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Decidedly I Decision Tips for Business Owners

Decidedly I Decision Tips for Business Owners

By: Sanger Smith and Shawn Smith
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 Defeating bad decision-making for family business owners, so you can improve their health, wealth, and relationships.Sanger Smith and Shawn Smith Economics Leadership Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • She Grew Up Trapped on a Boat And Became a Global CEO | Suzanne Heywood’s Untold Story // Ep 165 REPLAY

    She Grew Up Trapped on a Boat And Became a Global CEO | Suzanne Heywood’s Untold Story // Ep 165 REPLAY
    Jul 9 2025
    What if your childhood was a prison disguised as adventure?In this gripping episode of Decidedly, Suzanne Heywood shares the shocking true story of growing up trapped on a sailboat for nearly a decade—with no friends, no school, and no way out. Her parents set off to “follow Captain Cook,” but what began as a three-year journey turned into a cult-like isolation across the oceans.At just 16, Suzanne made a bold escape, taught herself through mail-order courses, and earned a place at Oxford University. Today, she’s the COO of Exor—one of Europe’s most powerful holding companies.🎧 Suzanne reveals:The psychological toll of her unconventional upbringingWhat it took to escape and reinvent her lifeHow education became her lifelineHer philosophy on decision-making and leadershipWhy resilience—not privilege—is the ultimate advantageIf you’ve ever felt stuck in someone else’s story, this conversation will remind you: your life is yours to rewrite.CHAPTERS00:00 Intro: Defeating Bad Decision-Making in Life andBusiness 00:50 When Sanger Lived on Ramen 03:13 Introducing Suzanne Heywood 04:21 Suzanne’s Family’s Decision to Sail Around theWorld 06:37 Early Childhood Questions About the Voyage 09:00 Suzanne’s Father’s Motivation for the Voyage 11:25 Questionable Parental Decisions13:41 Dangers and Limited Food on the Boat 16:04 Life at Sea: Loneliness, Limited Friendships, andSchooling 18:28 Food Shortages20:46 Stuck on the Boat23:10 A Manipulated “Vote” to Keep Sailing32:55 Education as Suzanne’s Escape from the Boat 40:01 Limited Communication and CorrespondenceChallenges 47:08 Sacrifices Made to Pursue Education 49:33 Struggles of University Life and Financial Hardships 51:56 Suzanne’s Reflections on Parental Choices andFinancial Strain 57:26 Suzanne Heywood’s Decision-Making Tip for Business Owners 57:48 Key Takeaways 59:47 Message from the Producer CONNECT WITH US⁠⁠www.decidedlypodcast.com⁠⁠⁠Watch this episode on YouTube⁠Subscribe on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠Join us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠: @decidedlypodcastJoin us on ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠Shawn’s ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠: @shawn_d_smithSanger’s ⁠Instagram⁠⁠: @sangersmith Thank you to Shelby Peterson of Transcend Media for editing and post-production of the Decidedly podcast. SANGER’S BOOK: ⁠⁠A Life Rich with Significance: Transforming Your Wealth to Meaningful Impact⁠⁠ SHAWN’S BOOK: ⁠⁠Plateau Jumping: What to Change When Change Is What You Want⁠⁠ MAKING A FINANCIAL DECISION?At ⁠⁠Decidedly Wealth Management⁠⁠, we focus on decision-making as the foundational element of success, in our effort to empower families to purposefully apply their wealth to fulfill their values and build a thriving legacy. LEARN MORE: ⁠⁠www.decidedlywealth.com⁠⁠ SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:⁠⁠ https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001aeU_pPBHJPNJWJBdVbaci6bjGIuEJurH12xHBWDEVT_NxyCadMd7wLSZjcEZglkSjDjehuIbTHD8nABOIdV69ctfYpSzg24RCIytetBUrlIPPKgaGzjGZ8DkM0Wp1LMjbErcYUur7PbZGjeVo4gyXlz821AoJGZR⁠⁠ CONNECT WITH SUZANNE HEYWOODWebsite: ⁠www.suzanneheywood.com⁠LinkedIn:⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzanneheywood⁠Facebook: ⁠www.facebook.com/suzanne.heywood⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/suzanneheywood1⁠Suzanne Heywood’s story is anything but typical. At just seven years old, she was pulled from her home and set adrift on a small yacht with her family, facing ten years of brutal storms, danger, and isolation on the world’s most unforgiving oceans. It’s a tale of grit and survival that shaped her into the powerhouse she is today. Now a respected business leader, Suzanne is here to share her wild, unfiltered journey, captured in her memoir, Wavewalker.
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    1 hr and 14 mins
  • Ep. 186: Deciding to Hike Your Own Hike: Lessons from the Trail About Business, Belonging, and Becoming

    Ep. 186: Deciding to Hike Your Own Hike: Lessons from the Trail About Business, Belonging, and Becoming
    Jun 23 2025

    What does a 500-mile trek through Spain, a rain-soaked trail in Scotland, and a solo summit in Colorado have to do with building a meaningful life or business?

    In this episode, we share the unexpected lessons learned from long-distance hikes, Ironman races, and conversations on the trail — and how they mirror the journey of entrepreneurship, leadership, and self-discovery.

    From the spiritual silence of the Camino de Santiago to the muddy mess of the West Highland Way, this isn’t just a story about hiking — it’s about purpose, progress, and the people who walk beside us (or don’t).

    If you’ve ever felt like the finish line didn’t fulfill you… this one’s for you.

    KEY TOPICS

    • “Hike your own hike”: What this means for life, business, and ignoring the noise

    • Why the journey is the reward — not the goal or the finish line

    • What hiking in the rain teaches us about embracing discomfort

    • The real reason entrepreneurs hesitate to sell their businesses

    • How solitude reveals what you’re actually chasing

    • The power of walking with the right people, not just anyone

    • The Camino de Santiago’s secret economy, sacred history, and soul-deep meaning

    • How to follow the right signs — and know when someone else’s path isn’t yours

    CHAPTERS

    • 00:00 Introduction

    • 00:51 Hiking in Scotland: The West Highland Way

    • 02:18 Hiking Etiquette and Annoyances

    • 03:28 Conquering Colorado's Fourteeners

    • 07:51 The Spiritual Journey of the Camino de Santiago

    • 14:44 The History and Experience of the West Highland Way

    • 16:54 Group Hiking Dynamics

    • 20:35 The Pressure to Grow in Business

    • 21:07 Redefining Success: Progress Over Growth

    • 21:50 A Lesson from the Parish Priest

    • 22:56 Zappos' Unique Hiring Practice

    • 23:59 The Importance of Human Connection

    • 27:17 The Journey is the Reward

    • 33:53 Lessons from Hiking

    • 38:31 Embracing Hardship

    • 41:21 Final Thoughts on Hiking and Life

    CONNECT WITH US

    • www.decidedlypodcast.com

    • Join us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/decidedlypodcast

    • Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/decidedlypodcast

    • Shawn’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/shawn_d_smith

    • Sanger’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/sangersmith

    MAKING A FINANCIAL DECISION?

    At Decidedly Wealth Management, we focus on decision-making as the foundational element of success, in our effort to empower families to purposefully apply their wealth to fulfill their values and build a thriving legacy.

    LEARN MORE

    www.decidedlywealth.com
    SUBSCRIBE TO OUR WEEKLY DECISION-MAKING TIP EMAIL

    Join us every Wednesday for more strategies to DEFEAT bad decision-making - one episode at a time!
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    42 mins

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