Daily Influence

Hosted by IA Business Advisors

Episodes

Language

EN-US

About the show

Discover a world where everyone’s influence matters. Welcome to Daily Influence, co-hosted by Brian Smith, founder and managing partner at IA Business Advisors and author of the 'I in Team' series, along with IA Business Advisors Partner Gregg Brooke Koleno. Each day, Brian and Gregg craft episodes designed to elevate your influence and transform it into a force for positive and responsible influence. Every episode is a journey through real-life experiences, transformative concepts, and powerful tools that help you FIND, BE & BUILD Your Influence. We aim to help you radiate your unique influence, find balance, celebrate victories, and shape your reality. The podcast highlights the art of leading yourself and those around you, remaining humble and composed, learning effectively, and embracing true diversity. Whether you tune in during your morning coffee, mid-day break, or your evening wind-down, Daily Influence is your daily dose of inspiration and upliftment, relevant to your everyday life. The goal is not just to influence you but to equip you with insights you can share within your sphere of influence. Join Brian and Gregg as they explore the principles and practices that align with IA Business Advisors' S.M.A.R.T. Management Consulting Methods, offering practical advice and thought-provoking discussions. Remember, it’s not just about being part of the team; it’s about finding the ‘I’ in every team. So, listen, learn, share, and expand your influence with Daily Influence. Tune in and discover how to make your influence matter, every day.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

30 min

754. Building Brands with Purpose: Amanda Garcia on Identity, Leadership & Responsible Influence

What happens when branding becomes more than marketing and starts becoming a catalyst for transformation? On this episode of Daily Influence, Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Amanda Garcia, Founder & CEO of ColorWord Creative, to explore the connection between identity, leadership, culture, and responsible influence. Amanda shares how organizations can unlock growth by aligning their mission, messaging, values, and internal culture — and why true influence always starts from within. From navigating motherhood and leadership during the pandemic to building an intentional remote team culture, Amanda offers practical insights on resilience, priorities, and creating organizations that thrive through alignment and trust. This conversation dives deep into: • Why identity alignment drives long-term business growth • The connection between personal health and organizational health • How leaders can uncover and communicate their unique value • Building intentional remote team culture rooted in trust • The difference between scarcity thinking and an abundance mindset • Practical ways to create positive ripple effects in business and community • Why gratitude and kindness are powerful forms of influence Amanda also shares inspiring real-world examples of helping clients transform their businesses by clarifying their purpose, positioning, and messaging. If you’re a business owner, leader, entrepreneur, or someone seeking to make a more meaningful impact, this episode will leave you inspired to lead with greater clarity, intention, and purpose. Connect with Amanda Garcia: Website: https://www.colorwordcreative.com LinkedIn: Amanda Garcia Email: amanda@colorwordcreative.com Daily Influence explores the power of positive and responsible influence in business, leadership, and life through conversations that inspire meaningful action and growth.

7 min

753. Character vs. Reputation: Which Matters More? (rerun)

In today’s revisit to episode 423 of The Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores the fundamental difference between character and reputation—and why one stands the test of time while the other is shaped by perception. Reputation can be skewed by bias, ignorance, and incomplete information, but true character is built on integrity, values, and consistency, even when no one is watching. How do you stay true to your character while navigating external judgment? How can context help protect your reputation? Tune in as Brian breaks down the power of character over reputation and shares insights on how to maintain authentic influence in the face of misunderstanding. 🎧 Listen now and redefine your perspective on influence!

7 min

752. The Power of Quiet Influence: Leading Without Loudness (rerun)

In this revisit to Episode 486 of the Daily Influence, Brian explores the transformative strength of quiet influence—leadership that doesn't demand attention but earns respect through intentional actions, deep listening, and unwavering consistency. Drawing from the SMART philosophy and the foundational concepts in The I in Team Series, Brian shares how disciplined, unassuming leadership fosters sustainable trust, clarity, and organizational growth. Learn how to let your presence speak louder than your voice—and how process, empathy, and reliability drive performance and elevate your team’s influence.

13 min

751. From Success to Authenticity: Hugo Maynard on Purpose, Influence, and Finding Fulfillment

What happens when you achieve everything society says should make you successful… and still feel unfulfilled? In this powerful episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Olympian, entrepreneur, educator, world traveler, and storyteller Hugo Maynard to explore the deeper meaning of success, authenticity, and responsible influence. Rising from poverty to building multiple successful businesses, Hugo shares how his greatest transformation came not through achievement, but through learning to reconnect with himself and lead from a place of truth. Throughout the conversation, Hugo discusses the dangers of chasing external validation, the ripple effect of authentic leadership, and why self-love is foundational to creating meaningful impact in business, family, and life. He also shares practical wisdom for leaders struggling with burnout, identity, and purpose in today’s fast-moving world. In this episode: • Why external success does not always create fulfillment • The power of authenticity in leadership and relationships • How influence creates lasting ripple effects • Lessons learned from failure, transformation, and personal growth • Why following your heart matters more than societal expectations • Practical ways to reconnect with purpose and live more intentionally Whether you are leading a company, building a family, navigating personal growth, or searching for deeper purpose, this conversation offers meaningful insights and actionable perspective shifts that can positively influence your life and those around you. Connect with Hugo Maynard: Instagram: @hugoxredd_unfiltered Website: www.polaroppositelife.com Listen to Daily Influence on your favorite podcast platform and discover how authentic leadership can transform lives one conversation at a time.

12 min

750. The Leadership Trap: How Contradiction Erodes Trust and Influence (Rerun)

Contradiction is the silent killer of credibility. In today’s revisit to episode 415 of Daily Influence, Brian Smith shares a powerful real-world example from his recent experience at a high-profile restaurant and how it highlights the dangers of inconsistency in leadership. When words and actions don’t align, trust erodes, culture suffers, and organizations weaken. Brian breaks down how leaders can avoid this trap by embracing SMART principles—ensuring their communication and actions are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely. From holding yourself accountable to fostering transparency, this episode is a must-listen for leaders who want to build lasting trust and influence.

20 min

749. Scaling Smarter: Annette Kastner on Leadership, Talent, and Intentional Growth

In this episode of Daily Influence, Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Annette Welsh-Kastner of Kastner Accounting & Consulting Services to discuss what it really takes to build and scale a business with intention. After stepping into the business full-time just two years ago, Annette quickly focused on creating structure, strengthening visibility, and developing a long-term vision for growth. Annette shares how strategic networking, meaningful relationships, and surrounding yourself with the right people can open doors to opportunity and create lasting business impact. From building a trusted “C-suite collective” of power partners to helping companies access high-level CFO expertise in a flexible way, she offers practical insights for entrepreneurs looking to grow smarter and more sustainably. The conversation also explores responsible leadership, protecting your time, intentional planning, and the importance of aligning your schedule and energy with how you work best. Whether you are scaling a company, building a team, or trying to create more structure in your business, this episode is packed with thoughtful advice and actionable takeaways. Key topics include: • Building a business foundation with intention • Strategic networking and relationship-driven growth • Leadership and responsible influence • Creating scalable systems and finding the right talent • Time management, planning, and protecting your energy • The value of collaboration and trusted partnerships This episode is a reminder that sustainable growth doesn’t happen by accident — it happens through clarity, consistency, and purposeful action. Connect with Annette: annette@kastnerconsulting.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/annette-w-ab24744/

6 min

748. Accountability in Harmony: Aligning the Self with the Team (Rerun)

In this revisit to episode 482 of The Daily Influence, Brian S. Smith revisits one of the cornerstones of leadership—accountability—but with a deeper dive into the synergy between self-accountability and team accountability. Discover how self-accountability serves as the catalyst and team accountability becomes the engine that drives collective success. Brian unpacks how SMART culture transforms accountability from a burden into a shared commitment, elevating individuals while aligning momentum toward common goals.

7 min

747. Speed Is Expensive: The Hidden Operational Cost of Moving Too Fast

In Episode 747 of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores a challenge many leaders and organizations unknowingly create for themselves: moving too fast. Speed is often celebrated in business. Faster decisions. Faster responses. Faster execution. Faster growth. But speed without clarity comes at a cost—and often that cost isn’t visible until later. In this episode, Brian breaks down the hidden operational expense of urgency-driven cultures and why “faster” is not always more effective. Drawing from decades of leadership experience, S.M.A.R.T. Management™, and principles from The I in Team Series, Brian explains how rushed decisions often lead to rework, communication breakdown, employee frustration, and costly operational inefficiencies. Key topics include: Why rushed decisions often create delayed consequences The hidden financial and cultural cost of rework How unclear communication creates unnecessary acceleration The difference between healthy urgency and panic disguised as urgency Why false urgency can quietly become company culture How slowing down strategically often increases execution quality and long-term performance Sometimes the most productive thing a leader can do is slow the room down long enough for everyone to move forward correctly. If your organization feels busy but not always productive, this episode offers practical insight into how clarity, communication, and discipline create better momentum than speed alone. Listen now to Daily Influence with Brian Smith.

18 min

746. From Survival Mode to Self-Ownership: Arti Agarwal on Mindset, Scarcity & Personal Growth

What does it really take to move from survival mode into a life of confidence, purpose, and personal ownership? In this episode of Daily Influence, Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Arti Agarwal, full-time Product Manager at Accenture and founder of Empowering Minds, Transforming Souls. Arti shares her deeply personal journey from growing up in a traditional Indian middle-class family and losing her father at 17, to becoming a mindset coach helping others overcome scarcity thinking, self-doubt, and victim mentality. Together, they explore how mindset shapes our reality, why many people unknowingly operate from “victim energy,” and practical ways to reclaim ownership of your life. Arti also shares simple but powerful habits—including gratitude, self-talk, discipline, and acceptance—that can help anyone shift toward a more abundant and empowered mindset. If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or trapped in survival mode, this conversation offers relatable wisdom and actionable insights to help you take your next step forward. In This Episode: • How childhood experiences and financial pressure can create scarcity thinking • Signs you may be operating in “victim energy” without realizing it • Why taking responsibility for your emotions changes everything • The role of gratitude, discipline, and positive self-talk in personal growth • How acceptance becomes the first step toward transformation • Why becoming your own cheerleader matters more than outside validation Memorable Takeaway: “Unless and until we are able to accept totally what is happening with us, we cannot truly change it.” – Arti Agarwal Tune in for a meaningful conversation about mindset, resilience, emotional responsibility, and creating a life aligned with who you truly are. Connect with Arti: artiashokagarwal10@gmail.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/artiagarwalba/

8 min

745. The Leadership Fatigue Nobody Talks About: Why Good Leaders Feel Exhausted Before Burnout Shows Up

In Episode 745 of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores a leadership challenge that many executives, owners, and managers are experiencing—but very few are openly discussing: leadership fatigue. Leadership is often described through performance, decision-making, accountability, and vision. But behind all of those responsibilities sits something less visible—the emotional and mental weight leaders carry every day. The pressure to provide answers. The expectation to stay calm under stress. The responsibility of making decisions that impact people, finances, growth, and culture. Over time, that weight adds up. In this episode, Brian discusses why leadership fatigue is not simply about being tired—and why it often begins affecting behavior long before burnout becomes obvious. Topics include: decision fatigue in leadership emotional labor and the invisible weight of responsibility why strong leaders often feel pressure in silence how fatigue impacts patience, communication, and judgment recognizing when exhaustion begins influencing leadership behavior protecting clarity, pace, and perspective under pressure how S.M.A.R.T. Management supports sustainable leadership and intentional decision-making Leadership is responsibility—and responsibility carries weight. The goal is not to avoid pressure. The goal is learning how to carry it responsibly without losing clarity in the process. If you are a business owner, entrepreneur, executive, manager, or team leader navigating pressure and constant decision-making, this episode offers perspective on how to recognize leadership fatigue before it reshapes your behavior. Listen now to Daily Influence with Brian Smith. #Leadership #LeadershipFatigue #BurnoutPrevention #ExecutiveLeadership #Management #BusinessLeadership #DecisionFatigue #SMARTManagement #DailyInfluence #TheIinTeam #OrganizationalLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth