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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
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/
Tuesday Dec 07, 2021
Tuesday Dec 07, 2021
As a teenager, Jesse Ntihemuka immigrated from Rwanda to the United States at the age of 14, in pursuit of his dream of playing in the NBA. When his body (through injuries) had other ideas for him, Jesse pivoted his mindset to pursue higher education. His college experience is coming to a close in the near future, and he is preparing to go pro within the intersections of finance and technology. In today’s episode, Jesse dives into his realities of being an immigrant in America pursuing his dreams.
When it comes to his goals, Jesse isn’t motivated by money or power. Instead, Jesse motivates himself with a positive mindset and the intention to create change. Whether it's in basketball, his MBA program, or working as an intern, Jesse is deeply committed to showing up prepared and eager to learn. Starting a career is nerve-wracking, but Jesse is optimistic about the future of technology and his role in improving the quality of life for his family in Rwanda.
Join the Johnson Brothers on this week’s episode of Running Into the Fog for a conversation with Jesse Ntihmuka. Learn about the importance of meaningful work, the role of a good support system, and Jesse’s plans that will guide him to success.
Quotes
• “Meaningful work for me is being able to work my hardest and reach the highest level I can.” (12:22-12:31)
• “What really sets me apart is the amount of time and the amount of preparation that I put in everything.” (18:36-18:47)
• “I try to show that I've put in some work, but I’m always willing and open to learning more.” (21:20-21:27)
• “I’m still trying to learn what it takes to build a business here. I know it takes a lot, and I’m certainly ready to take it on because I see myself doing something entrepreneurial in the future.” (31:58-32:15)
• “I’m happy that I've had a support system with me the whole time to always motivate me and help put me on the path where I can reach my potential.” (36:33-36:44)
• “I'm looking forward to that learning curve, especially with new technologies and how fast it's evolving. I hope to not just keep pace with it, but try and stay ahead of it to exploit some of the opportunities that may present themselves.” (40:06-40:24)
Links
Connect with Jesse:
Twitter | https://twitter.com/ntihemukaj?lang=en
Linkedin | https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessentihemuka
Arik JohnsonLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/arikjohnson/
Derek JohnsonLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek-johnson-cfa-190893/
Tuesday Nov 23, 2021
Tuesday Nov 23, 2021
“Pre-pandemic, in-person events contributed roughly $396 billion a year to the GDP,” says Tommy Goodwin, Vice President of Government Affairs for the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA). The loss of in-person business events has been devastating to millions of people and companies worldwide. With more than 20 years of experience in public relations, Tommy’s role is to work side by side with policymakers to help with the recovery and advancement of in-person business events.
According to Tommy, the tradeshow industry may be the largest and most important industry in the world. Not only are there millions of dollars in direct spending, but the events business provides millions of jobs to the American people. Even though we have mastered online education, Tommy explains that face-to-face events provide unique opportunities that online platforms can’t. To protect our economies and small businesses, we must work to safely return attendees and exhibitors back to face-to-face events.
Tune into this week’s episode of Running into the Fog for a conversation with Tommy Goodwin about the effects of in-person events on our economy. Learn more about the ECA, the importance of in-person connection, and what Tommy believes the future of business networking looks like.
Quotes
• “We have 1.7 million vendors at shows every year and 80% of them are small businesses. These people are looking to make relationships, they're looking to grow and cultivate their business in a way that they normally can not do.” (05:09-05:20)
• “We have done a pretty solid one-way proof of concept that education can be delivered in a digital format, but community and connections can’t be.” (06:04-06:13)
• “That's why we break bread at these different events because it allows people to develop the trust they need to do business with each other and you just can't do that off the jump online.” (15:17-15:27)
• “As long as international restrictions are in place, we're putting a significant impediment and barrier into the ability to do business face-to-face.” (20:02-20:11)
• “Just going from zero to wherever they are in the maturity cycle of regrowing these events is a tremendous boom to local communities.” (32:34-32:44)
Links
Connect with Tommy:
Twitter | https://twitter.com/tommygoodwin
Linkedin | https://www.linkedin.com/in/tommygoodwin
Arik JohnsonLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/arikjohnson/
Derek JohnsonLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek-johnson-cfa-190893/
Tuesday Nov 09, 2021
Tuesday Nov 09, 2021
Marshall Wayne, “The Mounting Man,” has spent most of his career marketing live events for successful entrepreneurs. When the pandemic hit and live, in-person events were temporarily shut down, Marshall had to think outside of the box for ways to replace his lost revenue. Marshall realized that he could make more than enough money to support his family by helping people in his community mount their TVs. Using his expertise in marketing, Marshall has grown his business to fully replace his income at the agency in just a little over a year.
When Marshall was brainstorming business ideas, it was important for him to have a flexible schedule. With the pandemic in full force and daycare slots being limited, Marshall had to be home to help his fiance take care of their daughter. This is when Marshall learned how to mount his own TV and quickly understood that he could make great money in a short amount of time. While he wants to stick primarily to mounting TVs, Marshall realizes there are other opportunities to make money helping people around their homes. Even though Marshall has encountered many challenges with TV mounting, he has always found a way to get the job done.
Join the Johnson Brothers and Marshall Wayne on this week’s episode of Running Into the Fog to hear how The Mounting Man came to be. Learn more about the issues that Marshall has encountered in his first year of business, his plans to expand, and how he utilized his skills to pivot his career in a completely different direction.
Quotes
• “If you're good at marketing, you can market anything.” (03:35-03:37)
• “All the things that I market for the agency are live events, and so during COVID that just went to zero. The revenue didn't go to zero, but it went to like a quarter and that's essentially zero.” (05:35-05:49)
• “Mounting TVs is what made the most money for the least amount of time.” (06:32-06:35)
• “I am a lot pickier about what I take on for the agency because I can just go make another $1,000 today mounting TVs.” (18:34-18:40)
• “I don't expect somebody to treat my business the way I would treat it because I'm making the money. It's my baby. But you have to have some sort of level for your employees to reach.” (32:24-32:35)
• “I want to stick to TV mountain primarily, but I want all the other upsells that I could have. Because once a person has two or three TVs mounted in their house, they're not going to have 10 TVs so I don't have repeat business from the same people unless I branch out a little bit.” (40:40-41:02)
Links
Connect with Marshall:
Linkedin | https://www.linkedin.com/in/marshallwayne/
Website | http://themountingman.tv/
Arik JohnsonLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/arikjohnson/
Derek JohnsonLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek-johnson-cfa-190893/