Why is talking about money so hard? An even better question might be: why do so many job postings treat compensation like a state secret—vague, unclear, or completely absent? The truth is, people want to know they’ll be respected and valued. If you leave them guessing, they’ll start looking elsewhere. In Part 1 of this hiring series, we covered how to attract the right candidates. In Part 2 , we dug into asking the right questions during interviews. In Part 3, we’re focusing entirely on compensa...
Apr 14, 2025•30 min
Most interviews miss the mark. Predictable questions. Rehearsed answers. And when it’s over, you still haven’t figured out who the person really is. In Part 1 of this series, we covered what matters most when it comes to attracting the right candidates. Today is about what happens next. How do you actually assess whether someone can solve the real problems you are hiring them to tackle or if they’re the right fit? The truth is, most people can talk a good game and tell you what you’d like to hea...
Apr 07, 2025•29 min
Hiring the right people doesn’t start with the interview — it starts with the job posting. In this first episode of our hiring series, we tackle a question we hear all the time from mentoring clients: How do I find better candidates? Whether you’re a business owner, a team leader involved in hiring, or even someone applying for jobs, this one’s for you. We break down a simple but effective framework to help you diagnose and improve your hiring process from the ground up. This isn’t theory or a f...
Mar 31, 2025•25 min
You feel it, right? That tension thick enough to slice, the elephant in the room no one dares mention. But sooner or later, it has to be dealt with. Most people think resolving conflict demands complex processes. In reality, the solution usually boils down to simply hashing it out. Yet, when friction arises, we often overcomplicate things or avoid them altogether, escalating drama. It's time to step up and initiate tough conversations. Brace yourself. Some people will resist. Some simply lack th...
Mar 24, 2025•32 min
You hear about it all the time. A team goes from the bottom of the league to championship contenders. A failing company suddenly becomes the industry gold standard. The media calls it a “culture shift,” but let’s be real, culture doesn’t change overnight. It erodes over time when bad habits go unchecked, just like it improves through intentional action. The problem? Most people don’t have the stomach for what it really takes to make that shift happen. Changing culture isn’t about slogans, feel-g...
Mar 17, 2025•28 min
Most people focus on the big moments when preparing for a speech, but true professionals know it’s the small, overlooked details that make all the difference. In this episode, Brett answers one of the most common questions he gets: “What’s your process for preparing to give a keynote or in-service?” Pulling from hard-earned experience over the past decade, he walks through the non-negotiables and need-to-knows before stepping onto any stage - whether it's a small local event, a professional spor...
Mar 10, 2025•29 min
In a world where AI is becoming part of everything we do, the big question isn’t if you should use it—it’s how you should use it. Are you using AI to sharpen your thinking and free up mental bandwidth? Or is it slowly making you more dependent, less strategic, and mentally lazy without you realizing it? In this episode, I break down: ✅ How high performers and busy people use AI to enhance their thinking—not replace it ✅ Ways AI can help you improve clarity, strategy, and execution—if used correc...
Mar 03, 2025•28 min
We all wear different hats throughout the day. One minute, you’re locked in at work, making quick decisions under pressure. Next, you’re at home, where that same intensity doesn’t fly. Maybe you’re presenting to a boardroom in the morning and coaching your kid’s team in the evening. Each situation demands a different approach. If you don’t adjust, you misfire. The ability to shift gears seamlessly, whether in leadership, relationships, or daily interactions isn't just communication, it’s a survi...
Feb 24, 2025•41 min
You can’t make this stuff up. Every time you finally sit down to tackle the project you know needs to get done, something gets in the way. You get sick. A family member needs help. You lose your job or suffer a major professional setback. And let’s be honest, sometimes the biggest obstacle…is you. The crazier or more unpredictable the distraction, the more likely it seems to happen. So how do we stop getting knocked off course? How do we sidestep the constant barrage of setbacks, gather ourselve...
Feb 17, 2025•36 min
DONE. You’ve finally finished the big project you’ve been agonizing over. But as you prepare to hit send, print, submit - whatever - all you feel is doubt. Despite the preparation and time you’ve put in, you can’t help but think about all the ways this “finished product” isn’t good enough. This is just one example of how perfectionism can manifest in our day-to-day lives; how it can hold us back, make us feel anxious - even depressed - and how it can keep us from making the type of progress we s...
Feb 10, 2025•1 hr 2 min
We’ve all been there. Stuck, unmotivated, and unsure of what to do or where to go next. And just as we’ve struggled, we’ve also had to help others who can’t seem to move forward. Whether you’re a leader, manager, mentor, or just someone who wants to be more effective in tough conversations, knowing how to cut through resistance is a critical skill. People don’t just fear failure, they fear success. Staying stuck, or just refusing to advance, feels safer than the prospect of higher expectations a...
Feb 03, 2025•31 min
This week, we’re revisiting one of our most popular episodes, and a topic people continue to ask us about. People pleasing. We’ve all seen it before (whether we recognized it or not) - constantly being agreeable, always saying yes, never setting any boundaries - all to the point of self-destruction. If you haven’t experienced it yourself, it’s likely you’ve witnessed someone else demonstrate these behaviors. And although it may have short-term benefits, we know that these self-destructive tenden...
Jan 27, 2025•54 min
We’ve all been there, and watched it happen from afar. Something happens, and the temperature starts to rise. Tempers flare, and the situation becomes heated. These moments can reveal sides of us we’re not particularly proud of. How should we respond when life gets tense and others lack empathy or communicate in passive-aggressive ways? What actions can we take to navigate these difficult interactions without making things worse? To move forward, we must find a way to counter our adrenaline, exu...
Jan 20, 2025•31 min
Have you ever heard the phrase, "no plan survives first contact," or, "everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face"? These sayings might sound dramatic, but let’s be honest, they ring true. Life has a way of throwing curveballs at us, especially when we’re chasing our biggest, scariest goals. When that happens, we’re often quick to rationalize, intellectualize, or make excuses for why we didn’t follow through. It’s human nature, but it doesn’t have to be the end of the story. The real...
Jan 13, 2025•28 min
New year, new you, right? Many of us set resolutions and goals this time of year, which is a great way to start fresh. But let’s be honest: flipping the calendar doesn’t magically fix everything in our lives. If we want to truly step up as leaders, spouses, parents, or high achievers, we need to confront the uncomfortable “stuff” we’ve been avoiding. It’s about unpacking the baggage we’ve been dragging along, facing it head-on, and making the changes that not only improve our lives but also ripp...
Jan 06, 2025•39 min
This week, we’re revisiting one of our most popular episodes, because the questions about this topic just keep coming! While giving feedback is a skill many want to master, the real secret lies in learning how to receive it. (’Tis the inverse of the season) Hearing where we can improve is tough, and the common advice about giving feedback—like the “sandwich technique”—often falls flat in real-world situations. Instead of sharing surface-level tactics, we’re diving into strategies that actually w...
Dec 30, 2024•52 min
Regret. It’s a loaded word, especially around the holidays. But it doesn’t have to be as painful as it seems. Imagine the peace of mind that comes with knowing you’ve done everything in your power to let someone truly understand where you’re coming from and why. How can we hold ourselves accountable and ensure we’re not the problem in those critical moments? Maybe you’re one of the lucky ones who doesn’t have heavy personal issues to navigate. Instead, you want to show up for your team, lead wit...
Dec 23, 2024•29 min
There’s nowhere lonelier in the world than rock bottom. It’s a place where overwhelm, anxiety, and uncertainty feel relentless, and the total weight of your burden makes moving forward seem impossible. Staying down is a choice, but it’s one that you really can’t afford to make. Before you pick yourself up, you need to know exactly where you are. When you recognize where the demons holding you down come from, you can see the path you need to take to fight back and regain control. It’s not about h...
Dec 16, 2024•36 min
This is not a “social media is bad” episode. That conversation has been talked to death. The truth is, very few things are inherently good or bad—it’s all in how you use them. But today’s episode is about how they use you. If “they” were writing this, they’d correct me and say, it’s how we allow them to use us. What makes the algorithm so effective at manipulating our sense of self worth and exploiting our deepest insecurities? Why do we fall into cycles of comparison, inadequacy, and pleasure s...
Dec 09, 2024•38 min
Lazy. It's one of the most shameful things you can be. And it's largely a title or accusation we make of ourselves. Why do we so frequently feel utterly drained, craving time to unwind and escape reality? Is there a way to not just reclaim that time, but to structure our days more intentionally to prevent fatigue from building and spiraling into a never-ending cycle? What can we do to finally experience relief and regain control? In today’s episode, Brett provides a framework to identify the war...
Dec 02, 2024•34 min
Have you ever felt stuck or stagnant? That restless feeling like you’re spinning your wheels, going nowhere fast, yet knowing deep down that you need to break free. Stagnation isn’t just about a lack of progress; it’s a state of mind that can creep into any part of your life—your career, your relationships, or even your personal growth. But the good news? Feeling stuck is a signal, not a sentence. If you’re hard on yourself, hold high expectations, and tend to overthink, this episode is for you....
Nov 25, 2024•22 min
When they’re your best player or most productive employee, but ALSO the biggest thorn in your side. We’ve all been there and had to deal with the type. What do you do? This episode transcends the specific context of coaching a high school athlete to tackle a broader, universal challenge faced by leaders, managers, and professionals everywhere. Whether you’re navigating a workplace dynamic, coaching a team, or leading a group, this discussion will equip you with strategies to help difficult indiv...
Nov 18, 2024•29 min
The knot in your stomach. That flush of unease when you know you’ve fallen short of your own standards. The only way to truly adapt and evolve is through real vulnerability—not the gentle, polished kind from TED talks, but the raw honesty that forces you to confront hard truths about yourself. This isn’t about stepping out of your comfort zone in a clichéd way; it’s about embracing the discomfort and going to war until you’re fully transformed. Today’s guest, Kyle Holland, knows a thing or two a...
Nov 11, 2024•1 hr 21 min
Audit. It’s one of the most unsettling words in the English dictionary, carrying a connotation of fear and unease that makes people shy away from even the slightest hint of it But, like most intimidating things, an audit becomes far less daunting once you look at it more closely. One definition of an audit is simply “a systematic review or assessment of something.” Think of it as a straightforward check-in—a moment to take stock of where you stand and where you want to go. At the end of the day,...
Nov 04, 2024•19 min
“I’M DONE.” It’s one of the most frustrating feelings in the world. You’ve tried everything to fix things but just can’t get through to someone. You keep hitting the wall over and over. But what if there’s a way to revisit the problem, to approach it from a different angle, and open their minds (and ours) to new possibilities? In this compact episode, Brett gets straight to the point of navigating these messy situations, helping you zoom out to see the situation for what it truly is, and recogni...
Oct 28, 2024•23 min
Empty Coaching. Words and phrases that lack teeth. “Good job! You’re getting there! I like that.” “We’ve got to get better. C’mon, step it up. That’s not what I’m looking for.” We’ve all been guilty of letting these clichés fly out of our mouths at one point or another. But do they actually help inspire change or simply fill the silence? In today’s episode, we cut through these hollow lines and explore how we, as leaders and coaches, can move beyond surface-level feedback to foster both immediat...
Oct 21, 2024•1 hr 7 min
Our lives are not the movies. When sudden, unpredictable events like family hardships or natural disasters strike, it can feel like we’re living in one. But more often, the changes in our stories are subtle. The turmoil is internal, and we’re left to wrestle with our challenges quietly, on our own. Today’s guest is no stranger to this real-life push and pull. She knows what it’s like to juggle the expectations of motherhood, navigate life transitions, and manage the chaos that comes with it all....
Oct 14, 2024•1 hr 7 min
We’ve all heard the motivational phrase, “Failure isn’t an option.” It sounds inspiring, but is it really true? Failure, in reality, is an option—often chosen in the form of inaction, silence, or the unwillingness to engage. How many times have you held back an idea, avoided speaking up, or let a moment pass because of the fear of judgment? Playing it safe is extremely tragic. In today’s episode, we’re diving into the cost of silence and the hidden price we pay by not putting ourselves out there...
Oct 07, 2024•31 min
Why would someone hold on to a false or inaccurate belief even when you’ve laid out all the facts and logic in front of them? You couldn’t have been more clear in presenting your argument! Your reasoning is solid, but maybe it’s not the absence of evidence that’s preventing them from changing their perspective—it might be the way the information was delivered... Today’s show is one of our keystone episodes, unlocking why constructive communication often fails to get off the ground. Brett is join...
Sep 30, 2024•1 hr 20 min
It’s the holy grail of mental health and wellness for many people. Almost all of us, at one point or another, have chased the elusive 'work-life balance,' hoping to find the perfect harmony between our careers and personal lives. But is 'balance' really the right word? Perhaps it’s a misnomer that oversimplifies the complexity of juggling work and family. Today’s topic arose from a conversation between Brett and several of our facilitators about the push and pull that occurs between career and f...
Sep 23, 2024•40 min
