"Nothing happens by chance. It happens as intended."

I was meant to meet this woman called Tommie. She exudes an aura that is calming, contagious, and confident.

"Success is there for anyone that wants it."

In this podcast episode, I interview S. R. Tommie a/k/a Tommie, the President and Founder of Redline Media Group and a member of the Seminole Tribe of Florida (the owners of Hard Rock International).

The podcast explores Tommie's background, her influential upbringing in a Seminole tribal camp, and her journey to success. She discusses growing up with rich cultural traditions and the significant impact of her grandmother.

She also elaborates on her company's strong values, which align with those of Hard Rock, focusing on kindness, community, and integrity. Tommie emphasizes the importance of authentic storytelling and supporting one another in business.

The episode highlights her determination to achieve success, the cultural importance of the Seminole Tribe, and the community-oriented ethos of Redline Media Group.

More about Tommie:

Tommie has worked in many capacities throughout her career, serving in various capacities, from economic development, social welfare, community development/management, on both the Board and Council arms of Tribal Government, ultimately retiring in 2010, as Chief of Staff to the Chairman of the Seminole Tribe of Florida.
Throughout her many experiences Tommie has realized the importance of communication, consistency and making a positive impact. With that at the forefront of her mind, she founded Redline Media Group, a full service creative marketing and strategic advertising agency. As a start-up company, Tommie assembled a highly experienced team consisting of industry veterans that possessed proven leadership skills to ensure success.
Redline Media Group launched as an organization consisting of three employees, and currently employs nearly 50 fulltime Team Members. Today, after 15 short years, RMG is a multi-award winning creative, marketing and advertising agency, providing services Internationally, with a proven track record of developing and executing successful campaigns for a variety of products, services and brands, as well as, representing tribal and non-tribal municipalities and their respective business endeavors.
Tommie continues to drive forward each, and every day, committed to building a legacy that will make her tribe and the matriarchs of her family proud. More about Redline Media Group:

https://redlinemediagroup.com

More about Hard Rock International:

https://hardrock.com

Most People Don't | Resources

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He taught me to "throw spaghetti against the wall" to see what would stick.

His friendship and guidance STUCK.

A brilliant entrepreneur that is also KIND BEYOND WORDS.

When I needed work, he gave me work.

When I needed an answer, he provided it.

When I needed a friend, he was there.

Many of my hospitality friends already know him, Serge Asensio, and his company, TOPLINE GROUP, LLC.

We discuss the POWER OF TAKING ACTION and FACING FEARS. For years, Serge was afraid of stealing second base. He was scared to leave the safety and security of first base. Finally, one of his mentors called him out on this.

With the support of his wife who said, "we'll figure this out", he then found enough confidence to not go it alone and to start an incredible business that has lasted over 25 years. He is not greedy and stresses the importance of making $.05 from a customer over and over, rather than making $.10 once from a client.

More about Serge:

Serge Asensio is managing director of Topline Group, a Sales & Marketing company specializing in customer data analysis. Founded in 1998, Topline Group helps Fortune 500 companies maximize their sales efforts by ensuring that the right resources are applied against the right customers, at the right time.

Mr. Asensio and Topline Group have worked with Kraft, Nabisco, Gillette, Hershey Foods, and most of the major hotel companies in North America, helping them maximize their sales efforts.

Prior to founding Topline Group, Mr. Asensio was Vice President of Sales Deployment & Analysis for Marriott International. His responsibilities spanned all full-service brands and all geographies.

More about Topline Group https://toplinegroup.com

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Today’s podcast guest is a leader that embraces the culture of CARING and LEARNING. His name is Pete DiMaio and he is the Chief Operating Officer of TravelBoom. Not many people use personal hobbies to enhance their professional skills. Not many people embrace the culture of caring for clients and others. Not many people solve problems authentically. Pete DiMaio does...

We discuss:

- He highlights the importance of understanding the business thoroughly, including both technical aspects and client needs.

- Pete emphasizes the significance of continuous learning and improvement in his career.

-He discusses the importance of caring for the team, being a servant leader, and solving small problems proactively.

- He shares examples of thoughtful leadership, such as noticing and fixing minor issues (broken window theory).

- Pete explains Travel Boom’s focus on independent hoteliers and vacation rental companies, helping them succeed online.

- He also stresses the value of learning new skills, whether it’s beekeeping, lockpicking, or professional growth.

- He explains how personal hobbies and interests can contribute to professional success by keeping the mind active and applying learned processes.

Connect with Pete on LinkedIn:

More about TravelBoom here:

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Today's podcast guest is Leonard Simpson, the CEO of IARFC (International Association of Registered Financial Consultants). He leads the efforts to guide, mentor, and provide resources for this industry.

Many of my guests share people that influenced them at an early age. Uniquely, Leonard had to "figure things out" on his own. This enabled him to become the leader that he is by always finding ways, being creative, showing flexibility, and remaining resilient.

A terrific conversation with a special gentleman.

More about IARFC at https://iarfc.org.

Most People Don't | Resources

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This week’s podcast guest, Alex Sheen, the Founder of “because I said I would” is also the topic of today’s newsletter story.

By applying Alex's philosophies, businesses can create a culture of excellence, accountability, and strong relationships, ultimately leading to greater success and guest satisfaction.

It is about “honoring your word” and “doing what you say you will do”. (Most People Don’t).

Alex’s simplistic message helped to serve as a beacon for me years ago when I trademarked the three words:

“Most People Don’t”

He has set the example that very simple words, when placed together, can have an extremely deep meaning and powerful impact.

"because I said I would"

Imagine my delight when we not only enjoyed a meal together, strategized, and he also agreed to be on my show.

My pursuit and goal with “Most People Don’t” at the fundamental level is to “encourage, inspire, and motivate others to take action”.

This can relate to so many things; becoming a better leader, building better relationships, accomplishing tasks & goals, by “doing what you say you’re going to do”. You CAN DO when you take an individualized approach and realize the impact of each contribution you make. It matters!

During the interview we discuss:

1. The Individualized Approach

Experimenting on yourself. Try to use the lessons that you’ve learned from others. If they work, use them to their fullest. If they don’t, move on, and try something else.

2. The Importance of Three Simple Things

Diet, sleep, and exercise for your health and well-being. Everyone knows this, but few conform and apply it.

3. Volunteering

75% of all Americans do not volunteer a single hour in an entire year. The bystander effect, “we think someone else will do it”

4. Why Your Efforts Matter

Your individualized approach and contributions add up. If we all take action, then everyone will be taking action. Don’t wait and don’t be afraid to “do something when you see something”.

"Whatever you do in life will be insignificant, but it is important that you do it, because nobody else will." -Mahatma Gandhi.

“With great power, comes great responsibility” -Voltaire and Uncle Ben (Spider Man)

How brilliant.

We, You, I can control this.

This is most likely one of the only things we can control. Our individual action (what we do, think, say, react, and feel) is something we control.

More about Alex Sheen

More about "because I said I would"

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Today’s guest is David Millili, a REAL leader who does his best always to make a difference. He is the CEO of LodgIQ and the GAIN Chairman of the Board. A REAL leader who works hard and tries to do the right thing, always.

We discuss:

-Growing up the son of a mechanic, pumping gas, and detailing cars

-Wanting to do more than own a gas station, while always respectful of his roots

-Loving the vibes and magical buzz of hotels

-The realization that he needed to adjust his goals to being more than a professional baseball player

-Learning PERSEVERANCE through the spelling bee sessions with his father

-Gaining SELF-RELIANCE by challenges his dad put him through while giving him time to figure it out on his own

More about David:

David Millili is a hospitality technology leader with over 25 years of experience in the industry. He is the CEO of LodgIQ, a company that provides predictive and prescriptive analytics solutions for revenue management. He is also the Chairman of the Board of GAIN, a network of professional management partners, members, and associates in the technology sector.

In addition, he is the host and executive producer of The Modern Hotelier, a podcast that explores current trends, new technologies, and industry experts in hospitality. He also mentors aspiring entrepreneurs at the Hospitality Innovation Hub Incubator at New York University, where he previously taught hotel distribution courses. He has a proven track record of leading, innovating, and advising in various aspects of hotel operations, marketing, and e-commerce.

Connect with David Millili:

https://lodgiq.com/

Most People Don't | Resources

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Today’s podcast guest is Robert Shelton. A recently retired executive from Microsoft. He is so much more than “the dude from the coffee shop”, despite initially meeting him this way.

He reveals a ton of life lessons and useful information on how to treat people while moving through corporate America. How to “do” what he didn’t “do”.

We discuss:

-Feeling safer in the hood sometimes than in his exclusive gated world now

-Learning how not to judge people by appearance

-Everyone has it within them the ability to succeed

-Obtaining whatever success looks like for you, regardless of what you look like

-Putting on the suit of an extrovert when going to work

-Fixing computers at a young age, excelling at programming classes at age 15

-Graduating college in his 40’s, when he didn’t need to get a degree, setting example for others and his son

-Being dedicated to education outside of the education system

-Reprogramming his mind to get out of the hood, while reprogramming computers

-Leaving bodies on the side of the road on the way up the corporate ladder, while now helping others and mentoring people to succeed

-Removing the shield of Darth Vader and exposing himself – leaving the dark side of focus and selfishness to give back and be kind

-No longer needing to carry the sword out of fear (of being exposed, of being fired, of being passed over)

-Having his wife protect him after removing his armor and being his vulnerable self at home, before retirement when he still “had to fight”

-Learning lessons from your success

Robert Shelton is a retired senior technology executive with over 20 years of experience at Microsoft. During his tenure, he served as the Senior Technical Director and Chief Technical Officer for the National Intelligence Business Unit. His expertise lies in IT Executive Management, cloud computing, enterprise software sales, and the applied uses of artificial intelligence.

However, this professional bio only scratches the surface of who Robert truly is. Growing up in an economically disadvantaged area, he faced challenges that shaped his journey. Through hard work and connections with incredible people, he managed to break free from those circumstances. Robert’s passion for technology ultimately led him to fulfill his childhood dream of working at Microsoft. The twists and turns along the way provided the necessary background for him to achieve his life goals. He learned that it’s the challenges and “negative experiences” that offer valuable training, but only if you learn from them. The greatest gifts often come from persevering through adversity.

Robert’s favorite quote, attributed to Zig Ziglar, encapsulates his philosophy: ‘You can get what you want out of life if you will just help enough other people get what they want.’

Most People Don't | Resources

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Today's guest is Jean-François Lappas, the founder of a company called Wabya (which stands for "We Are Because You Are").

He left a six-figure corporate job amid a pandemic and burnout to find his true purpose. After a journey of self-discovery fueled by self-help books, self-awareness, and self-compassion, JF now lives in harmony with their core values.

He founded a business that embodies his identity and mission, dedicated to helping individuals from all walks of life uncover and realize their purpose, increasingly through the platform-wabya.

The name represents the reliance that we have on each other. We can't exist without others, and others can't exist without us.

His company now helps people through individualized coaching for self-realization.

More about JF and his organization,

we are because you are can be found here.

Most People Don't | Resources

Learn additional key take-aways by listening to more of Bart Berkey's conversations with successful leaders on his weekly podcast. Please subscribe, like & share to help others find these words of wisdom.

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