Lets Have This Conversation

Many individuals experience various burdens in their lives.

Challenges are common, yet there is a prevailing tendency to manage themprivately, sometimes viewing requests for assistance as a sign of weakness.

Evidence suggests that self-awareness can play a valuable role,including the ability to pause, reflect, and seek support when necessary.

Surveys such as those conducted by the American PsychologicalAssociation (APA) indicate that 27% of U.S. adults feel so stressed they cannotfunction on most days. The APA's "Stress in America" report alsonotes that 76% of adults believe stress negatively affects aspects of theirlives. Another study reports that 60% of U.S. adults sometimes feel too busy toenjoy life.

Certified life coach Brandon Held grew up in challenging circumstances,including the absence of a father and exposure to substance abuse and domesticviolence. He joined the military, pursued higher education, and has had variedprofessional experiences. He also reports having faced significant personalstruggles, including thoughts of suicide. Drawing from these experiences, heseeks to support others who have encountered trauma and adversity, aiming tobuild a community for individuals with similar backgrounds. He is an Ohio StateBuckeye Football fan and incorporates a personalized approach to his work as alife coach, offering support for personal growth and motivation. Thoseinterested in additional information may visit: https://www.brandonheld.com/

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A small percentage of small business owners have a formal,written growth strategy. One survey indicates that only 35% of small businessowners have a formal growth plan in place. Many, however, prioritize immediatechallenges over long-term planning, according to RBC.

Here’s a more detailed breakdown:

- **Formal Plans:** While 35% of small businesses have aformal growth plan, another survey suggests that only about 33% have a formalbusiness plan.

- **Growth Expectations:** One in five Canadian businessesanticipates negative or no growth in the medium term. Specifically, a GoldmanSachs survey found that 77% of small business owners are concerned about theirability to access the capital needed to run and grow their businesses.

I'm Brandon Pflieger, a former marketing agency executivewho transitioned into entrepreneurship after successfully scaling multiplemulti-million dollar operations. Today, I run Capital Growth Partners, aconsulting firm dedicated to helping small business owners identify and fixissues, rebuild effectively, and scale profitably.

What sets me apart is that I’m not just a consultant—I’malso an operator. I own and actively manage businesses in both the fitness ande-commerce sectors, allowing me to bring real-world perspectives to everyconversation. I’ve experienced firsthand what works and what doesn’t, from leadgeneration and team building to margin expansion and strategic turnarounds.

If you’re the type of business owner, founder, owners, orleaders who want to grow their business without the corporate nonsense, I’m theperson who provides blunt, actionable insights with no fluff—and I have storiesto back it up.

For more information: https://growsmartercgp.com/

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According to the Pew Research Center, about 46% of American men considerit important to be seen as masculine, with 9% rating it as very important. Thissuggests that a notable portion of men attribute some significance toperceptions of masculinity, though levels of importance differ.

Licensed Psychotherapist Timothy Wienecke focuses on supporting men asthey navigate issues related to masculinity, mental health, and accountability.Over the past two decades, Wienecke has worked in various roles such asadvocate, military service member, mentor, organizer, educator, and counselor,providing support during challenging times. With experience trainingindividuals in technical roles for the NSA and leading bystander interventionprograms in the Air Force, he has instructed over 3,000 Airmen in strategiesfor effectively preventing harassment and sexual assault. His contributionshave been recognized with awards including Airman of the Quarter, EarlyPromotion, and an Air Force Achievement Medal.

After leaving the military, Wienecke continued his work as a peereducator at Auraria Campus and facilitated the launch of Colorado University atDenver’s Peer Advocates for Veteran Education program. He has developed andtaught curriculum on topics such as time management, communication skills,gender dynamics, bystander intervention, cross-cultural communication, andmilitary culture. His efforts have been acknowledged with recognitions such asFeminist Ally of the Year, a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Phoenix Centerat Auraria, and Outstanding Graduate of the CU Counseling program.

For more information: https://empoweredchangece.com/

Discover More: https://www.americanmasculinity.com/

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Your mindset is a set of beliefs that shape how you makesense of the world and yourself. It influences how you think, feel, and behavein any given situation. It means that what you believe about yourself impactsyour success or failure. Research suggests a significant and growing number ofathletes utilize these techniques for performance enhancement and mentalwell-being. A study cited by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that96% of athletes surveyed reported knowledge of at least one mental technique,and a significant portion used them before competitions or for regenerationafter injuries. Furthermore, a New York Times article highlights the growingrecognition of deep breathing as a valuable tool for athletes, suggesting itsuse is not niche but rather becoming more mainstream.

Jure Koscak was a professional table tennis player for 15years. During his career, he did a lot of research on sports psychology, and inthe last 15 years, after earning a Ph.D. in physical education, he hasspecialized as a mental coach for high performance. He has been working withmore than 50 professional athletes from different sports and more than 1000private clients. He is fluent in Slovenian, English, Spanish, German,Serbo-Croatian, and French. Jure is always inquiring about life and how tocontribute as much as possible so that athletes and others can strive andthrive in their arenas of life and sports. Lately, he has been using the AEQmethod to relax chronic pain and increase emotional maturity.

For more information: https://www.thegenuineathlete.com/

Follow: @genuine_athlete.jk

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A significant majority of executives in the United States recognizethe importance of team building in fostering a strong organizational culture.According to Deloitte, 94% of executives and 88% of employees consider adistinctive workplace culture important for business success. This datasuggests broad agreement on the value of team-building activities in promotinga positive and productive work environment.

Kelly Meerbott, PCC, CBTI, is a keynote and TEDx speaker,author, podcast host, and leadership consultant. She is the daughter ofprofessional golfer George Burns III, who had 80 top 10 finishes on the PGATour. Kelly has worked with senior executives, C-suite leaders, and more than400 high-ranking officers in the US military. Her coaching approachincorporates trauma-informed practices and PTSD training, focusing onconfidentiality and psychological safety.

“I help executives drive measurable ROI through strategiccoaching, leadership retreats, and culture transformation. My clients scalefaster, retain top talent longer, and see up to 30% improvements inproductivity, profitability, and trust.

With 16+ years across tech, VC, and Fortune 500, I turnhigh-stress growth into focused momentum.”

Kelly holds coaching certifications in Human &Organizational Transformation, Unconscious Bias, Leadership, cognitive therapy,improv, communications, and is a certified clinical trauma specialist. She isthe author of "From Burnout To Bliss" and earned her undergraduatedegree from the College of the Holy Cross.

https://kellymeerbott.com/

Follow: @kellymeerbott

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: @Kelly(Burns)Meerbott

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Effective leadership is the ability to guide, inspire, andinfluence a group or organization toward achieving common goals. It involvesmore than just managing tasks; it requires setting a clear vision, fostering apositive and productive environment, and empowering individuals to contributetheir best. Effective leaders are not merely bosses; they are also motivators,mentors, and strategic thinkers.

A significant majority of executives—specifically70%—acknowledge that mastering a broader range of effective leadershipbehaviors is important or very important to them. This reflects a strongrecognition among leaders of the need for robust leadership skills to navigatecurrent and future business challenges. According to Harvard PublishingCorporate Learning and their 2024 Global Leadership and Development report,strong leadership is crucial for success.

Andre Levingston is an expert in running effective andthriving organizations while leading people with passion and purpose. As theco-founder of Canada’s first professional basketball league and team owner, hebrings extensive experience in negotiation, administration, mentoring,leadership, and marketing. He is also the founder and owner of successfulmini-market chains and fried chicken franchises, where he leads strategicexpansion and growth nationwide. Andre is a dedicated business development professionalwith academic credentials from California State University, Chico.

Email: [email protected] 

LinkedIn: @AndreLevingstonston

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Addressing Screen Addiction: A Path to Regaining Control

If you are concerned about teenagers spending excessive timeon digital devices, you are not alone. A substantial number of American youth,particularly teenagers, exceed recommended screen time limits. Studies indicatethat a significant percentage of teens spend over four hours per day onscreens, with some reports suggesting nearly half experience more than eighthours of daily screen usage, as documented by the Pew Research Center.

Mary Catherine Liscinski is a Certified Life Coach,specializing in the treatment of Digital Addiction.  She's also been a certified mental healthcounselor for the last 14 years. As a professional in this field, she iscurrently authoring a book that delves into the adverse effects of excessivescreen time and provides strategies for reversing these impacts. Her expertisehas been recognized through various interviews and speaking engagements,including regular appearances on The Dave Elswick Radio Show. Dave Elswick haspraised her insight, stating: "This is the first time she's been on ourshow. How have you flown under the radar for so long? Seriously, you'rearticulating what people need to hear in everyday language." He furtherremarked, "Today's show is incredibly compelling; your explanations makeperfect sense," and noted, "I've received overwhelmingly positivefeedback about you."

For more information, please visit  https://lifewalkcoaching.com/or contact her (501) 290-7132.

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A significant portion of American men are concerned aboutretirement, with some even fearing it more than death. Specifically, 44% of mensurveyed express greater fear of retirement than of death, according to YahooFinance. This apprehension is not limited to financial concerns; many men alsoworry about potential boredom and loss of purpose in retirement, as reported byNasdaq. Additionally, a large percentage of working Americans, including men,are anxious about the possibility of insufficient funds for retirement.

Michael Kay, Life Coach and Professional Speaker, emphasizesthat life will be challenging if one allows it to happen passively. Thetransition from professional life to retirement is fraught with obstacles anddifficulties. In his career as a fee-only financial planner, Mr. Kay guidedclients through the complexities of identifying their purpose and values. Now,as a coach and speaker, he continues this work without the financial aspects.Mr. Kay's personal transitions—from musician to CPA, to financial planner, tobusiness creator and owner, to author, and then to life coach—have presentednumerous challenges. He is dedicated to assisting others through similartransitions.

To support men transitioning from their careers, Mr. Kayfounded Chapter X, a community aimed at helping them navigate this criticalperiod. As a Certified Life Coach, he assists individuals in recognizing andpursuing their core values. Mr. Kay acknowledges the disorderliness of life andhighlights the importance of having someone to provide support and askpertinent questions. After a five-decade hiatus, he has returned to his initialpassion, music, and finds great enjoyment in it. Additionally, he has shiftedhis focus from writing non-fiction to fiction, relishing the creativity ofcrafting characters and stories for entertainment.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Mr. Kay volunteers toassist elderly individuals with managing their bills, mail, and other tasks,striving to be a reliable companion. He maintains physical activity throughweight training and yoga.

For more information: https://michaelfkay.com/

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: @MichaelF.Kay

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The security of home ownership provides the stability of reassuranceand comfort.  However, in 2025, Ontariois facing a significant homelessness crisis, with estimates suggesting manypeople are experiencing homelessness. Specifically, there are estimatesof 80,000 to 234,000 Ontarians experiencinghomelessness. Without significant intervention, homelessness could doubleor even triple in the coming years. 

While specific percentage figures of the total populationexperiencing homelessness are not readily available, the data indicate that theissue is widespread and growing. The Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO)reports that known homelessness has increased by over 25% since 2022.Furthermore, it's important to note that a significant portion of thoseexperiencing homelessness are chronically homeless (defined as being homelessfor at least a year or repeatedly in the past three years.

The Back Door Mission operates the Mission United Project, alow-barrier access hub for essential supports, social services, and primaryhealth care. ​ MissionUnited provides wrap-around support services to individuals in Durham Regionwho are dealing with homelessness, housing insecurity, mental health andaddiction concerns, and food access challenges. Through this collaboration andyour continued support, the Back Door Mission continues to provide the bestcare for a community in need. Nathan Gardner is the Executive Director at theBack Door Mission.  He’s a communitydevelopment professional with a background in social sciences and education. Ihave been fortunate to work in several sectors, including community health,post-secondary student affairs, and recently in social planning. I have apassion for team building and inspiring others, which has included bothvolunteer coaching roles and professional management. My core values include servingthose who require support, servant leadership, and a big emphasis on teamworkand collaboration. He joined me this week to discuss the important work his organizationdoes, and the steps needed to end homelessness, dependency on addiction, andfood insecurity across the province of Ontario.

For more information: https://www.backdoormission.ca/

LinkedIn: @NathanGardner

Email: [email protected]

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The commitment to consistency leads to prosperity in business.  It's an indicator your business has a purposeand direction of importance and clarity.

In 2025, 68% of organizations report that brandconsistency has contributed at least 10% to their revenue growth. 82% oforganizations use templates to ensure brand consistency, with 37% using themfor design and creative teams, and 16% across all teams, according to a Capital One Shopping report. Over 70%of small businesses believe branding is critical to their growth, and 90% ofconsumers prefer personalized marketing. 

Adam Torres is on a mission to encourage others to sharetheir stories for the benefit of all. He has conducted 6,000+ interviews andfounded Mission Matters, a media outlet designed to give voice to the storiesof entrepreneurs, entertainers, executives, and experts. In the coming years,he will continue this mission by adding to their current 100,000+ contentcatalogue of shows, podcasts, media, and books to tell meaningful stories thatwill inspire current and future generations. Before establishing MissionMatters, in Adam's 14+ years in the financial services industry, he amassed aroster of clientele including 1,000+ business owners, and 3.000+ high net worthfamilies. Before his exit, Adam was responsible for the relationship managementof over 400 families with a cumulative net worth exceeding 500 million dollars.

Instagram: @askadamtorres

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