diviney%2Caps%2C168&sr=8-1

    In this conversation, retired Navy SEAL Commander Rich Diviney shares insights on leadership, stress management, and the importance of attributes in high-performance environments. He discusses the significance of humility, the distinction between being a leader and being in charge, and the challenges faced during BUD/S training.

    Rich emphasizes the critical role of compartmentalization and attributes in determining success, particularly in high-stress situations like those encountered in military training and operations. In this conversation, the speaker delves into the importance of understanding personal attributes and skills, emphasizing the role of self-awareness in effective leadership.

    They discuss how stress and fear can be harnessed for positive action, the significance of focusing on controllable factors, and the science behind motivation through dopamine. The conversation also explores the impact of identity on behavior, particularly in uncertain situations, and how recognizing and prioritizing identities can shape our responses and actions.

    00:00 Navigating Stress as a Leader

    03:04 The Essence of Humility in Leadership

    06:06 Understanding Leadership Beyond Hierarchy

    09:01 The BUD/S Experience and Its Challenges

    11:56 Compartmentalization: The Key to Endurance

    15:04 Skills vs. Attributes in Leadership

    18:03 Insights from SEAL Team 6 Selection

    20:47 The Importance of Attributes in Performance

    29:10 Understanding Attributes and Skills

    35:01 The Role of Self-Awareness in Leadership

    38:07 Harnessing Stress and Fear for Action

    43:45 Focus on What You Can Control

    49:22 The Science of Dopamine and Motivation

    52:30 The Power of Identity in Uncertainty

    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 1 min
  • 118: Alison Wood Brooks — Make Great Conversations Easy with Proven Strategies from Harvard Expert
    Feb 17 2025

    Subscribe to the Intentional Letter (my weekly newsletter): https://courses.calwalters.me/signup

    Watch this on YouTube: https://youtu.be/DHP2Eahxjm0

    Alison Wood Brooks is the O’Brien Associate Professor of Business Administration and Hellman Faculty Fellow at the Harvard Business School. She teaches an award-winning course in the MBA curriculum called “TALK.” Recently named a Best 40-Under-40 Business School Professor by Poets & Quants, her book TALK: The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves will be published by Crown (Penguin Random House) in January 2025.

    Her research on the science of conversation has been published in prestigious academic journals, including the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, and Psychological Science, as well as in popular media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, The New York Times, Scientific American, and Harvard Business Review. Professor Brooks holds a Ph.D. in Decision Processes from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Finance from Princeton University.

    In this engaging conversation, Alison Wood Brooks, a Harvard Business School professor, shares insights from her research on the art and science of conversation. She discusses the importance of effective communication, the unique perspective gained from being an identical twin, and the value of teaching conversation skills to leaders.

    The discussion covers various aspects of conversation, including the significance of preparation, understanding conversational goals, and the framework for successful interactions. Listeners are encouraged to reflect on their own conversational practices and consider how they can improve their communication skills. In this conversation, the speakers delve into the intricacies of effective communication, emphasizing the cognitive load involved in conversations, the importance of preparation, and the power of follow-up questions.

    They discuss strategies for topic switching and ending conversations gracefully, the significance of asking questions, and the art of active listening. The conversation also highlights the role of levity in maintaining engagement and the need for self-compassion in navigating social interactions.

    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 4 mins
  • 117: Charles Feltman — A Simple Framework for Building (and Rebuilding) Trust that Every Leader Needs
    Jan 30 2025

    Subscribe to the Intentional Letter (my weekly newsletter): https://courses.calwalters.me/signup

    Get the The Thin Book of Trust.

    Cal and Charles Feltman delve into the intricate nature of trust, exploring its biological underpinnings and the personal experiences that shape our propensity to trust or distrust others. They discuss the importance of sincerity, reliability, competence, and care as key assessments of trustworthiness, and how leaders can foster a trusting environment by extending trust to their teams.

    Charles Feltman has over 25 years of professional experience coaching, facilitating, consulting to, and training people who lead others. An overarching goal in all of his work is that his clients experience both success and wellbeing at work and in all areas of their lives. Prior to starting his coaching and consulting business he spent a decade in leadership roles in technology industry companies.

    Charles is the author of The Thin Book® of Trust: An Essential Primer for Building Trust at Work, based on three decades of experience working with individuals and teams to build, maintain, and when necessary restore trust.

    After completing his coach training in 2000 with Newfield Network, one of the premier coach training schools worldwide, Charles served as a mentor coach for Newfield’s programs. In this capacity he taught, mentored and coached others who were learning to become skilled coaches.

    Charles holds a BA in psychology from U.C. Santa Cruz and a master's in organization development and communication from the University of Southern California. He has an International Coach Federation credential of Professional Certified Coach (PCC). He is certified in The Leadership Circle Profile, MBTI, DiSC Work of Leaders, and the Triscendance Trust Assessment for Leadership Teams. He is also a certified husband, father and grandfather.

    Show more Show less
    58 mins
  • 116: Mark Miller — Chick-fil-A's Secret Sauce for Building Leaders and Creating a Culture of High Performance
    Jan 16 2025

    Sign up to receive The Intentional Letter: https://courses.calwalters.me/signup

    Follow Intentional Leader: https://calwalters.me

    Take Mark Miller's Quicksand Assessment by texting BeSmart (no spaces) to 66866

    Get in touch with Mark Miller:

    678-612-8441

    mark@leadeveryday.com

    https://leadeveryday.com

    Mark Miller, former vice president of high performance leadership at Chick-fil-A, discusses the key factors that contribute to the company's exceptional customer experience. He emphasizes the importance of leadership, particularly at the local restaurant level, as the competitive advantage of Chick-fil-A. Miller also highlights the role of the corporate staff in serving the operators and creating a powerful combination.

    He explains the rigorous selection process for restaurant operators and the focus on character, competence, chemistry, and an internal locus of control. Miller acknowledges the challenges in defining leadership and distinguishes it from management, emphasizing the importance of vision, engagement and development of others, continuous reinvention, and valuing both results and relationships.

    In this conversation, Mark Miller discusses the importance of embodying a leader's heart and the role it plays in leadership effectiveness. He emphasizes that a leader's heart is a big deal and can multiply the effect of their skills. Mark also talks about the need for both leadership and management in an organization, highlighting that leaders should compensate for their bias towards either results or relationships. He provides practical strategies for valuing both results and relationships, such as setting goals for expressing appreciation and gratitude. Mark concludes by sharing his excitement about continuing to serve leaders in his second half.

    Show more Show less
    52 mins
  • 115: Juliet Funt — Productivity Expert Tackles Task Saturation in the Military
    Nov 8 2024

    Discover Your Unique Core Values: https://calwalters.me/course

    Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr_ZF6AG_9ZylHul1O5wHhg

    Connect with Juliet Funt: https://www.julietfunt.com/military/

    Get Juliet's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Minute-Think-Reclaim-Creativity-Busyness/dp/0062970259

    00:00 Introduction to Task Saturation and Overload

    02:06 Juliette's Experience with the Military

    07:01 Communication Challenges in the Military

    20:15 Understanding Task Saturation vs. Overload

    28:10 Leadership and Time Management Strategies

    29:36 Leadership Transitions and Onboarding Challenges

    32:49 Prioritization vs. Reduction in Task Management

    35:32 Navigating Task Saturation and Honest Feedback

    39:43 The Importance of Preparation and Rehearsal

    42:51 Technology and Task Management in the Military

    49:29 Maximizing Time Away and Digital Disconnection

    Featured in top media outlets such as Forbes, CNBC, and Fast Company, Juliet Funt is a globally renowned keynote speaker, tough-love advisor to the Fortune 500, founder and CEO of the efficiency training firm, Juliet Funt Group.

    Juliet is the author of A Minute to Think, nominated for the Next Big Idea Club curated by Malcolm Gladwell, Dan Pink, Susan Cain and Adam Grant. She is an evangelist for freeing the potential of companies by unburdening their talent from busywork, and she has brought her powerful concepts to Spotify, National Geographic, Anthem, Vans, Abbott, Costco, Pepsi, Nike, Wells Fargo, Sephora, Sysco, and ESPN.

    Show more Show less
    58 mins
adbl_web_global_use_to_activate_webcro768_stickypopup