Leadership Blueprints

Setting priorities and staying aligned is essential in business. But without the right systems, it’s only a matter of time before you get caught up in day-to-day operations and lose sight of the bigger picture.

Since 2018, MCFA has been using quarterly reviews to set a 90-day cadence, allowing teams to align efforts, set priorities, and ensure clarity across teams. In this solo episode of Leadership Blueprints, BJ Kraemer discusses the importance of quarterly reviews and how they connect your long-term vision with your daily actions. He shares why setting up robust systems is essential for staying focused on larger targets, emphasizing the role of weekly check-ins and accountability in turning plans into meaningful progress. BJ also explores how you can apply quarterly thinking beyond work to your personal goals and growth. 

Listen in for a practical framework to reset your focus and make the most of the next 90 days!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Using a 90-day cadence to align efforts, set priorities, and get clarity.
• The gap between annual reviews and reactive daily work.
• Using quarterly reviews to connect your long-term vision with your daily actions.
• Understanding your limitations and how to make trade-offs.
• The 90-day challenge: define priorities, build a plan, and track weekly progress.

Quotes:

“We are going to prioritize where we're going to invest our time, our energy, our creativity, and our focus for the next 90 days.” — BJ Kraemer 

“This is our chance to synchronize everybody's efforts, get everybody back on the same page and make sure that we're really working on the hardest things.” — BJ Kraemer 

“Even though I've been doing this for eight years, there are different parts of my life where I get out of sync with the discipline of a 90-day world.” — BJ Kraemer 

“We can't do it all. – There is a limitation to what we can invest, whether that is our own time or reinvesting company profitability. There's always a limitation. So you have to really be good with understanding trade-offs.” — BJ Kraemer 

“The quarter, [or] the 90-day world is short enough to create urgency, [and] long enough to actually give yourself time to create change.” — BJ Kraemer 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS)

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

Leadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTube

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

What does it take to lead major infrastructure projects when the work is complex, there are many stakeholders, and the outcome must last for decades? 

In this episode of Leadership Blueprints, we sit down with Brian Pieplow, Chief Project Development Officer at MCFA, to explore how project development leaders transform big ideas into tangible, resilient realities. Brian shares the path that shaped his work in planning and the built environment, and he breaks down how he approaches planning and problem-solving across disciplines. He also explains why diverse teams create better outcomes and why strong coordination matters when projects involve public agencies, private partners, and long timelines. 

Tune in now!

Key Points From This Episode:

• The “MCFA is ME” idea and how MCFA reinforces a people-first approach.
• Hear why diverse team backgrounds improve how projects get developed and delivered.
• Explore how curiosity and continuous learning show up in Brian’s day-to-day work.
• Learn why the built environment needs different skillsets working together to succeed.
• How professional networks can help solve problems more quickly and unlock new opportunities.

Quotes:

“Life is more than a sum of transactional experiences.” — Brian Pieplow

“When new developing staff or new talents come in and find an environment [and get to] create their own journey and thrive, it’s extremely exciting.” — Brian Pieplow

“I think a lot of challenges in our industry, particularly design professionals [and] engineering professionals, don’t know is that there is a business side as well.” — Brian Pieplow

“There really isn’t a problem we shouldn’t be able to figure out how to solve.” — Brian Pieplow

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Brian Pieplow 

Brian Pieplow on LinkedIn

The 4-Hour Workweek

Make No Little Plans

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

Leadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTube

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

Most leaders believe the lie that “hustle” is the only path to success. But true success is actually an optimized daily experience sustained over time. When you neglect your physical, mental, and spiritual health, you become a reactive leader-swinging a dull axe and working harder for fewer results. 

In this episode, BJ explores the powerful intersection of servant leadership and personal sustainability. Through the classic leadership parable of the Two Lumberjacks and a personal story about how his mom embodied servant leadership, he unpacks what it truly means to lead by serving others. Most importantly, he explains why protecting your ability to serve requires intentional leadership maintenance and practical frameworks for long-term sustainability. 

Don’t miss another insightful episode of Leadership Blueprints with BJ Kraemer.

Key Points From This Episode:

• What servant leadership is all about.
• Why we can’t forget about the sustainability of servant leadership.
• The importance of renewing ourselves: mind, body, and spirit.
• What it means to sharpen the saw.
• Why it’s essential to protect your ability to serve to build an incredible career.

Quotes:

“When your instinct, [and] your life or leadership philosophy is about serving others, and helping people and solving problems and leading and giving of your time, you can easily forget or run out of margin in your life for sharpening your soul.” — BJ Kraemer 

“Leadership begins with the natural desire to serve others.” — BJ Kraemer 

“The interesting thing about servant leaders, sometimes it's those people that give the most of themselves that are most likely to run themselves into the ground.” — BJ Kraemer 

“Sharpening the saw is about maintaining the very instrument that allows you to serve others, which is you.” — BJ Kraemer 

“The truth is, if you're going to lead people, if you're going to serve others, if you're going to help others grow, you can't do it effectively if you're exhausted.” — BJ Kraemer 

“The leaders who truly build incredible careers, who influence people for decades, they understand they have to protect their own ability to serve – not because they are selfish, but because they know something way more important: that a sharp saw serves more people.” — BJ Kraemer 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Robert Greenleaf

Simon Sinek
Stephen Covey on Instagram

West Point
US Air Force

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change 

David Allen — Getting Things Done

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

Leadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTube

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

Time is the most precious resource leaders manage, and you can either drift with time or direct it.

In a world where there is not a lot you can control, your time is something you can take ownership of. In David Allen’s book Getting Things Done, he teaches readers his methods for stress-free performance and emphasizes that your productivity is directly proportional to your ability to relax. A few years ago, BJ interviewed David about this topic, and today, we are playing that conversation for you again. 

Tuning in, you’ll hear all about David’s career and writing journey, the kinds of people who read his book, how to implement his system, and so much more! We delve into ambient anxiety before David tells us about the tools and resources he offers and where you can get his training. He even talks about how often we should be processing information. 

Finally, our guest answers our rapid-fire questions. This episode is jam-packed with pearls of wisdom about one of the most popular and timeless productivity methods in the world, so be sure to press play now! 

Key Points From This Episode:

• Why time is the most valuable resource a leader has.
• How you can direct your time instead of drifting with it.
• The importance of scheduling your priorities in your calendar.
• BJ gives listeners a three-step time-management challenge.
• What it takes to implement his GTD (Getting Things Done) system.

Quotes:

“I will be bold enough to say that my book, Getting Things Done, was really the seed for the whole life-hack movement that started in the 2000s.” — @gtdguy

“You don’t need time, you need space. How long does it take to have a good idea? It takes no time to have a good idea. What you need is no distraction in your head so you can take that idea, grab it, and do something with it!” — @gtdguy

“One of the things my stuff delivers is hope.” — @gtdguy

“Your head is for having ideas, not for holding them!” — @gtdguy

“You can have very, very high-performing people, but if your process sucks, the outcome sucks. But the [converse] is also true. You can have a fabulous process, but if you have people who personally can’t manage themselves and their role in that process, your outcome sucks. You need both.” — @gtdguy

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

David Allen on LinkedIn
David Allen on X

David Allen on Instagram 

Getting Things Done

GTD Focus

Installation Guide 

Crucial Learning

Getting Things Done

Humankind

My Plan for Living to 156

Hitster

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

Leadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTube

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

Part of being a great leader is being self-aware and understanding the blind spots in your leadership approach.

In this episode of Leadership Blueprints, we sit down with Jill Macauley to unpack the concept of blind spots through the lens of Martin Dubin’s book Blindspotting. Jill is the Chief Operating Officer at Behavioral Essentials and brings over 15 years of experience in business and non-profit consulting. Her work centers around helping leaders grow, plan strategically, and communicate well with their teams. She supports leaders in analyzing behavioral patterns, navigating role transitions, and fostering healthier and more effective workplace cultures.

They discuss what a blind spot is, the misconceptions around the concept, and why being self-aware as a leader is vital. Learn how not recognizing your blind spots impacts your team, the hidden costs of blind spots for an organization, how leaders can balance empathy with accountability, and how to get the most out of your employees while keeping them happy. They also talk about why sustainable performance requires cycles of intensity and recovery, what the Blindspotting model and assessment focus on, and more. 

Tune in to learn how spotting your blind spots, building awareness, and leading with agency and dignity can help you show up stronger for your team, your organization, and yourself.

Key Points From This Episode:

• How blindspots and being self-aware act as the foundation for better leadership.
• Explore the concept of a blind spot in leadership and why it is hard to identify.
• Discover what turning self-awareness into self-reflection looks like in practice.
• Learn how fostering dignity and agency in the workplace drives performance.
• What dignity means in the workplace and how fear-based leadership impacts results.

Quotes:

“We’re not factory workers, we’re thinkers. Thinking work is the dominant work in the workplace now.” — Jill Macauley 

“The definition of business success, quarter to quarter and shareholder output, is not wholesome, it is not sustainable, and it is not how businesses actually have compounding success.” — Jill Macauley 

“I think a lot of people forget about awareness of the organization and they forget the organization is bigger than any one of us.” — Jill Macauley

“You can’t have a greater understanding unless you understand yourself first.” — Jill Macauley 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Jill Macauley on LinkedIn

Behavioral Essentials

Blindspotting: How to See What's Holding You Back as a Leader

The Song of Significance: A New Manifesto for Teams 

The Dichotomy of Leadership: Balancing the Challenges of Extreme Ownership to Lead and Win

Poor Charlie’s Almanack: The Essential Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger

Blindspotting

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

Leadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTube

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

What hard conversation are you avoiding right now?

In this solo episode of Leadership Blueprints, BJ reflects on Valentine’s Day, Presidents’ Day, and even the Winter Olympics to unpack one central leadership tension: compassion and accountability must coexist. Real leadership is not choosing between love and standards - it is holding both.

Through presidential vignettes, youth sports culture, and lessons from business and family life, BJ introduces a practical three-part framework for developing leaders: Compassion, Clarity, and Courage. This episode challenges listeners to examine whether they are truly leading with compassion - or simply avoiding discomfort.

Thanks for listening in!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Why growth - for you and your team - is determined by the number of uncomfortable conversations you’re willing to have.

• The difference between compassion and comfort, and why lowering the standard helps no one.

• Lessons from presidential leadership such as Lincoln’s empathy paired with accountability, Washington’s self-discipline and moral restraint, and Roosevelt’s belief that high standards are a form of respect. 

• The three-part leadership blueprint: compassion, clarity, and courage

• What Norway’s youth sports philosophy and Olympic success reveal about balancing joy and standards in development.

Quotes:

“Love without accountability is a leadership weakness.” — BJ Kraemer

“Accountability begins with self-discipline and self-governance.” — BJ Kraemer

“I think when you have high-love, high-expectation leadership, performance will increase. The mission will get accomplished. The culture will be improved.” — BJ Kraemer 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

The Dichotomy of Leadership

Lincoln on Leadership 

The Art of Manliness

Do Hard Things

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

Leadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTube

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

What does it mean to create a safe space to fail? 

During this episode, we are going outside of the built environment to speak to a different kind of inspiring leader in his field. Paul Donovan is the CEO and Head Coach of Jersey Wahoos, a USA swimming club program located in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. He is a champion of self-compassion and kindness. In this conversation, Paul shares how to balance compassion with accountability, navigate parental pressure, and prevent burnout in youth sports. He reflects on quiet leadership, the real mission behind his coaching that goes far beyond the swimming pool, and why leading by example and giving generously of one’s time is essential as a youth sports coach. 

There are so many principles for life that can be learned through sports, and today’s episode is a deep dive into how, with the right coach and leadership, participating in them can really be a last bastion of discipline in challenging environments. Thanks for listening.

Key Points From This Episode:

•   What it looks like to balance compassion and accountability while leading young people.

•   Causes of burnout in youth sports.

•   Building awareness of the organization while remaining focused on celebrating internal successes.

•   Leading by example in coaching and youth sports.

•   How youth sports can be the final bastion of discipline in challenging environments.

Quotes:

“I think burnout is an emotional state of mind, not a physical state of mind.” — Paul Donovan 

“I believe in quiet leadership. You know the old saying parents had about kids is that they should be seen but not heard? I think leaders should be heard but not seen.” — Paul Donovan 

“Our actual goal for the kids isn’t for them to win a medal at the world championships. Our actual goal with them all is to open up doors that are otherwise unattainable.” — Paul Donovan 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Paul Donovan on LinkedIn

Paul Donovan on Instagram

Jersey Wahoos Swim Club

The Power of Habit

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team

Steve Magness

The Sport Parent on X

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

Leadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTube

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

Consider your funeral – what is being said in your eulogy, and what do they thank you for? Are they praising your achievements and accomplishments or memorializing your character and the relationships you nourished? 

In this solo episode, BJ challenges listeners to define the leader you are trying to become, not just at work, but at home, too! You’ll hear all about the inspirational books (and soldier) that inspired this episode, the danger of being too focused on achievement, the importance of building character, and so much more! BJ even dives into the power of approaching the world from a place of joy. 

To hear all this and be inspired to challenge the way you’re forming your character, be sure to tune in now!

Key Points From This Episode:

• The danger of getting too focused on achievement. 
• Why character is far more important than strategy. 
• The importance of being a good leader at work and at home. 
• Why achievement is really about learning and becoming. 
• Bringing a posture of joy to how you approach the world. 

Quotes:

“It’s easy to get focused on achievement.” — BJ Kraemer 

“When I talk about joy, sustainability, and – leadership effectiveness, none of them start with strategy; they all start with character.” — BJ Kraemer 

“Your character is what lasts.” — BJ Kraemer 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Unshakeable

Black Hawk Down

Steve Young Interview with Tim Ferriss

Gary Gordon

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

Leadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTube

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

What if the true measure of leadership is not what happens on your watch, but what happens long after you are gone? 

In this episode, we speak with John Teichert, an expert in leadership, about unlocking your team's potential and achieving organizational excellence. John is a retired U.S. Air Force general, combat and test pilot, and senior defense leader with thousands of flight hours across a wide range of aircraft. He is now the founder and president of Capital Leadership LLC, where he focuses on developing innovative, integrity-driven leaders across government and industry. 

In our conversation, we explore why leaders should prioritize people and the mission, why investing in people ensures long-term success, and why intentional use of time and resources is essential for organizations. John explains how leaders can demonstrate care and empathy while helping people connect to a greater purpose, and he unpacks the importance of inspiration in leadership. He also breaks down the qualities that make for an effective leader, the ways to foster connections with your team, why continuous learning and self-improvement are essential for leaders, and much more. 

Tune in to learn about the significance of intentional leadership and living up to the responsibility of being a leader that people deserve with John Teichert!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Learn why leadership is about leverage and multiplying impact through other people.
• How organizations show their priorities through how they spend their time and money.
• Explore why investing in people is vital for the long-term success of an organization.
• Why leadership is not only about inspiring but also about handling tough situations.
• Discover the steps for implementing corrective action with empathy and compassion.

Quotes:

“If [leaders] are not intentional about investing our time and our money in developing people to become the best possible version of themselves, then we are fooling ourselves.” — John Teichert

“People need to be loved or cared for, and people want to be part of something greater than themselves.” — John Teichert 

“The equipping, challenging, and convicting; those are all some of the bread and butter that [leaders] should be doing every day.” — John Teichert 

“We’re all lifelong learners of leadership. No one has arrived.” — John Teichert 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

John Teichert

John Teichert on LinkedIn

John Teichert on YouTube

Boom!

Prayers for a Nation

The Dragon Who Earned His Wings

InSideOut Coaching

The Infinite Game

Greater Than Yourself

Lincoln on Leadership

American Generalship

The Maxwell Leadership Bible

George Washington’s General Orders

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

Leadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTube

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

True leverage is about multiplying leaders! 

In this solo episode, BJ explores the concept of leadership and leverage and shares why he believes that leaders are actually levers. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about what to consider when thinking about leverage, the power of discerning leverage properly, and how the 80/20 rule can help leaders. 

BJ delves into the importance of leveraging and protecting your time before discussing the difference between responsible and irresponsible leverage. BJ even talks about systems, why they’re imperative, and why bad systems are problematic. Finally, we touch on the idea that people aren’t leverage, their growth is. 

To hear all this and even be challenged to consider how you are discerning your leverage, be sure to listen now! 

Key Points From This Episode:

• What leadership actually is and why leaders are levers. 
• BJ explains the 80/20 rule and what it means for leaders. 
• Responsible leverage versus irresponsible leverage. 
• The difference between true leverage and fake leverage. 
• Three things to ask yourself this week to be a better leader. 

Quotes:

“Leverage without discernment and wisdom turns into burnout, overextension, anxiety, or – using people instead of developing them.” — BJ Kraemer 

“Leadership requires us to constantly ask, ‘Where am I spending time that someone else can grow into [or] – that I might be able to delegate to somebody? – Where am I holding onto work that’s preventing scalability? Where might I be confusing activity with impact or results?’” — BJ Kraemer

“Time is the only resource that you can’t get more of.” — BJ Kraemer 

“If your organization or family relies on your heroic effort to function, you don’t have a leadership problem, you have a systems problem.” — BJ Kraemer 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

The ONE Thing

Buy Back Your Time

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

Leadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTube

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn