The CEO Whisperer: Joni Naugle | Always Lifting Ep. 1

Karen sits down with Joni Naugle — “The CEO Whisperer” — to explore the power of coaching, leadership, and peer learning. As a Vistage Chair and executive coach, Joni has guided countless CEOs and leaders through chaos, uncertainty, and pivotal career moments.

Together, Karen and Joni discuss:
✨ How Joni became a Vistage Chair and what makes peer groups so impactful
✨ The difference between leading and lifting others
✨ Why silence is a leader’s secret superpower
✨ Common blind spots CEOs face — and how to overcome them
✨ The importance of making tough decisions and holding people accountable
✨ The practices Joni uses to “fill her cup” and stay energized (including travel, guitar, and lifelong learning)

This is a conversation about clarity, courage, and growth — and how great leaders create ripple effects that change lives.

🔗 Learn more about Joni Naugle at https://naugleassoc.com
🔗Connect with Joni at https://www.linkedin.com/in/joninaugle/
🔗Learn more about Vistage at https://www.vistage.com/
📌 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share if this episode lifts you!

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:14

Today's guest is someone who has lifted me as a CEO and as a human. As my vistage chair and coach, her influence has created ripples in my life and countless others. She has the remarkable ability to bring clarity in chaos, courage in uncertainty, and to ask the kind of questions that don't just shift your thinking, they shift your being. I'm endlessly grateful for the ways she supported me, challenged me, and lifted me through some of the most pivotal chapters in my journey. And in true, always lifting fashion, she embodies the thread this podcast is all about wisdom, curiosity, growth, and grace. Welcome, Joni Noggle.

SPEAKER_00 1:03

Why thank you, Karen? That was certainly a very kind introduction. Well, I mean all of those things.

SPEAKER_01 1:10

I I view you as the CEO whisperer, um, as well as a like a valued friend, and um just so happy that you came on and were willing to try this out with me. It's an honor. So let's let's do this thing. Awesome. Well, again, if I go to this idea of CEO whispering, I mean, literally your job, um, and I'm and I'm right now pointing to vestige chair and coach, because I want to get into how you ended up there as well. Right. But if we if we look at that, your job literally is to lift up CEOs and key executives. And you know, how did you how did you determine that you even wanted to do this? Because we can be kind of uh, you know, our group of vistages can be a little bit of lions all around. How did you how did you end up there? And tell me even a little bit what you view Vistage as for those listening.

SPEAKER_00 2:00

Well, you know, it's there's a there's a saying, I think it was from a Beatles song, that life is what happens when you're making other plans. And that's happened to me through the whole my whole journey, right? I didn't even know what Vistage was until someone, uh a colleague, a a community, somebody I know in the community came to me one day and said, Hey, would you want to do this? And I'm like, I don't even know what this is. And yet, as you look back, all of the steps along the way was pretty much preparing me for it. I just didn't know it. And so sometimes you just don't know what you what you don't know. And when the door presents itself, are you going to walk through? Well, I love that I had a quote.

SPEAKER_01 2:39

I have a quote calendar in my office, and actually the quote yesterday was one day you'll look back and you'll realize that it all happened in this way for a reason. For a reason. And I think that's uh super, super interesting. Right. Um Well, tell me a little bit more about that. Um tell me, so when when did you become a vistage chair? And I know that when did you start the group or the groups that you were looking after?

SPEAKER_00 3:04

Well, it it was it was uh quite a quite the journey. I was first approached back in, I think it was 200 maybe eight or nine. And at the time I had just launched my consulting practice. And the requirement to get started was you had to have be able to really focus to build a brand new group because it was the hardest thing I ever did in my career is to build that first CEO group. And so what happened is I had just sent out hundreds and hundreds of letters to everybody in the community that I knew that said, I'm starting this new business. And then I was introduced to Vistage and they said, Well, you can't do anything for six to nine months while you start this. And I said, Well, then this isn't right because my professional credibility is on the line now, and I turned them down. They came back a few years later. And at that point in time, it was much easier because I had had the business running for several years, to be able to say, okay, I'm going to focus on this, and if anyone asks me to do any work, I can say, no, I'm commit, I'm fully got capacity. I don't have capacity to help. And that that's actually what I did. And so in 2010 is when I went out for training, and I went through all there's a whole interview and approval process that they use. And then I had to go to California for a week of training, and then there was a whole process of launching, trying to launch the first group.

SPEAKER_01 4:39

Oh wow.

SPEAKER_00 4:39

And I had my first they had back then they used to do events, and you would invite people to a 90-minute session, one in the morning, one at lunch, and we had somebody do a little 20-minute talk on a topic, give the the speaker type of idea. We had we explained what it was, and then we had everybody identify what's an important issue that they're working on, and then we processed an issue. And then from there, you tried to set appointments to sign people up.

SPEAKER_01 5:13

Well, and that's a great example of what Vistage is, right? The framework of the meetings, meeting once a month, all day, um, going through and having um of really curated speakers who always are bringing the most interesting content. And then following it up with either, I think sometimes we would have business reviews where different, you know, in my group, the CEO group, would tell about what's going on and issues that they were working on, what's the status of their business or where they're headed, where they're going. And then there was another section of it where we were processing each other's issues as well. And so I guess they call that a peer networking or peer learning kind of idea. Correct.

SPEAKER_00 5:50

Correct. And that really does embody the bulk of the meeting day for the vistage experience.

SPEAKER_01 5:56

Aaron Ross Powell Did you know you always wanted to do coaching? I mean, in your consulting, were you doing coaching? Or how did you end up with the coach?

SPEAKER_00 6:03

I I re I really wasn't. And this is the thing where the quote that you mentioned, where when you look back, it all happened for a reason. I was in banking for 25 years. And during my uh the bulk of my banking career, which was at Sovereign Bank back in the day, Jay Sadou, who was the president and CEO there, was really big on leadership. We went through so many leadership classes and programs, and it was it was a lot. And at the time I'm thinking, well, I wanted to go to the banking school and I wanted to do all this stuff in the industry. And he was like, No, we're doing leadership. And you know, at the time, I I fought it a little bit, and in hindsight, it prepared me. It was the best thing in my preparation.

SPEAKER_01 6:53

You're an amazing coach. I mean, lit when I say the comments about having made a difference in in my life and um and in those around us, I just I know that that's so true. And I think for for those listening, if you have access to coaching, executive coaching, I mean, it's such an amplifier. Um and, you know, something else I'd love you to talk about is in that group coaching, we're learning from each other. So I feel like there's the individual coaching that's one-on-one where you're helping us. Um, but then also that group experience. Is there anything you want to comment on how we kind of like again, I always like to call us, you would we would get sometimes we would get wild with you, right? We're we'll go way off topic. You've got a bunch of, you know, um I don't know, type A personalities, people who have strong opinions, whatever, and we're we're off on subjects and you're trying to wrangle us back to, you know, stay on task. Um and and it's really the kittens. Hurting kittens, hurting kittens. Okay, I like I like being a kitten. Um what do you think helps make that so impactful that we do learn so much? What is about that group experience you think that creates that ripple effect with each other?

SPEAKER_00 7:59

Well, I really do th believe that the power of peers is very, really very strong. Everybody is dealing with similar things. And and what's interesting is in our business model at Vistage, you can't have competing industries in the room. Which is different than some industries, like the auto industry is known for their 20 group things where it's all car dealers from different geographies. So our model is same geography, different industries. And I do think there's a lot of benefit to that because first of all, everybody's dealing with people. Everybody's dealing with selling something to someone, right? Yeah. And whether whether you're manufacturing it, whether it's a service, there's all there's very lots of similarities in all of that. And I think being able to hear everybody else's experiences, it's just very powerful.

SPEAKER_01 8:51

I agree. It's there's almost a storytelling aspect. I I can hear someone tell the story of what they're experiencing and how they're they're working their way through it. Sometimes watch them work their way through it with your amazing questions and help and or all of us asking questions, and then we kind of get to do that mental model where we can run that scenario through our mind and and in the future when we come across it, or if we're dealing with the same thing, which I felt so many times that was true. Um now we've got, you know, more learning on how to possibly deal with that.

SPEAKER_00 9:21

Right. So many times people have said after a meeting that let's say let's say you processed something. You talked about a situation you were dealing with. Other people will say, you know what? I could totally relate to that. I have similar things going on in my business. And you know, we like to think we're all different, but we're more alike than we are different.

SPEAKER_01 9:42

Agreed. It's like a little I think it's another Beatles song. Have a little help from my friends. I'm not the best with lyrics, but yeah, right. I feel like that's totally and I think the confidentiality in that space, the ability to speak openly and um sometimes just saying things out loud and committing it to, you know, the world, the universe uh uh is powerful also.

SPEAKER_00 10:02

Right, right. And I find that a lot in the one-to-one coaching sessions is that when you ask questions, just the ability for somebody to have to say it out loud, when before it was just in their heads, there's just a shift. Right when that happens, when you have to say it out loud, it it it crystallizes a little bit better. Uh you just take a a really big leap as far as how the thought comes together.

SPEAKER_01 10:28

Agreed. Well, so on that similar thread, um you know, and you can use me in as an example since we have I, you know, I guess maybe there's two questions here. One is, is there some moment where you shifted my thinking? Because I I know you've done it countless times, and I probably if to look back and know how many versions ago, you know, from us even just meeting back in the day to where I am today, is there anything that stands out in your mind or anything about that journey of me and you meeting that sticks out?

SPEAKER_00 10:59

I can't say there's like one specific thing. You your journey, though, has been an em it's been a thrill to be able to sit on the sidelines as as as that has happened. Because when I think back to when we first met, which was even before Vistage, it was uh through the chamber. And uh w where you have come to and how you have evolved to be a very powerful, uh very empathetic, uh very driven leader has just been a thrill to watch. Well, thanks, Jess.

SPEAKER_01 11:32

Thank you for inviting me into Vistage. I I think I I was so I could see that I needed it and I knew, but I don't I think I knew exactly what I was getting into. Um meaning I didn't know quite how powerful uh it would be, more than um exceeded my expectations.

SPEAKER_00 11:50

And you you're not the only one who has said that as well, that people because because you don't realize it until you experience it, what it really is.

SPEAKER_01 11:56

Aaron Powell And I think for for those out there listening, something to for them to think about is it you know, Vistage is one way to get peer coaching or to get one-on-one coaching, but there's so many uh options out there for individualized coaching to coaching for you know, speech coaching I've done to um peer groups, but I think it's something to lean into, whatever opportunities are in front of you or whatever resources you have access to. I think it's probably a game changer for leveling up, I would think. Right.

SPEAKER_00 12:24

Absolutely. It's it's really valuable if if people are open to it and are willing to learn and question themselves and you know try to move forward.

SPEAKER_01 12:36

I love that. It that kind of gives me some other things. Uh another thing I really wanted to kind of tap into you, because okay, so you've been doing this for so long. So and I know you have, you've obviously coached me, you've coached countless others. And I like to think that in leadership we all have our own recipe that we're doing, like our own combination of things. But is there like some common, you know, traits or pat patterns, maybe the blind spots that we have that we have to work through that just kind of stick out?

SPEAKER_00 13:04

I think the biggest common um blind spot perhaps that that I see is the hesitancy of making a decision and moving on it when you absolutely know somebody's not in the right seat. Aaron Ross Powell The toughest. That is one of those. That's tough because you're dealing with with people's lives. And I understand that's really hard. And and I'm not saying that that when you think somebody's not a fit that you should just lop them off, right? But to take action, to have the hard conversations you need to have, to set the hard expectations that need to be set, and then if they're not met, to make that hard decision, to release them to the market and let the market um enjoy their abilities. And and you know what, every single time when somebody's hesitated and they don't know, and should they do it, and and it goes on and on and they finally do it, everyone around them in the organization says, What took you so long? Because everybody can see it.

SPEAKER_01 14:04

Yeah, I certainly have had moments like that myself, and you've guided me through them, and and um yeah, it's uh it's just a part of being a leader and something that we have to to make sure we lean into and and do. So it's important to take that seriously. I'm not sure. I'm saying to do it without thought. But well sometimes I feel like you can be in denial that you're not seeing all the signs. Yes. Right. Like it's maybe it's not even maybe you know in your inside that it's the right choice, but the signs are are you haven't quite your your your brain hasn't caught up with your intuition or something. Does that make sense? Something like that that is happening. Right. Right.

SPEAKER_00 14:44

And and you know, here's here's here's one example that somebody had somebody on their team that they knew was a was a problem. Gave them a warning. Gave them another warning, gave them a this is your last, right? And then it happened again. And the conversation was, well, I've put together this document of what they have to do. And I said, no, wait a minute. What happened to the one, two, three? I said, no, no, this is not going to happen here. Um it's time to make a decision. And again, once the decision was made, what they found out they were so much better in the long run. Yeah. Because things weren't being done. Things I mean, such huge opportunities were overlooked uh and and ignored. And so they were able to circle back and recapture some of those opportunities. Trevor Burrus, Jr.

SPEAKER_01 15:37

Well, I think for the people around those types of situations, you have to remember not only the situation you're dealing with, but the message you're sending to the others who are stepping up, who are holding themselves accountable, who are doing the work.

SPEAKER_00 15:49

Right. Um it's, you know, really it's demotivating to your high performers if you keep a low performer, especially in an important role.

SPEAKER_01 15:58

Yeah. Yeah. Agreed. Is there any other, you know, um comments like so you're you're kind of a mirror in that situation, right? Yes. And you um are mirroring to people um, you know, reflection of how they're sometimes even actions that they're taking maybe that aren't great, but is there something in there that that where you've had to reflect a truth back to somebody who maybe wasn't ready to hear it or or maybe how do you get someone to the point where they are ready to hear that from a coaching perspective?

SPEAKER_00 16:28

I don't know, how do you deal with it's it's all around the questions you ask.

SPEAKER_01 16:31

Interesting.

SPEAKER_00 16:32

Once you know that there's something going on, it's a matter of asking them questions. And a lot a lot of times, not always, a lot of times, they will get there if they answer the questions. And if not, you might need to be a little more pointed in the question as far as how aware are you of uh people's fear to bring up something that it's not what you said.

SPEAKER_01 17:00

Interesting.

SPEAKER_00 17:01

And then then then there's usually a big silence because no, I didn't say people don't do it. You know, how aware are you of this? And they're either a little aware, not aware at all, or very aware. And then the key the key to that is I said you be silent because let the silence do the heavy lifting. Because we like to fill every moment with words. We are as a species very uncomfortable with the silence.

SPEAKER_01 17:32

Yeah, I feel like silence can be a superpower. It's a superpower. I feel like you have taught me that um in my with when I'm working with my leadership team, because some because we are we're leaders, and then we also have to put a coaching hat on at some point in time. And I don't view myself as a as good a coach as you are. I I feel like I'm learning and I'm always trying to get there. Um and so but we have to be able to put that coaching hat on and know how to to sometimes be silent or let the let the group get to the answer, even though we might know the answer. Correct. That's part of the process. Correct.

SPEAKER_00 18:05

That's absolutely true. Took me a while. That's absolutely true. Because one of the things that a lot of leaders do, a lot of leaders think, is they have to have every answer. And they don't. In actuality, they have to have the good questions. They don't have to have the answers. And yet, but that's what we that's what we thought as we all evolved in our careers, right?

SPEAKER_01 18:30

But to go from the tactical and the doing to the leading and the guy. No, right.

SPEAKER_00 18:35

And that and it we've just not executed that as a as a society very well.

SPEAKER_01 18:42

Yes. So so true. And giving people the pleasure of solving the problems. Right. And then on the way, they they catch up to where your vision is and they can see the picture and it helps lift them. Yes, it does help.

unknown 18:55

Love that.

SPEAKER_01 18:56

Well done, Joni. Um on that, is there, you know, if we continue this conversation a little bit to you know, what are some important skills, mindsets, um, traits of a leader? I mean, we just talked a little bit about um maybe silence, silence knowing how to how to um I don't know if we want to call it coaching or or in those moments, letting people have the ability to solve the problems. I don't know, maybe there's a word for that that you have, or are there other sort of a couple other key traits that you think are really, really important for leaders and for honestly, the continuing growth. I mean, I I always talk about you have to be a gardener and the cycles, and that we're never really done as leaders, we're never really done honestly, as humans, we are continuously learning. Right. What do you think about that?

SPEAKER_00 19:43

I believe the very first skill is to be able to ask good questions. Not yes-no questions. They should be banned from every leader's vocabulary. No, yes, no, closed-ended questions. They have to be open-ended questions. And that's what gets others thinking, pulls them along. That that's clearly, I think, the number one. Um having empathy, um, being able to make a good decision, uh, when when the time is right, right? It's it's knowing when, it's the ability to provide clarity so everyone knows what's the vision, where are we going, because they can't rally behind something they don't know or understand?

unknown 20:25

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 20:25

So yeah.

SPEAKER_01 20:27

Love that. Um if you if we go back to this idea of lifting, is there something in those skill sets or the evolution of, or something that, or maybe a way that you can kind of identify the difference between someone who's just leading well um versus someone who is lifting others?

SPEAKER_00 20:47

Oh, absolutely. I think that's easy. Uh you you can lead well because a good leader will uh set the goal and uh uh complete the output, right? Whatever the output might be. Because that's that's part of what leading is is accomplishing goals and completing and executing on um the goals and tactics. A great leader though will lift others in the process of doing that. I mean, I could be a good leader and with almost the dictatorial approach get the output. But what is what is the wake I have left behind? Who have I barreled over instead of who have I included, who have I lifted up because you get more from people who feel a part of it. You know, people wanna people want to uh make a difference. They wanna help. Let them let them help.

SPEAKER_01 21:39

Well, and that's sort of the old uh I don't know if it's the right the right word. You can correct me. I think it's authoritative type of leadership. That used to be so in fashion back in the day. Right. And then I feel like there's been this catechlismous shift to the empowering of employees and to realizing um I don't know if uh happiness and it's that It's not just happiness, it's like the the the empowering, having them be a part of it, correct. Having them identify with it, because we're not always happy in our in our jobs or work, but I think putting people into that space and and and wanting their well-being, their sense of accomplishment, those those pieces is the way to really can be a competitive advantage. I know that's what I'm always striving to do with us.

SPEAKER_00 22:23

I think another important element here is that years ago, the authoritarian, the just what's the output has really evolved a lot over the years as well, where now it's more important for a leader to understand how do they show up.

unknown 22:39

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 22:40

Because how they show up has such great influences. When when the leader pulls up into the parking lot in the morning, everybody's watching. What are they getting today? Are they getting somebody grumpy who's going to yell? Are they get right? And then everybody adjusts based on that. And so how how does a leader show up? And how aware, the all all the emotional intelligence, how aware is a leader on how they're showing up, how they're influencing others, and then picking up on the social cues.

SPEAKER_01 23:13

Yeah, and I it can be like physically how you're showing up, right? Like are you tired, are you frustrated, or the timing? And you really I always think about that. There's so many I what I do can have these ripple effects, right? And and but then there's also emotionally how do you show up and and um understanding people can sense frustration, anger, those pieces, and sometimes I think you have to feel the emotion so that you understand, like if I'm frustrated, it's good for me to know that, but I don't necessarily need to project that to the person I'm with, because it may not be their fault and it probably might not be good. Does this make sense? Some sort of emotional regulation. And part of that is staying, you know, I always say you help us stay calm in chaos, is really literally just being able to stay calm and slow down. Not panicking. Slow down. Well, that's something I always have an issue with.

SPEAKER_00 24:06

I know. It's a struggle for me too, sometimes, but slowing down is is important sometimes. Because people care with your energy, and and I have been the same thing, right? I am just a ball of fire sometimes, that most people aren't like us. And it can be very overwhelming for them to try to keep up. Yeah. Because and and so you need to slow yourself down or else you're going to lose them. You're absolutely going to lose them. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 24:38

Well said. I I completely agree with you, and it's such good ad advice for sure. And kind of on that similar thread of energy, um, you know, you do have endless energy. And so do you. Well, how do you I'm always curious like how people fill their cup. Like what do you ever get sort of? Well, what your version of not being energized. And then if you do, like how do you fill your cup up, or do you know their practices, or is it just you know what you're doing and filling your cup with an now as you have a little more time to do those things? Like, what are you doing? Like, what's energemony doing?

SPEAKER_00 25:15

Well, it's I've I I often am very energetic, and it's not often that um not. Yes. Now, do I get physically tired? Sure, I get physically tired. But usually that's toward the end of the day if I've had a really busy day, and then it's time to go to bed, right? Things that I do, especially now, which have are just so much fun for me right now, is I'm teaching myself the guitar. Wow. My poor little fingers are very, very sore. I have to be careful that I don't start to get blisters because I enjoy that so much. Fantastic. Um I'm using an app, it's great. Uh I'm building the strength in my hand, I'm learning the chords, I'm learning to play songs. I mean, it's just so much fun. So that gives me lots of energy. And um I'm relearning Spanish. I did I took it in high school. I really think that would be a really valuable skill to have to be more bilingual, to be able to converse a little bit. I know words, I I can count, you know, all the basics. But I'm 15, 20 minutes a day, every day.

SPEAKER_01 26:23

Um So you're you're let's see, if we go to the guitar, you're doing something truly that is fun. You're taking a break from whatever it else is you're doing, and you're doing something that is truly fun. And I even, you know, you're somewhat in a moving towards a retirement. I'm not sure if you're quite in retirement, I would argue. Not 100%. No. I would closer to that. So you have, you know, per se more time for that. But I think even those of us that are still in in it working out, you've got to make time to have the fun. I think that's where the recharge happens. I know that that you know, doing something truly for the joy of it, right? Right. Exactly.

SPEAKER_00 26:59

And you know what? What's really fascinating is with this app that I'm using to teach myself guitar, they do say, really, 10 to 15 minutes a day when you start out, because otherwise you're gonna tear your fingers apart. Interesting. And I've I've actually enjoyed it so much. I've been doing more like 30 minutes. Okay, overachiever, right? Okay. And and I said to myself, like, oh, I have to back off or or I'm gonna get blisters all over. And so but it's so much fun.

SPEAKER_01 27:22

Love that.

SPEAKER_00 27:23

And and everybody, no matter how busy you are, actually, if you think through your life, can you find 15 minutes a day to do something that really fills your cup? I think you can. Well, it's up to us.

SPEAKER_01 27:33

We own those hours in our day or week, and we just have to make it a priority, right? It's the only it's our responsibility falls on our shoulders to do so. Right. Back to the language piece a little. Just to kind of go more towards things you do in your personal like learning the guitar. So you're learning to do Spanish. You are a world I feel like I took it in high school. I like that. But I feel like if I try to say something right now besides like grassias, um I might um make a big faux pas. Um but you are are a world traveler. You like to go on these epic trips of cultural, I feel like immersion. Yes. And I have heard so many of them. Um, you know, as a I, you know, there's that quote, not all who wander are lost. Right. And I feel like that's something that relates to you. What does your wandering around the world do? Like what is that, you know, is it cup filling, is it is it um you know, learning experience? Like what tell me more about why that is just something you love so much.

SPEAKER_00 28:35

Well, first of all, uh we've been to 54 countries. Wow. That's awesome. And we're going to another one this year. It is, it is and the types of trips we take on these bigger, more extensive, out-of-the-way, out-of-the-beaten path kind of places, they're just the cultural the learning, the being able to meet people in other parts of the world is really, really so much fun. And and we travel with a group, there's 16 of us, all friends, most of them local here, and we travel so well together. Easy to mix and match. People can go off and you don't have to worry about what your spouse or significant other wants to do. You just go do what you want because you know everybody and you can just create it a great dynamic. And and it's fun. I mean, th these trips we they divide us up at least once, if not twice, during the trip, and they drop you off at somebody's house and you have dinner with them. How interesting. I love that.

SPEAKER_01 29:29

And so, you know, you're you're filling your cup with learning, you're you're seeing different places. I feel like you're uh you have always, even as a coach teaching us, you're always a continuous learner and looking for ways to just continue to learn grow. You're the epitome of what I would call curious. Exactly. I listen to lots of podcasts. So I just I just So you're saying you're gonna subscribe? Of course. Okay, good. Of course. Okay, good. Um lifting right now, like back to the idea of lifting. So is there something right now that you are doing? Something, a book, a habit. Well, I guess maybe it's the guitar. Yeah. You know, is that so that's kind of what's the same as the other thing.

SPEAKER_00 30:12

That's lifting me right now, right? Is the guitar in the Spanish and I'm also I'm also uh taking some golf lessons. Oh good. Yes. You have to go out together. So um golf. It's you know, I've played golf for a l qu quite a while, but um some f people I know got me a gift certificate for uh a golf golf lessons and and a fitting for new golf clubs. Fantastic. And I'm in the process of that, and I've had my first lesson, and he was one a great uh professional golf pro and I've enjoyed my first lesson, and every day I pract for 15 minutes I practice the ek the drill that he has me practicing until I go back for the second lesson. And I've already, even after not even a week, noticed a difference. I love that. Yeah. That's so it's those types of things. It's just and then of course I swim in the summertime. I I swim. So awesome.

SPEAKER_01 31:09

If you're gonna to kind of pull it and wrap it all together, um I'm gonna ask you, you know, what does it mean to lift in your eyes?

SPEAKER_00 31:21

What it means is is that you continue to improve yourself and improve those around you. And that's uh to me the the epitome of lifting, right? Not only yourself, but uh but your community, your uh friends, your clients if you have clients, your customers if you have customers, right? Anybody who touches you a long, long time ago. Um I ha I went through this pro one of the programs at at Tovern Bank. And uh we had to I identify some things, answer some some key questions. And and the one question was, what what do you want your life to be about? And when I look back on that, it's that that people who have met me were glad that they did because I made a difference. And so And that was a long, long, long time ago.

SPEAKER_01 32:14

Well, okay, now we're gonna I'm gonna put the Okay Award, a word. So I brought some just some of the awards I've gotten over the years, okay. And I'm gonna put them here and I'm gonna push them towards you. Okay, Johnny, because all of the awards that I have gotten, you know, some of these are from Vistage. Yes. The Athena Award in the area which you nominated me for. These may have my name on them, but they are your awards. And I know that there's a collection here with me, and I know there's a collection with all of the other leaders and just you know, executives, other people that you have met and influenced and coached and all of those things. So thank you for that.

SPEAKER_00 32:55

Oh, yeah, you're so welcome. You know, it's it's easy to celebrate good people. And you know, like I said, to see the accomplishments not only of you, but some of the other members in the group uh and what they've been able to do uh is just is just so thrilling. And you know, it's a team. To be able to have some little connection to that is is wonderful.

SPEAKER_01 33:25

Agreed. Well, Joni, thank you. Um thank you for joining me today. Thank you for your wisdom um all of the questions, for your unwavering support of myself and all of those uh other individuals that we've talked about. Uh you really do lift like hearts and minds. Um and um as one of those that you have touched, I am honored to play your ripple effect forward.

SPEAKER_00 33:50

So And I am I am honored to have been able to help in whatever little way I I have. So thank you very much for inviting me here today and for letting me be a part of your life.

SPEAKER_01 34:06

What a wonderful conversation with my favorite vistage chair. Check the show notes for more information on Joni and how to become a vistage member. Remember to subscribe to this podcast and always lift.