The Power of Yes Attitude and the Art of Mentorship

On December 11, 2023, guest host Brad Beck fills in for Kim Monson to present a show focused on mentorship and personal development. The King of Sales Jeffrey Gitomer shares insights on building relationships and cultivating a yes attitude, while longtime friend Dave Walden discusses the philosophical foundations of American liberty and the power of ideas.

Philosophy, History, and the Foundations of Liberty

Start listening at 61:00 – Hour 2

Dave Walden, fellow Liberty Toastmaster and philosophical mentor to host Brad Beck, brings his deep knowledge of American founding principles to the discussion. Walden, who once met Ayn Rand in person at Ford Hall Forum in Boston, reflects on how her work transformed his understanding of individual liberty and capitalism.

The conversation traces Walden’s journey from a young Air Force serviceman to a dedicated student of philosophy. His chance encounter with Atlas Shrugged in 1965 sparked a lifelong commitment to understanding the ideas that underpin American freedom. Walden and Beck discuss the Constitutional Convention, sovereignty debates among the founding colonies, and how Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence contains the true revolutionary ideas of individual rights.

Walden offers an optimistic perspective on current political challenges, suggesting that returns to founding principles occur “very slowly, and then all of a sudden.” His insights on how politics flows from culture, which flows from morality, provide listeners with a framework for understanding why changing ideas must precede changing policies.

“You can’t always control what you encounter in life, but you can always control your reaction to it.”

Dave Walden, Liberty Toastmaster and Mentor

Cultivating a Yes Attitude for Sales and Life Success

Start listening at 30:00 – Hour 1

Jeffrey Gitomer, internationally recognized sales trainer and author of the bestselling “Little Red Book of Selling,” joins the program by phone to discuss the philosophy behind sustainable success. Gitomer, who has written over 17 books on sales and customer loyalty, emphasizes that giving without expecting return creates abundance in business and life.

The conversation explores Gitomer’s approach to mentorship and continuous learning. He references his own mentors, including Napoleon Hill and Harvey Mackay, and describes how he maintains weekly contact with Mackay even after three decades of friendship. Gitomer stresses that books should be studied repeatedly rather than simply read once, recommending that readers highlight and annotate to deepen understanding.

Gitomer shares how the COVID-19 pandemic led him to create daily online content for two years, building an international community through virtual connection. His commitment to capitalism shines through as he proclaims it the only system that allows success based on merit, noting that first-class travel exists because people earn it.

“I find that the more I give away, the more the world pays me back. And that’s a message for anybody listening this morning, don’t measure, just give.”

Jeffrey Gitomer, Sales Expert and Author