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“How do you turn overwhelming data into clear, actionable product decisions?” In this episode, we speak with Jordan Nolff, VP of Growth at Productboard, about the evolving role of AI and customer insights in modern product management. With a background that spans consulting, leading product growth at SurveyMonkey, and now scaling Productboard, Jordan brings a unique perspective on how PMs can transform information overload into strategic clarity. He shares how Productboard has evolved from a roadmapping tool into a comprehensive platform that centralizes customer feedback, competitor intelligence, personas, OKRs, and more—all designed to help product teams make better decisions and communicate them effectively. The conversation also explores how AI can augment this work, helping PMs reduce context switching, improve handoffs, and democratize knowledge across organizations. For product managers looking to navigate the hype around AI while still keeping customers at the center, this episode offers ways to get the ball rolling. For show notes and more resources, visit: pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts Pragmatic Institute is the global leader in Product, Data, and Design training and certification programs for working professionals. Learn more at pragmaticinstitute.com.
How can aligning your marketing strategy with business goals transform your impact and career trajectory?In this episode of The Hard Corps Marketing Show, I sat down with Jennifer Mancusi, CEO and co-founder of Growgetter. Jennifer is a marketing leader, strategic thinker, and passionate advocate for measuring what matters. She brings her real world experience helping businesses cut through vanity metrics and focus on marketing strategies that truly drive growth.Jennifer breaks down why defending the wrong metrics can get CMOs fired and how marketers can shift their focus to data that aligns with revenue. She discusses the critical importance of internal communication, aligning with sales, and using frameworks like OKRs to drive cross-functional success. Jennifer also dives into the evolving role of brand-building in demand generation, and why continuous learning is a must for modern marketers.In this episode, we cover:Why many CMOs fail by focusing on the wrong metricsHow to align marketing with sales and business development using OKRsThe difference between brand-building and demand captureWhy internal communication is key to marketing's credibility and effectivenessIf you're ready to ditch vanity metrics and become a marketing leader who drives real business impact, this episode is full of actionable insights you won't want to miss!
In this episode, Dave and Peter sit down with Radhika Dutt, author of "Radical Product Thinking: The New Mindset for Innovating Smarter," to explore why iteration-obsessed product development is failing organizations.Radhika shares hard-learned lessons from her 25-year career across diverse industries and five acquisitions, introducing the concept of "product diseases" like hero syndrome, pivotitis, and obsessive sales disorder that plague modern product teams. She challenges conventional wisdom around OKRs and goal-setting, explaining why they often create an illusion of performance while masking real problems.The conversation explores why goals, targets, and OKRs backfire and what actually works instead. Radhika introduces her tried-and-tested alternative: a framework for puzzle-setting and puzzle-solving called OHLs (Objectives, Hypotheses, and Learnings). This approach helps companies develop a mindset that equips teams to experiment, learn, and adapt in a disciplined way, ultimately delivering far better results than traditional goal-setting methods.The discussion dives deep into crafting detailed, hypothesis-driven vision statements that actually help teams make decisions, rather than fluffy corporate speak that sounds inspiring but provides no guidance. Radhika explains how to balance vision debt against short-term survival needs using her three-question puzzle-solving framework.Key Takeaways:The importance of writing good hypotheses and understanding customer pain points deeply before defining experiments and measurementsOrganizations need to get much closer to their target customers to truly understand their behaviors and pain points, enabling better vision statements and hypotheses that resonateEffective vision statements must enable decision-making; if you can't make yes/no decisions based on your vision, and understand the trade-offs between short-term survival and long-term vision, it's not valuable enoughFree Resource: Download the OHLs template and toolkit: https://www.radicalproduct.com/toolkit/#OHLToolkit
In this episode of HFS Unfiltered Stories, Saurabh Gupta, President of Research and Advisory Services at HFS Research, sits down with Jay Desai, Head of IT Infrastructure Operations at JTI, for an eye-opening conversation on bridging the often-disconnected worlds of business, IT, and cybersecurity. Jay shares hard-earned lessons from leading Global Business Services (GBS) through geopolitical shocks, shifting into IT and cyber leadership, and navigating the GenAI hype with realism and grit. This is a rare look into what it really takes to drive enterprise transformation, from aligning C-suite incentives to overcoming organizational resistance. Whether you're scaling GenAI or building connected enterprise models, this conversation is full of truth bombs, leadership insights, and the kind of wisdom that only comes from being on both sides of the transformation divide. Key discussion points:Breaking Functional Silos: Why IT, GBS, and cybersecurity leaders must adopt a shared vision to enable true enterprise-wide transformation.The Moral Hazard in Transformation: How misaligned ownership of costs vs. benefits creates friction between business and IT, and how to solve it.Why the 'OneOffice' Vision Still Eludes Us: The challenge of aligning incentives and OKRs across finance, IT, and HR departments.GenAI: From Hype to Reality: Why GenAI is stuck in POC purgatory, and what leaders must fix to unlock real value.Enterprise ‘Debts' Beyond Technology: Cultural, process, and people debt are just as critical as technical debt in holding back transformation.Leadership Lessons in the AI Era: Jay's real-world advice to aspiring leaders, embrace failure, earn trust, and be unapologetically authentic.Tune in now to hear what it really takes to lead across silos—and why the future belongs to those who can connect dots others can't.
Unser heutiger Gast ist in einem Familienunternehmen groß geworden und führt es heute in zweiter Generation gemeinsam mit seinem Bruder. Er hat an der Zeppelin Universität studiert, gründete schon früh eigene Unternehmen und sammelte internationale Erfahrungen als Freelancer und Berater, unter anderem in den USA, China und den Niederlanden. Seit 2021 ist er zurück in Deutschland und prägt als Co-Geschäftsführer die Zukunft eines Unternehmens, das sein Vater 1987 gegründet hat: mit über 300 Mitarbeitenden, sieben Standorten und einem klaren Bekenntnis zu Digitalisierung, OKRs und langfristiger Verantwortung. Er denkt unternehmerisch, führt werteorientiert und er sieht Nachfolge nicht als Erbhof, sondern als Entwicklungsaufgabe. Offen spricht er über Fehler, Brüderdynamik und die Frage, wie man Vertrauen in einer Organisation nicht nur fordert, sondern lebt. Diese Folge ist eine Sonderausgabe, eine Kollaborationsfolge mit unserem Generationenformat „Zoomer meets Boomer“, das ich gemeinsam mit meinem Sohn Oskar Trautmann hoste. Seit mehr als acht Jahren beschäftigen wir uns in diesem Podcast mit der Frage, wie Arbeit den Menschen stärkt, statt ihn zu schwächen. In über 500 Gesprächen mit mehr als 600 Persönlichkeiten haben wir darüber gesprochen, was sich verändert hat und was sich noch verändern muss. Heute fragen wir: Was kann Corporate Germany von Familienunternehmen lernen, wenn es um Vertrauen, Verantwortung und generationsübergreifende Führung geht? Wie gelingt eine faire, erfolgreiche Nachfolge, auch dann, wenn Geschwister gemeinsam führen? Und was brauchen Unternehmen, um mit Gen Alpha bis Boomer im Team zukunftsfähig zu bleiben? Fest steht: Für die Lösung unserer aktuellen Herausforderungen brauchen wir neue Impulse. Deshalb suchen wir weiter nach Methoden, Vorbildern, Erfahrungen, Tools und Ideen, die uns dem Kern von New Work näher bringen. Darüber hinaus beschäftigt uns von Anfang an die Frage, ob wirklich alle Menschen das finden und leben können, was sie im Innersten wirklich, wirklich wollen. Ihr seid bei On the Way to New Work – heute mit Patrick Layer. [Hier](https://linktr.ee/onthewaytonewwork) findet ihr alle Links zum Podcast und unseren aktuellen Werbepartnern
Send us a textFrom 20 to 250: What Happens When Self-Storage Management Grows Too Fast? Peter Smyth returns to the Self Storage Podcast to share his explosive journey, from managing 20 facilities to nearly 250 in just one year. He outlines the challenges of hypergrowth, from client churn and employee scalability to building systems that can handle everything from rural RV lots to urban mega-facilities. Peter and Scott talk hiring for skill versus experience, the role of AI and custom-built software in operational efficiency, and why white-label management is becoming the go-to for storage owners who want control without compromise. WHAT TO LISTEN FOR1:10 From 20 to 250: The Rocketship Year5:53 Hiring for Talent, Not Just Experience10:24 Scaling Services for Every Size Operator14:10 KPIs, OKRs, and the Software Shift21:07 Managing a Startup and a Young Family Leave a positive rating for this podcast with one click GUEST: Peter Smyth, White Label StorageWebsite | Email | LinkedIn CONNECT WITH USWebsite | You Tube | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | Instagram Follow so you never miss a NEW episode! Leave us an honest rating and review on Apple or Spotify.
What does it take to drive product innovation across cultures, languages, and business units? Heather Samarin and Vidya Dinamani sit down with Chris Pasley, former VP of Product at 17Live, as he shares lessons from scaling product at a global live-streaming platform. From managing incentives in a “whale economy” to aligning cross-country OKRs, Chris shares stories of stakeholder wrangling, cultural empathy, and staying true to the customer. He also offers a practical framework for defining MVPs and driving impact through problem-cause-solution thinking.
Timestamps:03:14 - What even is “operations”?7:57 - Should OKRs be set top-down or bottom-up?17:05 - Top 3 key KPIs for early stage startups26:00 - How to focus on fundraising without losing traction 43:26 - What happens when you don't have your finances in order? This episode was originally a live webinar co-hosted with Holycode, a software development partner that's helped more than 140 startups scale by providing customized products and teams for every stage.This episode was sponsored by Google Cloud. Join their Founder's Story event on September 24th to hear directly from visionary founders in the transportation industry discussing the seismic shift in mobility, from ownership to on-demand access, and the pivotal role of AI and cloud technologies in driving this transformation.The cover portrait was edited by www.smartportrait.io.About Laurent Decrue & Jeremias Meier:Laurent Decrue is the co-founder of the moving company MOVU and the software company Holycode, and the former CEO at Bexio. Currently he is active as CFO and co-CEO at Holycode. He holds an MBA from the University of Basel and previously worked at DeinDeal.Jeremias Meier is the co-founder and CEO of Paymira, an AI-first payroll service, and he's also a partner at session.vc. Jeremias holds a BA in Business Administration from St.Gallen, and co-founded the cloud based-accounting software Bexio in 2014.During their chat with Silvan, Laurent and Jeremias discussed the importance of operations, fundraising strategies, and the role of finance in startups. They emphasized the significance of OKRs, meeting cadence, and the impact of AI on business growth.Don't forget to give us a follow on Instagram, Linkedin, TikTok, and Youtube so you can always stay up to date with our latest initiatives. That way, there's no excuse for missing out on live shows, weekly giveaways or founders' dinners.
In dieser Folge sprechen wir mit Patrick Layer, der zusammen mit seinem Bruder die zweite Generation im Familienunternehmen Layer-Grosshandel GmbH & Co. KG repräsentiert. Es ist ein Gespräch über Werte, Vertrauen und die Kunst, Tradition mit Digitalisierung, E-Commerce und OKRs zu verbinden. Wir tauchen ein in den Alltag eines mittelständischen Großhändlers, der vom Bodensee aus wächst und zeigt, dass moderne Führung auch im Traditionsunternehmen möglich ist. Patrick erzählt offen von Verantwortung, Fehlern, Brüder-Dynamik und davon, wie man Mitarbeitende über Jahrzehnte bindet. Gemeinsam fragen wir uns: 1. Was kann Corporate Germany von Familienunternehmen lernen? 2. Wie gelingt eine faire und erfolgreiche Nachfolge? 3. Und wie führt man, wenn im Team Gen Alpha bis Boomer vertreten sind? Vier Takeaways aus dieser Folge: 1. Vertrauen vor Kontrolle. Ob Brüder, Führungskräfte oder Azubis, ohne Vertrauen geht nichts. Es ist die Basis für jede Übergabe und jede Entwicklung. 2. Stärken statt Ego. Unterschiedliche Charaktere führen besser gemeinsam, wenn sie ihre Stärken kennen, sich gegenseitig respektieren und Ressorts klar trennen. 3. Fehler als Lernchance. Mut zu Experimenten, auch wenn mal etwas schiefgeht. Offene Fehlerkultur und psychologische Sicherheit machen Innovation möglich. 4. Generationen verbinden. Reverse Mentoring und Wertschätzung in beide Richtungen schaffen echten Wissensaustausch, ob beim Pricing mit KI oder beim Kundengespräch. Am Ende bleibt eine klare Botschaft. Familienunternehmen sind kein Auslaufmodell. Sie sind oft die nachhaltigsten und loyalsten Arbeitgeber, wenn sie Tradition und Zukunft in Balance halten. Wenn euch die Folge gefallen hat, freuen wir uns über 5 Sterne, Kommentare und Weiterempfehlungen. Teilt sie mit euren Kolleg:innen, Kindern, Eltern oder Großeltern oder mit Menschen, die gerade über Nachfolge, Führung oder Vertrauen nachdenken. Bleibt neugierig, bleibt offen, bleibt im Gespräch. Oskar & Michael Danke fürs Zuhören, und auf viele weitere Folgen! #Leadership #CorporateCulture #Family #Team #FutureOfWork #NewWork #Podcast #ZoomerMeetsBoomer LinkedIn: michaeltrautmann64 oskar-trautmann96
Product strategy, OKRs, and KPIs are popular product management frameworks. But how can they be applied successfully together? What comes first, strategy, OKRs, or KPIs? Can OKRs describe or replace strategy? And what should you do when a senior stakeholder tells you what OKRs and KPIs to use? Listen to this episode to hear my answers.
From Chaos to Clarity: How AI is Rewriting the Playbook for Product ManagersLessons from my conversation with ex-Google PM Assaf Reifer on building tools that tame the noise, sharpen priorities, and give PMs back their most valuable resource: focus.When I think back on my time at Google, one of the highlights was building and scaling teams with incredibly talented product managers. Some of those PMs went on to lead big initiatives across YouTube, Google Health, and other parts of the company. A few branched out and became founders.One of them is Assaf Reifer, a former PM on my team at YouTube in Zurich. We first met over breakfast through what I think was a LinkedIn networking experiment. He had been at Bain, was exploring his next move, and we happened to be hiring. The match worked out beautifully. He ended up becoming one of the top performers on the team and played a key role in building YouTube Analytics and the transition from the old Creator Studio into what creators now use daily.Recently, I had the chance to catch up with Assaf on my Fireside PM podcast. He's been experimenting with new projects, one of which could change how PMs everywhere manage the daily chaos of inputs, competing priorities, and distractions. What follows is a long, deep dive into our conversation, plus my take on what early-to-mid career PMs in Silicon Valley can learn from it.The Setup: Why Now Is a Historic Moment for BuildersAssaf started by reflecting on what it feels like to be a builder in 2025. He's been a software engineer, a consultant, and a PM. But he emphasized that the past two years feel different, historic even.I remarked:“In the last two years with advancements in AI, a lot of the knowledge necessary to build something end to end is really bridged by some of these technologies. It empowers people to realize ideas and experiments that previously required 10 people and millions of dollars.”Think about that for a second. Not long ago, building a SaaS product that could ingest Zoom transcripts, Slack threads, and Jira tickets, then triage them into a priority list for a PM would have required a team of engineers, designers, and product folks. Now a single founder can stitch that together with off-the-shelf AI models, APIs, and some creativity.For early-career PMs, the actionable insight is clear: don't wait for permission to build. Even if you're not an engineer, AI has lowered the barrier to entry so much that you can tinker, prototype, and validate ideas faster than ever. Open ChatGPT or Gemini, describe what you want to build, and let the system guide you through the concepts you don't understand.Assaf encourages this approach:“The best way to start is open ChatGPT or Gemini, tell it what you want to build, and ask it how. It will respond with 30 terms you don't understand, and you just go one by one. You ask it to explain each concept, and gradually you close the gap very quickly.”That's the 2025 version of “learning to code.” You don't need to become a full-stack engineer. But you do need to become fluent in exploring, iterating, and leveraging AI as a co-pilot.The Problem: PMs as Air Traffic ControllersAfter talking about the broader builder landscape, we turned to the problem space Assaf is attacking. We discussed product managers as “air traffic controllers,” juggling multiple channels of information, each with different levels of urgency.“Being a PM is all about prioritizing. You're interacting with sales, engineering, customers, peers, executives. You have OKRs on one hand, and then Jira tickets or a customer threatening to churn on the other. Until recently, the best PMs just kept it all in their heads or in spreadsheets.”Sound familiar? If you're a PM, you've probably woken up to a wall of Slack notifications, 10 unread emails from sales, and a Jira dashboard full of tickets. Then, by 10am, you're in a meeting where a senior leader asks, “What do you think about this issue that came up this morning?” And you're embarrassed because you didn't even know it existed.I've been there. And I bet you have too.The core challenge: noise vs. signal. PMs succeed not because they read every message but because they know which ones matter. That judgment call has historically been a mix of intuition, experience, and luck.The Solution: Issue Center (PM Studio?)Assaf's project, tentatively called “Issue Center,” is a SaaS tool that ingests all the inputs PMs already swim in: Slack, Jira, Zoom transcript, and applies AI-powered rules to surface the truly critical items.The workflow looks like this:* Integration: Connect the tool to your company's communication stack. (His design partner is running Microsoft 365/Teams, but it could work with Slack and Google too.)* Rule Setup: Create rules that define what matters to you. For example, “API degradation impacting users” is critical. Or “customer mentions a competitor as better” is high.* AI Assistance: The system uses AI to evaluate whether inputs match your rules. It flags the items, explains why, and links you back to the source.* Prioritized Dashboard: Instead of drowning in messages, you wake up to a curated list of critical, high, and medium issues to tackle first.Assaf demoed it live, showing how rules surfaced relevant Jira tickets, Slack threads, and transcripts. At one point, he laughed at his own naming convention:“Clearly I'm not a marketer. It's called Issue Center for now, but we can call it PM Studio if that makes it sound cooler.”I told him PM Studio had a nice ring to it.The important thing wasn't the branding, though—it was the shift from reactive scrambling to proactive clarity.Actionable Takeaway #1: Define Your Own Rules of SignalHere's where PMs can learn something even before using a tool like this. Ask yourself: What are the true signals in my work?* Is it when a customer threatens to leave?* When an API is degrading?* When an executive brings up a competitor?Whatever they are, write them down. These are your “rules.” Even if you don't have AI filtering your inputs yet, the discipline of defining rules forces you to separate noise from signal.Assaf admitted that rule-writing is an art:“The rule description is very important, because that's what the system uses to match. If it's too narrow, it won't pick up. If it's too broad, you'll get noise. That's why I want to make onboarding easier with quick-start templates for common rules.”This mirrors how you should think about your own prioritization framework. If you're too vague (“respond to all customer requests”), you'll drown. If you're too narrow (“only focus on API latency under 200ms”), you might miss the forest for the trees.The Bigger Picture: Managers of PMsAssaf also highlighted another layer of value, helping PM leads manage their teams.“If you're a PM lead and you have a team, you want visibility into what critical topics your PMs care about, what jeopardizes OKRs, and where they need support. This tool can give you that bird's-eye view.”This is huge. One of the hardest parts of managing PMs is knowing what's actually keeping them busy. Are they firefighting customer issues? Negotiating with engineering? Or chasing shiny objects?For managers, the actionable advice is: ask your PMs to share their “critical issue list” with you weekly. Even if you don't have Assaf's tool yet, that discipline will create alignment and uncover mis-prioritizations.The Privacy Angle: Building TrustWe also talked about the obvious concern: privacy. If your tool is reading Slack messages, Zoom calls, and Jira tickets, where does that data go?Assaf has thought about this deeply:“This is architected as a single-tenant SaaS. It's installed in your company's own cloud tenant. Nothing leaves the org. Even when we use AI, it runs through your enterprise API key, which isn't used for training.”For PMs evaluating AI tools, this is a reminder: always ask how data is handled. At many companies, legal and IT will shut down even the coolest tool if privacy isn't bulletproof. If you're the PM championing adoption, anticipate those concerns and come prepared with answers.Actionable Takeaway #2: Trust Is a FeatureIn 2025, building trust is not just about having the right feature set. It's about handling privacy, security, and reliability as first-class features.If you're building a product, or even advocating for one inside your company, bake trust into your pitch. Show that you've thought about data handling, failure modes, and user control.Beyond Explicit Rules: The Future of Inferred PrioritiesOne of the fun parts of our conversation was brainstorming future features. I suggested that beyond explicit rules, the system could infer priorities by watching behavior:* If you always jump into competitor-related Slack threads, the system could propose a rule.* If you consistently respond faster to certain stakeholders, it could bump their inputs up in priority.Assaf agreed this was interesting but also flagged the risks:“Whenever you do something that isn't explicitly set by the user and you get it wrong, you risk losing trust. You don't want noise creeping into the critical bucket.”That's a broader lesson for PMs: don't get seduced by complexity if it undermines trust. Sometimes a simple, transparent system is better than a magical one that feels unpredictable.The Side Project: An AI Teddy BearWe spent most of our time on PM Studio, but Assaf also showed me something else: a prototype for an AI-powered plush toy that serves as a conversational buddy for kids.The idea is part educational, part entertaining. Think Teddy Ruxpin meets ChatGPT, but with parental controls and guardrails.He tested it with his own kids, and at one point, a child said he wanted to “eat the squirrel” in a story. The system responded, “That's not a very nice thing. Let's try something kinder.”That made me laugh—and also highlighted the importance of building safe AI for children.As a parent myself, I told Assaf:“If this thing could help kids develop critical thinking and curiosity before they jump into ChatGPT, I'd pay money for it. We don't formally teach critical thinking to children, but a well-designed toy could do it through fun experiences.”While this project is still early, it connects to a broader theme: AI is reshaping not just how we work, but how we learn, parent, and play.Actionable Takeaway #3: Think About Second-Order EffectsFor PMs, the teddy bear might seem irrelevant. But the lesson is this: when you build with AI, think about the second-order effects.* How does this change how people learn, not just how they work?* How does it shape what they trust, not just what they use?* How does it influence long-term skills, not just short-term productivity?If you only optimize for immediate outcomes, you miss the deeper impact your product could have.Practical Advice for PMs in Silicon ValleyLet's bring this back to you, the early-to-mid career PM navigating the chaos of Silicon Valley. Here are five actionable insights from my conversation with Assaf:* Define Your Critical Rules. Don't wait for a tool. Write down the signals that truly matter in your role and use them to triage your own work.* Build Trust Through Clarity. Whether you're building products or pitching ideas internally, make privacy, reliability, and transparency part of your value prop.* Use AI as a Learning Co-Pilot. Open ChatGPT or Gemini and let it teach you the concepts behind the systems you want to build. Don't be afraid of looking dumb, ask it to explain everything.* Share Priorities with Your Manager. If you manage PMs, ask for their top three critical issues weekly. If you're managed, proactively share them. It will align expectations and reduce surprises.* Anticipate Second-Order Effects. Don't just think about what your product does today. Think about how it changes behavior, skills, and trust over time.Why This Matters: The Cambrian Explosion of BuildersWe closed our conversation reflecting on the bigger picture. I remarked:“You wonder if the next hundred billion dollars of market value will come not from 10 decacorns, but from a thousand smaller companies run by 5–10 people. That's good for customers. It's good for competition. And it's possible because of AI.”This is a turning point in product management. The PMs who thrive in the next decade will be those who can harness AI, not just as users, but as builders, integrators, and thinkers.Final ThoughtsCatching up with Assaf reminded me of why I love product management. At its best, it's about solving messy problems, shaping the future, and helping people focus on what matters most.As you navigate your own PM career, I encourage you to experiment with AI, define your rules of signal, and always keep trust at the core of what you build.And if you want more personalized support, I run a 1:1 executive, career, and product coaching practice at tomleungcoaching.com. If you want to try Assaf's Issue Center tool as a design partner, feel free to contact him or hit him up on X. OK. Enough pontificating. Let's get back to work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit firesidepm.substack.com
Este episódio é o lançamento da nova trilha "Leadership Club" do Love the Problem, apresentada por CFC Resende. O convidado especial é Leandro Piano, um profissional com mais de 20 anos de carreira em finanças, que foi responsável pela gestão financeira do PagSeguro durante seu IPO e autor do livro "Além dos Números, um manual prático para o CFO do futuro".A conversa se aprofunda na transformação do papel do CFO, que evoluiu de "dono do número" para um consultor de crescimento, focado em questões como velocidade de crescimento e novos mercados, e não apenas em corte de gastos. Piano destaca a importância de ir além do básico bem feito e desenvolver soft skills cruciais, como gerenciamento de times, comunicação e compreensão do negócio, em vez de se prender apenas a hard skills e planilhas. O episódio também aborda a importância de um orçamento como ferramenta de gestão e aprendizado contínuo, criticando o processo orçamentário tradicional, e alerta sobre o perigo de adotar "hypes" como OKRs e IA sem uma compreensão clara de seus objetivos e valor tangível para o negócio. Piano enfatiza o papel do CFO como um "protagonista coadjuvante" que gera eficiência para o negócio, e não para si, buscando construir equipes autônomas e promover o aprendizado contínuo.Encontre o livro de Leandro Piano aqui.Entre para o Leadership Club aquiNossa comunidade no Telegram aqui
In this episode of Crazy Wisdom, host Stewart Alsop speaks with Robin Hanson, economist and originator of the idea of futarchy, about how conditional betting markets might transform governance by tying decisions to measurable outcomes. Their conversation moves through examples of organizational incentives in business and government, the balance between elegant theories and messy implementation details, the role of AI in robust institutions, and the tension between complexity and simplicity in legal and political systems. Hanson highlights historical experiments with futarchy, reflects on polarization and collective behavior in times of peace versus crisis, and underscores how ossified bureaucracies mirror software rot. To learn more about his work, you can find Robin Hanson online simply by searching his name or his blog overcomingbias.com, where his interviews—including one with Jeffrey Wernick on early applications of futarchy—are available.Check out this GPT we trained on the conversationTimestamps00:05 Hanson explains futarchy as conditional betting markets that tie governance to measurable outcome metrics, contrasting elegant ideas with messy implementation details.00:10 He describes early experiments, including Jeffrey Wernick's company in the 1980s, and more recent trials in crypto and an India-based agency.00:15 The conversation shifts to how companies use stock prices as feedback, comparing public firms tied to speculators with private equity and long-term incentives.00:20 Alsop connects futarchy to corporate governance and history, while Hanson explains how futarchy can act as a veto system against executive self-interest.00:25 They discuss conditional political markets in elections, AI participation in institutions, and why proof of human is unnecessary for robust systems.00:30 Hanson reflects on simplicity versus complexity in democracy and legal systems, noting how futarchy faces similar design trade-offs.00:35 He introduces veto markets and outcome metrics, adding nuance to how futarchy could constrain executives while allowing discretion.00:40 The focus turns to implementation in organizations, outcome-based OKRs, and trade-offs between openness, liquidity, and transparency.00:45 They explore DAOs, crypto governance, and the need for focus, then compare news-driven attention with deeper institutional design.00:50 Hanson contrasts novelty with timelessness in academia and policy, explaining how futarchy could break the pattern of weak governance.00:55 The discussion closes on bureaucratic inertia, software rot, and how government ossifies compared to adaptive private organizations.Key InsightsFutarchy proposes that governance can be improved by tying decisions directly to measurable outcome metrics, using conditional betting markets to reveal which policies are expected to achieve agreed goals. This turns speculation into structured decision advice, offering a way to make institutions more competent and accountable.Early experiments with futarchy existed decades ago, including Jeffrey Wernick's 1980s company that made hiring and product decisions using prediction markets, as well as more recent trials in crypto-based DAOs and a quiet adoption by a government agency in India. These examples show that the idea, while radical, is not just theoretical.A central problem in governance is the tension between elegant ideas and messy implementation. Hanson emphasizes that while the core concept of futarchy is simple, real-world use requires addressing veto powers, executive discretion, and complex outcome metrics. The evolution of institutions involves finding workable compromises without losing the simplicity of the original vision.The conversation highlights how existing governance in corporations mirrors these challenges. Public firms rely heavily on speculators and short-term stock incentives, while private equity benefits from long-term executive stakes. Futarchy could offer companies a new tool, giving executives market-based feedback on major decisions before they act.Institutions must be robust not just to human diversity but also to AI participation. Hanson argues that markets, unlike one-person-one-vote systems, can accommodate AI traders without needing proof of human identity. Designing systems to be indifferent to whether participants are human or machine strengthens long-term resilience.Complexity versus simplicity emerges as a theme, with Hanson noting that democracy and legal systems began with simple structures but accreted layers of rules that now demand lawyers to navigate. Futarchy faces the same trade-off: it starts simple, but real implementation requires added detail, and the balance between elegance and robustness becomes crucial.Finally, the episode situates futarchy within broader social trends. Hanson connects rising polarization and inequality to times of peace and prosperity, contrasting this with the unifying effect of external threats. He also critiques bureaucratic inertia and “software rot” in government, arguing that without innovation in governance, even advanced societies risk ossification.
In dieser Folge des Ja klaHR! Podcasts spricht Stefan – DER HR-Architekt – mit Anna-Lena Jerzembeck. Wir sprechen darüber, wie ein klarer Nordstern, Technologie-Kompetenz und konsequente Kommunikation zusammenspielen. Anna-Lena nimmt uns mit in ihren Strategiealltag: von Vision Statement („Bits at heart, people in mind“) über strategische Stoßrichtungen bis zu Durchbruchzielen und OKRs – inklusive ehrlichem Blick auf Reibung, Skepsis und Change.
Success isn't just about hustle—it's about surviving the chaos of growth.Jason Long knows this better than most. After building a 30-person agency, he lost it all in the 2008 crash, nearly died in a horrific car accident, and spent years rebuilding both his businesses and himself.In this episode, Jason and I get real about what scaling actually takes—the mistakes most entrepreneurs make, and the systems that separate struggling founders from professional CEOs.Here's what you'll hear:Why 80-hour work weeks are a badge of failure, not successThe accident that forced Jason to rebuild his brain—and his businessesHow private equity taught him the power of financial literacyThe frameworks he blends (EOS, OKRs, forecasting) to actually scale companiesThe mindset shift that frees entrepreneurs from burnoutThis one's raw, practical, and packed with lessons you can apply today.
Join host Tiana Zhao as she explores the transformative power of Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) in the world of marketing and distribution actuarial work. This episode of the SOA Marketing and Distribution podcast dives deep into: The fundamentals of OKR methodology and its adoption by tech giants How OKRs can enhance clarity, focus, and measurable outcomes for actuaries A practical example of implementing OKRs in an insurance company setting Strategies for marketing and distribution actuaries to leverage OKRs effectively
What if the very system we rely on to motivate teams and measure success is actually holding us back? Many leaders find their teams can hit targets but still feel stuck, which points to a fundamental flaw in how we approach performance management.Traditional goal-setting methodologies like OKRs and KPIs, while well-intentioned, often create unintended consequences that work against the very outcomes they're designed to achieve. The incentive structure encourages showing good numbers while sweeping problems under the rug, giving leaders the illusion of progress rather than real visibility.Find the full show notes at: https://workmatters.com/Why-Your-Goal-Setting-Fails-Escaping-the-Performance-Trap-with-Radhika-Dutt
Send us a textOur guest today is the author of ‘Radical Product Thinking: The New Mindset for Innovating Smarter', a book whose methodology is now being used in over 40 countries and has also been translated into Chinese and Japanese. She is an entrepreneur, speaker, consultant and product leader who has participated in five acquisitions, two of which were companies that she founded. Meet the one and only, the radical Radhika Dutt! An MIT graduate, Radhika works with organizations ranging from high-tech startups to multinationals on building radical products that create a fundamental change. Radhika has built products in a wide range of industries including broadcast, media and entertainment, telecom, advertising technology, government, consumer apps, robotics, and even wine. She is currently Advisor on Product Thinking to the Monetary Authority of Singapore (Singapore's central bank and financial regulator). Radhika is working on her second book, ‘Escaping the Performance Trap: Why Goals and Targets Backfire and What Actually Works'.[2:57s] Radhika's genesis story[10:14s] Radical Product Thinking – breaking it down[16:56s] Applying Radical Product Thinking in today's VUCA world[23:45s] How can KPIs, OKRs and KRAs evolve with Radical Product Thinking[30:36s] The methodology of Objectives Hypotheses & Learnings – OHLs [45:56s] Radhika's vision for the near future and her upcoming book ‘Escaping the Performance Trap'RWL: Read Radhika's book ‘Radical Product Thinking' Find out more about her work at https://rdutt.com/Connect with Radhika on LinkedInConnect with Vinay on X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn What did you think about this episode? What would you like to hear more about? Or simply, write in and say hello! podcast@c2cod.comSubscribe to us on your favorite platforms – Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Tune In Alexa, Amazon Music, Pandora, Jio Saavn and more. This podcast is sponsored by C2C-OD, your Organizational Development consulting partner ‘Bringing People and Strategy Together'. Follow @c2cod on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook
In this episode of the Sooner, Safer, Happier podcast, host Jon Smart is joined by Willie Stegmann, CIO of Corporate IT Services at Vodafone Group, and Alena Keck, Head of Lean and Agile Center of Excellence at Vodafone. Together, they delve into the transformative journey of implementing Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) at Vodafone. Discover how this telecommunications giant navigated the challenges of aligning strategic priorities across diverse markets, fostering a culture of co-creation, and driving meaningful change. Tune in to learn about the lessons learned, the importance of data-driven decision-making, and the role of leadership in fostering a culture of transparency and accountability. Whether you're new to OKRs or looking to refine your approach, this episode offers valuable insights for organizations of all sizes.It's the Age of Digital and we're all living in it. Sooner Safer Happier is a podcast orchestrated to help you on your unique journey to improving ways of working.Hosted by Jon Smart, business agility practitioner, thought leader, coach, and author of Sooner Safer Happier. Jon is also the founder of the Enterprise Agility Leaders Network. Follow the podcast as Smart delves into conversation with business professionals and provides advice for a Ways of Working transformational journey.Listen now to be at the front of change and ahead of the competition.Follow us on Social Media:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sooner-safer-happier/Website: https://www.soonersaferhappier.com/Follow Jon Smart on Social Media:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathansmart/Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonsmart Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of Leading Human, host Chad interviews Radhika Dutt, author of 'Radical Product Thinking' and the forthcoming book 'Escaping the Performance Trap.' Dutt challenges the conventional wisdom of goal-setting in performance management, arguing that tools like OKRs and KPIs often backfire. Instead, she introduces an alternative framework focused on detailed vision statements, puzzle setting, and puzzle solving, which encourages continuous learning and adaptation. The conversation explores the history of goal-setting, its limitations in complex environments, and practical steps for implementing Dutt's approach. Author of Radical Product Thinking, a speaker and entrepreneur, Radhika Dutt has participated in 5 acquisitions, 2 of which were companies she founded. She's an advisor on Product Thinking to the Monetary Authority of Singapore. She's also an MIT grad with SB and M.Eng in EECS, and speaks nine languages.01:12 Challenging Traditional Management03:38 The History and Problems with Goal Setting07:25 Alternative Approaches to Alignment14:56 Implementing Puzzle Setting and Solving20:30 Overcoming Resistance to Change26:23 Lightning Round and ConclusionRadhika's LinkedIn profileRadhika's WebsiteRadical Product Thinking (website for the methodology and Radhika's first book)Speaker reelLinks to the OHL framework/ toolkitWant a communication and wellbeing workshop that actually sticks? Whether you're building trust or leveling up team accountability, we've got you. Book a call to ask questions and learn more about improving how your team communicates here.
Objectives and Key Results have long been a staple of the working world. You set a stretch objective, define the results that will tell you if the objective has been met, and scaffold throughout the organization. Then what? Often, nothing happens. The OKRs were too vague. In extreme cases, the worst happens: people bend the rules to hit aggressive targets. For author Radhika Dutt, there is another way: Objectives, Hypotheses, and Learnings (OHLs). In this week's episode of The Mindtools L&D Podcast, Radhika joins Gemma and Ross Garner to discuss: Why OKRs so often fail How OHLs prioritize a puzzle-solving mindset How to ensure OHLs don't lead to analysis paralysis Radhika offers an OHL toolkit at: radicalproduct.com/toolkit In 'What I Learned This Week', Ross G discussed 'parasocial relationships'. Gemma discussed an article from The Guardian on ways to have more 'fun' at work. For more from us, visit mindtools.com. There, you'll also find details of our award-winning Content Hub, our Manager Skills Assessment, our Manager Skill Builder and our custom work. For more from Radhika, including her last book Radical Product Thinking, see her website. Connect with our speakers If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with us on LinkedIn: Gemma Towersey Ross Garner Radhika Dutt
Jamie Lee, seasoned revenue leader with over 25 years of sales and go-to-market experience, including roles as Chief Revenue Officer at Zesty and multiple GTM leadership positions. In this episode, Jamie Lee shares insights on navigating sales transformation, the importance of coaching, trust, and clear communication in sales teams, and how leaders can foster a growth mindset. He emphasizes the significance of foundational practices like OKRs, effective hiring based on humility, hunger, and smartness (EQ), and the critical role of leadership in developing high-performing teams. Jamie also discusses overcoming resistance to new technologies, the importance of time management for leaders, and the value of continuous learning. He advocates for leaders to lead by example, prioritize coaching, and build a culture of self-awareness and humility to drive sustainable growthIntroduction & Guest Background (0:00 - 0:09)Jamie Lee discusses his extensive sales and GTM leadership experience, including roles at Zesty and multiple CRO positions.Market Trends & Challenges (1:00 - 1:13)Insights on current market transformation, especially amid rapid AI growth and shifting team strategies.What Reps Seek in Roles (3:52 - 4:04)Coaching, trust, and clear communication are top priorities for high-performing salespeople.Embracing New Technologies & Growth Mindset (4:12 - 5:30)The importance of leaders modeling learning, supporting development, and fostering a growth mindset.Handling Resistance to AI & Change (6:07 - 8:06)Strategies for coaching team members hesitant to adopt new tools, emphasizing understanding motivations and fixed vs. growth mindsets.Leadership & Coaching Time Management (12:47 - 15:18)Overcoming excuses for lack of coaching; leaders should dedicate time to develop their teams and focus on hiring for humility, hunger, and EQ.Setting Effective Goals & OKRs (16:00 - 18:01)Using OKRs to align team efforts, focusing on inputs and actions that drive outcomes, and involving teams in goal-setting.Hiring with the Right Traits (21:36 - 25:54)Assessing candidates for humility, hunger, and smartness (EQ); practical interview questions and evaluation techniques.Building a Culture of Continuous Improvement (28:45 - 29:23)Jamie encourages ongoing learning, coaching, and community support to elevate the sales profession.
Daniel Dippold, Gründer von EWOR, spricht mit Mike Mahlkow über die Wissenschaft der Willenskraft und wie Gründer ihre Produktivität nachhaltig steigern können. Er teilt, warum Dopamin-Detox wichtig ist, wie man mit dem 80/20-Prinzip arbeitet und warum Fortschritt der beste Motivator ist. Was du lernst: Willenskraft verstehen & stärken: Die Rolle von Dopamin Warum Kälte-Exposition hilft Die richtige Balance zwischen Anstrengung und Erholung Produktivitätssysteme aufbauen: Das 80/20-Prinzip richtig anwenden Wie du OKRs effektiv nutzt Die Bedeutung von Progress Tracking Energie & Zeit managen: No-Phone-Days richtig einsetzen Warum Dopamin-Detox wichtig ist Die richtige Balance zwischen Deep Work und Kommunikation Motivation & Fortschritt: Warum kleine Wins wichtig sind Die Rolle von Team-Celebrations Wie du nachhaltige Motivation aufbaust Leadership & Selbstführung: Die Bedeutung von Selbstreflexion Wie du dein Team richtig motivierst Der Unterschied zwischen Zeit- und Task-Management ALLES ZU UNICORN BAKERY: https://zez.am/unicornbakery Mehr zu Daniel: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danieldippold/ Website: https://www.ewor.com/ Mehr zu Co-Host Mike: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemahlkow/ Website: https://fastgen.com/ Join our Founder Tactics Newsletter: 2x die Woche bekommst du die Taktiken der besten Gründer der Welt direkt ins Postfach: https://www.tactics.unicornbakery.de/ Kapitel: (00:00:00) Warum ist Willpower so wichtig? (00:03:04) Willenskraft aufbauen & Fokus behalten (00:13:27) So ernst du effizient, NEIN zu sagen (00:26:40) Was ist förderlich/hinderlich für Willenskraft (00:33:11) Warum es hilft, nur 80% seiner Ziele zu erreichen (00:38:29) Die Rolle von positivem Reinforcement/Progress
In this episode, Ashok sits down with Josh Seiden, author and product management expert, to explore key insights from Josh's latest book, "Who Does What by How Much." The conversation centers around using OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) to align teams and improve organizational outcomes. They examine the challenges many teams face when implementing frameworks like OKRs or Agile and emphasize the importance of understanding the "why" behind these systems. Josh also reflects on his early work, such as developing the Kensington Turbo Mouse and collaborating with Alan Cooper, widely known as the "Father of Visual Basic." Unlock the full potential of your product team with Integral's player coaches, experts in lean, human-centered design. Visit integral.io/convergence for a free Product Success Lab workshop to gain clarity and confidence in tackling any product design or engineering challenge. Get key strategies for fostering a customer-centric culture, building effective product teams, and aligning leadership with team goals. Whether you're new to OKRs or looking to refine your process, this episode provides actionable advice for team leaders, product managers, and executives alike. Inside the Episode... The role of OKRs in driving business alignment and outcomes The importance of clarifying the "why" behind processes like OKRs or Agile Josh Seiden's background and his early design work with the Kensington Turbo Mouse Strategies for using frameworks to empower teams and avoid over-focusing on the process How to implement OKRs successfully and avoid common pitfalls The evolution of design thinking in product development Understanding the customer's role at every level of an organization Key lessons from "Who Does What by How Much" and Josh's other books Mentioned in this Episode: "Who Does What by How Much" by Josh Seiden and Jeff Gothelf "Lean UX" by Josh Seiden and Jeff Gothelf "Sense and Respond" by Josh Seiden and Jeff Gothelf The Goal by Eliyahu M. Goldratt "Outcomes Over Outputs" The Kensington Turbo Mouse Alan Cooper - The father of visual basic, author of About Face Book that every software designer should now - About Face by Alan Cooper Vitsoe Shelving Subscribe to the Convergence podcast wherever you get podcasts, including video episodes on YouTube at youtube.com/@convergencefmpodcast. Learn something? Give us a 5-star review and like the podcast on YouTube. It's how we grow. Follow the Pod Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/convergence-podcast/ X: https://twitter.com/podconvergence Instagram: @podconvergence
In this insightful Podcast, Daniel Cummings, Chief Commercial Officer at PrecisionAQ, shares insights on leading a PE-backed GTM organisation through its first 100 days and beyond. He emphasises the importance of relentless execution, focusing on doing the work daily, and maintaining a "day one" mindset. Dan highlights the significance of clear goal-setting using OKRs, establishing strategic boulders, and maintaining transparency with dashboards that track progress.Daniel highlights the significance of clear goal-setting using OKRs, establishing strategic boulders, and maintaining transparency with dashboards that track progress.He discusses how to unify teams in a private equity environment by leveraging data, incentives, and a matrix organisational model that balances delivery and growth initiatives. Building a strong talent foundation and fostering a culture of continuous communication are also key themes.He stresses that the integration of AI into the go-to-market strategy, advocating for a people-centric approach to AI adoption, involving training teams to use AI tools effectively, and focusing on content creation and business insights. He advises managing team fears around AI by demonstrating its value and embedding it into daily workflows.Finally, Daniel underscores the importance of aligning with the board through consistent OKR reporting, presenting clear narratives, and setting strategic priorities to ensure sustained growth.0:00 - 1:14 Introduction & Guest Overview 1:14 - 6:17 First 100 Days Focus6:17 - 12:13 Building a Unified GTM & Talent 12:13 - 14:00 OKRs & Board Communication 7:12 - 10:17 Private Equity Context & Acquisition Journey 15:22 - 17:50 Team Structure & Collaboration25:12 - 29:01 AI Strategy & Modern GTM29:01 - 33:34 Managing AI Adoption & Team Fears
The FDA Group's Nick Capman sits down with executive consultant Sean Gallimore to break down what makes medtech leaders and teams truly effective. Drawing from decades of experience across medical devices, diagnostics, CROs, and industrial technology, Sean shares his practical framework for leadership—the 4 Cs: Strategic Clarity, Capabilities, Compliance, and Connectedness—and how each one directly impacts growth, culture, and execution.Listeners will learn how to:Pressure-test whether your strategy is actually winnable.Match organizational capabilities to goals (and pivot when they don't).Use KPIs and OKRs to diagnose execution gaps.Build stronger trust and culture through connectedness, from “gemba” walks to multi-channel communication.Sean also shares real-world stories—from transforming an underperforming ultrasound launch to shifting a company's culture from “play not to lose” to “play to win.” Whether you're leading in medtech, life sciences, or beyond, this episode delivers actionable insights you can bring straight back to your team.About the Guest:Sean Gallimore, MBA is an executive consultant with 30 years of leadership across Fortune 500, mid-cap, and private equity–backed companies in medical devices, life sciences, and industrial technology. He has held senior roles at Medtronic, Smith & Nephew, Philips, Parexel, PDI Healthcare, and Dynisco, driving growth through strategy execution, turnarounds, innovation, and building high-performing teams. Today, he advises early-stage medtech companies on scaling operations, commercial strategy, and organizational development.About The FDA Group:The FDA Group helps life science organizations rapidly access the industry's best consultants, contractors, and candidates. Our resources assist in every stage of the product lifecycle, from clinical development to commercialization, with a focus on staff augmentation, auditing, remediation, QMS, and other specialized project work in Quality Assurance, Regulatory Affairs, and Clinical Operations: https://www.thefdagroup.com/
Do you ever feel like you're great at setting goals but struggle to actually reach them? You're not alone—many people have big dreams but lack a clear path to make them happen. On today's show, I'm going to share a simple yet powerful system used by top-performing companies like Google and Microsoft—and go over how you can apply it to your own life for real, measurable results. Whether you want to lose weight, improve relationships, or launch a new business, I'll show you how to use this system to stay focused, take action, and reach your goals faster. Tune in to today's Cabral Concept 3468 to learn how to use the OKR system to achieve any goal. Enjoy the show—and as always, I'd love to hear your thoughts! - - - For Everything Mentioned In Today's Show: StephenCabral.com/3468 - - - Get a FREE Copy of Dr. Cabral's Book: The Rain Barrel Effect - - - Join the Community & Get Your Questions Answered: CabralSupportGroup.com - - - Dr. Cabral's Most Popular At-Home Lab Tests: > Complete Minerals & Metals Test (Test for mineral imbalances & heavy metal toxicity) - - - > Complete Candida, Metabolic & Vitamins Test (Test for 75 biomarkers including yeast & bacterial gut overgrowth, as well as vitamin levels) - - - > Complete Stress, Mood & Metabolism Test (Discover your complete thyroid, adrenal, hormone, vitamin D & insulin levels) - - - > Complete Food Sensitivity Test (Find out your hidden food sensitivities) - - - > Complete Omega-3 & Inflammation Test (Discover your levels of inflammation related to your omega-6 to omega-3 levels) - - - Get Your Question Answered On An Upcoming HouseCall: StephenCabral.com/askcabral - - - Would You Take 30 Seconds To Rate & Review The Cabral Concept? The best way to help me spread our mission of true natural health is to pass on the good word, and I read and appreciate every review!
Do you ever feel like you're great at setting goals but struggle to actually reach them? You're not alone—many people have big dreams but lack a clear path to make them happen. On today's show, I'm going to share a simple yet powerful system used by top-performing companies like Google and Microsoft—and go over how you can apply it to your own life for real, measurable results. Whether you want to lose weight, improve relationships, or launch a new business, I'll show you how to use this system to stay focused, take action, and reach your goals faster. Tune in to today's Cabral Concept 3468 to learn how to use the OKR system to achieve any goal. Enjoy the show—and as always, I'd love to hear your thoughts! - - - For Everything Mentioned In Today's Show: StephenCabral.com/3468 - - - Get a FREE Copy of Dr. Cabral's Book: The Rain Barrel Effect - - - Join the Community & Get Your Questions Answered: CabralSupportGroup.com - - - Dr. Cabral's Most Popular At-Home Lab Tests: > Complete Minerals & Metals Test (Test for mineral imbalances & heavy metal toxicity) - - - > Complete Candida, Metabolic & Vitamins Test (Test for 75 biomarkers including yeast & bacterial gut overgrowth, as well as vitamin levels) - - - > Complete Stress, Mood & Metabolism Test (Discover your complete thyroid, adrenal, hormone, vitamin D & insulin levels) - - - > Complete Food Sensitivity Test (Find out your hidden food sensitivities) - - - > Complete Omega-3 & Inflammation Test (Discover your levels of inflammation related to your omega-6 to omega-3 levels) - - - Get Your Question Answered On An Upcoming HouseCall: StephenCabral.com/askcabral - - - Would You Take 30 Seconds To Rate & Review The Cabral Concept? The best way to help me spread our mission of true natural health is to pass on the good word, and I read and appreciate every review!
Summary In this episode, Andy welcomes Mark Reich, a former Toyota leader and current Chief Engineer for Strategy at the Lean Enterprise Institute. Mark is the author of Managing on Purpose. If you've ever tried to improve your team but felt like your strategy was stuck in a slide deck, this conversation is for you. Mark introduces the idea of hoshin kanri, a lesser-known but critical pillar of Toyota's management system, and explains how lean thinking is more than just tools--it's a way of developing people and aligning purpose across an organization. You'll hear why metrics alone won't get you to strategic clarity, how to escape the trap of firefighting, and why engagement, not just direction, is the key to long-term improvement. He also shares how lean thinking can be applied at home, even with your kids! If you're looking for insights on how to align teams, build capability, and lead with greater purpose, this episode is for you! Sound Bites "Don't focus on the tool. The tools have to serve a purpose." “Catchball is not just a handoff of plans. It's a conversation about what matters and how we'll learn together.” “Direction without development is just pressure.” They're not called punishment calls. They're called co-learning calls. “If strategy feels like something being done to people, you've already lost.” “You don't learn PDCA by attending a training. You learn it by doing it, with guidance, reflection, and coaching.” “It's not just about solving the problem. It's about who solves it and how they do it.” “We had to change how we talked about strategy before we could change how we worked on strategy.” Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:49 Start of Interview 02:01 What early experiences shaped your views on leadership, strategy, or lean? 05:28 How do you explain TPS and hoshin kanri as two pillars of Toyota's system? 10:36 What are common mistakes leaders make when trying to improve the business? 15:23 Where do you coach people to start when they want better alignment? 17:40 What myths or misunderstandings do people have about lean? 18:12 Case study example: Turner Construction 25:45 What lean tools or concepts should project managers explore more deeply? 29:24 Where do you recommend someone begin learning about lean? 34:47 How has lean thinking helped at home—and with raising kids? 36:09 End of Interview 36:36 Andy Comments After the Interview 40:53 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about Mark Reich and his work at the Lean Enterprise Institute at Lean.org. For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 438 with Jeff Gothelf. It's a book about OKRs, which is different from hoshin kanri, but the overall discussion is worth checking out. Episode 387 with Atif Rafiq. It's a book that has a strategic approach to dealing with uncertainty. Episode 320 with Greg Githins. It's more about how to think strategically. Pass the PMP Exam This Year If you or someone you know is thinking about getting PMP certified, we've put together a helpful guide called The 5 Best Resources to Help You Pass the PMP Exam on Your First Try. We've helped thousands of people earn their certification, and we'd love to help you too. It's totally free, and it's a great way to get a head start. Just go to 5BestResources.PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com to grab your copy. I'd love to help you get your PMP this year! Join Us for LEAD52 I know you want to be a more confident leader–that's why you listen to this podcast. LEAD52 is a global community of people like you who are committed to transforming their ability to lead and deliver. It's 52 weeks of leadership learning, delivered right to your inbox, taking less than 5 minutes a week. And it's all for free. Learn more and sign up at GetLEAD52.com. Thanks! Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Business Acumen Topics: Lean, Toyota Production System, Hoshin Kanri, Strategy, Organizational Alignment, Leadership Development, Continuous Improvement, Team Engagement, Project Management, PDCA, Capability Building, Coaching The following music was used for this episode: Music: Underground Shadows by MusicLFiles License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Synthiemania by Frank Schroeter License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
How rituals, retrospectives and routines make or break execution.In the final episode of our miniseries on execution, executive coach Audrey Camp explores the overlooked power of rituals and rhythm. How do you keep goals alive beyond the kickoff meeting?What routines actually help execution stick?And why is the retrospective the most undervalued meeting in any startup?Lucas and Audrey dig into how OKRs should be integrated into your team's day-to-day—not treated like an extra task. They also discuss the danger of over-relying on tools, and why every leader needs to build their own “execution muscle.”In this episode you'll learn:Why the OKR retrospective is the most powerful tool for growth and learningHow to embed goals into your weekly rhythm without adding extra meetingsThe difference between tools and muscles—and why OKRs need bothHow leaders should use AI without outsourcing their leadershipWhy celebrating both wins and failures builds a stronger cultureAbout Audrey Camp:Audrey is an executive coach working with scaleups across Europe. With a background in communication and deep experience from Cognite, she helps leaders grow into their roles, define what matters, and execute with clarity and impact.Host: Lucas Weldeghebriel, editor in chief and CEO in Shifter
The Problem Every Leader Faces You've been there. You hire consultants, run engaging goal-setting workshops, get your team excited... then watch everything fall apart the moment the consultants leave. Sound familiar? What if there was a systematic approach that actually sticks? What You'll Discover in This Episode The Wave 9 System That's Changing How Organizations Hit Their Goals Philipp Schett reveals his breakthrough approach to OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) that goes far beyond traditional goal-setting. Instead of another "set it and forget it" workshop, Wave 9 creates magnetic systems that naturally keep teams aligned and moving forward. Key Insights You'll Walk Away With: ✅ Why your current goal-setting process is sabotaging your results (and the 4-step system that fixes it) ✅ The "German Engineering + Creative Balance" approach that drives both precision and innovation in your team ✅ How to integrate AI into your goal management without losing human judgment and team buy-in ✅ The simple feedback loop that turns 2-hour meetings into productive 3-hour strategy sessions (counterintuitive but game-changing) ✅ Why "soft resets" 2-3 times per year outperform annual planning by keeping creativity and energy high The Leadership Communication Challenge Solved Discover why your team interprets "increase revenue" completely differently than you intended - and the exact process to create crystal-clear objectives that eliminate silos and misalignment. Real Results: Organizations using this system report dramatically improved team alignment, reduced strategy confusion, and goals that actually get achieved instead of forgotten. Perfect For Leaders Who: Are tired of goal-setting workshops that don't create lasting changeWant their teams to be proactive problem-solvers, not just task-completersNeed a systematic approach to track progress without micromanagingAre curious about integrating AI into their operations intelligentlyWant to remove friction from their strategic planning process What's Next? Free Resources Mentioned: Philipp is creating a free OKR course at wave9.comFollow his regular LinkedIn posts on using OKRs to create clarity, energy, and capability Ready to Build Your Own Magnetic Systems? Get Karl's Magnetic Systems Method and other systems guides designed to help you find issues before they become expensive problems. Take Action Now Listen to this episode if you're ready to: Stop wasting time on goal-setting that doesn't workTransform your team into aligned problem-solversCreate systems that work even when you're not in the room Questions or want to suggest an amazing guest? Reach out on the Systematic Leader website. Enjoyed this episode? Take 30 seconds to rate the Systematic Leader podcast - it helps other busy leaders discover these game-changing insights. This episode is part of the Systematic Leader's mission to help family-owned and service based businesses create better systems that remove friction, save time, and build resilient cultures.
Are you leveraging the full potential of strategic finance in your annual planning process? In this episode of The CFO Show, Igor Stelea, Director of Strategic Finance, Analytics & Business Transformation at CFGI, unpacks what makes annual planning effective and what causes it to break down. From aligning strategy with operational plans to integrating long-range forecasting and scenario modeling, Igor offers frameworks and hard-won insights on how mature finance teams turn planning into a competitive advantage. Discussed in This Episode: The link between strategic planning and annual budgeting Why “planning the plan” matters more than you think How to use OKRs to align strategic and financial priorities Best practices for rolling forecasts and scenario planning Common pitfalls that derail planning (and how to avoid them)For CFO insights, episode show notes and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.
If you've ever wondered how to make test-driven development more than a coding technique, this episode is for you. Ashok Sivanand and producer Doug Branson answer listener and Reddit-sourced questions about building better product teams—covering everything from mindset shifts to hard truths about performance reviews and strategic alignment. Ashok connects TDD to the principles of Essentialism by Greg McKeown, revealing how teams can define success before they begin and cut through the noise of Slack and OKRs. Hear practical advice for first-time founders struggling to articulate value without a 20-minute demo, plus techniques to scale beyond early adopter customers using real-world interviews and Jobs to Be Done. Later, they explore how to recover from a tough performance review, especially in remote roles, and why communication—not effort—is often the missing ingredient. The episode wraps with a conversation about the dangers of leadership ambiguity when a company isn't sure whether it's selling a service or a product. ASK YOUR QUESTION: convergence.fm/contact Unlock the full potential of your product team with Integral's player coaches, experts in lean, human-centered design. Visit integral.io/convergence for a free Product Success Lab workshop to gain clarity and confidence in tackling any product design or engineering challenge. Episodes referenced in this episode... From Code to Culture: How Shopify Thrives Under Farhan Thawar's Thought Leadership - https://youtu.be/tKEKfjACv3k The POWER of Small Data With High Signal - A Jobs To Be Done masterclass with Andrew Glaser - https://youtu.be/0X1RKZWJgOU Building Customer-Centric Teams: Josh Seiden on OKRs and Agile - https://youtu.be/0dPoDNCQmyc Best of 2024 - Derisking and Evolving on your OKR (Objectives and Key Results) Implementation - https://youtu.be/6HcRd6qUq1A Inside the episode... TDD as a mindset beyond code, inspired by Essentialism How to recover from a tough performance review in a remote org Tips for first-time founders explaining product value without demos Jobs to Be Done and using customer language in sales Diagnosing product vs service strategy confusion in your org Mentioned in this episode... Essentialism by Greg McKeown The Mom Test by Rob Fitzpatrick Jobs to Be Done framework Calendly Integral Unlock the full potential of your product team with Integral's player coaches, experts in lean, human-centered design. Visit integral.io/convergence for a free Product Success Lab workshop to gain clarity and confidence in tackling any product design or engineering challenge. Subscribe to the Convergence podcast wherever you get podcasts including video episodes to get updated on the other crucial conversations that we'll post on YouTube at youtube.com/@convergencefmpodcast Learn something? Give us a 5 star review and like the podcast on YouTube. It's how we grow. Follow the Pod Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/convergence-podcast/ X: https://twitter.com/podconvergence Instagram: @podconvergence
What if the secret to staying focused, aligned, and genuinely excited about your goals wasn't a 20-page annual plan, but a simple monthly sprint? Nikki and Jason pull back the curtain on how PeopleForward Network uses OKRs and monthly sprint goals to spark team momentum.
What if the secret to staying focused, aligned, and genuinely excited about your goals wasn't a 20-page annual plan, but a simple monthly sprint? Nikki and Jason pull back the curtain on how PeopleForward Network uses OKRs and monthly sprint goals to spark team momentum.
Daniel Dippold, Gründer von EWOR, gibt dir Einblicke in den Aufbau eines der selektivsten Founder Fellowships Europas. Mit mehr als 100 Millionen Dollar Funding teilt Daniel, wie EWOR aus 50.000 Bewerbungen die besten 30 Fellows pro Jahr auswählt. Er erklärt, warum mathematische Modelle in der Gründer-Selektion wichtig sind, wie man ein hochperformantes Team aufbaut und warum EWOR sich bewusst als Venture und nicht als Fonds versteht. Mit bereits einem Unicorn im Portfolio nach nur zwei Jahren zeigt Daniel, wie EWOR durch die drei Säulen Attraction, Selection und Amplification systematisch die nächste Generation von Milliarden-Dollar-Unternehmen aufbaut. Was du lernst: Gründer-Selektion & Bewertung: Die drei Säulen erfolgreicher Gründer: Obsession, Resilienz und unfaire Vorteile Wie EWOR aus 50.000 Bewerbungen die Top 30 Fellows auswählt Die Bedeutung von empirischen Daten in der Gründer-Evaluation Organisationsaufbau: Die drei Kernbereiche: Attraction, Selection, Amplification Wie man mathematische Modelle für Organisationsentwicklung nutzt Die Bedeutung von OKRs und KPIs im Venture-Building Team & Kultur: Warum Top-Performer nur mit anderen Top-Performern arbeiten Die Bedeutung von psychologischer Kompatibilität im Team Wie man ein hochperformantes Team aufbaut und führt Produktivität & Führung: Daniels System für persönliche und organisatorische Produktivität Die Bedeutung von regelmäßiger Reflexion und Anpassung Wie man als Gründer konsistent Progress demonstriert Investment & Skalierung: Warum EWOR sich als Venture und nicht als Fonds versteht Die Bedeutung von Evergreen-Strukturen für langfristigen Erfolg Wie man ohne klassisches Board erfolgreich skaliert ALLES ZU UNICORN BAKERY: https://zez.am/unicornbakery Mehr zu Daniel: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danieldippold Website: https://www.ewor.com/ Die bisherigen Folgen mit Daniel & Mike gibt's hier: Join our Founder Tactics Newsletter: 2x die Woche bekommst du die Taktiken der besten Gründer der Welt direkt ins Postfach: https://www.tactics.unicornbakery.de/ Kapitel: (00:00:00) So kannst du EWOR trotz 50k+ Pitches noch begeistern (00:06:38) Trustaufbau & Beweisarbeit für die Zusammenarbeit mit EWOR (00:16:41) Wie beweist man zwischen den "Marktschreiern", dass man nicht nur laut, sondern auch gut ist? (00:20:59) Softskills & die Qual der Wahl: Wie findet EWOR die 30 besten aus 50k? (00:26:49) Darum geht EWOR nicht den klassischen Fonds-Weg (00:38:30) Daniels Learnings & Überraschungen aus mehreren Zehntausend Gründungen (00:49:48) Daniels Einordnung der KI-Bubble in die aktuelle Marktsituation (00:54:58) Die Balance zwischen alter Begeisterung & neuen Ideen (01:01:23) Wie entscheidet Daniel über Informationsbeschaffung? (01:06:01) So funktioniert EWOR als Organisation (01:17:17) Daniels Productivity-System
In his first month as Head of Talent Acquisition at Sam's Club, Steve White joined our podcast at UNLEASH to reflect on what it really takes for TA to be seen as a business partner, not just a service function. From embedding in the business and aligning to OKRs, to balancing EVP with hyper-local “MVPs,” Steve shares how TA can drive transformation by showing up differently and thinking bigger.
Jess Larsen sits down with real estate innovator and PropTech entrepreneur Rob Finlay to dive into his new book, Beyond the Building. They explore why top-performing real estate operators are thinking more like tech founders—and how to build enterprise value through adaptability, data, and leadership. From capital strategy to OKRs, Rob shares the mindset and mechanics behind scaling smarter in today's evolving market. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"We can't just run an office in chaos." Connect With Our SponsorsGreyFinch - https://greyfinch.com/jillallen/A-Dec - https://www.a-dec.com/orthodonticsSmileSuite - http://getsmilesuite.com/ Summary In this episode, Jill and Casey Bull discuss the importance of effective team management and goal setting in orthodontic practices. Casey shares insights on implementing OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) to enhance team performance and accountability. They explore the concept of '10 state' to define excellence in roles, the significance of structured team meetings, and the need to prioritize big goals over daily tasks. The conversation emphasizes fostering a culture of accountability while maintaining a supportive environment for team members. Connect With Our Guest CascadEffects - https://www.cascadeffects.com Takeaways Casey Bull emphasizes the need for impactful change in orthodontic practices.OKRs help clarify objectives and measure progress effectively.Leading KPIs are crucial for proactive management.Defining a '10 state' helps teams strive for excellence.Structured meetings enhance team accountability and focus.Rocks and sand analogy illustrates prioritization of goals.Accountability should be framed as support, not criticism.Self-care is essential for productivity and balance.Open-mindedness can lead to better practices and outcomes.Effective communication tools can streamline team interactions.Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Cascade Effects and Casey's Journey03:07 Understanding OKRs in Orthodontic Practices06:00 Implementing OKRs: Practical Steps for Success08:55 The Importance of Measuring Team Performance11:58 Defining the 10 State: A New Approach to Goal Setting19:29 Understanding the Big Picture in Team Dynamics21:26 The Importance of Structure and Goal Setting22:54 Effective Team Meetings: Engaging Everyone25:54 Navigating Team Accountability and Feedback29:01 Implementing Rocks: Prioritizing Big Objectives33:11 Balancing Accountability and Team Autonomy Are you ready to start a practice of your own? Do you need a fresh set of eyes or some advice in your existing practice?Reach out to me- www.practiceresults.com. If you like what we are doing here on Hey Docs! and want to hear more of this awesome content, give us a 5-star Rating on your preferred listening platform and subscribe to our show so you never miss an episode. New episodes drop every Thursday! Episode Credits: Hosted by Jill AllenProduced by Jordann KillionAudio Engineering by Garrett Lucero
One of the biggest pain points for first-time founders is a lack of structure within their business. One of the most popular frameworks for quickly creating structure is the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), but does it really live up to the hype? In this episode of In Demand, Asia and Kim do a deep dive into EOS. They break down its key components, where it works (and where it doesn't), and why most founders should treat it more like a toolbox than a strict rulebook. Got a question you'd like Asia to unpack on the podcast? Record a voicemail here. Links: DemandMaven EOS Worldwide Traction by Gino Wickman - the book introducing EOS Chapters (00:00:25) - Rediscovering campaign anxiety.(00:06:00) - EOS overview: what it is and why a client recently reached out asking about it.(00:11:00) - “Right person, right seat” explained.(00:15:45) - Issues tracking.(00:20:00) - Where EOS can fall apart for small teams.(00:29:30) - The parts of EOS that Asia likes and uses.(00:32:00) - Rocks vs. OKRs: what's the difference and when does it matter?(00:39:15) - SOPs vs. “The Way”: document your processes, whatever you call them.(00:42:15) - When are core values useful and when are they just performative?(00:52:00) - Picking and choosing from EOS: take what works, leave the rest.
In this episode, Aydin sits down with Greg Shove, CEO of Section, to unpack how AI isn't just a productivity tool—it's a new cognitive layer for modern organizations. Greg shares how Section pivoted from executive education to AI enablement after a single eye-opening session with ChatGPT. He dives deep into what it really takes to embed AI into workflows, culture, and decision-making—and why “talking to AI” is now mandatory at his company. From building a company-wide second brain with Claude to simulating board meetings with GPT, Greg offers a masterclass in practical AI integration.Timestamps:1:35 – Greg's background: from flameouts to $250M in exits2:00 – Section's pivot from exec ed to AI enablement3:01 – The 6-month internal resistance to AI4:50 – Why training isn't enough: the real AI challenge is change management6:07 – Why treating AI like regular software is a strategic mistake8:26 – What successful AI deployments have in common10:02 – Lessons from Shopify, Duolingo, and Fiverr on AI expectations11:45 – The price of AI is too low—why that might change14:03 – AI vs. analyst time: “an hour becomes a minute”15:31 – Section's 25% productivity gain with AI18:58 – Measuring productivity impact without perfect data21:24 – Clever metrics: output per headcount, OKRs, AI shoutouts24:51 – Using Claude as a company “second brain”26:11 – Greg's AI desktop setup: Perplexity, GPT, Claude27:43 – The Section Expert: maintaining company context for AI29:27 – “Working with Greg” manual: how to humanize your AI input31:00 – The difference between values and operating principles34:42 – Roleplaying board members with AI before real board meetings36:05 – Claude vs. ChatGPT vs. humans: who gave better board insights?41:00 – AI for owner-operators: create your own board42:26 – What Greg's most excited about: how AI unlocks new opportunities44:08 – Where to find Greg & Section + listener discountTools & Technologies Mentioned:Claude (Anthropic): Used to build a company-wide second brain and simulate board member personasGPT (OpenAI): Used as a daily thought partner and board advisorPerplexity: A go-to AI for fast, accurate information lookupsSection Expert (Claude project): A centralized AI project workspace housing all of Section's key documents for brainstormingProfAI (Section's product): An AI-powered coach designed to teach people how to use AI effectivelyChatGPT for Teams: Mentioned as a better, paid alternative to free-tier toolsGemini Pro: Noted for its screen-sharing and future context-awareness potentialCopilot (Microsoft): One of several LLM tools tested during board simulationsSubscribe at thisnewway.com to get the step-by-step playbooks, tools, and workflows.
Judy Weber is a serial entrepreneur and business expansion expert helping women grow confidence and incorporate proven business strategies for scale while building on a foundation of faith. A former trial lawyer who has built businesses across marketing, real estate and interior design, Judy teaches her clients to think and win like a courtroom dynamo, integrating her legal experience with her faith-fueled approach to entrepreneurship. Host of the long running, globally ranked Bold Business Bold Faith podcast, Judy's mission is to normalize miraculous results for Christian women in business, emphasizing that success is inevitable when one operates from a place of calm, confidence, and certainty. She serves service-based businesses with coaching and the “Miraculous Mastermind” to master scaling.
What happens when you give every employee access to the paid version of ChatGPT? At Knownwell, it wasn't just a tech decision—it was a culture shift. Knownwell CMO Courtney Baker, CEO David DeWolf, and Chief Product & Technology Officer Mohan Rao explore the real-world implications of a strategic move: providing company-wide access to ChatGPT. They share what sparked the decision and how a structured rollout strategy transformed productivity, communication, and innovation across the team. They also dive into what smart deployment looks like, from setting enterprise controls to embedding AI within your company's OKRs. Pete Buer kicks off the episode with an eye-opening look at Apple's latest research into large language model reasoning and why businesses must approach AI tools with both optimism and caution. He unpacks the importance of human-AI collaboration and encourages leaders to ditch the “magic wand” mindset. Also in this episode: Part two of Pete's interview with Ardy Tripathy, AI lead at OpsCanvas. Ardy reveals how AI can help eliminate “zombie resources” in cloud infrastructure, streamline CI/CD pipelines, and enhance visibility across systems. He also offers practical tips for CEOs on how to lead AI experimentation without losing control. This episode is a must-listen for leaders navigating the AI learning curve, and for teams wondering what enterprise-wide access really unlocks. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/NneA_LgHEYc Curious what your company's data looks like on Knownwell? Schedule a demo at www.knownwell.com.
Guest: Jhana LiCompany: Spyglass OpsPlatforms:
Smart Agency Masterclass with Jason Swenk: Podcast for Digital Marketing Agencies
Would you like access to our advanced agency training for FREE? https://www.agencymastery360.com/training Have you ever found yourself grinding endlessly, only to pause and think, “Is this really what I signed up for?” Maybe you started your business chasing freedom—only to end up feeling trapped by the very thing you built. It's a common trap: the belief that working harder and enduring more pressure will eventually earn you the right to enjoy life after a big exit. But as today's guest discovered, you don't need to wait 10 more years to start living. What you really need is a clearer why, a stronger structure, and the right people around you—people who understand your vision and support your growth. Blake Denman is the president and founder of Rickety Roo, a remote agency specializing in SEO and paid search marketing. He'll discuss his unconventional path into entrepreneurship, which was influenced by a personal injury, and the importance of designing your business and life around personal values, not just growth for growth's sake. He also shares his time management strategies, how he uses AI for self-reflection, and his perspective on the mental load of entrepreneurship. If you're an agency owner still doing everything—from ops to admin to taxes—you'll relate to his story. In this episode, we'll discuss: Strategic hires that might results in your identity crisis. Designing your life before it designs you. Time audits, energy filters & the “$5K task” rule. Figuring out what you actually want. Do you thrive in chaos? Manufacture some healthy pressure. Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources Wix: Today's episode of the Smart Agency Masterclass is sponsored by Wix Studio, the all-in-one platform designed to help agencies scale without the headaches. With intuitive tools, robust native business solutions, and low maintenance, Wix Studio lets your team focus on what matters most—delivering exceptional value to your clients. Ready to take your agency to the next level? Visit wix.com/studio and discover how Wix Studio can transform your workflow, boost profits, and strengthen client relationships. The Moment that Forced Him to Slow Down Blake didn't set out to build an agency. Like a lot of agency owners, he fell into it. What started as freelancing to pay the bills while he finished school and pursued a different career path took a hard left turn—literally—when a serious bike accident landed him with a traumatic brain injury. That moment forced Blake to slow down. Rebuild. Rethink. And when he got back into client work, he realized something: just because you can do it all doesn't mean you should. Like many agency owners, he hit the familiar ceiling of capacity. So he started hiring. First contractors. Then a coach in 2019. That's when the game really changed. The Pivot Point: Strategic Hires (and the Identity Crisis That Follows) When you've built your agency from the ground up, letting go isn't just hard—it can mess with your head. One of the pivots that really made a difference in Blake's agency was the strategic hires that required him to let go of some areas of the business. For instance, when he finally handed over operations. “I was like that John Travolta meme—just looking around wondering what to do with myself.” And that's the truth no one talks about: letting go of operations isn't just a tactical decision. It's emotional. You've tied your identity to being the guy who does everything. And suddenly… you're not. That shift sparked something deeper—what Blake calls “identity paralysis.” Not a crisis, but a freeze. A moment of, “If I'm not the operator, who am I now?” Spoiler: that question is the start of real CEO-level growth. Designing Your Life (Before It Designs You) Most agency owners plan every quarter like a military op: KPIs, OKRs, revenue targets. But how many plan their life that way? Blake started mapping his ideal year: the trips, the purchases, the experiences. Then he calculated what income he actually needed to live that life. We're mostly led to believe those goals are too far away, but the first time he did this he was just $1,500/month off. So many agency owners think they need to sell their business to finally live the life they want. But often, you don't need to sell—you just need to restructure. What if the business could serve your life now instead of being the thing you have to escape? Time Audits, Energy Filters & the “$5K Task” Rule Most people say they value their time but let it slip through their fingers, which is why you need a time tracking method that works for you. After trying a few, Blake got a framework from one of his early coaches. He categorizes his weekly tasks into four buckets: $5, $50, $500, and $5,000/hour value. If you think your time is worth $5,000 but the time audit shows its mostly spent in the $5 or $50 buckets, congrats—you've just diagnosed why your growth is stuck and your energy's tanked. To his surprise, this is what happened to Blake, who was spending way more time than he thought on the $5 and $50 columns. You don't scale by doing more. You scale by doing less of the wrong things. What Do You Actually Want? If your agency isn't giving you time, freedom, and joy… what the hell are you building it for? Blake now runs his agency with zero calls on Mondays. Focus time is blocked. The calendar is color-coded. And most importantly, the business doesn't need him 60 hours a week to grow. He also has the whole team on Brain.fm, a tool that uses science-backed audio to get you in the zone faster. Some would call that a lifestyle business, but so what? Lifestyle business can be extremely profitable too. Why not build your business around what you like and don't like? People who struggle for 20 years to then sell their agency find that after all their work they have maybe ten years left to do the things they want to do. Lessons for the Owner-Operator Ready to Evolve If you're reading this and feeling that twinge—that mix of burnout and “I want more” clarity—take these cues from Blake: -Let go of the identity that your agency is you. -Map your ideal life, then build your business to fund it. -Hire for elevation, not just delegation. -Your value isn't in the tasks you do. It's in the vision you hold. From the Hustle Hamster Wheel to the Hedonic Treadmill You want the 8-figure agency, right? So did Blake. Until he realized that every time he hit a new goal, he'd feel good for a week… maybe five days. Then it was back to baseline. This is what's called the Hedonic Treadmill—and agency owners live on it without realizing it. We chase growth for growth's sake. Or worse, for external validation—from peers, clients, even family. Blake stopped to think about what was next after he had the money. Was he supposed to save it? Spend it? Did he even need that much? Define what you want your life to look like, and build your agency to support that. Don't fall into the trap of chasing growth for validation more than for yourself. If you let go of the idea of just hitting a number, surround yourself with the best team and clients, and set your priorities, you'll be able to go after what you really want and live your best life. Agency Owners & the Calm in the Chaos Most agency owners have had the type of upbringing that's them great under pressure. Calm in chaos. Laser-focused when everything's on fire. Of course, this can also become a trap if you start creating chaos just to feel normal. For instance, you may seek pressure to push you into action. In his case, after years of needing the chaos, Blake turned to Claude to figure out a way to manufacture chaos without the disastrous consequences. His AI coach creates a “painful penalty” for missing a goal. For instance, donate $1,000 to a political group you can't stand if you miss a revenue target. That'll light a fire. Point is: for some people motivation isn't just about dreaming big. If you need some added pressure to get working engineer consequences that make staying small more painful than pushing forward. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.
Frieda Möcker, Head of People & Culture at Sastrify, joined us on The Modern People Leader. We talked about the first steps she took to treat HR more like a product, how her team does sprint planning, and why she prefers “NCTs” over OKRs.---- Sponsor Links:
This week's guest is Philipp Schett. Ron and Philipp discussed OKRs, accountability, making structural changes, balancing transparency and autonomy, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn: The quotes Philipp likes (2:02) What accountability looks like (6:52) About OKRs (10:23) How it could be beneficial in accountability (11:48) The structural changes they've made that have made an impact (17:58) Incorporating accountability whilst preventing surveillance culture (22:55) Balancing transparency and autonomy (28:35) Philipp's parting thoughts (31:22) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 Philipp on LinkedIn Get All the Latest News from Gemba Academy Our newsletter is a great way to receive updates on new courses, blog posts, and more. Sign up here. What Do You Think? Have you ever used OKRs?
What does it take to lead a legacy brand into the digital future? Flick Collingwood chats with Nuno Miller, Digital COO at N Brown Group, to explore the company's bold transformation from mail-order giant to modern e-commerce player. Hear how N Brown is reshaping its culture, breaking down silos, and placing customer-centricity at the heart of its operations. ⏱ Timestamps: [00:00] N Brown's legacy: From catalog to digital [02:30] Why transformation is more than just technology [05:45] OKRs, mission drives & cross-functional tribes [09:30] Breaking silos & building customer-first teams [13:30] The critical role of CEO sponsorship [17:30] Lessons learned: mindset shifts & cultural change [21:00] Nuno's advice for leading successful digital transformations
Join us in this episode as we explore the world of complex problem-solving across industries with Hunter S. Gaylor, an executive partner, financial expert, and author. Hunter is a highly accomplished business leader with a diverse range of expertise spanning mobile banking, corporate strategy, private aviation, and international relations. He holds a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree from Harvard University, is the Founder of Spencer Pruitt, and is the author of Planes Plants and Politics: A Mental Framework To Help Overcome Challenges in Any Industry. Click play to find out: The one thing that kills more strategies more than anything else. The importance of being able to accurately articulate what you're doing and why you're doing it. The driving force behind discipline and action. Why identifying the motivating factors behind specific goals. Discover the strategies behind Hunter S. Gaylor's guidance that drives worldwide business success – join the conversation now! You can follow along with Hunter on X @HunterGaylor and LinkedIn. Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/30PvU9
In this powerful episode of the Jake & Gino podcast, we're joined by Rob Finlay—serial entrepreneur, founder of 30 Capital, and author of Beyond the Building and Hey Dad. Rob dives deep into commercial real estate debt strategy, the importance of tracking OKRs and KPIs, and the long-term thinking that separates real estate professionals from amateurs.But this conversation doesn't stop at business. Rob also opens up about parenting adult children, financial literacy, and the “green gas” phone call that inspired his latest book, Hey Dad, a must-read for any parent raising self-sufficient young adults in today's world.Whether you're a multifamily investor looking to improve your financial game or a parent preparing your kids for life, this episode delivers hard-earned insights from one of the best in the business.Get the books:Hey Dad: https://heydadbook.comConnect with Rob FinlayWebsite: https://robfinlay.comInstagram & more: @robfinlay Chapters:00:00 - Introduction 04:54 - KPIs & OKRs Explained (with Chick-fil-A References) 14:47 - Smart Leverage & Exit Strategies 18:15 - How New Investors Should Think About Equity, Recycling Deals, and Exit Strategies 21:41 - Refinancing vs. 10-Year Lockups 29:24 - The 2021–2022 Bridge Debt Trap 32:49 - Hey Dad: The Gas Pump Phone Call That Started It All 39:46 - Real Parenting Talk: Teaching Independence Through Exposure 43:05 - Kids & Money: Raising Financially Literate Adults 49:34 - Gino Wraps it Up We're here to help create multifamily entrepreneurs... Here's how: Brand New? Start Here: https://jakeandgino.mykajabi.com/free-wheelbarrowprofits Want To Get Into Multifamily Real Estate Or Scale Your Current Portfolio Faster? Apply to join our PREMIER MULTIFAMILY INVESTING COMMUNITY & MENTORSHIP PROGRAM. (*Note: Our community is not for beginner investors)