617: Kwame Christian On How To Take Big Swings in Your Career and Business

617: Kwame Christian On How To Take Big Swings in Your Career and Business

Author: Chris Deferio July 27, 2026 Duration: 48:43

There is wisdom in taking well considered steps in your life and business. The trouble is that sometimes, when the best move is a big one, we can write it off as unwise or reckless. How can we overcome what holds us back from making the right big moves? 

Well I am pleased to welcome back to the show someone who has lived out and navigated this problem. My friend and world renowned expert in communication and negotiation, Kwame Christian! 

Kwame Christian, Director of the American Negotiation Institute. He is the author of two bestselling books: Finding Confidence in Conflict and How to Have Difficult Conversations About Race

He is a highly sought after keynote speaker and was a recent featured guest on the Mel Robbins Podcast.

Kwame is dedicated to empowering others and has helped countless individuals overcome the fear, anxiety, and emotion often associated with difficult conversations through a branded framework called Compassionate Curiosity.

As an attorney and mediator with a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology, a Master of Public Policy, and a Juris Doctorate (Law Degree), Kwame brings a unique multidisciplinary approach to making difficult conversations easier.

We discuss:

  • Big swings mentality and its impact on success
  • The role of identity in behavior change
  • Overcoming fear and limiting beliefs
  • Practical strategies for habit formation
  • The concept of strategic luck and positioning
  • The importance of honesty and self-awareness
  • Playing small is often rooted in limiting beliefs and fear.
  • Adopting an identity-based approach can accelerate behavior change.
  • Small, consistent actions lead to big ripple effects over time.
  • Practicing identity shifts through experiments and reminders is effective.
  • Embracing uncertainty and adaptability is crucial in a changing world.

Links:

www.kwamechristian.com

 

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Build a Stronger Coffee Shop: One Step at a Time

Great coffee shops don't happen by accident. They are built by hiring the right people, training them well, and leading them with clarity and consistency.

In this live three-part Summer Webinar Series, Chris Deferio shares the practical systems and coaching insights that have helped coffee businesses build stronger teams, healthier cultures, and more resilient operations.

Each webinar includes:

  • Live instruction and Q&A
  • PDF workbook
  • One hour of virtual consulting for each live attendee
  • Lifetime access to the recording

Register for the individual sessions that fit your current needs, or scroll down to save 20% on the complete Summer Webinar Series.

REGISTER NOW FOR THE SUMMER WEBINAR SERIES! 

 

chris@keystothshop.com

of book a free call now: 

https://calendly.com/chrisdeferio/30min 

 

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Running a coffee shop is about so much more than pulling great shots. It's a complex dance of craft, culture, and commerce that demands a unique kind of leadership. That's the space where Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders lives. Hosted by Chris Deferio, this podcast digs into the real, often unspoken challenges faced by owners, managers, and aspiring leaders in the specialty coffee world. Each conversation moves beyond abstract theory to deliver concrete, usable strategies you can apply directly to your operation. You'll hear from a diverse range of voices, including seasoned coffee professionals and insightful experts from other fields, all focused on the practicalities of building a thriving business. Episodes tackle the full spectrum of running a shop, from daily systems and financial health to fostering a positive team environment and developing your own skills as a leader. The aim is to provide a genuine resource for growth, whether you're looking to refine your barista program, improve your shop's profitability, or scale your vision thoughtfully. Tune in for honest discussions that equip you with more than just inspiration-they offer the tangible keys to building a better, more sustainable coffee business. This podcast understands that your passion is for coffee, but your success depends on mastering the craft of leadership.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
Podcast Episodes
SHIFT BREAK! The Best Strategy is Simplicity [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:02
I have noticed a lot of noise in the industry. The coffee shop and its owner are the targets of a crushing and never ending stream of marketing that does not care about your success, but only moving units. The uncertaint…
614: 3 Areas to Prioritize for Your People's Success [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:35
A cafe's culture is built by intentionally investing in values, hiring, training, and leadership structures and behaviors. These areas are integral to any cafe's success. The issue is that for many, they tend to be rushe…
SHIFT BREAK! Every Manager Should Have This Trait [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:00
We are notorious in coffee for promoting people into management based only on technical skills or that they might not be quite as unreliable as others on the team. We also rush good people who need more time to develop r…
SHIFT BREAK! Getting The Hint From Your Customers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:59
Sometimes we hope against hope that we can eventually win the customer over to that one flavor, those later hours of your cafe, or the new menu item that the internet said was a sure-fire winner. Whether it is our own pr…
612: Founder Friday! w/ Yaren Maya of Cafeto Cacao in Oaxaca, Mexico! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:59
I am so glad that I came across this jewel of a cafe in Oaxaca City, Oaxaca, Mexico. We hear often about direct trade relationships, local sourcing, excellent hospitality, and servant leadership all as aspirations of min…
611: What Colin Harmon Knows About Growing Coffee Shops! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:58
As hard as starting a coffee shop can be, growing that shop is where the real work begins. The industry is riff with examples of cafes and roasteries that have suffered and even failed as a resulting how they approach gr…
SHIFT BREAK! Are You Ready To Scale? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:42
As time goes on, opportunities to grow your business will present themselves and you need to make a decision on whether you will say yes, no, or not yet. In order to make a good decision there are a few things you should…