Mick Unplugged

• Ken Rusk: Unlocking Success Without a Suit

  Ken Rusk is a blue collar entrepreneur, bestselling author of "Blue Collar Cash," and a passionate advocate for purpose-driven living. Starting his career digging ditches at 15, Ken transformed his hands-on work ethic into a multi-million dollar business, demonstrating that success doesn’t require a suit and tie. With a mission to reshape America’s views on blue collar success and financial freedom, Ken mentors others in visualizing their goals, building wealth, and finding comfort, peace, and freedom—both in life and at work. His approach is grounded, visionary, and deeply committed to helping others climb their own mountain of success.  Takeaways: Visualizing Success Is Essential: Ken emphasizes the transformative power of clear, detailed visualization for personal and professional goals. Translating dreams into vivid images and actionable plans is a crucial first step to actually making them happen. Blue Collar Work Can Be a Path to Wealth and Fulfillment: Ken breaks the myth that blue collar jobs are less fulfilling or financially rewarding than white collar roles. In fact, blue collar careers often bring more control, satisfaction, and opportunity. Giving Back Multiplies Success: Both Ken and Mick highlight the importance of generosity—not just financially, but with time and effort. Giving back, Ken believes, not only helps others, but often leads to more blessings and satisfaction in your own life.  Sound Bites: "The more you give, the more you are blessed with. And I don't know why that is, but it just is." "If you keep saying, 'I've never done this before, but if I did,' you start to imagine the process—and pretty soon, you’ve already built the skyscraper in your mind." "When you can get your corporate goals aligned with people's personal dreams, that’s where the synergy happens. That’s when you really start to move your company forward."   Quote from Mick:  "If you want to build a winning culture, you better celebrate a win. I don’t care how small or big it is."    Connect & Discover Ken: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kenruskofficial LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ken-rusk-2656a7175 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KenRuskOfficial Website: https://www.kenrusk.com Book: Blue Collar Cash: Love Your Work, Secure Your Future, and Find Happiness for Life   **The first 20 people to message Mick “Blue Collar” on Instagram or LinkedIn will receive a copy of the book**   🔥 Ready to Unleash Your Inner Game-Changer? 🔥  Mick Hunt’s brand-new book, How to Be a Good Leader When You’ve Never Had One: The Blueprint for Modern Leadership, is here to light a fire under your ambition and arm you with the real-talk strategies that only Mick delivers.  👉Grab your copy now and level up your life → Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million    FOLLOW MICK ON: Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/mickunplugged/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mickunplugged/  YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@MickUnpluggedPodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mickhunt/Website: https://www.mickhuntofficial.com Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mick-unplugged/   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  --------  

  36:13

  --------

  36:13
• Darryl Stickel: Unpacking Trust as a Leadership Superpower

  What happens when uncertainty meets vulnerability? According to Dr. Darryl Stickel, that intersection creates trust—or destroys it. As today's uncertain world pushes people toward self-protection, leaders face unprecedented challenges in building the trust necessary for high-performing teams. Dr. Stickel brings a uniquely powerful perspective to this conversation, drawing from personal adversity that shaped his understanding of human vulnerability. After suffering a traumatic hockey injury that left him with cognitive challenges at 17, and facing progressive vision loss from a hereditary condition, he developed extraordinary empathy that would later inform his groundbreaking work. His doctoral research at Duke University on building trust in hostile environments established him as what host Mick calls "the architect of trust." The insights shared in this episode go far beyond theory. Dr. Stickel breaks down his practical framework where "trust equals uncertainty times vulnerability," explaining why our current environment makes trust-building especially challenging—and critical. With 70% of employees disengaged and what he describes as a "broken social contract" between organizations and workers, trust has become the new currency of leadership. Most provocatively, Dr. Stickel reveals that "95% of people believe they're more trustworthy than average," highlighting the dangerous blind spots that prevent leaders from recognizing trust deficits. He offers immediate, actionable approaches to measuring and building trust through conversations around benevolence, integrity, and ability, with special attention to the unique challenges of remote work environments. Whether you're managing a team, building a business, or simply trying to strengthen personal relationships, this episode provides a masterclass in the mechanics of trust—complete with the tools to start rebuilding it today. After all, as Dr. Stickel reminds us, trust is a skill we can all develop with practice. Connect & Discover Darryl:  LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/darryl-stickel-phd/?originalSubdomain=ca Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darryl.stickel/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq1dQmEjT5a0T8xy3B2YRKw Website: https://www.trustunlimited.com/about/ Podcast:  https://imperfectcafe.buzzsprout.com/ Book: Building Trust: Exceptional Leadership in an Uncertain World FOLLOW MICK ON:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mickunplugged/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mickunplugged/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MickUnpluggedPodcastLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mickhunt/Website: https://www.mickhuntofficial.com  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mick-unplugged/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  --------  

  46:48

  --------

  46:48
• Empowerment Through Action: Marc Morial's Strategies for Community Transformation

  Marc Morial sits at the rare intersection of politics, activism, and business – a civil rights titan whose journey from transformative New Orleans mayor to National Urban League CEO offers profound lessons in leadership and community building. The foundation of Morial's remarkable career began in childhood, watching his parents' civil rights work from the sidelines. What began as "childcare" – tagging along to NAACP meetings and voter registration drives – became the classroom where he absorbed leadership from community giants. This early immersion shaped his lifelong commitment to economic justice and equality of opportunity. As New Orleans mayor, Morial tackled seemingly insurmountable challenges with innovative approaches. Faced with record crime rates, he refused to choose between enforcement and prevention, instead rebuilding the police department while simultaneously creating unprecedented youth programming – summer camps, job programs, and initiatives specifically for girls who had been overlooked by previous administrations. His "Gumbo Coalition" administration championed inclusivity, featuring record numbers of women and the first Asian American and LGBTQ cabinet members in city history. When Morial arrived at the National Urban League, he found an organization proud of its history but "operating in the past tense." Through visionary leadership, he's expanded the organization fivefold, broadening its portfolio to include workforce development, housing assistance, entrepreneurship programs, and strengthened advocacy work – all while building powerful coalitions with other civil rights organizations. Today, Morial warns of an unprecedented assault on civil rights progress and urges listeners not to succumb to complacency or despair. "In the short run, you hear noise but don't feel the damage. In the long run, the noise will subside, but the damage will be done," he cautions. His call to action is clear: defend fundamental American principles by getting involved, using your voice, and mentoring the next generation. Ready to be part of the solution? Visit NUL.org to join advocacy efforts or find a local affiliate in your community.  Connect & Discover Marc: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcmorial/?hl=en X: https://x.com/marcmorial?lang=en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-morial-59b05130/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marcmorial/ FOLLOW MICK ON:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mickunplugged/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mickunplugged/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MickUnpluggedPodcastLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mickhunt/Website:https://www.mickhuntofficial.com  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mick-unplugged/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  --------  

  43:47

  --------

  43:47
• Empowerment Through Action: Mark Morial's Strategies for Community Transformation

  Marc Morial sits at the rare intersection of politics, activism, and business – a civil rights titan whose journey from transformative New Orleans mayor to National Urban League CEO offers profound lessons in leadership and community building.The foundation of Morial's remarkable career began in childhood, watching his parents' civil rights work from the sidelines. What began as "childcare" – tagging along to NAACP meetings and voter registration drives – became the classroom where he absorbed leadership from community giants. This early immersion shaped his lifelong commitment to economic justice and equality of opportunity.As New Orleans mayor, Morial tackled seemingly insurmountable challenges with innovative approaches. Faced with record crime rates, he refused to choose between enforcement and prevention, instead rebuilding the police department while simultaneously creating unprecedented youth programming – summer camps, job programs, and initiatives specifically for girls who had been overlooked by previous administrations. His "Gumbo Coalition" administration championed inclusivity, featuring record numbers of women and the first Asian American and LGBTQ cabinet members in city history.When Morial arrived at the National Urban League, he found an organization proud of its history but "operating in the past tense." Through visionary leadership, he's expanded the organization fivefold, broadening its portfolio to include workforce development, housing assistance, entrepreneurship programs, and strengthened advocacy work – all while building powerful coalitions with other civil rights organizations.Today, Morial warns of an unprecedented assault on civil rights progress and urges listeners not to succumb to complacency or despair. "In the short run, you hear noise but don't feel the damage. In the long run, the noise will subside, but the damage will be done," he cautions. His call to action is clear: defend fundamental American principles by getting involved, using your voice, and mentoring the next generation.Ready to be part of the solution? Visit NUL.org to join advocacy efforts or find a local affiliate in your community. Connect & Discover Marc:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcmorial/?hl=enX: https://x.com/marcmorial?lang=enLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-morial-59b05130/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marcmorial/FOLLOW MICK ON:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mickunplugged/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mickunplugged/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MickUnpluggedPodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mickhunt/ Website: https://www.mickhuntofficial.com Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mick-unplugged/

  --------  

  38:17

  --------

  38:17
• Mario Armstrong: Why You Can't Stand Out by Standing Still

  "You can't stand out and stand still at the same time," declares Emmy award-winning disruptor Mario Armstrong in this riveting conversation with Mick. As the self-proclaimed "blueprint" for Mick's journey, Mario unpacks the mindset shifts and actionable strategies that transformed him from a local Baltimore media personality to a nationally recognized figure.The conversation dives deep into what Mario calls "vulnerability as currency" – the counterintuitive power of authentic sharing in professional settings. He doesn't just theorize; he demonstrates this principle by discussing his current struggle writing his first book after years of false starts. This vulnerability, Mario explains, isn't a marketing tactic but a genuine approach that attracts the right audience to your work.One of the most powerful insights emerges when Mick introduces the concept that "transparency is the new currency" and even "transparency is the new 401k" for modern leadership. Today's employees, particularly younger generations, care less about traditional benefits and more about knowing what their leaders personally stand for. Mario explores how transparent leadership builds trust in ways traditional corporate approaches simply cannot.The conversation shifts to practical strategies with Mario's brilliant "11-minute framework" – a method for making consistent progress on daunting goals by focusing on what you can accomplish in just 11 minutes. Combined with his practice of celebrating "three wins" weekly (now daily), this system creates momentum that builds confidence through visible progress. "Every 11 minutes informs the next 11 minutes," Mario explains, creating a compounding effect that transforms small actions into significant achievements.Perhaps most valuable for aspiring influencers is Mario's counterintuitive advice to dominate locally before attempting to go national. His step-by-step breakdown of how to leverage local television stations – an underutilized platform – reveals a pathway to credibility that many overlook in their rush to build digital audiences. This strategy provided the foundation for his eventual national success.Throughout this magnetic conversation, Mario emphasizes that success isn't about making one big bet on yourself but rather consistently investing in small actions that prove your potential. For anyone feeling stuck between comfort and calling, this episode provides both the inspiration and practical framework to start moving forward – 11 minutes at a time.Connect & Discover Mario:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marioarmstrong/?hl=enLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marioarmstrong/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/NeverSettleNetworkWebsite: https://www.marioarmstrong.com/FOLLOW MICK ON:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mickunplugged/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mickunplugged/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MickUnpluggedPodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mickhunt/ Website: https://www.mickhuntofficial.com Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mick-unplugged/

  --------  

  37:36

  --------

  37:36

More Business podcasts

Trending Business podcasts

About Mick Unplugged