Ivan Katz has been in the service business since he was 10 years old.

Paper routes. Food service. And then at 23, a landscaping company he would grow for the next 37 years.

But somewhere between nearly tripling his revenue and building a team that could finally run without him, Ivan hit a wall. He'd spent two decades being the top sales guy and visionary, but when he finally started stepping back, he didn't feel free.

He felt lost.

In our episode, we covered:

→ Why visionaries make dangerous integrators, and what happens when they finally admit it

→ How Great Lakes grew 3x and what broke in the process

→ The "CFI" (Crazy F*cking Idea) incubator model Ivan uses to vet new ventures

→ What it means to lead a culture where field workers and MBAs learn from each other

→ How to step back from sales without losing your sense of purpose

Ivan, thank you for being so open with your story! I’ve seen how you've really taken to heart that the hardest part of building something great is letting other people take it forward.

*Chapters*

0:00 - Introduction & Teaser Highlights

0:37 - Meet Ivan Katz and Great Lakes Landscape Design

1:03 - When Did You Realize You Were a Visionary?

2:30 - The Role of the Visionary: Spirit of the Company

4:06 - Managing Your Energy and Finding Outlets

7:14 - What Makes Great Lakes Different from the Competition

10:31 - Why You Should Call the Landscaper First

14:16 - Growing 3x and What Broke Along the Way

18:20 - The Flaming Visionary Problem: Moving Too Fast

19:17 - The CFI Incubator and New Revenue Streams

29:39 - Who Is the Ideal Great Lakes Client?

32:15 - Lessons Learned as a Visionary

38:29 - Personal Turning Point: Embezzlement and 300 lbs

39:14 - Bob's "I Matter" Work and Coaching Visionaries

40:29 - Identity Crisis: What Happens When They Don't Need You

45:52 - What Does Viva the Visionary Mean to You?

~~~

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Dave Feidner grew a family business into a global operation doing hundreds of millions in revenue. He launched a dozen companies and built something most people only dream about...

Then investors called and he had to hand it all over. But that didn't break him.

He moved back to the US, started consulting with EOS, and built a new chapter helping visionaries do what he had to learn the hard way: get out of their own way.

In this conversation, we cover:

→ The change equation and what it actually takes to stop resisting

→ Why visionaries get stuck in their identity instead of living their vision

→ The four eyes of transformational leadership

→ What the hero's journey looks like for founders and entrepreneurs

→ How "grow or die" became more than a core value

Thank you Dave, for bringing your whole self to this episode and sharing your story!

*Chapters*

0:00 - Welcome to Season 2!

0:39 - Meet Dave Feidner: Philosopher and EOS Implementer

3:08 - Dave's Origin Story: Building a Global Business

9:14 - The Board Meeting That Changed His Life

11:07 - How Dave Discovered EOS

14:20 - The Four Eyes of Transformational Leadership

21:01 - The Hero's Journey and Why Visionaries Avoid It

22:03 - All Growth Comes From Pain

25:10 - Entrepreneurship in Detroit

27:35 - The EO Community and the Power of Connection

31:25 - Impostor Syndrome and the "I Am" Statement

36:00 - Aristotle, Friendship, and the Friends of the Good

37:18 - Should Dave Write a Book?

41:30 - The Origin of Viva the Visionary

44:16 - What It Means to Be "Normal" (Maslow Weighs In)

46:12 - Dave's One Experience Share for Visionaries

~~~

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🌐 https://www.imatter.com

In this episode, Dan Corrigan, a visionary health expert, shares his journey from health struggles to founding a supplement company focused on natural, high-quality products. The conversation dives into the importance of natural foods, sustainable community practices, and redefining what it means to be a visionary with purpose beyond profit. Dan’s insights emphasize natural health, community building, and the role of authenticity in personal and professional growth.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify or watch on YouTube

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In this episode, Coach Bob and David Meyer explore the role of visionaries in driving innovation, building culture, and navigating change. They discuss practical insights on how visionaries can leverage their strengths, embrace technology, and foster growth both personally and professionally.

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Introduction to the episode and guest David Meyer

(01:09) - The purpose of visionaries: solving problems to help communities

(03:20) - Communicating your story and defining your unique value

(04:08) - Differentiating correlation from causation in purpose and values

(05:01) - How marketing aligns with storytelling and empathy

(06:35) - Unlocking the power of the VTO in EOS companies

(07:57) - The importance of turning your story into actionable brand benefits

(09:37) - Recognizing yourself as a visionary and the impact of ideas vs. execution

(10:46) - Early signs of being a visionary and the role of ideas

(12:16) - The significance of knowing oneself through assessments like Colby

(13:32) - Exploring alternative terms for “visionary”

(15:02) - Other roles of visionaries: curiosity, culture, and leadership

(17:16) - The importance of delegation and trusting your team

(18:38) - Opportunities and challenges in using AI and technology

(23:44) - The future of visionaries with rapid technological advancements

(25:24) - The power of community in the Visionary Forum and EO

(27:01) - What “Viva La Visionary” means: progress, innovation, and leadership

🎧 Listen now on Spotify or watch on YouTube

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In this episode of Viva La Visionary, Coach Bob is joined by entrepreneur, speaker, and author Jeanet Wade for a powerful conversation on visionary leadership and the human side of growth.

They discuss:
• Why most business issues are actually people issues
• How visionaries can avoid burnout by healing and focusing their energy
• The role of coaching, community, and operating systems in scaling impact
• What it means to build a truly human team

This episode is for visionaries who want to grow their businesses without losing themselves — or their people — along the way.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify or watch on YouTube
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In this episode of Viva La Visionary, Coach Bob sits down with entrepreneur and marketing visionary Adrian Keogh for a candid conversation about purpose, leadership, and the unseen weight visionaries carry.

Together, they explore:
• What defines a true visionary
• Why community and honesty are essential for entrepreneurs
• The role of faith, clarity, and imagination in leadership
• How play, fun, and delegation unlock better results
• Why you don’t have to do this alone

This episode is for visionaries who feel called to something bigger — even when the path feels uncertain.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify or watch on YouTube
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Join Coach Bob on this episode of Viva La Visionary with Grandi Washington, a visionary expert helping people navigate assessment overload and shine in their genius. Discover practical insights on understanding yourself, working effectively with teams, and taking clarity breaks to boost creativity and productivity. Learn how to finally embrace your uniqueness and elevate your impact.✨ Key Takeaways:How to make sense of multiple assessments to improve communication and team dynamicsThe importance of clarity breaks for visionary productivityEmbracing your gifts and working in your zone of geniusLiving authentically as a visionary and celebrating your uniqueness🎧 Listen on YouTube & Spotify and join the conversation!

Unlock the mind of a true visionary in this episode of Viva La Visionary™ with Coach Bob Shenefelt and special guest Elizabeth K. Goede, President of Ratliff Consulting.Elizabeth shares how visionaries can embrace their natural gifts, innovate without guilt, and use artificial intelligence to scale impact without replacing humans. From childhood stories to AI breakthroughs, she reveals how to balance leadership, team dynamics, and the future of work.If you’re a visionary, entrepreneur, or leader navigating growth, innovation, or the pull between big ideas and daily demands—this episode will speak directly to you.In this episode:Why visionaries must “let their visionary flag fly”How AI helps leaders scale their impact while keeping people at the centerThe balance between innovating and integratingInsights from the Visionary Summit experienceHow visionaries shape the future of business, technology, and humanityLearn more about Elizabeth at RatliffConsulting.com.Viva La Visionary™ — Long Live the Visionary.