In this podcast episode, host Jim Schleckser speaks with guest, Sheila Heen, who is an expert in difficult conversations and feedback. Heen co-founded the Triad Consulting Group and has extensive experience in negotiation, including at Harvard Law School. She discusses her journey into this field and the importance of understanding emotions in communication. Heen emphasizes the need to go beyond surface conversations and delve into the underlying thoughts and feelings in difficult interactions. ...
Mar 23, 2024•42 min
This podcast features Jim Schleckser, host of The Lazy CEO Podcast, introducing Nicole Grinnel, founder of Mic'd Up Booking and Boseman Solutions, as a guest. Nicole shares her journey into podcasting, starting eight years ago, and discusses how podcasting can benefit various types of businesses. She explains Mic'd Up Booking's services, including assisting with hosting and guest appearances on podcasts, and highlights the importance of targeting the right audience for maximum impact. Nicole pro...
Mar 08, 2024•33 min
In this episode of The Lazy CEO Podcast, host Jim Schleckser welcomes Julian, an expert in recruiting and leadership development, to discuss the challenges and strategies for attracting top talent to organizations. Julian, a former head of recruiting at Bottle Rocket and a key leader at Reach Global, shares his insights based on over 15 years of experience in the field. The conversation begins with discussing the ongoing "war for talent" and the evolving recruiting landscape in today's market. J...
Mar 03, 2024•34 min
In this episode of The Lazy CEO Podcast, host Jim Schleckser introduces Valerie Alexander, an expert on happiness and inclusion in the workplace. Valerie is known for her TED Talk on unconscious bias and her work as a screenwriter for Christmas movies on the Hallmark Channel. The conversation focuses on happiness in the workplace, with Valerie highlighting the importance of employee satisfaction for retention and recruitment. She emphasizes the need for employees to feel a sense of accomplishmen...
Feb 23, 2024•38 min
In this episode of The Lazy CEO Podcast, host Jim Schleckser welcomes Julian Harris, founder of Julian Harris Services and a former commercial lawyer. Julian shares insights from his experience working with various brands, including Manchester United and Twinings. While their initial plan was to discuss soccer, they delve into the Inside Out conceptual model, focusing on the importance of internal awareness in shaping external reality. Julian emphasizes the role of constant mental chatter in dis...
Feb 11, 2024•35 min
In this episode of The Lazy CEO Podcast, host Jim Schleckser interviews Steven Pivnik, former member of The CEO Project and founder of Binary Tree, a successful company he built over 26 years. Steven, also an elite endurance athlete, draws parallels between entrepreneurship and endurance sports, particularly Ironman competitions. He shares how he transitioned from consulting to developing migration products for email systems, which became a multimillion-dollar line of business. Steven emphasizes...
Jan 29, 2024•34 min
In this episode of The Lazy CEO Podcast, host Jim Schleckser discusses the topic of liquidity events and business transitions with expert Laurie Barkman from the Business Transition Sherpa. Laurie shares her personal experience going through an M&A process as a CEO and highlights the challenges, emotions, and decision-making involved in such transitions. Laurie emphasizes the importance of getting good advice during a business transition, considering it as potentially the largest financial t...
Jan 21, 2024•36 min
The Lazy CEO Podcast featured Jim Schleckser, the host and founder of the CEO Project, in a conversation with Peter Goldstein from Exchange Listing. They discussed the process of going public, specifically focusing on Initial Public Offerings (IPOs). Peter, with 35 years of entrepreneurial experience, highlighted the accessibility of IPOs for small and medium-sized companies, dispelling the myth that only unicorns can list on major exchanges. They delved into the advantages of going public, such...
Jan 14, 2024•36 min
In this episode of the Lazy CEO podcast, host Jim Schleckser interviews Bill Bell, a partner at the CEO Project and an expert in sales, sales processes, and measurement. They discuss the challenges CEOs face in generating enough sales and the complexities of solving this problem. Bill shares his background, highlighting his experience as a vice president of sales for 15-20 years before moving into the CEO position. He emphasizes the importance of not giving up responsibility for sales, as growin...
Jan 06, 2024•38 min
In this episode of "The Lazy CEO Podcast," host Jim Schleckser interviews a special guest, the CEO of Glow Tanning Center, who is known for his success in the tanning industry and his viral video that mentioned Schleckser. The CEO shares insights into his business philosophy and the influence he has built. Here's a summary of the key points discussed: 1. Introduction to Glow Tanning Center: Glow Tanning Center is a National Sun Spa franchise with over 75 locations in 13 states. The CEO, who star...
Dec 17, 2023•29 min
The Lazy CEO Podcast features host Jim Schleckser, founder of the CEO Project, discussing crucial topics for leaders, especially CEOs, in a challenging employment market. The focus is on attracting and retaining top talent, often referred to as A players, who can contribute significantly to a company's success. In this episode, Jim interviews Matt Walsh, the CEO and founder of Blue Signal Search, a recruiting firm in Phoenix, Arizona. They delve into the current state of the employment market, a...
Dec 10, 2023•37 min
In this episode of the Lazy CEO Podcast, host Jim Schleckser welcomes a guest from Freedom Travel Systems to discuss strategies for gaining access to lounges, first-class treatment, and VIP travel experiences without breaking the bank. The conversation kicks off with a discussion on the challenges of modern travel, citing changes in airline cost structures, loyalty programs, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Eli emphasizes the need for travelers to adapt and find effective ways to enhance...
Dec 03, 2023•33 min
In this episode of The Lazy CEO Podcast, host Jim Schleckser discusses the considerations and preparations entrepreneurs should undertake before selling their businesses. Schleckser emphasizes the importance of viewing the process as a trade of asset classes rather than a simple sale. He highlights key factors to address well in advance, including the quality of the executive team, the protection of key team members through contracts, and the necessity of making oneself less critical to daily op...
Nov 12, 2023•34 min
In this episode of The Lazy CEO Podcast, host Jim Schleckser welcomes Cheryl Lynn Mobley, founder of reCalibrate. Cheryl shares her unique journey that led to the creation of her book, which blends her experiences on a safari with valuable leadership lessons. The conversation revolves around the challenges organizations face today. Cheryl highlights the issue of organizations heading in the wrong direction at a high velocity, often driven by the desire to please everyone. She observes that leade...
Nov 05, 2023•37 min
In this episode of "The Lazy CEO Podcast," host Jim Schleckser welcomes Ryan Dahnert, the CEO of Plymold, a manufacturer of furniture and fixtures for commercial service. Ryan discusses the journey of his company and the challenges he faced as a first-time CEO. Here are the key points discussed in the podcast: 1. Plymold's Business: Plymold manufactures furniture and fixtures primarily for commercial service, focusing on fast-food restaurant chains, travel stops, and more. The company has been i...
Oct 29, 2023•33 min
In this episode of "The Lazy CEO Podcast" hosted by Jim Schleckser, CEO of the CEO Project, the focus is on the sensitive and vital topic of executive compensation and contracts. Jim discusses the intricacies of compensating CEOs and executive teams, touching on critical components such as base salary, bonuses, and long-term compensation. He emphasizes the importance of aligning compensation with market rates and strategic goals. The podcast also explores the concept of felt fair compensation an...
Oct 22, 2023•37 min
In this episode of The Lazy CEO Podcast, host Jim Schleckser, CEO of the CEO project, welcomes Richard Routh, an expert in the field of AI from Tri 7 Services. They discuss the impact of AI on business, regulations, technology, jobs, and more. Richard begins by explaining the concept of AI, dating back to the 1950s, where the goal was to make machines intelligent like humans artificially. He highlights early AI successes, such as chess-playing programs and the development of speech recognition l...
Oct 15, 2023•38 min
In this episode of The Lazy CEO Podcast, host Jim Schleckser interviews Raven Solomon, an expert in the field of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Raven shares her journey into DEI, drawing from her experience managing diverse teams early in her career at PepsiCo. She highlights the importance of understanding generational differences and how leadership approaches can vary based on different age groups. Raven introduces the concept of "lead language," where each generation has a primary wa...
Oct 08, 2023•38 min
In this episode of The Lazy CEO Podcast, host Jim Schleckser interviews JV Crum, the founder of Conscious Millionaire, who is known for bringing elements of Tony Robbins' mental state and mindset teachings into the business world. Crum discusses how he helps entrepreneurs and professionals elevate their performance and achieve a sense of abundance. He describes his own journey, including a phase of achieving financial success but feeling empty, which led him to seek a deeper purpose. Crum introd...
Oct 01, 2023•38 min
In this episode of the Lazy CEO Podcast, host Jim Schleckser welcomes guest Mitch Joel, a luminary in visionary thinking, digital marketing, and professional travel. They discuss Mitch's diverse portfolio of projects, including his startup, Thinkers One, which connects businesses with thought leaders for personalized thought leadership content. They explore the evolving landscape of remote work and its impact on company culture and productivity. Mitch emphasizes the importance of defining the co...
Sep 24, 2023•39 min
In this episode of The Lazy CEO Podcast, hosted by Jim Schleckser, the discussion revolves around the crucial yet often overlooked topic of corporate culture. Jim emphasizes the significance of company culture and its impact on various aspects of business, including mergers and acquisitions. Jim begins by defining culture as "how we do what we do" and explains that it encompasses how organizations think about their work. He highlights that culture plays a vital role in attracting talent, making ...
Sep 10, 2023•34 min
In this episode of The Lazy CEO Podcast, host Jim Schleckser discusses the dynamics of running a business and the choice between being a "king" or being "rich" with his guest Julie. The central question is whether business owners prioritize holding onto control and maintaining their ego-driven leadership style (being a "king"), or if they focus on scaling the business and generating wealth (being "rich"). The conversation revolves around the challenges and decisions faced by founders as their bu...
Sep 03, 2023•37 min
In this episode of the Lazy CEO Podcast, host Jim Schleckser interviews Dave Mitchell, an expert in leadership and founder of Leadership Difference. The conversation revolves around leadership, understanding oneself, understanding others, and creating a positive organizational culture. Here's a summary of the key points discussed: 1. Defining Leadership and Self-awareness: Dave Mitchell emphasizes that leadership is contextual and situational. The ability to inspire diverse groups of people towa...
Aug 27, 2023•37 min
In this episode of The Lazy CEO Podcast, host Jim Schleckser discusses various topics related to leadership, growth, and challenges faced by CEOs. He is joined by his partners, Pam Singleton and Julie Walker, who are experts in advising CEOs and working with executive teams. They engage in a conversation about the obstacles CEOs commonly encounter and strategies to overcome them. The conversation touches on several key points: 1. CEO Succession Planning: Pam emphasizes the importance of CEO succ...
Aug 20, 2023•39 min
On an episode of "The Lazy CEO Podcast," host Jim Schleckser welcomes April Rinne, author of the book "Flux: 8 Superpowers for Thriving in Constant Change." Rinne is introduced as a globalist and futurist with a diverse background. She discusses her book and its focus on embracing and thriving in a world of continuous and unpredictable change. Rinne explains that change has always been present, but in the modern era, technology has increased our awareness of change, leading to heightened anxiety...
Aug 13, 2023•36 min
In this episode of The Lazy CEO Podcast, host Jim Schleckser welcomes Joey Coleman, Chief Experience Composer of Design Symphony, as his guest. Joey is a renowned speaker and influencer in the areas of customer and employee experience. They discuss Joey's first book, "Never Lose a Customer Again," which emphasizes the importance of paying attention to customers after they become clients. He explains that 20 to 70% of new customers may leave before their 100-day anniversary, highlighting the need...
Aug 06, 2023•44 min
In this episode of The Lazy CEO Podcast, host Jim Schleckser welcomes Rob Volpe, author of the book "Tell Me More About That." The discussion centers around empathy, a crucial trait for great leaders. The podcast explores how empathy is often misunderstood and considered a soft skill that leaders might struggle with. However, Rob highlights that empathy is about connecting with another person's perspective or feelings as they experience them to foster better understanding and relationships. The ...
Jul 30, 2023•38 min
The Lazy CEO Podcast welcomes Jim Schleckser, the host and founder of the CEO Project, and his guest, John Wilson, who runs the CEO Global Network in Toronto. Both have been coaching CEOs for many years and decided to have a candid chat about their experiences. CEO Global Network, like the CEO Project, brings CEOs together in peer groups to learn from each other and help each other succeed. During the conversation, they discuss the top challenges CEOs face. John highlights that the most common i...
Jul 23, 2023•37 min
In this episode of The Lazy CEO Podcast, host Jim Schleckser discusses the process of publishing a book and its potential benefits. He shares his own experience as an author of two bestsellers on Amazon and provides insights into the various publishing models available. Jim emphasizes that publishing a book is a personal achievement and can serve as a calling card for businesses. It establishes credibility and can be used as a tool to attract clients or speaking engagements. While the financial ...
Jul 16, 2023•37 min
In this episode of The Lazy CEO Podcast, host Jim Schleckser, founder of the CEO project, discusses common mistakes made by leaders and managers. With nearly 20 years of experience working with CEOs and running companies himself, Jim has encountered various patterns of errors throughout his career. He emphasizes that although individuals may believe they are making unique mistakes, there are often common pitfalls that many leaders fall into. Jim proceeds to share the top 10 mistakes, along with ...
Jul 02, 2023•35 min
