December 17, 2019
The Top 13 Lessons We Learned in Season One of Guild Stories
2019 was year three of Guild Content.
In many ways, it was a difficult year. In many ways, transformational. In many ways, game-changing.
Since day one, an idea we’d kicked around was having a podcast “someday”.
Well, we finally quit talking about it and got to it in 2019…October 2nd to be exact.
We knew virtually nothing about starting, hosting, editing, or sharing a podcast when we began.
But we did know one thing pretty clearly… we’re crazy fortunate to know some incredible people.
People whose stories we know, stories we wanted the world to know. Or at least our little corner of it.
We recently wrapped up Season One of Guild Stories, and we really feel like we’re just scratching the surface.
But before we move on to Season Two in 2020, we’d be foolish to not hit pause to consider all the lessons we learned from our first round of stories.
So here goes, The Top 13 Lessons We Learned in Season One of Guild Stories:
- Go To Sleep – Mikey Wheeler, one of KC’s top tattoo artists and musicians, was our first guest. And when asked what advice he’d give those in his field (or any other field) who wanted to become among the best, his simple, practical advice should never be overlooked, “I eat breakfast in the morning. Then I go to work. Then we come home and eat dinner. And then we go to sleep. Take care of yourself. Exercise. Eat something green.”
- Don’t Let Your Past Dictate Your Future – CommunityAmerica CEO, Lisa Ginter, shared her whole-hearted leadership philosophy and her view on bringing your whole person into every area of life. When asked how a difficult past may prevent someone from having massive influence, Lisa replied, “The past isn’t what defines where you want to go or who you want to be… but it has to be woven into the fabric of what defines you.”
- Life is More Fragile Than We’d Like to Admit – Kansas City Royals Front Office Exec, Jason Booker, vulnerably shared the heartbreaking story of losing his brother, and how that tragedy has shaped his own career as well as the careers of those he mentors. “I learned at an early age, that life is very, very fragile. That you get one chance at life, and this whole sports path that I’ve been on…for me… it was about wanting to make him proud.”
- Most People Quit Too Soon – Dennis Curtin, the first-ever RE/MAX franchisee and current Region Owner, was incredibly generous with the wisdom he’s learned along the way. One word of caution he gave to “It’s all these little things you do every day, and it looks like it is a grind, and you’re pushing that rock up the hill… but all of a sudden if you keep doing it…everything changes. But that’s where people fail. They stop before they get the momentum going.”
- Consider Love When Making Tough Decisions – ECCO Select CEO, Jeannette Prenger, has not been a stranger to tough decisions as she’s grown a booming tech company from her kitchen table. The secret for her? Love. “Never let down the people who love you. Because if you think about that for every decision, it will keep you on a good ethical and moral compass.”
- Stay Open to Learning – Missouri Superintendent of the Year, Dr. Jeremy Tucker, on a lesson that works for leadership, parenting, marriage, and, well…just about anything. “I think it starts with a willingness to always be learning, and not assume that you ever have it figured out.”
- If It’s Not a Hell Yes, It’s a No – Our good friend and brilliant business owner, LeAnn Cruce, Founder of Love Letters, encouraged us to stay in the arena, despite the feedback from the spectators. And she also gave a simple, power-packed distinction she used when making decisions, “If it’s not a hell yes, it’s a no. And so, to me, now, I look at everything asked of me with that same question…”
- Set Your Own Sails – Jeff Stowell, Managing Director of Royal Street Ventures dispels many myths about entrepreneurism, including the ridiculous (and unhealthy) notion of having to carry the anxiety with you at all times. He also spoke directly about the upside of charting your own course in business ownership. “I think I have more control over my destiny than most other people around me. That was the most attractive part of it for me.”
- The Winding Road Will Bring You Back – Jim Eaton, Lead Singer from Outlaw Jim & The Whiskey Benders went to the depths with us to describe seasons of his life, where his winding road may have felt scary at the time, but it led him to the place where he built a life he loves. “It’s so much more fun when you come out of it, and it’s self-created, it’s organic, you feel like you’ve made it through on your own. You’ve survived your own decisions.”
- Vulnerability is the Stronger Path – Andy Studebaker, former NFL linebacker and current NFLPA rep takes the hard-hitting exterior off and vulnerably shows us the softer, more authentic parts. “The real Andy was terrified during the NFL. I was terrified to take chances. I was terrified to let people down. I was terrified to be myself.”
- Don’t Run From The Pain, Go Through It – Marcy Johnson, Director of Corporate Communications at National Beef opened up to us about losing her father, knowing Larry Bird, how stories have the power to change, and why facing the hard things is the way forward. “Adversity introduces a man unto himself. I think about that all the time. Because it’s only then that you realize who you are.”
- Live Your Life For You, Not For Someone Else’s Approval – Lonnie McFadden, singer, entertainer, tap dancer, and beautiful soul goes into the depths with us to discuss the early roots of Jazz in KC, and how he didn’t settle for a life he didn’t want to live for someone else’s approval. “For me, to be on stage, I’m consciously aware of how fortunate I am. My whole life, all I wanted to do was play music, and that’s what I’m doing.”
- Don’t Simply Chase Passion, Chase Love Tim Cowden, President & CEO of the Kansas City Area Development Council was the perfect end to Season One. His generosity, storytelling, and heart changed us. “And it’s much deeper than just passion, it’s love. And I knew I had this love for cities and regions and development.”
Season One blew away our expectations in every sense. We’re not sure how Season Two will surpass it.
But we’re sure ready to hear the stories and see what happens…
