The Culture Matters Podcast

"Management is doing things right. Leadership is doing the right things." Advisor, consultant, and business and financial guru Matt McHale is our guest on the show today and we couldn't be happier to have him! Matt and Jay are unpacking on a lot of different topics including start-ups and what separates the successful one's from the not-so-successful one's, artificial intelligence, the present and future states of podcasts including this one, and some of the common misconceptions of non-profits. Matt is a virtual encyclopedia of knowledge on a myriad of different topics, so listen closely to this very fun conversation with Matt McHale.

"Let parents bequeath to their children not riches, but the spirit of reverence." - Plato We've got the founder of EPM Eddy Perez back on the show today and on this go around, we're talking about fatherhood. Eddy and Jay unpack Eddy's relationship with his own father, how that relationship helped shape him as a man and father in his own right, and what it was like having a father who worked hard and sacrificed for his family as an immigrant from Cuba. Eddy's father had a huge impact on him in life and after his passing and we talk about honoring someone who was such a major influence. Relationships with fathers come in all shapes and sizes and all have their own challenges and dynamics. Eddy shares his story and his thoughts on all things fatherhood on this episode of The Culture Matters Podcast.

"Although it's easy to forget sometimes, a share is not a lottery ticket. It's part ownership of a business." - Peter Lynch Financial consultant and advisor Gary Nash stops by the show today and we are off to the races talking about the stock market. Gary is a wealth of knowledge on the subject and we are tackling a basic lesson on how the market works, what shareholders are and what it means to be one, and the role a board of directors plays and who they should be looking out for. This man has seen and done it all to Wall Street and beyond, so if you are interested in learning more about stocks and investing, this is the episode for you!

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act, but a habit." - Aristotle On today's episode of The Culture Matters Podcast, Jay sits down with his good friend Raphael Mavi, the president and founder of Unplugged Influence, Inc. and, boy, do we have a lot to cover! Raphael takes us through his mindset when it comes to training and investing time into the improvement of the people on his team and what he is looking for when it comes to hiring. Jay and Raphael are also cutting it up about poor corporate culture leading Raphael down his own path, the proper percentage of attrition, and the characteristics of a good employer. We're always happy to have Raphael on the show and we hope you are too!

"Be careful lest in casting out your demon you exercise the best thing in you." - Friedrich Nietzsche Greg Rushin is a real estate entrepreneur, life coach, and founder of Rush-In Motivation and believe it or not we are starting this episode out with 20 push-ups! Now that the blood is flowing, Jay and Greg are ready to get into it. Topics today are ranging from powering through obstacles, accountability partners, mentor and mentee relationships, and it wouldn't be The Culture Matters Podcast if we didn't talk about culture! If you're somewhere safe and able, join in the push-ups and then get ready for a very healthy chat with Greg Rushin.

"He who risks and fails can be forgiven. He who never risks and never fails is a failure in his whole being." - Paul Tillich Philosopher and artisan contractor with Vision Stone and Tile Nathan Merrill is back on the program today and we are going deep. We're starting off discussing Nathan's experiences on podcasts and exactly what he does with his work with tile and some of its practical applications. After that, we're getting into materialism vs. idealism, the idea of "worshipping" your process, and even dipping our toes into the pool of existential angst. We're running the gambit of topics today and we hope you enjoy this conversation with Nathan Merrill.

"We now accept the fact that learning is a life-long process of keep abreast of change and the most pressing task is to teach people how to learn." - Peter Drucker Consultant, advisor, and the found of Social CSM Carl Eppolito is back on the show today and we running through a bunch of different topics, so hang onto your seats! Carl and Jay are digging into success on social media, the idea of leveraging a podcast as a means to an end, and Jay even asks Carl for some advice on how to improve his social media presence. We're spending the back half of this conversation on the role of faith in Carl's life and how finding his faith has helped make him a more successful businessman and father. There may even be a little talk on what kind of host or guest Jesus would have been on a podcast. We're unpacking a lot today and we're glad to have you along for this conversation with Carl Eppolito.

"The first duty of love is to listen." - Paul Tillich Andrew Berman is an advisor, mentor, and the Head of Engagement and Outreach at American Business Media and he is back today so that we can lean on his expertise in the mortgage and insurance spaces. Are those industries in trouble in this topsy-turvy economic climate? The short answer is yes, but Andrew is here to shed a little light on what could be conceived as a dark situation. Andrew and Jay are discussing the benefits of focusing on one thing instead of trying be amazing at 50 things, becoming a legit "grown-up", and the value and responsibility that come with owning your home. It's always a treat to have Andrew on the show so we hope you enjoy this discussion on this episode of The Culture Matters Podcast!

"The only cure for vanity is laughter and the only fault that is laughable is vanity." - Henri Bergson Great friend to the show and the founder of South Fork Business Ventures Tony Capullo is back today and is taking a break from his series of episodes interviewing Jay and Jay is back to asking the questions! Today's conversation dives deep into value over vanity, what a "dabbler" is and how they can affect your business, and why setting your ego aside will only serve to make you better in business and in life no matter what rung of that ladder you are standing on. Not only is Tony a top notch interviewer, but he is a wealth of knowledge in so many areas and we're over the moon to have him back on the show!

"If you want something done, ask a busy person." Real estate advisor and good friend of the Culture Matters family Sam Akif is going the show today and we are excited for him to drop some knowledge on our listeners today! In a world of instant gratification, Sam is here to tell you that truly great things take time to develop and you need to be willing to give that time. We're unpacking the world of commercial real estate, different types of investors, why it is important to maintain your properties if real estate investment is on your horizon. This episode is chalk full of useful real estate tips and strategies so please enjoy this chat with Sam Akif!

"Sometimes people don't want to hear the truth because they don't want their illusions destroyed." - Friedrich Nietzsche Dr. David Yerkes, managing partner with Lion Oakes Healthcare Consulting, is back on the program and today we are talking about stress. Dr. David and Jay discuss stress management in depth and how people tend to deal with that stress. Some people avoid stressful situations altogether if they can, some people avoid the stress of bad news by not seeking help, and others know to de-program for a while and recharge. Dr. Dave talks about his own physical manifestation of stress while in residency and we even dip our toes into the stress that come to employees when a culture in a company is off balance. If you are feeling stressed and not sure quite how to handle it, Dr. David Yerkes has got you covered.

"It is clearly absurd to limit the term 'education' to a person's formal schooling." - Murray Rothbard The founder and CEO of Integrated Financing Jonathan Fodera is back on the show to day and he is here to talk finance. Jay and Jonathan are unpacking the issues facing personal finance, the real estate market, and what financial problems entrepreneurs are facing in this tough economic climate. Jonathan is a staunch proponent of going back to and stick to sound principles in the financial space and making sure that people are investing in hard assets and cultivating and maintaining your source of income. This man has forgotten more about finance than most of us will ever know, so make sure you listen carefully to this episode of The Culture Matters Podcast.

"I am a forrest and a night of dark trees. But he who is not afraid of my darkness will find banks full of roses under my cypresses." - Friedrich Nietzsche Christine Beckwith is the founder of 20/20 Vision for Success and the author of Finding Honor: The Journey to Truth and she is back on the show today to discuss chapter three of her book titled "Salvation". This is a very personal episode and chapter as Christine discusses her sister's passing and the effect that had on her and her work on this book. Christine shares some stories about her interactions with her sister in her final days, her sister's journey to self-improvement and forgiveness, and the emotional toll such a life-changing experience had on Christine. While the circumstances are extremely sad, the insights into redemption and self-reflection are inspiring so please enjoy part three of our series with Christine Beckwith.

"Necessity is the mother of invention." - Plato Well, folks, we made it! Today is the 300th episode of The Culture Matters Podcast and we couldn't think of a better person to share this monumental occasion with than the founder of The Pavement Group, Top Contractor School, and the host of "The Brian Hess Show" podcast...the one and only Brian Hess! In today's conversation, Jay and Brian talk about what drove Brian to take The Pavement Group beyond asphalt, the inspiration behind the advances in technology TPG has pioneered, and how a CEO's responsibility extends into continually finding new opportunities for the company. It's been quite a ride to get to 300 and we're looking forward to 300 more!

"It is easier to find men who are willing to die than to find those who are willing to endure pain with patience." - Julius Caesar Eddy Perez, the founder of EPM, is back with us today and today we're talking about how culture impacts organizations such as fraternities. After discussing how Chick-fil-A turned Eddy from a "you're welcome" guy to a "my pleasure" guy and how that little bit of extra respect can go a long way, we're getting into Tony's time as a fraternity brother in college. Eddy talks about fund-raising being one of the most difficult things you will ever do, how reaching vice-president of his fraternity helped shape the man he became, and what lessons about the importance of culture his fraternity bestowed on him. Eddy's perspective on fraternity life and about some of the cultural things that go on behind the scenes are a unique first-hand account of his experiences and go a long way is showing that culture can and does exist everywhere.

"Unless you have 100% customer satisfaction, you must improve." - Horst Schulze On a very special episode of The Culture Matters Podcast, Tony Capullo, the founder of South Fork Business Ventures is back for the fifth part in his series where he turns the microphone on Jay Doran and asks him the questions about culture. During today's discussion, Jay his sharing his thoughts on an employee's willingness to recommend the company they work for, how the behavior of the people in charge can and will directly affect the people working for them, and Tony shares a story about what true customer service looks like. We're talking nothing but culture today, so please enjoy this discussion with Tony Capullo and Jay Doran.

"What good are you as a business or a business leader if you don't care about your people?" - Adam Contos Marine veteran, former CEO of the International ReMax, co-founder of Area 15 Ventures, author, and the host of the "Start With a Win" podcast Adam Contos joins the show today and what a show it is! We're getting into the importance of the people at the top making time for the people in the trenches of their business, the importance and value of content creation, and we even get to hear Adam give Jay some step by step instructions on ways to aesthetically improve The Culture Matters Podcast. And as if that wasn't enough, Adam gives some information on what franchising a business looks like and how it can lead to more revenue. We're so happy to have Adam back on the show and we hope you are too!

“Leadership is about recognizing that there is a greatness in everyone and your job is creating an environment where that greatness can emerge.” - Bill Campell Clement Pepe is a mentor, coach, and advisor for over three decades in the insurance space and he is going Jay on the show today to discuss tapping into your inner power. From starting in sales with Prudential Insurance in 1970 and helping take them to number one in sales over the next 20 years, there isn't much Clement doesn't know about this business. We're unpacking Clement's journey from the Navy into insurance sales, his views on relating to the things happening in the world, and being proactive instead of reactionary in the landscape of insurance sales. Clement has lived a fascinating life and has achieved success seemingly in every space he's touched. With that in mind, please enjoy this conversation with Clement Pepe.

"The adage is 'love your enemies', not, 'trust your enemies'. Love means forgiveness after being let down and open to try again. Love means burdening truth, living in truth, and being in the conflicts of interaction. There are personal revealings of potential in the actions of love. We trust too soon, ask too few questions, omit too much, and forgive too little. Love people. Believe and verify and trust actions. Give people chances to redeem themselves and you will be better for it." The founder of Duffin Media and the man with the golden voice John Duffin is back on the show today and we are so happy to have him back! After Jay and John work out a quick friend or enemy debate, we're getting into why it is so important to listen fully when others speak, the value of change in yourself when change is called for, and John even gives us a firsthand account of the best presentation he has ever been apart of. With a voice like John's, it shouldn't be too hard to pay attention to what this man has to say, but make sure you really listen because he has a lot of knowledge to spread around!

“Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point.” - C.S. Lewis CEO of G. Fedale Roofing and Siding Adam Fedale is our guest on the show today to give our listeners a little insight into his story and the success of his family's business. Adam talks with Jay about how he went from a big corporate sales job to working his way up the ladder in his family's company, how honesty and integrity are the linchpins of the company's success, and how being in touch with what's going on day-to-day with all of the team members and being sensitive to their issues makes for a much more harmonious working environment. Remember to go with your gut, trust your team, and always try to have balance. That's the Adam Fedale way and it seems to be working out pretty well for him.