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Arik and Derek Johnson will be talking with friends and industry leaders documenting their ‘running into the fog’ journeys, navigating the unknown and under-certainties they’ve had to cope with in their professional and personal lives. This podcast is for established business leaders and emerging entrepreneurs who are interested in developing strategies to adapt to competitive and market forces around them, enabling them to reposition consistently when conditions warrant. Getting comfortable with discomfort, the Johnson Brothers are here to champion your cause and help you see the path forward.
Episodes
Wednesday Sep 28, 2022
Wednesday Sep 28, 2022
What they may lack in podcasting background, today’s show guests more than make up for with their years of valuable experience running a variety of war game simulations. From CBG to aerospace, Aurora’s own John Westberg and Tim Smith have walked companies through a multitude of scenarios, with many twists and turns along the way. John is the Director of Market Insights while Tim is the Director of Competitive Simulations. Together, they take us through some of their favorite simulations that they’ve been a part of over the years, extracting takeaways that can be applied across the board.
“If your company is or your organization is investing hundreds of millions of billions of dollars of capital into any sort of tactical merger, acquisition, or product launch, doing a competitive simulation should be table stakes. It’s amazing how many organizations don’t do that.” John says as he talks about the dangers of strategizing based on the status quo. Whether you’re a hundred-thousand-dollar company or a hundred-million-dollar company, setting aside one day to participate in a properly orchestrated war game can help weatherize your company for financial winter, avoid a product launch misstep, or reveal untapped markets.
Join us today as we look at why it is vital to align your tactics with your strategy during simulations, in what ways your legal department should be involved, and who should be in the room during a simulation.
Quotes
- “If you design a good war game, and you have the right levers to pull coming out of that and the right strategies in place, regardless of what really happens in the real world, you’re in a much better position than you would be otherwise.” (14:42 - 14:53)
- “Having the right people in the room, having all the key stakeholders that can really provide some solid input to where we’re going is critical.” (19:54 - 20:04)
- “War games are really to expose who might help or hinder you that you haven’t thought of yet." (28:46 - 28:53)
Links
Arik JohnsonLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/arikjohnson/
Derek JohnsonLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek-johnson-cfa-190893/
Tuesday Apr 19, 2022
Tuesday Apr 19, 2022
“We lack CI programs in business school settings, both in the US and internationally and I think that's a deficiency for the profession,” says Dr. Tom Qingjiu Tao, the Assistant Professor of Strategy at the University of Delaware. Throughout his career in education, Dr. Tom has noticed that most Competitive Intelligence professionals are forced to learn more on the job because their education is limited. Finding this to be a disservice to students, Dr. Tom explains why real-world relevance is needed in the classroom to prepare recruits for the CI profession.
Dr. Tom recognizes that the CI academic track is a work in progress. With few programs out there and vital classes reduced to electives, students are graduating college unprepared for their future careers. Although Dr. Tom advocates for curriculum change, he understands that CI theory is still in development and that everyone has to start somewhere.
Tune into this week’s episode of Running Into the Fog for a fascinating conversation on the Competitive Intelligence education track. Learn more about Dr. Tom’s career in academia, why CI educators should cater their coursework to CI job listings, and the obstacle of CEOs making poor decisions.
Quotes
• “We lack CI courses or CI programs in business school settings, both in the US and internationally. I think that's a deficiency for the profession. We need to get to business school, and we need to build up the programs.” (3:17 - 3:38)
• “It is critically important that we research and teach the theory part. But we also need to bring real-world relevance to the classroom.” (5:00 - 5:13)
• “It comes down to accountability, not for CI professionals, but for decision-makers and the CEOs. We don't have clear transparency of their decision-making process and we don't hold them accountable for all their decisions.” (29:31 - 29:55)
• “20 years ago, many would say that CI is a covert operation that you do under the table. But you can tell in the last 10 years, that it has really become part of the mainstream vocabulary. People are recognizing that this is a legitimate business practice.” (35:58 - 36:32)
Links
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/qingjiutao/
Arik JohnsonLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/arikjohnson/
Derek JohnsonLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek-johnson-cfa-190893/
Tuesday Apr 05, 2022
Tuesday Apr 05, 2022
“Every human being is made on purpose and for a purpose. Seek it,” says Bill Baker, Board Member and Vice President of Sauk Prairie Food Pantry and Youth Mentor. While studying at the University of Madison, Bill found his way to the crew team, a sport he credits for giving him the discipline to succeed in the business world. Now a youth mentor, Bill teaches his mentees to find their purpose and build the foundation for the rest of their lives.
Due to his lucrative career in sales and entrepreneurship, Bill realizes that human beings are led by two emotions: hope and fear. He also understands that you can help others find their purpose by using those two emotions positively. Ultimately, Bill wants young people to accept that self-worth comes from within, and by following your path, you can live a happy and fulfilling life.
Tune into this week’s episode of Running Into the Fog for an inspiring conversation about seeking your purpose. Learn more about how rowing influenced Bill’s worldview, the difference between activity and productivity, and why you need to take care of yourself first to be a better person to others.
Quotes
• “You have to go past your limits and find out what more you have inside you.” (11:30 - 11:36)
• “Find your purpose. Every human being is made on purpose and for a purpose. Seek it.” (20:10 - 20:18)
• “You can't motivate people. You have to inspire people. Motivation is an internal emotion, while inspiration is an external emotion. And we need to inspire more people.” (25:36 - 25:46)
• “The two emotions people have in life are hope and fear. I've concluded that people make decisions based on those two emotions. And you can use those as positive emotions to help people navigate their purpose.” (26:45 - 27:01)
• “You have to run through the fog of life to find your clear path. And in doing so, you're a better contributor, and you'll find greater satisfaction and contentment in life.” (36:15 - 36:32)
Links
Bill Baker LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-baker-00a943a/
- Social Media handles: wisconsintimberworks.com and #wisconsintimberworks (small business created to craft wood projects and fund my charities)
Arik JohnsonLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/arikjohnson/
Derek JohnsonLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek-johnson-cfa-190893/
Tuesday Mar 22, 2022
Tuesday Mar 22, 2022
As a natural entrepreneurial leader, Angie Tulgus spent most of her career helping large corporations like GMC successfully navigate transformative moments. After many years of service, Angie decided to leave the corporate world and pursue her own dreams. Angie has since authored the book TransformAble and started her own business, where she uses her expertise to help small start-ups grow and scale their businesses.
According to Angie, to successfully transform your business you need to focus on its people. Not only do you want to get your employees excited about the future, but they need to adopt your vision for the future. The best way to get your employees on track is to focus on developing your leadership skills. If you are fully committed to your core values and the plan to change, your employees will also commit and in return, you are more likely to succeed in any project now and in the future.
Join the Johnson Brothers on this week’s episode of Running Into the Fog for an in-depth conversation about what it truly takes to transform your business. Learn more about the importance of leadership, commitment, and creating value so you can successfully take your business to the next level.
Quotes
• “During all these different transformative programs, I realized there was a pattern to what I was doing that was making me successful and I really just want to get that out.” (09:32-09:43)
• “It doesn't really matter what size of company you are if you're facing something big and complex that you've never done before, my book provides a roadmap for you to help figure out how to do that.” (10:44-10:52)
• “The core of successful transformation is all about people. It's about a system of people and how to take them on a journey to get to somewhere new that they haven't been before.” (11:49-12:00)
• “If the leaders of the company aren't serious about transformation, forget it.” (25:09-25:12)
• “It's amazing to me in small companies how quickly people get used to the way they've always done it. It really does not take long. And this is a big point that holds people back.” (30:03-30:16)
• “At the core of successful transformation, there are really three important things. One is commitment. One is knowing how to transform. And the third is keeping a focus on business value. If you can get those three things, you can pull it together.” (35:37-36:00)
• “If whatever you're doing isn't going to get you the business value anymore, then you're way off track no matter what.” (36:53-36:58)
Links
Website: https://tuglus.com/
Buy the book: https://tuglus.com/Transformable.html
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angie-tuglus-2809b02/
Arik JohnsonLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/arikjohnson/
Derek JohnsonLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek-johnson-cfa-190893/
Tuesday Mar 01, 2022
Tuesday Mar 01, 2022
Ronnie Weston has always been inspired by her family's past to leave the world a better place. As an attorney and well-accomplished entrepreneur, Ronnie founded Bull Moose Group, a collaborative group of consultants that advise and help nonprofit organizations fulfill their missions. In today’s episode, Ronnie explains how to turn a nonprofit into an investable organization.
According to Ronnie, before you even think about raising a single dollar, you need to make sure your organization has a solid foundation. Not only do you need a good cause, but also great marketing, an exciting website, and a board that is competent in the fundraising process. Once you have a well-established organization, you can begin to focus on raising capital.
Join the Johnson Brothers on this week’s episode of Running Into the Fog for an in-depth discussion about the process of running nonprofits. Learn more about the importance of teamwork, branding, and how to overcome fear about fundraising so you can successfully raise capital that enriches the lives of the people in your community.
Quotes
• “Before we ever raise $1, all the I’s have to be dotted and the T's have to be crossed. You have to have an excellent governance model, great marketing materials, an exciting website, and you need to have a board that understands its role in the fundraising process.” (11:54-12:18)
• “The biggest gap in non-profits is nobody wants to ask for money.” (17:26-17:30)
• “The more people on the team, the more successful you're going to be.” (18:33-18:36)
• “According to all the gold standards of governance, one of your roles as a board member is to ensure the financial resources and part of that is fundraising.” (18:45-18:55)
• “The number one reason why people donate to nonprofits is that somebody they know and respect asked.” (23:47-23:54)
• “There are billions of dollars circulating through philanthropy right now. So if you don't ask for donations, somebody else will and they'll give.” (24:07-24:15)
• “Whether you entertain them or not, capital campaigns are the rising tide that lifts all boats.” (32:09-32:17)
Links
For Ronnie Weston:
Website: website: www.bullmoosegroup.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronnieweston
Arik Johnson LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/arikjohnson/
Derek Johnson LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek-johnson-cfa-190893/
Tuesday Feb 15, 2022
Tuesday Feb 15, 2022
In this episode, co-hosts Arik and Derek Johnson catch up with an old friend, Eric Garland, Executive Director of Competitive Futures, to talk about the world of competitive intelligence. Eric dives into the complexities of competitive intelligence and how technology today gives us the resources to understand a plethora of information. Even though the internet is a great source of information, Eric emphasizes the importance of an “old school” information hub: Human Intelligence, or HUMINT, as it’s called in the field.
Eric also gives his perspectives on a daunting question: What do the 2020s bring? He explains that there are several spasms going on in the world right now and that radical transparencies in our technology are shaking existing institutions to the ground. He shares examples throughout history where technology was able to manipulate our opinions, our time usage, and our everyday lives.
Tune into this week’s episode of Running Into the Fog with special guest Eric Garland. Learn more about the importance of senior intelligence, Eric’s reason for working in the world of intelligence, and the technological history behind many world events.
Quotes
• “I got my start in the world of competitive intelligence as an operative and analyst collecting information on competitors, and taking that back to the office and analyzing it to figure out what people's competitors were up to, to tell them what to do.” (02:12-02:20)
• “I still ask what don't I know out there, what's published, what are other people reading, and what's really going on? So, I still use human intelligence methodology for that. Or as I have a T-shirt printed up: HUMINT. We just asked the guy.” (03:37-03:50)
• “All of that radical transparency is causing every institution we have to be shaken to the ground.” (14:38-14:44)
• “Well, there's only so much disillusionment that humans can take at any given time and kind of keep it together. I think sometimes when you have total disillusionment, and you overthrow everything at once, it doesn't always work so well.” (24:26-24:38)
• “I think as we learn more about the role of corporations and some of these anti-democratic movements of recent, that's gonna shake a lot of people's confidence because this internet thing is cool.” (33:50-33:58)
Links
Connect with Eric:
Twitter | https://twitter.com/ericgarland
Website | https://www.ericgarland.co/
LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-garland-a1338b99
Arik JohnsonLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/arikjohnson/
Derek JohnsonLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek-johnson-cfa-190893/
Tuesday Feb 01, 2022
Tuesday Feb 01, 2022
In a world with easy access to others, there is a lack of human connection. And while everyone is a neighbor to someone, most people aren’t neighboring. In today’s episode, married duo Jeff and Amy Meyer sit down with the Johnson Brothers to discuss how to overcome isolation and find a connection with those around you.
In a digital and oftentimes material world, it can be easy to lose sight of what really matters. While we spend a lot of our time working and doing activities we enjoy, the places we inhabit are meant for us to relate with other human beings. According to the Meyer’s, one of the easiest and most meaningful gifts we can give to someone else is knowing their name. Just by taking the time to learn someone’s name, we allow ourselves to slow down, see others as human, and begin to form a connection with something greater than ourselves.
Join the Johnson Brothers and the Meyers for an in-depth conversation about human connection. Learn more about the importance of journaling, active listening, and what it truly means to be a neighbor so you can create sustainable and lasting relationships with the people around you.
Quotes
• “A lot of people don't believe they can turn their passion into a life and make a living out of it, and we're helping people do that.” (04:31-04:39 | Jeff)
• “Just having more information doesn't produce fruit unless you put it into practice.” (06:10-06:17 | Jeff)
• “We forget how far we've come and we forget what hard things we've been in before. We get very short-sighted and unless you write it down, you're going to forget.” (13:04-13:20 | Amy)
• “The core problem is isolation and lack of human connection. The biggest way that we can attack this problem is by turning neighbor from a noun into a verb.” (19:33-19:51 | Jeff)
• “The sweetest word to anyone's ears is the sound of their own name. And to be known and called by name is a gift that we can give to people, but we don't know their name unless we ask or if we take the time to slow down and appreciate them.” (23:24-23:37 | Amy)
• “The places we inhabit, we're there for a reason. And it's not just to live or to enjoy our time or to make a living. It's to interconnect with other human beings.” (25:18-25:28 | Jeff)
• “Once you start taking steps into the fog, you can see it opening up.” (50:42-50:46 | Jeff)
Links
Connect with Amy:
Website – www.amymeyer.org
Email – amycmeyer10@gmail.com
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/joyrestored/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/amymeyer.org
Phone – 608.217.9967
Connect with Jeff:
Website – www.jeffmeyer.org
Book Link – https://jeffmeyer.org/product/fear-not-dream-big-execute/
Dream Accelerator Link – https://jeffmeyer.org/dream-accelerator/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/jeffmeyer222/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jeffmeyer22/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/jeffmeyer22
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffmeyer22/
Neighboring Life Website – www.neighboringlife.com
Arik JohnsonLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/arikjohnson/
Derek JohnsonLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek-johnson-cfa-190893/
Tuesday Jan 18, 2022
Tuesday Jan 18, 2022
Kathy Henrich understands the role the tech industry plays better than most people. After spending 30 years working at IBM, Kathy realized there was a bigger problem that needed to be addressed: talent development. She ultimately decided to take a leave of absence to attain a master’s degree in workforce and talent development. Today, Kathy sits as CEO of MKE Tech Hub Coalition where she works to create inclusive opportunities in the tech industry for young people in the Milwaukee area.
Even though the tech industry makes up almost 10% of Wisconsin’s economy, there is a lack of talented employees. According to Kathy, the best way to recruit talent is to nurture it from a young age. This is why it would benefit all schools to incorporate computer science into their curriculum. Kathy explains that encouraging kids of diverse backgrounds to embrace the value of technology opens pathways to employment that can positively impact not only the individual but the industry as a whole.
Join the Johnson Brothers on this week’s episode of Running into the Fog for a conversation with Kathy Henrich about the depth of the tech industry. Learn more about why Kathy and the MKE Tech Hub Coalition believe diversity, recruitment, and development of talent are the keys to paving the future for technology in the Milwaukee area and beyond.
Quotes
• “The mission of the coalition is to inclusively double tech talent in the Milwaukee region.” (04:48-04:53)
• “We actually infused a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion including a very specific target of at least 50% of everyone we serve coming from demographics that have been traditionally underrepresented in tech.” (07:34-07:50)
• “Having an effective coalition means working together in ways that bring the best skill sets from other organizations forward to deliver.” (12:53-13:06)
• “The Milwaukee region has a huge asset. We actually have the sixth-highest concentration of college students per capita.” (22:42-22:50)
• “Tech is nine and a half percent of our economy.” (27:35-27:38)
Links
Connect with Kathy:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathyhenrich/
Website – https://www.mketech.org/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/kshenri
Instagram – @kshenri and @Kathyhenrich
Arik JohnsonLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/arikjohnson/
Derek JohnsonLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek-johnson-cfa-190893/
Tuesday Jan 04, 2022
Tuesday Jan 04, 2022
“I am fascinated by the idea of how to build trust and safe spaces in the online world,” says Todd Nilson. Growing up, Todd was never interested in playing sports. Instead, he found himself enamored with both tabletop games and immersive online games. As president and community strategist at Clocktower Advisors, Todd combines his passions for gamification and community-building by helping companies create and run digital workplaces that deepen trust, increase loyalty, and promote innovation.
In a continuously advancing world, more and more people are connecting online through various social media platforms. While these platforms successfully spread information, they lack the feeling of an authentic community. According to Todd, creating a safe space online is dependent on transparency, good management practices, and a community with common interests. If properly executed, online immersive communities have the potential to change the way we interact in every aspect of our lives.
Join the Johnson Brothers on this week’s episode of Running Into the Fog for a conversation with Todd Nilson. Learn more about the differences between social media and online communities, the importance of positive engagement, and where experts like Todd believe the future of online interactions is headed.
Quotes
• “I'm fascinated by the idea of how to build trust and safe spaces in the online world where people can meaningfully get together and connect and do things with each other when geography makes it impossible.” (08:31-08:49)
• “I don't think of social media platforms as communities.” (14:58-15:00)
• “What makes online communities work is that there are clear boundaries of who belongs here and who doesn't.” (26:44-26:49)
• “I think that we're going to see a strong migration away from some of the large platforms to more of these private community social experiences simply because we want to be around people that we can trust.” (27:27-27:52)
• “What I'm loving about NFTs is that they're offering something that is a unique marker of accomplishment, recognizing participation, and then offering equity in that community.” (37:23-37:40)
• “We're not only building communities of people who have common values with each other, but they're also geographically close to each other.” (42:22-42:28)
• “These online spaces are play spaces where we can experiment with identities.” (48:45-48:54)
Links
Connect with Todd:
Personal LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/tnilson
Company Page on LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/clocktower-advisors/
Personal Twitter | https://twitter.com/toddnilson
Company Twitter | https://twitter.com/ClocktowerAdv
Facebook Page | https://www.facebook.com/clocktoweradvisors
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/clocktoweradvisors/
Mobile | +1.414.378.2083
Email | todd@clocktoweradvisors.com
Schedule a meeting with Todd:
Short meeting: https://calendly.com/clocktower-advisors/30min
Long meeting: https://calendly.com/clocktower-advisors/60min
Arik JohnsonLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/arikjohnson/
Derek JohnsonLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek-johnson-cfa-190893/
Tuesday Dec 21, 2021
Tuesday Dec 21, 2021
“Everyone has privilege, but it’s how you use your privilege that matters,” says Jasmine M. Johnson. Jasmine works full-time as the Vice President of Sales at iHeartMedia and uses the privilege of her network to give back to the community. As director of the non-profit organization WeExist, Jasmine is dedicated to providing exposure to minority professionals in the Milwaukee area in hopes of creating equitable job opportunities.
While everyone has a sense of privilege, most people tend to do nothing with it. Rather than allowing generational injustice to continue, Jasmine uses her privileges to better the community around her. Jasmine understands that visibility is key to advancing your career. By increasing exposure for minority professionals, Jasmine hopes to see people of color included in spaces they historically wouldn’t be in. If everyone took advantage of their privilege, Jasmine explains that we could leave behind a legacy of advocacy and excellence for generations to come.
Join the Johnson Brothers on this week’s episode of Running Into the Fog for a conversation with Jasmine Johnson. Learn more about the importance of servant leadership, diversity in the workforce, and how to leverage your privilege to advocate for what’s right.
Quotes
• “During COVID-19 and quarantine, the gift of recalibration and reflection we were given showed me the privilege that I have.” (09:45-09:59)
• “I come from a legacy and heritage of advocacy and expectation of excellence.” (11:58-12:03)
• “To me, privilege is the platform of which you've been blessed to be on. Everyone should be a service leader and practice servant leadership by living a Christian life of service to others.” (13:11-13:27)
• “Some people sit on their privilege and they don't leverage that platform to be a blessing to others. And when you do that, are you really walking with a sense of purpose?” (13:50-14:01)
• “Giving talented people the opportunity to compete is how you eliminate the wealth gap. It also gives the opportunity for people to continue to grow and thrive professionally, which ultimately increases household income and creates generational wealth.” (29:36-29:57)
• “Because many professional people of color are not allowed or invited in those circles, or are on the golf course, or get the stretch assignments, they can never be truly considered. So I look at WeExist as the gift of giving exposure.” (31:31-31:51)
• “I think intentional partnerships is also what activates and takes someone to the next level from being an ally to wholeheartedly being an accomplice.” (41:18-41:29)
Links
Connect with Jasmine:
Linkedin | https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasmine-m-johnson-msm-33699350/detail/photo/
Arik JohnsonLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/arikjohnson/
Derek JohnsonLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek-johnson-cfa-190893/