Don Barden, Ph.D. | 11092026

Guest: Don Barden, Ph.D., Behavioral Economist and Author

Host: Randy Chaffee

Producer / Director / Co-Host: Wes Wyatt

📌 Episode Overview & Intro Chat

Show Intro & Banter:

Randy and Wes kick off their third taping of the day ("if we were bowling, we'd have a turkey"), and Randy finally explains his famous "Dr. Pepper" code word.

Welcoming Dr. Don Barden:

Introduced through mutual friend Jackie Joy, Don is a bestselling author and behavioral economist with 40 years of experience, including 25 on Wall Street. He describes his life as "Forrest Gump meets Jason Bourne."

📈 There Is No "The Economy":

Don explains that classic economists look backward, while behavioral economists look forward. With 8 billion people on the planet, there are 8 billion economies, and the number one economic indicator is consumer confidence.

🎯 ADHD as a Superpower:

Randy and Don share how ADHD and dyslexia became advantages, not handicaps. Don retells David and Goliath (via Malcolm Gladwell): David had the advantage all along. "The second you become free to be you, great things are going to happen."

🔥 Show Up With Confidence:

Randy recalls heading into a downturn while competitors packed it in and stopped traveling. He kept showing up and won business. Don's point: confidence is contagious, and salespeople shape their buyers' mood more than they think.

🕰️ Leading Those Who "Haven't Seen the Movie":

Many younger workers have never lived through a major downturn. Don's advice: lead by example, show grace, be the optimist, and hold their hand. "Love wins. It always does."

📖 Here Come the Girls:

Don's book, Here Come the Girls: A Celebration of Why Women Will Take Over Global Leadership in the Year 2028, shares his research on why women-led businesses are outperforming in revenue, profit, and retention, and what that means for the economy.

🤝 Sympathy, Empathy, and the Magic Wand:

Don breaks down the leadership approach he found: show sympathy to the problem, empathy to the person, then ask, "If you had a magic wand, how would you fix this?" Then say, "Go do it." People who feel seen, heard, and understood feel valued, and valued people who are empowered grow.

💼 From Transaction to Partnership:

Citing Dr. Cindy McGovern, Don walks through the four zones of selling: friendship, transaction, relationship, and partnership. The goal is to be relevant: collaborate, tell the truth, and grow together. "AI is going to be the spell check of this generation," but business will still be people-to-people.

💪 The Three C's:

Crediting Dan Sullivan, Don explains that confidence is a byproduct of courage, commitment, and capabilities. You don't wait to feel confident; you earn it, then reset the bar.

💡 Key Takeaway

"You can't wait to be confident. Be courageous, commit, and surround yourself with partners who build your capabilities. Then show people you see them, hear them, and value them. That's how we all rise together."

Don Barden, Ph.D.:

https://donbarden.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/donwbarden/

https://www.facebook.com/barden5

https://www.instagram.com/donbarden/

https://x.com/BardenDon

https://www.tiktok.com/@donbarden

Randy Chaffee:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/randychaffee/

https://www.facebook.com/therandychaffee

Source One Marketing:

https://www.sourceonemarketingllc.com

Building Wins:

https://www.buildingwins.live

Wes Wyatt:

https://www.weswyatt.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/weswyatt/

https://www.facebook.com/weswyatt/