One Percent Better

My guest today calls remarkable word of mouth marketing, a talk trigger. He's Daniel Lemin, and he and his co-author Jay Baer have studied the concept so deeply that they wrote on book on it. You can find it here. In our conversation we discuss how business owners can be intentional about the art and science of word of mouth marketing. I hope this conversation can be a valuable resource for business owners, employees, and educators looking to be remarkable. As always, thanks for listening! --JF

This week's episode celebrates the words of Theodore Roosevelt. In 1910 he delivered a speech that included these now immortal words: "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." Each section of these 140 words rewards close reading. Let's do that today. As always, thanks for listening! --JF

My guest today is Jon Gordon. Jon is the author of 18 books including multiple best-sellers: The Energy Bus, The Carpenter, Training Camp, You Win in the Locker Room First, The Power of Positive Leadership and The Power of a Positive Team. His latest book is The Coffee Bean: A Simple Lesson to Create Positive Change. Today we talk about his newest book, The Coffee Bean. We open our conversation talking about ideas and giving credit to the originators. We go on to discuss: Active listening Idea generation His book writing process The book Jon has been holding back writing for 10 years Whether he would ever run for office and much more! Find out more about Jon at his website. As always, thanks for listening! --JF

This week I am proud to present Episode 100. I look back on all that I have learned with a smile. I hope you do too. Here's to the past, the present, and the future of getting 1% better. Thank you for listening and learning with me! --JF *Additional music this week courtesy of "Immersed" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

This week I share a conversation as far outside of my areas of expertise as I have ever gone. I speak to author, speaker, and YouTube superstar, Summer Rayne Oakes, about plants. She owns 1,000 in her Brooklyn Apartment. I own zero in my Brookfield home. And yet we connect on multiple levels as it becomes obvious that we were talking about much more than plants. This is a conversation about: nature mindfulness organization shame and pride beginner's mind how to get 1% better when you are already an expert getting outside of one's comfort zone and more. Pick up a copy of Summer's book HERE. As always, thanks for listening. Episode 100 is next week! --JF

This week I breathe in the restorative power of summer and exhale four things on my mind. Dive into: My Interview for The American Baseball Coaches Association A book recommendation written by an upcoming guest Why it's not okay to say "stick to sports" or "stay in your lane." Should interviewees get the questions ahead of time? I would love your feedback. As always, thank you for listening! --JF

This week I share my conversation with authors Lauren McCann and Gabriel Weinberg. Of every book I have read since I began the podcast, Superthinking is the one I most want to infuse into my classroom for my students. It's an incredible resource that can help us all clean up our thinking and decision making. It's dense in all the best ways and yet you can dip in and dip out whenever the mood strikes you. In short, this is an evergreen book that needs to find a spot on your shelf. Find out even more about what Gabriel is up to at DuckDuckGo. As always, thank you for listening! --JF

I'll never be able to feature every teacher in America who is out there doing life-changing work with our children, but I am thrilled every time I get to. Today I share my conversation with author and teacher Aaron Pribble. In the Northeast, this conversation releases in the last week of the school year. For many, it's summer vacation. I hope it serves as validation, rejuvenation, and inspiration for all the parents, teachers, and coaches out there trying to get 1% better. Pick up a copy of Aaron's book Teacherland. As always, thank you for listening! --JF

The biggest lie we were ever told as kids might have been: "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." This week I share a mindset shift that will take back the power of words. Teflon. As always, thank you for listening! --JF

Today I share my conversation with Peter Shankman. Peter is a five-time best selling author, entrepreneur and corporate keynote speaker, focusing on customer service and the new and emerging customer and neurotatypical economy. Peter is recognized worldwide for radically new ways of thinking about the customer experience, social media, PR, marketing, advertising, ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and the new Neurodiverse Economy. You'll hear a refreshing perspective on failure, imposter syndrome, having fun at work, and I hope much more. As always, thank you for listening! --JF

In some ways, this entire podcast is about decision making. How to make better ones minute by minute, day by day, with the end result being that we get to go to sleep a little better than we were when we woke up. Today I want to share a question with you: why don't we celebrate good decisions like we rue bad ones? But right here, right now, let's start a movement. The movement begins with four simple steps: a)define great decisions b)record great decisions c)celebrate great decisions d) share great decisions with others Message me this week @FerraroOnAir to share yours. As always, thanks for listening! --JF

This week I share my conversation with Tom Peters! The exclamation point is there to signify three things: My excitement in what I was able to learn from Tom My excitement from what you are about to learn from Tom It's his logo (Really. Check out his website) In 1982 Tom and a colleague wrote a book entitled In Search of Excellence, and he has never looked back. This one is quotable, shareable, and a whole heck of a lot of fun. Enjoy. --JF

This week I share one idea that changed my life and two stories of how it's shown up in my world. Don't confuse price with value. The $75.00 dollar steak Charlee's first wager As always thank you for listening! --JF

This week I share a high-velocity, high-value conversation with NFL expert and author, Michael Lombardi. Throughout his three-decade long career with the NFL, Mike Lombardi worked as an NFL executive with the San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles, and Oakland Raiders alongside NFL legends including Bill Belichick, Bill Walsh, Bill Parcells, and Al Davis. Today, he shares the leadership lessons he has learned with my audience. I absolutely loved this conversation. I think you will too. As always, thank you for listening! --JF

I learn so much by being asked deep questions. This week it's Instructional Coach Kim Darche that helps me (and I certainly hope you) get 1% better. She flips the script with some of the most inventive questions I have ever been asked. "What two published books would you save from a burning building?" How did Kim get to flip the script? She asked. She's a long-time passionate listener to the podcast, and after taking a dive into her work, I was very impressed. Voila. Here she is. Let today's episode inspire and encourage you in many ways, not the least of which is how vital a truth it is that we all need a coach. It's impossible to see our blindspots. Kim helps teachers see theirs, and she might be able to help you as well. Find her on Twitter @KimDarche and let her know how she can help you, or what you thought of her work behind the microphone As always, thank you for listening! --JF

Today I share my conversation with author Austin Kleon. I caught Austin as he was about to embark on his book tour. Our conversation was honest, fun, and I hope, useful. We talk about: The tug of war between art and commerce. The ups and downs of going on a book tour Staying creative despite demoralizing times How George Clooney's movie role selection connects to creative life How Austin would change public education And much more. Subscribe to Austin's Newsletter Buy one of Austin's Books As always, thanks for listening! --JF

This week I share a dream I had. During a recent conversation with educator and upcoming guest Aaaron Pribble, we spoke about one of the realities of being a teacher. At night you dream about things that could go wrong in the classroom. This week, a skunk snuck into my classroom. What do YOU think about so much that it shows up in your dreams? I spent some time this week making my website 1% better. Start Here I would love your thoughts. As always, thank you for listening. --JF

Today's conversation is flat-out fun. It's also useful and inspiring. I have learned that's what you get with Laura Gassner Otting. She's the candid, vulnerable, sharp, author of the book Limitless: How to Ignore Everybody, Carve Your Own Path, and Live Your Best Life. We talk about: Why Laura has a turkey heart on her Instagram feed The moniker of "bad ass" Working in The White House alongside Bill Clinton Confidence How to ignore everybody on your quest Can charisma be taught? The self talk Laura uses before public speaking Aligning the pursuit of money and doing good And much more. Be sure to grab a copy of Laura's book here. Head over to Laura's website for her very own show notes:https://lauragassnerotting.com/onepercent/ As always, thanks for listening! --JF

In this solo episode, I want to encourage you to look back. Take out last month's calendar and ask yourself three questions: Where did I spend my time? What can I feel proud of and celebrate? Do I want to spend my time similarly next month? Too often we plan ahead without looking back. We wonder: how can I crush next month? The best way to prepare for next month is by looking back on this month. To help you, in this episode I share with you the creative work I did last month, along with my lessons learned along the way. I hope it helps you think about how you spend your time, and that it helps you get 1% better at reflecting. As always, thank you for listening! --JF

Today I share Part II of my conversation with David Allen. Episode 82 is the place to go if you missed Part I. This week we discuss: Marie Kondo's Netflix Show and system How to clarify and organize the nonstop "stuff" in your life What David means by the very next action step The value of the "someday maybe" list Why David chose the path that he did How to optimize a "To Do" list The way teenagers can benefit from GTD As always, thank you for listening. Until next week... --JF

Today I share Part I of one of my favorite conversations ever. At age 73, David Allen is one of the the world's foremost experts in productivity and organization. When he opens a conversation with "we can talk as long as you'd like," the only answer is "let's do it!" And so we did. In Part I we discuss: How David got into personal growth What advice he has for people looking to earn more money His definition of a successful executive David's five-step process for stress-free productivity The Teen edition of Getting Things Done His journey to find out who he is His choice of tools for capturing ideas when then come and so much more. As always, thank you for listening. I'll see you next week, for Part II. --JF

Today I share my thoughts on how to be 1% better in the world of mental toughness. I share: my favorite definition of mental toughness how it shows up in my life daily who I think of when I think of mental toughness my 0-3 scale to measure mental toughness I hope it inspires you. As always, thank you for listening! --JF

Today's guest is Mike Vardy. His website is full of free coaching materials guaranteed to help you get 1% better in the world of productivity. Mike is a sought-after speaker and workshop leader with whom I loved talking. Our conversation is wide-ranging; we cover: timecrafting journaling tools of productivity decision making calendar management themes for each day of the week and so much more. Find me at my website if you need anything at all. Have a fantastic week, and as always, thank you so much for listening! -JF

This week I share: Mindset: Being intentional about (monitoring) what material you take in can change your life. Language: Zig Ziglar once said, "You are what you are and where you are because of what has gone into your mind. You change what you are and where you are by changing what goes into your mind." Behavior: I share how a simple tool can help you organize your creative life. Bonus: I share what has been inspiring me in the world of podcasts, books, film, and more. As always, thank you for listening! --JF

Today's guest has co-written a new book, No Hard Feelings: The Secret Power of Embracing Emotions at Work Please welcome Liz Fosslien. Liz and I talk about: The importance of psychological safety How people use and abuse email Why caring about work less could be the key to happiness Giving and receiving effective feedback This is a super-practical, and dare I say, fun conversation. As always, thanks for listening. --JF

Gadfly (noun): a fly that bites livestock, especially a horsefly. an annoying person, especially one who provokes others into action by criticism. a person who interferes with the status quo of a society or community by posing novel, potently upsetting questions, usually directed at authorities. The term is originally associated with the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates, in his defense when on trial for his life. One way to make the world 1% better is by becoming number 3. Visit onepercentbetterproject.com -Gadlfies wanted. Here's a gadfly starter kit of questions worth asking: How will we know it's working? What is the opposing side's most compelling argument? What is the risk of doing nothing on this? How many stakeholders have identified this as a problem worth solving? Have any similar organizations tried to tackle this problem? Why this, why now? If we could wave a magic wand and solve this problem, what would the return on our time and energy investment be for our students/employees/or stockholders? How can I help? As always, thanks for listening. --JF

This week I share my conversation with Performance Psychologist, Stu Singer. In addition to coaching high performers in the private sector, Stu has worked as the sports psychology and performance consultant for the WNBA's Washington Mystics, University of Maryland Women's Basketball team, Fordham University Women's Basketball team, and the Connecticut Sun among others. We talk: Goal setting and the search for the right metrics Stu's four pillars of performance The vital HOW of skill building Stu's three must read books on Mindfulness The difference between simple and easy His frustration with the term "mind hack" and more! As always, thank you for listening, --JF

Today, I share the microphone with a friend of over 20 years. Greg Locke was my college baseball teammate at Pace University in the mid 1990s, and we have stayed in touch ever since. He's now a Territory Manager for a Pharmaceutical Company, and he brings a unique perspective to my journey. Who in your life knows you in a way that could challenge your thinking? Who were you then? Who are you now? Who will you be in 10 years? This is the type of insight Greg brings out in me today, and I have chosen to share it with you. This week, I challenge you to find your Greg. Find someone who can help make you 1% better, and share a conversation. Thank you Greg. As always, thanks for listening. --JF

Today's guest is the creator, curator, and CEO of Farnam Street. Shane's website reads: Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, we have helped millions of people master the best of what other people have already figured out. It has certainly done that for me. Sign up for his free newsletter here. Shane and I discuss how to solve complicated problems improving the thinking process how to select better books the relative genius of Malcolm Gladwell and much more. As always, thank you for listening! --JF

This week I share three ideas to help you get 1% better in the worlds of mindset, language, and behavior. I share: A look back at last week's interview My thoughts on "Useful Hacks" by Morgan Housel A quick story from my family about communication A taste of next week's 1% Wednesday video Sign up for 1% Wednesday here. As always, thank you for listening. --JF Music for this episode from https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/en/search/ "Inspired" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.de)

Happy New Year! Today we usher in 2019 with an extraordinary guest, Mental Performance Coach, Justin Su'a. Justin works as the mental performance for The Tampa Rays and The Cleveland Browns. His craft has him working one one one with some of the best athletes in the world. In addition, he hosts a very popular podcast called "Increase your Impact." I ask Justin about his work and life experiences when it comes to helping others to strive for peak performance, in and out of the world of sports. To learn more about Justin's work, download his podcast or connect with him @Justinsua You can find me @FerraroOnAir or on my website. Thank you so much for listening! --JF

Today I share an excerpt from one of my all-time favorite books. It's Chris Voss' Never Split the Difference. This section means so much to me, that I typed it out by hand. It's exactly what you need as you face the inevitable challenges that the holidays and New Year have in store. It's also a great time to go back and listen to Episode 9 , my full conversation with Chris. I hope each and every one of you has an amazing holiday season. Here's to being 1% better every day in 2019! Thank you for listening! --JF

My guest today is Alicia Dunams. She is an international speaker and trainer who motivates business leaders around the world to play big to produce the business results and life they want. She's coached thousands of business leaders worldwide to write, publish and market their book during her acclaimed Best Seller in a Weekend series. Regular listeners will hear our shared language. In fact it was her book I Get To that inspired me to invite her on. It was fun to learn with Alicia on air. ---- **Two interviews mentioned on the show: Baseball Outside the Box Interview Using Teaching Skills as a Coach As always, thank you so much listening! --JF

This week I share an original episode I created while traveling. I was away from the studio, so the audio quality is lower than usual. But I shipped it anyway. Why? I produce a new podcast every week. That's the standard, and that's the rubric for success. Sometimes the search for perfection gets in the way of "pressing send." My hope is that this imperfect episode helps someone. As always, thank you for listening! --JF

Today I share my conversation with productivity and focus expert Chris Bailey. He has written two books that help people become more intentional with the time, energy, and focus. In our conversation we talk about: Our attention span How many times the average person checks his email The myths and realities of multi-tasking The power of meditation and the simplest way to begin and much more. Email me HERE if I can help you in any way. As always, thank you for listening. --JF

Happy Thanksgiving. I am so grateful for all of you. Here are some links mentioned in the show: Austin Kleon's Newsletter MyFWordsBlog Thanksgiving Wine 1% Wednesday --JF

This week I share my second conversation with Seth Godin. We spoke for the first time on Episode 26. This time, our focus is his new book, This is Marketing, a generous look at how to get better at making better things. It has been a true pleasure to follow Seth's work for years, and I know you will enjoy our conversation. As always, thank you for listening. --JF You can sign up for 1% Wednesday here.

Today I pass the microphone to a former student as she interviews me. Siera Nezaj had free reign to ask me anything; and she did just that. I love sharing the experience of being forced to grapple with difficult questions. Who is the person in your life this week that you can ask to challenge you? As always, thank you for listening! Subscribe to 1% Wednesday here. --JF

Today I share my conversation with Jesse Cole. Jesse is the Owner of Fans First Entertainment. This group owns and operates the Savannah Bananas. This is a one-of-a-kind sports team that has been featured on MSNBC, CNN, ESPN, and more. We talk about: Delivering a remarkable product. Standing out in a crowded marketplace. Books that have made a difference in Jesse's life. How Jesse and his team are trying to revitalize baseball. and much more. Thank you for listening! Subscribe to 1% Wednesday HERE. --JF

In this episode I share something I have noticed. It's an opportunity for us to get 1% better with the language we use. I hope it lands. I made it with you in mind. Thank you for listening. Subscribe to 1% Wednesday here. --JF

This week I share my conversation with James Clear. James has been one of my favorite writers for a long time, and his book (out now) is no exception. We talk about the art and science of habit formation, how to get habits to last, his most effective habits, and much more. To stay up to date on all things 1% better, sign up free here. As always, thanks for listening. --JF

Sign up for 1% Wednesday here. This week I share an idea I have on how you can separate yourself from the crowd by giving to others. Can you be generous, unusual, and remarkable? Can you show appreciation, recognition, and politeness? Then you can be one of the rare people who get 1% better separation from the rest. I would love your stories of how you have tried to separate yourself this week. As always, thank you so much for listening and sharing the podcast! --JF

Sign up for a free short note & an original video here:1% WEDNESDAY This week I share a conversation with Dr. Bhrett McCabe. Bhrett is a practicing Sports & Performance Psychologist who has with worked with thousands of athletes and leaders looking to be their very best. We speak at length about: Winning business culture The habits of the most successful people What he learned from Hall of Fame Coach Skip Bertman and much, much more. You can find out more about Dr. McCabe's work on his website. As always, thank you for listening! --JF

Today it's Q & A! I take six questions from listeners, and dive deep with research-based riffs! I mix ideas I have read with opinions I hold dear. The result is Research Riffs. Hope it helps you get 1% better! As always, thanks for listening. --JF

Today I share my conversation with David C. Baker. I loved his book, and found him to be humble, helpful, and human. All this, while showing that he can help all of us get 1% better as we approach our business. The New York Times wrote about him here. You can find more of his work and his book here. And as always, you can find me at my website. Thank you so much for listening! --JF

This week I share an idea I created called The Hazelnut Theory Find out more by subscribing to 1% Wednesday here. Thank you so much for being on the journey with me. --JF

Today's guest is performance coach and speaker, Alan Stein Jr. He shares the mindset, language, and behavior that make him successful, so that you can get 1% better today. We discuss: His work with Kobe Bryant and Stephen Curry The importance os mastering the fundamentals His daily habits and routines And much more. Find out more about Alan at his website. Sign up for 1% Wednesday here. Thank you for listening! --JF

One of the best things about creating a project named One Percent Better is the freedom it allows me to experiment. Today's episode is one of those experiments. If the goal is to go to sleep a little smarter, a little stronger, a little wiser, than we were when we woke up, then the work that is required cannot be safe. This episode debuts in August, as Summer fades, and young people everywhere head back to school. This conversation showcases the ideas of an innovative educator who has the courage to ask, "what if?" Read Glenn Robbins' post here. Sign up for 1% Wednesday here. Thanks to Glenn, and thanks to you for listening. --JF

Today I share my conversation with Amy Fast. We discuss how she uses Twitter to continue her journey as a lifelong learner. Her book details her WHY, namely that education is about much more than trying to produce the most desirable data points on a spreadsheet. She believes in the power of schools, and more so, the power of student voices to transform the world. We discuss all this and more in our conversation. As always, thank you for listening. Head to my website with any questions or feedback! --JF

This week I share 10 ideas about how incoming college students can make their experience 1% better. If you think this advice can help a young person you know, pass it on. Keep the conversation going on Twitter or by emailing me. As always, thank you so much for listening! --JF