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Listen "A Deeper Dive Into ROI | A Return On Integrity"
Episode Synopsis
Unlock the key to achieving the desired results in your life by delving into the profound concept of integrity and its far-reaching impact. Join Brett Gilliland and John Blumberg in this engaging podcast episode as John sheds light on essential aspects of his book, "The Return on Integrity: How Honesty and Values Create Success from the Ground Up." Gain insights into the reasons behind silence in the face of workplace misconduct and discover how breaking this silence can bring about positive change, even in uncomfortable situations. Tune in to explore the transformative power of integrity for personal and professional success.
https://youtu.be/JZN9kImwAW8
John Blumberg: [00:00:00] The circuit of success podcast, the circuit of success podcast with your host, Brett.
Brett Gilliland: Welcome to the circuit of success. I'm your host, Brett Gilliland. And today we have in the office or the studio, as we like to call it is John Blumberg. John, welcome to the show, Brett. Great to be here with you. It's exciting. And, uh, really one, I appreciate you even doing this in, uh, in person. I know you, uh, drove down from Chicago to spend some time with us.
Uh, for those of you, uh, my, my good friend over here, you can't see him on the, on the camera, from KPMG, Andrew Davidson, and, uh, so appreciate the introduction, Andrew, and, uh, we're gonna have a, a great show, um, today, John is an author, he's a speaker, he's a husband, he's a father, he's a Christian, he's, he's all sorts of stuff, so it's gonna be fun, so, as we do with everybody, John, why don't you just take our listeners through a little, a journey of your life, if you will, and, and tell us what's helped make you the man you are today.
Yeah, I
John Blumberg: think it, [00:01:00] and you, I think you name it well, in that it is a journey, and I think at any moment, uh, that you think you've arrived, or that you think, okay, I've got this all figured out, that's where you're back to, uh, ground zero, uh, and I, uh, I, I just watched the evolution. I spent 18 years at Arthur Anderson, uh, actually started as a CPA in audit.
And, uh, I always say shifted my focus from numbers to people and, uh, spent the bulk of my time, uh, there actually working on, uh, the human development of our professionals and, and, uh, spent a lot of time eventually helping, uh, direct our recruiting worldwide. And through that process, uh, there was a lot. Um, that I learned about myself is that I helped others learn about themselves.
And I think over time, um, I just thought if you could help others be better at what they do. And it really culminated, I was, uh, in a firm wide role and we did these student leadership conferences. And there was a guy Uh, it was a student, uh, that came up to me at the end of the presentation. It was a, [00:02:00] a three day thing.
I had a Saturday night, uh, keynote that I did in my role, and it was called Getting a Vision for Your Life. And, um, people would always come up and say, John, I like your stories. Uh, but this guy, Sam, walked up, and he said, um, and he was the last guy in line, and you always pay attention to the last one, right, because they don't want anybody behind them, right?
And he said, Mr. Blumberg, uh, what you shared tonight I think will change the direction of my life. And what's ironic about that is I wish I knew Sam's last name because I would go find him because a year later him coming up to me that night changed the direction of my life. Um, walking away, uh, from pretty much everything, a firm, a position, everything that was wonderful was a stumbling block that I had to let go of.
And I've learned a lot about letting go, uh, in the years to follow, but it began this journey of, um, Eventually leadership and then eventually, uh, uh, core values. And of course, you can't go out and be speaking on something that you're not continually growing on. So, and
Brett Gilliland: would you say that was a passion of yours when you [00:03:00] were a child?
I mean, were you pretty focused on people and growing and reading books and doing all those things? Or is it something that as you climbed as you're in your career that that
John Blumberg: happened? Yeah, I think, um, I think. People that knew me back then would always say that friends, um, relationships were always, uh, critical to me.
It was kind of funny, uh, even though I had majored in accounting. I always had this thing when I went out to do an audit at a client, um, and it was a time where I would say the clients aren't quite as sophisticated as they are today, and they were a little bit terrified when we came in. And my goal, literally, intentionally, was that when we left, they would be sorry to see us go.
And so I think there's, uh, elements of, um, you know, relationship there, uh, connection, uh, that was, I think, probably always, uh, important to me. I would have never in my younger years seen it play out the way that it's played out, but it's kind of that lamp into your feet thing, right? So let's talk
Brett Gilliland: about that to, to what Sam said to you is get a vision [00:04:00] for your life.
Why, why do you think that's so important?
John Blumberg: Well, I think, um, I think first of all, there's a bit of a paradox at play because I, I think that it's important to, uh, to look inside and begin to understand who you are, um, and then where do you want that person to go at the same time, the paradox is, I think you also have to hold it lightly is that you yes, have to have that vision and play of what you think you're trying to either accomplish or who you're trying to become, but along the way, know that every day if you choose is going to teach you a lesson that may very well change the course and that the original vision may have nothing to do with what the ultimate vision will play out to be.
And that's
Brett Gilliland: what we talked about on the circuit of success. And you can see it behind this is once you have the attitude and you have those beliefs and you do the actions, you ultimately get results, but that's going to create a new vision. Yes. Right. That's exactly, I think that's, what's important about that circuit of success is.
As we travel down the [00:05:00] road of success and as we climb the ladder, do whatever we need to do in our lives. I mean, it's constantly, in my opinion, working on that vision and thinking about that vision because What was a goal and a dream 10 years ago probably isn't the same goal and dream today.
John Blumberg: Yeah, in fact, you would hope it wouldn't be, right?
Uh, if you, if it is, then you probably haven't truly grown, uh, in the process. So let's talk about
Brett Gilliland: your book, R. O. I. Hmm. Everybody always, everybody knows what R. O. I. is, right? Of course they do. But you decided to change the I, so walk us through that. Why? And I love the name of the book. It was a great book.
For those of you that do or don't follow me on social media, it's one of those books that I was highlighting, uh, last month. And it was a phenomenal book and that's why we're sitting here today. So talk to us about ROI. Obviously, we think of return on investment, but you
John Blumberg: changed that. Yeah. And first of all, Brett, thanks for diving into it and, uh, and also having me today.
Uh, so I began looking at this whole issue. I had been working for a long time on, uh, the importance. And this was part of my own evolution from leadership to what really [00:06:00] fuels leadership. Um, and my focus became, uh, laser on the idea of core values. And so as I began to understand that I was only on the surface of what this was about, um, I, I started what I thought was going to be a one year journey to write this book.
And it turned out, it turned out to be a four year journey. Uh, and part of it was because I, I, I began to understand as you started digging into this, it's so much deeper. I was really feeling like if the leader at the top, the, the CEO, or whatever the name of that leader at the top is, if they're not all bought in, um, this isn't going to go anywhere.
And I knew that the leader at the top thought about ROI a lot, of return on investment, um, but this is what, this was not what I was focused on. I wanted to literally reframe the first thing they talked about when they talked about ROI, and therefore the name of the book became, uh, Return on Integrity.
And, uh, it has been quite a journey that Absolutely continues. In fact, there's [00:07:00] been so much that's come from it of my own growth of being challenged by great questions, great insights, but also understanding this is much harder than I thought it would be for individuals. And I'm talking about good individuals with lots of substance.
And it takes a lot longer, uh, to dig to the level that I'm talking about on what their core values are and that would define that integrity. And I'm excited
Brett Gilliland: too to dig in because I, I came up with my, I did the role play or the exercise, right? And I always hope people do that. When you see an author, when they're that committed to telling you to put their own book down and do the homework, I'm like.
I got to do the homework, right? Because he's telling me to put his own book down, but anyway, so I did it and then I doing my research for today. I found that one of the words I use, which will save for later. You say is actually not a core value. So I'm excited to jump into that. So let's talk about you have.
The other book, Silent Alarm, which I got phenomenal, um, that's a novel. This one is not [00:08:00] a novel. Right. Why is that?
John Blumberg: Yeah. And it's, it, I got a lot of push as I was beginning to write it. John, who is the organization that is doing this? And you need to showcase one or two organizations that have done this.
And I said, you know,
https://youtu.be/JZN9kImwAW8
John Blumberg: [00:00:00] The circuit of success podcast, the circuit of success podcast with your host, Brett.
Brett Gilliland: Welcome to the circuit of success. I'm your host, Brett Gilliland. And today we have in the office or the studio, as we like to call it is John Blumberg. John, welcome to the show, Brett. Great to be here with you. It's exciting. And, uh, really one, I appreciate you even doing this in, uh, in person. I know you, uh, drove down from Chicago to spend some time with us.
Uh, for those of you, uh, my, my good friend over here, you can't see him on the, on the camera, from KPMG, Andrew Davidson, and, uh, so appreciate the introduction, Andrew, and, uh, we're gonna have a, a great show, um, today, John is an author, he's a speaker, he's a husband, he's a father, he's a Christian, he's, he's all sorts of stuff, so it's gonna be fun, so, as we do with everybody, John, why don't you just take our listeners through a little, a journey of your life, if you will, and, and tell us what's helped make you the man you are today.
Yeah, I
John Blumberg: think it, [00:01:00] and you, I think you name it well, in that it is a journey, and I think at any moment, uh, that you think you've arrived, or that you think, okay, I've got this all figured out, that's where you're back to, uh, ground zero, uh, and I, uh, I, I just watched the evolution. I spent 18 years at Arthur Anderson, uh, actually started as a CPA in audit.
And, uh, I always say shifted my focus from numbers to people and, uh, spent the bulk of my time, uh, there actually working on, uh, the human development of our professionals and, and, uh, spent a lot of time eventually helping, uh, direct our recruiting worldwide. And through that process, uh, there was a lot. Um, that I learned about myself is that I helped others learn about themselves.
And I think over time, um, I just thought if you could help others be better at what they do. And it really culminated, I was, uh, in a firm wide role and we did these student leadership conferences. And there was a guy Uh, it was a student, uh, that came up to me at the end of the presentation. It was a, [00:02:00] a three day thing.
I had a Saturday night, uh, keynote that I did in my role, and it was called Getting a Vision for Your Life. And, um, people would always come up and say, John, I like your stories. Uh, but this guy, Sam, walked up, and he said, um, and he was the last guy in line, and you always pay attention to the last one, right, because they don't want anybody behind them, right?
And he said, Mr. Blumberg, uh, what you shared tonight I think will change the direction of my life. And what's ironic about that is I wish I knew Sam's last name because I would go find him because a year later him coming up to me that night changed the direction of my life. Um, walking away, uh, from pretty much everything, a firm, a position, everything that was wonderful was a stumbling block that I had to let go of.
And I've learned a lot about letting go, uh, in the years to follow, but it began this journey of, um, Eventually leadership and then eventually, uh, uh, core values. And of course, you can't go out and be speaking on something that you're not continually growing on. So, and
Brett Gilliland: would you say that was a passion of yours when you [00:03:00] were a child?
I mean, were you pretty focused on people and growing and reading books and doing all those things? Or is it something that as you climbed as you're in your career that that
John Blumberg: happened? Yeah, I think, um, I think. People that knew me back then would always say that friends, um, relationships were always, uh, critical to me.
It was kind of funny, uh, even though I had majored in accounting. I always had this thing when I went out to do an audit at a client, um, and it was a time where I would say the clients aren't quite as sophisticated as they are today, and they were a little bit terrified when we came in. And my goal, literally, intentionally, was that when we left, they would be sorry to see us go.
And so I think there's, uh, elements of, um, you know, relationship there, uh, connection, uh, that was, I think, probably always, uh, important to me. I would have never in my younger years seen it play out the way that it's played out, but it's kind of that lamp into your feet thing, right? So let's talk
Brett Gilliland: about that to, to what Sam said to you is get a vision [00:04:00] for your life.
Why, why do you think that's so important?
John Blumberg: Well, I think, um, I think first of all, there's a bit of a paradox at play because I, I think that it's important to, uh, to look inside and begin to understand who you are, um, and then where do you want that person to go at the same time, the paradox is, I think you also have to hold it lightly is that you yes, have to have that vision and play of what you think you're trying to either accomplish or who you're trying to become, but along the way, know that every day if you choose is going to teach you a lesson that may very well change the course and that the original vision may have nothing to do with what the ultimate vision will play out to be.
And that's
Brett Gilliland: what we talked about on the circuit of success. And you can see it behind this is once you have the attitude and you have those beliefs and you do the actions, you ultimately get results, but that's going to create a new vision. Yes. Right. That's exactly, I think that's, what's important about that circuit of success is.
As we travel down the [00:05:00] road of success and as we climb the ladder, do whatever we need to do in our lives. I mean, it's constantly, in my opinion, working on that vision and thinking about that vision because What was a goal and a dream 10 years ago probably isn't the same goal and dream today.
John Blumberg: Yeah, in fact, you would hope it wouldn't be, right?
Uh, if you, if it is, then you probably haven't truly grown, uh, in the process. So let's talk about
Brett Gilliland: your book, R. O. I. Hmm. Everybody always, everybody knows what R. O. I. is, right? Of course they do. But you decided to change the I, so walk us through that. Why? And I love the name of the book. It was a great book.
For those of you that do or don't follow me on social media, it's one of those books that I was highlighting, uh, last month. And it was a phenomenal book and that's why we're sitting here today. So talk to us about ROI. Obviously, we think of return on investment, but you
John Blumberg: changed that. Yeah. And first of all, Brett, thanks for diving into it and, uh, and also having me today.
Uh, so I began looking at this whole issue. I had been working for a long time on, uh, the importance. And this was part of my own evolution from leadership to what really [00:06:00] fuels leadership. Um, and my focus became, uh, laser on the idea of core values. And so as I began to understand that I was only on the surface of what this was about, um, I, I started what I thought was going to be a one year journey to write this book.
And it turned out, it turned out to be a four year journey. Uh, and part of it was because I, I, I began to understand as you started digging into this, it's so much deeper. I was really feeling like if the leader at the top, the, the CEO, or whatever the name of that leader at the top is, if they're not all bought in, um, this isn't going to go anywhere.
And I knew that the leader at the top thought about ROI a lot, of return on investment, um, but this is what, this was not what I was focused on. I wanted to literally reframe the first thing they talked about when they talked about ROI, and therefore the name of the book became, uh, Return on Integrity.
And, uh, it has been quite a journey that Absolutely continues. In fact, there's [00:07:00] been so much that's come from it of my own growth of being challenged by great questions, great insights, but also understanding this is much harder than I thought it would be for individuals. And I'm talking about good individuals with lots of substance.
And it takes a lot longer, uh, to dig to the level that I'm talking about on what their core values are and that would define that integrity. And I'm excited
Brett Gilliland: too to dig in because I, I came up with my, I did the role play or the exercise, right? And I always hope people do that. When you see an author, when they're that committed to telling you to put their own book down and do the homework, I'm like.
I got to do the homework, right? Because he's telling me to put his own book down, but anyway, so I did it and then I doing my research for today. I found that one of the words I use, which will save for later. You say is actually not a core value. So I'm excited to jump into that. So let's talk about you have.
The other book, Silent Alarm, which I got phenomenal, um, that's a novel. This one is not [00:08:00] a novel. Right. Why is that?
John Blumberg: Yeah. And it's, it, I got a lot of push as I was beginning to write it. John, who is the organization that is doing this? And you need to showcase one or two organizations that have done this.
And I said, you know,
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