Really excited to share this conversation I had this past week with none other than Danny Miranda from .

A few key takeaways:

Danny considered his podcast a success on day 1. Success isn’t the likes or the downloads. Success for Danny is “connecting with people’s souls.” I was struck by the intentionality to be driven by internal validation instead of external validation.

Danny has a gift of presence. He is intentional in the way he seeks to connect with his guests through ridiculous prep-work (check out The Art of Interviewing), but he’s also learned his gifting is being present and “live” in the real world.

Danny’s parents, especially his Mom, served as guides on his hero's journey. His Mom was open and present enough to allow Danny to do ridiculous things as a young teenager, leading to the life he now lives.

Danny’s special call to action: go for a run.

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“If you have hope in your future, you have power in your present,” says John Marsh. It’s catchy phrases like this mixed with his deep convictions that draw you in to the power of what John and his wife are doing in a small town near Auburn, Alabama.

John believes that all people, places, and businesses are redeemable.

“We believe real estate — when we measure how we do real estate — is three capitals: social, spiritual, and economic capital.” John continues, “We ask ourselves, how can we make our Sunday school teacher and our economics teacher happy? How do we work at the intersection of purpose and profits? Because people don’t even believe that’s possible!”

Their goals, as they marry purpose and profit, are to:

• Redeem places into their intended beauty

• Take the multidisciplinary talent of our team and invest it in people & places

• Build leaders and teams through consulting, coaching, and mentoring

• Make a generational impact

• Create catalytic change for people & places

This isn’t just a far-fetched theory. Over the last 25 years, John and Ashely have guided over 60 startup businesses in various industries, such as Hospitality, Construction, Real Estate Investing, Advertising, and multiple Restaurants. John and his wife have renovated 300+ buildings within ten blocks of downtown Opelika to help save their city.

Key Moments

• How he was making more money in high school than his teachers

• How he worked his way out of over $1 million in debt, healed his relationship, and transformed his life

• How he got his start rebuilding homes in Opelika

• What his first renovation was like and why it took 6 ½ years

• Why having no outside capital can be a blessing

• How he went on to renovate 300 properties and start 60 businesses in Opelika

• How a $15,000 profit became the seed for much bigger projects

• How he used owner financing to build his portfolio

• Why Marsh Collective focuses on companies, couples, and communities Why he starts the revitalization of a town with an iconic food and beverage project

• How do you know you’ve found the right mentor

• How he evaluates the “5 F’s” — faith, family, fun, fitness, and finances

• How to work at the intersection of purpose and profits

• Why he likes to focus on “irreplaceable real estate”

• Why historic small towns could become their own asset class

• Who some of his favorite guests on his podcast have been

  Resources

• 5 Voices personality test.

• Positive Intelligence test.

• Redemptification podcast.

• Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis.

• Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara.

• Faith Driven Investor

I’m taking a hiatus this weekend to spend time with family and friends, while reflecting with thankfulness those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

— Tim

(Below is a photo from my restaurant this weekend. A simple physical and visible way to remind both ourselves and our customers to pause and reflect with gratefulness those who gave it all for our freedoms).

I have two memories of Tim Keller. One he was present for, the other he gave me a gift.

The first was simply a quick funny story. I and a few other Boyce College and Southern Seminary students piled into a local PCUSA church to hear Tim speak on his recent book Counterfeit Gods. I had not read the book —that comes in the second story. But I showed up incredibly early to hear from Tim Keller and saved seats. My fellow students were incredibly late, and at one point I literally turned away an elderly couple who were searching the packed auditorium for a place to sit. The husband struggled with his walker, and his wife worked to steady him while also searching for a respite in the pews. I turned them away — honestly a bit exasperated.

When my friends finally arrived, I rather loudly chastised them, saying “I literally had to tell a guy who could barely walk no! Thanks a lot guys!!”

The pastor of the church soon after quieted the excited and packed auditorium, and encouraged us all to stand and greet our neighbors.

To my dismay, I turned around to see the elderly couple, not so happy with my comments. I awkwardly apologized. But by the end of the evening, I seem to recall after Tim’s gracious and wise and wonderful lecture, we reconciled.

My second story is brief. Not too long afterwards, I was dating my now wife and we quickly got engaged. While my wife was in her hometown searching for wedding dresses my father-in-law and I went to a local bookstore. It was there I picked up Counterfeit Gods, and in one sitting finished reading it while my father-in-law browsed the store. To the say the least, I think he was impressed. He probably doesn’t even remember it now (I’ll have to ask him), but I know I was pretty impressed myself.

I read the book another 3-4 times.

All that being said, I have been so incredibly grateful for the life and legacy of Tim Keller. I had another podcast episode I was going to highlight today, but I wanted to post this one as an opportunity to honor him.

The Rise & Fall of Mars Hill Bonus Episode

I think this episode with Mike Cosper is just a great example of who Tim Keller was as a person. He was willing, as a “celebrity pastor,” to go on and really deal with in a humble and honest way some of the challenges around what had been created by the evangelical industrial complex.

There’s a powerful and convicting moment in the conversation where Tim talks about how he’s been able to not “fall” like so many other leaders.

“You’ve got to have some people in your life who exhort you daily because sin will always blind you, the deceitfulness of sin always blinds you. So who is it in your life that actually is authorized to come talk to you, look at you, really rake you over the coals if necessary?

I think in the earlier days of my ministry, that was extraordinarily important.

It’s awfully helpful if one of those people, you happen to be married to, because they can see things that nobody else can see.

He also hits hard at the tendency of platforming people based solely on their gifting, and continuing to allow them to lead despite a lack of fruit — sometimes because it’s financially lucrative. I remember being blown away by his speaking truth into this situation.

That’s mistaking the operation of gifts for the work of spiritual fruit and grace in your life. And this is happening all over the place. And here’s the frightening thing. The people in closest to the person, they see the lack of fruit. The people out here, they can only see the gifts. So they see the lack of fruit, they see the grumpiness or the abusiveness or the anger or the pride or the self-centeredness and all that, and they start to lose their respect for the leader. But as soon as they start to criticize - the people out here who don’t see that, they only see the gifts - they just attack anybody who criticizes. You saw that. And it’s all because the gifts of grace thing, the people in close see the lack of grace, the people out here can only see the gifts. And unfortunately, very often the people up here who are trying to keep the operation going, they see the lack of grace, but they also know that they can’t financially afford anything other than just keeping this person in power. So as I was listening to your stuff on Mars Hill, that was the other thing I wanted to say besides… I’ve mentioned a number of things here, but I thought that’s something I needed to add. I hope you find that helpful.

This is a short conversation he has, but I think it’s an important one. I hope you’ll give it a listen (or re-listen) as you remember the life and legacy of Tim Keller.

Thank you Tim. See you soon.

Wongnotes (Cory Wong) Interview with John Mayer: Part 1, Part 2

Listening to the unreleased tune by John Mayer is worth your time to tune in to this episode (one that Steve Jordan said that this “song in particular was so good that he didn't want to put it out because he felt like he was gonna have to do it for the rest of his life”).

By the way, I would think the whole world knows John Mayer, but in case you haven’t listened to him, he’s one of the best guitarist and song-writers of a generation. In particular, he’s been a constant “great” in my life as a guitar player. More than that, I’ve resonated with him often as a creative and eclectic collector and learner-of-new-things. He’s not always been known as the most humble figure, but you have to admire his dedication to the craft of songwriting and his unique style is incredible.

His episode with Cory Wong on Cory’s podcast “Wongnotes” (part 1 is here) is truly one of the great conversations between two artists that you’re just going to love listening to, especially part 2 where they get together and start jamming together on guitars.

For those who might not know, Cory Wong is a renowned American guitarist, composer, and producer known for his unique blend of funk, jazz, and fusion styles. He gained widespread recognition as a member of the Minneapolis-based band Vulfpeck, known for their funk-inspired music. Wong's distinctive playing style and rhythmic precision have made him a sought-after collaborator, and he has worked with notable musicians such as Ben Rector, Snarky Puppy, and the Fearless Flyers.

Apart from his work as a collaborator, Cory Wong has also released several solo albums, showcasing his talent as a composer and bandleader. His solo albums often feature a fusion of genres, incorporating elements of funk, jazz, rock, and R&B. Wong's music is characterized by infectious grooves, intricate guitar work, and a joyful, energetic vibe.

Wong is also known for his active presence on social media and his commitment to engaging with his fans. He frequently releases videos and live performances on platforms like YouTube, where he showcases his guitar skills and offers insights into his creative process. Cory Wong's versatile musicianship, combined with his vibrant stage presence and infectious enthusiasm for music, has established him as a prominent figure in the contemporary instrumental music scene.

In short — he’s the man.

Because of the free-flowing nature of this episode, I don’t have a ton of specific quotes to share like I’d usually have. In general this was just purely a fun and engaging listen to someone I’d consider pretty close to being a genius.

What did strike me, besides having a ton of fun, was how John described dealing with criticism. It always shocks me how someone that produces art of this caliber and has this much reach cares at all what other people think about him, especially since he’s so incredibly successful in his field.

It goes to show you that comparison truly is the thief of joy, and even the “famous” aren’t immune. Although you’ll enjoy John’s perspective on fame and how in his mind he’s disconnected often from the reality of his fame.

I really hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did.

Happy Mother’s day all!

One of my favorite podcasts out there right now is All The Hacks. Ironically, I’ve tried to shy away from the “hacker” lifestyle. But those who know me are very aware of my proclivity to try just about anything from cupping, dry needling, saunas, cold plunges, credit card points, sleep measuring mattresses, Bose sleep-pods, and a million other things.

All the Hacks doesn’t have every single episode that has been a home run for me, but there is an episode I keep coming back to. It’s a wonderful conversation with Nick Gray.

Nick Gray (@nickgraynews) is an entrepreneur, investor, author, and founder of Museum Hack. His book is “The 2-Hour Cocktail Party” How to Build Big Relationships with Small Gatherings.” 

In this particular episode, Nick shares valuable insights on hosting successful events. He emphasizes the benefits of regularly hosting cocktail parties and provides practical advice for creating memorable experiences — something I had never really considered or thought about. My desire for hospitality has always been there, and after reading The Gospel Comes with a House Key, the practical “how” behind providing hospitality and experiences to people inside my home has been a little bit of a mystery.

But Nick has a super clear and easy process to follow.

Nick starts by discussing the ideal day of the week to host a cocktail party (listen to find out), the recommended duration, and the importance of selecting the right guests.

Here is a great summary from “Feed My Friends” around some of the specifics Nick recommends.

➜ Invitations with an RSVP page: Nick recommends sending out invites using a service like Mixily or Evite that has a public list of who’s coming. Why? Nobody likes surprises. People are more likely to come to a party when they know who’s coming. An RSVP page, according to Gray, can also improve your reputation among new connections.

➜ Time Limit: There’s a short and strict 2-hour time limit. People are busy, so throwing a party with less time commitment than a dinner party improves  turnout.

➜ Name Tags: Everyone wears a name tag, so there’s no awkward experiences of forgetting peoples’ names.

➜ Ice Breakers: There are set times throughout the night where the host facilitates ice breakers. These brief pauses break up conversations, introduce new ones, and allow people to be reacquainted with different guests. (You can find the suggested ice breakers in the book).

➜ Food and Drink: The host is responsible for all snacks and drinks, making it easy for guests to accept the invite and show up. It’s up to the host to spend as much or as little as they want.

The episode delves into step-by-step invitation information, with specific tips on hosting parties that cater to both adults and children. Nick also highlights the essential information to include on your event page and shares two unique features that he incorporates into all of his parties.

Quick note: Nick’s advice on using Calendly is some of the most intentional and human advice on using a great tool that can often feel far more dehumanizing.

He dives into what to serve on the menu for the event, and most importantly — strategies for gracefully ending the event.

As an aside, Nick explains his choice not to serve beer at his parties and shares the three parts of an icebreaker. He provides examples and explains how to effectively utilize icebreakers during cocktail parties to engage guests.

The episode covers the schedule and formula for sending reminder messages to guests, the importance of seeking feedback after the party to continuously improve future events, and advanced party planning, including organizing book or clothing swaps. Yes, book and clothing swaps.

It’s…incredible. I think if you have any interest in becoming a better host, you need to listen to this episode.

Thank you Nick!

Resources

Nick’s Resources:

• How to Host a Party Website

• The 2-Hour Cocktail Party: Website

• The 2-Hour Cocktail Party: Amazon

• How to Host a Clothing Swap

• How to Plan a Networking Event

• How to Host a Happy Hour

• If I Had $10 Million Dollars, How Would I Live Differently?

• Music Playlist for Cocktail Parties

Resources Mentioned: 

• The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters

• Mixily

• Partiful

• Chris’ go-to lemon ricotta pancake recipe

• Capital One Cultivist Deal 

• Academy of Sciences

• The Apollo Circle

• Metropolitan Museum of Art's Young Patron’s Program 

• Bank of America Museum Deal

• deYoung Museum

• AirBnb Experiences

• How Nick Gray Sold Museum Hack Podcast

Nick’s Favorite:

• Museums

  • Metropolitan Museum of Art (Take the entrance on 81st St to skip the lines)

  • Legion of Honor 

  • National Gallery of Art 

• New York City Recommendations

  • New York City's Central Park (Picnic at Sheep Meadow)

  • Washington Square Park 

  • Scott's Pizza Tour

First, before I explain why I loved this episode, I have to share the key resource this episode let me to.

It was this podcast that introduced me to the phenomenal and life-changing book Sacred Pace: Four Steps to Hearing God and Aligning Yourself With His Will by Terry Looper.

Here’s the summary of the book, that you should be reading right now:

At just thirty-six years old, Terry Looper was a successful Christian businessman who thought he had it all—until managing all he had led to a devastating burnout. Wealthy beyond his wildest dreams but miserable beyond belief, Terry experienced a radical transformation when he discovered how to align himself with God’s will in the years following his crash and burn.

Sacred Pace is a four-step process that helps Christians in all walks of life learn how to

• slow down their decision-making under the guidance of the Holy Spirit,

• sift through their surface desires and sinful patterns in order to receive clear, peace-filled answers from the Lord,

• gain the confident assurance that God’s answers are His way of fulfilling the true desires he has placed in their hearts, and

• grow closer to the One who loves them most and knows them best.

I found that by reading Sacred Pace I was both convicted and also immediately helped with how I went about approaching and thinking about decisions. It’s less about his specific “process” and more about the principle of slowing down when we often want to speed up as leaders to solve the issues in front of us. We’re problem solvers, but the tension we need to live in is that in order to really solve things or make good decisions — we have to slow down.

Why I Loved This Episode:

I think in particular, I was struck by the vulnerability Chris exhibited — but also how much I resonated with his journey as a business leader. Although his journey included a commitment to Christ, the processing inside of tension that led to heart-change and business-change mirrored some of what I’ve gone through and continue to go through.

I dropped this note to Chris:

Chris — your episode on Permanent Podcast + your interview on your podcast with John Marsh had me constantly pausing to take notes. I’ve recommended your Permanent interview to multiple people. I so resonated with your journey of going from it being the “me show” to allowing my business to be transformed by Jesus — yes, even a Chick-fil-A franchise owner needs it. Appreciate your vulnerability. Super encouraged!

Speaking of the John Marsh episode, that in and of itself is a world-class listen. John is full of folksy yet practical advice and ways of thinking. I was so encouraged by this conversation.

Top Quotes from the Episode:

1. "I really do believe in the power of relationships, and I think it's one of the most important things that we can do in life."

2. "I've always been somebody who likes to take calculated risks."

3. "I think that the most important thing that we can do as businesspeople is just to be really transparent and straightforward."

4. "I think one of the most important things in life is just being patient."

5. "We're really investing in people as much as we're investing in properties."

6. "I think that in life, if you're not growing, you're dying."

7. "I think real estate is one of the most stable asset classes that you can invest in."

8. "We're always looking at ways to manage risk, and I think that's just a key component of investing."

9. "I think discipline is one of the most important things in investing."

10. "We have a responsibility to give back to the community."

11. "I think the more that we can give to others, the more we get in return."

12. "At the end of the day, relationships and trust are the most important things in life."

13. "Gratitude is just the foundation of everything that I believe in."

14. "If you want to be successful in anything, it's just about surrounding yourself with good people."

15. "Life is all about the relationships that we build, the people that we help, and the legacy that we leave behind."

A friend of mine talked about how this episode forced him to listen twice, just to take 5+ pages of notes. I’ve tried to do a little bit of that here for you. One of the greatest “tensions” in my world is how to provide incredible customer service while also remaining efficient. These days, customers want it all, and they want it now. It feels impossible. But Danny gives you hope.

Summary

1. Danny Meyer is a restaurateur and CEO of the Union Square Hospitality Group, which operates several acclaimed restaurants in New York City.

2. Meyer believes that hospitality is about how someone feels when they're in your space, and that it's important to create a warm and welcoming environment.

3. He emphasizes the importance of putting employees first and making sure they're taken care of, as they're the ones who ultimately take care of the customers.

4. Meyer has a philosophy of "enlightened hospitality," which means creating a culture where everyone feels valued and respected, and where the focus is on creating a memorable experience for customers.

5. He encourages managers to be "warm-hearted but tough-minded," meaning they should be compassionate and empathetic but also have high standards and hold people accountable.

6. Meyer believes that leaders should be vulnerable and transparent, and that it's important to admit mistakes and be open to feedback.

7. He emphasizes the importance of having a clear vision and purpose for your business, and of staying true to that vision even when it's difficult.

8. Danny discusses the challenges of running a restaurant during the pandemic, including the need to adapt quickly to new regulations and the importance of taking care of employees during a difficult time.

9. He believes that the restaurant industry will bounce back, but that it will be a slow and uneven recovery.

10. Meyer discusses his experience opening Shake Shack, and how he had to pivot from his original vision to create a successful business.

11. He emphasizes the importance of creating a strong brand, and of being consistent in everything you do.

12. Meyer believes that entrepreneurs should be willing to take risks, but also to learn from their failures and pivot when necessary.

13. He emphasizes the importance of building relationships with customers, and of creating a sense of community around your business.

14. Meyer believes that it's important to create a positive work culture, where people feel valued and supported.

15. He discusses the challenges of managing a large organization, and the importance of delegating and trusting your team.

16. Meyer emphasizes the importance of staying humble and continuing to learn, even when you've achieved a high level of success.

17. He believes that it's important to stay true to your values and to make decisions based on what's right, even if it's not the most profitable choice.

18. Meyer discusses his approach to hiring, and the importance of looking for people with the right attitude and values, rather than just skills and experience.

19. He emphasizes the importance of staying connected to your community, and of giving back in meaningful ways.

20. Danny believes that hospitality is an essential part of the human experience, and that it has the power to bring people together and create positive change in the world.

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Top Quotes from Danny Meyer

1. "Hospitality is how the guest feels in our space."

2. "Enlightened hospitality is creating a culture where people feel valued and respected, and the focus is on creating a memorable experience for customers."

3. "The most important thing is to put your employees first, because they're the ones who ultimately take care of the customers."

4. "I believe in being warm-hearted but tough-minded."

5. "Leaders need to be vulnerable and transparent, and be willing to admit mistakes and be open to feedback."

6. "A great brand is one that is consistent in everything it does."

7. "I believe in being an entrepreneur who is willing to take risks, but also willing to learn from failure and pivot when necessary."

8. "Community is at the heart of everything we do."

9. "Hire for attitude and values, not just skills and experience."

10. "Hospitality has the power to bring people together and create positive change in the world."

11. "I've learned that the more I put the focus on the people I'm serving, the better I become at what I do."

12. "Success is not about being the best, but about doing your best."

13. "The greatest gift you can give to someone is to make them feel welcome and valued."

14. "When we focus on serving others, it's amazing how much more successful we become."

15. "The most important thing we can do as leaders is to create a sense of belonging for the people we work with."

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