Category: Business, Careers

Forget Role Models: Leadership Lessons from Rebels, Pirates, and Outlaws

What if the most powerful leadership lessons didn’t come from heroes—but from history’s most notorious figures? Author and leadership coach Steve Williams reveals 20 bold, practical lessons drawn from rebels, outlaws, pirates, and power players you won’t find in a typical business book. From Attila the Hun to Al Capone, he strips away myth to uncover the strategies that made these figures astonishingly effective leaders.

He is the author of six books including Notorious: Leadership Lessons from History’s Most Notorious Leaders, with a forward written by renowned author Jack Canfield, and a certified leadership coach and QMS expert.


SAMPLE QUESTIONS: What are some examples of how these notorious people made great leaders? What are the comparisons between these and effective leaders of today?


CONTACT: Steve Williams at (920) 280-1068; swilliams@rtirguests.com

The Mental Health Cost of Building a Business from Nothing

Nearly half of all entrepreneurs report chronic stress or burnout, but Darius Ross says the real danger isn’t the workload. It’s the unresolved trauma many carry into the grind. He says when you build a business from nothing, the survival mindset that once kept you alive can quietly start working against you as success grows.

In this timely conversation, Ross explores how urban trauma, financial insecurity, and constant pressure quietly shape decision-making, relationships, and leadership. A former homeless teen turned entrepreneur and community leader, he explains why success can actually amplify anxiety, and why mindset, not hustle, determines who breaks through and who breaks down.

As the author of Mastering the TPS Blueprint, Ross offers street-tested insights on managing fear, stress, and self-sabotage while building something meaningful, especially for entrepreneurs who never had a safety net.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS

  • Can trauma make you successful and still destroy you later?
  • Why do some entrepreneurs feel less safe as they earn more?

CONTACT: Darius Ross at (347) 801-7956; dross@rtirguests.com

Feeling Stuck? It’s Time to Start Swinging

Recent headlines proclaim that Americans are stuck! Nobody’s leaving their jobs or homes, we’re not making plans for the future and many of us are feeling unsure of what to do next. Hall of Fame golf instructor and mindset coach Cindy Miller says it’s ok to consider your options, but sometimes you have to stop thinking and start swinging. Cindy’s not just another motivational voice, she lives the message. After losing her LPGA card, she clawed her way back—25 years later—proving that failure isn’t final and reinvention has no age limit. Her signature mix of humor and no-nonsense wisdom helps audiences silence self-doubt and take bold action. If your listeners are feeling stuck, burned out or ready for a comeback, Cindy’s story will leave them inspired and ready to take their next shot. Contact Cindy Miller at (716) 670-5341; cimiller@rtirguests.com

High Achiever, Low Confidence? Why It’s More Common Than You Think

Many successful adults are quietly plagued by feelings of inadequacy. Despite impressive résumés and outward accomplishments, they often battle self-limiting beliefs and an internal voice that says, “I’m not good enough.” On your show, Mike Sealy will unpack this common but misunderstood disconnect—why confidence often lags behind achievement, and what to do about it. Drawing from personal insight and years of mindset coaching, Sealy will help your audience understand how a growth mindset can reverse deep-seated patterns of self-doubt. He’ll share the hidden signs of imposter syndrome, the long-term effects of performance-based validation, and how to build authentic self-worth—not just a longer to-do list. It’s an empowering conversation for anyone who’s ever looked successful on the outside but still felt stuck on the inside. Contact Mike Sealy at msealy@rtirguests.com

Beyond the 9-to-5: Craft a Life of Purpose and Passion

Stuck in a job that drains you? You’re not alone—and you don’t have to stay there. Greg Mohr, “Wall Street Journal”bestselling author of “Real Freedom,” walked away from the corporate grind and never looked back. Today, he helps others do the same by guiding them into franchise ownership that aligns with their strengths, values, and long-term goals. Mohr has already helped more than 250 people launch over 500 franchise locations—and he’s just getting started. His message? You don’t need a million-dollar idea to build a fulfilling life; you need the right model, mindset, and mentor. In interviews, Mohr shares how to identify the right business for you, how to escape the “golden handcuffs” of corporate life, and why the freedom you’re craving might be more attainable than you think. Contact Greg Mohr: (361) 204-5470; gmohr@rtirguests.com

How to Accomplish the Impossible on a Regular Basis

What do Andy Kaufman, Jim Carrey, and thousands of successful entrepreneurs have in common? According to media mogul Al Parinello, they all understood one thing: success rarely follows the rules. A seasoned Broadway and film producer, radio station owner, and host of over 3,000 interviews on success, Parinello has spent decades uncovering what separates the truly extraordinary from the merely capable. Parinello distills hard-won lessons into bold, counterintuitive strategies anyone can use to break through limitations. Invite him on your show to share the mindset and methods that helped him take on seemingly impossible goals—from producing legendary comedy acts to launching major media projects—and win. If your audience is stuck, stalled, or ready for more, Parinello delivers the insights they need to make the leap. Ask him: What’s the biggest myth most people believe about success—and how is it holding them back? You knew Andy Kaufman personally—what was he really like off stage, and how did that relationship shape your views on success and originality? Al Parinello is the author of “Uncommon Success—How to Accomplish the Impossible on a Regular Basis!” Contact him at (973) 390-9583; aparinello@rtirguests.com

A Bold Plan to Train 700 Million Entrepreneurs. Could it Work?

David Selley isn’t your typical 87-year-old. He’s a globe-trotting entrepreneur, married for 65 years, and now launching a Guinness World Record attempt—to become the oldest author to publish the most books in a single year. But behind the bold headlines is an even bolder mission: to train 700 million entrepreneurs around the world, many of whom have been overlooked by traditional education systems. That’s not to say Selley is anti-education. Inspired by the late Sir Ken Robinson, he believes in learning—but questions whether everyone needs a B.A., M.A., or Ph.D. Drawing from decades of experience across three countries, three careers, and a lifetime of business success, Selley shares how our creativity—so vivid in childhood—often gets stifled by rigid systems that reward conformity over innovation. Ask him: What inspired your goal to train 700 million entrepreneurs—and why do you think it’s possible? How did your own daughter’s creativity spark a lifelong concern about how schools shape us? Contact David Selley at (808) 229-3985; Dselley@rtirguests.com

How to Thrive at Work When the Economy Feels Fragile

Layoffs are rising. Tariffs and supply chain shocks are back in the headlines. And millions of Americans are working longer hours just to stay afloat. But does thriving at work during economic instability mean hustling harder—or thinking differently? Business transformation expert Shawn Fry says most workers are stuck in a reactive mindset at great cost to their health, their relationships and even their job performance. Drawing from 25+ years of leading global organizations through volatility in 17 countries, Shawn shares surprising strategies for staying focused, valuable and mentally resilient without working 70+ hours a week. He’ll explain why goal-setting is failing most employees—and how a simple, repeatable daily routine can help anyone stay visible, adaptable and indispensable, even when layoffs loom. Contact Shawn Fry at (330) 422-4090; Sfry@rtirguests.com

The Women Who Made Work-From-Home Mainstream

Long before Zoom meetings and side hustles, women were quietly building businesses from their kitchens, living rooms and basements, perfecting the work-from-home model long before it had a name. Motivational speaker and WIP Empowerment founder Roy Martin shines a light on these overlooked pioneers and connects their legacy to today’s thriving mompreneur movement. Roy will reveal why the term “Work From Home” is more than a post-pandemic trend, it’s a 120-year evolution led by women. He’ll share surprising historical examples (including how a divorced secretary helped Tupperware make its mark), explore the economic and cultural forces driving moms to entrepreneurship and explain how his new WIP Empowerment initiative is helping modern women build passive income and flexible business success from home. Contact Roy Martin at (629) 265-0570; rmartin@rtirguests.com

How to Prevent Conflict Before It Starts

Studies show that up to 85% of workplace conflict stems from communication breakdowns, but most people don’t address issues until it’s too late. Samuel Bentil, a global dispute avoidance expert and the author of “Avoid Construction Disputes,” will teach listeners how to spot and stop conflict before it starts. With workplace tension, team burnout and leadership turnover on the rise, his message is right on time. Samuel’s proven strategies focus on emotional intelligence, trust-building and collaboration, the skills that turn daily friction into productivity. And these same tools don’t just work on the job. They improve communication and reduce tension at home and in the community too. Contact Samuel at (778) 656-0067; sbentil@rtirguests.com