The Outlier Index

In this episode Ali Himyari interviews Tom Roach, general manager of Prancing Horse of Nashville. Tom shares his origin story—from a rural Long Island upbringing and landscaping work to roles at Mercedes, Rolls‑Royce and Ferrari—explaining how preparation, relationships and discipline helped him reach the ultra‑luxury car world.

They discuss lessons learned selling to affluent clients: the importance of service, attention to detail, delegation, daily routines, physical and mental well‑being, and philanthropy. Tom also offers practical advice for young people entering the automotive industry.

This episode highlights how consistent hard work, continual training, and relationship-building create real career progress in retail and the automotive industry.

Through personal stories—from starting as a service advisor to running a dealer group—the Tom Roach emphasize commitment, visualization, and investing in professional development to earn opportunities rather than expecting them to happen by accident.

This episode tackles the dangerous habit of the "coffee clutch"—making excuses for poor performance—and shares a mentor-backed lesson through the story of Ronnie the House Painter: when you lose a deal, hit the next button. Emphasizing daily discipline, back-to-basics routines, and the monthly sales cycle, the episode offers practical advice for staying focused, overcoming slumps, and rebuilding momentum.

Let's explore the idea that delivering great customer service requires real investment and organization, not just a personal touch.

The Tom Roach recounts a memorable deal with Carlos Slim — sitting beside the richest man in the world, handling a car sale, and reflecting on his working-class upbringing and a humorous Dale Carnegie moment.

This episode encourages holding a clear guiding principle, being open to conversation, and recognizing that others' ideas can improve your own.

It also discusses how receiving criticism from both sides often indicates meaningful progress, and that loud detractors usually represent a small minority.

This episode reviews Nashville's two-year pandemic response, highlighting equitable vaccination rates, low mortality, and strong public health outcomes.

It shows how city leadership partnered with developers and businesses to keep construction and the economy moving safely, resulting in the nation's fastest post-pandemic economic recovery.

A chance encounter with the head of Vanderbilt’s trauma program in California led the speaker to quickly pivot career plans and accept an opportunity back in Nashville.

Despite a difficult exit from an existing contract, and with support from his partner Helen, he chose the long-term upside of joining a level 1 trauma center and returned home in 2009.

In this episode, the narrator recalls their late-teens and early-twenties spent taking call and riding around Washington, D.C., instead of socializing.

These unusual, often difficult experiences—choosing work over weekend nights—became defining moments that shaped their personal and professional path.

In this episode, a founder explains how they identify high-leverage points in organizations to create outsized impact by helping leaders and managers thrive. They describe nearly 15 years of experience focused on helping executives find meaning and fulfillment, which then ripples through teams to improve business outcomes.

This episode explores how practicing kindness and small sacrifices in daily life—at work, home, and even the airport—reflects the teachings of Jesus about loving God and loving your neighbor. Speakers discuss making kindness a habit, offering time and resources, and striving toward selfless love.

You have the best goal in the world, if you don't put systems in place that are going to gradually help you create new habits, Good luck.

The episode recounts one person's plan to arrange a large cash delivery using forged signatures, impersonation, and deceptive calls to a bank and an armored-car company.

After visiting Brinks and preparing to pick up millions, the narrator panics, abandons the scheme with only $4,000, and is stopped moments later by armed agents who surround and arrest them.

Ali Hemyari sits down with Greg Sachs — deputy sheriff, hedge fund manager, aviator and entrepreneur — to trace his path from quantitative bond trading to building the Tennessean Travel Stop and partnering with Dolly Parton. Greg recounts market crises, business pivots, and the values that guided him.

He also discusses philanthropy, law enforcement work, lessons in resilience and failure, and how persistence, integrity and community focus shaped his many reinventions.

A former DEA task force officer, Greg Sachs, reflects on his love for the United States, his work on anti-money-laundering cases, and the privilege of service. He also describes a quiet, direct approach to philanthropy—helping families in crisis and funding summer camp opportunities for children who are often left behind.

An early account of launching a SPAC in 2010, raising $80 million and acquiring a digital signage company when SPACs were unpopular.

The episode covers the successful de-SPAC, five years as executive chairman, operational challenges, and the eventual decision to take the company private.

This episode explores a parent’s deliberate choice to be open about family wealth and the responsibilities that come with privilege.

Instead of hiding resources so children think they have nothing, the host argues for acknowledging privilege and teaching children that greater privilege carries greater responsibility to others.

Two entrepreneurs discuss building a business and one admits he could take the company, clients, and IP to start his own firm. The other responds that he would not want to partner with someone who would do that, highlighting a clear stance on integrity.

That honest moment defines real character and leads to a successful, trust-based partnership.

A hopeful creator recounts the relentless effort to secure Dolly Parton for a project — from canceled meetings to a surprise 2.5-hour conversation with her manager.

The episode highlights dreaming big, respecting unexpected moments, and the reality that major artists like Dolly make the final call.

On this episode of The Outlier Index, host Ali Himyari interviews George Girjel, an immigrant from Samarkand who rose from construction and grocery jobs to owning four car dealerships and a UFC gym. George recounts learning English, selling cars, leading teams, and the sacrifices his family made along the way.

He shares practical leadership and sales lessons—lead by example, finish every task, and blend discipline with compassion—and explains how martial arts, persistence, and hard work powered his long-term success.

George Girjel recounts his first job in a grocery store where he stocked shelves, unloaded trucks, and found a freezer full of long-expired food. He raises the issue with management and reflects on logistical frustrations at work.

He also shares memories of growing up in a socialist country—waiting in line for basic goods—which deepens his appreciation for opportunities and abundance in his new life.

George Girjel recalls the harsh realities of leaving Russia under a socialist government—selling property for pennies and being unable to take money out of the country.

They describe rebuilding life after emigrating, with a mother working two jobs and a cultural commitment to care for and respect elders while striving for a better future.

After a three-year immigration process, a 19-year-old and his mother choose the United States over Israel to join family and start a new life, arriving hopeful despite language barriers.

George Girjel begins work immediately in construction with his uncle, repairing low-income apartments connected to a supportive Baptist church, grateful for steady employment and the opportunity to build a better future.

Driving and reflecting, George Girjel shares a simple lesson they tell their kids: even if you don’t like what you’re doing, give it your full effort because someone may be waiting on the result.

The episode focuses on responsibility, doing work well, and the pride that comes from completing tasks perfectly for others and yourself.

Host Ali Hemyari sits down with Dr. Alex Jahangir, an orthopedic trauma surgeon at Vanderbilt, to trace his path from EMT on a bike to leading Nashville through the COVID-19 crisis. He shares his training, career pivots, and the importance of humility, preparation, and strong partnerships.

The episode covers his role on the city’s task force, lessons in public leadership and communication, balancing family and career, and his work as an author and speaker—offering practical advice on resilience, risk, and building lasting impact.

A candid conversation with Seth Choate about committing fully to being a husband, father, professional, and staying fit — and how those roles support and amplify one another.

It highlights the importance of prioritizing time, building habits, and caring for physical, mental, and spiritual health to upgrade your life.

People put items on layaway with small payments throughout the season. If the balance isn’t paid by December 13, the items are returned and resold.

For several years Seth Choate and others have been quietly paying off layaways at Walmart, triggering a voicemail or call that tells shoppers their balance is paid. The surprise is powerful and often feels as meaningful for the giver as for the recipient.

Reflect on the joy of giving and the importance of making a conscious effort to help others during the holidays.

Find someone already doing what you want and spend time around them — even for little or no pay. The learning you gain from proximity and conversation is often more valuable than money.

Seth Choate shares a real example of running with a top realtor each Sunday to absorb his habits and mindset; make it easy for mentors to include you and emulate what they do.

An emotional account of a realtor who used $15,000 saved for a wedding to fund a risky marketing partnership. He negotiated payment terms, believed in his partner's support, and briefly envisioned high-end success—only to face disappointing leads that challenged his expectations and plans.

A former janitor, Seth Choate, recounts how an unexpected opportunity to sell eyeglasses led to record-breaking sales, followed by other sales roles and a difficult decision between a higher-paying sales job and a lower-paying dream of becoming a teacher.

Host Ali Hemyari interviews Seth Choate, who shares his origin story from selling eyeglasses and Yellow Page ads to becoming a successful realtor, house flipper, and RV park owner.

Seth discusses mentorships (including Tony Robbins events), bold financial decisions, moving and rebuilding his business, and expanding into RV parks and marinas.

He emphasizes consistency, personal development, supportive relationships, and the importance of taking calculated risks and learning from failures.

In this episode host Ali Hemyari interviews Matt Tenney, who shares his dramatic transformation from a failed, impulsive scheme and time in military confinement to discovering mindfulness, monastic practice, and a life of service.

Matt explains how solitude and meditation reshaped his priorities, led him to help at-risk youth and hospitalized children, and inspired his approach to leadership and his bestselling book Inspire Greatness.

On this episode of The Outlier Index, Sammy Poori recounts his journey from fleeing Iran with $40 to arriving in Nashville, starting multiple businesses and building a real estate portfolio.

He shares the sacrifices, hustle, and practical lessons—how maintaining cash flow, reinvesting profits, and relentless work ethic turned small ventures into lasting success.

Along the way Sami also discusses his passion for exotic cars and how community and mentorship helped shape his path.

Honoree Corder recounts her rise from foster care and multiple jobs to building a career as an entrepreneur, executive coach, speaker and author, driven by relentless personal development and discipline.

The episode explores how she turned books into intentional revenue-generating assets, her bespoke publishing process, and practical advice on using relationships and positioning to grow a business.

A candid conversation with Olympian Scott Hamilton about his extraordinary path from illness and adoption to Olympic gold, an undefeated competitive run, and a long professional career. Scott shares hard-won lessons on discipline, overcoming failure, building excellence, handling criticism, and how suffering shaped his mindset and philanthropy.

In this episode Ali Hemyari interviews Nataliia Sanzo, a multilingual Ukrainian-born registered dietitian turned entrepreneur, commercial multi-engine pilot, and avid diver. Natalia shares her origin story, the cultural differences in food between Europe and the U.S., and how studying nutrition changed her life.

They discuss Nataliia’s Hashimoto’s diagnosis, the role of applied nutrition in autoimmune health, her move into coaching and social media during COVID, and how lessons from aviation and diving shape her approach to discipline, coaching, and personal growth.

Honoree Corder has built a career around understanding success, discipline, and what makes people move from intention to execution.

On The Outlier Index, we go deeper.

Where does relentless drive come from?
Why do some people keep going when others stop?
And can the traits of an outlier actually be learned?

Honoree Corder. The Outlier Index.
Full episode 9.21.26.

Success isn't magic. There's a code to it.

Most people see the success.

They don't see the decisions that came before it.

The risks. The failures. The sacrifices. The moments when quitting would have been easier than continuing.

Sammy Poori joins The Outlier Index to talk about what happens behind the accomplishments and what it really takes to separate yourself from the crowd.

Because we're not interested in asking successful people what they have.

We want to know what they have that most people don't.

Sammy Poori. The Outlier Index.
Full episode 9.21.26.

...

What happens when ambition refuses to stay grounded?

You build.
You risk.
You adapt.
You fly.

Entrepreneur and aviator Nataliia Sanzo didn't choose the conventional path. She created her own.

On The Outlier Index, we go beyond what she's accomplished to uncover something far more interesting:

What made her capable of accomplishing it?

Nataliia Sanzo.
The Outlier Index.

Full episode 9.21.26.

Ordinary was never the destination.

The podium only tells you how the story ended.

It doesn't tell you what it took to get there.

Before the gold, there were obstacles.
Before the applause, there was adversity.
Before the legend, there was a choice to keep going.

Scott Hamilton joins The Outlier Index for a conversation about what really separates the exceptional from everyone else.

The story behind the outlier.
Full episode drops 9.21.26.

#TheOutlierIndex #ScottHamilton #Olympian #ExceptionalPerformers #Mindset

Some people chase success.

Others study it, understand it, and teach others how to create it.

Honoree Corder has spent her career turning ideas into action and helping people recognize what they're truly capable of.

But on The Outlier Index, we wanted to turn the questions on her.

What shaped her mindset?
What fueled her ambition?
And after years of studying successful people, what does she believe actually separates the exceptional from everyone else?

Honoree Corder. The Outlier Index.
Full episode 9.21.26.

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