You won't want to wait to hear the choices Adam Farr made in his career! Change your life with this thought-provoking conversation with business leader & philosopher, Adam Farr. Adam sits as Chair of Empanada.co and other companies, Utah's best and fastest growing empanada company. Not only does he know business, but he knows a thing or two about what stoicism really is and how to lead a better life!Use Adam's philosophy to become a better leader today..."Try anything and everything.""Symbiotic relationships fuel growth.""Become comfortable in ambiguity."Catch up with Adam's meditations and practices:https://m.youtube.com/@Virtue_and_Victoryhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-farr-3012874https://empanada.co/https://aretemotion.com/See more at: MarkSpencerCook.com/Podcast/Links for Mark S. Cook: MarkSpencerCook.com | WindfallPartners.comLinkedIn for Mark S. Cook: LinkedIn.com/in/@MarkSpencerCookOther Social Media: @MarkSpencerCookQuestions Explored in this Discussion:• How can one get out of bed in the morning?• When can one leave success behind?• How does one organize priorities?• How should one market a company?• Why do relationships matter?Lessons Learned:• Live to help others.• Be a warrior in the garden.• Never forget to reflect.• Showing up is half the battle.• What's good for the bee is good for the hive.• Differentiate what is and is not in your control.• The power of stoicism in the workplace.0:00 Introduction1:35 Early Choices 7:37 Stoicism12:30 Memento Mori19:40 Walking Away32:16 Starting a Start-Up44:05 Marcus Aurelius54:12 Marketing1:07:10 Power in Numbers1:09:39 Comfort in Ambiguity1:12:40 ConclusionKeywords:Leadership, relationship, customers, marketing, stoicism, Aurelius, excellence, arete, empanada, fatherhood, control, toughness, symbiosis

Prepare for part two of Jill Dempsey's harrowing journey after discovering the multi-million dollar fraud taking place in her company. Following a years-long trial, Jill continues to pivot her professional career, eventually becoming the Executive Director of the US Friends of AMAR. There, she oversees Middle-Eastern support for individuals affected by military conflict and displacement.Learn how to rebuild in the worst of times with Jill's inspiring story:"Don't scale what's toxic.""Integrity is expensive, but worth it.""Rebuild with aligned ecosystems.""Live in your legacy, not for it."Link:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jilld/See more at: MarkSpencerCook.com/Podcast/Links for Mark S. Cook: MarkSpencerCook.com | WindfallPartners.comLinkedIn for Mark S. Cook: LinkedIn.com/in/@MarkSpencerCookOther Social Media: @MarkSpencerCookQuestions Explored:• How to lead multiple different companies?• When to stand up against your superiors?• How to leverage your assets?• How to rebuild after a total loss?• Who to turn to when times are dim?Lessons Learned:• Be willing to adapt and compromise.• Snuff out toxicity before it grows.• Being grateful for obstacles.• Stand by your integrity no matter what.• Work for what you love.• Your legacy is how you live right now.• Don't be afraid to pivot.Keywords:CEO, CFO, COO, Non-profit, Entrepreneurship, Woman leaders, Resilience, Legacy, Rebuilding, Fraud, Whistleblower, Workplace toxicity, Middle-East, Integrity.

Prepare for part one of this nail-biting conversation with Jill Dempsey, C-suite positioner (CEO, CFO, and COO) of a half-a-dozen different non-profit and growth-stage companies. Witness her journey leading up to her shocking discovery of a multi-million-dollar fraud taking place within her company.Learn how to balance professional growth and personal values with Jill's powerful story:"Don't scale what's toxic.""Integrity is expensive, but worth it.""Rebuild with aligned ecosystems.""Live in your legacy, not for it."Link:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jilld/See more at: MarkSpencerCook.com/Podcast/Links for Mark S. Cook: MarkSpencerCook.com | WindfallPartners.comLinkedIn for Mark S. Cook: LinkedIn.com/in/@MarkSpencerCookOther Social Media: @MarkSpencerCookQuestions Explored:• How to lead multiple different companies?• When to stand up against your superiors?• How to leverage your assets?• How to rebuild after a total loss?• Who to turn to when times are dim?Lessons Learned:• Be willing to adapt to compromise.• Snuff out toxicity before it grows.• Being grateful for obstacles.• Stand by your integrity no matter what.• Work for what you love.• Your legacy is how you live right now.• Don't be afraid to pivot.Keywords:CEO, CFO, COO, Non-profit, Entrepreneurship, Woman leaders, Resilience, Legacy, Rebuilding, Fraud, Whistleblower, Workplace toxicity, Middle-East, Integrity.

Join Kevin Eikenberry, one of Inc.com's Top 100 Leadership and Management Experts in the World, as he shares his secrets to success. For thirty years, Kevin has been training leaders realize their potential and shoot for the stars!

Exclusive tips to be a better boss in a hyper-speed work-world:

"Think big, start small…"

"Practice with people, not data…"

"Never forget the fundamentals…"

Learn more from best-selling author and expert leader…

See more at: MarkSpencerCook.com/Podcast/

Links for Mark S. Cook: MarkSpencerCook.com | WindfallPartners.com

LinkedIn for Mark S. Cook: LinkedIn.com/in/@MarkSpencerCook

Other Social Media: @MarkSpencerCook

Questions Explored in this Discussion:

• How to close the "knowing/doing" gap?

• How to set long-lasting habits?

• How to balance consistency with flexibility?

• How fast to progress through life?

• What to do in transitionary periods?

Lessons Learned:

• Observe successful leaders to become one.

• You have to build habits to gain skills.

• Learn to balance conflicting skills.

• How and when to give helpful feedback.

• Be patiently persistent.

• Life moves one day at a time.

• It's never too late to return to the fundamentals.

Chapters

0:00 Introduction

3:40 Changing With the Times

11:00 Kevin's Background

14:06 Learning to Lead

17:05 Mindset/Skillset/Habitset

22:26 Flexibility vs Consistency

28:48 Intentionality

32:45 Giving Grace

38:11 Positive vs corrective feedback

45:24 Think Big, Start Small

47:12 Transitioning into Leadership

49:04 Return to Your Roots

Website: kevineikenberry.com

Flexible Leadership Book: kevineikenberry.com/flexible

Confidence Masterclass: kevineikenberry.com/gift

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevineikenberry/

Keywords:

bestselling author, leadership, flexibility, patience, constructive feedback, habits, consistency, intentionality

What if everything you’ve believed about marketing was based on a broken premise? Erik Wolf—former award-winning agency founder, speaker, and creator of the Unified Marketing System—reveals the shocking disconnect between what clients buy and what actually delivers results.

Erik takes us through his riveting career journey from fake jobs and false starts to real breakthroughs and a final reinvention as the behind-the-scenes “Coach X” for marketing teams nationwide. From watching a dream crumble in his twenties to building a multimillion-dollar agency—and then walking away—he now mentors executives and marketing managers to finally fix what’s broken inside.

Start treating marketing like a business problem—not a branding mystery.

Secret: The #1 reason marketing fails has nothing to do with the agency you hired… and everything to do with you:

"It's not enough just to do a job."

"I realized my job was made up."

"Become an expert in something."

You won’t believe Erik’s first stop in the professional world!

Links:

https://ewolf.live

https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikwolf

MarkSpencerCook.com/Podcast/ | WindfallPartners.com

YouTube.com/c/MarkSpencerCook/

LinkedIn.com/in/MarkSpencerCook

All Social Media: @MarkSpencerCook

Questions Explored:

What do you do when you discover your job isn’t real?

How can younger professionals find their footing without clarity?

Why do most companies fail at marketing before they even begin?

What’s the most effective way to make marketing profitable today?

What happens when a founder outgrows their own business?

Lessons Learned:

Real marketing starts with customer truth—not creative assets.

Talk to 7–10 actual clients before building strategy.

Your service’s real value isn’t what you think it is.

Don’t confuse inertia with commitment.

If your heart’s not in it anymore, step out before you sell out.

Leaders must be marketing literate, not just buyers of services.

Marketing managers need mentorship—not just instructions.

Treat marketing like a system, not a series of tricks.

Chapters:

00:00 The Evolution of Marketing: A Personal Journey

02:47 Navigating Early Career Challenges

06:06 Discovering Passion in Marketing

08:57 The Transition to Entrepreneurship

11:52 Building a Marketing Agency: Lessons Learned

15:06 The Changing Landscape of Marketing

18:05 Realizations and Shifts in Perspective

21:03 The Decision to Pivot: Ending the Agency

24:03 Looking Ahead: New Beginnings

35:40 The Turning Point: Choosing Yourself

41:29 Navigating Career Transitions

45:46 The Shift to Coaching and Consulting

51:56 Practical Career Advice for Growth

55:42 Keys to Profitable Marketing

Keywords:

marketing leadership, business growth, marketing coaching, Erik Wolf, strategic reinvention, agency founder, startup lessons, customer discovery, career pivot, internal marketing teams, profitable marketing, client strategy, expert positioning, broken marketing systems

Join Rochelle Hemingway, CEO, SLAY To Success. Learn how Rochelle’s S.L.A.Y. formula—Stay ready, Lead out loud, Access community, You are built to last—took her from 18-year-old Airman to Command Chief guiding 8,000 people, and how one daily ritual fuels her momentum.

See more: MarkSpencerCook.com/Podcast.

Everyone faces stalled careers when confidence, health, and image misalign. Tune in and start slaying your leadership image today.

Secret: Discover Rochelle’s non-negotiable ritual for unshakeable presence…

“Stay ready to be ready.”

“Show up in excellence.”

“You are built to last.”

Find your unexpected “Y-switch” born in your “deployment”:

Website: https://slaytosuccess.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rochelle-hemingway-slays/

See more at: MarkSpencerCook.com/Podcast/

Links for Mark S. Cook: MarkSpencerCook.com | WindfallPartners.com

LinkedIn for Mark S. Cook: LinkedIn.com/in/@MarkSpencerCook

Other Social Media: @MarkSpencerCook

Questions Explored in This Discussion:

• Why does SLAY beat imposter syndrome?

• How to lead 8,000 airmen?

• Which habits anchor presence?

• What turns critics into allies?

• How can image speed promotions?

Lessons Learned:

• Audit your digital footprint before strangers shape your reputation.

• Prepare obsessively; unexpected chances favor those mastering basics.

• Model excellence daily; visible example persuades faster than directives.

• Voice your perspective early; self-advocacy gets decision-table seats.

• Cultivate allies & critics; community multiplies grit, feedback, & reach.

• Commit to one power ritual; repeat daily to recharge momentum.

• Design image intentionally—posture, attire, eye contact, readiness.

• Persist through slow promotions; breakthroughs follow the determined.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

02:49 Early Life

05:47 Civilian Transition

09:08 Service Challenges & Triumphs

11:59 Leadership Lessons

15:11 Identity & Presence

18:01 Beating Imposter Syndrome

21:02 Building Trust

23:56 Communication

26:55 Managing Difficult People

29:48 Leading Crisis & Change

33:07 Creating Community

35:56 Key Takeaways

36:21 Navigating Military Life

38:02 Journey to Parenthood

46:42 Reinventing After Service

50:32 The S.L.A.Y. Philosophy

1:03:32 Practical Tips to Thrive

Keywords

command chief, SLAY method, leadership, image consulting, personal branding, women leaders, military leadership, resilience, presence, community, imposter syndrome.

Prepare for a powerful conversation with Tate Stock, Founder and CEO of Chirp and viral Shark Tank standout. Stock and wife Hannah partnered to launch what is now Chirp. Soon after, Tate found himself negotiating between offers from: Kevin O'Leary, Robert Herjavec, and Lori Greiner as Mark Cuban and Daymond John made things both difficult and smarter.

Stock’s launch of a product made of sewer pipe and yoga mats was crowdfunded as a side hustle first and molded into a $100M+ brand used by millions of back pain sufferers.

Watch Bold Encounters at MarkSpencerCook.com/Podcast, YouTube.com/MarkSpencerCook, and also on Apple, Spotify, and most podcast platforms.

Everyone faces the pressure to succeed at work—to lead one’s own work and sometimes others to scale fast but stay real, as a person. Tate Stock reveals how his startup breakthrough began not with perfect branding—but with bold pivots and testing face-to-face conversations with real customers.

Discover how to move fast without faking success. Tate shows how shifting your use and message—not always your product design—can unlock opportunities, how imperfect efforts outperform polished delays, and why direct interaction beats expensive strategy decks every time.

Embark on a smarter path to meet needs and succeed at life’s work—help others—for fit and meaningful growth. Apply Tate’s methods today to test ideas, validate servees, and create momentum fast.

Tate Stock has redefined how wellness can reach the masses, moving from yoga to back pain, and gaining national attention:

• Viral back pain relief company with 6M+ wheels sold

• Shark Tank Season 12 standout with high-profile negotiations

• Named to Forbes 30 Under 30 – Manufacturing & Industry

• Grew from garages to big-box retailers, then direct ecomm.

Explore how Tate’s experience with crowdfunding, messaging pivots, and literally no-nonsense, transparent leadership can reshape the way entrepreneurs grow teams and results:

• Launch products even if they’re not perfect

• Test customers before investing too much

• Pivot messaging to unlock massive new markets

• Work side-by-side with your family without sacrificing either

• Lead with transparency, not politics

• Buy freedom with your earnings—not just stuff

• Create direct feedback loops from real people

• Treat trade shows like laboratories for truth

Questions Explored:

• How do you discover your real market?

• What makes Shark Tank deals intense?

• Can fake listings help test demand?

• What’s better than balance?

• How do bold pivots outperform branding?

Lessons Learned:

• Pivot messaging to reach new markets

• Sell relief, not theory

• Face-to-face tests beat surveys

• Build before it's perfect

• Let customers lead your evolution

• Family-first is a business strategy

• Launch even if it’s messy

• Transparency builds faster teams

Connect with Tate Stock:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatestock/

Website: https://gochirp.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gochirp/

See more at:

MarkSpencerCook.com/Podcast

MarkSpencerCook.com | WindfallPartners.com

LinkedIn: LinkedIn.com/in/@MarkSpencerCook

Other Social Media: @MarkSpencerCook

Keep cool under pressure. Elite leader Mark Thorpe, former LAX executive and Pandemic CEO of Ontario International Airport is now founder of Atmos Global Aviation and offers us his consulting right in the episode. Discover the strategic insights for travelling and leading that Mark employed during his tenure at Ontario, as he navigated the pandemic’s challenges.

Watch Bold Encounters at MarkSpencerCook.com/Podcast, YouTube.com/MarkSpencerCook, and also on Apple, Spotify, and most podcast platforms.

Everyone faces the challenge of leading in unprecedented crises in business. Mark Thorpe shares an approach to adapt. Discover how to adapt and thrive. Mark Thorpe reveals strategic insights on transforming setbacks into opportunities, focusing on innovative solutions to improve operations and morale during struggles.

Embark on a path to master crisis management but also to apply Mark's strategies today and transform your approach for leading. Implement his key lesson on streamlining operational continuity through a “storm.”

Mark Thorpe has led remarkable success in aviation. From stabilizing Ontario International Airport through local ownership transitions to leading strategic growth at DFW and LAX, his journey is a testament to resilience and innovation:

• Founder, Atmos Global Aviation Consulting

• Former CEO, Ontario International Airport Authority

• Led DFW’s cargo and logistics growth strategy

• Recruited numerous international airlines at LAX

Explore Mark Thorpe’s latest leadership tools at Atmos Global Aviation:

• Invaluable tools and travel strategies.

• Keys of serious operations.

• Unlock the rare lessons of crisis management.

• Transform crises into strategic opportunities.

• Adapt quickly to unprecedented challenges.

• Lead with resilience and innovation.

• Discover depths of pivotal moments

• Reshape an approach to leading anything.

Questions Explored:

• What strategies did Mark Thorpe use during the pandemic?

• How did Mark handle operational challenges at Ontario International Airport?

• What are the key insights from Mark’s leadership at DFW and LAX?

• How can aviation leaders navigate crises effectively?

• What role does innovation play in aviation management?

• How did Mark transition Ontario International to local control?

• What are the future trends in global aviation?

• How can strategic consulting aid in aviation industry growth?

Lessons Learned:

• Embrace flexibility and adaptability in leadership.

• Innovate to maintain operational continuity.

• Prioritize safety and security in operations.

• Develop strategies to navigate changing environments.

• Foster effective communication with stakeholders.

• Leverage data for informed decision-making.

• Build a resilient organizational culture.

• Utilize local control for operational efficiency.

LinkedIn: LinkedIn.com/in/markthorpe/

Website: AtmosGlobalAviation.com

See more at: MarkSpencerCook.com/Podcast, YouTube, and most podcast platforms.

MarkSpencerCook.com | WindfallPartners.com