By Leadersmith | Darin Gerdes

In this episode I want to talk about lessons I learned as I launched a new YouTube Channel. Lessons: -Instead of feeling overwhelmed by what you are doing, decide to double down. Do more, not less. -Don’t worry about results in the short-term. Focus on Synergy -Do not despise the day of small beginnings. -Do what you want to do and you won’t feel l…

In this episode, I provide 7 keys to becoming a better leader. • I talk about how to become a better leader at work. • I'll provide seven key steps that will help you become a better leader. • I talk about inspiration, motivation, and organizational culture. This applies to being a better leader in school, being a better small group leader, team le…

Ok, if you are watching this, you watched Part I where you learned Zelenskyy’s formula for uniting the world behind him as Russia invaded Ukraine and Zelensky united the Western Word behind him. In this episode I continue to unpack his speeches to show you how he did it. In all I cover roughly 30 speeches. I wrote a book on President Zelenskyy beca…

The Russian-Ukraine war has raged for more than 8 weeks now. He has been the leader of the free world in defending democracy from aggression. How did he unite and unify the world? What did he say that caused the world to rally to his cause? In this episode (and the parts that follow) I will unpack his speeches to show you how he did it. I wrote a b…

IS PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY GAY? A SATANIST? NO! HERE IS THE PROOF [EPISODE 214] The Russian-Ukraine war has raged for more than 7 weeks now. I wrote a book on President Zelenskyy because I found him to be an intriguing leader. You can find it here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Need-Ammunition-Not-Ride-Volodymyr-ebook/dp/B09VVW3NSV/ref=sr_1_1?crid=6…

The Russian-Ukraine war has raged for 6 weeks now. I wrote a book on President Zelenskyy because I found him to be an intriguing leader. You can find it here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Need-Ammunition-Not-Ride-Volodymyr-ebook/dp/B09VVW3NSV/ref=sr_1_1?crid=6YHOEVZ983NQ&keywords=i+need+ammunition%2C+not+a+ride&qid=1647625321&s=digital-text&spr…

The Russian-Ukraine war has raged for 6 weeks now. I wrote a book on President Zelenskyy because I found him to be an intriguing leader. You can find it here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Need-Ammunition-Not-Ride-Volodymyr-ebook/dp/B09VVW3NSV/ref=sr_1_1?crid=6YHOEVZ983NQ&keywords=i+need+ammunition%2C+not+a+ride&qid=1647625321&s=digital-text&spr…

The Russian-Ukraine war had raged for over a month now. I asked urban warfare expert, John Spencer, to come on the show to tell us how he would defend a city from a hostile force. If you are not familiar with John, here are some highlights of his bio: -Award-winning scholar, professor, author, combat veteran -Internationally recognized expert and a…

I am deeply impressed with President Zelenskyy of the Ukraine during the Russian-Ukrainian war. I've written a book about Zelenskyy’s leadership. In this episode I want to talk about his first major strategic mistake. He's done almost everything right up till this point. I'll explain what it is, why it's a mistake, and I'll explain what he has done…

This is Part 2 of a 2-part series on President Zelensky. Like many of you, I have been watching the Russian invasion of Ukraine. I started reading up on Putin to understand why he did what he did. Then a few days into the war, I read that when the U.S. offered to get President Zelenskyy out of the country, he replied “The fight is here. I need ammu…

Like many of you, I have been watching the Russian invasion of Ukraine. I started reading up on Putin to understand why he did what he did. Then a few days into the war, I read that when the U.S. offered to get President Zelensky (Zelenskyy in Ukrainian) out of the country, he replied “The fight is here. I need ammunition, not a ride.” I thought—WO…

I have been watching what has been going on in Ukraine and trying to understand it. I think I have a good grasp of the situation, including Putin’s motivation for invading the Ukraine. Is Putin crazy? I think there is more to the story. He is not nuts. Is he trying to reestablish the Soviet Union? Not exactly. Putin thinks differently. Once you und…

In this episode, I sit down with my friend, Dr. Kenny Embry to talk about the nature of expertise. We talk about the attributes that make up expertise, and how to know true expertise when you see it. It is not what you might think. Kenny had a Ph.D. in Communication and he hosts his own podcast, Balancing the Christian Life (https://www.balancingth…

In this episode, I talk about the study that came out recently that showed the lockdowns do very little to prevent COVID-19 mortality. The study was published in Studies in Applied Economics (SAE). SAE is produced by the Johns Hopkins Institute for Applied Economics, Global Health, and the Study of Business Enterprise. You can see the study here: h…

In this episode, I talk about manipulation and focus on how you are manipulated at work, through rewards programs, and most insidiously through apps that are designed to manipulate you. I draw heavily on an article: How ‘Gamification’ of everything is manipulating you by Stephen Johnson. https://lifehacker.com/how-gamification-of-everything-is-mani…

In this episode, I talk about foresight and I focus on the time where Mao targeted sparrows as an enemy of the state during the cultural revolution in China. I reviewed an article: China’s worst self-inflicted environmental disaster: The campaign to wipe out the common sparrow.https://gizmodo.com/china-s-worst-self-inflicted-environmental-disaster-…

In this episode I talk about business trends that will influence 2022. We thought 2020 was bad (and it was) and we were optimistic as we turned the corner to 2021. In hindsight, we might have been prematurely optimistic. How should we think about what comes next in 2022? In this episode I review this article from the Financial Times and I offer my …

In this episode I talk about how to create value through one of two certain paths to economic success. I review an article where one woman did it. She went from 1 cent to $80,000 in a very short period of time. If you understand the principle, you can do it too. Here is the link to the article I mentioned: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/22/tiktoker-s…

I get this question periodically. I thought I would review the best leadership books on Amazon’s Best Books list and help you decide. I will review Amazon’s 30 top choices and tell you what I know about them. Then you can decide what you should read next. Here is the link to Amazon Best Sellers on leadership and management so you can make your sele…

At the end of every episode, I share a quotation for contemplation. In this episode I share some of the best leadership quotes I have collected. This will be a great listen. I promised you could have the to use. Here they are: https://csuniv0-my.sharepoint.com/:f:/g/personal/dgerdes_csuniv_edu/Ep21AVCI8f1GiKb8-gZBmn4BAxrq9SlszYNfHpWSAvhXlQ?e=Wpdk87…

At the end of every episode, I share a quotation for contemplation. In this episode I share some of the best leadership quotes I have collected. This will be a great listen. Hey, if you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing and tell others who might benefit from this podcast. I would like to hear from you. You can leave a comment below.…

In this episode, I am reviewing the book the Happiest man on Earth. The book is a great read. I read it twice in three days. I urge you to read it. The author provides a number of excellent lessons. While these are not intended to be leadership lessons, nearly all of these lessons are good lessons for leaders. During the presentation, I talked abou…

In this episode, I want to talk about making tough decisions. Recently, Nikole Hannah-Jones tweeted that she felt shame when she visited Hiroshima. She also said, “They dropped the bomb when they knew surrender was coming because they’d spent all this money developing it and to prove it was worth it,” she wrote. “Propaganda is not history my friend…

In this episode, I explain a number of leadership lessons from an obscure founding father whose actions may have saved the American Revolution. You don’t want to miss this episode of the podcast. I promise you will learn and grow if you lend me your time today. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing and tell others who might benef…

In this episode, I have a second conversation with Tyler Lee. Tyler is a serial entrepreneur who is now running for the United States Congress. He will tell us why. I have known Tyler since 2006 when he was a student of mine at Liberty University. He brings some business sensibilities to politics. You will be impressed as I was. If you enjoyed this…

In this episode, I have a conversation with Tyler Lee. Tyler is a serial entrepreneur who has a wonderful understanding of the lessons needed to be successful in business. They are probably not what you think. I have known Tyler since 2006 when he was a student of mine at Liberty University. He impressed me then, and he impressed me now. If he wrot…

I don’t know much about Bitcoin, and I am not sure that Mr. Goxx does either, but he has made 19.41% trading cryptocurrency and I am going to tell you how. I will explain how he did it. It is a strategy you can replicate, but you need to understand the risks. At any rate, I am confident that this is not a strategy you have considered before. More i…

I am ignorant about country music, but during a recent trip to Nashville, I had the chance to visit both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Grand Ole Opry. I drew a number of leadership lessons (and broader business lessons) from the experience and in this episode I discuss it with my colleague Maxwell Rollins. Maxwell is the Graduate Programs …

In this episode, I have a conversation with a former student, Adam Caplinger. Adam spent two semesters engaged in the research question: What was Jesus like as a leader? This led us to co-write a paper that we will be presenting to the Christian Business Faculty Association (CBFA) next week. We share our thoughts with you here. If you enjoyed this …

Have you ever wondered why gas prices go up and down? In this episode, I will explain how gas stations determine what they charge you at the pump. I will explain how the price of crude, supply and demand, local competition, and most importantly the gas station’s real business model—which is not what you think—all connect to get to the amount you ar…

In this episode, I continue my conversation with David Hajjar as he helps us understand what will happen in a Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. David has been involved in relief work for 35 years with the UN, USAID, and similar organizations. In this episode, he gives us a more practical view of what is likely to happen next in Afghanistan. If you mi…

In this episode, I have a fascinating conversation with David Hajjar. David has worked in relief work with the UN, USAID, and similar organizations for 35 years. He is a native of Lebanon and lived there during the civil war. In this episode he gives us a philosophical overview of the middle east to help us process what will happen in Afghanistan a…

This is a continuation of my discussion of Leadership in British Lit. with Jeff Carlucci in the last episode. Jeff has been teaching literature since 1982. He will recap his thoughts from the last episode and provide new insights that have emerged from British Literature and his time teaching (since 1982). If you enjoyed this discussion, you are in…

In this episode, I have a conversation with my good friend Jeff Carlucci. Jeff has been teaching literature since 1982. He will provide a number of leadership lessons that emerge from British Literature—and he does it masterfully. If you enjoyed this discussion, you are in luck. Jeff will be back next week to continue the discussion. Beyond that, J…

In this episode, I have a conversation with a former student, Jonathan Lindstrom, who started a health coaching business—Body4Christ. I invited him to come on because what he does perfectly illustrates the change process. The change process includes the same variables whether you are leading others at the office or trying to lose weight at home. Wh…

In this episode, I review a Wall Street Journal Article by Patrick Johnson discussing the prospects for the four day work week and reviewing the history of such experiments. And, of course, I add a bit of my own commentary. You can read the article, Is a Four-Day Week the Future of Work? here: https://www.wsj.com/articles/is-a-four-day-week-the-fut…

In this episode, I have a fascinating talk with Randy Herbertson. Randy is a brand strategist and creative director. He has been a corporate facilitator, consumer insight specialist and a creative strategist. Randy has produced some absolutely fascinating work. This was an amazing learning experience for me, and I am sure it will be for you. If you…

In this episode, I have a conversation with Coach Mike DeTerlizzi. Mike was one of my students at Charleston Southern University and he had held a variety of coaching jobs. He has applied what he learned in his MBA program and he shares with us the insights that he has developed about leadership with his Texas high school football team. If you enjo…

THIS IS WHY CONSERVATIVES ARE SKEPTICAL ABOUT THE 2020 ELECTION [EPISODE 180] In this episode, I review a brilliant argument posted in 35 separate tweets on Twitter and I view it through the lens of a well established academic theory to explain how and why conservatives view the 2020 elections. I mentioned an article in the podcast about how the Su…

In this episode, I have a conversation with Dustin Moody of the Denver Institute for Faith and Work. He will reveal the results of their worst boss survey. He will provide the top results and then we will talk about a few worst boss experiences. When you are done, you will see your boss differently. If you would like to contact Dustin, you can emai…

In this episode I want to talk about what happened on the 4th of July—why it matters. It is not an irrelevant event or a holiday of the oppressor, but the key event that undermined the evils of slavery. It enabled the civil rights movement (MLK drew upon it for authority), and if we apply it, it can help us fix what ails us today. Leadership, accor…

In this episode, I welcome Enrique Fiallo. Enrique has an incredible story. Enrique is a former CEO of a publicly traded company. He made some unethical choices as CEO and served time in prison. While in prison, he talked to other inmates to understand how they thought about what they did and he found that it mirrored his experience. In our talk, h…

In this episode, I continue my interview the author of one of the Steward Leader. This is part two of a two-part discussion. In this episode, Scott talks about the mission statement that every church and Christian organization in the world should use—and how it changes everything. He goes on to tell us how well-intentioned leaders get started on a …

In this episode, I interview the author of one of the best books I have read on leadership—EVER. I am so enamored with this book that I require it in my first class on leadership in the masters program at Charleston Southern where I am a professor. The book is profound because Scott has done the hard work of really thinking deeply about a theology …

In this episode I talk to Teresa Petcovic, a former student who spent two semesters researching the question of the monetary value of leadership for her final project in her masters program in leadership. I assigned her the task. She did a fantastic job researching the question. She earned an A, and she is here to reveal her findings. The results a…

I am again talking to Ty Coleman. Ty is a good friend. We attend church together. He was on the last episode where he provided his top 10 reasons that people are denied a loan. Then he explained what he can see in the paperwork—how he can predict success or failure in life beyond the mortgage. In this episode, Ty puts his credit counselor hat back …

In this episode, I am talking to Ty Coleman. Ty is a good friend. One day we got to talking about what he does, and we realized, he would add value to listeners of this podcast. Ty will provide his top 10 reasons that people are denied a loan and he tells us what else he can tell about people when he looks at the paperwork. He can tell a lot about …

In this episode, I continue my conversation with Jim Hunter. We discuss why we need to hear this servant-leadership message repeatedly, the pivotal difference between power and accountability, how leadership is like love, the power of community in culture, and how his thinking has progressed over time. If you missed the first part, go back one epis…

In this episode I sit down with Jim hunter, author of the Servant, the Servant Leadership Training Course, and the Culture. It is a fascinating conversation where Jim unpacks the difference between leadership and servant leadership. We talk about character as the core of effective leadership, how to develop it, the difference between a bad boss and…