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What happens when competence becomes a commodity?

Mark Schaefer has spent decades studying what makes businesses grow and people connect. He's written 12 bestselling books, teaches at Rutgers University, and advises companies like Pfizer, Cisco, and the U.S. Air Force. His latest book, Audacious, tackles how humans can stand out in a world increasingly shaped by AI.

In this episode, Mark shares how a high school play changed his life by giving him something he desperately needed: a place to belong. That theme of belonging runs through everything he does today, including his book Belonging to the Brand and his research into why our children and grandchildren have become "the loneliest generation."

Mark gets honest about what AI means for all of us. If you're merely competent, he warns, you'll be overwhelmed. But he also offers a path forward with four foundations for thriving: personal brand, community, experiences, and what he calls transcendent content.

We talk about why real human stories approach the level of art, why AI-generated Bruce Springsteen songs will never replace the real thing. Why Mark put the darkest moment of his life in his bestselling book on personal branding. And why, when no conference would hire him to speak, did he create his own event and draw 750 people from 13 countries?

Mark also shares his experiment with the Markbot, a custom AI trained on all his work that's helped thousands of people and occasionally tells them they need a hug.

This conversation will remind you why your story matters, why connection matters, and why the heart will always beat the algorithm.

Key Topics:

• The four foundations for humans in an AI world
• Why competence is now a commodity
• Building community in an age of loneliness
• Creating content that approaches art
• Taking risks when no one will give you a chance
• Experimenting with AI tools every day

Guest: Mark W. Schaefer, author, speaker, futurist, and business consultant

Hosts: Billy Dexter and Melissa G. Wilson

Check out Mark's blog: businessgrow.com/blog

Connect with Melissa @ - https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissagwilson/
Connect with Billy @ - https://www.linkedin.com/in/billydexter/
Connect with John @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-st-augustine-1b3192/

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Most people negotiate with one billionaire in their lifetime. De Smith negotiated with 31 of them simultaneously.

As CEO of the NFL Players Association for 15 years, the former homicide prosecutor didn't just survive what ESPN called "the toughest job in all of sports." He transformed it, creating over $150 billion in value for players while revolutionizing how we think about athlete safety and life after the game.

In this raw, unfiltered conversation on Awake the Network, De. pulls back the curtain on:

The brutal truth about professional football is that the average career is 3.3 years, the injury rate is 100%, and "you're not a Saint, you're not an Eagle, you're not a Giant, you're an employee."

What it takes to lead in impossible situations. From prosecuting murderers to facing down NFL owners, D. shares the single most important skill he learned in the courtroom.

Why he stopped watching football and what it took to get him back into the game.

QTR (Quality Time Remaining) is the framework that changed how he thinks about every relationship, every decision, every moment.

His new book, Turf Wars, isn't about football. It's a brutally honest examination of power, humanity, and how we choose to treat each other when billions of dollars are at stake.

Listen now to hear how a kid from a long line of Baptist preachers became the voice for thousands of players—and why he believes America is now being run like the NFL.

This podcast is available wherever you listen to podcasts. Book available wherever books are sold, and also check out De's book at turfwarsbook.com

Connect with Melissa @ - https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissagwilson/
Connect with Billy @ - https://www.linkedin.com/in/billydexter/
Connect with John @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-st-augustine-1b3192/

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What happens when a thriving corporate career collides with a mother's love?

In this powerful episode of Awake In the Network, where destiny happens, we sit down with Sally Rucking—a woman who traded first-class airline travel for a front-row seat to changing lives.

After 17 years soaring through the corporate skies with a major airline, Sally made a decision that would transform not only her life but also thousands of others'. When her daughter's severe allergic asthma led to 40 hospitalizations, Sally discovered something more valuable than any boardroom success: purpose.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• How a chance encounter on an airplane redirected an entire career path
• The moment Sally realized grassroots storytelling could move mountains (and money)
• Why "imposter syndrome" didn't stop her from becoming a nonprofit powerhouse
• The secret to building a legacy that outlasts any paycheck
• How to connect your passions to create opportunities that matter

From volunteering with the American Lung Association to leading as VP of Corporate Relations, from serving as President and CEO of Beyond OCD to now building a performing arts nonprofit spanning three countries, Sally's journey proves that when you answer your calling, the network awakens.

This isn't just another career pivot story. This is a masterclass in:

• Recognizing connected outs that change everything
• Turning personal tragedy into transformational impact
• Building nonprofit organizations with a clear mission and vision
• The art of fundraising through authentic storytelling
• Creating a legacy through service

Whether you're contemplating a career change, starting a nonprofit, or simply wondering if there's more to life than the corner office—Sally's story will remind you that the greatest success is measured in lives changed, not bonuses earned.

Join hosts Billy Dexter and Melissa G. Wilson for a conversation filled with wisdom, heart, and even a nostalgic trip down Romper Room memory lane.

Because in business, and in life, being aware of the connections, great and small, can be the difference between success and significance.

Connect with Melissa @ - https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissagwilson/
Connect with Billy @ - https://www.linkedin.com/in/billydexter/
Connect with John @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-st-augustine-1b3192/