Self Belief Podcast

07/08/2024

Awenate Cobbina speaks about what made him leave a great role at the Whitehouse to come to Detroit with the Pistons initially before taking a role with the Bedrock Manufacturing group where he became CEO and is heading up the Shinola brand.

His journey is one of always demanding more from himself and never accepting staying 'comfortable' whether that was in his role at the NFL, The Whitehouse or The Pistons.

Take a listen to this episode with Awenate and you will understand why he is a respected leader in the Detroit business community and how he got there. He also talks about his plans for the future and the expansion of Shinola Hotels.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1AfBMJ94xgoGwaZe1XaWN8?si=6b741838c20d4254

06/25/2024

Cam Crowder shares his candid insights from leaving college early to help run his family's Tim Hortons franchises.

While there he found more efficient ways to serve customers in the drive-through and he also started considering other food-related technologies that could increase efficiency.

During COVID the decision was made to sell the franchises and Cam went full-time into investing in start-ups in the food industry, which was something he had been learning about the past few years.

With the right research and connections made Cam was able to join venture groups for not a huge monetary investment and he has grown from there learning many things along the way.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5kiwI47MwLtpYVQDpZNgxH?si=dafd102e00684b82

06/18/2024

Hear Connie Smith not only talk about her career but also about what it was like growing up in foster care. At 10 years old she had to make a mature decision about her living arrangements and ever since Connie has been decisive in her choices with her strong work ethic and drive she progressed in the news and TV industry.

During COVID, she was home with her 6 kids and realized she didn't want to go back full-time to the role she had built for herself in TV. She wanted more flexibility and that led her to set up her PR firm, High Five PR.

Connie's story is inspiring and impressive and you will get a lot of takeaways in the areas of attitude, drive, determination, and work ethic.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2U9D8fEMfb0hmImfxqcY4B?si=3ebc148244e443d1

06/18/2024

Hear Terry talk about how he and his wife Theresa decided to work together but in separate roles. Theresa is a vet and Terry runs the business side and that formula has seen them grow successfully over the past 30 plus years to where they now run;

Dandy Acres in South Lyon
Easthaven in Ann Arbor
Shelter Bay in Novi

If you want to run your own business in the medical space or are thinking about working with your significant, other then you need to listen to this episode.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5D5OxEd45ciyqf12EjVYjO?si=16dd8e397827496a

06/04/2024

Hear Colleen Budde talk about the decision she and her husband made for her to leave the corporate world of being an engineer and decide to invest in a franchise. Office Evolution Troy

Hear how they chose and researched the franchise and decided to go for it even though they had busy lives with a young daughter at home.

Also, COVID hit shortly after they opened and provided more challenges.

In this episode, Colleen reflects on her successes and challenges since then and the life lessons learned.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/53514auabySmPnPgmNkOMW?si=ac66198d220944a2

06/04/2024

Dr. Capone is an internationally recognized clinician, surgeon and educator. He has authored or co-authored over 200 publications in peer-reviewed medical journals, book chapters, and publications from clinical trials. He is currently a Professor of Biomedical Sciences at Oakland University, and a Professor at the European School for Advanced Studies in Ophthalmology, Lugano, Switzerland.

He is also Chief Clinical Officer for EyeCare Partners. EyeCare Partners is the nation’s leading provider of clinically integrated eye care. Their national network of over 300 ophthalmologists and 700 optometrists provides a lifetime of care to their patients with a mission to enhance vision, advance eye care, and improve lives.

Hear in this episode from the man behind this impressive resume about his road to this specialist profession and what his daily 'focus' is.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/73srOj2R1jG2wb5PWkPA75?si=431da5099f6e4a9e

05/21/2024

Listen to this fascinating and uplifting conversation with Sheriff Swanson where we talk about his personal story but also about the challenges facing police officers today and how he and his department are facing them.

We also discuss issues affecting the community such as drugs, mental health, guns, and jails. It is in the jails that Chris is championing the I.G.N.I.T.E. program to help give inmates skills and qualifications.

Being a sheriff is more than enough for many but Chris also runs Swanson leadership training.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7KrKgPEHuM29FlkspS8MqE?si=bd936c71c80b4509

05/14/2024

New Episode alert!

Kathy Skubik and her mother Irene opened a nationally acclaimed massage school in 1987 after so many people were requesting Irene to teach them her specialized methods.

Hear how Kathy and Irene had very defined roles and worked together as a great team to develop and hold extremely high standards. Standards that mean some spas will only hire massage therapists who have been trained at Irene's.

Irene passed in 2010 at the age of 90. Hear how Kathy has continued and built upon Irene's legacy. Kathy is a great example of how a family team can successfully and harmoniously grow a business together.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6b5KSEJ81ZFEP4SuqbVV1v?si=eaf0d7e107d74569

05/08/2024

Imagine being 18 years old with children aged 18 and six months old and hearing the sentence of life without parole, or death while incarcerated as Darryl calls it, being announced by the judge for a crime you didn't commit.

If that did not test Darryl's self-belief sufficiently, 7 years in to his sentence the original judge said his conviction should not stand however the Michigan Supreme Court would not give him a retrial. After exhausting all efforts down that route Darryl ended up staying in prison another 22 years for a total of 29 before he was released by Gov Snyder in 2018.

You will hear Darryl's infectious energy as he promotes many projects and initiatives working alongside the Detroit police, business leaders, and the community to have people turn to each other, not on each other.

Listen now
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5iUEPB1lKIeGrZDkDiCD66?si=4cd0d3b856664c6c

04/30/2024

Dr Sarah Kirsch, MS, DC Balanced Health and Wellness journey is an inspiring testament to resilience and determination in the face of adversity. Despite experiencing a sudden health challenge, she didn't let it derail her passion for helping others through her chiropractic and functional medicine practice. Instead, she used her own experience as a patient to enhance her understanding and empathy towards her clients.

Her holistic approach to healthcare, influenced by her own positive experience with a chiropractor who looked at her health from a comprehensive perspective, highlights the importance of addressing underlying issues rather than just treating symptoms. By integrating chiropractic care, massage therapy, and functional medicine, Dr. Kirsch provides her patients with a well-rounded approach to wellness.

Dr. Kirsch's story serves as a reminder that setbacks can be turned into opportunities for growth and learning. Through her dedication and commitment to her patients, she exemplifies how resilience and a patient-centered approach can lead to success even in the face of challenges.

Tune in to her episode to gain insights and inspiration for overcoming obstacles and thriving in both personal and professional endeavors.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1yAkuWkeicJFQk4MfE2jye?si=f587f63dc0af44b2

04/23/2024

Education has always been forefront in many people's lives from their decision of which school district to live in to their decision of whether to educate their child via private, public or home school.

Hear about Toms journey where he details working in a number of prestigious schools in different states in roles such as head of admission, to his last couple of roles as head of school.

Education and managing a school community is more than just teaching, its handling a diverse campus of strongly held viewpoints by students and parents. Hear Tom talk about navigating those issues to foster a thriving school environment.

Education has always been forefront in many people's lives from their decision of which school district to live in to their decision of whether to educate their child via private, public or home school.Hear about Toms journey where he details work...

04/17/2024

Our first episode of season 3 launched today and our guest is a former Olympian.

Whilst Jason Dungjen is our first Olympian on The Self Belief Podcast, he is not our first guest to grow up having been adopted. Hear him talk candidly about his experiences and the life lessons he has gained along the way.

In figure skating pairs he finished 4th at the 1998 Nagano Japan Winter Olympics and he discusses dealing with the disappointment of just missing out on a medal, the media pressure and how to succeed in a sport where the judging is very subjective.

Now in his role as manager and a coach at Detroit Skating Club he describes some of the intangibles and attributes that sets young skaters apart.

We hope you enjoy this episode and we have many great guests to bring you in season 3

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Xb16BiEicpqsrIYiFtUnj...

02/27/2024

As we wrap up season 2 we go back through some of our guests this season and take lessons from the thoughts they have shared in the last 20 minutes of each of their episodes.

We have found that the first part of the interview sets the stage for their story and that in the last 20 minutes people are fully immersed and comfortable. This can be where raw truths and heartfelt reflections take place.

While we haven't had time in this wrap up to play exerts from all our interviews, they all had clip-worthy segments we could have used.

Hear us discuss a few of these experts and why we chose them.

We have several great guests lined up for series 3 which will be coming in April.

Until then, go back through some episodes you haven't heard yet!

See you in 5 weeks!

As we wrap up season 2 we go back through some of our guests this season and take lessons from the thoughts they have shared in the last 20 minutes of each of their episodes.We have found that the first part of the interview sets the stage for the...

02/20/2024

Hear how Lee, who is originally from England, completed an economics degree and then followed opportunities that took him to America and then eventually into banking.

This discussion talks about his leadership style and how he bases a lot of it on principles talked about in Jim Collins book, "From Good to Great."

Before the interview I had asked Lee, "What is a stereotype about your industry that you disagree with?" He replied, "I don't agree with the stereotype that banking is boring. There are many varied businesses under the umbrella of banking".

Hear Lee discuss these points on leadership, banking and more on this weeks episode of The Self Belief Podcast.

Hear how Lee, who is originally from England, completed an economics degree and then followed opportunities that took him to America and then eventually into banking.This discussion talks about his leadership style and how he bases a lot of it on ...

02/13/2024

When is the perfect time to start your own business?

The general answer from our guests is, "When it feels right and you can no longer resist the urge to".

That moment came for Victoria just after she was married and they were living with her parents for a year while their house was being remodeled.

Victoria From The Heart Dog Services decided to leave her corporate job she had worked her way up in to start her dog training company.

In less than a year Victoria has grown tremendously and is growing her staff. Hear about some of her challenges as well as the opportunities she has embraced.

Lastly, you can also hear some practical dog training tips and some do's and donts. You may even learn some new phrases such as what a 'sniffari' is!

We aim for you to enjoy each episode as we talk to people from a wide array of industries.

If we have achieved our aim and you are enjoying these discussions then please like, subscribe, share, and give us a high star rating.

When is the perfect time to start your own business? I think the general answer I can deduce from many of our guests is, "When it feels right and you can no longer resist the urge to".That moment came for Victoria just after she was married a...

02/06/2024

New Episode alert! Our very own Keith Baldwin!

Now for our 25th episode overall, Keith is on the other side of the microphone. Keith is grateful for all the challenges that have shaped him and feels very fortunate for all the twists and turns that have led him to the now.

He grew up in South London, England and during and after college he was able to come to America to coach soccer. From coaching soccer in his 20's and many different challenges, twists and turns, he followed opportunities in sales where eventually he made his way to the merchant services industry. After a couple of years running the Midwest for a company he struck out on his own to form Regal Payments in 2009.

"If you can fill the unforgiving minute with 60 seconds worth of distance run - yours is the earth and everything that's in it" - Rudyard KiplingDoing the interviews with our guests on the podcast inspires me as I hear how they overcame challenges...

01/31/2024

New Episode Alert!

Mark Rieth is best known for his role with Atwater Brewery, the company he first invested in and later purchased in its entirety. During his two decades at the helm, Mark leveraged his automotive background to help Atwater grow into Michigan's fourth largest (of more than 350) craft breweries, producing and distributing dozens of beers, plus award-winning hard seltzers, spirits, and four unique taphouse destinations.

Mark successfully sold his business to Molson Coors in 2020 and then remained as its president for 18 months to ensure a smooth transition. Since then Mark has started Detroit Liquid Ventures and has a a flagship product - Ful non-alcoholic beer.

Hear how Mark made Atwater successful, coming through challenges such as being 2 weeks away from closing in 2008, to now deciding when to exit and how to pivot to a fast-growing emerging sector worldwide.

Transitioning from the alcoholic beverage world to the Non-Alcoholic business world.Mark is best known for his role with Atwater Brewery, the company he first invested in and later purchased in its entirety. During his two decades at the helm, Mar...