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This week on Outside Insights, I sat down with my good friend John Sanders, founder of Bridgeforce, to talk about what it really takes to build a business that endures.

John’s story isn’t about quick wins or flashy exits. Over the past 25 years, he and his partner have built a management consultancy serving global banks, credit unions, fintechs, and lenders — staying true to the values they set on day one.

The Leap of Faith

Bridgeforce began with a breakfast conversation, a bold “I’m in,” and a same-day resignation. No parachute. No safety net. Just conviction that failure was not an option.

That leap defined the next quarter-century of John’s life.

Lessons from the Journey

Throughout our conversation, John shared some hard-earned lessons:

• Every stage brings new challenges. Surviving the first three years was one kind of test. Scaling brought others. Even today, the obstacles evolve.
• Motion creates insight. You can’t steer a parked car. Progress requires movement, even when the path isn’t perfect.
• Culture matters. Bridgeforce was built on a simple plus/minus exercise: do more of what we admired in others, none of what we didn’t. That clarity still guides the company.
• Protect what you value. Whether it’s intellectual property, your people, or your principles, what matters to you will matter to others — and sometimes it must be defended.
• Strategic energy beats constant energy. You don’t need to win every race. You just need to run the right ones.

Leadership Through Crisis

We also talked about leading in uncertain times, including the pandemic. John’s approach was deeply personal: calling every employee, shouldering their worries, and reminding them they didn’t have to carry the weight alone.

That philosophy — let me worry for you — says a lot about the leader John has become.

What He’d Tell His 21-Year-Old Self

Relax. Sit in the pocket. Don’t rush.
And… buy Apple stock.

Recommended Reading

One of John’s all-time favorite books is Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom — a reminder that the most profound lessons on how to live often come from those nearing the end.

Connect with John

You can learn more about John and Bridgeforce at:
👉 Bridgeforce.com

In the end, John and I agreed that the true rewards in business and life are often the simplest: a good meal, a walk, and maybe a nap.

🎧 Listen to Episode 65 now
📩 Share this with someone who’s carrying too much alone — and could use a reminder that leadership means sharing the load.

Until next time, friends,
Chris

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How business coach Nikhil Paul helps companies grow by going narrow, not wide

Most business owners think scaling means reaching more people.
Nikhil Paul says it’s the opposite.

In this week’s Outside Insights, my longtime friend and small business growth coach shares why the fastest path to growth is going narrow, not wide—and how identifying your cult customer can transform your business.

Your cult customer is the one who:

• Pays you the most
• Forgives you when you mess up
• Loves your product so much they can’t stop talking about it

When you know exactly who they are—and build your business around them—you stop chasing everyone, and start leading someone.

We explore:

• What CrossFit, Costco, and Patagonia can teach us about niche obsession
• Why embracing your “weirdos” can turn a company into a movement
• The pen-and-paper exercise that reveals your cult customers in 10 minutes
• How doubling down on your core audience can let you break industry rules and still win

Along the way, Nikhil shares real-world stories—from Death Wish Coffee’s “too strong” gamble to Solé Bicycles’ pivot from exercise gear to lifestyle brand—that show how focus fuels profit, loyalty, and freedom.

If you’re trying to scale beyond $5M, reconnect with your company’s heart, or cut through the noise, this episode will give you the clarity—and courage—you’ve been looking for.

🎧 Listen to Episode 63 now
📩 Share this with a founder or leader who’s ready to grow by going narrow.

Until next time,
Chris

If this conversation resonates, forward it to a friend or colleague. Insight is meant to be shared.

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What would it take to step away from a life that looks successful — but no longer feels like your own?

In Episode 63 of Outside Insights, I talk with Rose and Glynn Willard — entrepreneurs, parents, adventurers, and creators of Reset Your Journey. After building a thriving fitness business and moving into their dream home, they made a radical decision: to sell everything, buy an RV, and travel full-time with their kids.

Their story offers an honest, vulnerable look at how to bridge the gap between the life you’re living and the life you truly desire.

This isn’t just a story about RV living — it’s about:

• Taking a “mini retirement” or earned pause to reset your priorities
• Building a financially sustainable life of freedom without sacrificing security
• Roadschooling and raising resilient kids outside the norm
• Embracing discomfort, minimalism, and the unknown
• Facing the challenges of reentry after living differently

We talk about everything from boondocking tips and mobile tech setups to how they sold their business — and why they sometimes question that decision. We explore how they protected their time, learned to slow down, and what they’d do differently if they started again.

Their journey holds lessons for anyone considering a sabbatical, navigating a career pivot, or wondering how to live with more intention — without losing everything they’ve worked for.

If you’ve ever asked yourself:

• Could I live more simply?
• What’s really keeping me stuck?
• Is now the time to make a leap?

Then this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen to Episode 63
🌐 Explore their blog + videos: https://www.resetyourjourney.com

Whether you’re dreaming of a slower pace or simply curious about what it takes to redefine success — this is the conversation you need to hear.

Until next time, friends,
Chris

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In this week’s episode of Outside Insights, I sit down with longtime friend, entrepreneur, and mechanical engineer turned CEO, Tom Embley—and he tells the kind of founder story we rarely get to hear in full.

From his earliest days as employee #1 at a small industrial startup to founding a direct competitor, merging businesses, buying out partners, and ultimately selling to a global player, Tom’s path is one of grit, strategy, and deep self-awareness.

But what really stuck with me?

His honesty about the moments in between.

• Leaving a secure job (and paycheck) with nothing but a plan and a belief in himself.
• Navigating difficult partnerships and learning the hard way what equity really means.
• Borrowing against his home to chase opportunity—and doing the math to make it work.
• Being called out by his wife for missing their child’s christening—and choosing from that point forward to be a great father and founder.

This conversation is about more than building a successful business—it’s about building a life. One with values, mentorship, resilience, and (yes) a few sleepless nights.

We also dig into:

• How Tom learned to love leadership and tolerate sales
• Why peer groups saved his business (twice)
• His favorite practices from Rockefeller Habits
• What advice he’d give his 21-year-old self (spoiler: “Stop being so damn arrogant”)
• And how a strong culture—not just great products—became his company’s greatest asset

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re cut out for entrepreneurship, or if you’re simply trying to build something that lasts, this one’s for you.

🎧 Listen to the full episode HERE

📩 Forward it to someone who needs a nudge to bet on themselves.

Until next time, friends,
Chris

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What it really takes to grow into the leader you're meant to be—on your terms, over time, and from the inside out.

As we head into the July 4th holiday, a time when we reflect on freedom, progress, and reinvention, it feels fitting to bring you this powerful new episode with Dr. Bryan Deptula, leadership expert and author of Leaders Are Born to Be Made.

Bryan is one of the most grounded, engaging, and purpose-driven voices I’ve come across. His philosophy? That leadership isn’t reserved for the chosen few. It’s a skill, one we can all build, train, and strengthen over time.

In our conversation, Bryan opens up about his own unlikely path from corporate sales leader to PhD, professor, and consultant. He shares how pivotal moments in his life—like a tough-love lesson from his godmother “Mama Sis” and a tent-bound self-reflection under the Indian River Inlet Bridge—helped him shed old versions of himself to grow into who he’s meant to become.

We dive deep into his MUSCLE framework:

• M: Me – Start with self-leadership
  
  
• U: Understanding – Grow your leadership intelligence
  
  
• S: Strategy – Align with vision, mission, and values
  
  
• C: Conflict – Use it productively
  
  
• L: Learning – Commit to growth
  
  
• E: Entrepreneurship – Own your path, whether you run a business or lead from within

This isn’t just theory, Bryan brings real-world experience, relatable stories, and an unfiltered look at what leadership looks like when it’s done with heart, humility, and a willingness to get uncomfortable.

He also reminds us that the best leaders are the ones who keep learning, keep failing forward, and keep living. As Bryan puts it: “Start leading by treating yourself as the most important individual you can work on first.”

This is a conversation for anyone at a crossroads, whether you’re a seasoned executive, a rising manager, or someone wondering what it takes to lead your own life a little better.

Books mentioned in this episode:

• Leaders Are Born to Be Made – Bryan Deptula
  
  
• Essentialism – Greg McKeown
  
  
• Team of Rivals – Doris Kearns Goodwin
  
  
• Unique Ability – Dan Sullivan
  
  
• Plus shoutouts to Adam Grant and the value of failing forward

Whether you're tuning in from the car, the beach, or your morning walk, I hope this one leaves you thinking a little differently about what it means to be a leader—starting with you.

🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.
 And let us know: What’s one part of your own leadership “muscle” you want to grow next?

Until next time, friends,
Chris

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This week’s episode of Outside Insights is a special one.

I had the opportunity to sit down with Peter Samuelson, film producer, philanthropist, and now, the author of Finding Happy: A User’s Guide to Your Life with Lessons from Mine. Before our conversation, I had a chance to read an early copy of the book (officially released June 10), and I couldn’t put it down. It’s heartfelt, funny, profound, and filled with stories that encourage you to think a little deeper about your own life, and consider how you might use it to help someone else.

Peter’s journey is truly remarkable. From studying medieval literature to producing blockbuster films to founding seven nonprofits, he’s lived a life driven by curiosity, service, and an unwavering belief that everyone has the power to make a difference. His book, along with our conversation, offers a guide for anyone looking to live with more meaning and impact, no matter your age or background.

In this episode, we talk about:

• What a film producer really does (hint: it’s a lot like being a general)
• The story behind his nonprofit work with foster kids—and the powerful ripple effect of giving them agency
• His unlikely mentorship with General Norman Schwarzkopf
• Why short-term happiness might be chocolate ice cream… but long-term happiness requires service
• How we can heal our divided world with a simple but powerful concept: empathy

Peter expresses it best: “You are the only author of the rest of your life.” His life’s work is a testament to that, and I think you will walk away from this episode as driven—and motivated—as I was.

👉 Listen to the episode now

🌐 Visit Peter's website

Whether you’re a young adult, a parent, a mentor, or simply someone seeking happiness, this episode is for you.

Until next time, friends,
Chris

If this conversation resonates, forward it to a friend or colleague. Insight is meant to be shared.

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Are You a Farmer or a Fisherman? A New Take on Purpose at Work

What if the secret to long-term success wasn’t the hustle, but the harvest?

This week on Outside Insights, I’m joined by Jonathan Stanley—purpose strategist, author of Purposeful Performance, and surprise TikTok star with a viral story that proves empathy still wins in business (and in bookstores).

We talk about what it really means to lead with purpose—from redefining success to building values-aligned teams and turning culture into a competitive advantage. Plus, Jonathan breaks down his MEAN framework for goal-setting and explains why it’s time to ditch outdated models like SMART goals.

And yes… his dog Charlie makes an appearance—because who better to remind us of loyalty, presence, and purpose?

In this episode:

• Why the best leaders think like farmers, not fishermen
• How the MEAN goal-setting framework unlocks deeper performance
• The role of purpose in building better teams, stronger brands, and meaningful lives
• The viral moment that put empathy (and Jonathan) on the map

🎧 Listen to the episode now
▶️ Streaming everywhere you get your podcasts.

Know someone trying to build a better team or lead with more intention?
Share this episode with a friend or leader who’s ready to move from hustle to harvest.

Until next time, friends,
Chris Burkhard

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What Happens When You Stop Chasing and Start Serving?

In Episode 58 of Outside Insights, I sit down with one of the most influential voices in business and leadership—Bob Burg, bestselling co-author of The Go-Giver.

We dive deep into what makes success sustainable, meaningful, and surprisingly simple: giving value first. Bob shares the origin story of the book, how 24 rejections led to a global bestseller, and why “money is simply an echo of value.”

Whether you're leading a business, building your career, or looking to grow with integrity—this episode delivers. The Go-Giver is one of my top 10 most influential books, and one I often give or recommend to others.

In this conversation, you’ll learn:

• The Five Laws of Stratospheric Success and how they apply in 2025
  
  
• Why the best salespeople don’t “sell”—they serve
  
  
• How one roofer applied Go-Giver principles during the 2008 crisis and thrived
  
  
• The difference between authenticity and technique in leadership
  
  
• Bob’s favorite personal development book—and the advice he’d give his 21-year-old self

Episode out now — be sure to follow, rate, and share with someone who needs to hear it.

Until next time, friends,
Chris Burkhard

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This week on Outside Insights, I sit down with Dr. Wes Bowman — a man whose path was anything but linear. Labeled in grade school. Flunked out of college — three times. Built a successful practice by learning to turn shame and failure into the fuel for a meaningful life.

Wes is a career psychologist, the Director of the Delaware Family Center, and someone who’s spent decades helping people reframe their reality — and find their way forward.

In this conversation, we get into:

• Why thoughts literally create your own reality
• How stress hijacks your brain — and how to get it back
• What happens when we stop running from anxiety and start learning from it
• The power of saying “no” without guilt
• Why embracing change may be the only path to peace

We talk about the “United States of Amygdala” — Wes’ term for the overactive, overstimulated mental state most of us live in without even realizing it. And we explore how to manage that reality with science, presence, and practical tools.

There are no quick fixes here. But if you’re willing to sit with it, this episode will give you something more valuable: perspective.

Listen to the full conversation HERE.

Until next time, friends,

Chris

P.S. One quote that Wes shared—and that I keep coming back to—is from Gary Emery’s book Rapid Relief from Emotional Distress:

“In your mind, via your thoughts, you create your own separate reality.”
It’s simple. It’s unsettling. And it’s also a roadmap.

If this conversation resonates, forward it to a friend or colleague. Insight is meant to be shared.

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What does it take to turn scientific expertise into a thriving business? In this episode of Outside Insights, host Chris Burkhard speaks with Andrew Cottone, a chemist-turned-entrepreneur whose journey from research to leadership offers invaluable lessons in business, resilience, and innovation.

Andrew built his career solving complex chemistry challenges, co-founding Adesis and later selling it to Universal Display Corporation. But his ambition didn’t stop there. Now, he’s leading Aternium, Inc. (formerly First State Hydrogen), an initiative set to make Delaware a key player in sustainable energy.

In this conversation, Andrew shares:

• The Chemistry of Success — how Adesis became a powerhouse in R&D and manufacturing, impacting industries from electronics to pharmaceuticals
• Leadership in Action — the transition from entrepreneur to CEO and the hard-earned lessons in building culture, empowering teams, and scaling a company
• The Green Hydrogen Revolution — why he sees Delaware as a future hub for sustainable energy and how First State Hydrogen is leading the charge
• The Role of Family and Purpose — the personal values that kept him grounded through the highs and lows of entrepreneurship

Andrew’s story is one of grit, vision, and the ability to see opportunity where others see obstacles. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a leader, or simply curious about the future of clean energy, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

Listen to the full episode HERE.

Until next time, friends,

Chris