The Wow Factor

Leading with excellence is not something that happens overnight. Join Brad Formsma, best-selling author and a Forbes top-rated leadership speaker, as he dives in to uncover the extraordinary stories of failures and triumphs of other successful leaders in business and beyond. The Wow Factor strives to empower the journey of business leaders through raw conversations and uncovered stories of today's thought leaders. This podcast will also help you discover the words of wisdom to inspire a team of any size, spark a culture of generosity and innovation, and lead with excellence. For extended insights and podcast show notes, go to https://www.thewowfactorpodcast.com

The Wow Factor is a business podcast hosted by Brad Formsma, with 324 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Brad Formsma hosts The Wow Factor, a business show with 324 episodes published.

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  Episode #323

  Dan Dolsen | Founder of The Fatherhood Project | Faith, Intentional Fatherhood, and Building a Lasting Family Legacy

  Sep 30, 202635 min

  Dan Dolsen is the founder of The Fatherhood Project: Building Great Dads , an initiative dedicated to helping fathers become more intentional in their relationships with their children. A University of Michigan graduate, Dan spent much of his professional career in commercial real estate, eventually becoming a leading advisor in healthcare real estate and working with major corporations through CBRE. Alongside his business career, Dan has remained deeply involved in faith-based leadership and ministry. His passion for helping men grow as fathers led him to develop The Fatherhood Project, which equips dads with practical tools for strengthening their families and preparing the next generation. Dan joins me today to share how his unexpected journey from aspiring oceanographer to real estate executive eventually led him to a calling in fatherhood ministry. We discuss the importance of putting family first, how a dream inspired him to develop The Fatherhood Project, and why some of life's most challenging seasons can lead to meaningful opportunities to serve others. Dan also walks us through the four essential roles of a father, explains why dads need mentors and a strong community of other men, and shares how intentional parenting can influence generations to come. "Most of us, and I'm included in this, don't plan very well about how we're gonna be a dad." – Dan Dolsen "We're called to be in that corner with our kids, supporting them, helping them be better as they're out in the ring of life." – Dan Dolsen "Guys who try to do it alone are headed towards, I think, disaster." – Dan Dolsen This Week on The Wow Factor: How Dan's early career ambitions changed and led him into commercial real estate, healthcare development, and corporate leadership Why Dan and his wife, Kristen, made a commitment to provide their children with a stable home rather than continually relocating for career opportunities How an unexpected dream inspired Dan to develop The Fatherhood Project and its four essential roles of a father What Dan learned about faith, perseverance, and serving others during his wife's battle with stage three colon cancer Why fathers need to be intentional about providing, protecting, partnering, and preparing their children for the future How Dan's "two by four" approach brings four fathers together twice a month to encourage one another and navigate the challenges of parenting Why having a mentor and building strong relationships with other men can help fathers lead their families and create a lasting generational impact Dan Dolsen's Words of Wisdom: Be intentional about what you're preparing your children for. As fathers, we have an opportunity to influence not only our children's lives but also the generations that follow them. Think beyond your immediate responsibilities and consider how your example, guidance, and investment in your family can help your children go out into the world and make an even greater impact on others. Connect with Dan Dolsen: The Fatherhood Project: Building Great Dads Contact The Fatherhood Project Connect With Brad Formsma: WOW Factor Website Brad Formsma on LinkedIn Brad Formsma on Instagram Brad Formsma on Facebook

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  The Wow Factor

  Richard Watts | Founder of Family Business Office | Legacy, Generosity, and the Power of Showing Up

  Sep 16, 202650 min

  Richard Watts is an attorney, author, and founder of Family Business Office, where he has spent decades advising some of the world's wealthiest families on estate planning, family dynamics, and the transfer of wealth across generations. Drawing from more than 40 years of firsthand experience working with families, Richard has developed a unique perspective on the difference between inheritance and true legacy. His latest book, Legacy Redefined , is the third and final installment in his Wisdom series and challenges the traditional idea that a person's legacy is defined by the wealth they leave behind. Richard joins me today to share why legacy should be measured by the impact we have on others rather than the money we leave behind, and what decades of working with wealthy families have taught him about inheritance, purpose, and fulfillment. We discuss why giving children too much can unintentionally rob them of the pride that comes from building something themselves, how practicing not having can strengthen gratitude and contentment, and why generosity can provide a deeper sense of purpose than materialism. Richard also shares powerful stories about intentionally showing up for the people we love, the importance of connecting with grandchildren, and why the most meaningful legacy is built while we're still here. "The real legacy is how we as human beings impact the person next to us." – Richard Watts "Just show up. Just show up. And it's not difficult, but it's incredibly powerful to people." – Richard Watts "I don't need to buy her a Bentley. I don't need to buy her a house. I just need to make sure that her soul is intact." – Richard Watts This Week on The Wow Factor: Why Richard believes legacy should be defined by the impact we have on others rather than the amount of money we leave behind What four decades of advising wealthy families have taught Richard about the unintended consequences of generational wealth Why giving children financial comfort can sometimes remove the struggle, accomplishment, and pride that helped their parents become successful How practicing not having can help families distinguish between wants and needs while developing gratitude and contentment Why simply showing up and being present during someone's most difficult moments can become an unforgettable part of your legacy How Richard intentionally invests in his grandchildren and creates opportunities for deeper conversations about their lives, struggles, and faith Why estate planning should consider not only how efficiently wealth is transferred, but how that wealth will actually affect the people receiving it Richard Watts' Words of Wisdom: Legacy isn't something that begins after you're gone. It is created through the way you show up for people today. Be intentional about your relationships, pay attention to the people you love, express gratitude for those who shaped your life, and look for opportunities to make an impact on others. The most meaningful inheritance may have very little to do with money and everything to do with how people remember the way you cared for them. Connect with Richard Watts: Richard Watts Website Legacy Redefined Richard Watts LinkedIn Richard Watts Facebook Connect With Brad Formsma: WOW Factor Website Brad Formsma on LinkedIn Brad Formsma on Instagram Brad Formsma on Facebook

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  Episode #321

  Mike Anderson | Co-Founder of Kiierr | Entrepreneurship, Purpose, and Building a Business That Helps People

  Sep 2, 202627 min

  Mike Anderson is the co-founder of Kiierr , a company he launched with his wife, Jolene, after their own search for a better approach to hair loss. With a background in marketing and business growth, Mike initially built his career helping companies expand before deciding he wanted his work to have a more direct impact on people's lives. When Jolene experienced significant postpartum hair loss, their search for a solution introduced them to low-level laser therapy and ultimately inspired them to build a company around making the technology more accessible. Mike joins me today to share how his wife's experience with postpartum hair loss led them to take a leap of faith, sell their home, move into a family member's basement, and invest their savings into launching Kiierr. We discuss the early challenges of building the company, the importance of refusing to cut corners, and why Mike has intentionally kept his team small and closely connected. We also explore how Kiierr's technology works, what Mike has learned from serving more than 100,000 customers worldwide, the role family and faith have played in his entrepreneurial journey, and why understanding the people you lead is essential to becoming a better leader. "I don't care if you buy our product, but I care if you buy our product that it helps you." – Mike Anderson "We wanted a mission that actually helps people." – Mike Anderson "If you can take the time to have that sort of relationship with the people that work with you and under you, I think you'll understand them a lot better." – Mike Anderson This Week on The Wow Factor: How Mike's early ambitions in professional golf eventually led him into marketing, entrepreneurship, and business growth Why his wife's experience with postpartum hair loss inspired Mike and Jolene to search for a different kind of solution How Mike and Jolene sold their home, moved into a family member's basement, and invested their savings into building Kiierr Why Mike believes building a trustworthy business means refusing to cut corners, even as competitors enter the market How a small, closely connected team has helped Kiierr grow while maintaining a family-oriented company culture What serving more than 100,000 customers has taught Mike about building a business around solving a meaningful problem Why knowing your employees' individual goals, motivations, and personalities can help you coach, mentor, and lead them more effectively Mike Anderson's Words of Wisdom: Take the time to truly know the people you lead. Every person has different motivations, goals, challenges, and dreams, and understanding those differences allows you to coach and mentor people more effectively. When leaders build genuine relationships with their team, they become better equipped to help each person succeed. Connect with Mike Anderson: Kiierr Kiierr Facebook Kiierr Instagram Kiierr YouTube Connect With Brad Formsma: WOW Factor Website Brad Formsma on LinkedIn Brad Formsma on Instagram Brad Formsma on Facebook

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  Episode #320

  Scott Wozniak | CEO of Swoz Consulting | Leadership, Legacy, and Building an Intentional Family

  Aug 19, 202648 min

  Scott Wozniak is the CEO of Swoz Consulting , a leadership consultant, speaker, author, and former leader at the Chick-fil-A Support Center. For nearly a decade, Scott worked alongside Chick-fil-A's executive team, studying exceptional organizations around the world and turning those insights into improvements in customer experience and operations. Today, he advises leaders and multi-generational families on building strong organizations, creating meaningful legacies, and developing systems that turn their values into action. Scott joins me today to share how his early friendship with members of the Cathy family eventually led him to Chick-fil-A, what he learned working directly with founder Truett Cathy, and why intentionality matters just as much in families as it does in business. We discuss the value of reading and exposing yourself to better ideas, what successful multi-generational families do differently, why families need a compelling purpose that extends beyond wealth, and how annual gatherings can strengthen relationships across generations. Scott also explains why values are best passed down through consistent rhythms and experiences rather than lectures and how families can intentionally build a legacy that lasts. "If you get better inputs, you'll naturally end up with better outputs." – Scott Wozniak "What if we put the same amount of thought, strategy, and effort into our families that we do into our businesses and financial interests?" – Scott Wozniak "Take the things you value and then turn them into a rhythm." – Scott Wozniak This Week on The Wow Factor: How Scott's friendship with the Cathy family eventually led him to a unique leadership role at Chick-fil-A What working directly with Truett Cathy taught Scott about leadership, humility, family, and living out your values Why reading, audiobooks, podcasts, and better inputs can dramatically expand the way leaders think and solve problems What successful multi-generational families do differently to preserve their values, relationships, and sense of purpose Why Scott encourages families to develop a 100-year goal that gives future generations a compelling reason to stay connected How intentional family retreats and shared experiences can create stronger relationships and meaningful traditions across generations Why turning your family's values into consistent rhythms and practices is more powerful than simply talking about what matters Scott Wozniak's Words of Wisdom: Take the things you value and turn them into rhythms. Instead of relying on lectures to pass values to the next generation, create practices and experiences that allow your children and grandchildren to live those values. Over time, those rhythms become patterns that shape your family's identity and carry what matters most into future generations. Connect with Scott Wozniak: Scott Wozniak Website Scott Wozniak's Podcast – Play the Long Game Swoz Consulting Facebook Scott Wozniak's LinkedIn Connect With Brad Formsma: WOW Factor Website Brad Formsma on LinkedIn Brad Formsma on Instagram Brad Formsma on Facebook

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  Episode #319

  Peter Palivos | Attorney, Philanthropist & Veterans Advocate | Honoring Those Who Served Through Gratitude, Service, and Action

  Aug 5, 202634 min

  Peter Palivos is an attorney, entrepreneur, and nationally recognized advocate for America's veterans. While building a successful legal career, Peter has dedicated decades to serving military families through philanthropy, veteran support initiatives, and large-scale community events. His passion for honoring those who have served recently culminated in bringing more than 40,000 people together at Allegiant Stadium for one of the nation's largest celebrations of veterans and military families. Peter joins me today to share how five generations of military service shaped his love for America, why gratitude should always be backed by action, and how one conversation with a Vietnam veteran forever changed the direction of his life. We discuss the importance of serving those who have sacrificed for our freedom, the growing impact of large-scale veteran appreciation events, the responsibility communities have to care for military families, and how faith, generosity, and leadership can inspire others to make a lasting difference. "It's important that we tell veterans, 'Thank you for your service,' but it's even more important that we back it up with deeds." – Peter Palivos "Veterans ask for nothing, but once they come home injured, we have an affirmative duty to take care of them." – Peter Palivos "We are not here as red Americans or blue Americans. We are here as red, white, and blue Americans because we love our country." – Peter Palivos This Week on The Wow Factor: How five generations of military service inspired Peter's lifelong commitment to serving veterans Why a Vietnam veteran's personal story became the catalyst for Peter's philanthropic mission The simple but powerful difference between thanking veterans and actively serving them How veteran appreciation events grew from small community dinners to a 40,000-person gathering at Allegiant Stadium Why Peter believes communities, businesses, and professional sports organizations can play a larger role in supporting military families How faith, patriotism, and generosity continue to guide Peter's work and vision for the future Peter Palivos' Words of Wisdom: Gratitude is most meaningful when it moves beyond words and becomes action. When we honor those who have served and use our gifts to serve others, we help strengthen our communities and remind people they are never forgotten. Connect with Peter Palivos: Peter Palivos Website Peter Palivos LinkedIn Connect With Brad Formsma: WOW Factor Website Brad Formsma on LinkedIn Brad Formsma on Instagram Brad Formsma on Facebook

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