Matt Haney, a fractional COO with Sinclair Ventures, shares how his passions for golf, travel, and fishing have shaped both his personal and professional life. As a lifelong golfer, Matt describes the sport as more than competition, focusing on the value of relationships and time spent in nature. He highlights the transformative power of golf trips with friends, like his curated adventures to Bandon Dunes, and the deep connections formed through shared experiences. Matt talks about inheriting the “travel bug” from his wife's family, crediting his grandfather-in-law’s adventurous spirit and prioritization of experiences over things. Fly fishing, especially in mountain streams, is another source of joy, reminding him of the importance of being present and connecting with nature. Throughout the conversation, Matt emphasizes that having outside interests is mission-critical for humanizing the workplace and fostering lasting connections with colleagues.

Episode Highlights

· Matt emphasizes that hobbies like golf, fishing, and travel are essential for personal well-being and professional effectiveness. They make you a better person and leader.
· Golf isn’t just a game for Matt, but an opportunity to connect with others, enjoy nature, and continually challenge himself. The relationships and mental shifts he’s gained through golf have been life-changing.
· Inspired by his wife’s family, Matt believes experiencing new places and cultures expands your world and creates stories and bonds you carry throughout life.
· Using practices like EOS Meeting Segues, Matt brings people together at work by encouraging them to share personal 'wins' and outside interests, which boosts morale, builds trust, and deepens collaboration.
· Matt prioritizes his "Ands" and encourages the same for his teams, stressing that a culture of overwork isn’t healthy—real success is supporting each other’s full lives, goals, and well-being, both in and out of the office.

Kristie Ondracek, CFO and COO at TXCPA Houston, talks about her passion for paper crafting, specifically card making and scrapbooking. Kristie shares how she began crafting in high school and has since embraced the creative process, which she finds essential for both personal expression and enhancing her problem-solving skills at work. She highlights the joy she experiences from bringing a smile to others with her custom cards, reflecting on memorable projects, including cherished moments crafting with her late mother. As a leader, Kristie emphasizes the importance of creating space for employees to share their passions and encourages organizations to value their human capital. Through her experiences, she illustrates how this creative hobby has fostered a unique and effective approach to leadership and professional challenges.

Episode Highlights

· Kristie emphasizes the importance of thinking outside the box and being creative in problem-solving, which is enhanced by her hobby of card-making and scrapbooking.
· She talks about how her crafting hobbies have helped her stay sane and bring joy to others, illustrating the importance of balancing work with personal passions.
· Kristie highlights the need for leaders to be involved with their team beyond work-related performance, suggesting that understanding personal interests can boost productivity and morale.
· She believes it’s crucial for leaders to create environments where employees feel safe to express themselves and speak up, benefiting both individual and organizational growth.
· Kristie shares her journey toward becoming more open and authentic about who she is and what she loves, demonstrating the power of self-acceptance and sharing one's true self with others.

Joel Zeff shares his journey from being a newspaper reporter to a successful keynote speaker and author. Joel describes his transformative experience with improv, which he discovered after moving to Dallas for a job as a newspaper reporter. Despite the challenges he faced when the newspaper closed, Joel explored stand-up comedy and eventually joined an improv troupe, which opened doors for him to merge his passion for improv with presentations at his corporate job. He emphasizes the importance of following one's passions and how improv has taught him valuable lessons in teamwork, leadership, and communication. Throughout the conversation, Joel highlights the significance of laughter in building connections and improving corporate culture. His insights provide a compelling story of how passion can transform into a fulfilling career.

Episode Highlights

· Joel found his passion for improv when he was invited on stage during a performance. It was a life-changing moment for him.
· Losing his newspaper job led Joel to explore comedy and improv, which eventually became his career path.
· Joel emphasizes the importance of not keeping work and passion separate, as opportunities like Texas Instruments requesting his improv skills for an executive retreat helped shape his career.
· He believes that making people laugh bonds and connects them, and even if his talks achieve only that, it's worthwhile.
· Joel stresses the importance of figuring out what you love and would do for free, as it can lead to unexpected career opportunities and fulfillment.