What is Behdad Jamshidi's company, and what does it do?

Behdad Jamshidi is the founder of C Jam, the Marketing Connector. He acts as a marketing broker, connecting businesses with the right marketing agencies after realizing most companies don't know how to evaluate agency value or assess their own needs. (00:20), (02:37)

What was Behdad Jamshidi's background before he became a marketing broker?

Behdad Jamshidi started as an electronics engineer. He worked at TELUS in Canada for almost 10 years, where he focused on technology roadmaps, especially bridging business and technology as a sales engineer. (01:35), (02:37)

How does Behdad Jamshidi define his "zone of genius"?

His zone of genius is the middle zone between business and technology. He is skilled at getting to about 80% understanding of complex topics and then translating that knowledge to others, using his engineering background to learn effectively and solve problems. (02:08), (06:24)

What are Behdad Jamshidi's core personal values?

His five core values are Connectedness and Love, Impact, Mastery (especially of the internal self), and Freedom (time and space to think). (11:10), (14:38)

What does "living better" mean to Behdad Jamshidi?

Living better means following the path of least regret, which usually involves choosing the hardest path. It means building a balanced life that includes physical/mental health, family time (building "memory dividends"), and building something meaningful that he is passionate about. (27:39), (29:43)

Why is storytelling so important to leadership and communication?

Stories are everything because the greatest leaders are the best storytellers. Stories are effective because they bypass the ego and tap into the "childlike brain," allowing messages and emotions to go through and make a lasting impression. (52:45), (53:58)

What is the typical range of business size Behdad Jamshidi works with?

He typically works with businesses that are in the $3 million to $30 million range in revenue. (1:01:39)

How does Behdad Jamshidi's business discovery process work?

He conducts a 30-minute to one-hour business discovery session to understand the customer's needs, resources, and budget. He then creates a plan and provides a curated list of two to five vetted agency partners, whom the customer can interview and hire themselves. (1:02:22)

What is the primary value Behdad Jamshidi provides to his customers?

He saves customers two to three years of wasted time and headache by pre-vetting agencies. He meets 15 agencies to find one he likes, and he knows how to match the right 2-5 partners needed for complex marketing problems, a process most business owners don't have time for. (1:03:09), (1:06:51)

How can people connect with Behdad Jamshidi and his company?

People can connect with Behdad on LinkedIn (under Behdad Jamshidi) and can find his company at www.cjammarketing.com. (1:07:14)

What position is Samantha Piovesan running for?

Samantha Piovesan is running for Sugar Hill City Council, Post 5. [00:26]

What is Samantha Piovesan's professional background?

She is a highly accomplished leader with over 15 years of experience in business strategy and operational excellence, holding a Six Sigma Master Black Belt and is recognized for delivering $100 million in budget project savings. [00:30]

What community advocacy work is Samantha Piovesan involved in?

She is the President of the Sugar Hill Inclusion Task Force, founder of the nonprofit Gabe's Friends (supporting families with children on the autism spectrum), and drives the Sugar Hill Inclusive Playground Project. [00:30]

What is Samantha Piovesan's campaign platform focused on?

Her platform is focused on continuous improvement, fiscal responsibility, and community transparency. [00:30]

Where is Samantha Piovesan from?

She is a "Georgia Peach," born and raised in Suwannee, though she also lived in New Orleans and Dallas before moving to Sugar Hill. [01:37]

How did Samantha Piovesan's brother influence her career path?

Her older brother, who is on the autism spectrum, inspired her to start working at age 14 to help fund his therapies, leading to her passion for advocacy and the founding of Gabe's Friends. [01:37]

What is Six Sigma in simple terms?

Six Sigma is a methodology focused on achieving 99.9% perfection in processes by dissecting problems, eliminating waste and defects, and streamlining operations to be more efficient. [13:21]

Why does Samantha Piovesan prioritize responsibility over blaming others?

She has been taught to be self-aware and believes that admitting mistakes is crucial for growth. She prioritizes progress over perfection and finds that owning mistakes builds trust. [17:10]

What is Samantha Piovesan's advice for finding a mentor?

She advises people to go find it by seeking out diverse mentors: someone they resonate with, someone who pushes them out of their comfort zone, and someone who is their complete opposite. [22:39]

How does Samantha Piovesan define "working smarter"?

Working smarter means focusing on efficiency, being a strategist and planner, and eliminating rework (doing something wrong the first time and having to do it again) because rework costs time and money. [29:03]

How does Six Sigma relate to running a city government?

She views a city like a business where the people (constituents) and the process (city operations) are the two critical pillars that must be balanced to maintain the "roof" of the budget and revenue. [31:12]

What is Samantha Piovesan's motivation for running for City Council?

She states that the campaign is personal because she loves the city, her kids live there, and she is committed to fighting for all the residents she's built relationships with. [44:02]

What is Samantha Piovesan's main goal if elected to the City Council?

She wants to be remembered as someone who kept her word, dedicated herself to gathering and executing on resident feedback, and got things done (including building the inclusive park). [48:15]

How do I make my content get seen now that AI is here?

AI loves long-form media because it answers questions. Optimizing your content means putting frequently asked questions in audio form and doing it repeatedly. [09:39]

What happens to my business if I don't think about AI?

If you haven't thought about how ChatGPT and other AI systems get their answer, your business is "on fire already" because people will use them to find things like "the best plumber in my city." [12:12]

How can I avoid getting stuck restarting my business after a failure?

You must create things you can continually build upon, creating a "staircase" of momentum rather than having to "start over every time you reinvented." [16:12]

Why did Nate McGill originally choose to make movies instead of writing or plays?

It was the era. Growing up with Star Wars and Indiana Jones, movies were the stories he resonated with, and being at the cinema was the "top of the ladder" for his ambition. [24:46]

Why did Nate McGill's film company focus on documentaries instead of fictional films?

It was a business decision. Raising money for nonfiction was easier and more economical than raising the millions needed to compete in the marketplace for fictional films. [29:44]

What was Nate McGill's main goal with the documentary, American Made Movie?

The movie was never the main point; "PR was always in the center." The goal was to make change and connect different organizations, with the movie serving as fuel for generating public relations. [36:27]

How did Nate McGill financially recover from his business failure?

After downsizing, they committed to never changing their cost of living for six years, allowing them to consistently build up margin so they could afford to make the jump to start a new business. [54:16]

What is the key to successfully using frameworks and systems in work and life?

Find something that works for you and run with it. The statement is: "It works if you work it." Most frameworks, like the three-act structure or budgeting, work if you commit to them. [57:13]

What kind of businesses are most at risk from the current technology shift (AI)?

Home service businesses (plumbing, roofing, etc.) are at the highest risk because they are too busy to adapt their marketing to the "answer engine" change, causing them to be easily overlooked by new search methods.1:07:02

What is the first step an individual should take to stop a negative generational pattern?

The essential first step is to acknowledge that you do not want to allow those generational things to continue (0:00). These negative patterns can be subtle, such as alcoholism, drug abuse, constant swearing, or raising your voice, which a person might have normalized because they grew up accustomed to it. The key is to identify that the behavior didn't work well for you and be willing to do the hard, intentional work required to stop it at your generation (20:03, 20:30).

What is Alvin Hicks' official role and how long has he lived in Sugar Hill, Georgia?

Alvin Hicks is a dedicated advocate and city councilman for Sugar Hill, Georgia (0:45). He has been a resident of the city since 2014 (0:45).

What are Alvin Hicks' main focuses as a city councilman?

As a councilman, he is focused on bridging generational gaps in the community (1:04). He is the city liaison for the Sugar Hill Youth Council, ensuring young voices are heard, and is also a strong advocate for the wisdom and well-being of the seniors (1:04).

What are the details of Alvin Hicks' background and upbringing?

He is originally from Richmond, Virginia, where he grew up in the inner city (1:45, 2:20). He was born to a single, teenage mom and was mostly raised by his grandmother while living in government-subsidized housing. Though he did not describe his life as "rough" because it was the only life he knew, he acknowledges the lack of a father figure as a challenge that ultimately shaped who he is today (2:20).

What was the reason and timing of Alvin Hicks' move to Georgia?

He moved in 1996, leaving Virginia for the metro area of Georgia (3:19). The move was largely catalyzed by a cousin who offered him the opportunity to visit and potentially stay after the cousin had moved for a job. Alvin had no clear path or goal at the time, so he took a "leap of faith" and drove down with everything he could fit in his car, arriving during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics (3:49, 4:50, 8:26).

How did faith and his grandmother influence Alvin Hicks' life?

His faith was the "foundational" piece that got him through his time in Virginia and the 29-30 years in Georgia (5:39). His grandmother, who was always in church, was his primary religious influence. He recalls waking up to hear her praying for him on her knees, often in the living room or a closet (5:39). When he moved, she would call him every day and end the conversation by saying, "I'll be praying for you," cementing his foundation (7:06).

What is Alvin Hicks' perspective on the role of intervention in changing someone's life trajectory?

He believes that "everybody is placed into your path or your life for a reason," whether the interaction is positive or negative (7:57). This "divine intervention" is super important, as it helps us learn and grow from the opportunities presented. He notes that without the opportunity his cousin gave him, he likely wouldn't have left his hometown (7:25, 7:57).

What was Alvin Hicks' vocational path and his career at AT&T?

He did not finish college after graduating high school and initially just looked for work to provide financially, not a career (10:47, 11:17). He eventually got connected with Bell South (which became AT&T) 22 years ago, starting as a field technician who would fix issues at people's homes, dealing with dial-up and copper lines (11:58, 12:25). He now serves as a network operations manager (2:13).

What is Alvin Hicks' definition of "living better"?

He believes living better means making choices that align with my values and improving quality of life (24:05). This could involve health and well-being, financial stability, stronger relationships, or simply having peace of mind (24:05).

What advice does Alvin Hicks offer to someone who is living in contradiction to their values?

He advises them to self-evaluate and talk to someone (25:11). This conversation doesn't necessarily have to be with a friend, but someone who can help shape misunderstandings and directionally guide them back onto the path (25:11). In situations of external pressure, such as in politics, he stresses the importance of understanding the other person's perspective—cognitive empathy—by setting your own thoughts aside and listening to grow and learn (27:51, 28:26).

What is Alvin Hicks' view on "working smarter"?

Working smarter is about aligning effort with strategy (28:55). Instead of just "working hard," it means making decisions that move us closer to the goals with less wasted time (30:06). In his role managing a diverse team, it also means being intentional about articulating strategy across all generational breakouts, from Gen Zers to Baby Boomers (29:54).

Why is mentoring important to Alvin Hicks?

Mentoring is a big piece for him because he feels it was missing from his own upbringing (32:58). He wants the youth to have inspiration that they can put their hands on within their own neighborhoods, not just from celebrities or social media influencers (33:45). He emphasizes that it takes a "village" because studies show that older kids are often more receptive to listening to an inspirational voice outside of their own family (34:30).

What is a foundational concept Alvin Hicks values from a book he reads often?

He often reads the non-fiction book The Power of Your Subconscious Mind (37:06). The core idea he draws from it is that what you think about, what you say is actually what comes alive (37:34).

What is Alvin Hicks' stance on broken systems and why they persist?

He believes people keep using broken systems because they are afraid to change them (40:45). They may feel the system has "been working" or believe they aren't smart enough to add enough value to change it (40:45). He challenges this, reminding his team that just because something has been done a certain way doesn't mean it has to continue (40:45).

What is the most important message Alvin Hicks would give his younger self?

He would tell him, "The future's bright" and "Don't give up" (41:48). He acknowledges there were times he felt despair and hopelessness, but the early morning prayers of his grandmother provided the hope that ultimately sustained him (42:35, 43:22).

What is the most important political privilege Alvin Hicks encourages people to use?

He encourages people to exercise their ability and our privilege to vote (44:45). To the cynic who claims their vote doesn't matter, he challenges them to be quiet after the vote if they are unwilling to participate (45:27).

What is Alvin Hicks' vision for Sugar Hill at the end of his next four-year term?

He wants the community to be strong enough, safe enough so that the younger generation, after finishing college, will want to come back to plant roots and to start their families (51:19). He also wants to ensure the community has diverse housing options so that seniors are able to downsize and stay in Sugar Hill without having to move away (52:29).

What makes Sugar Hill, Georgia a unique place to live?

Despite its population growth, Sugar Hill maintains a small town feel (53:37). He highlights the unique dynamic where the churches, schools, and government all work together for the benefit of the residents and their children (53:37). The city has great local schools (three elementary, a middle, and a high school) and an amazing mayor (53:37).

How can interested people connect with City Councilman Alvin Hicks?

He can be found on Facebook on his personal account, Alvin Hicks, or on his campaign page, Alvin for City of Sugar Hill City Council post four (55:31). He can also be reached by email at his city address or by calling the personal information provided on the city's website (55:31).