Founders' Forum

Playing to Win: Creating Workplaces People Actually Love with Theresa Hummel-Krallinger

• Marc Bernstein / Theresa Hummel-Krallinger • Episode 141

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She wanted to work for Merck. They rejected her. Best thing that ever happened—because Theresa Hummel-Krallinger was never meant for a lab.

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger, CEO and Chief People Officer of High Five Performance, spent 18 years at Prudential before launching her consulting firm in 2002. But here's the twist: she's also a stand-up comedian, Emmy Award winner, and founder of Meet the Author—ranked #4 for business networking in Philadelphia. For $89 at community college, she learned comedy to enhance her corporate speaking. Now she gets paid for both. Her Meet the Author program started as a 12-person roundtable and grew to 80-100 attendees with 200+ authors.

Theresa creates workplaces people love through better managers. Using DISC assessments and curriculum covering motivation, delegation, and coaching, she helps organizations build thriving cultures. Her new book, Make Waves: A Career Pathing Guide, curates 20 years of materials to help job seekers, career changers, and retirees figure out what they want to be. Her philosophy? Play to win, not avoid losing. Squeeze the juice out of life at every moment.

Key Takeaways:

  • Financial cushion matters: Two years runway builds without desperation
  • Play to win: Shift from playing safe to shooting for stars
  • Build with intention: Pursue opportunities that complement your mission
  • Humor enhances credibility: Comedy makes you a better consultant
  • Squeeze the juice: Make every moment count, don't mail it in

About Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger is a powerhouse culture and leadership expert, stand-up comedian, Emmy Award winner, and award-winning community builder. As President of High Five Performance, she helps organizations create workplaces people love, while her "Meet the Author" program (ranked #4 for business networking by Philadelphia Business Journal) connects leaders in meaningful ways. Her upcoming book, "Make Waves: A Career Pathing Guide to Stand Out, Stay Employable, and Sail Ahead," empowers readers to own their careers for lifelong success — all delivered with her signature humor and heart.

Connect:

Website highfiveperformance.com ; theresahkcomedy.com ; meettheauthorpc.com
LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/tkrallinger/
Facebook facebook.com/theresahummel/
X x.com/theresahk
Instagram instagram.com/treesehk/
Youtube youtube.com/@theresahummel-krallinger115

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Announcer:

The following programming is sponsored by Marc J. Bernstein. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of this station, its management, or Beasly Media Group. Entrepreneur, founder, author, and financial advisor Marc Bernstein helps high-performing business owners turn their visions into reality. Through his innovative work and the forward-focused form, Marc connects entrepreneurs to resources that fuel their success. Founders Forum is a radio show and podcast where entrepreneurs share their journeys, revealing the lessons they've learned and the stories behind their success. Join Marc and his guests for a mix of inspiration, valuable insights, and a little fun. Now let's dive in.

Marc Bernstein:

Good morning, America. How are you? This is uh Marc Bernstein. This is Founders Forum, and this is the day before Thanksgiving 2025. And uh we've done this before, but I think it's worth doing again a little bit on gratitude as our thought for the day. And for my but by the way, today is also, if Susan is listening, my wife, it's our 36th anniversary today. We got married on Thanksgiving weekend 36 years ago. And we are um, you know, so I wish her a happy anniversary. She is the number one thing probably that I'm grateful for in terms of people in my life, and of course, family and friends, and business partners and associates and my clients. Uh, but in terms I was thinking about qualities that I'm grateful for or gifts that I've been given. Some of the things that I've been thinking about are um my ability to think, you know, to use my brain, my ability to grow and learn, um, my ability to enjoy life, which sometimes I have to work on a little bit, but I it's something that I really treasure and my ability to laugh, which also I have to remember to think about, which really leads me to our guest Theresa, who I will formally introduce in a minute. But Theresa, what are you grateful for? And tell me about what you think about Laugh, because I think it's very topical.

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

Oh my gosh. Well, first of all, Marc, I'm grateful that we finally got together after years of kind of missing each other. Um so grateful for obviously my my husband, my family. Uh but what a uh joyful life. It truly is a joyful life. And it's because I I look at some of the decisions that I've made that were kind of on a whim. They weren't strategic, but they played out well. Being part of the comedy community in Philadelphia, uh having my meet the author group and getting to meet all of those thought leaders, and having work that I do that I absolutely love that makes a difference, and I get paid to do it. So I have to have so much to be grateful for.

Marc Bernstein:

Isn't it amazing? So, all of you listening, I hope you're thinking about what you're grateful for, even though you're probably not listening on Thanksgiving, unless you're we are live on the radio and WWDB. So um welcome to all of you who are listening today. So, with that, let me introduce Theresa Hummel Krallinger, CEO and Chief Krallinger, right? Not Krallinger, Krallinger. I would I thought that was right. CEO and Chief People Officer High Performance Inc. As Theresa has said, we've been dancing with being friends for a couple years now and doing things together, and I'm sure we will, and we're this is a great kickoff to things we might collaborate on. Theresa is a powerhouse culture and leadership expert, in case you didn't already gather that, and stand-up comedian, Emmy Award winner, and award-winning winning community builder. As president of High Five Performance, I forgot, high five. Because I heard you start all your meetings with a high five.

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

I give a lot of high fives.

Marc Bernstein:

So as president of high five performance, she helps organizations create workplaces people love, while her Meet the Author program, which I believe is how we originally met, actually, we were just talking about that, ranked number four of business networking by Philadelphia Business Journal, connects leaders in meaningful ways. And I know that's something she'll tell the story, but she just kind of came upon one of the things I'm sure you're grateful for. Her upcoming book, which I'm gonna hold up for our video camera, is called Make Waves a Career Journal, which connects leaders in meaningful ways. And she's got me wanting it's a workbook, and she's got me wanting to do it. And um I'm sorry, her upcoming book, Make Waves a Career I didn't say that yet, did I? I'm so sorry. Her upcoming book, Make Waves, a Career Pathing Guide to Stand Out, Stay Employable, and Sail Ahead, empowers readers to own their careers for lifelong success, all delivered with her signature humor and heart. I've looked through that a bit and I've committed to her that I'm going to do this as part of my year-end planning process. I'm not an employee, I'm an entrepreneur, but I think the materials apply equally well. And our show is for entrepreneurs, so grab her book. It'll be available on Amazon, I'm sure.

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

It is on Amazon.

Marc Bernstein:

It's on Amazon now. Make waves, a career pathing guide to stand out, stay employable, and sail ahead. So, with all that, welcome, Theresa.

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

Thank you for having me.

Marc Bernstein:

It's so great for you to be here. So I always like to start out with your story. This is a show about the founders' stories. So, how did you grow up? How did you start finding a career path? And then I'll ask you about how you got into all these other things along the way.

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

So uh I grew up not far from here in North Wales. Uh Irish Catholic family, went all through Catholic school, Catholic college. Uh wanted to I I was planning on working in the scientific field. I thought that I would work for Merck. What I didn't realize is that you actually have to apply and be accepted by the company to work there. And when I applied, I did not get the job at Merck. But then I needed a job, so I got a job at Prudential with no business background whatsoever, and stayed for 18 years.

Marc Bernstein:

You and I both started at Prudential. Yeah.

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

So 18 years there. But I always tell people the universe has a plan because the reality is I'm really not meant to work in a lab. I was meant to do what I'm doing. And by going to Prudential, I started to train people informally, and then I got into the uh corporate training department where working for a big company like PRU, they paid for my education. I had the best experience you could have working with a brand like that. So at the end of 18 years, I started my own company and uh and have been doing that ever since.

Marc Bernstein:

So that was and how many years ago was that?

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

2002.

Marc Bernstein:

Okay. So that's 23 years ago.

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

Yes.

Marc Bernstein:

Excellent. So then you became an entrepreneur once you started your own company, obviously. And how was that journey in the beginning? I always say, you know, the joke on the show is entrepreneurialism is a smooth ride.

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

It is it is not.

Marc Bernstein:

But thanks for that correction.

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

It is not. I was really blessed that when I left Prudential, I had some financial cushion. I think what really makes it very bumpy is if you don't. Um and I knew I had enough to probably hang on for about two years.

Marc Bernstein:

That's great.

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

So that was super helpful. Trevor Burrus, Jr.

Marc Bernstein:

That's the advice I give people, but I didn't follow it.

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

Yeah. But I that that's but I think what it does is it changes your energy because you're not needy. You know what I mean? Like you when you have a little cushion, there's a different energy you bring to the table. So of course, my first job as an entrepreneur was with Prudential. Of course. So of course they hired me back to do consulting work, to do coaching work, to do some training.

Marc Bernstein:

So you had a comfortable transition.

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

Aaron Powell I did have a comfortable transition. But during that time, uh I join I was part of ASTD, which is now ATD Association for Talent Development, and I really built my brand in the Philadelphia training community, uh, eventually becoming president of the Philly chapter of ATD.

Marc Bernstein:

Aaron Ross Powell So that that's a nonprofit, that's a uh an organization, not right?

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

Trevor Burrus Yeah, it's a professional organization for people who uh deliver adult learning and corporate training.

Marc Bernstein:

Right.

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

It's still going strong today. We still have our Philly chapter, and then there's a national chapter. You know what? I'm not as involved as I used to, but I always keep a hand in it.

Marc Bernstein:

Nice.

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

Uh we I just did a program with them in October. I think it was October. We had a great program.

Marc Bernstein:

Nice. So so tell us about the journey. So now you have your business. You started out with a good client, you got involved with the association. What happened after that?

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

Well, what's interesting is when I started my organization, I thought I'm gonna help people with performance management. I had a passion for that because I think most companies don't do it well. It's incredibly painful for not only the person receiving it, but the person having to deliver it. So that was my focus. Well, the universe had a different plan because nobody was hiring me to come in and do that. But what they were hiring me for was to come in and help their managers be better at what they do. So I got in, I would do uh disk usually with them, which is a nice four-style assessment to help them understand themselves and others. And then I created a curriculum for everything a manager would need to know, right? Motivation, delegation, coaching, managing change, uh everything that a manager needs to know. So I have a full curriculum and I have been honing and delivering that ever since. But what's nice is once I I get in and I can do the manager training, then I get to work on organizational culture.

Marc Bernstein:

Yep. Which which and so we'll go into that. But before we do, describe real quickly. Many people might know I know what disk is, but you have a very well first of all, describe if I asked you which I did today, what what it is you do today in one sentence, you have a great sentence for that. So tell me what that is.

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

I create places where people want to work and the managers they want to work for.

Marc Bernstein:

And you do it with humor.

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

Oh, it's all I can't help it. Right. It's in my DNA. We are going to laugh. And Marc, it's funny. When I first started doing comedy, I told people, don't tell anybody I'm doing this, because I'm a serious business person and I want my credibility to be intact. What I've learned is you want everybody to know you're a comedian. Because who doesn't want a trainer that's going to be entertaining? Who doesn't want a consultant that's going to make them laugh? Right?

Marc Bernstein:

Okay. So I'm not going to put you on the spot at this moment, but I want you to interject a joke here and there before the show's over. Can you do that?

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

I don't know. Hopefully it usually just happens naturally.

Marc Bernstein:

Improv.

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

Yes.

Marc Bernstein:

So let's see if that happens. So okay, so that's what you're doing. So real briefly, describe DISC and what D-I-S-C, what they stand for, and then tell me where you fall into that. Because I have some ideas. I'm interested to see where you fall.

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

There are so many wonderful assessments out there, and I think they're all helpful because they help us learn about ourselves and others. Disk is one of my favorites because it's very simple. Trevor Burrus, Yep. It's four letters, D, I, S, and C. And really what we're we're assessing here is your response to the environment, your behavior style, your communication style. And disk can change based on the environment. Trevor Burrus, Jr.

Marc Bernstein:

And the role that you're in as well, right? Yes.

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

So to your point, when I worked in risk management, I had to raise my C. When I'm in the training department, I raise my I, right? Trevor Burrus, Jr.

Marc Bernstein:

Which you have, we we used to use something called social styles, which is a little different. But that means they would also measure your versatility. So you have high versatility, which is I guessed. But it what is your natural style of the D.

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

So my natural style on disk is I S with some D. So influencer. That's what I would say. Trevor Burrus, Jr.: So influencer, probably about uh 80 percent or more. My S, I grew up S, I'm never gonna lose S. S is the supportive style. The um I don't need the limelight style. I w I'm okay to be in the background, although the I likes the limelight. Right. So it's interesting. The D took me years to grow. The D is driver, get it done, goal-oriented, setting boundaries, calling the shots. I probably was at two on uh the the disk model for D when I first. Of course you are. And and and you've got some I. You have to have D and I for what you do.

Marc Bernstein:

For my two highest, yeah.

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

Yes.

Marc Bernstein:

Yep. So and the C, as you mentioned, you had developed that as well.

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

Yes.

Marc Bernstein:

So as an entrepreneur, it's interesting. You sometimes have to develop all those things.

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

You do.

Marc Bernstein:

Until so I talk a lot about the strategic coach of program I went through with Dan Sullivan. They use Colby a lot.

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

Okay.

Marc Bernstein:

But and and that what that does is discovers helps you discover your unique ability. So once things get complex and you reach the um ceiling of complexity, he calls it, you want to back off and say, okay, where what really energizes me and what do I do? And I'm only gonna do that as an entrepreneur, and other people are gonna find people that have other unique abilities. So I for instance in Colby, um I'm forgetting the so I'm also a high D, which is um I'm sorry, I'm a quick start. You know, I'm very good at vision and ideas and all that, but I need completers. I need people to finish um at the end. Yes, yeah, they're the S's on disk. Yeah, exactly. So so you know, so over the years I I used to be I used to have be pretty versatile myself, trying to be less versatile as I go and really just do the things that energize me. And and but it's it's interesting journey, interesting discussion. So what kind of challenges have you had as an entrepreneur? And then we're gonna take a quick break.

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

Oh my gosh. Crazy challenges. I think uh the main thing is continuing to get people in the pipeline. Um it's it's easy when you start to get work to get comfortable because you're getting work, but you have to continue to build your brand. So for me, that means speaking, uh speaking at conferences, speaking at chambers of commerce, speaking at the rotary. Anytime I can get a platform, getting out there to meet people and and building my brand is super important.

Marc Bernstein:

Yeah. With that, I think that's a really good ta place to take a quick break. So we'll be right back on Founders Forum.

Announcer:

The Satell Institute is the leading CEO member organization dedicated to Corporate Social Responsibility. Under the vision and leadership of its founder—entrepreneur and philanthropist Ed Satell—the Institute brings together CEOs in Philadelphia and other cities to support the Nonprofit organizations that do heroic work in our communities. The Satell Institute believes that “community is every leader’s business.” SI’s members-only meetings and private CEO conferences give members the opportunity to hear from world-class thought leaders on crucial topics like AI, education, corporate philanthropy and more. In addition, CEO members get the opportunity to share ideas and experiences with their peers— like-minded CEOs who believe in the importance of giving back to the community and who understand the benefits companies get from embracing Corporate Social Responsibility. The Satell Institute charges no dues or fees — in order to join, member companies simply make a long-term commitment to the nonprofit of their choice. To find out more about membership, —and why so many leading companies are now part of the Satell Institute — visit the organization’s web site at satellinstitute.org. As Ed Satell says, “Think WE, not just me.”

Marc Bernstein:

We are back on Founders Forum with our guest today, my guest today, Theresa Hummel Krallinger. And as I mentioned, she is CEO and Chief People Officer of High Performance Inc., and we've been talking about that. But she's also several other things, all of which support her business. They're all connected. So, stand-up comedian, how did that happen?

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

Oh my gosh. One of the best decisions I ever made, Montgomery County Community College offered a stand-up comedy class. That is five minutes from my house. It was $89 and an eight-week course. And I thought, I'm going to take this class, not to be a comedian, because that's far-fetched. That's that's never going to happen.

Marc Bernstein:

You didn't see yourself that way.

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

No, no. But I want to learn comedic technique because I do a lot of speaking, I do a lot of training, and I think it's going to enhance the work I do. So I take this eight-week course. Let's just say it is hard. It is hard to write material and have it work. So after spending so much time on it, then you get five to seven minutes on a comedy stage in front of all your friends and relatives who are blown away that you're doing this thing. So I got laughs. I got laughs with my little five to seven minutes. So then I took another class, got myself up to about 12 minutes.

Marc Bernstein:

Not what people usually expect when they perform in front of friends and family, by the way.

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

No. And I'll and I'll tell you, the relationships that I've made through comedy have enhanced my business as well. It's crazy. But here's what's really crazy. I get paid to do comedy and have been getting paid since uh 2002. Now I'm not going to retire on my c comedy income, but that is insane.

Marc Bernstein:

Well, I know how hard that is to do, so it's pretty amazing. What I really admire about you, and something I've noticed from the beginning when we've talked, is that you you go after things with with intention, with purpose that end up being a part of your life.

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

Yes.

Marc Bernstein:

And that complement the rest of your life.

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

That's true.

Marc Bernstein:

Not many people do that where they just say, you know what, because I think it will make me a better corporate speaker, I'm going to work really hard at studying comedy with no clue of becoming a comedian at the end. Trevor Burrus, Jr.

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

I think we have to be open to possibilities. Like there's things we don't know we don't know. Sure. But until you start to get into it, then things present themselves. And uh now uh what a blessing I get to work work with uh Joe Conklin, who I also consider a friend at this point. He's wonderful to work with. And I've gotten to know probably close to 200 comedians in the uh Philly, New Jersey, New York area.

Marc Bernstein:

Aaron Ross Powell And by the way, we're on Philadelphia Radio, but if you're listening to the podcast and you're not from Philadelphia, Joe Conklin is master impressionist and I guess probably the best known long-term local comedian in Philadelphia, probably, right?

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

Yeah, and he's multi-talented. He also does a show where, you know, there's music and song, and he's just he's a really, really cool guy.

Marc Bernstein:

He's a great talent, yeah. And then you are your president or you started the Meet the Author program, um, which is a big networking group in Philadelphia. How'd that come about?

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

Very humble idea. Again, uh I know a lot of people who've written books. And I thought, I'm at the Pyramid Club and I enjoyed my membership, and I thought, what can I do to give back? So I thought, let's have like a little round table, and I'll invite an author to come in, they'll talk about their book, we'll buy it, they'll sign it, maybe we'll go. We'll have 12 to 15 people. Well, here it is, 12 years later. Um, we sometimes get 80 to 100 people. That's unbelievable. Which is crazy. Before COVID, it was we did everyone in person. Trevor Burrus, Jr.

Marc Bernstein:

And you moderate every program, right?

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

I do. Unless every now and then, if I uh there's somebody that I love deeply, I'll invite a guest moderator to come in. Uh but we have had just over 200 authors have come through who I now consider my friends. And um I have a list, oh my gosh, probably of 50 authors waiting to come through the program. And then Philadelphia Business Journal has this thing called Book of Lists. So back in the day, oh my gosh, I don't even know how many years ago it was, we applied. At this point, we're number four for um professional business networking in the city. Number four. Which is cool.

Marc Bernstein:

That again, intention you had a great intention of bringing people together, but your intention wasn't to build one of the largest networking groups.

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

Marc, I think too small. I think too small. But like I said, I hate to get woo-woo on you, but the universe just kind of carries things where they're meant to be. And I work with it.

Marc Bernstein:

You and I are both believers of that. It's pretty amazing. Look, this podcast, same thing. I had very modest intentions. I thought I would try it for three months. Two and a half years later, pushing 150 guests, I think now. It's been an amazing ride, and all kinds of things have come from it that I didn't imagine. So I I certainly understand that. Um your book. So being having the Meet the Author group, I have a feeling that that might have inspired you saying, hey, I ought to have my own book, right?

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

Yes. And for years I talked about it. Um it's interesting. Anyone that's published a book knows it's a lot. Like there's lots of little things and the process isn't exactly clear. But this book that I wrote is really based on a labor of love. Again, this is not something that I monetize, but it helps me um strengthen my network. I love to help job seekers. I love and I love to help people figure out what it is they want to be when they grow up. You could be 60 years old and be asking yourself that question, what do I want to be when I grow up? And it's important to understand what are your values, what's your style, what aligns with who you are. So for I would say 20 years, I curated all these materials, all these assessments, all of these stories. And I'm like, I have to put this in a book. I have, and right now, just saying right now, the timing for this is perfect because there's a lot of job seekers out there right now. And this is something if they if they don't have a career coach, they can go through this themselves. Um, even if they have a career coach, if you are a career coach, it's a great guide to use as a workbook. And you know what, Marc, I think when people are getting ready to retire, I also think this is a helpful guide to help them really get in touch with who they are, what they love, and really what they want to do with the rest of their life.

Marc Bernstein:

You know, um I was just reading first of all, I was looking through the book as you're talking, and it's really, really well done. Thank you. So I'm really looking forward to absorbing it. Um but you wrote me a little note and you spelled my name right, which I appreciate, and you're great, and it says, go forth. And you may or may not know this, but our company's name, which we branded. You know, my my my business here, the the uh founders' forum, is under the brand Forward Focus Forums. And our company's name is March Forward, not really an accident, but it's something that we collectively came up with, and it's all about looking forward and it's all about the future. So you couldn't have said a nicer, more meaningful thing to me.

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

But it's in alignment. Yes.

Marc Bernstein:

It's in alignment. So having said that, let's talk about Theresa's forward uh future vision. So if we were if this is day before Thanksgiving 2028, and you and I are talking, which I'm sure we will be at some point around then, and we had to look back on the last three years, what would have to happen in your life that could be personally, business, whatever, that would make you feel that that was a very successful three-year period in your life?

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

Aaron Ross Powell I think there are more books to be published on different topics. One, I already see a second edition of Make Waves with that expanded content around using AI for job search, uh also uh having a side hustle, which I did not include, but I think it's an important component of our careers these days. Um I also see a book on organizational culture. Trevor Burrus, Jr.

Marc Bernstein:

What's the side hustle, by the way?

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

Trevor Burrus Side hustle is you have something that you do that is not your mainstream.

Marc Bernstein:

So that would be part of the book you're saying, not you, because you already have you have plenty of side hustles.

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

But I think, Marc, I think it's an important thing that gives me comfort because I can lean on it when I need to. You know what I mean? Like it's it's just so important to have it. But I have other books. I have a book on culture I want to write. I want to write a book on um because my dear human resource friends, and I'm I'm at the deep end of the pool with them, I want to write a book on what does good HR look like and and and focus on that with them. Um I also want to just build it.

Marc Bernstein:

When you say culture, you mean company culture, right? Company culture, organizational culture. Yep. Yes. Gotcha.

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

So getting the books out there. I want bigger audiences. I think uh I I want to get out there and really speak to uh corporations, to leaders, to let them know how to create a workplace where people want to work, where where they're engaged, where they're proud to be part of it, how to be that kind of leader.

Marc Bernstein:

Trevor Burrus, Jr. I mean you do that already. I do. You like to do more to bigger audiences.

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

I want to do more and bigger audiences. I love it.

Marc Bernstein:

So you are thinking big. That's the one. I am thinking bigger more. There we go. Maybe the show is helping you. I'd like to help you.

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

I think hanging out with you is is gonna help.

Marc Bernstein:

I I agree with that. We only have a couple minutes left. I know you're a learner and I know you're a reader. Uh what are your favorite books, Theresa? What do you like to read?

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

So I have to say, and that it's from 1998, it's an old book, uh, Play to Win. And it's written by uh two brothers, the Wilsons. And I had a mentor that recommended this book for me, and she asked me a question. She said, Theresa, are you playing to win or are you playing not to lose? And I was like, What do you mean? She goes, Well, because you're going to behave very differently if you're playing to win. And boy, was that an epiphany moment because I was playing not to lose. And that was really how my parents had groomed me to be, to play it safe.

Marc Bernstein:

And we had an earlier conversation about you in business, you can stay steady and stable and continue to grow, or you can shoot for the stars.

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

Yes.

Marc Bernstein:

And you've it sounds like you're looking more towards the latter these days.

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

Absolutely.

Marc Bernstein:

Which is something, you know, that's I'm the vision and strategy for our company, and we're we're thinking the same way. Um so I'm gonna ask you a trick question, which is which I haven't asked you prepped you for, but your legacy, if you were looking back on your life, what would you like your legacy to be about you?

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

You know, I I hope people will squeeze the juice out of life. And and I see too many people checking boxes, mailing in time. Um, I want people at every moment of every day to be squeezing the juice out of life. And I hope that is kind of the mindset that I impart on the leaders that I work with and uh my friends and family. Just enjoy life.

Marc Bernstein:

Well, those are great, wise words to finish our show with. And uh thank you all for listening. I'm grateful, Theresa, that you were here with me today. Perfect day to do that. Grateful for all of you. And uh we'll look forward to talking to you again next week on Founders Forum.

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Marc Bernstein

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