Shows
20 Minutes of WinningWinning by Respecting Time2024-05-0117 min20 Minutes of WinningWinning Through Personal Branding2024-03-2020 min20 Minutes of WinningWinning Through Working Hard and Relating HardLarry Thornton believes that Winning Through Working Hard and Relating Hard requires taking a portion of the time that people devote to the grind of accomplishing tasks and instead investing it into building relationships with others. Not convinced? Listen to this episode and maybe you will be.2024-02-2819 min20 Minutes of WinningWinning by Leading2024-01-0519 min20 Minutes of WinningWinning Through Perseverance2024-01-0523 min20 Minutes of WinningWinning by Working Hard on Yourself2024-01-0518 min20 Minutes of WinningWinning through People SkillsWinning Through People Skills requires engaging with others in ways that create mutual benefit.In this episode, Larry discusses two women – Pat Greensmith and Walker Jones – who have taught him a lot about developing and using people skills. They have very different approaches– Pat tortured Larry with surprise inspections of his restaurants while Walker makes everyone she meets feel valued and appreciated. But both helped Larry become a better businessman and person.2024-01-0524 min
The Busyness ParadoxWhy Not Win? A Discussion with Larry Thornton and Dave KetchenLarry Thornton and Dave Ketchen join us to discuss their award-winning graphic novel, "You Have to Live, Why Not Win?" and Larry's journey from racial segregation to success as an entrepreneur, author, teacher and artist. This is our most inspirational interview yet and will make you question your perceptions of yourself and others. In a good way. We promise. If you listen to one episode of the Busyness Paradox, make sure it's this one.As Frank summarized in his review of the book (in press, Academy of Management Learning & Education):Ultimately, indeed, you have to...2023-09-201h 24
20 Minutes of WinningWinning by Lifting Others UpWhen Larry Thornton started as an artist at Coca-Cola, a fellow artist went out of his way to orient Larry to the job. Six years later, that man’s job was being eliminated. Larry urged the man to work under him rather than take early retirement. When Larry moved on to McDonald’s, the man moved up into Larry’s former position. How these two individuals treated each other and mutually benefited from doing so can be captured in five short words: Winning by Lifting Others Up2021-09-2122 min
20 Minutes of WinningWinning through Belief in YourselfConfidence breeds winning. But most of us can’t manufacture confidence ourselves. We need others to help us get there. Larry Thornton was a poor-performing high school student until his white English teacher Miss Nichols invited him into her home for lunch – a very rare event in the late 1960s – and told him he was college material. Once Larry believed in himself, he could act with confidence and success followed. That is the essence of Winning through Belief in Yourself. And once we have been successful, we need to act as mentors to help others believe in themselves too.2021-09-0720 min
20 Minutes of WinningWinning through RepetitionLarry Thornton has built his business career in collaboration with two corporate icons: McDonald’s and Coca-Cola. Repetition – doing the same thing over and over and over – has been a key ingredient of the winning formula for both companies. For individuals, repetition channeled in the right direction creates good habits and good habits lead to winning. But repetition targeted the wrong way will create bad habits. Can you harness the power of repetition to build good habits? That’s what Winning through Repetition requires.2021-08-2419 min
20 Minutes of WinningWinning by Changing Before You Have ToSears once dominated retailing, but its concept became stale. By the time executives tried to remake the company, it was too late. This is a common problem. If we wait until change is needed before making a change, we’ve usually waited too long. Larry Thornton gave up a good corporate career to become an entrepreneur. While his friends were making real money, Dr. Dave Ketchen decided at 21 to live on a tiny stipend for five years in order to pursue a PhD in business. Winning by changing before you have to involves thinking one, two, three, or more st...2021-08-1020 min
20 Minutes of WinningWinning by Seeing Others DifferentlyHow we see others, how others see us, and how we see ourselves are crucial questions that shape our perceptions and influence our actions. Some see categories of race, gender, age, and other demographics. Others see an individual with unique gifts and flaws. Winning by seeing others differently involves looking past categories and focusing on what the person before you has to offer. In today’s super-competitive landscape, not seeing the individual is not only hurtful but it is bad business. We need to leverage everyone’s talents in order to win.2021-07-2620 min
20 Minutes of WinningWinning by Absorbing Life's BlowsCan you absorb life’s blows and keep moving forward? When Larry Thornton launched his first McDonald’s, a rival franchise walked in the opening day and disrespectfully proclaimed he would be buying Larry out within six months. Rather than lash out in retaliation, Larry kept his eye on the prize and built a great business. Later the two became good friends. In an ironic twist, Larry eventually bought some of his former rival’s restaurants. All of us will be dealt hard blows by life sooner or later and winning depends on overcoming them.2021-07-1323 min
20 Minutes of WinningWinning through Diversity and InclusionDiversity and inclusion are hot topics in the media and within society at large. Sometimes these terms are used by organizations as public relations devices to signal that they are socially conscious. Winning through diversity and inclusion requires a different approach -- one that not only lifts up individuals but leads to better organizational decisions and increased success.2021-06-2921 min
20 Minutes of WinningWinning by Saying No“Yes" is the word everyone loves to hear. But we need to be careful about saying yes. We need to avoid becoming over-committed. We need to put a stop to unacceptable situations. In those scenarios, a simple two-letter word -- "no" -- can be our best friend.2021-06-1523 min
20 Minutes of WinningAn Introduction to WinningWho are these guys, why should I listen to them, and what do they know about winning in business and in life? This brief introduction to the 20 Minutes of Winning podcast answers these questions and more!2021-06-0109 min
20 Minutes of WinningWinning Through Opposite ThinkingSometimes the obvious path is not the best path. When an awful picture was left in Larry Thornton's office, he could have immediately reported the incident to management. That's what most people would have done. But instead, Larry took a contrary approach, one that would not only improve the workplace but lead to lifelong bonds between two very different families.2021-06-0118 min