Take Command: A Dale Carnegie Podcast

Who is Aarash Darroodi?Aarash Darroodi is General Counsel, Executive Vice President, and Corporate Secretary of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, one of the world’s global leaders in manufacturing instruments and amplifiers. He grew up in Iran with his grandparents and was able to move to his parents in the USA at the age of 7. His background and experience with immigration to the US shaped who he is today. With a background spanning over 19 countries, he connects cultures across the Americas, Europe, Asia, and beyond. His endeavors resulted in Fender's largest acquisition of PreSonus Audio Electronics. Darroodi attributes his success to several factors, including taking a Dale Carnegie course while he was a teenager. What will You Learn?Aarash offers key pieces of advice that are core to his success and ingrained in his philosophy of life:Become a Storyteller: Uncover the art of crafting impactful stories that resonate with people's emotions and drive engagement.Navigate Cross-Cultural Teams: Gain strategies for fostering understanding and collaboration across diverse cultural backgrounds.Execute Innovative Leadership Strategies: Explore unconventional yet effective approaches to leading teams and driving innovation.Grow Through Networking: Learn how building authentic connections can be a catalyst for personal and professional growth.Make Strategic Decisions: Explore methodologies for making informed decisions that lead to strategic outcomes.Apply Adaptive Learning Techniques: Discover techniques for adapting your learning style to various contexts and challenges.Be Resilient in Adversity: Explore ways to cultivate resilience and thrive in the face of adversity and uncertainty.Leadership Style & Story SummaryUnleashing Hidden Potential: Darroodi believes in humans' hidden potential. Often, external encouragement is needed to tap into greatness beyond imagination. He believes people are more capable than they think, and we all need someone to push us to go out of our comfort zone. When building a team, he seeks those who have a story, not just a great resume, those who overcame difficulties & challenges and showed resilience.The Power of Learning: Daarrodi advises us to embrace constant discovery and to engage with novel concepts and people. He treasures wisdom from mentors, focusing on punch lines & pivotal phrases engraved in memory.Nurture Growth: Darroodi champions empowering leadership. He promotes intercultural understanding, values GenZers, and dismantles hierarchical structures. As a guide, he aids individuals in pursuing their distinct North Star goals. He advises working with team members and learning from them.  Leaders and employees should learn about cultures and make a conscious effort to engage with the GenZers. When he works with individuals, he immediately asks them to figure out what they want to achieve in their lives and empowers everyone to have the freedom to share their ideas.Leadership Style: His role as a leader is to guide, advise, and help teams achieve and reach where their North Star is. Aarash helps his team to get closer to whatever that North Star goal is. ”I see it more as a guide. That's how I see leadership.”Join us and listen to Aarash's leadership insights about unleashing hidden potential, lifelong learning, and nurturing personal and professional growth.Thought Leadership SegmentIn today's Thought Leadership Spotlight segment, we welcome the President of Dale Carnegie of Arizona, Ken Beyersdorf, and highlight the core value of aligning actions with goals by applying one of the Dale Carnegie principles: "If you are wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically”. Like Aarash, our guest emphasizes the importance of having a clear vision and evaluating actions to achieve that vision. 

*Note: This episode was recorded in March 2023 About our guest:Meet Britta Wilson, who most recently served as the Vice President of Inclusion & Outreach at Pixar Animation, where she led initiatives to discover, nurture and empower diverse voices. Her primary focus is on cultivating resonant content, fostering a culture of belonging, and promoting compassionate community service.Prior to Pixar, she served as the Chief Diversity Officer/VP for Inclusion Strategies at Expedia, where corporate partners were often engaged in the filmmaking business, and as the SVP of Organization & People at Paramount Pictures.Her journey was far from conventional, comprising a series of adventures that shaped her career and life philosophy. This perspective became her guiding principle: a closed door leads to new opportunities.Britta's life journey also involved prioritizing her family and pursuing a Ph.D. in Education, specializing in organizational leadership. She consistently sought opportunities to make an impact and learn, even if it meant taking on roles with less prestigious titles. Setbacks were seen as learning moments, never reasons to wallow.What you will learn:How to turn setbacks into opportunities for personal and professional growthHow to embrace a unique and non-linear career pathHow to adopt a jungle gym approach to mindset and skill developmentThe art of active listening and learning from team members at all levelsHow to cultivate a culture of belonging and empathy within an organizationStrategic methods for driving change within diverse organizations.The power of storytelling as a platform for creating a lasting impact on people's livesLeadership Style & Story Summary:As a leader, Britta values the input and insights of her team members, firmly believing that everyone has the capacity to lead, regardless of their job title. To drive cultural change within organizations, she employs a strategic approach, engaging her team to collaboratively define the culture and envision a future where inclusivity thrives. The "Inclusion Summit" she organized serves as a powerful catalyst for fostering a sense of belonging and inclusion among all employees.Her approach aligns seamlessly with Pixar's "Culture Trust Process," which involves actively involving everyone in the filmmaking process, irrespective of their role. Britta recognizes storytelling as a potent tool to impact lives and feels privileged to contribute to stories that will endure long after her involvement.Join us in this captivating podcast episode as we delve into Britta Wilson's inspiring journey and her dedication to creating a positive impact through storytelling and inclusive leadership.Dale Carnegie Thought Leadership SegmentAlso, listen to Brittany Schmid, President/CEO at Dale Carnegie of San Diego, Los Angeles, Bay Area & Sacramento, as she shares insights on the profound influence of Empathy on both people and businesses.Please Leave a Review on your favorite listening platform!Enjoying our podcast? We'd love to hear from you!Leaving a review helps us ensure we deliver content that resonates with you. Your feedback can inspire others to join our Take Command Podcast community and benefit from the leadership insights we share. We appreciate your time, and we're excited that you are part of our journey!

Who are Redfoo and Piers Ridyard?Redfoo, born Stefan Kendal Gordy, is a multi-platinum-selling singer and two times Grammy nominee, songwriter, producer, and Web3 coder. Despite facing hurdles and criticism, Redfoo pursued his passion for music and achieved success. He is best known for his hit single "Party Rock Anthem" in 2011 and his performance for Super Bowl Half-Time Show in 2012. However, he has recently shifted his focus towards coding, considering it the ultimate creativity that combines math, science, engineering, and language.Piers Ridyard is CEO of Radix, a Web3 and DeFi company. He collaborates with Redfoo to create accessible and user-friendly digital platforms. They both share a common goal of making Web3 and Decentralized Finance (DeFi) easily approachable for everyone. They collaborated to develop #Scrypto, a programming language that simplifies the process of building on Web3 and DeFi, enabling individuals to create projects in a short time frame.What will you learn?The potential for personal growth and reinvention when transitioning to new career paths or passions.Effective leadership skills and strategies for driving transformative advancements in a chosen field.The idea process of development of user-friendly programming languages that facilitate easy participation in digital innovation.The importance of fostering relationships, nurturing communities, and promoting collaboration in driving innovation within decentralized technologies.Story Summary:Growing up, Redfoo harbored aspirations of becoming a professional basketball player, only to have his dreams dashed when his mother asserted that his height would prevent him from making it. Undeterred, he turned his attention to music, immersing himself in rap and showcasing his talent with a Casio keyboard. Despite facing further skepticism from his father, the influential music industry figure Barry Gordy, who doubted his vocal abilities, Redfoo defied the odds and achieved remarkable success as a multi-platinum rapper. These experiences taught him the importance of pursuing personal dreams and not allowing external opinions to sway his path.Driven by a newfound passion, Redfoo has recently shifted gears towards coding, which he regards as the epitome of creativity. His journey led him to connect with Piers Ridyard, the CEO of Radix, who was impressed by Redfoo's knowledge and inquisitiveness about programming. Together, they organized Foo Hack, an event that brought together their shared love for chess and the objective of creating a non-hackable, web-based application. Their collaborative efforts aim to build digital platforms that are user-friendly and accessible, with the introduction of Scrypto, a programming language designed to simplify the adoption of Web3 and Decentralized Finance for individuals of all backgrounds.Central to the endeavors of Redfoo and Ridyard is the recognition of the influence of building relationships and community. Redfoo emphasizes the significance of people skills, the ability to trust and judge character, and the desire to learn from others. His initial connection with Radix and Piers was fostered through shared humor, vegan food, and a shared affinity for dogs. Ridyard, as a CEO, emphasizes the importance of aligning people with a common vision and understanding their motivations. Both individuals firmly believe that networking is not solely about personal gain but about cultivating a network that nurtures collective innovation and inspiration. By bringing people together, they have witnessed the remarkable outcomes that arise from the mutual exchange of energy and ideas.Join us and listen to Redfoo and Piers’ insights about building confidence, overcoming doubt, pursuing our passion, and recognizing the benefits of networking for our community, not just for ourselves.Thought Leadership Segment:In our Thought Leadership Segment Christine Ramirez, Managing Partner of Dale Carnegie South Florida, shares her valuable insights on building confidence in both our personal and professional lives. Listen to Christine’s insights on gaining confidence and get a valuable resource on how to face doubts, pause when needed, and continue to seek the inner strength to overcome challenges, pursue ideas, and our dreams, and thrive in various aspects of life.

Who is Merrie WilliamsonMeet Merrie Williamson, an accomplished leader with a diverse background. With 20 years of experience leading engineering teams at Intel and currently serving as the Corporate Vice President of Azure Infra at Microsoft, Merrie's career trajectory has been remarkable. In this episode, Merrie shares her personal journey of discovery and the pivotal moment that led her to embrace empathy and transition into her current leadership role as CVP of Azure Infrastructure and Digital & App Innovation at Microsoft.Gain insights into the following key areas:•            Merrie's Leadership Style: Discover how Merrie's unique leadership style, rooted in empathy, has helped her navigate the challenges of leading diverse teams in the tech industry.•            Career Transition Moment: Learn about Merrie's transformative shift from engineering to sales leadership and the valuable lessons she gained from engaging directly with customers and understanding the intersection of technology, sales, marketing, and business transformation.•            Diversity in the Tech Industry: Explore the importance of diversity and inclusion in the tech industry, as Merrie shares her experiences and insights on creating an inclusive work environment.•            The Power of Mentoring, Coaching, and Executive Presence: Delve into the significance of mentoring, coaching, and developing executive presence, as Merrie highlights their impact on personal growth and leadership development.Merrie’s journey from engineering to sales at Azure and Microsoft was a significant and eye-opening shift. She transitioned from working with complex technologies in the cloud supply chain to engaging directly with customers, understanding their technology needs, and guiding them through business transformation.This transition became Merrie’s "empathy moment," where she gained a deeper understanding of the complexities of sales and developed empathy for engineering, sales, and marketing. As a leader, Merrie leverages a diverse "knowledge base" within her company, drawing expertise from various departments. She adopts a coaching approach to empower her managers and teams to make informed decisions.Merrie emphasizes the importance of looking inward and approaching team members authentically. She values the support of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), such as women in tech and Black tech networks, as a sounding board for ideas, coaching, and peer mentoring. Through these communities, Merrie found her voice and was able to engage with senior managers and trusted individuals.As a leader, Merrie recognizes the significance of role modeling and continuous learning. She prioritizes understanding when team members need breaks to rejuvenate and perform their best in challenging tasks.Also, listen to our thought leadership spotlight featuring Travis Daniels, CEO of Dale Carnegie Washington, who reflects on the vital role of empathy in today's business environment. Learn how applying Dale Carnegie's principles and approaching situations with an open mind can elevate your leadership effectiveness.

Who is Ron Carter?Ron Carter is a veteran of the technology industry, an inventor, and a visionary whose work has helped great technology products enter the market. In 2003, he filed a patent for the first video doorbell—now known as Ring. He is revolutionizing the industry with his latest first-generation technology that addresses security in the e-commerce sector, using mobile applications for improved security, access, and logistics. Due to his tremendous technological contributions, he became a member of the Forbes Technology Council, an invitation-only organization of high-level technology leaders with deep knowledge and diverse experience in the industry.   Read on to meet the founder and CEO of 1AHEAD, Ron Carter! What will you learn from his story?How to build on your entrepreneurial and inventive mindsetsHow to build on the determination to transform an idea into reality How to re-start your business from zeroWhy leading with a human-centric style is important?Build on each other’s ideas to motivate others and forms a highly effective teamWhy do you need to learn about his leadership style?Ron Carter's approach to leadership emphasizes collaboration, inclusivity, and empowerment, all of which can be useful in fostering a positive work environment and motivating team members to achieve their best work.The Story:Meet Ron Carter, a veteran of the technology industry and the inventor of the first video doorbell—now known as Ring. He is revolutionizing the industry with his latest first-generation technology that addresses security in the e-commerce sector using mobile applications for improved security, access, and logistics. Despite facing multiple setbacks, including losing everything and battling cancer, he never gave up and continued to pursue his dream. He founded 1Ahead Technologies, which is in the process of developing and manufacturing GLO, an AI-powered video doorbell that uses a patented digital key to create a one-time code that can be sent to package delivery drivers who can place packages in a secure lockbox or inside the home.Carter's leadership style emphasizes recognizing the ability of others before oneself and building a team approach. He believes that a leader should only be a director to keep things on track and rely on the people around them because most leaders don't know it all. Carter advises trusting your instincts, being true to yourself, and focusing on how successful you can become instead of how wealthy you can become.Our Thought Leadership Spotlight appearance this week is Neville de Lucia, President of Dale Carnegie Central & Eastern North Carolina.  He highlights how leaders can grow individuals and teams to become successful.Join us and get inspired to take command of your ideas, leverage individual strengths, and build highly effective teams. Related Information:Home | Gloai (glo-ai.com)About | Mysite (1aheadtechnologies.com)  

Silvina Moschini is an Argentinian entrepreneur and businesswoman. She is the founder, president & chairwoman of Unicoin, a next-generation cryptocurrency designed to be stable and profitable because it’s backed by a portfolio of equity stakes in the companies part of Unicorn Hunters,  is a new groundbreaking investment platform that will spotlight emerging growth companies looking to hit the coveted $1B “unicorn” valuation mark while rallying individual investors worldwide to help fund these breakout ventures. She is highly respected in the fields of technology and the digital transformation of the workplace. In 2020, she became the first Latin American woman to lead a company to unicorn status, with an evaluation of more than $1.6 billion through a Global Private Offering. In addition, she’s co-founder, president, and chairwoman of the board of TransparentBusiness for workplace transformation. She founded SheWorks!, a digital platform that provides women access to remote opportunities. She is a judge on Unicorn Hunters TV show that helps entrepreneurs find investors, attracting more than 300 million viewers in Latin America, Europe, and Africa. Silvina received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Women in Tech and was selected “Woman of the Decade” by the Women Economic Forum. She is now based in Miami.When she was a child, Silvina’s dad told her that if she wanted to be a princess, she should be the one who made her own castle. From then on, that shaped her idea of becoming a “princess entrepreneur.” After holding a vice president job with a large company, Silvina left the corporate world. She was initially hired for her innovative mindset and energy but was almost fired for the same reasons. She decided that if she wanted to work in a company that she would love, she would need to create it.In short fashion, she learned a great deal about entrepreneurship. “It was hard because I came from a corporate background with a lot of people doing a lot of things for me, and when you're an entrepreneur … you need to do everything.”Silvina quickly realized that it was more difficult to raise capital and hire people as a woman. So, she tapped into her financial savvy to raise money through crowdfunding. Afterward, she created her own company to hire and train remote workers with a particular focus on women. She has learned many lessons in her career, but most importantly, you must be prepared when opportunities arise. She believes you live by design. We need to plan the things we want to happen.Silvina’s restless entrepreneurial energy keeps her continuously innovating. She aims to transform the way people invest and transact. Her belief is that alternative forms of currency are needed to address the current instability of traditional currency markets. She’s already sold more than $315 million worth of Unicoin in less than a year. Her leadership style is grounded in several fundamental concepts: inspire others, bring out the best in everybody, and work together toward a goal. She admits that she picked up some of these principles from reading How to Win Friends and Influence People early in her career, helping her learn the importance of building relationships and communication. The use of communications and relationship building is a key anchor for creating businesses that always bring things together.Our Thought Leadership Spotlight appearance this week is Adriana Cruz, General Manager of Dale Carnegie Nuevo Leon, Mexico. She describes how Dale Carnegie’s principle “Arose in the other person an eager want” helped her build her own castle and business.Join us and get inspired to take command of your thoughts, chase your dreams, and build your own castle.

Suneel Gupta is an accomplished entrepreneur and best-selling author whose mother immigrated to the United States from Pakistan. She secured a position as the first female engineer at Ford, and her inspiring story influenced Suneel's career trajectory. Suneel has helped thousands of individuals develop better habits and achieve success through his best-selling book, "Backable: The Surprising Truth Behind What Makes People Take a Chance on You." He is also the founding CEO of RISE, a company that partnered with then-First Lady Michelle Obama to provide affordable healthcare services to underserved communities. His start-up, which was named "App of the Year," was successfully sold to the NASDAQ-listed company One Medical. Additionally, Suneel serves as a Visiting Scholar at Harvard Medical School and as an Emissary for Gross National Happiness between the United States and the Kingdom of Bhutan. Suneel co-hosts a documentary podcast series with AmEx. Suneel's older brother is America's top medical correspondent for CNN, Dr. Sanjay Gupta.Suneel grew up in the Detroit area. His mother's story of overcoming poverty in Pakistan and pursuing her dream of working for Ford in the USA inspired Suneel to embrace his mother’s rules of the "Game of Now," a philosophy that emphasizes taking action without waiting for the courage to arise. She also taught him that short-term embarrassment can lead to long-term success and that making mistakes is an essential aspect of growth. Suneel notes that many successful companies, such as Airbnb, faced significant challenges before achieving success. He personally experienced the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, starting two unsuccessful companies before founding RISE. He believes that the key to success is learning from failures and continuing to move forward.It's great to see that Suneel approaches both winning and losing as opportunities for growth. Rather than creating a typical New Year resolution list, he focuses on what he can learn and how he can continue to grow. Suneel's desire to create a TV show about leadership and how it differs in different parts of the world, similar to Anthony Bourdain’s food show, is a great example of his curiosity and willingness to take on new challenges.It's also interesting to see the impact that Dale Carnegie has had on Suneel and his family. His mother's positive experience with the Dale Carnegie course and the relationship and communication skills she acquired through it encouraged Suneel to take the course himself, leading to increased confidence and speaking skills that he applies in his career.Join us and listen to Suneel’s leadership and life insights and take command of your thoughts,  energy, and enthusiasm to become more successful.In our Thought Leadership Spotlight, Phil Zeller's story about the power of positive thinking and doing our best is a great reminder that our mindset influences our success and opportunities for growth. By filling our minds with positive beliefs, we overcome our limitations.

Ally Love is a multifaceted woman, pioneering the slash generation by wearing a multitude of hats. She is the CEO of Love Squad, a community organization empowering women; a Peloton instructor, Brooklyn Nets arena host; an inspiring speaker; and an Adidas global ambassador. Ally was born and raised in Miami, Florida, and moved to New York City (NYC) to pursue her dream of becoming a dancer. As a speaker and instructor, she has inspired audiences from major global corporations, including Google, JP Morgan, Amazon, Salesforce, and more. Ally has been featured in Vogue and the New York Times, has appeared on Good Morning America, and was a co-host at U.S. Open live show in 2022.Curiosity and hunger are what drove Ally Love—curiosity of what’s next and the hunger of “I want to get to the point where I deserve to be.” She fought for her life from a young age. Her ambition to achieve more, combined with the desire to become a dancer, led her to move to NYC. She received a scholarship from Alvin Ailey, the international dance troupe, and graduated from Fordham University at Lincoln Center, NY. She later became a dancer for the New York Knicks, the professional basketball team based in Manhattan. She also performed with top-named artists such as Beyonce and Pitbull. But she still wanted more.In her early days in NYC, Ally remembers that she struggled to make friends and adapt to the fast rhythm of the city. However, she did not step back, and she fought through those emotions. She got a modeling contract with Wilhelmina Models, start making money and friends, and learned to love NYC. Her boyfriend (now husband), Andrew Haynes, encouraged her to tap into her love of reading. Ally admits that Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People and How to Stop Worrying & Start Living are two key books in her life. These books have helped her understand herself and find her purpose in her early days in NYC, as well as recently when she needed to battle a stressful and busy year flying between NYC, where her full-time job is, and London, where she was recording a show for Netflix.One of the core principles she has grown to believe is that we must be comfortable being uncomfortable. Her mom offered additional advice. “If you're uncomfortable, take a beat. Listen—you're learning something. It doesn't mean run. It doesn't mean change. It doesn't mean leave! So, anyone who's dealing with that fear of what’s next, or fear of making a transition . . . take a beat. Stay where you are. Be steadfast.”Ally’s high energy, positive attitude, and desire to explore new things earned her a well-rounded knowledge of sports, fashion, public speaking, wellness, and activism. While she admits she’s never taken a course in business or leadership, she has learned to manage her team and business through experience, lots of hard work, and by loving her many jobs. Her style of leadership is grounded in understanding how to lead from the inside and grow and achieve goals together. Ally believes leaders should be able to bring out the best in people, figure out who's the best in a specific area, and let them do what they do well.This episode's Thought Leadership Spotlight segment features Liz Haberberger, President of Dale Carnegie Missouri. Liz’s enthusiasm and passion aren’t easily matched. Her number one rule in life is to have fun. If it’s not fun, she’s not doing it. She is at her best in front of a group or working to solve a complex business challenge.Join us to learn how to take command of our lives, learn what we are good at,  manage negative thoughts, overcome fear, and— grow and succeed— to get comfortable with being uncomfortable.Learn more about the new Take Command: A Dale Carnegie Book on takecommand.com

Happy New Year! Our first episode of 2023 is dedicated to Dale Carnegie & Associates' newest book, Take Command. The book, like our podcast, focuses on what professionals in the modern world can do to take command and succeed in their personal and professional lives. Our guests today are the book co-authors: Joe Hart, President & CEO of Dale Carnegie & Associates and Take Command Podcast host; and Michael Crom, author, Board member of Dale Carnegie & Associates, and Dale Carnegie's grandson. In this interview, Joe & Michael illustrate how building self-confidence, enhancing our network of support, and becoming more intentional can help us succeed in 2023. The episode is dedicated to a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the Take Command book. It is a compilation of real-life stories. The use of Dale’s principles and other leadership philosophies will serve as a manual to take command of our lives.Our guests have been influenced by Dale Carnegie’s principles. Joe started his career as a practicing attorney. After taking the Dale Carnegie Course, he reassessed his career path and founded an innovative e-learning company. He became the CEO of Dale Carnegie, the global professional development training organization, in 2015. He speaks around the world on leadership, culture, change management, resilience, creativity, and innovation. He is a contributor to Rolling Stone magazine, Newsweek, HR.com, and Forbes magazine. In 2019, the CEO Forum Group awarded him the Transformative CEO Leadership Award. He has hosted the Take Command Podcast since 2020. Michael is currently a board member of Dale Carnegie & Associates. Prior to that, he served in different leadership positions in the organization, most recently as Chief Learning Officer and Executive Vice President for Dale Carnegie & Associates.In the episode, Michael & Joe share how they leverage the Dale Carnegie principles and apply them in different situations. Learn how to control our thoughts, build relationships, and envision our future. The book’s goal is to familiarize younger generations with core communication and leadership principles from Dale Carnegie and others.Joe says that a fundamental purpose of this book is to offer readers some insights and learnings that he and Michael wish they had known when they were younger. The people interviewed and included in this book not only faced similar challenges as the authors did, but they thrived during that time period. This should become a guidebook for readers to follow, understand, and grab onto.Michael & Joe conceived the book as a set of concentric circles, with each of the three sections—complementing and depending on each other.In Part I, “Taking Command of Your Thoughts and Emotions,”  the authors focus on self-awareness, stresses, fears, and insecurities, and ways to understand and manage negative thoughts. Part II, “Taking Command of Your Relationships,” reviews building trustful relationships as a critical part of life success. Joe explains that today, building meaningful relationships has become more difficult because of our polarizing world. Part II principles and tips to deal with people come from How to Win Friends and Influence People.The last section, Part III, “Taking Command of Your Future,” draws on the famous Dale Carnegie Course that asks participants to write their short- and long-term vision. When they follow through, they will ultimately get the most out of their lives. Part III asks: What are the things that are important to you? What are your values? How do you want to be remembered? What's the impact you want to have?Both Joe and Michael want readers to act. Their goal is for this book to be a manual, a roadmap, and something that can activate people to really take control. It's not only there to help you think about your life, to study, or learn by research. The book says, “Hey, take command and make it happen.”Also, Take Command is a guide to creating a “strength inventory.” The book influences readers and helps them build an intentional life. Intentionality is about giving people time and space to understand what’s important to them and how they can condition themselves for success so that every day, they become better and stronger. Having a North star helps us follow the steps to get us there.Michael explains, “You know, we're made up of many great strengths and a few perceived weaknesses. So, let's begin to focus on those strengths, the positives that are going on in our life.”Joe and Michael believe that young people can and will make a huge difference on this planet by bringing about unity rather than division. “Let's make a difference. Let's bring this to be a better place for all of us to live in.”Join us and learn how building self-confidence, enhancing our network of support, and becoming more intentional can help us Take Command in 2023.Order a copy of Take Command  in hardcover, eBook, or audiobook at your favorite bookseller or at takecommandbook.io.  Available online and in stores today, January 10th.Visit takecommand.com for additional information on the book and more free resources.

This end-of-year, special episode of Take Command features an interview with Dale Carnegie’s daughter, Donna Dale Carnegie, who is the Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Dale Carnegie and Associates. Together with Simon and Schuster author Andrew Postman, they added, edited, and updated the bestseller, How to Win Friends and Influence People, with more contemporary stories and language.Andrew Postman, a professional author and a fan of  Dale’s teachings, worked alongside Donna Dale Carnegie, going page by page through the first edition of the book, reading, discussing, debating, and revising. Donna delved into the archives and found interviews and biographies that Dale Carnegie had written, but never published. She would run those stories by Andrew, and they sometimes argued about what to keep and what not to keep. It reached the point that Donna needed to bargain and say, “All right, you can have that one, if I can have this one.” Donna’s goal in refreshing the book was to update it as close to her father's voice and writing style as possible. Andrew and Donna carefully reviewed each story to understand how certain references would work for a modern audience and to discern which stories stood the test of time. One of the obvious areas of concern involved the lack of representation of women in positions of power or decision-making, women “who weren’t mothers, wives, secretaries or domestics as they were referred to in 1936.” The reality is that in the 1930s, there were “free women”—as they were called—in prominent leadership positions in business. There were also other older phrases that Postman and Carnegie had to decide whether to include. Postman acknowledged early in the process that Dale Carnegie was a master storyteller. We hear the word storytelling so much now in marketing, and PR, but he doesn't think anyone has yet done it better than Dale Carnegie.Join us to learn about the power of storytelling, communication, and seeing things from the other person's point of view.