My Life Lessons - The BurgeCast

About My Life Lessons - The BurgeCast

In 1979, Jeff Burgess was a 22-year-old college dropout drifting through life in a haze of beer, weed, and dead-end jobs. He was the "town clown" with an undeniable work ethic but no clear direction. Then, on a lazy Sunday afternoon, his father called him home for a talk that would shake him to his core: "You have a gift, and I cannot allow you to waste it anymore. It’s time to get your shit together." From that moment, everything changed... … and change it did! Armed with a relentless drive, a knack for problem-solving, and a newfound determination to make something of himself, Jeff set out to prove his father right. Within two years, he skyrocketed from warehouse worker to Vice President of Sales at a booming tech company. By the time he retired, he had built a global business supplying surveillance video recording appliances to both the most iconic and the secure sites in the world. It Worked for Me is the inspiring, no-nonsense story of how an underachiever transformed into an industry leader—one who thrived not by playing it safe, but by embracing risk, trusting his gut, and always finding a way forward. Amongst the Five-Star Amazon Reviews… "Jeff Burgess’s It Worked for Me is one of those rare books that manages to be both deeply personal and universally relatable. What stood out most to me was the way Jeff lays bare his journey—equal parts grit, intuition, lucky breaks, and yes, even a bit of dumb luck. He doesn’t sugarcoat the challenges, but he shows how persistence and openness to opportunity can make all the difference. What makes the book especially refreshing is his humility. Rather than presenting his story as a straight line of accomplishments, Jeff acknowledges the twists, turns, and unexpected detours that shaped his path. That honesty makes the victories even more meaningful. And I must give special kudos for the way Jeff consistently praises and credits his wife throughout the book. It’s clear that she’s not just a background figure but an essential part of his story. That kind of recognition adds a warmth and authenticity that makes the book resonate even more. If you’re looking for inspiration, practical wisdom, and a reminder that success often comes from a mix of hard work and serendipity, this book is a must-read. Highly recommend it." Angela T. Verified Amazon Purchase "It Worked for Me isn’t your typical business book—it’s a story of raw perseverance and self-belief from someone who built success without shortcuts or a college degree. Jeff Burgess writes with so much honesty and humor, taking you from the chaos of getting fired to the clarity of founding a multimillion-dollar company. What makes this book stand out is how personal and practical it is. Every story carries a takeaway: how to lead with integrity, turn rejection into motivation, and believe in your own potential even when no one else does. Jeff’s lessons apply far beyond business—they’re lessons for life. If you’ve ever doubted yourself, this book will remind you that passion, persistence, and people skills will always be worth so much! Klaro, Verified Amazon Purchase

Publisher

Jeff Burgess

Category

business · education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

20 Jan 2026

Latest episode

30 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

36 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   30 Oct 2026

   How One COVID Workaround Helped Save My $100 Million Business

   In March 2020, BCD Video had just come off a $108.8 million sales year and a $20 million January. Then COVID hit, Governor Pritzker issued an eight-page shutdown order, and Jeff Burgess sat down with his HR director and read every word of it. Twice. Then again. On the third pass, they found two words that changed everything: essential business. In this episode, Jeff tells the story of how he kept BCD open during the shutdown, forging ahead on the logic that a company capturing security footage at the state capitol and the governor's official residence probably qualified. Act first, ask for forgiveness later. It worked. But that's only half the story. Months into the pandemic, a Morgan Stanley advisor emailed Jeff from two towns away. Jeff invited him in, slid a list of 100 name brand global sites across a 12-foot conference table, went to get coffee, and let the list do the talking. What followed was a deal that sold roughly 30% of the company to an investment firm, securing his family's future at a moment when his health was giving him reasons to think about it. This is a sharp, candid episode about seizing opportunity in the middle of a crisis, and why staying open when everyone else shut down turned out to be one of the best decisions Jeff ever made. To learn more about Jeff’s journey, pick up a copy of 𝙄𝙩 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙈𝙚: 𝙈𝙮 𝙇𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙎𝙚𝙞𝙯𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙊𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘽𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙎𝙪𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨 today! Now also available in audiobook format. 100% of all royalties go directly to the Wounded Warrior Project! Wondrous Stories.... Words and music by Jon Anderson. Copyright held by Atlantic Recording Corporation (℗ 1977, 2003, 2008)

2. 

   16 Oct 2026

   Why Does AI Think You Need Help Before You Even Begin?

   Jeff Burgess opened Microsoft Word to write a blog post and found Copilot waiting there to do it for him. He never asked for it. He never wanted it. And he has thoughts. In this episode, Jeff takes on the quiet arrogance of technology that assumes you need assistance before you've typed a single word. He's not anti-technology; he ran a hardware company for 25 years and watched the computer industry transform from something you could touch and feel into something that increasingly wants to think for you. His problem isn't with the tool. It's with the assumption. From grade schoolers who are handed a copilot before they've learned to think independently, to software companies that default to on and dare you to find the seven steps to turn it off, Jeff makes a simple case: never insult your customer by assuming they can't do it themselves. Make the feature available. Don't make it mandatory. This one came straight from memory, no notes, no AI, no Copilot. Just a cranky old man with a point worth hearing. To learn more about Jeff’s journey, pick up a copy of 𝙄𝙩 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙈𝙚: 𝙈𝙮 𝙇𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙎𝙚𝙞𝙯𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙊𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘽𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙎𝙪𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨 today! Now also available in audiobook format. 100% of all royalties go directly to the Wounded Warrior Project! Wondrous Stories.... Words and music by Jon Anderson. Copyright held by Atlantic Recording Corporation (℗ 1977, 2003, 2008)

3. 

   2 Oct 2026

   The Incredible Coincidence That Proved It’s a Small World After All

   Jeff Burgess and Mike McHugh coached Little League together for six years. They had dinner with their families, watched their boys grow up, and became the kind of friends you don't have to explain yourself to. Then one morning at a Steak 'n Shake on the way to a University of Illinois football game, Mike started telling a story about a basketball camp in 1974, and Jeff's jaw hit the table. In this episode, Jeff tells two stories that turn out to be one. The first is how a Cub Scout Rainwater Regatta in 1997 introduced the Burgess and McHugh families, thanks in large part to Liz McHugh's spectacularly honest first impression. The second is how Jeff and a fellow camper jumped a fence at Bucky Badger Basketball Camp at the University of Wisconsin in 1974 to sneak into a soft core theater, only to return and find Coach Paulus waiting in the lobby with their bags already packed. Twenty-six years between those two events. Ten years of friendship before either man knew they had lived them both. What are the odds? This is a warm, funny, and genuinely surprising episode about the connections that find you when you aren't looking, and the friendships that only get better the longer you have them. Rest in peace, Liz McHugh. You were loved. To learn more about Jeff’s journey, pick up a copy of 𝙄𝙩 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙈𝙚: 𝙈𝙮 𝙇𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙎𝙚𝙞𝙯𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙊𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘽𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙎𝙪𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨 today! Now also available in audiobook format. 100% of all royalties go directly to the Wounded Warrior Project! Wondrous Stories.... Words and music by Jon Anderson. Copyright held by Atlantic Recording Corporation (℗ 1977, 2003, 2008)

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Guest appearances

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Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.