Ep.164 I Deciding in the Election: Thinking Beyond the Mudslinging with Ken Coleman
With every election cycle, the noise grows louder—polls, predictions, and endless opinions from every direction. But how much of it is real, and how much is just noise? How can we think clearly and make decisions that serve us, our families, and our businesses?
In this episode, Sanger Smith sits down with Ken Coleman to break down the true impact of elections beyond the headlines. They discuss why polling can be misleading, how the media shapes our perception of political events, and the importance of focusing on what we can control rather than getting swept up in the chaos. Ken offers insight into what strong leadership looks like in a time of deep division.
KEY TOPICS
- How debates have turned into battlegrounds for insults instead of vision.
- Why identity politics is creating division—and how a lack of true identity is driving it.
- What it takes to bring integrity back to leadership when chaos becomes the norm.
- What companies can learn from political missteps when mission and culture stray too far apart.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro: Defeating Bad Decision-Making in Life and Business
00:44 Election Impact on Markets
02:54 Ken Coleman
05:32 The Truth on “Internal Polls”
07:53 Election Impact on the Markets
10:19 Mudslinging by the Candidates
12:46 Trump’s Influence on Political Culture
15:14 Civil Discourse: Is It a Lost Cause?
17:30 How Political Figures Shape the Nation
19:49 Real Leadership Integrity
22:14 Vision Casting in Political Leadership
24:34 When Businesses and Politics Lose Integrity
26:59 Self-Preservation in Second-Gen Businesses
31:48 Integrity vs. Chaos: Why Stability Matters
34:13 Why Chaos Thrives in Politics (and How Businesses Can Avoid It)
36:38 What Businesses Can Learn from Blockbuster
38:53 How Reagan and Trump Shaped American Leadership
41:17 Rejecting Identity Politics
43:44 The Media is Dividing Americans
46:08 Free Speech vs. Temper Tantrums
48:25 How Americans Can Take a Stand
50:49 Returning to Our Values
53:17 The Key to Avoiding Civil Unrest
55:20 Identity Politics and Business
57:26 Ken Coleman’s Decision-Making Tip for Business Owners
57:48 Key Takeaways
59:47 Message from the Producer
OUR FIRST EPISODE WITH KEN
Ep.141 I Deciding to Find Fulfillment: Purpose Isn’t Found in a Paycheck w/ Ken Coleman
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Thank you to Shelby Peterson of Transcend Media for editing and post-production of the Decidedly podcast.
SANGER’S BOOK: A Life Rich with Significance: Transforming Your Wealth to Meaningful Impact
SHAWN’S BOOK: Plateau Jumping: What to Change When Change Is What You Want
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CONNECT WITH KEN COLEMAN
Website: https://www.ramseysolutions.com/ken-coleman
The Ken Coleman Show: https://www.youtube.com/@TheKenColemanShowFullEpisodes/videos
Instagram: @kencoleman
Ken Coleman is a nationally syndicated radio host, best-selling author, and host of The Ken Coleman Show on the Ramsey Network, where he helps listeners find professional passion and purpose. Known for his expertise in leadership and personal development, Ken has authored books like From Paycheck to Purpose and The Proximity Principle.