In this episode of What’s the Point?, Bill Ellis welcomes John Golden—strategist, podcaster, martial arts practitioner, and Chief Strategy & Marketing Officer at Pipeliner CRM. John’s story stretches from growing up in Ireland to building a career in the U.S. that blends sales leadership, publishing, and purpose-driven business.

Through their conversation, John emphasizes why embracing the journey matters more than obsessing over the destination. He shares how self-awareness, core values, and non-negotiables can guide decisions, why comparison is a trap, and how authenticity is the only way to lead effectively.

From his 1,600+ podcast interviews to his decades in sales, John also shares powerful lessons about preparation, humility, and what it means to leave a lasting legacy. This is a rich, thought-provoking dialogue about human nature, leadership, and living with intentionality.

• Embrace the Journey: Success isn’t about an overnight win—it’s about learning from every step, even the missteps.
• Self-Awareness First: Before chasing goals, know your strengths, triggers, and true fit
• Non-Negotiables Matter: Having clear values helps avoid distractions and wasted effort
• Preparation Wins in Sales: Top performers always do their homework—it’s the ultimate respect for the client
• Authentic Leadership: True leaders model values, act with humility, and elevate others without pretending leadership is just “being nice”
• Legacy Over Noise: The real point is the impact you leave on those closest to you, not chasing global applause
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LINKS:

Connect with Bill:

• bill@brandingpillars.com
• www.brandingpillars.com
• www.brandingforresults.com
• IG - @wcellis
• Facebook - @CoachBillEllis
• LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/wcellis
• Book: Women Who Won

CONTACT INFO:

• Name: John Golden
• Email: john.golden@pipelinersales.com
• Website: https://www.pipelinersales.com/
• SOCIAL MEDIA:
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SalesPOP
• X: https://twitter.com/RealSalesPOP
• X: @‌JohnGoldenFRR
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johngolden/
• Sales POP! Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sales-pop-podcasts/id1455305326

Quick Episode Summary:

• 00:00 – Meet John Golden: strategist, podcaster, and sales leader
• 02:00 – From Ireland to San Diego: why embracing the journey matters
• 06:30 – Self-awareness and core values as the foundation of clarity
• 10:30 – Building your list of non-negotiables
• 14:00 – Podcasting lessons: consistency, purpose, and value over vanity
• 18:30 – Human nature insights: what the Maasai warriors can teach us about silence and observation
• 24:00 – Martial arts lessons: humility, competing with yourself, and long-term discipline
• 30:00 – Why comparison is destructive in life and sales
• 33:00 – The power of preparation: a cautionary sales story
• 38:00 – Debunking myths: salespeople are made, not born
• 40:00 – Purpose-driven leadership beyond metrics
• 46:00 – Flaws, scars, and the beauty of imperfection
• 48:00 – John’s answer to “What’s the Point?”

Trust. It’s something we all crave, yet so many of us feel it slipping away. In today’s conversation, I sit down with Chip Webster, founder of Unity and Service and author of Unity and Service: A Pathway to Responsible Citizenship. Chip has spent decades observing how trust is built—and broken—in boardrooms, neighborhoods, and across our country. His mission is simple: rebuild unity one act of service at a time.

We dive deep into the cultural shift that’s left many of us disconnected and cynical. Chip challenges us to get off the couch, engage with our neighbors, and remember that the smallest actions—like holding a door, saying hello, or volunteering locally—can begin to restore trust.

Chip also shares his bold vision for mandatory national service—not military, but one year of working on community projects, side by side with people different from ourselves. He believes that when we serve, barriers come down and our humanity shines through.

We also discuss:

• Why trust is highest in our local communities and lowest at the national level.
• How listening—truly listening—creates consensus, even when we disagree.
• The difference between microaggressions and micro-validations—and why small affirmations can heal more than we think.
• What it really means to be a responsible citizen in today’s America.
• Chip leaves us with a timeless challenge: If not now, when? If not us, who?

This episode is both a wake-up call and an invitation. The point is clear—unity doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when each of us decides to serve.

Connect with Bill:

• bill@brandingpillars.com
• www.brandingpillars.com
• www.brandingforresults.com
• IG - @wcellis
• Facebook - @CoachBillEllis
• LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/wcellis
• Book: Women Who Won

Links for This Episode:

• Name: Chip Webster
• Phone: 727-618-9376
• Email: chip@unityinservice.org
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chipwwebster
• Website http://unityinservice.org
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chip.webster.2025

Quick Episode Summary:

• 00:00 – Introduction: Craving trust in a divided world
• 02:00 – Why trust can’t be built online
• 05:00 – Getting off the couch: first steps toward building trust
• 07:00 – Small acts that matter (holding doors, saying hello)
• 10:00 – The loneliness epidemic and knowing our neighbors
• 12:00 – Culture as “the water we swim in”
• 15:00 – Why national service could change everything
• 18:00 – Dehumanization in politics and media
• 21:00 – Listening, compromise, and consensus building
• 25:00 – The role of Vistage in teaching trust and transparency
• 30:00 – Generational shifts: helicopter parents and entitlement
• 34:00 – Bridging the gap between generations
• 36:00 – The United States or the Un-United States?
• 39:00 – The CCC and WPA: lessons from the past
• 43:00 – Chip’s vision for modern mandatory service
• 45:00 – Who should read Unity and Service?
• 48:00 – Micro-affirmations vs. microaggressions
• 52:00 – What’s the point? Chip’s final message
• 54:00 – Closing thoughts and how to connect with Chip

In this episode of What’s the Point?, host Bill Ellis sits down with Derrick Girard—entrepreneur, Air Force veteran, and author of Put to the Test. Derrick shares how a series of business challenges—including three major lawsuits—pushed him to reevaluate everything he thought he knew about success, leadership, and resilience.

From growing up in a military family to launching a tech company without a tech background, Derrick’s story is one of grit, adaptability, and a relentless “figure it out” mindset. He opens up about the emotional and professional toll of building something from scratch, the cost of unchecked ambition, and how failure became the greatest teacher. This episode unpacks what it means to lead with integrity, step away from ego, and stay grounded in purpose—even when the pressure mounts.

🗝️ Key Takeaways

• Adversity as the ultimate test: Derrick’s life shaped by lawsuits and business breakdowns—not personal loss.
• Mindset over platform: Success isn’t about status—it’s built through resilience, curiosity, and relentless problem-solving.
• Drive has a cost: Extraordinary ambition allowed achievement—but at the expense of relationships until awareness rebalanced perspective.
• Culture starts at the top: Corporate turnaround failed because the leader wouldn’t acknowledge systemic issues—culture isn’t declared, it’s lived.
• Quitting is okay when you truly tried: Persistence matters—but so does knowing when you've done all you can and it’s time to walk away.

💬 Final Thoughts

Derrick emphasizes that success is not about avoiding failure, but about responding to it—with honesty, grit, and generosity. His Figure It Out mindset equips listeners to take accountability, embrace setbacks as fuel, and stay true to values amid chaos.

Connect with Bill:

• bill@brandingpillars.com
• www.brandingpillars.com
• www.brandingforresults.com
• IG - @wcellis
• Facebook - @CoachBillEllis
• LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/wcellis
• Book: Women Who Won

Links for This Episode:

• Name: Derrick Girard
• Email: dmgirar@gmail.com
• Phone: (612) 205-5280
• Website(s): www.derrickgirard.com

SOCIAL MEDIA INFO:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derrickgirard/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/derrickgirardauthor
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author.derrickgirard/
• Twitter: https://x.com/DerrickGirard1
• BOOK: https://a.co/d/3Wg6LMN

Quick Episode Summary:

• 0:00 – Welcome and guest introduction: Meet Derrick Girard.
• 1:42 – The unexpected call that changed everything.
• 3:11 – Walking through crisis and asking, “What is God doing here?”
• 5:20 – Letting go of ego and career identity.
• 8:55 – Rediscovering purpose through faith and family.
• 12:43 – Why we often confuse busyness with purpose.
• 15:16 – What it means to obey even when it costs.
• 18:38 – Derrick’s view on legacy, marriage, and spiritual leadership.
• 22:07 – Final reflections and encouragement to follow God’s lead