Ever wondered if compassion and decisive leadership can coexist? In this powerful conversation with Cal Riley, combat veteran, EOS Implementer, and author of "Entrepreneurial Compassion," Cam and Otis explore what it really means to lead with both strength and heart.

"It's not compassionate to hold on to somebody if they're not a good fit," Cal explains, challenging the common misconception that compassionate leadership means avoiding tough decisions. "You're doing them a disservice. You're in pain. They're in pain... The whole team sees it."

From discussing how EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) helps leaders understand that "not everybody is good at everything" to sharing his deeply personal mission to create a million compassionate leaders and prevent 100,000 suicides, Cal offers a refreshing perspective on leadership that balances accountability with genuine care.

Whether you're a business owner struggling with difficult personnel decisions or a leader looking to create a healthier company culture, Cal's insights on entrepreneurial compassion provide a roadmap for leading differently. Plus, all proceeds from his book go to Stop Soldier Suicide—making this conversation not just informative, but potentially life-saving.

More About Cal:
Cal Riley is a leadership coach, entrepreneur, and combat veteran who teaches leaders how to serve with both strength and compassion. As an EOS Implementer and business owner himself, he helps founders lead with clarity, communicate effectively, and create cultures where people can thrive. He’s the author of Entrepreneurial Compassion: An Entrepreneur’s
Journey Through Combat, Suicide, and the Discovery of Compassionate Leadership, a deeply personal and practical guide for founders who want to lead differently. His mission: create 1 million compassionate leaders by 2035 and prevent 100,000 suicides by helping leaders build healthier companies and more humane systems.

#CompassionateLeadership #EntrepreneurialCompassion #LeadershipWithHeart #AccountabilityAndEmpathy #EOSLeadership #CultureBuilding #VeteranLeadership #MentalHealthAwareness #PurposeDrivenLeadership #10xYourTeam


Chapter Times and Titles:

From Combat to Compassionate Leadership [00:00 - 15:00]
Introduction to Cal Riley and his background
The journey from military service to entrepreneurship
First glimpses of the compassion philosophy

"It's Not Compassionate to Hold On" [15:01 - 25:00]
The misconception about compassionate leadership
Why keeping poor-fit employees hurts everyone
How EOS helps leaders make better people decisions

Finding the Right Fit [25:01 - 35:00]
"Most people aren't good at most things"
Identifying strengths and passions
Creating roles where people can thrive

The Mission: 1 Million Compassionate Leaders [35:01 - 47:00]
Cal's personal mission and its origins
The connection between leadership and suicide prevention
Building healthier companies and more humane systems

Training vs. Executing in Leadership [47:01 - 55:00]
The challenge of setting goals without structure
Why entrepreneurs are "always executing, rarely training"
Holding yourself and your team to higher standards

Take the Pledge [55:01 - End]
Cal's invitation to become a compassionate leader
The free survey at CalRiley.com
How to support Stop Soldier Suicide through his book


Cal Riley
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cal-riley-6482b376/
https://x.com/CalinCalRiley
https://www.facebook.com/people/CultureTeam/100083777013775/
https://calriley.com/

Ever tried to escape work by picking up a hobby, only to discover it teaches you everything about your profession? In this fascinating conversation with Philip Atkinson, author of "BeeWise: 12 Leadership Lessons from Inside a Busy Hive," Cam and Otis explore how the complex world of beekeeping offers surprising insights into organizational leadership.

"I was looking in my private life to start a new hobby to do nothing to do with work," Philip explains about his beekeeping journey. "And it was all about complex organizations and decision making and communication and what the bees do. And of course, bang, it hit me. Beekeeping is a metaphor for complex life in working organizations today."

From seasonal cycles that mirror business planning to colony division that reflects organizational scaling, Philip draws powerful parallels between the busy hive and today's workplace. "The bees have a natural survival instinct, and they need to adapt and grow," he shares, explaining how this translates to leadership challenges. "As a single leader, I can't do everything. I actually need to create an environment to scale things by trusting other people to be great."

Whether you're fascinated by nature, looking for fresh leadership perspectives, or simply curious about how a hobby can transform into a life's purpose, this conversation offers rich insights into what we can learn from these remarkable creatures—or, as Philip would say, Apis Melifera.

More About Philip:
Philip Atkinson is a leadership coach, organizational transformation expert, and founder of Hive-Logic. With leadership roles at Novartis, Roche, Sanofi, and Publicis, Philip has worked with some of the world’s largest organizations to build stronger teams and healthier cultures. Based near the Swiss border in France, he supports senior leaders across Europe and beyond through coaching, facilitation, and strategy. His warm, thought-provoking communication style has landed him features in Forbes, Management Today, CEO World, and BBC TV and radio. Philip is also a beekeeper. In his book Bee Wise: 12 Leadership Lessons from a Busy Beehive, he draws powerful insights from the hidden workings of the hive. The book explores decision-making, inclusion, communication, and purpose with contributions from global thought leaders at EY, L’Oréal, and more. All profits support Bees for Development, a charity helping families build sustainable livelihoods through beekeeping.

#LeadershipLessons #BeekeepingAndBusiness #OrganizationalWisdom #HiveLogic #AdaptiveLeadership #Teamwork #NatureInspiredLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #TribeAndPurpose #10xYourTeam



Chapter Times and Titles:

From Corporate Life to Beekeeping [00:00 - 05:00]
Introduction to Philip Atkinson and "BeeWise"
The search for a hobby, "nothing to do with work"
The moment of realization: "Beekeeping is a metaphor"

Apis Melifera: More Than Just Bees [05:01 - 10:00]
The fascinating terminology of beekeeping
How the beekeeping community responded to Philip's insights
Initial connections between hives and organizations

Seasonal Wisdom from the Hive [10:01 - 20:00]
"Close some of the other projects first" - lessons in prioritization
The bee lifecycle and seasonal changes
How nature's patterns inform business planning

Colony Division: A Model for Scaling [20:01 - 35:00]
"The bees have a natural survival instinct."
How colonies grow by dividing and multiplying
Parallels to organizational growth and leadership

Creating an Environment for Others to Thrive [35:01 - 45:00]
"As a single leader, I can't do everything."
Trusting others to be great
Building systems that scale beyond individual capacity

The Busy Hive as Leadership Metaphor [45:01 - End]
Key takeaways from Philip's book
How to connect with Hive-Logic
Final thoughts on learning from nature

Ever wondered what happens when you take high-achieving entrepreneurs away from their screens and put them on a fishing boat in British Columbia? In this conversation with Sam Vandervalk, founder of ARC Trips, Cam and Otis explore how adventure-based experiences can transform leadership and purpose.

"I love helping other people," Sam shares, explaining his transition from running a successful fishing guide business to creating mastermind retreats. "It's seeing people really come alive and attach to their mission." This genuine passion for facilitating transformation is evident throughout the conversation as Sam describes how being in a completely new environment helps take people "outside of their normal thought pattern" and opens up creativity.

What makes this episode particularly compelling is Sam's insight into the competitive edge of successful guides: "There's a competitive edge, but that competitive edge rests in helping others succeed." This philosophy extends beyond fishing into his approach to leadership development, where he helps entrepreneurs align with their core mission.

Whether you're feeling stuck in your business, searching for deeper purpose, or simply curious about how nature-based experiences can spark transformation, Sam's invitation to "bring you to a magical place and set something inside of you that will change the course of your life" offers an intriguing alternative to traditional business development.

More About Sam:
Sam Vandervalk is the founder of ARC Trips, a premier mastermind retreat experience for high-achieving entrepreneurs and leaders seeking purpose beyond success. After building one of British Columbia’s top sport fishing businesses and attending masterminds, Sam realized that financial success alone wasn’t enough—true fulfillment comes from aligning achievement with deeper meaning. This inspired him to create immersive, adventure-based retreats where leaders step away from the daily grind, engage in transformative conversations, and build powerful connections in breathtaking natural settings.

Through ARC Mastermind Retreats, Sam blends world-class fishing adventures with curated discussions that foster clarity, personal growth, and impact. His retreats attract purpose-driven individuals ready to shift from chasing more to living fully. With a passion for experiential learning and authentic relationships, Sam creates spaces where leaders reconnect with their vision, embrace new perspectives, and build a legacy that extends beyond business.


#10xyourteam #LeadershipDevelopment #PurposeDrivenLeadership #EntrepreneurMindset #TransformativeExperiences #AdventureLeadership #ARCTrips #MastermindRetreats #PersonalGrowth #TribeAndPurpose


Chapter Times and Titles:

From Fishing Guide to Purpose Facilitator [00:00 - 10:00]
Introduction to Sam Vandervalk and ARC Trips
The journey from a sport fishing business to mastermind retreats
Finding purpose beyond financial success

Balancing Business and Passion [10:01 - 25:00]
"I love being out on the boat, but I also love the business part."
Managing the aspects of business that aren't enjoyable
Creating systems that support both passion and profit

The Mission Behind the Masterminds [25:01 - 40:00]
Why Sam paused masterminds to build the Trip's business
The excitement of helping others find their purpose
"Seeing people really come alive and attach to their mission"

Transformative Environments [40:01 - 47:00]
How new settings create new thinking patterns
The power of stepping away from screens
Creating spaces for creativity and breakthrough

The Guide's Competitive Edge [47:01 - 50:00]
"The competitive edge rests in helping others succeed."
Parallels between fishing guides and business leadership
Finding fulfillment in others' success

Invitation to Transformation [50:01 -