🎙️ Episode Title: Disrupt Yourself, Stay Rooted – A Conversation with Dr. William “Bill” Putsis

In this episode of The Greatness Garage, we sit down with Dr. William “Bill” Putsis — economist, author, executive, and professor — for a powerhouse conversation on risk, reinvention, and resilience. Bill pulls back the curtain on his unique journey from academia to industry, from traditional business books to a bold fiction release (Scarlet’s Revenge), and how embracing disruption has led to some of his greatest personal and professional growth.

We explore:

• The “What If” of a near-career in professional baseball

• Why fear of failure can sometimes override passion — and what to do about it

• How to lead with values when the stakes are high

• Lessons from writing a fiction business book… and accidentally getting lost in the romance section

• The importance of defining your “tree trunk” — the unshakable core of your values and purpose

Plus, Bill shares the mindset that helped his firm launch over $15 billion in development projects and how he’s redefining strategy, joy, and balance in the second act of his career.

🔑 Key Quote: “Have fun with it. And be a tree trunk. Your leaves may sway, but your roots shouldn’t move.”

This episode is a must-listen for anyone standing at a crossroads — whether you’re thinking about a pivot, facing burnout, or just wondering what’s next.

📕 Check out Scarlet’s Revenge — available now on Amazon, Walmart, and Barnes & Noble. (Spoiler: It's not a romance novel!)

Greatness Garage | Episode: Doug Thorpe — Choosing Wisely, Leading Intentionally

In this raw and powerful episode of The Greatness Garage, we're pulling back the curtain with leadership coach and podcast host Doug Thorpe for a conversation that hits deep and delivers wisdom every step of the way.

Doug opens up about a pivotal “I Wish I Would Have” moment that shook the foundation of his personal and professional life—his second marriage—and how that decision forced him to rebuild from scratch at 45. We talk about what happens when the wrong partner—whether in life or business—derails the dream, and how the right partner can become your greatest asset.

Then… buckle up. In the “You’re Not Gonna Believe This” segment, Doug shares a jaw-dropping story from his time cleaning up failed banks for the FDIC—including a murder, mob-style warnings, and some Texas billionaire drama that sounds like it came out of an HBO series.

And finally, we land on solid ground with a truth every business owner needs to hear: intentionality. Doug breaks down why so many entrepreneurs know what to do, but still don’t do it—and how to finally push past that reptile brain resistance that holds us back.

This episode is full of gold—life lessons, leadership insights, and a whole lot of real talk. Whether you’re leading a team or just trying to lead yourself a little better today, you’re going to walk away stronger.

🎧 Listen now and get to work—not just in your business, but on it.

Justin Christianson is a digital marketing veteran with a strong emphasis on implementation and optimization. He is the #1 Amazon bestselling author of Conversion Fanatic: How To Double Your Customers, Sales and Profits with A/B testing. At Conversion Fanatics Justin helps e-commerce and SaaS businesses by taking care of the majority of the heavy lifting so they can focus on more important tasks! 🙌🔥

Justin says, “I’m just trying to deliver the service the best I possibly can, and deliver the results for my clients. And the rest of it, I don’t care about.”

👉Don’t focus on what your competitors and neighbors are doing. Focus on what you can do for your clients.

👉Focus on doing one thing really really well, and the rest will fall in line.

In this episode you will learn:

🏆How to lead with value and how you can help your clients and customers best.

🏆What a health business partnership looks like.

🏆What role your faith can play in your business..

🏆How to avoid the “shiny objects” of services outside of your niche.

Be sure to catch the video version of this interview on our FB Group (here! 👏👏👏), so make sure you add it to your calendar so you won't miss an episode!🏆🌟

John Havlik’s leadership pedigree includes over 8 years of world-class swimming and Division 1 coaching, plus 29+ years of leading high-performing special operations personnel of all services. often making time-sensitive decisions under duress in unknown and unfamiliar environments around the world. He has proven leadership in various scenarios (unconventional, conventional, executive, diplomatic, transformational, visionary, crisis, in-extremis, etc.) Name the leadership style.....John has experience in it! 🙌🔥

John says, “When you don’t want to make mistakes, you sometimes are not being the authentic or real you when leading.”

👉You have to find the natural “you” to be the most effective leader you can be.

👉You have to put people in positions to make decisions to get the most out of their talents

In this episode you will learn:

🏆The biggest thing that people outside of the military should know about the Navy Seals.

🏆The best way to engage people to make decisions that autonomously aligns with the company.

🏆The “What you have to work on” that is the “normal or natural” for you.

🏆How to get the best value out of your team.

Be sure to catch the video version of this interview on our FB Group (here! 👏👏👏), so make sure you add it to your calendar so you won't miss an episode!🏆🌟

Cal Adams is the C.L.O (Chief Learning Officer) and Managing Partner for the Fit Theorem Franchise. Aside from being a husband and father of four, he spends majority of his time developing training curricula for the Fit Theorem network. With his 10 years of personal training experience, and earning the credentials of a N.A.S.M. Master trainer, his focus is to create sales, service, and marketing processes that ensure the success of each individual location. This is done through understanding psychology, training modalities, and market trends in the fitness industry.🙌🔥

Not only did Cal's business model implode during the pandemic like so many other fitness industry businesses he had to find a way to survive without being able to be in person. Not only did he find a way to survive he found a way to thrive and open a dozen new franchises with his operating model. Here is a great lesson in finding gold in the middle of a sea of despair!

Cal says, “Form follows function. When we function properly, things will form themselves.”

👉If you have a way to help people you have a responsibility to make it available.

👉The people of your company are more important than the service or product you provide

In this episode you will learn:

🏆How relationships you create serve as a pivot point.

🏆How to fill the gap of connection with the relationships you had created.

🏆The most difficult part in Cal’s transition.

🏆How to get the best value out of your team.

Be sure to catch the video version of this interview on our FB Group (here! 👏👏👏), so make sure you add it to your calendar so you won't miss an episode!🏆🌟

My guest this episode is Karen Russo the award-winning author of The Money Keys. With her unusual blend of experience as an MBA from Columbia University, a top-selling salesperson, an accomplished corporate leadership trainer, and an ordained interfaith minister, Karen shares from over 25 years of success in business and personal growth.

Karen's story of keeping business/ MBA/ Work separated from recovery/ spirituality for years until it became clear that the power is in the integration... connecting faith/ values/ purpose in life and business with your money;

What is the relationship between business and faith and religion? We will talk about this and how our heads can be the barrier between where we are at currently and what we truly want.

Karen’s work has been endorsed by many, including Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith of Super Soul Sunday and Sharon Lechter, who selected Karen to contribute a chapter to Think and Grow Rich for Women.

www.TheMoneyKeys.com, Karen@TheMoneyKeys.com,

Karen says, “Let me have an idea that's bigger than the ideas I’ve already had.”

👉Don’t be afraid to surrender to something more powerful than yourself, even if you are not a religious person.

👉Learn to stay true to the moment and not put on a facade of attention.

In this episode you will learn:

🏆Can Faith and Money go together?

🏆What is the true nature of addiction?

🏆How can surrendering make you a better you?

🏆How to use faith in your values every day!

Be sure to catch the video version of this interview on our FB Group (here! 👏👏👏), so make sure you add it to your calendar so you won't miss an episode!🏆🌟

Dustin is the creator and founder of the Kutting Weight clothing line. He brings to the company a wealth of experience in fitness and marketing. As an accomplished wrestler, Dustin was the 2002 Wrestling National Champion at Lindenwood University. His triumph kickstarted a passion-driven career as a fitness instructor, personal trainer and wrestling coach, leading him to create Kutting Weight. 🙌🔥

Today, Dustin maintains an active role at Kutting Weight as the Chief Executive Officer and lead product designer. He continues to evolve the clothing line based on customer feedback and his own experience. Dustin is a recipient of a BA Degree in Business Marketing from Lindenwood University. He recently graduated from the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program and was also part of the Core 100 Youth to start the Truth Anti-Tobacco Campaign. Dustin's latest achievement was becoming the 2016 National Champion for Lotus Cup USA racing.

Dustin says, “If you’re not afraid to gamble and risk everything...then there’s nothing really to be scared of.”

👉Don’t be afraid to go all in on your entrepreneurship.

👉Stay true to the “buy low and sell high” principal.

In this episode you will learn:

🏆What are the benefits of training in heat?

🏆How Dustin’s life changed since becoming an entrepreneur.

🏆The biggest challenge Dustin faced in his journey to freedom.

🏆And what that new freedom has allowed him to do and become.

Be sure to catch the video version of this interview on our FB Group (here! 👏👏👏), so make sure you add it to your calendar so you won't miss an episode!🏆🌟