Fun Facts

Dwight Eisenhower, 34th POTUS, once said, “a sense of humor is part of the art of leadership, of getting along with people, of getting things done.” I’m 100% on board with that. To me, tasteful humor mixed with a “Radical Candor” approach to management is a winning formula at work. It helps people connect, fosters an atmosphere of ease, and builds a foundation of trust. With the right balance of lightheartedness and focus, collaboration flows naturally, creativity sparks, and productivity rises. I believe in taking work seriously— without slipping into the usual traps of corporate toxicity, stagnation, or dull routines. So here’s a bit of insight into who I am, in and out of the office.

“I think the scariest person in the world is the person with no sense of humor.”

Michael J. Fox

My favorite Quotes

Here are some quotes that keep me going in these fields, shaping the way I approach various aspects of business— and life:

Motivation

“Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground.”

Theodore Roosevelt

Leadership

“Management is about arranging and telling. Leadership is about nurturing and enhancing.”

Tom Peters

Innovation

“Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.”

John F. Kennedy

Management

“Good business leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision and relentlessly drive it to completion.”

Jack Welch

Inspiration

“Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”

Robert Frost

Books I recommend

I set a goal to read at least two books a month (not sure if that’s ambitious or just right). But for me, it’s less about the reading and more about the learning. These books have had a huge impact on my journey so far:

Atomic Habits

by James Clear

The Founder’s Dilemmas

by Noam Wasserman

The Ride of a Lifetime

by Bob Iger

Originals

by Adam Grant

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team

by Patrick Lancioni

Movies & TV Shows I enjoyed

I’m not a 24/7 entrepreneurship guy (just kidding—I totally am), but I do love a good movie or series. Here are a few that have taught me some valuable lessons along the way:

Star Wars: A New Hope

Lucasfilm/1977

Silicon Valley

HBO/2014

The Founder

Filmnation/2016

Becoming Warren Buffet

HBO/2017

The Profit

CNBC/2013

Music that inspires me

Finally, something unrelated to
business…or is it? (I’ll admit, I’m big on podcasts and business channels too). But here are a few songs that really hype me up and keep the energy going:

Dream On

by Aerosmith

Back In Black

by AC/DC

You’ll Never Walk Alone

by Gerry and the Pacemakers

Whatever it Takes

by Imagine Dragons

We Will Rock You

by Queen

I occasionally take on freelance consulting opportunities.

Got a business challenge you’re grappling with or an exciting project that could use some guidance? Let’s connect—I’d be happy to help tackle your business dilemmas and bring fresh perspective to the table.

© 2024 Carlos Machuca. All Rights Reserved/Todos los derechos reservados.