Send us Fan Mail

AI is transforming how we hire, lead, and operate—but there’s one thing it can’t replace: human connection.

In this episode of Pull the Chute, Sharon McLaughlin shares an important perspective on AI, hiring, leadership, and change management.

The challenge isn’t simply implementing new technology or announcing a new process. The real challenge is helping people transition.

Because people don’t experience change at the same speed.

Some embrace it immediately. Others need time, clarity, questions answered, and reassurance.

And that’s where strong leadership matters.

When organizations communicate the why, create space for people to adapt, and prioritize authentic human interaction, change becomes something people can move through—not something that simply happens to them.

💡 You’re not just managing change. You’re helping people navigate it.

Send us Fan Mail

AI isn’t coming.

It’s already here.

And the bigger question isn’t, “Will AI take my job?”

It’s:

“Will someone who knows how to use AI better than me take my job?”

In this episode of Pull the Chute, Blake Farrow shares a powerful perspective on navigating a rapidly changing workplace, embracing AI, building authentic relationships, and staying grounded when the future feels uncertain.

The technology will continue to evolve. Our industries will change. The five-year plan we created today may look completely different tomorrow.

But some things remain within our control:

→ Keep learning.
→ Keep adapting.
→ Work hard.
→ Stay authentic.
→ Use your talents.
→ Keep moving forward.

You don't have to know exactly what the future looks like.

You just have to be willing to take the next step.

Send us Fan Mail

What if your next great hire isn’t looking for a job?

That’s the challenge Jamison Carrier brings to the table in this episode of Pull The Chute.

There’s no shortage of top performers. The problem is that top performers are usually already succeeding where they are.

So great recruiting requires more than posting a job description and waiting for applications.

It requires knowing exactly what you’re looking for, identifying performance patterns, finding the right people, and giving them a compelling reason to join your team.

One of the biggest takeaways?

Don’t just look at what someone was responsible for. Look at what they actually accomplished.

And once they’re on your team, give them clarity around what needs to be done and by when—then give them the autonomy to figure out how to do it.

That’s how you build teams that perform.

Send us Fan Mail

Your team may not be the bottleneck. Your structure might be.

In this episode of Pull the Chute, Stephen Pivnik shares a powerful lesson from 26 years of entrepreneurship: the same founder involvement that helps build a company can eventually become a liability.

When every decision, relationship, and critical process runs through the founder, the business becomes dependent on one person—and that can impact scalability, resilience, and even valuation.

Stephen's solution? Learn to delegate, build trust, develop leaders, and create systems that allow the organization to operate without everything flowing through the founder.

His endurance-sports mindset offers another powerful reminder:

Entrepreneurship is an endurance sport.

There will be setbacks, pivots, difficult decisions, and moments when you want to quit. The key is to keep moving toward the next milestone.

Send us Fan Mail

What happens when nonprofit leaders can spend less time worrying about the business—and more time advancing the mission?

On this episode of Pull the Chute, Jeff and Janna sit down with Ryan Dewey Smith, founder and CEO of Imperium, to unpack a different approach to nonprofit growth.

Ryan shares how organizations can use scale, shared services, strategic financing, and operational efficiencies to reduce the burden of back-office costs while staying focused on their mission.

One takeaway really stood out:

“Putting your hand up and asking for help isn't a negative. That's a positive and a strategy for success.”

For nonprofit leaders, growth isn't just about expanding programs. It's also about building an infrastructure that can support the mission for years to come.

Send us Fan Mail

You don’t have to have all the answers to be a great leader.

But you do have to be willing to learn.

In this episode of Pull The Chute, Jeff and Janna sat down with Logan Yonavjak to explore the evolving challenges leaders face—from talent retention and AI-driven complexity to leadership development and execution risk.

One point stood out:

Coachability may be one of the most important qualities a leader can have.

Because leadership isn’t about proving you’re always right. It’s about being willing to see a different perspective, accept feedback, develop yourself, and help your team grow.

The question isn’t just “Do you want to be coached?”

It’s:

“Are you actually willing to change?”

That’s where real leadership development begins.

Send us Fan Mail

What if the secret to better sales isn't selling harder?

According to Simon Severino, it's simple:

Stop selling—and start helping people buy.

The first step is knowing exactly who your ideal client is. Not just their job title or industry, but what makes them the right client for your business.

Then:

🎯 Identify your ideal client 6 levels deep
🚫 Define your anti-ideal client
🔎 Research what your prospects actually care about
💬 Start conversations instead of pitching
🤝 Focus on their reason for talking—not yours
📈 Measure your progress against your own last week

And one of the biggest takeaways?

Don't compare yourself to everyone else.

If you created 6 conversations last week, aim for 7 this week. If your close rate was 30%, aim for 31%.

Small improvements compound.

The goal isn't to be better than everyone else.

The goal is to be 1% better than you were last week.

Send us Fan Mail

Great cultures aren’t built by compensation alone.

They’re built when people feel seen, heard, valued, and appreciated.

In this episode of Pull The Chute, Jeff and Janna sit down with Alex Grande, co-founder and CEO of Recognize, to talk about the power of employee recognition and how leaders can use it to strengthen culture, engagement, and retention.

One of the biggest takeaways?

👉 Recognition shouldn’t be something you do once a year. It should become part of how you lead.

Celebrate the wins.
Call out the effort.
Connect recognition to your values.
And most importantly—make people feel like they matter.

Because sometimes, a simple “I see what you’re doing, and I appreciate it” can have more impact than you realize.

Send us Fan Mail

The CEO seat can be lonely.

You’re expected to have the answers, make the decisions, carry the vision, and keep everyone else moving forward.

But here’s the truth: CEOs aren’t supposed to have all the answers.

In this episode of Pull The Chute, Mark shares why having a trusted circle of peers can make such a powerful difference.

From getting out of the weeds to navigating people challenges, growth, AI, and the personal pressures that come with leadership, the right peer group gives CEOs something they often don’t have: a room where they can be completely honest.

Because sometimes, the greatest value isn’t someone telling you what to do.

It’s hearing, “I’ve been there too.”

You don’t have to lead alone.

Send us Fan Mail

Growth without structure creates chaos.

One of the biggest challenges founders face is carrying too much of the business themselves—sales, finance, operations, quality, decisions, and everything in between.

In this episode of Pull the Chute, Eric Dodier explains how the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) helped his company create clarity, accountability, and traction.

The framework centers around six key components:

🔹 Vision
🔹 People
🔹 Data
🔹 Issues
🔹 Processes
🔹 Traction

And the goal isn't simply to grow a bigger company.

It's to build a healthier business—and ultimately, a better life.