What If It Did Work?
What If It Did Work?
Read The Room: Communication Lessons From An Ex-Spy
If conversation is a superpower, most companies are running on kryptonite. We dive with Don Weber—global communication strategist, human intelligence expert, and former U.S. field operative—into what makes people open up, buy in, and stay loyal, from war zones to boardrooms. When texts replace tough talks and bots gatekeep support, trust evaporates. Don shows how to recover it with presence: read the room, listen first, and choose the right channel for the moment.
We explore the hidden math behind modern miscommunication. AI floods hiring with lookalike résumés while starving teams of context. Customer service scripts cut costs and quietly cut revenue. Leaders push top-down memos that morph on the way to the front line. Don breaks down practical fixes: build cross-functional decision rooms before major changes, keep messages repeatable and simple, and empower teams to solve issues in one touch. From greeting customers by name to delivering hard news live, small, human acts compound into retention and referrals no campaign can buy.
Don’s field stories underline the stakes. In places where a wrong read could cost a life, he learned to track breath, posture, and micro-expressions—and to let silence do the heavy lifting. That same discipline turns meetings into decisions, negotiations into agreements, and talent into believers. We also tackle leadership myths, from the Jack Welch halo to the idea that volume equals authority. The strongest voice is usually the last to speak, the one that listened the most.
If you lead a team, run a brand, or simply want your words to land, this conversation gives you scripts, mindsets, and habits you can use today. Subscribe, share with a leader who needs it, and leave a review telling us: where will you bring back the human touch first?
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My whole life I've been holding back to everything you do all right, everybody.
SPEAKER_01:Another day, another dollar, another one of my favorite episodes of my favorite podcast because I am biased. It's my own. What if it did work? Oh my gosh. Over five years of doing this. And I gotta say, I love this guest. He's a modern day, real life James Bond. And I gotta say, Don Weber. He's a global communication strategist, human intelligence expert, executive coach whose life tells a story of survival, reinvention, mastery. For over 15 years, he worked in international intelligence operations across 90 countries, operating under multiple identities, navigating environments where one wrong move could have cost him his life. During his years as a U.S. government field operative under the George H.W. Bush administration, Don gathered intelligence across South America, Africa, Europe, working with organized crime figures, foreign agents, and volatile political networks. One of his covers placed him in Antwerp's diamond trade circles and other uniquely challenging environments where he learned to build rapport across diverse groups others could not. After leaving intelligence work, he dedicated his life to helping others communicate authentically and lead with an awareness. Over the past decade, he has become one of Europe's most respected executive communication coaches, training royalty, EU diplomats, ambassadors, senior politicians, and Fortune 500 executives across major European capitals, trained in martial arts for real life situations. He's got a view to a kill, just like 007. How's it going, brother? Wow, what an intro.
SPEAKER_05:I wish it was all I wish I was all that. I sound really impressive.
SPEAKER_01:But you compared to all my none of nobody, yes, we all as entrepreneurs, executives, CEOs, when it comes to like you know, live and die, and like your life is on the line, it it's not literal. It's like your back is against the wall, you you don't want to work for someone else. You're you know, that that type. You're you're literally when when it comes to that, definitely I'm excited to speak with you, especially about communication, especially at a time all over the world where we technology is like amped up, but man, we're socially in that when it comes to communicating.
SPEAKER_05:It's getting worse, isn't it? Especially with the younger generations, they have some serious challenges they have never.
SPEAKER_01:Well, Don, what what do you think when you see when you when you're at a restaurant or anywhere and you see a couple on a date and they're communicating, because you know they are, because they're they're not looking at each other, they're not engaged, but they're literally across from each other, texting each other back and forth.
SPEAKER_05:Or swiping on Tinder for their next date.
SPEAKER_01:Well, hey, what whatever works, but I mean, even with communication, you can't tell if you're texting someone, if it's going great. I mean, I I've gone on a thousand dates and and and I've been on some real like I can tell right off the bat with with the body language, the way she's breathing, that uh yeah, there's there's no second date out of this, and that's fine. But if you're knee deep in uh in in your friggin' phone, you can't tell if you're gonna get a second, third, fourth date out of that.
SPEAKER_05:Yeah, I think that's true. I mean, the phones are such a crutch for people. I mean, they're handy because they're a great tool for getting information and stuff. Unfortunately, not all the information you get from the phone is always accurate either, but yeah, people rely on it. It's too much of a crutch, and it really, I think, messes up. Um, the younger people, particularly. Uh, they I I think we're very fortunate, fortunate Walmart, to have three smartphones. So at least we know what it was like actually to have to interact with people face to face, put somebody in the eyeballs, you know. Smile, you laugh together at the same time. That kind of uh synergy that people can can experience together. Um if you're doing it on the phone, it's just not the same, right? It's it's missing a huge element there, and it's it's a sad thing, but it's just the way society has evolved. And I think eventually people retire.
SPEAKER_01:Well you hope. I I don't know, man. The the way we're addicted to dopamine hits because of because of our phone, because of social media, and just it it's uh I mean people uh communicate business through uh through text messaging, through uh friggin' uh I mean to me, uh if if you're if you're gonna communicate something, especially when it comes to business, pick up the phone, man. If if you can't meet someone face to face, especially if hey you you're getting a promotion, or we're gonna give you an evaluation, or if you're if you're gonna fire someone, I mean, how impersonal is that? Hey, guess what? Here's your here's your email during lunch, not even, not even just a WhatsApp, you know.
SPEAKER_05:And why might I'm gonna get a divorce too?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, all right, done. Well you're gonna laugh, but uh you know, I I retired from being an entrepreneur, came back working for people because you know, uh divorce is expensive, and having teenage daughters is expensive. And uh say two years ago, uh working. It's it's I know it's Good Friday because it was Good Friday, and it's my lunch break, so I'm like, okay, sales, not a big deal. Like, I can do a quick workout, come back, you know, business is slow, and go through my emails, and it's uh yeah, sorry, we have to let you go. And it wasn't for performance or for anything, it was just uh like a form email, and the boss couldn't to this day he never spoke to me. Uh, my supervisor was like a 20-something year old kid that was a burnout that is was only management because he was burnt out and probably horrible in sales, and he could only text me. And he was like, Oh, yeah, sorry, man. And and that was it. And I was like, Holy smokes, is that is that the way we do it? Because being an entrepreneur, I mean, being a CEO of like 60, 70 people, I mean, I I could at least pick up the phone and or you know, have my general manager or my manager say, Hey, you know, these are the reasons, not hey, hey, you know what? Here's an email.
SPEAKER_05:They're missing out a lot. And I think it's a great opportunity for those for those of us that actually like to speak to people face to face that don't have a problem with it. Um, because people are so reliant, in fact, they're beyond reliant, they're addicted, they're I'm gonna say disabled uh because they can only really use phones and they get uncomfortable, they get they have anxiety to be full when you telephone them, you know. A lot of people have had to I have to make an appointment to phone them, you know, because I can't deal or having FaceTimers that it's weird. So I think there's a big opportunity for like entrepreneurs is getting out there meeting people. Actually, the old-fashioned uh look, an article just came out last week. There was a newsletter from Porn Ferry, you know, the big HR company. Porn Ferry. And they're saying because of AI, because of you know all these platforms like uh LinkedIn and Monster and Indeed, and there's a bunch of them, right? That companies are just getting inundated with CVs and resumes. And people now they're just generating them with AI so that the so that the CV is a perfect fit for the job, but the person's actually not qualified. And saying companies are getting hundreds if not thousands, and they're having difficulty processing. I can tell you true story. Two gyms. My gym where I go workout, the assistant manager was asking her about this. She's oh my god, yes, we're looking for a desk assistant, and we've got I've got hundreds of emails to go through, and I don't know what to do. This was yesterday. Um, another gym that my sister goes to as I can say it, planet fitness, the same story. The the GM was saying, no, we've got you wouldn't believe it. We'd just like up to up to the ears in resumes and trying to go through all those resumes to figure out what fits. So I think people they can rely on all it's easy, it's safe, you know. You sit in your bedroom or whatever on your computer and or in your bed or whatever and do your thing. It takes more effort, you know. You got to get dressed up, comb your hair, brush your teeth, shave, go out, go to a meeting, go meet people, smile. It's a little risky, isn't it?
SPEAKER_01:You know, it's like a dude you have to be vulnerable if you think about it, Don, to actually show up. Imagine having to actually like the good old days, face-to-face meetings with your clients or or a process. All the time. That was the only way I would get them. Uh call me a dinosaur, but you know, that's to me, and I'm I was a severe introvert. I they they actually thought I couldn't speak English growing up, uh, the first few years of school. Uh, I was yeah, they had me an East Hall. As you can tell, either Miami Dave really did an amazing job, or you know, it was just a simple fact that you know, severe introvert, you know, it's just something that I had to work on for like years. But I mean, the way to me, you want communication, you want openness, and that's why you know, for 20 years of of owning retail establishments, five locations, it was mainly because even at the end, hey, face to face. Oh, you you didn't like the service, you didn't like the the object. What is it? How how can we rectify this problem? Come over, come by, and we can speak face to face. It's not like just give me your email and I will apologize and I will give you a 50% off coupon. But that's that's that's how it is, and and it's it's it's crazy because because when you talk about the gym, uh I'm a member of of CrossFit Place, and when I don't like the workout, I'll I'll go to the Globo Gym Crunch, just like Plant Fitness, and this is two ways that they market to me. They'll send me like a text message or email. How are things? Well, you you have like your manager, your assistant manager there, and like 20 people trying to pitch me something to upsell me, which why can't you just ask me right there? Or the second way they they always have a pretty girl doing this, like at the oh, here's five coupons to bring someone in for one time. Whoa, talk about marketing. Like, like why for starters? What you're not giving me a compelling reason. I'm I'm supposed to build your book of business, right? And it wasn't like it's like, oh, here, here, you do this. Oh, instead of, hey, you know, do you really you know, do you really like being here? How long have you been here? You know, I I see you only work out once in a while here. Do you think your daughters or there's someone else? Not like, oh, here's and that that's that believe it or not, that's how people feel that's their marketing, that's their selling. And it's like, well, uh, I I can see why you're you're slowly dying, because there's still people out there that go above and beyond just by communicating. Hey, how's it going? I at that plan of fitness, because I dated women that were members, never hello. They had the pizza there or they had the candy in the jar, and you know, the lunk alert and all that crap everywhere, but you know, they they they're zero communication.
SPEAKER_05:Yeah, yeah, it's it's you're absolutely you're absolutely right. I mean, if we have a customer service issue, they say, Oh no, you gotta send it to this email, and then you can exactly AI bot that doesn't understand, and it usually won't default will just say no and give you like a nasty answer. I mean, I just had an argument with a couple companies that told uh active campaign. I mean, they came back, I gave my actually wrote them like uh a theses about it. I said, But you know, you guys you're messing up your customer service. You should be a great company, and now you're trying to do everything automated, and your AI AI sucks. You know, it doesn't it doesn't answer it's not addressing my issue. You're trying to make more money and get rid of people. Site ground's doing the same thing, getting rid of people and trying to do all with AI. They site ground, by the way, is a hosting company.
SPEAKER_01:Well, Don, don't you think too though, it shows like a lack of leadership and it shows a lack of ownership when you say, Hey, that's not my problem, brother. That's that's somewhere that that that's passing the buck. To me, that's that's the company, Don. Isn't that the company that has like everywhere like these posters that say communication, leadership, teamwork? Our mission, our mission, and then then you know when you get there, they're they give you a book, uh gives you a book like bigger than like war and peace on what you cannot do. And it's like, but but yet, you know, if no no communication, everybody's just like disinterested. They all they all have the mile high step stair that they're looking at their clock, and oh, can you help me with this problem? Not my not my issue, brother. That's not my department, and and but that to me, that's that's a company that lacks communication, or that's just a company that's your mission is you are just a tool for the board to to create profit. And hey, you want to raise, you want something else, try try that AI and and try to get a better job with doing the resume.
SPEAKER_05:AI is not there yet. I mean, a lot just I I really one of the main things I really really hate is our lives and in sincerity. And I think it has to do with because of my what I call my previous life. Um, and then just being insincere, saying, Oh, yeah, our we're this and we're that, and we're all these beautiful words that they like using, and we're DEI and we're this and that. But we don't interact with people, of course. We just do everything virtually because we're we're clever. And what comes down to is leadership, they're just looking at the bottom line, but they're not looking at taking care of their customers. And you're seeing this more and more. So, what happens if somebody comes in that a new player comes into that industry or that business who actually gives me customer service, and even if it costs me a bit more, guess who I'm gonna go with? That fast. I'm gonna go with the guy who gives me a better customer service, less headaches. I don't got have to sit there in a freaking voicemail, press one, press five, press six, loops me all over the place, little music. And then at the end of it, I get you know some stupid bots saying, Well, we can help you. Yeah, uh press one and it's a press one of the better problems.
SPEAKER_01:This problem, press two, and then oh, after you press like the four or five, you still it's like this labyrinth. It's like this never-ending maze that that you're gonna want to hang up. Voicemail hell. It's oh well, yeah, leave leave a message and we'll get right back. Sure, sure. Uh uh, like February 29th. We'll leap here, we'll get back to you.
SPEAKER_05:Too much focus on trying to be making money, which money is white businesses exist, sure, but not looking out, it's like being penny being penny wise but foolish. You're looking after the small things to make a few extra bucks, basically a few, but you're not taking care of your client base. And the client base will go somewhere else. As soon as I found an alternative, man, they're gone. That's simple. I mean, I've I've terminated a lot of relationships with customer or companies I did business with in the past for many years because of that. I got sick of it. I don't have time to be forcing around with you know customer service issues all the time. So I think it's a big one. Taking care of people, being genuine, being you know, being genuine and being authentic about communicating with people. And you know, normally if I get like not some dude out in India, nothing against the Indians, or some dude out in the Philippines or wherever, getting somebody else who can handle the thing that you get, you get them on the phone, it takes usually about 30 seconds to a minute, the problem resolved, it's over, it's done. Nowadays, not many an hour, I might have to call two, three times or whatever.
SPEAKER_01:Also, they outsource that. I mean, it's like thank you. I'm sorry, sir. Exactly. I mean, you want your problem. I mean, you want your customer, customer to be a raving fan. That that's not the way to do it, by outsourcing to a bunch of people that their English is limited, and yet all all their answers are form-based. Because because you know, if it's this problem, here is the answer.
SPEAKER_05:Say that, say that, say that.
SPEAKER_01:And that's that's it. They're they're they're only limited to that. One, because the language, two, because that's they're trained that this is the answer, and it's like, no, it's it's beyond me. I mean, the customer, yes, cash flow is the number one thing for any business, but you want repeat and you want raving fans. If if you look at all these high-end premium products, whether it's like Apple or whether it's Disney World, but customer service is what brings raving fans. If anybody wants to stand in the in the hot summer in Florida for a two-hour wait for a 30-second ride, you better give everybody a compelling reason to smile and be happy. And oh, this is great, and this is amazing, and it's clean. So, people need to at least look at all these different whether it's Starbucks, stuff like that. It's all about communication, it's all about, and it's a little subtle things, even when it comes to retail of someone's name at Starbucks. It's just because you can connect. Hey Don, here's your I don't drink coffee much. Here, here's your dopio espresso with phone. Right. I made it for you, Don. Right, he knows my name. Wow, I am someone, I am important. People want to, people want the reason why social media is so huge is people want to feel heard, people want to feel significant, that they matter, and just the simple name, hey Omar, here's your order. You know, thank you. You know, you've you've we haven't we didn't see you last week. Wow, imagine that. But and you know, that's and compared to okay, who ordered a cappuccino, right? Extra foam. Yeah, exactly. But that's how people operate.
SPEAKER_05:And Starbucks, you know, they changed their CEO.
SPEAKER_01:They had this guy called Laxman, who I don't remember his background, but uh, he he was trying to uh he was a consultant, like like he he he was from a top, he didn't know anything about it, it's about uh yes, yes. I I I I read that because you know, after bringing Howard Schultz back for the fifth, sixth guys like Lazarus guy comes back oh over and over and over, and you know, finally they're like, Oh, we got this guy because he's a consultant, and and They lost, yeah. They lost billions in market share because they went with his model. Because you know, screw the screw communication, screw the human touch. Scrooge is being nice.
SPEAKER_05:Scrooge is well, he killed company morale, and really, he really hurt that. That is one of the fundamental things. So your employees aren't happy, they're gonna treat your customers like what?
SPEAKER_01:Well, they're yeah, they're they're gonna be, yeah, oh well, this isn't hot enough or whatever. Well, you know what? I feel like I don't matter, so you don't matter. So I mean, it's a two-way street. You want to communicate both with with your customers, but I mean, come on now. You you want your your staff to be engaged, not disengaged.
SPEAKER_05:And it's important to fund in these big organizations, you know, the communication, okay, it's top down, let's say. Um, some people don't like that word top down, but the thing is, whatever the top people are saying, it's gotta it's gotta resonate with the directors and the middle managers, and they all need to be repeating the same the same message. It's gotta filter through all the way down to the lower ranks of people in the trenches. Because if it doesn't, then the company's gonna go in a different direction. It's like having a ship, as I always use this analogy. If the crew is not getting the message from the captain what he wants, they're not gonna get to the port they want to go to. You know, and it's not easy to do, you know, your senior management to make sure that same messaging is going all the way down. You know, you've played that game where you stand in a circle and I whisper something to you, Omar, and then you whisper it to somebody next to you. Yeah, by the time it gets back to me, you know, it's like something completely different.
SPEAKER_01:It's a different completely different story.
SPEAKER_05:Chinese uh forget the name of the game. But anyway.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, I think you're right. Yes, yeah. Yeah.
SPEAKER_05:But in big organizations, I mean that's a big, big problem. And it's real important that they keep that messaging, just repeating the messaging over and over and over again to make sure people get the idea. Simple enough that people can understand it and things that people want to buy into that they want to be part of. They're in increase your play, you know, your engagement and how people want to be part of all that thing. But I mean, there's a lot of different kinds of communication. I mean, you've got okay, the verbal stuff, the stuff the words we speak. But I mean, how often do we see politicians saying stuff and we know that they're just bullshitting us? I mean, they're just saying whatever that sounds good at the moment. They don't believe what they're saying, but they say it anyway. We see it in UK, we see it in Europe.
SPEAKER_01:Oh, but but Don, now uh I mean, at least back then everybody knew every politician was full of shit. Yeah, now it's like based on your party. Well, my my guy might be full of shit, but he's less influential than yours. Yes, yeah, he can he can lie to me all the years because I feel like I'm mad or with this politician, and it's crazy because I I mean there it's just to me, it's like wrestling because you know they fight and everybody they pander to their base, but it's the same corporations that donate to both parties. So yeah, I mean, no, no politician's gonna solve anybody's issue or problems that they've got they've got uh you know solve the issue of the corporation, yeah. But we don't we don't even care if a politician knows how to communicate as long as somebody has a catchy slogan, and it's both parties, you know, it's been like that for a good 10-15 years. Let's just go with the slogan, let's let's raise our base, and that's it. And it's like wow, uh and then we wonder why there's a lack of leadership in general.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, it started with a guy called uh Rosa Reeves. Hold on first Eisenhower campaign board. I think Rosa Reeves, I forget his name.
SPEAKER_05:I does that ring a bell with you.
SPEAKER_01:Uh LSU's gonna kill me since my minor's in history.
SPEAKER_05:But uh I I do know that um he's the one that started all this all the campaign and all the cool um they hired yeah, Rosa Reeves. There it is, Madison Avenue. And it was with him that they started all these cool billboards with the slogans and all that, and then from there it just advanced into what we've got now, which is just like well when it comes to body language and communication and how that can sell political Richard Nixon versus President Kennedy when they're debating each other.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, exactly. I'm not a crook, and and like well, Richard Nixon one wasn't exactly a great-looking guy. I mean, we we we could anybody can say that, and he's out there like perspiring and looking like crap compared to calm, cool, collected Kennedy, John F. Kennedy, and he won just based on his body language. Well, yeah, he was a better looking person, but his body language, he wasn't all shifty, he wasn't sweating up a storm, he wasn't stuttering. That that right there, history repeats itself. That that should tell people, hey man, look at people, let's communicate. You you couldn't tell. I I mean it I'll I'll tell a story because this has happened. You didn't know that you you had your screensaver on for this interview, and I'm like, oh shit. Because I'm like, I I can't tell if you know, if we're shooting a you know, small talk, if you're like, oh my god, this guy's a you know, because if you look at the other person, you can know is it going good or do I need to switch it up? And that's why uh I'm like I was like thankful because yes, I've had to do interviews, but the person did not want to be seen. Ooh, the ominous, and let let me show you my my my zoom, whatever, and it's like the background of you know their their catchy slogan, or you know, some futuristic background from Blade, Blade Runner, like that. Don, I've I've I've wanted to ask you this did you learn the art of communication from Uncle Sam working for the U.S. government, or was this something that your family like your family instilled you guys are just great communicators?
SPEAKER_05:I think the reality is I was a bit fucked up.
SPEAKER_04:At least we're being honest.
SPEAKER_03:And I'm gonna explain to you in just a moment why I say that.
SPEAKER_01:But but don't worry, I would have to say I I understand because uh my commu my communication skills or my lack of growing up was from my mom putting a fear in me.
SPEAKER_05:Well, here in California, the lights, and well, it's gotten dark, so I'm sitting here in the dark talking to you, and it's like a little weird. So the the reason I say that is um I had a as a youngster or whatever, I had a not a young, that's not true as a youngster, I'm gonna say early 20s. I developed a really strong ability, a really creepy ability to be able to manipulate people really well. I could read people really quick and get through. And that's actually the reason I was hired. Um, after I started working with them, is I received training, more training. Um, but I was really apt at being able to read people, figure out what made them tick, and I was really good at lying at that point in my life. It's funny because I've now I wear my my emotions on my sleeve, and it's kind of sucks. But back then I was just able to and come up with stuff just like off the spurt, and it would just click and it's ticked. Um so it was kind of, I guess, more of a uh natural ability that was necessary for survival, I would say. Um people they're different levels, right? So, you know, you have a lot of people that work in that business and they work in the embassy and they get a diplomatic passport and all that. That's one type. And then if you get people on military intelligence, that's something else. There's a lot to it. It's not just it's not Jason Bourne, it's not so it's not like the movies then.
SPEAKER_01:You're you're telling me that's not reality at all.
SPEAKER_05:You see blood on them, you might see action, you might get things like that happen for sure. Um, car bombs go off nearby, things like that. That those things do happen. Um, but it there's no glory to it, there's nothing nice. And there's nothing, I don't know about like seeing a dead baby or a dead person. Uh I find it pretty uh and I've seen a few, you know what I'm saying? It's not something that you enjoy seeing, or have to choose somebody is not exactly all pleasure. Yeah, so I think there's a big misunderstanding of what that's all about. Um, my capacity was actually to go out and get information.
SPEAKER_03:So there's a there's a strong connection between intelligence agencies and organized crime. Really? Oh, yeah, big time.
SPEAKER_01:I'm not talking you're like, you know, your gangbangers down in no, no, I know I'm talking about like like like Teflon Don and like people like that, right?
SPEAKER_05:There's more sophisticated, you know, Russian Rafa. Those guys are really they're top those guys are cracking Israelis. And there's many groups that they're really they're very professional, and so there are there's kind of I'm not saying intelligence is organized crime, but there is definitely a inner uh a relationship, you could say, right? I mean, sometimes somebody, this is a hypothetical, right? But there might be a situation where you need to get some intel about something. And we'll just use again hypothetical, Marvel say you're a drug trafficker, right? But high level one, and I've got an issue with uh somebody who's gonna blow up uh commercial aircraft, and you happen to know who purchased the arms or the guns or the explosives or whatever for that operation. And this is where sometimes intelligence people get a bad rap, right? So I might say, you know, I can't give you like a license to like import those containers into wherever they're going, right? But I might be able to help you indirectly.
SPEAKER_01:We might look the other way.
SPEAKER_05:No, it might be more like you know what that ship on that day, it's probably I just leave that container there, I just forget about it. It might be more in that kind of what kind of a in, I'm not saying I ever did that, but um in that kind of that's more the reality of stuff. But it's I mean it's need to be justified. It's not like, oh, you gave me a box of you gave me a box of money.
SPEAKER_01:Well, yeah, no, you said it, you know, something like that was you know, to to stop something kind of strong.
SPEAKER_05:It doesn't happen a lot, but does happen sometimes. Um and then of course it gets people don't understand because they're not they're not in that situation. You're dealing with a very corrupt world, and you have to understand people's interests and motivations and stuff like that. And depends how important what you're what you're trying to do. I mean, I can tell you some stuff that will just freak just freak you out. For example, there's a particular law enforcement agency, we won't we won't call them out, right? But what they used to do is they'd go to their informants, right, and say, right, for every um, I'm gonna use drugs again, for every ton of coke, we're gonna pay you 60,000 bucks. Sound good, Omar? Yeah, sounds good. So you work for the cartel, let's say, and you come to this agency and you'll let's say I'll be your contact or whatever, and say, Oh, yeah, there's a container over there with a with a ton of stuff, right? So we go over there and we rate it and all that. That's a great job, Omar. You did great, you did really, really well. You know of any other places? You maybe give me another one or two, or you're asking for the payments. Yeah, we're getting it processed for you. Don't worry about it, we'll get that money for you in the next few weeks. And this guy goes through government channels and takes a bit, no problem.
SPEAKER_04:And anyway, we get they get everything they can out of you, all right. And when oh, you got no, you don't know of anything else that's gone down. Oh, wow, okay, cool. Yeah, that payment should be coming next week sometime. You know what the payment will be?
SPEAKER_05:Somebody, maybe me or somebody in the group, will go to your bosses and say, you know who's told us about this, this, and this, and this?
SPEAKER_01:Really?
SPEAKER_05:We don't have to pay you, and you're out of the picture. I'm that serious.
SPEAKER_01:Well, I I mean happen all the time, but no, no, I but me being the business guy at that the amount that you're talking about in 60k to me but that that you know, risk reward that ain't worth my life. 60k. Of course, yes, yes, yes. Where those people 60 grand or 120 grand and be like yeah, well, you know, you you in California here here in South Florida. It's like, okay, so it's it's a couple of months of living expenses, and and I'll I'll have to pay taxes to do like this if I do it. There you go. Yeah, that's only 30k.
SPEAKER_05:So the point matters, it's a very dirty world, it's a very opaque world. Um, different people have different agendas. You're given we need to take care of, you know, if you work for an agency, right? They say, okay, we need that. This is real priority. We need to get our handle on this. It depends how big of a priority is how far you'll go with it. Things changed a lot when Obama came in because um they had no freaking idea what they were doing, him and his team. I mean, they were just and they were really exposing putting people at danger. Real real mess. Real real mess. At least under the Bush administration, you knew they had your back. You might get killed, but they had your back. And I knew those years that I worked, this is no exaggeration whatsoever. Every morning when I left my hotel, my house, my apartment, wherever I was sleeping, getting drawn a lot. Always wondered if I was gonna come back.
SPEAKER_01:Always. Always went to So was was that what made you decide? Well, maybe coaching leader.
SPEAKER_05:I had a couple I had a couple of uh incidences that landed me in the hospital for extensive periods of time. I got pretty messed up. I had my cr my skull cracked and a few other things that happened that kind of put me out of service. But actually, the final thing wasn't that it was the Obama uh administration where they were running uh the interim services and so really bad. Disgrace. It was and it really seemed like he went he doesn't like he doesn't like our people, he doesn't like our it didn't make any sense. It really didn't, but basically he was taking away all the resources and no backup and it's hard to go out there and like you know, go out there and risk yourself knowing that nobody's got your back or you're doing it for what kind of thing, yeah. And I wasn't the only one that had that experience. I had a meeting with several people, including guys from Interpol, informal meeting, we had a discussion, and we all came to the same conclusion.
SPEAKER_03:So that should tell you something right there.
SPEAKER_01:Oh, I'm sure, I'm sure. Definitely. So that was your final straw. Before that administration, did you think you're gonna be a lifer?
SPEAKER_03:Repeat that question, a lifer.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, like this was it. You like you know, there was no Don, the executive coach, the international business coach, nothing like that.
SPEAKER_05:See, I didn't know I would be, I was when I got into it, I didn't realize how addictive it is. I became really an adrenaline junkie, and I was good at it. I was having a I had a number of important successes. Um and it was really addictive. The adrenaline was blowing you away, man. And when I stopped, I really went through some like it's like uh jet fight fighter pilots go through that when they stop flying because of that that adrenaline shot that you get every time they get in the you know, one, mark two, and all that kind of thing. It's different, but it's still adrenaline, and there's a lot of it, it's a lot of danger, a lot of things would happen. Uh sitting with somebody have their brains blown out all over you, you know, that'll that'll wake you up. Oh, I'm sure.
SPEAKER_01:I'm sure so that so that that that's what got you back into the private sector was like that.
SPEAKER_05:Yeah, it was really primarily the the Obama thing. The the being man the the way they were managing things, and I just didn't feel safe anymore. I didn't feel like it was a smart thing than me taking a risk. And I think I did the right thing to get out of that whole uh scenario, and then I had a set uh many setbacks and stuff like really crazy stuff happened to me actually after that.
SPEAKER_01:Well, everything happens for a reason, and it was uh I agree, I agree, I agree. And then I'm I'm sure you you do realize that more and more there there is not only a need, but to me a demand, like a must, especially for for leaders to learn how to communicate. Uh I mean how how can a company run, whether it's a CEO or a private company, run without with a lack of communication.
SPEAKER_05:Well, you need to have empathy for people, right? I mean, it's communication, right? Just break it down. What is communication? Well, we've got two ears and one mouth, so we should listen twice as much as we speak, or even more, really. Because the more information I have, the stronger position I am when I'm trying to sell, I'm trying to negotiate, I'm trying to convince you something no more, I'm trying to do something, whatever. Information, information. Two by listening, I'm I'm I'm I'm showing people um I I I I at least respect them enough to that to listen to their opinion, demonstrating empathy. So that increases like likability report because people like to feel like they're significant, they're important, especially if you have like a you know a title or a badge there that you're CEO or whatever title you got going on. So that increase that enhances. Um and then of course your communication becomes more powerful when you speak less and listen more. You think about it, you've probably been at a business uh business meeting table with one guy there who probably speaks. But the moment, man, he opens his mouth and says something, everybody buttons up and they listen. But you got somebody else at the table that's just yapping the whole time.
SPEAKER_01:That's that's usually how it goes, though. Believe it or not, that's who has the power usually when that's yapping. The person that that just soaks it all in. Yeah, normal. Yeah, but but also the yapper also lack of confidence because oh, I just want to be heard. I got I got the answer. I'm important. You you guys need comfortable with silence. Oh, yes, definitely.
SPEAKER_05:I gotta prove myself, that's really good.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, now European leadership is it different? Do they have the same issues that we do here? Or it's it's a completely different ball game.
SPEAKER_05:It's a different culture, of course. Um, I think we have more problems with them than that's with us. We have more they have more we have more problems with them than they do with us. Meaning, I think Europeans are socially speaking advanced for the Americans. I think the Americans are still cowboys, most of us uh by comparison. Europeans are very just naturally, they're just more competent at communicating. What I'm getting at, let's say we're at a dinner table, right? This is the type thing, right? And he's and somebody says something that's really not appropriate. People won't address it, or just change the subject. Or that topic we're going into. We don't want to go there because it's maybe it's gonna insult somebody. Maybe I know something. So if I say something and you were to change the subject, I mean that's a cute to me, like leave that topic alone for for multitude of reasons. Maybe I don't know why. Um, I mean, but with the Europeans, you've got the same problem with ego and pride, which is a horrible combination for a leader. And a lot of times leaders, what happens, especially the big ones, they Become like psychopaths. They start believing that they are. I am CEO. I am chairman of the board. I am. As I remind people, what happens when you lose that title? Who are you now? It's a big problem for a lot of people. So you have that problem. Some of the real big, you know, Fortune 100 companies in Europe. Um, they're top top top brass, uh, some interesting people up there. And you have that you're gonna laugh.
SPEAKER_01:I I always pictured people to have that ego if they're a Vanderbilt, if they're a JP Morgan, if they're a Rockefeller, if they're I eve even like the Steve Jobs, or but but to me, what and whenever I do see a leader like that, it it's it always even if the company's going well, right? It's only temporary. And a lot of times we want to buy the book on oh, this guy must be a great leader. I I remember GE uh when we were way younger. Oh my gosh, Jack Welsh, yeah, right, and then it was all smoke and mirrors, and literally, but but right, they had it was like there's courses and books, and Jack Welsh even had a book himself, and then one up with his new wife, and and like all and it was all smoke and mirrors, and we're like, Oh my gosh, we need more leadership like Jack Welsh, and he's got his own MBA program.
SPEAKER_05:I think even as a Welsh management university now or something, it's it's amazing, isn't it?
SPEAKER_01:Marketing branding, but but yes, but and but right when we were all much younger, it was like you we need to be more like that, and it was a he was a horrible leader, he wouldn't listen to people, it was his way or the highway, and it was all smoke and mirrors, and literally the GE GE stock cratered, and and it took forever, and you know it it's it's funny because we we can really bullshit people only so much until you know the reality hits. But but even even with leadership like with Enron, they're writing stories on how leadership and management. Oh my gosh, we need to just just be like these guys. Well, and it was a company for the people, exactly, right? But but yet that they're forcing their employees to put all the money in the stock, even though they knew that it was it was crap, and and and you know, it blows up in everybody's face because it's only temporary. You'll find out really quick. Are these is this a real leader? Is this a person that has empathy? Clearly, these guys are like borderline psychos. If they're like, Yeah, we're we're cooking the books and we're making these people eat a lot of shit when things hit the fan.
SPEAKER_05:It's not that uncommon at the highest levels, not all, but it's something that exists. They're usually very charismatic and likable if they want something, they've got that ability to turn it on. But it's me first, my favorite three people, me, myself, and I kind of thing. And and they get in a stage where they think you know they live in their ivory towers and they're like demigods. But there's a concept in leadership that I was hearing uh recently from uh I think it was the CEO of the ex-CEO of uh Blue Cross Blue Shield. It's an interesting concept. It's not new, but it's the idea of resource. I think it's called resource leadership or resource management. It's the idea is you take all your top people and you get together regularly every couple weeks, and before you make any major changes, they're discussed to say, Well, okay, in my department, we're gonna do this, so that the director of other departments can say, Well, if you do that, it's gonna affect our department this way, that way, that way, the other way. So at least you know what the secondary effects because if you do the change unilaterally, you know, unilaterally, right? I might not know what effect that might have on marketing or on sales or on the franchise of that uh medication or or the flux push who was an insurance company, but on that and that other department, right? But doing it together at least saying, Okay, I'm planning to roll out this new change. People from other departments, claims, underwriting, whatever could come back and say, Well, you know, if you do that, it's gonna affect this, it's gonna affect that, be good here, be bad there. So it's a better, more comprehensive 360. You can't do that for small decisions because it's not practical. But for big uh big big decisions, it's it's helpful organizations. And at the end, they make they may do the decision, they may make the decision any anyway, even though it has negative uh repercussions, but at least a chance to know, make sure they're not missing something. And it helps also for projects you know that we come in on budget on time and all that by implementing that it's sharing with you uh business concept. I wonder if they teach at Jack Balsh's school of management.
SPEAKER_01:I I would pretty much have to say it's like fiction. I I just remember, believe it or not, buying all those books when they came out. And I remember CNBC and you know, every magazine, like pretty they made it sound like the guy could walk on water. This guy can bring any company back from the dead. Absolutely. Yeah, I think in business school we used to buy his books because he was just like cool, you know, reading a check walsh book. Yeah, I mean, I guess he jumped a shark when he had his new wife. Yeah, he had a a business book on leadership or something like that. I I I remember, and it was him and his like 30-year younger wife on the cover. I was like, oh, but but yeah, whenever I I I hear stories on you know the doom and gloom and GE and you know, 20 years later, and it was all really because under that leadership, and it you would think though, hearing stories like that, I mean, I I would for sure want to be more transparent, more to have more empathy, to learn how to listen so I can lead. And yeah, I that that's why I'm saying your your services, being a coach, a business coach to top executives, that's something that I it's either you're growing the company, you're going one way or another. And and clearly with without it, you're you're going the opposite direction.
SPEAKER_05:It's funny that word coaching, coaching is actually something's helping people become aware of things. So yeah, I have coaching credentials. I do a lot of training and consulting as well, so it's kind of a mixed combination. The coaching just is like a tool within the handbag. And I chose that name uh for the website because it was real trendy back then, and consulting wasn't, but I'm probably more of a consultant to be to be what I would actually do. Coaching might be okay. You say, Omar, hey, um, you know, I want to stop smoking cigarettes. And if I was coaching is life coaching stuff, I might say, okay, well, Omar, um, what would happen if you stop smoking cigarettes and then give you some answers? And the idea is I'll take you to a conclusion through a series of questions. That's kind of coaching, and you can use it. That's a real simple example. And it's important, useful and it's a great tool. But if you have experience, not just coaching, but actually doing the stuff, being with the people, seeing mistakes, because you learn a lot from mistakes from a consultant standpoint and training.
SPEAKER_01:Well, also consulting, I mean, to me, means you can help guide with the answer. To me, coaching is like what you just said, or hey, we're gonna walk on fire and we're gonna do some affirmations, and what we're gonna work on is we're gonna work on your your belief system, and you have that little bitch voice inside you from the trauma of your childhood that we're just gonna have to tackle head on. Can you tell I've I've done my share?
SPEAKER_05:Yeah, I can swear about Tony Robbins. Yeah, I did one of those back in the early 90s or late 80s. Back then, the groups were small, man. Like 200 people you had in his workshops in Chicago.
SPEAKER_01:Oh, yeah. You look at that. Now, now they're they're in arenas. No, I I did it somewhere in between. Uh, it wasn't an arena and it wasn't 100 or 200 people, but there was plenty. And you know, ultimately, it it everything and anything works, but you have to work on it on a consistent basis. It's especially communication. Like I said, I'm I'm an introvert. Man, I'm I'm gonna have to take a nap after you know, going out of my way and and talking to you, talking to a complete stranger.
SPEAKER_05:The muscle you have to keep training it to get stronger and development.
SPEAKER_01:Exactly, exactly. I'm gonna have to look look at myself in the mirror and tell me that I I am good enough and I am worthy.
SPEAKER_05:There you go. 100 100.
SPEAKER_01:So, Don, talk to now. Is this coaching service only or consulting? Is this only for top guys, top CEOs, hedge funds, private equity, or can like you know, do you do you do like I'm not saying one-on-one, but do you do group where the CEO of like a 30-person company or it's rare that a CEO will do a group.
SPEAKER_05:I mean, they might do some group thing if we're doing like personality assessments or you know, that kind of stuff, then participate in that. But generally, in the structure of me, if it's with the CEO or some ACOO or somebody at that level, usually it's one to one, almost inevitably, or understandable.
SPEAKER_01:Well, because you have to have that one on because every company has a different issue director level and middle management, those can be groups of 40 people, 50 people, of course, of course, and it's not like you know, you're you're dealing with limiting beliefs, you know, that where you could be vague and you know you can hit on everybody on that, you know, personal development is is quite different than than consulting because every company's built different, uh, and every CEO has has different skill set, skill levels. Now, then how can people find you? And I'm I'm talking about everybody and anybody because I I know there's information out there too, that those little nuggets that that they can find just about communication.
SPEAKER_05:It's pretty easy, just on the website on the internet. I I write a column for Entrepreneur Magazine. I'm a member of the Forbes Business Council. If you put in the thing is, are there a lot of Don Weber's running around? So probably the safest or the whatever. LinkedIn is Don Weber or go to D R Weber Coaching. It's kind of long, I know that D-R Weber, W-E-B-E-R coaching. I'll come up, even if you miss a letter or two there. Um, and I do I work with Gen Zers sometimes. I've had a few of those guys who come in and they're looking to move up in the careers and their companies. Um, and they're looking and they recognize that they need to improve their communication skills, presentation skills, and all that. Um, so yeah, I work with all kinds. Um, it depends on my scheduling and stuff time of year. A lot of times I have people, I get here with a lot of people one time and then I have to select, and then I have other crazy gear where things are pretty soft.
SPEAKER_01:No, no, Don, do you have is there's hope for Gen Z, right? Yeah, how there's this doom and gloom. I mean, every generation, but we we like we really shit on those guys, like we we act like you know, uh all hell's gonna break loose. But growing up, I I remember when Gen X was we're we're gonna be the death of America. But so far, so far yeah, so far Gen Z though, from what what I hear, they're you know, we're we're all gonna be living somewhere like in the walking dead with you know I'm curious.
SPEAKER_05:I'm more curious anything else how it's gonna work out, um, because they really I mean they're really tax tech savvy, they seem to be kind of uh able to work in groups.
SPEAKER_01:It seems like you know what what I like about them because hiring them for many years and also millennials, even though we crap on them, is when it comes, they they want to be led, they want someone to explain things to them, they want empathy, they've heard from their grandparents, they heard from their parents about shitty management, about do as I say, do it. They they they want to work in real and that they do matter, they don't want to be just a cog. And they've heard the stories of being a cog from mom and dad and grandparents, and they just have that knowledge, and that's why we're major corporations and all that are like don't these idiots know just work, you don't need to know why, and and a lot of them just too are social issues.
SPEAKER_03:Well, you know, most of us can really care less about that now we can the internet's gone here, oh yeah.
SPEAKER_01:So yeah, I'd I'd I mean I I gotta say, working many years with with Gen Z, I don't think we have any issues or problem. It it's just a generation thing, every generation. I'm sure if we went back, the boomers were seeing as God knows what, and then after that were the hippies, the hippies became yuppies. So and besides, it's beyond our pay grade. Uh, country's been and the world's been rolling around way before us and go on after us. I don't care what people say about the environment, especially out there in California, in in your neck of the woods. I hear you.
SPEAKER_05:I had a guy I last week I was on a podcast, I said something similar to what you said. He looked at me like I was insane. I said, you know, we've been around at least 6,000, 10,000 years, this civilization or whatever, however you want to count it, whatever. Um seem worse than this. I mean, okay, yeah, we've got technology, it's a new thing in it, but I don't think it's either civilization. And the guy looked at me like I'm completely bad. You know, I said, people should read more history books and stuff. These are hysterical, right?
SPEAKER_01:It's like well, the reason why history is important is because it does repeat itself. And you know, people oh we'll never forget, we'll never forget every every everything runs in cycles because people are people, man. We just we're no different than Fred Flintstone and Wilma. We just have better technology.
unknown:Right.
SPEAKER_05:The physiology is the same thing, yeah. And I always say if we didn't get people were lacking food, water, and basic stuff, you watch how fast the animal would come out. It'd be lickety split, you know. So we have to remember that in our hormonal systems adrenaline, dopamine, we've got serotonin, and all those stuff affects our behavior. I mean, they say, for example, most couples they stay together for the first three years to give that child a chance to be able to survive, and it's mostly hormonal. After about three years, all those hormones and that cocktail wears off, and now they look at each other for real and go, Oh, what did I do? Now that now that actually the real work starts. Are we gonna make this work or what?
SPEAKER_01:You know, well I always I always end things with a final question, and this one is I always give I always pretend like I'm a prospect or whatnot. Here's just one. Don, I've been uh they they say I I need better communic communication skills, but why? Why, Don? I'm a dinosaur, but you know what? I talk, people listen, and the story, do as I say, I don't need to learn how to communicate with people.
SPEAKER_05:I'm sure you're right. I'm sure everything's going just the way you want it to. But if you were able to get increase your productivity and get people to buy in more on the work and get more engaged in work, would that be worth something to you?
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, possibly.
SPEAKER_05:Possibly. And if that were to happen, people became more productive and were more engaged in their work, would that affect your bottom line?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, yeah, I possibly. I I I can see wait, I can I can see the bottom line.
SPEAKER_03:Oh, yeah, okay.
SPEAKER_05:So and would you say that having high quality talent around you, maybe people that are actually better at doing things that you certain tasks than you are, would that be beneficial for your organization?
SPEAKER_01:Possibly, but but Don, every time you know I I try to have a relationship, every time I try to communicate, people just leave. So what's the point?
SPEAKER_03:It's about relationships. Okay. Well, have you what do you think that is?
SPEAKER_01:Just because uh you just can't find good people anymore. What would happen if you happen just to find a good person under rocks and hypothetical then I guess we could be really profitable and just a way better company than what we've been for the past five, six years?
SPEAKER_05:Okay, so just to be hypothetical here. So if that that was what would happen if you found that kind of person, how could you go about finding that kind of person?
SPEAKER_03:What would it take? I don't know.
SPEAKER_01:I think it it might take me changing.
SPEAKER_05:Okay, changing. And what kind of things do you think you might need to do in order to what kind of changes do you think you might need to think about?
SPEAKER_01:I guess you're right. Maybe I'm listening to you, but maybe I just need to become a better listener and a better communicator.
SPEAKER_03:Probably 90% or 80%.
SPEAKER_05:It's a huge component. Just listening to people because people, when you listen to them, they make you make them feel listened to, understood, significant, important, you value them, you care about them, you're curious about them. And all those things as you make people warm and bushy, especially if they have talent, it's gonna help keep them around. It's not important to be the smartest one in the room, but to appear to be the smartest one in the room. Like other people have the priority. Your bot what you you your objectives are maybe at the bottom line, growing the company. Maybe that's the real objective objective. It's not about myself as a person, that people think I'm wonderful or that I have all the answers. Sometimes I find people have much better answers to difficult problems or easy problems, but I can't see the answer.
SPEAKER_03:Somebody else can.
SPEAKER_02:That's my food for thought.
SPEAKER_03:Awesome.
SPEAKER_01:The man, the myth, the legend. Look him up. Thank you for your time, man. Thank you for the hour. What an amazing conversation. Learned a lot. And this is coming from a guy that couldn't communicate. And thank you for. Wanting to be in service to help just people communicate better. Thanks a lot.
SPEAKER_00:What if it did work? Right now you can make the choice to never listen to that negative voice no more. The hardest prison to escape is our own mind. I was trapped inside that prisoner for a long time. To make it happen, you gotta take action. Just imagine what if it did work.