Driven to Business with Eddie Mayfield

Dharmesh Vora is the founder and president of Medhtech, an IT consulting firm.  Businesses of all sizes today are faced with a rapidly changing IT environment,  and it can be overwhelming.

Eddie and Dharmesh discuss Cloud computing, internet and system security, and enterprise software.

What are some of the decision criteria that a business manager should use in deciding whether to use cloud based or more traditional software?  How do you insure that your data is secure?

It’s an interesting discussion that every business leader should hear.  Tune in Saturday, May 2nd at 11 AM.

Driven to Business, hosted by Eddie Mayfield, is heard every Saturday at 11 AM on Atlanta’s Biz 1190 AM radio.  The program is streamed live on biz1190.com and podcast on eddiemayfield.com and itunes.  Download the Biz 1190 App!.

Simply the best business radio in Atlanta..  Driven to Business.

Vicki and I met Autry and his wife Linda at church in the late 70’s in Houston. We were a young couple with two little girls. Vicki and I have often noted, that of all the people we’ve ever met, the single funniest person we’ve ever known is Autry Thompson. Still today, if we happen to run across someone from Houston that knew Autry, they will start laughing when they talk about him.

Autry had the lanky build of a Texas cowboy, and spoke with a very pleasant Texas drawl. Autry wasn’t one of those that gets laughs by being loud and obnoxious, he just always had a natural gift for making people smile.

When we’d go to a restaurant with him, it wasn’t uncommon that the waiters and waitresses were bringing other restaurant employees over to meet him, and people at the surrounding tables were laughing and introducing themselves.

Autry was not just a comic; he was a committed Christian businessman, known for being honest and open in dealing with others. In fact, he’s the least pretentious person I’ve ever known.  Autry wasn’t a guy that had a “church” face, and a different face elsewhere.  He was who he was, open about his own shortcomings and not afraid to confront you about yours.

He was a generous and a compassionate person. I know of instances, where a subcontractor he was using would fall on hard times, and Autry would take part of his own job profits and help the guy out.

He was active and well known in our church. Even after leaving Houston, anytime I felt down and discouraged, one of the people I always wanted to call- was Autry. By the time I hung up the phone, I always felt better. Autry was a unique person.

One day we got word that Autry had been diagnosed with stomach cancer. I called him up and while he was pretty blunt in his assessment of the condition, he still had the chuckle in his voice, and could see humor in just about everything that had happened.

As is sometimes the case with cancer patients, Autry would get good news, and we’d all get encouraged, followed by crushing test results the next visit. As time passed, I could hear his voice getting weaker. Once, when hanging up the phone, trying to encourage him, I said “Autry, don’t give up man, fight this, keep trying.”

In a very weak voice he said “Eddie, I am trying, but it’s so discouraging. I try and try, but it seems no matter how much I try, I just cannot get Linda pregnant.” ( I believe Autry was 64 at that time.)

He got worse and worse, and in one of the last conversations we had, I took the opportunity to tell him how much he meant to me, and how he’d been adding value to my life for over 30 years.

One morning not long after that, just before Christmas, Vicki came upstairs crying, to tell me that our dear and valued friend Autry, had passed away.

We who claim the name of Christ, who claim to have a personal relationship with God through Jesus, spend much of  our time talking about the fullness of a life with Christ; about the joy of knowing Him. And all of that is true.

But there are times in every believer’s life when what we say we believe, comes up against the cold hard granite of a very unpleasant reality. Things that shatter, and leave us helpless. And the question that comes up is, “is this real?” Is the One in whom I placed my trust when things were OK, sufficient, now that they aren’t?

That question has been faced by believers for centuries, and the testimony of millions is, “yes He is.  Even when I can’t see the light at the end of this tunnel- He’s sufficient…. and I’m secure.” That’s what the Bible calls the “peace of God.”

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

From the book of Philippians, Chapter 4, verses 6 and 7

Eddie Mayfield

Dr. David Cooper is the senior pastor of Mt Paran church here in Atlanta,  a psychologist, counselor, and sought after speaker.   David’s most recent book is Unfinished Business, available on Amazon.  Interestingly, David is also an accomplished guitarist, and has a new CD entitled Flying Solo.

Unfinished Business refers to past events and hurts that keep us from accomplishing our purposes in life.  As David says, our brains are much like icebergs, in that only a small portion is above the surface. We can harbor deep seated fears and resentments that affect us.  Often, we can be unaware of them.

David is a great speaker, a caring pastor/counselor, and an excellent  guest.

Tune in Saturday morning, April 25 at 11.

Driven to Business, hosted by Eddie Mayfield is broadcast every Saturday at 11 on Atlanta’s Business Radio, Biz 1190 AM.  The show is streamed live on Biz1190.com and podcast on eddiemayfied.com and itunes.

Simply the best business radio in Atlanta..  Driven to Business.

The dictionary definition of leadership leaves a bit to be desired.  It’s the action of leading, or the state or position of being a leader.  John Maxwell has famously defined leadership in this manner:

Leadership is Influence

Influence is Leadership

There’s what’s known as the Military model of leadership.  Generally in this model, the leader barks orders, and the subordinates obey.  This actually works in a critical military situation.  IF, for instance, your platoon is being ambushed, you don’t want your platoon leader calling a meeting to ascertain everyone’s feelings.  You want him barking orders, and you want everyone doing their job.

The problem arises when you try using this leadership model where no crisis exists.  A certain recipe for low moral, poor performance, and high turnover.

In general, people want to be led, not managed.  In this week’s edition of Driven to Business I’m discussing ways to lead, not manage.

Tune in Saturday morning at 11, on Atlanta’s Biz 1190 AM.

Driven to Business, hosted by Eddie Mayfield,  is heard every Saturday at 11 on WAFS, Atlanta’s Biz 1190.  The program is streamed live on biz1190.com, and podcast on eddiemayfield.com and on Itunes.

Simply the best business radio in Atlanta..   Driven to Business.

Greg Rush is the founder of Buy A Vette.  one of the nations premier Corvette Resellers and restoration companies.   You can visit their website HERE.

Who hasn’t wanted a Corvette at some point?  In many ways, the quintessential American muscle car, with a brand that rivals that of Harley Davidson.

Listen in as Eddie and Greg discuss branding, how a company like Buy A Vette identifies and targets its demographic, and the long running appeal of the Corvette brand.

Buy a Vette is in many ways like  all other small businesses, albeit serving a unique marketplace.  Greg has a long background in business, has built a great team of professionals around him, and sells Corvettes all over the world.

Eddie and Greg discuss customer service, leadership, profitability, marketing, branding, and of course, the ins and outs of Corvettes.  While this show concentrates on Buy a Vette, the principles apply to all businesses. 

This is a great show, so don’t miss it.   Eddie’s interview with Greg Rush airs at 11 AM on April 4th on Biz 1190 AM.

Driven to Business, hosted by Eddie Mayfield, airs every Saturday on Atlanta’s business radio, Biz 1190 AM.  The show is podcast on eddiemayfield.com and itunes, and is streamed live on biz1190.com.  SUBSCRIBE TO US ON ITUNES!

Simply the best business radio in Atlanta` Driven to Business!