I just launched a new YouTube show where I share the most fascinating lessons I’ve learned from podcasts—ideas that can help you grow in business and life. It’s called I Learned It on a Podcast.The first episode dives into a topic I know Swarfcast listeners will appreciate: how to communicate, negotiate, and really ...

Chris Armstrong has saved me more times than I can count—helping us at Graff-Pinkert through tough machinery deals, especially when it comes to Swiss machines. Citizens? He’s our guy.But today’s podcast isn’t just about technical know-how. After years of driving coast to coast fixing machines and solving problems mo...

Lately, I’ve been kind of on an AI bender using chatbots like ChatGPT and Claude daily. Whether I like it or not, AI is transforming the way I write, the way I search the Internet, maybe even the way I think.My guest on today’s show, Riley Hutchinson, is bringing that transformation into CNC machine shops.He is co-f...

I met today’s guest, Mike Pelham, completely by chance — over breakfast at the hotel bar during PMTS in Cleveland.He knew who I was from the podcast. But I didn’t know him. Kind of strange when that happens — but it’s really cool. After we talked for five minutes, I started thinking he could be a good interview.Mike...

I get fulfillment from being a yenta. Aka a matchmaker. Or “a dot connector as I like to say” in my serendipity speak.I’m the guy who throws parties and looks forward to his “worlds colliding.” I love introducing one friend from one circle to another friend from another circle who I know will hit it off.Which is one...

Born with no intention of becoming a machinist, Greg Knight says he was drafted into “indentured servitude” at age 16 when his father started a Brown & Sharpe machine shop in their garage. Despite his initial distaste for manual labor, fate had other plans for the psychology, philosophy, religion, and sociology majo...

I imagine playing basketball if I have trouble falling asleep. I envision the basketball rolling delicately off my fingertips while shooting a free throw. March is a wonderful month for me because the NCAA tournament is taking place and great basketball games erupt over three straight weekends.To add to the smorgasb...

How My 80-Year-Old Business StartedYesterday, March 5, was my father Leonard’s birthday. He was born in 1917, the youngest of four–a younger brother had died at four years old.From everything he told me, it was a malfunctioning household. His dad, Louis, who I never met, told him often that his wedding day was the w...

Today we’re running a podcast that I guested on in September of 2024 called “Networking and Marketing Made Simple.” The show focuses on how LinkedIn can be used to grow your business. It’s hosted by Scott Aaron, who for the last seven months was my LinkedIn coach, an experience that is already paying dividends in ou...

Do you know what President Trump’s basket of tariffs is supposed to accomplish? Do you think they will work for the country? Will they be good for you? How about for me?Well I have my doubts. So yesterday I tried to find out by talking to a few of Graff-Pinkert’s most successful customers, who happen to be some of t...