L3 Leadership Podcast

Episode Summary: In this episode, Doug talks about how he got started podcasting, what he believes is important for longevity, the benefits of podcasting and tips he has for podcast production starting out. 5 Key Takeaways:Doug talks about how podcasting can help your organization.He shares his number one tip to get going on your podcast.He talks about how to get guests to interview and how he creates his interviews that set him apart from other podcasts.Doug shares which feedback have been game changers for him. He tells listeners why they should stop comparing themselves to other podcasters.About Doug Smith: Doug is the Director of Development at Light of Life Rescue Mission and Founder and CEO of L3 Leadership. He is the author of his eBook, “Making the Most of Mentoring”, a step by step guide to help you build and cultivate relationships with mentors. He blogs at dougsmithlive.com, he is host of the L3 Leadership podcast, and he is a sought after public speaker. He is married to his high school sweetheart

Episode Summary:In this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, Jessica shares how she found that the entrepreneur's path was one for her and why she believes disruptive ideas can change the world.6 Key Takeaways:Jessica talks about how Kiva got its start and grew into the billion dollar company it is today.  She gives advice to other people who have an interest in entrepreneurship.Jessica tells listeners what role her faith played in her path.She talks about her other endeavors outside of Kiva, including Profounder, Alltruists, and her newest venture, Untapped. She shares how she is able to balance work and family and how her entrepreneurial path allows for her to be there for her family.Jessica tells us what she’s learned from having her platform.About Jessica Jackley:Jessica Jackley is an entrepreneur, investor and speaker. Over the last decade she has focused on financial inclusion, the sharing economy and social justice. She is also the founder of Alltruists and a co-founder of Untapped Capital. Jessi

Aradhna Oliphant is the President and CEO of Leadership Pittsburgh. During its 30-year history, leadership Pittsburgh has produced over 2,400 informed and engaged leaders and linked them with opportunities to help serve our region. Her impressive full biography can be found on the company’s website.Today, Aradhna joins me to share her story. She talks about a leader’s responsibility to make an impact on their community, sharing concrete advice on how to do so. She discusses the topic of women in leadership, sharing her advice for them and for anyone who aspires to be a leader. She also offers her thoughts on work-life balance, especially when you’re raising kids.“Be your best self….Take the time to see the potential in you, and believe in yourself, and do something with it. You are in charge. No one else is in charge of you.”- Aradhna OliphantKey Takeaways this week on the L3 Leadership Podcast:●       A leader’s responsibility in their community●       Women in leadership●       Advice for aspiring leaders● 

Jon Gordon's best-selling books and talks have inspired readers and audiences around the world. His principles have been put to the test by numerous Fortune 500 companies, professional and college sports teams, school districts, hospitals, and non-profits. He is the author of 24 books including 12 best sellers and 5 children’s books. His books include the timeless classic The Energy Bus, which has sold over 2 million copies; The Carpenter, which was a top 5 business book of the year; Training Camp, The Power of Positive Leadership, The Power of a Positive Team, The Coffee Bean, Stay Positive, and The Garden. Jon and his tips have been featured on The Today Show, CNN, CNBC, The Golf Channel, Fox and Friends, and in numerous magazines and newspapers. His clients include The Los Angeles Dodgers, Campbell’s Soup, Dell, Publix, Southwest Airlines, Miami Heat, The Los Angeles Rams, Snapchat, Truist Bank, Clemson Football, Northwestern Mutual, West Point Academy, and more. Jon is a graduate of Cornell Universit

The L3 Leadership podcast has been around for 304 episodes now, and it’s only one of the ways that L3 Leadership pursues its mission, vision, and values.Today, I talk about L3 Leadership, sharing our story and explaining what we do. I talk about the vision of L3 Leadership and note the power of asking. I recognize my mentors and inspirations and tell what “L3” stands for. I share the five core values of L3 Leadership, as well as the four main actions we take to live those values. Finally, I share how you can get involved in L3 Leadership.“We believe that everything gets better when a leader gets better.”- Doug SmithKey Takeaways this week on the L3 Leadership Podcast: ●       Our story●       The mission, vision, and values of L3 Leadership●       How L3 Leadership works to make Pittsburgh famous for God●       The transformative power of leadership●       The five core values of L3 Leadership●       The power of community●       The power of a mastermind group●       How to get involvedResources Mentioned:● 

In this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, Doug Smith interviews Mark Schultz. Mark tells us about his journey in being a successful Christian artist. He shares his process of songwriting, offers advice to young artists and discusses the importance of using your platform to give back.Episode Summary:Mark Schultz is a Christian artist who has sold over 1 million records. He has been nominated for numerous Dove Awards, winning his first at the 2006 Dove Awards. He has had over 13 Number 1 singles and has landed the top spot on Billboard’s Christian Adult Contemporary Songwriter List. Together, Mark and his wife, Kate, founded The Remember Me Mission, a non-profit dedicated to helping orphans all over the world. The Remember Me Mission has raised nearly 2 million dollars toward healthcare and education for orphans at home and abroad. Mark is the father of two adopted children and is also actively involved in his church.Six Key Take-AwaysHe tells us about his early years in Nashville and how he became a well-k

Returning guest and my friend Liz Wiseman is a researcher and executive advisor who teaches leadership to executives around the world.  She is the author of New York Times bestseller Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter, The Multiplier Effect: Tapping the Genius Inside Our Schools, and Wall Street Journal bestseller Rookie Smarts: Why Learning Beats Knowing in the New Game of Work. She is the CEO of the Wiseman Group, a leadership research and development firm headquartered in Silicon Valley, California. Some of her recent clients include Apple, AT&T, Disney, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Nike, Salesforce, Tesla, and Twitter. Liz has been listed on the Thinkers50 ranking, and in 2019 she was recognized as a top leadership thinker in the world. Today, Liz joins me to talk about her new book, Impact Players: How to Take the Lead, Play Bigger, and Multiply Your Impact. She explains why it’s important to emphasize contributorship and not just leadership, and she talks about why your goal sho

At the end of each year, I do a year-end review, and at the beginning of the next year, I share what I learned from it. This year is no different. In this episode, I share the lessons I learned in 2021 in the categories of legacy, calling, money, friends, parenting, and marriage.Today, I continue to share my biggest lessons learned in the past year. I talk about the importance of accepting that, one day, we’re all going to die. I talk about the need to pursue God’s calling in your life, being faithful to your ministry and resting in who God made you to be. I discuss the need to get your financial life in order, and I note the importance of eliminating greed, pride, and selfish ambition. I emphasize the importance of cultivating friendships, and I note the power of a single decision. I define JOMO and explain why family team meetings are essential. I discuss the power of excitement for the future, and I discuss the importance and power of reconciliation.“You can turn your whole life around with one decision ri

At the end of each year, I do a year-end review, and at the beginning of the next year, I share what I learned from it. This year is no different. In this episode, I share the lessons I learned in 2021 in the categories of business, leadership, and building your platform and influence.Today, I share my biggest lessons learned in the past year. I talk about the importance of intentionality, the power of journaling, and the five sources I learn from. I note the importance of boundaries. I discuss the power of a culture of feedback, and I posit that the purpose of leadership challenges is to make you hungry for God. I point out the responsibility of a leader to grow others, I explain why you should become a fan of your customers, and I note the power of making aggressive mistakes. I share my input on the hiring process, why you should send emails on Saturdays, and the dangers of making influence an idol. I note the places where pride tends to invade, and I call on you to trust God with your reputation.“Be okay w

Mark Batterson serves as lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, DC. One church with eight locations, NCC is focused on reaching emerging generations and meets in theaters throughout the DC metro area. NCC also owns and operates the largest coffeehouse on Capitol Hill. Mark holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Regent University and is the New York Times bestselling author of 11 books, including The Circle Maker, In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, Wild Goose Chase, and most recently, Whisper and Play the Man. Mark and his wife Lora live on Capitol Hill with their three children: Parker, Summer, and Josiah.In this rebroadcasted episode, Mark joins me to share the lessons he’s learned on his journey. He talks about why not to underestimate God or overestimate yourself, shares the real cure for failure, and stresses our need for the Holy Spirit. He notes the importance of humility, the power of dreams, and why patience is crucial. He posits that everyone has a book in them and offers his advic

John Maxwell is a leadership expert and coach who has trained over 6 million leaders worldwide. He is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership and Developing the Leader Within You 2.0. John has completely transformed my life and business through his books and teachings. For nearly two decades, I have dreamed of spending some one-on-one mentoring time with him - to ‘pick his brain,’ gain insight, and learn more about what it takes to be a great, inspiring, successful leader. So, I was honored to have the opportunity to turn that dream into a reality when I had lunch with him.Today, I rebroadcast an episode I recorded shortly after our lunch, in which I share the top 10 lessons I learned from it. I discuss the difference between being a “people pleaser” and being a “people leader,” and I share the lessons I learned from John about making the jump from pleasing others to leading them. I share the insight John provided on growing and developing company teams and the import

A year-end review is a process where you spend a few days going through your journals, calendars, photos, and more from the year, extracting all of the lessons and memories that you can in order to maximize your growth for the year. I’ve been doing this since 2004, typing up a report of my year after each one, and I can’t recommend this practice enough.Today, you’ll hear a replay of an episode I did a few years ago on year-end reviews. In it, I walk you through doing a year-end review. I explain why you need to do one, I note the importance of actually scheduling a time and place for it, and I tell you why you shouldn’t be deterred by the fact that your first year-end review won’t be perfect. I list what you should bring, I talk about the perks of having a year-end dinner with your spouse, and I share words of wisdom from John Maxwell on the value of evaluated experience.“You don’t grow just by getting another year older. You grow through reflecting, learning, and making changes as necessary.”- Doug SmithKey

Brett Hagler is the CEO and Co-Founder of New Story, an innovative nonprofit founded in 2015 to pioneer solutions to end global homelessness. Brett is a Y Combinator Alumnus, a 2016 Forbes 30 Under 30 entrepreneur, an author, a speaker, and a cancer survivor. Fast Company recognized New Story as one of the world’s most innovative companies in 2017, and as a top 10 nonprofit in 2019 . Brett was named as one of the Top 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs by Goldman Sachs in 2018.Today, Brett joins me to share the story of New Story. He shares why he’s so passionate about ending homelessness, what he’s actually doing about it, and the lessons he’s learned from the process. He goes into the company’s innovative approach to architecture and financing, discusses what it means to be a servant leader, and shares his faith story. He gives his definition of charity, discusses what having a home can do for a person, and talks about the prices and price variables of New Story houses. He explains why it’s not as hard as you

Lisa Scales has been President and CEO of the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank since 2012. She holds a JD degree from Boston University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Sciences from Seton Hill University. She serves on the Board of Directors at Adagio Health and is an Advisory Board Member for the Center of Supply Chain Management at the University of Pittsburgh, the Center for Community Engagement at Robert Moore University, and the University of Pittsburgh Johnson Institute for Responsible Leadership. She is a member of the University of Pittsburgh Institute of Politics Board of Fellows and an Advisory Team Member for the Greater Pittsburgh Nonprofit Partnership. She currently serves as Chair of Feeding Pennsylvania. In 2018, Lisa received the Greater Pittsburgh Athena Award, and in January of 2021, Pittsburgh Magazine honored Lisa as Pittsburgher of the Year.Today, Lisa joins me on the podcast to share the lessons she’s learned in over 25 years of working her way up and leading

Brian Tome is the founding and senior pastor of Crossroads Church, 2017’s fastest-growing church in America. He has authored four books, including the bestselling The Five Marks of a Man, and hosts the Aggressive Life Podcast. He has opened several other nonprofits and started Man Camp, a primitive weekend camping experience that has helped tens of thousands of men reclaim the code of manhood. As an avid adventure motorcyclist, Brian rides over tens of thousands of miles and camps more than 30 nights each year. He has also released an adventure ride TV show called Phantom Lake, which is available on Amazon Prime. He is married with three children and lives in Cincinnati, OH.Today, Brian shares his story, and we discuss it in the context of our mentor Denny Pattyn, a previous guest on the show who brought Brian to Christ. Brian talks about his experience being adopted and shares his thoughts on leadership. He offers his insights on failure, discusses character development, and explains why it’s so important to

It's Thanksgiving week, and a lot of people are spending time thinking about what they're grateful for. As I reflect on my life, I'm overwhelmed with gratitude for the people who have made a difference in my life story.Today, I share that story, as well as the practical lessons that I've learned along the way to help you in leadership and life. I note the importance of giving voice to gratitude, and the power of inviting a person to be a part of something. I define real friendship, sharing my friend's observation that real friends don't just love you as you are; they love you enough not to let you stay where you are. I emphasize the weight your words hold, I invite you to let God write your story, and I call you to reach out to the people who have made a difference in your life. Throughout it all, I note the power of ordinary people's ordinary actions."The only way to change the world is when ordinary people do ordinary things that make an extraordinary difference."

Leah Lizarondo is the co-founder and CEO of 412 Food Rescue and the CEO of Food Rescue Hero, a technology platform that food rescue organizations like 412 use to facilitate food recovery. Today, Leah shares her story, explaining why food rescue is so important and why she’s passionate about it personally. She explains what the Food Rescue Hero app is and discusses the practical ways it helps combat food waste. She offers her advice for creating an effective app and discusses what she has learned about the art of entrepreneurship. She shares her tips for fundraising and notes the importance of enjoying the journey. She discusses her identity as an immigrant, explaining how it affects her mission, and she shares her tips on promoting diversity effectively and respectfully. She offers her insight on leadership in the Covid era, notes the potential of technology to be a force for good, and emphasizes the power of micro acts of kindness.“If you don’t ask, the default answer’s no.” - Leah Lizarondo“Enjoy the journe

After leading New Life Fellowship Church for 26 years, Pete Scazzero co-founded Emotionally Healthy Discipleship, a groundbreaking ministry that moves the church forward by slowing it down in order to multiply deeply changed leaders and disciples. He hosts the top-ranked Emotionally Healthy Leader Podcast and is also the author of a number of bestselling books, including The Emotionally Healthy Leader and Emotionally Healthy Spirituality. Pete and his wife Geri also developed the two-part Emotionally Healthy Discipleship Course, a powerful resource that helps move people from a shallow to a deep relationship with Jesus.Today, Pete joins me to talk about his journey to becoming an emotionally healthy leader and share how other leaders can take the same journey. He talks about the unbreakable link between emotional health and spiritual maturity and the power of experiencing grief and loss. He rebuts our culture’s unhealthy definition of success, offering his own biblical definition. He notes the meaning of marr

Dr. John Wallace is a kid from Homewood, the pastor at Bible Center Church, a professor and provost at the University of Pittsburgh, a husband, and a father of four. His mission is to help God's kingdom come and will be done on earth as it is in heaven, particularly in the realm of community development and interracial relationships.Today, John tells his story. He talks about how he got to where he is today, and he discusses the Lord's Prayer, asking what it looks like to have the kingdom of God on earth. He talks about the importance of the youth and shares what motivates us to act. We discuss the fact that the process of becoming a leader is gradual, and he distinguishes between quitting and pivoting. John explains why dismissing slavery as a thing of the past doesn't work, and he notes the difference between conciliation and reconciliation. We discuss what it means to have a kingdom worldview and how to be part of the solution. He explains why it's not fair to ask black people to educat

Greg McKeown is the host of the What’s Essential podcast and author of Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less and, more recently, Effortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most. His goal is to help successful people become very successful by avoiding the errors he’s found in his research that keep them from breaking through to their highest points of contribution.Today, we talk about his book Effortless. He talks about why he wrote the book and notes the importance of focusing on the essentials. He shares his philosophy on how to get more return out of the same amount of effort. He talks about the Big Rock analogy, and he notes the weight of holding grudges. He talks about the power of getting into an effortless state, and he discusses how to break the surviving/reacting cycle that many of us live our lives in. “Burnout is not a badge of honor.”- Greg McKeownKey Takeaways this week on the L3 Leadership Podcast:●       The power of focusing on the essentials●       ROE: Return on Effort●       The B