Explore how negative self-talk erodes hope and often leads to life-altering despair. Then, consider how modeling unshakeable character allows you to increase your influence. Learn to borrow belief from others and cultivate habits that reflect integrity which will allow you to turn personal struggles into powerful examples of resilience.

Looking for resources? You'll find them at BlueCollarLeadership.com

In this no-nonsense episode, Mack Story gets real about the mental grind that powers your daily hustle—because if you knew exactly what to do, you'd already be running the show instead of punching the clock.

Mack draws from his blue-collar roots in small-town Tallassee, Alabama (pop. under 6,000), and breaks down the Choice Formula: Thought + Emotion + Action = Choice.

Thoughts harden into habits that build your circumstances, good or bad. Whether you're swinging a hammer or calling the shots as a foreman, tune in for a dose of straight-talk that will help you toughen your thinking, own your actions, and turn everyday choices into the wins that will launch you from where you are to where you want to be.

Looking for resources? You'll find them at BlueCollarLeadership.com

You were born a leader! Your awareness of self, others, and your environment has been increasing since your birth.

Your influence increased the most in your early years. For many people, it seems to slow down dramatically as they reach adulthood.

How much influence do you have with others at this moment?

Your influence today is based on the choices you made in the past. Your influence in the future will increase or decrease based on the choices you make today.

Choose wisely!

Want to dive deeper into leadership and influence?

Don't miss our FREE 2-hour course at The5TypesOfLeaders.com which comes with an 8 page downloadable Participant's Guide. Once complete, you'll receive an official Certificate of Completion.

Be sure to add that to your resume or as an achievement on your LinkedIn profile to begin separating yourself from your competition as you strive to climb the leadership mountain.

Here's what some of those who have completed the FREE course had to say...

“Excellent learning opportunity!“ ~ Thomas Armitage

“A great training I did about a month ago! I would recommend Blue Collar Leadership to anyone who’s already in leadership in a formal or informal position. Mack Story will give the avenue to a great learning experience!” ~ Jamel Wofford

“Just took this course. Great information here and would recommend this to anyone looking to invest in themselves!” ~ Lane Goos

“Mack & Ria, I wanted to reach out and thank you for your free course “The 5 Types Of Leaders!” This was very eye-opening for me. I have been in management for civil construction for 18 years, and your course just turned a light on for me. I appreciate you taking the time to share and look forward to listening to your podcast and taking more courses! Keep on rocking it have a great day!”

Thank you, Paul Campbell lll

Join Mack and Ria Story as they dive into a compelling LinkedIn post that sparked Mack’s curiosity.

The story centers on a frustrated equipment operator who boldly marched into their boss’s office, demanding a raise and threatening to walk out if their demands weren’t met.

In this episode, Mack and Ria unpack the operator’s frustration, explore how the boss responded, and discuss what could have been done to avoid this high-stakes showdown.

They’ll also reflect on a bigger question: How many people quietly leave their jobs without ever speaking up?

This scenario plays out in workplaces everywhere, and Mack and Ria’s insights will leave you thinking about communication, leadership, and how to address frustration before it leads to farewells.

Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation that’s sure to resonate with anyone navigating workplace dynamics!

Want to dive deeper into leadership and influence?

Don't miss our FREE 2-hour course at The5TypesOfLeaders.com which comes with an 8 page downloadable Participant's Guide. Once complete, you'll receive an official Certificate of Completion.

Be sure to add that to your resume or as an achievement on your LinkedIn profile to begin separating yourself from your competition as you strive to climb the leadership mountain.

Here's what some of those who have completed the FREE course had to say...

“A great training I did about a month ago! I would recommend Blue Collar Leadership to anyone who’s already in leadership in a formal or informal position. Mack Story will give the avenue to a great learning experience!” ~ Jamel Wofford

“Just took this course. Great information here and would recommend this to anyone looking to invest in themselves!” ~ Lane Goos

“Excellent learning opportunity!“ ~ Thomas Armitage

“Mack & Ria, I wanted to reach out and thank you for your free course “The 5 Types Of Leaders!” This was very eye-opening for me. I have been in management for civil construction for 18 years, and your course just turned a light on for me. I appreciate you taking the time to share and look forward to listening to your podcast and taking more courses! Keep on rocking it have a great day!”

Thank you, Paul Campbell lll

Dive into this episode and discover what type of leader YOU are and learn what kind of leader you report to.

You’ll learn what type of leader is most effective.

And, you'll learn how character and competency impact each type of leader.

Want to dive deeper?

Don't miss our FREE 2-hour course at The5TypesOfLeaders.com which comes with an 8 page downloadable Participant's Guide. Once complete, you'll receive an official Certificate of Completion.

Be sure to add that to your resume or as an achievement on your LinkedIn profile to begin separating yourself from your competition as you strive to climb the leadership mountain.

Here's what some of those who have completed the FREE course had to say...

“A great training I did about a month ago! I would recommend Blue Collar Leadership to anyone who’s already in leadership in a formal or informal position. Mack Story will give the avenue to a great learning experience!” ~ Jamel Wofford

“Just took this course. Great information here and would recommend this to anyone looking to invest in themselves!” ~ Lane Goos

“Excellent learning opportunity!“ ~ Thomas Armitage

“Mack & Ria, I wanted to reach out and thank you for your free course “The 5 Types Of Leaders!” This was very eye-opening for me. I have been in management for civil construction for 18 years, and your course just turned a light on for me. I appreciate you taking the time to share and look forward to listening to your podcast and taking more courses! Keep on rocking it have a great day!”

Thank you, Paul Campbell lll

Are your front-line leaders struggling to lead effectively? You’re not alone.

In this powerful episode, we dive deep into a common frustration voiced by top leaders, HR professionals, and Learning & Development experts: “I need help getting front-line leaders to lead!”

Inspired by Gino Wickman’s insight—“Most leaders spend their time overwhelmed, tired, and buried in the day-to-day, unable to see beyond tomorrow”—we uncover the real root of the problem. Spoiler: it’s not just the front-line leaders. The issue often traces back to the top, where leaders may be failing to set expectations, provide development, or take responsibility.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why blaming front-line leaders misses the mark and where the true responsibility lies.
• Practical examples of what top leaders are (or aren’t) doing that holds organizations back.
• How to shift from casting blame to fostering a culture of high-impact leadership.
• Actionable strategies to implement continuous leadership development at every level.

Featuring key insights from leadership experts like Gino Wickman, Myron Golden, and Amir Ghannad, this episode challenges leaders to stop pointing fingers and start looking in the mirror. Learn why responsibility flows up the org chart and how to unleash your team’s potential with proven leadership principles.

Click to listen now and explore the Blue-Collar Leadership & Culture: The 5 Components for Building High Performance Teams to transform your organization from the top down.

Don’t miss this chance to rethink leadership and drive real change!

Breaking Free: The Journey from Blaming Others to Owning His Story

In this interview, Jamel Wofford discusses:

• His personal development journey
• The struggles he had as a teen
• Overcoming himself as an adult
• Getting support from others
• Choosing to responsibility over victimhood
• His professional journey

Jamel lives in Indianapolis, IN and has become a lifetime student of personal growth and leadership development content. His current role is a certified Water Treatment Operator for the Town of Bargersville, IN. He is WT3 certified by the State of Indiana for Water Treatment.

Jamel is a recent graduate of the Apprenticeship Program through the Alliance of Indiana Rural Water Association. In addition to graduating from the program, he is now a mentor in the program to help future and upcoming operators.

Jamel’s duties are to monitor flow and levels of specific towers and tanks, perform laboratory testing, chemical adjusting, and operating various pumps throughout the water plant. He also records data for the MRO which is turned into the state for compliance.

Don't miss the 34th episode of the "Real People Getting Real Results!" interview video series featuring Jamel Wofford interviewed by Mack Story.

Visit the Blue-Collar Leadership YouTube channel at YouTube.com/@BlueCollarLeadership and check out this and previous interviews in this series which can be found under the playlist titled "Real People Getting Real Results!"

Be sure to subscribe while you're there, and tap the 🔔 to be notified of future releases in this series.

#leadershiptips #leadershippodcast #leadershipmindset #success #resultsdriven #successmindset #leadership #bluecollarleadership #growthmindset #watertreatment #waterindustry

(Part 31 of 31) Ch. 30: Keep Climbing

The Ladder of Influence: 5 Steps for Climbing to the Next Level and Beyond by Ria Story provides a powerful, yet simple, framework to help you realize the practical steps you can take to increase your influence with the people around you: family, friends, co-workers, your boss, team members, community members, children, spouses, and maybe even ex-spouses too!