Episode 29: Live with Edward Miller on Leadership & Success

Welcome to the Lidl Leadership and Success Podcast with your host, Coach BZ. If you need to develop into a better leader, this podcast is for you. If you want to achieve a greater level of success, this podcast is for you. His mentor, Dr. John C. Maxwell, said it best: everything rises and falls on leadership. We hope to inspire you today and provide you with an insight that has the potential to positively impact the trajectory of your life. Welcome to the Leadership and Success Podcast.

Hello everyone, this is Bizzy again from Silicon Valley. I have a great guest for you. For the next 30 minutes or so, we're going to be talking about leadership and success, and my guest is Edward Miller. He's the CEO, chairman, and founder of LumenVox based in San Diego, California. How are you doing today, Edward?

I'm doing really well, and yourself?

Wonderful. I guess it is still morning. I know you're going to be pressed all on time, so let's go straight to it. Can you tell us about your leadership journey, how you came to become the founder and CEO of Lumenbox?

Well, I think throughout all of my life I've been an entrepreneur. And when I was in graduate school for computer science, I had taken on some jobs, consulting jobs, and that's the beginning of one of many businesses. So this business in LumenVox is just a spinoff from another business that I had before.

Wow. And how did you get to actually grow your company? Because there are quite a few people who follow me on LinkedIn who have ideas of becoming an entrepreneur and kind of scaling a business. How has that been for you?

Well, it's always a challenge. There's always many different things that you have to look out for in being an entrepreneur and starting a new company. There are a plethora of different things that you have to watch out for all at the same time. However, understanding what the market needs and where the void is in the market is very important. And to be able to then provide an affordable, low total cost of ownership product, whatever that is, that shows real value is what will bring people to your company.

Yeah, that is very important to say. So as your company scale, I'm thinking at the beginning it's just you and maybe a couple of people, How, what did you do? What changed when you're starting to have more and more employees and direct reports? How were you able to actually build highly efficient teams?

Well, you know, I think hiring the very first person is the most difficult thing, right? And then you realize where the problems are and you need to hire the second one. And that's the second most difficult thing. And then as you add more and more people, it actually gets easier. It's not harder, especially if you're adding really great people along the way. People who happen to be positive, passionate, and curious. If you've got those three things in a person, then you are going to find success.

Wow, that is quite an insight. Now, what do you think, what role does experience play when you are hiring a new employees? Because the 3 things that you just mentioned have nothing to do with experience.

Well, you know, experience in hiring employees is very important, especially in IT, right? They have to have the IQ to be able to do the job, and they have to have the ability today to do the job. But as you know, IT changes dramatically, and knowledge is perishable in our business. It's not like trying to make a hamburger every day where it's pretty much the same. And so, you really need to have AQ, or adaptability quotient. And nowadays, with things that are changing so dramatically, we need to also have a lot of EQ, emotional quotient. And when we're looking for someone, if they have those three things, or what I like to say is being positive, passionate, and curious, then that particular person is going to be a joy to work with. They're going to be easy to work with because they naturally have the passion and the energy and desire to create, to achieve the goals that you need, to give the work product that you want. And they're going to have that curiosity so that as we need to naturally learn new things, they will learn with you and change with you.

Well, thanks so much. That is really great insight. And we are both on the Afobe Technology Council. And how do you really— what has been your journey like into the Forbes Technology Council, and what are some of the best benefits for you so far?

We've just started with the Forbes Council, and it is such a wonderful resource in all sorts of different areas. And for one to go in and look at all of the different materials that are out there, it's mind-boggling. It's a whole universe onto itself. And so by searching carefully on different things, you can just find yourself with some wonderful knowledge. And it's almost in some ways like wandering around a library where you look at very interesting topics and can learn new things quickly.

Before I get into my, uh, 7 favorite questions, one question I wanted to ask you is, uh, looking at all of the success you've had so far, what advice would you have to the 20-year-old version of yourself when you kind of first started into this journey?

Well, I think that it's the same as it's always been, but if I was going to tell someone something, it would be, uh, never give up. If you really believe in this, you must continue to keep the energy going. There's going to be a lot of low spots, but those low spots are where you learn. Those low spots are where you can make some changes. And you always have to constantly talk about the why. Why are you doing this? Both to yourself and to everybody else. For everything that you're doing, give the why.

Great. That ties in very nicely with the very first question. So what is the greatest lesson you have learned so far?

Hire the best people you possibly can that are smarter than yourself. Give good direction and of course the why, uh, you are doing it, and trust them and let them, uh, go do that task, whatever that is, and, and be successful there. And of course Try to measure along the way so that you can set reasonable and achievable goals all along the way with regular check-in.

Wow.

So what do you think is the secret of your success then?

Probably all those things that I just said, right? Because I personally myself am a positive, passionate, and curious guy. So I guess I just want to have other people that are like me because It's fun. I mean, I'm having fun. There's lots of challenges, no doubt.

Yeah, that is wonderful. Curiosity, especially in IT, I think is really, really critical. Like you say, technology changes. Silicon Valley looks like every 3 to 6 months or so, we get something brand new and it's really very difficult to keep up, but those who are curious, who really believe in a life of learning, those are the one I think who are going to really make a difference. So what are you learning now? That's my second question.

You know, the biggest thing I think that we're learning right now is ways for us to bring all forms of voice communication and the meta-understanding behind that There's a lot of things that one can understand in voice. We can, when we get voice, we can know what you said, how you said it, who said it. We can authenticate you and know that it's you. We can also know if we have a previous voiceprint that you're agitated or in a better mood than you were before. We can certainly tell all sorts of new things with our new API. And I'm also interested in some of the things that we're doing with the cloud and cloud enabling the things, uh, our, our systems, you know, using microservices and containers that allow us to put our software in just about any place and any operating system and lots of different chipsets. It's really exciting things, uh, for us, uh, in our future. So I'm trying to learn a lot about those things because that's our future.

Wow.

So what is the greatest investment you have made in yourself so far, you think?

Uh, the greatest investment that I've made in myself is in, uh, some executive coaching that I've received recently.

Nice. Yeah, I have a mentor who says, uh, Everybody needs a coach and everyone says everybody needs therapy, but yeah, it's definitely something that is needed with this world that is changing so drastically and so quickly. Now, talking about this, you kind of mentioned this earlier when you talked about low points, but what has failure— how has failure shaped your life?

Oh, you know, there's been some high notes and there's been very low notes. Um, you know, when you are in your kind of failure mode, you need to, uh, find all those points of gratefulness because gratefulness is really pretty much your only path to happiness. Uh, so when you are at that low spot, you really have to think of all the things that you're grateful for around you and then focus on on those. The other thing is, from the low points, I think, you know, you want to find those low points quickly. You know, you've heard— I'm sure someone on your podcast has said fail fast, right? I mean, that is a very critical thing to find that low point fast, because once you do, you realize that's a path you can't take. And you learn within it when you fail. I have no problem with anybody failing, anybody finding a low point. Do it, do it fast. But then ask yourself, what did I learn? And never try to fail without then asking that question and coming up with a decent answer. And then failures are no longer a failure because then they are a point of instruction.

Wow, I really love what you say. Gratefulness is your only path to happiness. I know last year I lost my mother and somebody challenged me to a 21-day grateful challenge and really saved my life. I was at such a low, low point and it really lifted my spirit, and now I pretty much do it every single year. Wow, this is awesome. So for question number 4, who do you know that we should know? What are some of your mentors or thought leaders you are following now?

Oh, I read so much from so many people. Are you asking for specific people?

Yes, anyone that's interesting that you feel like my audience would be glad to get to know or maybe read their books or work or someone who's influenced you.

Yeah, I mean, in terms of books, there's a book called Factfulness. I'm sure some of your listeners have heard of that book. It's a very popular book. It's by Hans Rohling, and, uh, it, it talks about, uh, how the world is really a great place. And, uh, he mathematically proves how great life is and how great humans are. Along with, there's a guy named Ray Kurzweil. He assisted in making the synthesizer. You probably saw some of those Kurzweil keyboards up on stages and other things. He's invented thousands of different things. And I saw him up on stage one time and he talked about the incredible power of the human, how we're able to figure our ways out of so many things and be innovative in so many ways. And that life really does get better and better. But of course, the book Factfulness by Hans Rosling has proven that in the book. So it's just, it's a nice way to, to find a bit of gratefulness on the earth here.

Wow, that is fantastic. I love that. I've never read this, this book. I've probably read about 2,000 books by now. I will definitely add it to my list of books to read. It's really amazing how when you are positive, you can really find a way out of a situation most people say is just impossible, right? I think it was Nelson Mandela who said, "It's impossible until it is done." So really surrounding yourself with good positive people really does make a big, big, big difference, I think. So What have you done that we should do? What is one action you have taken that has positively impacted your life?

One action that has positively influenced my life recently, or is this just something in general?

Just in general, but recently is fine too.

Recently, well, you know, I've always read, I've always learned just like you with thousands of books and thousands of articles. But I think that also in order to pull all of that together, I think having a great health regimen is really important too. And just getting out and walking or running or biking or doing something just to move. And that, you know, gets everything flowing. It allows you to be able to rid yourself of, you know, any angst and get on with a beautiful day of learning.

Well, that is so great. Quite a few of my guests end up talking about health and fitness and emotional health as well. I feel like when you are young, you really focus on success and sometimes almost to the detriment of your health, right? And fitness is just one of those things that's just so very, very important, but it's not urgent, right? I know for me, part of the reason why I stayed fit is because I joined the US Navy. They didn't give me a choice. It's like, you're gonna be healthy, right? Spirit, mind, and body, whether you like it or not. I remember I couldn't even run a mile and a half when I first joined. I thought I was gonna die. Or something. But with practice, I got much, much better at it. Can you tell us a little bit more about the benefit of really health when you are a leader and you have a mission? Yes, you have to work hard, but how it's important to also really focus on your well-being, especially after what we've gone through with this pandemic.

Yeah, you dropped out a little bit there, but you were talking about the health I had a dropout in the link.

Yes, so the importance of a leader to take care of his or her health while pursuing the mission of the organization.

Oh my gosh, I just dropped out again here. I'm sorry about that.

Well, let's just see, can you hear me better now? Okay, that is, that is fine. So, um, the, the other question I wanted to ask you is, uh, if you had one and only one day to live, what would you have liked your final contribution to be?

If I was single, um, then I think what I would do is figure out how to give every single thing that I have materially to things and places and people and organizations that would do the best with those things and give them maybe a sentence or two as I gave it to them. So basically donate everything.

Wow, that is quite awesome. I know there are a couple of billionaires today who are thinking about giving away pretty much all of their wealth to humanity, which is really a great thing to do. I know you are pressed on time, so very last question we have for you is how can we add value back to you? What could we do to make a difference?

Well, you know, if you just go to www.lumenvox.com, if you're interested in a comprehensive, cost-effective, flexible portfolio of speech and voice technology, That's where you can find us.

Outstanding. Thank you so much for your time. I really, really do appreciate that. I know you have to go, but thank you for giving our audience a lot of insight on leadership and success. Thank you so much, Ed.

Thank you. This is really enjoyable. I really appreciate it.

All right.

Bye. Thank you for listening to the Leadership and Success podcast with your host, Coach BZ. If you like what you heard, Please subscribe to our channels and come back for more wisdom nuggets on how you may develop into a better leader and achieve greater levels of success. Leadership is the most critical skill. The world will always need leaders to lead others, deploy the next disruptive technology, or execute a business strategy. You may as well decide on counting yourself among the 21st century leaders. See you right here next time on the Leadership and Success Podcast with Coach BZ.