Raise Your Own Bar Podcast

Most entrepreneurs don’t start a business because they dream about payroll, compliance, HR headaches, or administrative chaos. They start because they love creating, leading, building, teaching, serving, or solving problems.

In this episode, I sat down with Jennifer Gray, founder and CEO of Gray Operations Group, to talk about how smarter systems, delegation, and operational support can help business owners stop drowning in the back-office work and get back to doing what they actually love.

We talked about:

* The hidden stress business owners carry behind the scenes

* How documenting systems creates freedom and scalability

* When to keep it, automate it, or delegate it

* Using AI responsibly in business operations

* Why “good is better than perfect” when it comes to growth

Jennifer also shared powerful insights about leadership, communication, motherhood, entrepreneurship, and the importance of staying open to change and feedback as you grow.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to do everything yourself, this conversation will remind you that you don’t have to do it the hard way.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit raiseyourownbar.substack.com

Today’s conversation is for anyone who’s ever been told they’re “too much.”

Too loud. Too emotional. Too intense. Too different.

What if being “too much” is actually your advantage?

Yesterday I sat down with award-winning nurse, author, and founder, Sheila Ray Montgomery. She shared her wisdom about life, love, and living through the kind of loss that reshapes everything.

After losing her husband to cancer, Sheila had to forge a new way forward. She didn’t shrink or disappear. She kept building her dreams. She kept creating. And she turned her story into award-winning work.

We talked about:

* Being yourself even if other people don’t like it.

* How to carry on with your dreams after loss.

* Taking up space without apology.

This episode is a reminder: You’re not everyone’s cup of tea… and' that’s ok.

If you’ve been hold back your true self to make other people comfortable, this one might hit a nerve.

Get her books and stay up to date with Sheila at https://sheilaraymontgomery.com/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit raiseyourownbar.substack.com

In this week’s episode, I sit down with an extraordinary guest: the host of the JRC Podcast, a powerhouse community advocate helping to market and promote events and small businesses across Guernsey County, Ohio. A disabled Army veteran, he credits his service with teaching him two defining lessons: discipline and resilience. He has built his entire life around both.

He opens up about his years as an Army HR specialist, the injuries and multiple surgeries that followed his deployments, and the long road to recovery that reshaped who he is. Despite the physical challenges he still lives with, he refuses to let disability define him. As he puts it, “I’m disabled, not dead.” And he lives that truth every day.

We dive into the unique challenge of bringing rural communities into the modern digital world and how he is helping local organizations embrace social media marketing and online engagement. His passion for service shines through everything he does. He volunteers with nonprofits, serves on community boards, supports groups like the Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, Feed My People, and the Honor Guard, and uses his platform to elevate the needs of others.

He also shares his journey to becoming a Meta social media content creator, how his own experience of being “legally homeless” fuels his empathy, and how he maintains a positive mindset by reminding himself that someone out there always has it worse. For him, service is the antidote to self-pity.

We talk about leadership, confidence, and the lessons the Army gave him about influence, purpose, direction, and motivation. He believes everyone needs to be led differently. Some people need a push. Others need a gentle word. The same principle applies to how we show up for the people in our lives.

His message is simple yet powerful: “You’re only limited by your thinking.”

Whether you are navigating a medical crisis, battling through a setback, or chasing a dream that feels out of reach, his advice is clear. If you need help, get help. Failure is not final, it’s feedback. Learn from it and get back in the fight!

This is an inspiring conversation about service, grit, community, and what it really means to rise above your circumstances.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit raiseyourownbar.substack.com

Change isn’t just inevitable, it’s guaranteed! How we respond to it shapes the trajectory of our work, our leadership, our lives, and our happiness.

In this week’s episode, I sit down with Justin Allen, sales and leadership guru, to unpack what it really means to manage uncertainty, adapt in real time, and stay grounded when everything around you shifts.

We talk about:

* Why some people thrive in change while others freeze

* How leaders can create stability without resisting innovation

* The mindset shifts that help teams stay motivated during transitions

* Practical tools for navigating seasons of disruption

* Why discomfort is often the doorway to growth

If you’re in a season of change, or leading others through one, this conversation is full of insights you can use right away!

Tune in, take a breath, and Raise Your Own Bar.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit raiseyourownbar.substack.com

In this episode of Raise Your Own Bar, we dive into the real work of building stronger, healthier, more intentional relationships.

From the way you communicate under pressure, to how you forgive, let go, and set boundaries, this conversation will challenge the way you show up for yourself and others.

Here’s what is covered:

* Communication: Why it’s not just about talking, but translating, and how to catch the stories you tell yourself before they cause conflict.

* Forgiveness: What it really means (and what it doesn’t). How to release pain without excusing it, so you can reclaim your peace.

* Letting Go of Resentment: How unspoken hurt turns into emotional plaque, plus practical steps to help you lighten the load.

* Relationship Rules: The hidden scripts that run your relationships, and how to rewrite them into healthy, mutual agreements.

* Boundaries: The difference between walls and clarity, and how enforcing your limits actually deepens connection.

* Goal Setting: Why your relationships deserve the same level of intention as your career or health — and how to design the connection you want.

Takeaway:Healthy relationships aren’t accidental, they’re intentional. They’re built through communication, clarity, compassion, and consistency. When you raise your own bar, your relationships rise with you.

Bonus: Want to go deeper? Download the free worksheet “Letting Go of Resentment: Reflection & Release”. It’s a a guided tool to help you unpack the emotions that hold you back and make space for healing.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit raiseyourownbar.substack.com

In this episode, I’m joined by Brian Bettis, a recently retired U.S. Army Colonel and now Chief Strategist at C2 Integration, where he helps bring new technologies to the market.

Brian has spent much of his life leading, innovating, and navigating complex systems. In this episode, he brings that same insight to one of the biggest questions of our time: Are we using technology, or is it using us? Together we dissect the rise of AI and how it is reshaping human behavior.

We dig into the double-edged sword of technology, how it can push society forward but also make us softer, more distracted, and less connected if we’re not careful.

We also discuss:

* How your circle shapes your mindset, speech, and habits

* What happens when phones are removed from schools

* How social media creates separate personal realities and behaviors for each platform

* Why emotional intelligence and real conversations matter more than ever

* The lessons history still has to teach us about where we’re headed

* The power (and danger) of too much information, including Brian’s “My Brother Effect” — his personal theory on how everyday Americans get trapped by the 24 hour news cycle that often leave us with more questions than answers

This episode is a reminder to stay connected, stay aware, and stay human, especially in a world that’s becoming more digital by the day.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit raiseyourownbar.substack.com

In this episode of Raise Your Own Bar, I sit down with Lynn Abrams, CPA—known as The Happy Accountant. Lynn and her all-women accounting team are more than number-crunchers; they’re business builders, collaborators, and community connectors.

We talk about Lynn’s entrepreneurial journey, her bold business rebrand, and what drives her to help small businesses not just survive, but thrive. As she says: “We can be competition, but we don’t have to be enemies.”

Lynn also shares details about the upcoming Business to Business Expo in Cambridge, OH on October 8—a free event featuring dynamic speakers, networking, collaboration opportunities, a continental breakfast, and box lunch. (I’ll even be there adding some comic relief during lunch!)

This episode is full of inspiration, practical business wisdom, and a reminder that community over competition is how we all grow.

#Accounting #Entrepreneur #Motivation #Collaboration #BusinessNetworking

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit raiseyourownbar.substack.com

Feeling stressed? Running on caffeine and vibes? Same. That’s why in this episode, I’m sharing real-life ways to chill out, get more energy, and stop feeling like your to-do list is your boss.

We’re talking about:

* How to calm down when your brain is on overdrive

* Networking without being that awkward person clutching their drink in the corner

* Prioritizing the stuff that actually matters

* Why moving your body gives you energy

* And yes… a little sleep hygiene talk (without pretending you go to bed at 10 PM sharp)

If you’re ready to stop running on fumes and start feeling like a functional human again, this episode’s for you!

#Prioritization #Networking #MoveYourBody #CalmDown #SleepBetter

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit raiseyourownbar.substack.com

This week’s episode features Jose Flores, a retired Army veteran, soon-to-be retired Army civilian, fitness coach, and podcast host. Jose’s story is packed with lessons on leadership, resilience, and what it truly means to live with purpose.

Jose believes that everything starts with hope and a plan. During our conversation, he shares how the Army shaped his approach to leading others, why progress matters more than perfection, and how showing up consistently sets the tone for everyone around you.

From helping people train for marathons to guiding his grandkids them toward living their best lives, Jose lives by this mantra: “Consistency is better than any excuse. Keep showing up and you’re gonna get better.”

We dig into powerful topics, including:

* Why leading by example is non-negotiable

* How to set the standard for your family, your team, and your community

* The importance of fighting isolation and building strong communities

* How to “live your dash”— that small line between your birth and death dates on your tombstone that represents the life you choose to live

Jose reminds us: “Nothing lasts forever, not even your problems. Keep going. Do your best. Live your dash.”

Now that he’s stepping into life beyond government service, Jose is creating new ways to stay connected and continue making an impact.

🎧 Tune in to hear how Jose turns discipline into freedom and purpose into legacy.

▶️ Follow on YouTube: The Motivated Mindset with Jose Flores

👉 Follow on Facebook or LinkedIn

#Podcast #Coaching #Hope #LeadByExample #Influence #Discipline #RaiseYourOwnBar

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit raiseyourownbar.substack.com

What happens when a mic becomes more than just a microphone? When a voice becomes a vehicle for change?

T Mill isn’t just a media producer or on-air radio personality with Cumulus Broadcasting, he’s a cultural architect. His work reaches beyond the booth as he mentors the next generation, builds bridges in the community, and uses storytelling as a tool for transformation.

In this episode, we explore what it really means to show up: with purpose, with presence, and with people in mind. From the legacy of LeVar Burton and Reading Rainbow to real-life moments of mentorship, we reflect on the voices that shaped us and the responsibility we now have to shape others.

T Mill drops insight after insight on topics like:

* How discipline works like a muscle

* Why learning to say no is a superpower

* The surprising reason you should keep your goals to yourself (backed by science!)

We also get into the quiet stuff—the reflection, the listening, the moments of stillness that sharpen your focus and ground your growth.

Whether you're crafting a beat, building a brand, or finding your voice through podcasting, T Mill reminds you that your story is worth telling. Your voice belongs in the mix. And there’s more than enough space for you to shine!

🎧 Follow him on Facebook: In Tune With T Mill📻 Catch him live on air Saturdays from 10 AM to 2 PM on 94.1

#Podcast #CultureCreator #Mentorship #Creators #Influence #Discipline #RaiseYourOwnBar

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit raiseyourownbar.substack.com