Épisodes

  • Why It’s A Bad Idea To Protect Your Team

    Why It’s A Bad Idea To Protect Your Team
    Sep 25 2025
    Do you believe shielding your team from tough realities helps them perform at their best? In this episode, Shannon Waller challenges leaders to look beyond good intentions and empower their teams by sharing the whole story. She also explains why trust, transparency, and real challenges, not protection, give entrepreneurial teams the confidence and capability to solve problems and drive growth. Download Episode Transcript Show Notes: Protecting your team from reality may come from a place of empathy and care, but it limits their growth and independence. Trusting your team means giving them the full picture, even when it’s difficult. Shielding people from challenges sends a message that they can’t handle complexity or bad news. Transparency in leadership invites ownership and responsibility from your team instead of dependence. Facing tough situations together builds team resilience and innovation. Teams deprived of real information struggle to make strategic decisions and align with company goals. True learning, confidence, and capability come from dealing with setbacks directly and adapting. Organizing workflow is different from hiding reality; help your team do great work by managing priorities without hiding challenges. Entrepreneurial leaders excel when they trust their teams to rise to challenges and participate fully in shaping business outcomes. The best leaders share context and invite team input, knowing that creativity and solutions come from everyone, not just the top. Real empowerment comes when your team feels capable, included, and trusted with even the hard truths. Reflect on when you learned the most: was it when someone trusted you with responsibility or when they shielded you from reality? Resources: The Great Game Of Business: The Only Sensible Way To Run A Company by Jack Stack
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    16 min
  • When The Wrong “Who” Holds You Back

    When The Wrong “Who” Holds You Back
    Sep 11 2025
    Have you delegated a key responsibility but still find yourself constantly pulled back into the details? In this episode, Shannon Waller reveals how an underperforming team member keeps you stuck in the weeds, how to spot the red flags, and why making a change is essential for your growth and your company’s momentum. Download Episode Transcript Show Notes: The clearest sign you have the wrong “Who” is that they keep you operating in the weeds instead of freeing you up. Your team members should be building capacity for the entire company, not creating bottlenecks that hold back your other A-players. A key signal of a wrong “Who” is a consistent lack of proactive leadership and new ideas in their area of responsibility. You must evaluate if a team member has hit their Ceiling of Complexity™ and can no longer grow with the company’s demands. The fundamental question to ask is, “If I could rehire for this role today, would I choose this person again?” Outgrowing a team member is not a failure but a natural consequence of ambitious entrepreneurial progress. Holding on to the wrong person for too long causes you to lose momentum and ultimately leads to resentment. Growth, not loyalty, should be the top criterion for evolving a team as the business levels up. Your minimum standard for any role should be consistent performance at 80% or above of your defined success criteria. The right “Who” for one stage of your company’s growth may not be the right “Who” for the next level. You deserve a team that operates with the same unique, creative, and ambitious standards you hold for yourself. Courageously making team changes ensures both business and personal freedom for what’s next. Resources: Who Not How by Dan Sullivan with Dr. Benjamin Hardy Unique Ability® Multiplication By Subtraction by Shannon Waller
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    14 min
  • Why “Fail Forward” Leaders Build Enduring Companies, with Marissa Frois

    Why “Fail Forward” Leaders Build Enduring Companies, with Marissa Frois
    Aug 27 2025
    How much does trust matter to your team’s performance? In this episode, Shannon Waller interviews Marissa Frois, CEO of The Entrepreneur’s Source, on how empathy, transparent communication, and a family-first culture create extraordinary results. Discover why leading with trust, openness, and a willingness to “fail forward” is the secret to long-term entrepreneurial growth and innovation. Download Episode Transcript Show Notes: Building true trust in your team is more important than being well-liked as a leader. True transparency means being open and honest without a hidden agenda. A team without trust becomes defensive, stagnant, and incapable of innovation. The most successful leadership transitions blend the wisdom of the past with a readiness to “fail forward” into the future. Transparent, two-way communication reduces resistance and drives company culture at every level. Giving people a voice makes them more likely to embrace (and champion) change. Empathy, positivity, and active inclusion are powerhouse leadership strengths that multiply team engagement. Family-first values and work flexibility result in high retention, happier teams, and consistently rising results. Encouraging risk-taking and learning from failure leads to greater innovation and accelerates growth. True teamwork levels hierarchy, making Unique Ability® contribution more valuable than job titles. Leadership clarity means setting high standards and addressing issues in conversation, not by multiplying policies. Investing in your team’s well-being and development mirrors the value you create for clients. Empathetic leadership is a strategic strength that builds respect and drives performance, not a weakness. Resources: The Entrepreneur’s Source Kolbe A™ Index Working Genius CliftonStrengths® PRINT® The 4 C’s Formula by Dan Sullivan The Positive Focus® Transforming Experiences Into Multipliers Unique Ability® Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss Ego, Authority, Failure by Derek Gaunt
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    50 min
  • The Predictable Revenue Formula Every Entrepreneur Needs, with Kyle Mealy

    The Predictable Revenue Formula Every Entrepreneur Needs, with Kyle Mealy
    Aug 14 2025
    Do you pour time and money into marketing and sales, only to wonder why some efforts work and others don’t? In this episode, entrepreneur and revenue strategist Kyle Mealy reveals The Next Level Revenue Formula, a simple but revolutionary system to track, measure, and scale revenue with confidence. Learn how to plug leaks, optimize spending, and finally know exactly where your next dollar will come from. Download Episode Transcript Show Notes: The best entrepreneurial lessons rarely happen in a straight line; every unexpected detour can become an asset when you’re willing to connect the dots and use what you’ve learned. Don’t let a lack of formal sales or marketing training hold you back. Measuring, experimenting, and looking for patterns can reveal what actually works in your business. You can have real confidence about your revenue and cash flow when you measure what matters rather than guessing or hoping for the best. Kyle’s “Revenue Cascade” turns the buyer journey into a series of clear steps (like awareness, interest, and decision) so you can quickly spot where things are working and where they get stuck. Forget about surface-level numbers like website visits; what really counts is how well you’re moving people along each step toward a sale. If your business depends on just one superstar or “rainmaker,” it’s time to build a system everyone can use so you’re no longer vulnerable to a single point of failure. Instead of worrying about how much you’re spending on sales and marketing, use ROASS (Return On All Sales And Marketing Spend) to see if those dollars are actually driving results. Putting data first makes everything easier because you get to diagnose issues with numbers and fix what matters most, instead of relying on gut feelings. Even modest improvements at the close of your sales process can make a huge impact, so celebrate those small tweaks that deliver big results. You’re not alone if sales or marketing feels confusing; bringing everything into one measurable system makes it much simpler and a lot less stressful. Building repeatable business systems means you can finally relax, knowing your success doesn’t rest on just one person’s shoulders. Every entrepreneur becomes their own bottleneck until they systemize revenue generation. The ultimate win: creating a company that manages and multiplies itself, giving you freedom to dream bigger and focus on what excites you next. Resources: The Next Level Revenue Formula: How Basic Math Can Yield Breakthroughs for Your Small Business by Kyle Mealy EOS® The Great Game of Business Unique Ability® Next Level Revenue The Entrepreneur’s Guide To Cash Confidence What Is A Self-Managing Company®? Kolbe A™ Index Entrepreneurial Leap Academy More about Kyle
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    40 min
  • Turning Fear into Your Greatest Competitive Advantage

    Turning Fear into Your Greatest Competitive Advantage
    Jul 31 2025
    Do you see fear as a roadblock—or as a catalyst for growth? In this episode, Shannon Waller reframes fear as a powerful tool for entrepreneurs and their teams. Discover how embracing uncertainty sparks innovation, builds resilience, and drives 10x success, and learn why the best leaders don’t avoid fear—they harness it. Download Episode Transcript Show Notes: Fear isn’t the enemy—it’s your brain’s way of saying, “Hey, this matters.” Fear is built into the entrepreneurial journey and can actually fuel your biggest wins. The fears that make you the most nervous usually hold the key to your next level of growth. Truly great teams know that stepping into the unknown drives learning, experiments, and results. The trick isn’t to avoid fear, but to channel it into action and resilience. Being okay with fear keeps you pushing boundaries and stops you from getting stuck. When you use fear on purpose, it amps up your energy and keeps you alert, especially when things are uncertain. Most breakthroughs happen outside your comfort zone—embrace the butterflies. Fear isn’t always the enemy; sometimes, it’s a sign you’re about to learn something interesting or chase a new opportunity. Looking back, you’ll probably notice it was fear that pushed you into your biggest transformations. Gathering up the nerve to do something new builds real skills and lasting confidence. Pinpointing what you’re actually worried about makes tackling fear way more manageable. Strategic Coach® tools like The Impact Filter™ and The Experience Transformer® help you make sense of fear and turn it into next steps. Leading your team through rough patches by talking openly about their worries gets everyone moving forward together. Creative solutions come from facing fears head-on, not sweeping them under the rug. Don’t let fear hijack your brain—make it work for you, not the other way around. Even when the world feels unpredictable, you’re still in the driver’s seat when it comes to how you show up. Remind your team how many storms they’ve weathered already—they’re way more resilient than they think. Just like muscles grow stronger from resistance, getting through scary stuff makes you tougher and smarter. The entrepreneurs who thrive aren’t fearless, they just know how to handle doubt. Resources: The Gift Of Fear by Gavin De Becker The Black Swan Group Never Split The Difference by Chris Voss Ego, Authority, Failure by Derek Gaunt The Impact Filter™ Your Life As A Strategy Circle by Dan Sullivan Transforming Experiences Into Multipliers
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    18 min
  • This Is The Difference Between Your Team At 80% And 100%

    This Is The Difference Between Your Team At 80% And 100%
    Jul 17 2025
    Is your team operating at full capacity, or have they settled into a comfortable routine? Many teams deliver quality results, but what happens when passion and engagement wane? You might find your talented team members holding back, doing just enough to meet expectations, while their true potential remains untapped. In this episode, Shannon Waller explains the subtle difference between excellent performance and Unique Ability®. Here’s how to ignite that spark of enthusiasm and creativity that elevates your team’s performance, keeping them energized and committed to your vision. Download Episode Transcript Show Notes: Unique Ability is a superior skill that you’re passionate about. Unique Ability® Teamwork means the right people are in the right seat using their areas of Unique Ability. The differences between 80% Excellent team work and 100% Unique Ability Teamwork are: Unique Ability teams self-manage because they’re intrinsically motivated and engaged in the work and the projects. Excellent teams produce 2x results, while Unique Ability teams produce 10x results. Unique Ability teams collaborate and support each other without competing with each other. Unique Ability teams play full out with a no “defense budget” attitude. Unique Ability teams are always learning and growing, becoming their own internal experts. Unique Ability teams use their past experience as research for improvements in new projects. Unique Ability teams are always alert, curious, responsive, and resourceful. The Experience Transformer® tool takes a completed project as a basis for learning. The tools asks: What worked or is working? Often this breaks down into technology, timing, or teamwork. What didn’t work? Usually this is a process breakdown, misunderstanding, misalignment, or miscommunication. Brainstorm: Knowing what we know now, what would we do differently? What’s the new course of action or strategy? Keep what’s working and fix what isn’t. DONT’s if you want to maximize your team’s engagement: Don’t shut down new ideas. Don’t micromanage. Don’t demoralize the team. Don’t let 80% effort go on without addressing it. “Sometimes you’re failing so slowly, you think you’re winning.” Resources: How To Expand Your Team’s Unique Ability® The 4 Performance Capabilities 10x Is Easier Than 2x by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy Transforming Experiences Into Multipliers Kolbe A™ Index EOS®
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    23 min
  • How To Prevent Micromanaging

    How To Prevent Micromanaging
    Jul 3 2025
    Are you holding on too tightly to tasks that drain your energy or block your team’s growth? In this episode, Shannon Waller reveals the mindset shifts and practical tools that help entrepreneurs confidently delegate, let go of micromanagement, and elevate their teams. Discover how to create a bigger future by freeing yourself—and your business—from the delegation death grip. Download Episode Transcript Show Notes: Most entrepreneurs, even skilled delegators, have at least one area where they struggle to let go. Micromanagement often stems from a fear that no one else can meet your standards. Shifting from “doer” to “leader” requires letting go of tasks, even if you’re excellent at them. The root of micromanaging is usually a mindset of fear, uncertainty, or lack of confidence in others’ abilities. Recognizing and naming your fears around delegation are the first steps to overcoming them. There are two unhealthy delegation styles: the “death grip” (never letting go) and the “drive-by” (throwing tasks at others without clarity). Both micromanagement and drive-by delegation prevent your team from developing the skills and confidence they need to excel in their roles and drive progress forward. You must have a compelling “why” to motivate yourself to let go of tasks and delegate effectively. The Impact Filter™ is a powerful tool for clarifying your purpose, standards, and desired outcomes when delegating—and setting your team up for success. Telling best- and worst-case stories helps your team understand what great performance looks like—and what to avoid. Success criteria should be specific, measurable, and written down. Delegating “excellent” activities—things you do very well but no longer love—is often the hardest but most necessary step for growth. When you articulate your standards and expectations, you demonstrate trust in your team’s unique skills and empower them to meet (and often, exceed) those standards. Using tools like The Impact Filter transforms delegation from a risky handoff into a confident, collaborative process. Letting go of lower-value tasks frees you to focus on your areas of Unique Ability® and the bigger future you want to create. Regularly revisiting your “why” for delegating helps you avoid slipping back into old habits. When your brain is “on paper,” your team knows exactly how to win—and you can coach, not control, their progress. Resources: Unique Ability The Impact Filter TED Talk: Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Action by Simon Sinek Time Management Strategies For Entrepreneurs (Effective Strategies Only) The 4 Freedoms That Motivate Successful Entrepreneurs The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande Ego, Authority, Failure: Using Emotional Intelligence Like A Hostage Negotiator To Succeed As A Leader by Derek Gaunt The Black Swan Group EOS®
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    29 min
  • The Partnership Mindset: No Ego, Just Results

    The Partnership Mindset: No Ego, Just Results
    Jun 19 2025
    Are you feeling trapped by your role? Are you looking for more freedom? Shannon Waller asks, “What if you shift your perspective and adopt a partnership mindset?” Challenge the traditional hierarchical thinking that stifles collaboration and results. Instead, imagine an environment where you, and everyone around you, are liberated to contribute your Unique Ability® and show up as your most evolved self, regardless of status or title. Discover how this mindset fosters collaborative teamwork, amplifies contributions, and leads to results and growth, letting you to focus on creating immense value. Download Episode Transcript Show Notes: Ditch the hierarchy. Treat yourself and others as partners, not just bosses or subordinates, for true freedom and results. Role-based thinking hinders teamwork and collaboration. Bring your most evolved version of yourself to work. Instead of your authentic self, show your “front stage” best, even internally. Value people who are different from you; they can do what you can’t. Alignment on core values keeps the focus on collaboration toward shared goals. Put your ego and authority aside. Partnership means implied equality – focusing on contributing resources, skills, and effort toward shared goals, and sharing risks and rewards. The marketplace only cares if you create value; it doesn’t care about your status. Know yourself and your unique contributions. Focus on the situation and the other person, not just yourself, to be a great partner. Don’t be trapped by your role or title, even if it’s CEO. Redesign your job to match your unique contribution for greater impact and happiness. This partnership mindset allows you to work effectively with people at any status level. The goal is to give people freedom to do what they’re best at, play full out, speak up, and contribute fully. Dan Sullivan’s solution when team members struggle is to bring in another “Who” that can do that piece of the work effortlessly. The Strategic Coach® core values, or P.A.G.E., are: positive and collaborative teamwork being alert, curious, responsive, and resourceful focusing on growth and results providing an excellent first-class experience for clients Resources: Cy Wakeman’s books No Ego: How Leaders Can Cut the Cost of Workplace Drama, End Entitlement, and Drive Big Results The Reality-Based Rules of the Workplace: Know What Boosts Your Value, Kills Your Chances, and Will Make You Happier Reality-Based Leadership: Ditch the Drama, Restore Sanity to the Workplace, and Turn Excuses into Results Ego, Authority, Failure by Derek Gaunt Never Split The Difference by Chris Voss Who Not How by Dan Sullivan with Dr. Benjamin Hardy Kolbe CliftonStrengths® PRINT®
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    18 min