Tough Things First

10:00

Live as Though You’ll Die Tomorrow, but…

Tough Things First ·

2026/10/02

In this Tough Things First Podcast: Is it possible to live as if you’ll die tomorrow, yet plan as if you’ll never die? Ray Zinn has spent a lifetime proving that holding both ideas at once is how you turn today into a company, a culture, and a legacy that outruns you. Rob Artigo: Ray, today’s line sounds like a […]

en-US

7:51

Picking a Business Partner

Tough Things First ·

2026/09/28

One of the first decisions that can make or break a company is who you start it with. In this Tough Things First podcast, Ray Zinn discusses why he treats that choice as more consequential than the product itself. Rob Artigo: Today we’re talking about one of the earliest decisions that can make or break a new company, picking a […]

en-US

9:53

You Always Need More Startup Capital Than You Think.

Tough Things First ·

2026/09/28

In this Tough Things First podcast, Ray Zinn’s explains why launching on a tight number is like taking off without enough fuel to reach the destination. Rob Artigo: Ray, today’s topic is one founder’s learned the hard way, you always need more startup capital than you think. You’ve said if you don’t have enough cash, don’t start. Really just don’t […]

en-US

11:12

U.S. National Debt: Causes and Consequences

Tough Things First ·

2026/09/11

America’s national debt has crossed $40 trillion, a milestone built by both parties and now charging businesses and families through higher interest, inflation pressure, and a government that spends as if cash were optional. In this Tough Things First conversation, Ray Zinn asks why Washington refuses the balance-sheet discipline every private enterprise must practice. (Watch Now!) Rob Artigo: Ray, this […]

en-US

7:32

If you Don’t Like to Worry, Don’t Start a Company

Tough Things First ·

2026/09/09

Starting a company will keep you up at night — Ray Zinn just won’t let you waste that energy on things you can’t fix. In this episode of Tough Things First, he draws a hard line between concern you can act on and worry that only drains you, and why confusing the two will sink a founder before the product […]

en-US

9:39

Ambitious, but smart goal setting: Goals that force...

Tough Things First ·

2026/09/04

On this episode of The Tough Things First Podcast, Ray Zinn argues that a goal should do more than nudge last year’s number. It should make you look up, lengthen your stride, and reach past what you already know how to do. Rob Artigo: Today we’re talking about ambitious but smart goal setting. The standard is not a little bit […]

en-US

10:34

Find a Mentor Early

Tough Things First ·

2026/09/01

Hewlett and Packard didn’t just build HP in a garage—they built it because a Stanford professor saw what they could become and pushed them to start before they felt ready. In this The Tough Things First podcast, Ray Zinn shows why the fastest way to become the founder you admire is to find that kind of mentor early and then […]

en-US

11:20

Repentance: Not Just a Religious Principle

Tough Things First ·

2026/08/29

Most people file repentance under religion and then keep repeating the same expensive mistakes at work, at home, and in the mirror. In this Tough Things First podcast, Ray Zinn talks about how it is a leadership skill to own the miss, change course, and make it right. Rob Artigo: Ray, today’s topic is, usually you think of this as […]

en-US

12:26

Personal Energy Management for Sustained Leadership

Tough Things First ·

2026/08/25

In this Tough Things First podcasts, Ray Zinn discusses treating your own time, health, and focus as strategic assets rather than unlimited resources. Rob Artigo: Today we’re talking about something many leaders treat as an afterthought, but is actually one of the most important disciplines they can ever do, personal energy management. Why should leaders treat their own health and focus […]

en-US

8:38

Harnessing Work Ethic and Culture

Tough Things First ·

2026/08/25

Businesses that intend to scale need teams of the right people to do it, but is there a difference between a functional team and a team built on work ethic and culture? In this Tough Things First podcast, Ray Zinn says of course the answer is obvious. (Watch Now!) Rob Artigo: Ray, this is a special edition of the Tough Things […]

en-US

9:59

Beyond Founder-centric Leadership

Tough Things First ·

2026/08/21

The cult of personality can only do so much. In this Tough Things First podcast, Ray Zinn explores how to build systems, culture, and next-generation leaders who can carry the vision forward. Rob Artigo: Today, let’s talk about moving beyond founder-centric leadership. How do you build systems, culture, and next generation leaders who can carry on the vision without you […]

en-US

9:13

Innovation Discipline

Tough Things First ·

2026/08/21

Disciplined, customer-grounded innovation outperforms “move fast and break things.” In this Tough Things First podcast, Ray Zinn discusses how to turn ideas into profitable reality without falling for the hype. Rob Artigo: Today, Ray, we’re talking about innovation discipline, how to turn ideas into profitable reality without falling for the hype. So Ray, why does disciplined, customer-grounded innovation consistently outperform the […]

en-US

10:21

Focus Filter

Tough Things First ·

2026/08/18

A focus filter is for making better decisions like getting rid of good but not great projects, and creating daily rituals that leaders can use to audit their own calendars and team building meetings. Ray Zinn Discusses that a decision tool for alignment with core vision, resource cost, long-term payoff) Rob Artigo: Ray, today we’re discussing a practical tool for […]

en-US

8:08

Hiring and Developing for Legacy Companies

Tough Things First ·

2026/08/18

How do you attract and grow talent that cares more about becoming better humans than just getting rich? Ray Zinn explores hiring and developing people who build legacy companies. Rob Artigo: Today we’re talking about one of the most important responsibilities for any leader, hiring and developing people who help build legacy companies. Specifically, how do you attract and grow talent […]

en-US

12:32

Civility

Tough Things First ·

2026/07/24

Ever wonder why some leaders build unbreakable teams while others fuel endless conflict? In this Tough Things First podcast, Ray Zinn explores how true civility comes from one essential skill: seeing through the other person’s eyes—strengthens relationships and drives real business results. (Watch Now!) Rob Artigo: Ray, as you know, a couple of times each month we do a video […]

en-US

8:18

The Morality Crisis

Tough Things First ·

2026/07/22

You’ve probably heard people say that morality is declining — but is it really? And what’s the real difference between being a moral person versus an amoral one? In this Tough Things First podcast, Ray Zinn cuts through the noise with clear thinking on why the distinction matters more than ever. Rob Artigo: Today we’re tackling a foundational but often […]

en-US

10:37

Demystifying “Trust But Verify”

Tough Things First ·

2026/07/16

You have heard it said many times, but most people get it wrong. In this Tough Things First podcast, Ray Zinn uses smart business logic not magic to demystifying the proverb “Trust But Verify.” Rob Artigo: I’m Rob Artigo, joined once again with Ray, as you’ve just heard his voice right there, founder, longtime CEO at Micrel Semiconductor for 37 profitable […]

en-US

13:33

Leading Through Geopolitical Whiplash

Tough Things First ·

2026/07/14

THIS PODCAST WAS RECORDED BEFORE THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS WITH THE US AND IRAN. IT REMAINS RELEVANT. Can an entrepreneur succeed and staying profitable even when some much seems out of control? In this Tough Things First podcast, Ray Zinn has a reality check and some words of inspiration. (Watch Now!) Ray Zinn: Hey Rob, good to be with you today. […]

en-US

9:51

The Difference Between an Ambitious Founder and an...

Tough Things First ·

2026/07/10

Every founder dreams big. But there’s a razor-thin line between ambition that builds empires and optimism that quietly destroys them. In this Tough Things First podcast, Ray Zinn explores the subtle but critical difference between an ambitious founder and an overly optimistic one. Rob Artigo: Ray, today we’re exploring a subtle but critical distinction. What’s the difference between an ambitious founder […]

en-US

8:28

Smart Persistence

Tough Things First ·

2026/07/07

Ray Zinn is no gambler. In business, his trump card is knowledge. In this Tough Things First podcast, we explore why smart persistence is educated decision making. Rob Artigo: Well, today it’s really about smart persistence, knowing when to double down and when to just walk away gracefully. This is one of the toughest calls any leader can make. So […]

en-US

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