Get Better Today with Matt Mayberry

Co-founder of TransPerfect Liz Elting | From Dorm Room to Billion-Dollar Business

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Liz Elting, the CEO and founder of the Elizabeth Elting Foundation and a renowned businesswoman, joins us in this episode. Liz shares her insightful entrepreneurial journey, from her dorm room at NYU to co-founding TransPerfect and building it into a billion-dollar language solutions company. She discusses key leadership lessons, the importance of taking unwavering action, how to overcome fears, the importance of cultivating a goal-oriented culture in business, and much more.

Liz also shares the inspiration behind writing her new book, Dream Big and Win: Translating Passion into Purpose and Creating a Billion-Dollar Business.

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About Liz Elting

Liz Elting, founder and CEO of the Elizabeth Elting Foundation, is a New York-based philanthropist and businesswoman recognized for her outstanding entrepreneurship and focus on developing women business leaders. Elting cofounded TransPerfect, the world's largest provider of language and business solutions. She has been named one of Forbes' Richest Self-Made Women every year since the list's inception. Elting's new book, Dream Big and Win, debuted as a National and Wall Street Journal bestseller.

Connect with Matt Mayberry
https://www.mattmayberryonline.com/

Guest Introduction: Liz Elting

Hi, everybody. Welcome to another episode of Get Better Today with Matt Mayberry. I'm your host. I'm so excited today. We have an extraordinary guest that will be joining us, Liz Elting. She is the CEO and founder of the Elizabeth Elting Foundation. She's a decorated entrepreneur, businesswoman, author of the new book, Dream Big and Win. She's the co founder of the company TransPerfect, a language solutions company. She grew it into a billion dollar company. This idea originated in her dorm room at NYU. Liz Elting has been named to Forbes richest self made women list every single year since its inception. Please join me for this wonderful interview with Liz Elting, where we talk everything from leadership, going after your dreams and aspirations in life, how to move past fear and achieve the extraordinary. Please join me for this wonderful interview with Liz Elting. Thank you so much.

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

Liz Elting.

Beginning of Interview with Liz Elting

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

How are you doing today?

lizelting-7fk2ixkta_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

I'm doing great. Thank you. How are you doing,

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

I'm doing fantastic. Thank you so much. Liz saying that your journey and story is remarkable would be an understatement doing a little bit of research and background on your journey, all the adversities that you had to overcome. But most importantly, the significance and all the incredible accomplishments that you've achieved throughout the course of your life have just been phenomenal. But I really want to start with what is the greatest discovery? And your lessons learned throughout your journey. If someone was to say, what are some of the greatest discoveries and lessons learned from your journey? What would that be?

lizelting-7fk2ixkta_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

Okay. Well, certainly, if you, if I look back over the years, one of the things I think I learned, and I think we as leaders tend to learn is. It isn't about you and what you do when you're leading a team of people and shooting for the stars. It's about them and what you can inspire them to do and about propping them up and motivating them and making it so they want to win. With you and they want to deliver with you and you make it all about them. And, you know, I think that's definitely something I learned. I certainly had no idea about that when I started because I had virtually no management, no leadership experience. So definitely I learned that another thing I learned was. Um, well, my, I thought the key to differentiating our business was to spoil the client and spoil the client with service, spoil the client with service, uh, quality. And I still do. I think the way you do that is by spoiling the employees with motivating them and perks and incentivizing them to, to want to deliver. And then they do. And then the revenues and the profits follow. So I think it comes back to the people, you know, on both, on both counts.

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

I love that, I love that. And everybody looks at your, kind of like how I started, you know, your remarkable accomplishments and everything that you've done throughout the course of your life, both personally and professionally. But everybody probably sees your success

Liz Elting's Early Life and Challenges

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

stories. But where did the journey of Liz Elting begin? Can you talk and share a little bit more about your backstory and, and really what made you who you are today? Absolutely.

lizelting-7fk2ixkta_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

issues growing up. I mean, everything from, from when I was little. I was, I was painfully shy. I remember my report card, I would get, well, she's curious. She loves reading painfully shy. So that was something I needed to overcome. And then I, you know, I have a couple of stories, like for example, when I was in my music class, when I was, um, It's grade six, we call it a grade six in Canada, sixth grade. Um, I was growing up in Toronto at that, I had moved to Toronto at that point. Uh, originally I lived in, in Westchester, New York in Chappaqua, then I lived in Portugal, where I came out of my shell, to a large degree, on the painfully shy thing. But then, there I was, at about 12 years old, and I was in my music class. And I, I do I'll just share this little anecdote, but basically there I was, and, um, I was doing my favorite thing, singing in a group of about 60 students, because there were two classes combined. And I was so happy singing one of my favorite songs. It was from, uh, the, the album, J Joseph and his amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. And the teacher got to me, the music teacher, choral director, and she said, This, this is it. She stopped. She went listening to everybody as they were saying, walking, walking along the road, listening, stopped at me and said, this is it. I thought, Oh, she's going to call me out for a solo. I'm gonna have a solo. She said. This is the problem. You need to go downstairs and when we have music class every week for the next, for the rest of the school year, which was a long time at that point, you need to stay there and just you can't be in the choir because you're off, you're off key. And I, I don't see that changing. And so I learned from that, I learned a few things. One is I actually learned related to business and, and life. Don't call people out in public. It's very humiliating. Another thing was I thought, okay, she may humiliate me and I may be so embarrassed, but I'm not going to let that stop me. I am going to get out there and sing when appropriate, and that might not be my ultimate career. I may never be a professional singer. But I'm going to find something I can do and do it better than anyone else and give it everything I have. So that was a, an interesting lesson learned. Um, and that was character building. And then I talk about in my book, I talk about that, but I also talk about what I went through in 10th grade after being hit by a car and basically went through a horrible injury. Didn't think I was going to make it. Fortunately, after three days in a coma, I did make it, but I talk about how that's character building as well, because I went through a very tough time in school with my big cast and my platform shoe and it was down to 77 pounds and it was just not a good situation. And I was alone. I was totally alone. And I thought, okay. You know, at least I lived. At least I got through this. At least I dodged a bullet when I didn't die, because I could have died if, like, with the fractured skull. And I thought, okay, I'm meant to be here for something bigger than myself. And so that was, that was character building, but it was a very difficult time in 10th grade because I looked so ridiculous. I had no friends and it was a terrible, terrible situation, but I got through it and it made me stronger. So, Went through a lot of things. I mean, certainly more, but those were some of my real character building experiences. And I think when things like that happen to us, you know, adversity builds character. It builds drive. It builds hunger to do better, to be better, and to not let those things stop us.

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

Absolutely.

Inspiration Behind Liz's New Book

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

And, you know, you spoke of your book and I have a copy right here, dream big and win translating passion into purpose and creating a billion dollar business. Why did you get the inspiration to write this book, Liz

lizelting-7fk2ixkta_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

I got it because I loved being an entrepreneur for 26 years, uh, but I really started when I didn't know much. I had virtually no experience managing people and, um, I was a kid, I was 26 years old and I learned over the 26 year period when I owned my company a lot along the way and I thought I could share what I did right. And the many things I did wrong and what I learned from them and what if I were doing it all again What I would do differently So the purpose of this book really was to create something I wished I had had when I was in my 20s when I was starting my career Um, and I say it's kind of like a beach read business book. I try to make it very um A very easy read, lots of anecdotes, entertaining, but with the lessons I learned and I really could have used a book like this 30 years ago and I thought, it's time. I've sold my company, I'm doing my foundation work and one of my favorite things to do is uh, talk to, talk about entrepreneurship. So why not put it in a book and just get it out there?

Origins of TransPerfect

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

TransPerfect, the, the company that you built into a billion dollar business, that dream started in a dorm room. Can you talk more about that and how that dream originated?

lizelting-7fk2ixkta_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

Sure. Well, so I learned quickly. I loved languages. I had studied four languages by the time I graduated from high school, majored in languages in college, and then was fortunate enough to get a job at a translation company in 1987. I go way back in the day. And I loved the company, loved the industry, but I thought, This is great, but I think it can be done better. I saw gaps between what clients needed and what was available in the industry. I thought there needed to be better service, meaning faster service, uh, more deliverables, uh, an in person presence. So offices in every major city around the world. And. Really an end to end solution like all different products related to languages whatever client services whatever the clients needed So I saw this gap and I kept that idea in my head And then I went to business school got my MBA from NYU and without telling the story of what happened after NYU In a nutshell, I got a job in finance. I quickly learned that company and that industry was not for me. And I thought, I don't like to be a quitter. Quitters never win. Winners never quit. I really don't want to. I just got my MBA, so I've got to use it, but I'm miserable. And so after only four weeks at that job, I said to my boss, I'm so sorry. I made a horrible mistake. How much time do you need? And he said two weeks is fine and I left and I thought you know, what if not now when I was I was young I was 26. As I said, I was used to living like a student. I didn't have Family commitments. I didn't have financial commitments other than to pay my very Low bills because I was living kind of like a pauper which which is what you need to do it's ideal and I thought why not now and So I started back then when I was 26 in out of the NYU Business School dorm room And that was you know, why I I just it was my aha moment when I thought I'll try something else I'll try something more practical and maybe more lucrative and then I thought life is short I love the translation industry and I think, I think we can do this better.

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

Wow.

The Importance of Taking Risks in Entrepreneurship

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

And, what would you say with you, with your experience in entrepreneurship, you know, cause there, there are a lot of people, whether they're listening or watching, where they may have a dream or aspiration of starting their own business, something that that's a passion of theirs. And like you said, you went out into the real world and got that experience at a job. How would you say, you know, when is the right time to go after that dream? Obviously, the younger, the better, you know, you can take more calculated risks and so forth. But what would you say is a good indicator for when to take the appropriate risk, but also go after that dream or aspiration that you had to start your own business

lizelting-7fk2ixkta_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

Yeah, I mean, for me, you know, as I said, I think it worked well to do it when I was relatively young, 26 years old. I think that is a wonderful time to do it because in order to be successful, you need to put in the time. You need to put in a lot of hours and not quit just because you're busy. You are not busy because you have other commitments or you want to. Go out for drinks with your friends, or you want to go to the beach on the weekend. I mean, you need to really throw yourself into it and go all in. And I think, as I said, it's easier when you're younger. You're giving up less. Um, so I think that's a wonderful time to do it. I think you can always find reasons why the time is not right. Um, you can overanalyze the situation and say, Well, it's not a good time because of this or that or this. Again, if you, if you can do it, if you're in a position to do it, do it. And I guess the last thing I'll say is it helps if you have some sort of idea on what to do. Of course. I mean, not some sort of idea. You need to know what you're going to do. But I think the important thing there is it doesn't have to be, you, you don't need to invent something entirely new to be wildly successful. It's really important to not confuse being an entrepreneur with being an inventor. Uh, in the business I was in, we were definitely not inventing something new. There were actually 10, 000 other translation companies out there at the time, but they were tiny mom and pops, moms and pops. And I thought the idea would be to build something bigger and better and global. And that was the other companies were started and run by linguists who were busy doing the translations so they couldn't scale their company. So the important thing is. It doesn't have to be something brand new. It just has to be different in some way and better. And that's, I think, very important. And again, I, I always talk about how when Steve Jobs had the idea for the iPhone, there were other smartphones out there. There was the Blackberry. So it was about doing something differently and better.

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

Absolutely. And can you, I think speaking on that terms, you know, entrepreneurship and going after your dreams and aspirations, can you talk a little bit about, the importance of taking risks and what helped you throughout your journey of actually taking action,

The Role of Hard Work

lizelting-7fk2ixkta_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

Yeah. And it feels so much less like a risk when you take action along with it. When you say, okay, I'm going to do this, but I'm going to. Nail down what my goals are, you know, what, what are my goals as far as Revenue because the reason the revenue is so important is the number one reason companies go out of business is they run out of cash So you need that revenue So you nail down your revenue goals and then you break them down by month and by week and all that and then you figure it Okay, what actions do I need to take to accomplish those goals and then you Keep revising them every year and then you keep revising the actions and you make them higher every year and You make sure you deliver and I think that's very important. It's about actions. That's why each chapter is a verb It's about actions. I mean anybody can dream big but You need to follow through with the action. I mean, doing Eclipse is dreaming, but the other thing I'd say, and I think this is really important to scale a company is you need to focus on sales from the beginning to the end, because that's how you pay your bills. And that's how you scale your company. Um, and it's how you give people raises, is. Uh, perks, uh, et cetera. But what I was going to say is the way we were able to do it is when we hired people, we would say, you need to achieve these certain objectives. And it was like a revenue number, like 50, 000 a month for three consecutive months, and then we will hire a second person to help you, you know, work on getting more clients. And the two of you need to sell 120, 000 a month for three consecutive months, and we will hire a third and so on. And the point there is. It doesn't feel like such a risk if you're only adding people and adding overhead When you have the corresponding revenue And it's actually much less of a risk than if you go out and get funding you get other people's money And then you you're under pressure to deliver and you may not ever get the course the revenue You need to to make their investment worthwhile. So I'm a big believer in bootstrapping to it Then it feels much less like a risk as well.

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

Absolutely. But why, and why do you think that a lot of people, are scared to take risks or go after, you know, to take that action to use the verbs, you know, what, what do you think? And even with your own journey, when you were younger, starting out and building your company from the ground up, what are some of the best practices or things that you did to help get out of your comfort zone and actually go after that dream full steam ahead?

lizelting-7fk2ixkta_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

Yeah. I mean, I think that people feel like they, there's certain things they should do in life and that was what happened to me and it's why after business school, I very briefly tried out finance because I thought I have my MBA in finance and international business and this costs a lot of money and my parents were kind enough to pay for it. So you know, I can't go and do something else. Um, but I did. And if you're in a position where you can do it, do it. So I think they feel like there's something they should do and they have to do. So I think that's one thing. Um, you know, I think another reason is maybe people, um, Don't necessarily want to put in the time and the hours and the actions that go along with it But it really is wonderful and incredibly rewarding because you hire like minded people you work with them You're all working toward a certain goal You're solving a problem for a client and you're learning so much along the way So It can be incredibly rewarding and pleasurable and, and, you know, it's only work if you'd rather be doing something else, I guess, is the saying. And, I think people don't know that, you know, maybe they could actually enjoy it, but, but they don't want to necessarily commit, but it's so worth it.

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

Well, if you don't want to put in the work, entrepreneurship's not for you.

lizelting-7fk2ixkta_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

exactly. As, as Gary Player says, I always loved his quote, the harder you work, the luckier you get. Exactly. It's all about the work and that's the silver bullet. And it's not a very exciting sounding one, but, but, but that is it, right?

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

Well, you can never escape it. You can never escape it. You know, even with the technology and AI and all these great things that we have at our disposal now. I mean, I think a lot of people look for the shortcuts, but I mean, at the end of the day, if you're not willing to invest and put in the work up front, maybe it's just not for you.

lizelting-7fk2ixkta_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

Oh yes, and that's why, that's why I say, I, yeah, work today like no one else will so you can live and give tomorrow like no one else can. But you have, but it's work. But again, work doesn't have to be. The opposite of happiness, and a lot of us love it. We love the thrill of victory, you know, the things that go along with the hard work. Yes.

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

And that's why I love, I mean, one of the reasons why I love not only your book, but I mean also the title, you know, because it's not a book. We're just telling you to dream big. Hey, you'll, you'll achieve your dreams or, you know, like the secret, like positive thinking and success is just going to come to you automatically. Speaking on this term of taking risks, you know, I think that end part of your title dream big and win. And in order to win, you have to take massive action every day. You have to take massive action on the highly prioritized items that are going to inch you closer. to get into that BHAG. Can you talk a little bit about what really has helped you throughout your journey to not just dream big but win? Like how do you, how did you get started and get going and taking action even when you didn't feel like it?

lizelting-7fk2ixkta_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

Yes, and I love what you're saying about the title, but because you appreciate winning, and I think one of your books had winning in the title, right, or win.

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

Yep. Winning plays my first book. Yep.

lizelting-7fk2ixkta_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

Yes. There you go. I love that. Wait, is it there? Oh, okay. It's not there, but I love that because yes, it's, it's fun and exciting to win and, and yes, but

The Importance of Setting Goals and Taking Action

lizelting-7fk2ixkta_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

okay. So back to what it takes, I talk about in the book, what we, what we needed to do to accomplish our goals of, and the first goal was the first is establishing goals. And the goal was to get out of that dorm room within six months and have a real office because back then having an office and a prestigious address mattered more than it does now. I mean, now. So many people are working remotely. It's a different story, but back then it was critical to becoming a global company. So the goal was six months. So then the thought was, okay, what do we need to do? And in our case, it was make 300 phone calls in a day to figure out who at a company to send our marketing material to and then send out 300 letters. Now, the calls could still be a part of it, but it could be emails, it could be LinkedIn connections, making a certain number a day, but I think it's all about Giving yourself a goal that you need to accomplish in a day and then in a week and a month to Get to the revenue number which in our case was to get us out of the office I mean out of the dorm room into the office. Sorry, but then so it was all about 300 phone calls a day 300 letters and You know, what can happen is I think it might have taken five hundred or a thousand letters to get one Project maybe it was five hundred letters to get a call back and then I was in to get one project and people think well I can't do that, but you just do it. You just throw yourself in and And the reason that's okay is even if it takes a thousand letters to get one small project, I mean in business today and in business back then, that one small project. And I remember one of our earliest projects that got us out of the dorm room can turn into multiple projects and the multiple projects can turn into a relationship. And that's why it might seem, okay, I just made a thousand phone calls and sent out a thousand letters to get one. 100 project, but that can lead through being a test and then more projects from that same client or from other clients that they will refer you to, to multiple projects and multimillion dollar relationships. But back to what you said, it's all about. The intensity and the volume and committing to it. And I talk about in my book, I would make myself make 50 phone calls or a hundred phone calls before getting up and getting a cup of coffee. And then, you know, send out a hundred letters before having lunch or whatever it was. Just being really tough on yourself. It's a means to an end. And, and it works. It works. I mean, it's, you know, hard work. It's, I guess I call it focus. I say focus, focus because you focus, you're intense, you work hard and then it's like magic, right? It's not, but it's not magic because it's hard work.

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

Right.

lizelting-7fk2ixkta_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

That hard work really does lead to results. And the other thing that I, I talk about in the book is acting like when you're an entrepreneur, like you have a boss. And I remember doing that and thinking, okay, if I had a boss. What would I have to present to them? And I thought, okay, I'm going to show them that we're going to open four offices. This year one per quarter and I remember putting on paper and these were our first offices outside of New York I remember San Francisco Atlanta, Washington DC and Sorry, Chicago, but in that order one a quarter and That sounds actually daunting, but it's not because you start with one person back then for us. It was in an executive suite. Now it might be from home. They need to accomplish certain goals and then you add a person and that's how you build these offices being tough on yourself, being tough on yourself. That that I think is super important because a lot of people think, Oh, I want to be it. And then I can do what I want with my time. Sure. You can be your boss, but you have to be a tough boss. I think that's really the point.

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

And, and I mean, at least in my experience, I mean, I think being your own boss, at least in the very beginning, like you actually end up working more, you work longer and harder than, you know, having a nine to five or working for somebody else. tHat's why you do have to love it. But I love it, Liz. And I really think everything you're talking about, you know, one of the things I talked about and we obviously talked here before we got on is the importance of behaviors, you know, and really taking behaviors and having them be at scale. Because hearing just even hearing you talk about the title of Dream Big and Win, you didn't spend that much time talking about the dreams or goals that you had. You talked about the actions and behaviors that you had to do, and I think so many people They, they want to focus on the dream and aspiration too much without looking at the actual key result they need to do every day, day in and day out.

lizelting-7fk2ixkta_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

that's right. And that's, that's the key to, to accomplishing the goal. And then you accomplish it at the end of the year and then you make new goals to get to the next level. But absolutely. It's all about the actions. And it sounds quite simple, but, but people who are willing to do that, to put in the time. Who have the discipline, who are tough on themselves, those are the people who make it.

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

Yep.

Scaling a Company and Driving Accountability

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

And how would you, once you did started to scale, you know, back in those early days, you know, how did you take that really and make it company wide? You know, obviously I'm sure every individual and leader had their own individual goals, but how did you really start to scale that and, and drive, you know, accountability around that?

lizelting-7fk2ixkta_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

Yes, oh well everybody did have their own goals, but one of the things that we required, both of ourselves and everybody around us, is we had an end of day report. And in the end of day report, everybody would have to write the number of letters, or phone calls they made, the number of letters they sent out, the number of good connections they made, the Uh, problem, possible jobs in the pipeline and then the number of jobs they closed, like literally data like our KPIs were in everybody's end of day report and they just got used to doing that. That was part of our culture and so they needed to send them to their boss. And, um, you know, so, so that was one thing. We also required everybody to have goals. Everybody had their own goals based on their history and their results. And then we were very public about. Um, results and, um, like, yeah, put, we put the people, the managers would email like the overall sales manager. If one, if we're focused on sales would show everybody on the, in the entire sales teams results, like right there in front of everyone. And we had them up on walls, we were very transparent and the same thing on the production side. I mean, I'm talking about sales now, but production was key to this as well. Because. So many of the sales came not from new business development, but as I was saying earlier, you get a client. You, you spoil them with quality and service. And then that first project turns into multiple projects. The multiple projects turns into a long term relationship and repeat business and referrals. So the production people, their results were also very, um, public. I mean, we shared them and we, we made it all about results. That was one of the core values results. I mean, it sounds so obvious, but, um, I mean, looking at showing results every day and every week and every month and making them public. I think that was very valuable as well.

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

And it's a very subtle but respectful way to maybe not, I don't, you know, call out low performers, but you're setting this standard. You're setting a standard where you're not publicly calling out an individual or attacking a person.

The Art of Giving Feedback

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

You're attacking the problem,

lizelting-7fk2ixkta_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

Yes, exactly. Exactly. You got it. No, and that's the thing when you're giving feedback. It's all about the problem or the or the behavior I mean unless it's unless it's great and then you shout it from the The hills. But yes, if it's negative feedback, of course, then you make it more about, yeah, the behaviors. But yes, so the people who are at the top loved it when it was public. And we didn't focus in on the people who were at the bottom, but. They, those things ended up working themselves out over time. So yeah, that was very valuable.

The Importance of Goals in Business

lizelting-7fk2ixkta_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

So the culture was very much about results and sharing them and, um, and goals very much about goals. I talk a lot about goals in the book, you know, daily, weekly, monthly, annual, et cetera. But I think you have to, and I think they need to be very clear to both, you need to make them clear to yourself and the team. You need to make them public because then you're more likely to deliver on them. And I think that is absolutely critical. And I think, as you were saying earlier, Matt, people talk about dreams. I've definitely seen a lot of people talk about dreams, but it's like, yes, but goals and then the actions to accomplish those goals. That's really the key.

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

right.

The Problem with Lack of Transparency in Organizations

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

And I think, I mean, one of the things Liz that really frustrates me, working with a lot of organizations, primarily even medium to large size, organizations is leaders not being transparent with the goals. Whether it's from an organizational, company wide goal, uh, you know, BHAG for that year, or even, even sharing transparently with, you know, other leadership team members. Why do you think that is? It sounds very simplistic, but you'd be dumbfounded at how many organizations still don't understand its importance.

lizelting-7fk2ixkta_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

Yeah. I don't understand it. I really, really don't. And why is it? Um, I think they think they're, they're protecting someone, but it's not good for anyone because everybody deserves to be successful and happy and the two usually go together.

The Power of One-on-One Meetings

lizelting-7fk2ixkta_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

So I think, you know, each individual and, you know, one of the things I talk about in the book is the importance of one on one meetings with the people who report to you. And that's where you can talk about your goals for them and their goals, um, as far as, you know, professionally. And then you can nail down quantitative goals and what they need to do to accomplish their objectives. And then you go through them each time. But often when people leave a job, it's because their, their goals aren't They're not, they don't know what their goals are. They don't know how to get to the next level. They don't know how to make more money. They don't know how they're going to get what they want because they weren't shared. So I think certainly they need to be clear between the boss and the employee. And then. As far as sharing them across the board, I really don't know why because people want transparency. They want to know what's going on. You're not protecting anyone not to let them know. I mean, if you want the, the A team, if you want to keep the top performers, they're going to appreciate it. And those are the ones who are going to

The Role of Compensation in Employee Retention

lizelting-7fk2ixkta_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

stay. And, you know, I talk also in the book about that, how compensating people, you compensate people in such a way that if people are really selling. They're making more than they would anywhere else, and if they're not, of course they're making less. And a lot of companies don't quite do it that way, and I mean with, I, I talk about a draw, the draw. Making the draw as low as someone is willing to take, but with a high upside, and then of course if they're not selling, they're not doing well, but if they're doing well, they're making that high upside and more money than they would make elsewhere, and they're feeling good. And the rest takes care of itself.

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

But that's it. I mean,

The Excuse of Not Having Time for One-on-Ones

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

that's another excuse. I hear, though, you, you mentioned the importance of one on one. I can't tell you how many times throughout a given week, a people manager or executive leader saying, I don't have time for one on ones, 15, 20 minutes. I just don't have time. We have too much stuff going on too many complexities we're dealing with. And you know, you just.

The Importance of Understanding Expectations

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

It's, it's, it's to me, one of the, I'm, I'm just dumbfounded over and over and over again when a leader says that, because I mean, like you said, the expectation, the transparency, it's not even about hitting the goal. It's just really understanding and being able to put your head on the pillow at night, knowing if you're doing a good job and you know, if you know what's expected of you

lizelting-7fk2ixkta_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

Yes.

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

so many, so many workers, they just, they don't, they don't know the answers to those questions.

lizelting-7fk2ixkta_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

That's right. It's so important. Yes. They don't know what's expected. And so you as a, a leader want to share what's expected and then you want to know, are they, they happy? Are they happy personally? And if they're not, you want to address that and be helpful on that. And then are they happy with their career? Are they getting what they want as far as the opportunity? And so it's mutual. It's beneficial to both because it reduces. Um, turnover. And of course, turnover is the worst thing as long as, you know, I mean, it's the worst thing in any case, and certainly it's, it's terrible if, if you would have wanted to keep the person and I, I give a story about how I had someone sitting right outside my office for a long period of time, like right near me for an extended period of time. And one day they came in, they said, Okay. I quit and I thought, how did I not see that coming? What did I do wrong? And it was after that I realized I need to have weekly meetings with these people to not just have work because I was interacting with that person. We had work going back and forth between us, but we weren't talking about these issues like our, these are my expectations. These are mine. Are yours being met? Are mine being met? And, and we make sure everybody is on the same page. So yes, absolutely.

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

it.

The Key to Personal and Professional Breakthroughs

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

Liz, what would you say has been a superpower of yours to create more opportunities and breakthroughs both in your personal and professional life? Is there anything that comes to mind?

lizelting-7fk2ixkta_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

Well, I think, you know, and I say that I, I, I'm not, I'm definitely not the smartest person in the room. I'm not the best at anything. I don't have any special talents as far as tech wise, as far as sales wise, as far as public speaking, as far as anything.

The Power of Grit and Persistence

lizelting-7fk2ixkta_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

I think my superpower is just, I'll put in the time, you know, I, I won't quit. It's the grit. It's the being all in and figuring out, okay, what do I need to do? And I'm going to keep doing it until I've accomplished my objective. I'm not going to quit. I'm going to stay with it, all in, focus, focus. And, and I think that, that can be very valuable because that I think is key, just staying with it. You know, during the tough times, I think that's really important and that's That's what I've got because I, I said, I don't have any special talents at all. And so I, you know, of course I, I do think I was fortunate because I hired smart people who were smarter than my, than I was, you know, as they say, hire people smarter than yourself, hire people who are more talented, whose skills compliment yours. And so I think I was able to find some amazing people. And I think that's very valuable, of course, but then it's about not quitting.

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

I would say grit, grit is a skill though. I would say the stick to itiveness and the ability to have the consistency of effort over the long haul, that is a skill. I mean, I think that most people, they may be the smartest in the room. But if you don't have that mentality that you're gonna have and, and have the consistency of effort over the long haul, you know there's gonna be an adversity that breaks you

lizelting-7fk2ixkta_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

you're right.

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

you're, you're never gonna beat someone like yourself that's just willing to get up every day and just go at it every day, regardless of how you feel or your emotions, you're gonna go after it.

lizelting-7fk2ixkta_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

no, you're right. And I, in, in my book, I, I give Warren Buffett's quote that it's something like, uh, the difference between average people and extremely successful is simply successful. People is simply discipline or say it's something like that to that effect, but it's all about yet the grit, the working hard, the not quitting. And I do talk about, I like to say, um, there are a lot of people who are incredibly talented in some way. Um, Or, or geniuses. But they're not willing to do what you're saying. They're not willing to put in the effort, the hours. And they get distracted and they move on to the next thing. Sometimes they have too many ideas at one time. They're like, Oh, I'm thinking about doing this. And then a week later, Oh, but what about this? Or third week, what about this? And it's like, okay, find one and go all in and don't quit. And, and I think that is so, so critical.

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

And it's been my experience, even people with very high IQ levels where they're so smart, their intellect is just through the roof. So they're already thinking, you know, five steps, 10 steps ahead of all the challenges they're going to interfere in, you know, run into, so they talk themselves out of going after that dream or whatever that may be.

lizelting-7fk2ixkta_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

Yes. And I think a lot of us can be that way. We're too either because yes, we're too smart. I mean, or too much of a perfectionist and we overanalyze and we think we need to know everything about will this work? What's the market? What exactly is there? But instead, just you don't. I mean, I think for a short period of time, be intense and do all the research you can for a short period of time. But then Yeah. Yeah. Don't wait any longer. Time is the enemy. Just do it, you know, and I think that is absolutely critical. Yes

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

love it. I love

How Liz Approaches Goals

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

it. How do you personally we've talked a lot about dreams and goals and, how having dreams and goals isn't enough, you know, it's a starting point, but it's not enough, right? It's all about the actions of behaviors. But how do you personally even to this day and with your foundation with really everything you do, but also in your personal life, how do you personally set goals now is

lizelting-7fk2ixkta_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

Yeah, that's a great question. No, that is I think You know back that it was pretty simple because with my company I had one big goal and I thought okay I'm not going to do it alone So I need the sales team and I need that yeah all of that and I need to be able to scale it then I realized what was missing or well, I realized what, um, how fortunate I was and all the problems in the world. And I thought, okay, I'm going to focus on trying to make the world better. But what that's, that's not a very specific goal, right? So with that, I've thought, okay, I need to. come up with very specific causes that I'm involved in. I mean, I'm involved. I have a mission for my foundation and I've gotten involved in a number of causes, but the next step is to really narrow it and figure out, okay, what is the specific impact I want to make on each area? I mean, then I did the book. I did have goals as far as the book, um, that is coming out, but I'm not answering your question. I'm so sorry,

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

no, you're,

lizelting-7fk2ixkta_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

but no, no, no. I mean, I think I find now, It's easier to come up with goals. Um, like, okay, I'm going to make sure I walk five miles a day. I mean that, you know, the daily goals of things that need to happen. I think at this stage of my life, after first the company and the foundation and now the book at this point, I measure what I'm doing by, okay, is it helping other people? Because I was very fortunate. I was one of the lucky ones and now I really. Want to give back. It's the least I can do and am I enjoying it? Um, so it that's just sort of how I'm measuring what I do, but I did have goals for my book I had numerical goals. I had qualitative goals, but I yeah, I think we need to keep redefining our goals and And then doing what we need to do to achieve them, but that's a great question

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

What is the piece of advice that you would give to somebody, looking to, live a bigger, more fulfilled life that they want to go after bigger goals and dreams and actually take the action, is that at the end of the year, getting down and just setting five goals for yourself. What is a practical thing that has worked for you in your life?

lizelting-7fk2ixkta_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

Well, certainly with my business, it was every year. Okay. I wanted revenue to be higher and profit to be higher. It was very simple. That's the nice thing about business. It's very quantifiable from a numbers perspective. Yes. And I need things that are simple, but no, I mean, really, you know, so I think. You know, and I think I always felt that way that I wanted to make sure in things I could measure that they were going up and, you know, they say, I mean, I, I know I have all my quotes, but I do love quotes, even though I think it's about actions instead, um, ultimately, but if you can't measure it, you can't manage it. So, okay. So measurable things. Great. Measurable things. Great. I think. So I have advice that people should always try to do a little more than they did the year before as far as things that you can measure. Um, and then people need to keep reassessing what's important to them in each phase of their life. I mean, that's kind of obvious,

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

Yep.

lizelting-7fk2ixkta_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

kind of true. No, it's, it, but I think the most important thing, I guess, is If you don't know what you're shooting for, then how are you really going to accomplish anything? So it's just really clearly reassessing your goals on a regular basis, annually or more often, and then taking the actions to achieve them. And I know that, that sounds quite basic and obvious, but you know, with business, it's not always what people do. And right, that's what we've been talking about, um, in this conversation. So yeah, it's just. continually assessing, okay, but what do I want now? And then making sure you take the actions to get there and being bold and, and not thinking it's not the time. Go for it. Worse comes to worse. It doesn't work out. You learn from it. You meet some nice people or some interesting people, some good connections and you move on to the next thing.

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

I love it. I love it.

Cultivating a Culture of Psychological Safety

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

Liz, what, what, one of the things that you talk about is really creating an environment where people feel comfortable to disagree, and one of the things, a big part of my work and what I do is obviously, you know, working with leaders and different leadership teams. And I think right now more than ever, you know, psychological safety, being able to cultivate a culture where people in a respectful way can disagree. What is something that has worked for you as a leader, you know, in the very beginning stages, but obviously that probably looked a little bit different once you scaled and went to the next level. But what is a practical thing that all leaders, whether a small business owner, entrepreneur, they're a CEO of a, you know, 10, 000 employee organization. What is something that, that has worked for you? to be able to cultivate a psychological safe culture

lizelting-7fk2ixkta_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

Right? Well, My favorite question. First of all, I love meeting with, uh, employees, you know, co workers. I love that and sharing and getting their ideas. But, and I talked to you about the one on one meetings. Love those. I also am a big believer in employee questionnaires, you know, employee surveys, exit interviews, all of that. And in all of these, whether it's in a conversation with an employee, whether it's in a survey, whether it's in an exit interview. My favorite question is always what would you do differently if you owned the company or ran the company and It's basically soliciting Input for sure, but even disagreement, you know something that's contrary to what you're doing. So it's asking for it Tell me something I should be doing differently to do a better job And I think by asking that question orally by asking it in writing That's a great way to let people know you don't want yes, people, you need ideas. You need ideas on how to be better. And so that was definitely, that is critical to me. It was definitely a critical credit. It was definitely critical to me as a leader. My favorite question is I said, and then having, um, things like innovation contests or requiring someone to. Have an idea or an innovation in order to be promoted, you know, for certain positions I implemented that and that was critical and I think all of those things show We don't want you to just go along with how things are we want you to suggest Your you know your ideas and how things can improve And so I think those are some of the ways that I I encourage that.

Qualities of Exceptional Leaders

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

Through your journey, your own leadership journey, but also, with your foundation work and everything that you've done, you know, you've obviously come across exceptional leaders in even different industries. What are maybe the top two qualities of exceptional leaders that without a doubt there's right off the top of your tongue, you're able to say these are regardless of what industry they're in. Or what they do, right? These are the, top two exceptional qualities of the most phenomenal leaders I've ever met.

The Power of Curiosity and Proactivity in Leadership

lizelting-7fk2ixkta_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

Well, I think they tend to be Incredibly curious. They always want to know more about everything, anything, everything, how things work, how things are, whatever in the industry, how things are in the world, because that's how they can come up with ideas and they do come up with ideas and it makes them think outside the box. So I think that insanely curious. I think that's very important. I think another thing is. Incredibly proactive and and that can be a, you know, that can follow from being curious but incredibly proactive anticipating people's needs or before they they know they have them but but not anticipating Being waiting to be told anything, just, just doing it. So proactivity, um, definitely inspiring others to do, to do, to, to follow the dream, to follow, to be, to share, to evangelize their vision. So, yeah, I mean, but basically to inspire others to, to build the dream. Um, Working hard, uh, being, being very, I know you asked for two, being very can do, just being positive, figuring out ways to do things, not how not to do them, not talking about why they can't be done, just, just going in there, finding ways to do them and getting them done. And, and, uh, sorry, I know you only asked for two, so I'll stop

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

No, those are fans. I mean, your first one is, I mean, without, I mean, the best coaches I had in sports and in the game of football, but also the exceptional business leaders I've met, throughout my, the past 13 years, particularly being radically curious, always, always, always stands out and is number one.

lizelting-7fk2ixkta_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

Yeah. Yeah.

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

And it boggles my mind. I mean, because when you when you hear the conversation of the difference between managers and leaders, a lot of people, managers will think I've arrived. I'm here. I know it all. Don't tell me what to do. I'm great. Everything's perfect. And then you'll notice, though, in a different organization where the CEO of a 200, 000 person organization is out in the front lines, asking questions, actively listening. And roaming the halls and you start to see the difference there. So I love you saying number one is curiosity because I think so many people underestimate the, the true power in displaying curiosity and really everything that you do, but particularly in leadership.

lizelting-7fk2ixkta_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

Totally agree. Totally agree.

The Mission of the Elizabeth Elting Foundation

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

And can you talk about, before we close here, more about the Elizabeth Alting Foundation, what, what is really at the core? Of that mission. Cause I know that one of the things you're passionate about is helping women entrepreneurs continually advance and succeed. Can, can you talk more about that?

lizelting-7fk2ixkta_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

Yes, absolutely. And I, I love helping women entrepreneurs succeed. Absolutely. And I love helping support women in business or people who are from marginalized communities or people who haven't had the same opportunities and chances that I've had. And so I, I do it in a number of ways and I, I guess I'm involved in something called NYU, uh, endless from NYU business schools, endless frontier labs is the best accelerator program out there. I, and it doesn't actually relate to being an NYU student. The entrepreneurs are entrepreneurs ages 25 to 75 all over the globe. And They are in three different tracks, digital tech, deep tech, and life sciences, and they're people who have these amazing ideas, often to make the world a better place, like markers of, early markers of cancer, uh, ideas for identifying or, uh, or treating Alzheimer's. I mean, all kinds of things, but I'm involved in that program. And at the end of the year, each year, I, we, we were award to, um, actually, and now we have other people who've joined onto it. Um, the leading women on women run companies, um, investment. So that's one thing. Another is the American heart association, social impact fund. And We invest in the social entrepreneurs in marginalized communities. I'm also very involved in education and funding education for people who haven't. Had the opportunity to have it paid for and doing that in a number of different places You know, I always say entrepreneurship and education are two great equalizers And so I think those are very important. I will say and that's when you asked me about my goals. I realized okay I need to make sure I focus a little better because I have gotten involved in a number of other things like Cancer, like heart disease, like gun safety, like hunger. And the reason so many is I think, you know, what happens is we're out there and we're meeting people and we're learning about more issues and more problems and we're meeting people who have been directly affected. And then we think, okay, I'll do what I can. So that's the kind of work I'm doing with my foundation right now. And it's, it's really been so incredibly gratifying because I'm one of the lucky ones. I, my timing was good. I met amazing people. We built something and now, you know, it's my time to give back. So it's been very, very exciting and I'm getting so much out of it and I'm learning so much and I love the learning

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

thank you so much for sharing that to, to wrap up here, Liz. And I am going to put you on the spot here. What, what is a goal that you want to achieve, whether that's in a year from now, five years from now, what is one goal that you are going to immerse into and continually work towards every single day, just like you've built your company from the ground up into a billion dollar business. What is a goal that you're incredibly passionate about in the future?

lizelting-7fk2ixkta_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

Well, I feel like my kind of abstract goal, you know, it's not as concrete as I'd like is really it is to make the world a better place. And I know that sounds so corny and I know a lot of people are working on that, but I think, you know, the more people we have working on it, the closer we're going to get to that. But again, that's, it's not maybe as concrete as you want to hear right now. I mean, the others, I want to make a difference in. As many people's lives as I can, um, whether it's making it so they can be successful entrepreneurs so they can have wonderful careers so they can live long, healthy lives. And then, you know, the nice thing about that is they will then, you know, if they can have a positive impact on other people, other people's lives, then the, the advantages just. Are are amazing because you affect a number of people and they affect a few and they affect a few and so on But um, i'm just trying to make the world a better place and and the situation better for as many people as I can

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

Liz, thank you so much for your time. Everybody, please go get a copy of Dream Big and when it is out now, it's already been a bestseller. Correct. You hit the bestseller list. Massive success with that already. I read the book. It's a phenomenal book. We actually share the same publisher. So I've had the great privilege of having a behind the scenes, look at the amount of work that went into this book. So please dream big. And when I'll put the links and information in the description and you will do yourself a great favor by picking up a copy of that list. Thank you so much. Continue your excellence. Thank you.

lizelting-7fk2ixkta_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

Thank you. Matt. Thank you so much. Congrats to you.

matt-l956fofex_raw-video-cfr_matt-mayberry-podcast-with-liz-elting_2023-nov-03-0809pm_chicago_podcast stu

Thank you.

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Matt Mayberry

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