The RFactor

By Maris Segal and Ken Ashby

The RFactor follows two driven characters, Mindi and Rich, who discover that relationships are a factor impacting every aspect of their lives. Mindi, a concert producer, and Rich, a stockbroker and aspiring songwriter, each face their own personal and professional relationship journey and unexpected self-discovery. Mindi and Rich learn that when the four universal relationship rhythms are in sync—Respect, Responsibility, Reframing, and Resilience—their business prospers, and life is thriving.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Joint Venture Publishing, Blue Sky
• Release date: Mar 13, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215187326

Book preview

WHAT PEOPLE

ARE SAYING ABOUT

THE RFACTOR

"The RFactor offers innovative insights into succeeding in business and beyond with universal relationship rhythms."

- Dr. Greg Reid,

Award-winning speaker and author of

28 bestsellers, including Three Feet from Gold

and his most recent title, Wealth Made Easy

The challenges and rewards of nurturing prosperous relationships begin within each of us. From mindset to life lessons, Ashby and Segal creatively coach the reader to view their own lives through the story of two characters.

- David Corbin,

Mentor to mentors,

four-time Wall Street Journal bestselling author,

two-time international award-winning inventor

Whether you're an entrepreneur, solopreneur, C-Suite executive, a student of life and looking for love, or newly entering the workforce, The RFactor is the book for you. Through storytelling, the authors artfully shine a beacon on the power of connected relationships and take the reader on a journey of self-discovery. It’s AWESOME!

- Erik Swanson,

13-time #1 international bestselling author, Founder of Habitude Warrior and Speaker Hearts, award-winning TEDx featured speaker, and creator of AuthorResource.com

This book is filled with transformational leadership nuggets. It will serve corporate teams, individuals, executives, entrepreneurs, young adults, and families throughout their personal and professional lives. It's worth having on every desk as a tool to return to regularly.

- Dr. Judith Rich,

Pioneering teacher and thought leader in the

field of leadership transformation and consciousness,

bestselling author of Beyond the Box

Ashby and Segal have brought a fresh perspective to exploring the power of mastering connected relationships both personally and professionally. As master leaders themselves, living and working together, they are a great example of head and heart leadership.

- Michael Strasner,

Visionary, Corporate Trainer, Mentor and Coach,

Amazon #1 Best Selling Author, Living on The Skinny Branches, Mastering Leadership: Shift the Drift and Change The World

Every success we have in life is tied to our relationships. The authors poignantly remind us that every relationship starts with the relationship we have with ourselves. In The RFactor, Ashby and Segal brilliantly use storytelling to weave the relational tools we need to succeed in business and in life through the lives of two characters. This book is a go-to resource for understanding the power of relationships individually and collectively in today’s world.

- Betsy Myers,

Keynote speaker, author of Take the Lead;

Motivate, Inspire, and Bring Out the Best in Yourself and Everyone Around You, Washington Post Best Leadership Book, former Executive Director, Center for Public Leadership,

Harvard Kennedy School of Government

Fasten your seat belts as Mindi and Rich, the main characters in this story, explore the often exhilarating and sometimes bumpy world of relationships. The RFactor will help organizations of all types and sizes build confident leaders to unlock the critical role that relationships play in collaboration and successful teams, in the office and at home.

- Ali Webb,

President, Ali Webb Strategies, Lecturer,

Columbia University, Professional Studies,

Nonprofit Management

In today's complicated world, The RFactor and its life lessons can be a godsend and a guide to calm and focus, even for the most accomplished individuals. I think many folks will see themselves in the characters in this story.

- Keith Kehlbeck,

Consultant, author, Gone to God:

A Civil War Family's Ultimate Sacrifice

The RFactor identifies the key elements in creating and maintaining meaningful and lasting relationships—Respect, Responsibility, Reframing, and Resilience—and how the quality of your relationships determines the quality of your life.

- Sharon Lechter,

Co-author of Exit Rich, Rich Dad Poor Dad

and 14 other Rich Dad books,

Three Feet from Gold, Outwitting the Devil,

Author of Think and Grow Rich for Women

In my pursuit of excellence on and off the slopes, as a world-class Olympic athlete, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, I agree with the themes explored in this book; Respect, Responsibility, Reframing, and Resilience. I've had many moments in my career when I called upon resilience, and I was grateful for that learned skill. Ashby and Segal have written a great book for business and personal leadership!

-Lindsey Vonn,

Olympic champion, entrepreneur, and philanthropist

The RFactor is a must read! Whether you're single or in a relationship, this book will leave you with a greater understanding of what it means to truly connect with others and the role that all relationships play in our personal growth and happiness.

- Rob Angel,

Best-selling author of Game Changer,

Creator of Pictionary

DISCOVER the UNIVERSAL RHYTHMS for

LEADING PROSPEROUS RELATIONSHIPS

A picture containing logo Description automatically generated A

E V O L V I N G

OUR HUMAN RELATIONSHIP STORY

KEN ASHBY

MARIS SEGAL

The RFactor

Discover the Universal Rhythms

for Leading Prosperous Relationships

Ken Ashby and Maris Segal

Copyright © 2023

ISBN: 979-8-9859524-2-1

Joint Venture Publishing, Blue Sky

For quantity discounts or bulk purchases,

contact www.SegalLeadershipGlobal.com

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be copied, reprinted, or reproduced in any way, electronic or otherwise, without written permission from the author and/or publisher.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the authors’ imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

No warranties or guarantees are expressed or implied by the inclusion of the content herein. Neither the publisher nor the individual author(s) shall be liable for any physical, psychological, emotional, financial, or commercial damages, including, but not limited to, special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.

Printed in the United States of America

D E D I C A T I O N

We dedicate this book to our parents, who were connected in life and love, each married over fifty years. Their spirit and energy continue to inspire our relationships every day.

They modeled for us how to show respect, be responsible,

reframe limiting beliefs, and stand up with resilience.

We are their living legacy.

Robert and Debra Segal

John and Jean Ashby

And to our beautiful family for whom

we stand in gratitude every day...

Kim and Jett

Cindy, Grace, Sam, and Will

Ryan and Amanda

John, Adriana, Kaylee, Peyton, and Blayke

We honor our relationships with each of you and look forward to all the adventures that will continue to unfold.

THE  RFACTOR

Contents

CONNECTION

OPPORTUNITY

RELATIONSHIPS

RESPECT

LISTEN

TRUST

CHOICES

RESPONSIBILITY

INTENTION

COMMUNICATE

REFRAMING

GRATITUDE

ACCEPTANCE

PERSPECTIVE

RESILIENCE

CONSISTENCY

INSPIRATION

CHANGE

UNIVERSAL RELATIONSHIP RHYTHMS

AFTERWORD

EACH OF US

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

CONNECTION

––––––––

Relationships begin with a connection,

and the one relationship that you can’t leave home without is ... YOU.

––––––––

A smile lit up Mindi’s face as the band finished their last number in the long-awaited and highly-publicized last tour of one of the biggest bands in the last two decades. Now 38, Mindi had been just a teen when the band got its start and quickly climbed the charts as they became one of the most popular groups connecting generations, from teens to adults. The fact that they had broken into the top of the charts with their first hit song was impressive. Even more impressive, though, was the fact that the band’s popularity hadn’t waned since then; in fact, they had just hit another #1. As Mindi had just witnessed, every concert, including this one in LA, usually sold out within hours after tickets became available, and the standing-room-only crowd at the arena tonight was no different. Hearing the cheering full-house crowd, Mindi was grateful for another concert that had gone off without a glitch.

It was nights like these that made Mindi love her work. As an executive concert producer in the music business, she had a reputation for being one of the top concert producers in the country, a recognition that she’d held with great appreciation and respect for nearly a decade. Professional musicians were always happy to perform when she was the producer at a venue because they knew everything would go smoothly. Under Mindi’s supervision and leadership, no details were overlooked and there weren’t any surprises. She knew her audiences, and she did her homework, always knowing beforehand all of the significant and even minor details that impressed those she served, whether it was on stage or behind the scenes. Her attention to detail was unsurpassed in the music industry, with attention not only to the artists that performed, but also their production, business, marketing, and management teams.

Most people thought she had a dream job, and she was no exception. Who wouldn’t love to rub shoulders with platinum-award-winning artists and have access to everyone in their circle?  To some, she was the definition of lucky; to Mindi, though, her success was the product of hard work, learning, research, and, most important, connected, trusted, professional relationships that had taken years to build.

The band had finished their encore, and the road crew had started taking down the lights and sound equipment and would soon begin packing the road cases and loading multiple semi-trucks. Mindi was making her post-concert rounds. Satisfied that the crowd had dispersed and the front-of-house details were all in good order, she exited the hall and started to return to the backstage area, where she would have her first opportunity to breathe, have a quick bite, and spend a little time with her favorite childhood band, who were now close and who counted on Mindi to run a tight ship.

As she rounded the corner, she was caught by surprise when she ran into a tall man with dark hair that had the slightest sprinkle of gray at the temples. Not one to forget a face, Mindi knew right away that she had never met the man and wondered how he’d gotten past security.

Can I help you? she asked in her most professional voice that was softened by a sunny smile.

Um, maybe, the man stammered, trying to figure out why the attractive blonde woman before him looked familiar. Hey, wait! Aren’t you Mindi Rhodes—the Mindi Rhodes who produces some of the biggest concerts in the music industry?

Yes, I am. What can I do for you? she asked.

"Wow. It’s a privilege to meet you! You don’t know me—yet. I’m Rich ... Rich Holmes." Following his introduction, he handed her one of his signature business cards—a clear business card with a QR code that linked to a secure web page, which contained his contact information and a catalogue of the songs he’d written.

Hello, Rich, Mindi replied before her recall kicked in. Wait a minute—I’ve seen this card before!

You have? Well, that’s pretty awesome, but I don’t believe we’ve met before so...

No, we haven’t, but I had the pleasure of having lunch last week with a couple of colleagues who are publishers and agents, Mindi explained. "As a matter of fact, I was sitting across from them when