From Wall Street’s “culture of no” to early-Google hypergrowth to building a consulting business in Memphis with three kids, Meg lived the arc most founders dream about—and learned that money is only one measurement. Freedom, contribution, intellectual fulfillment, and time with family often matter far more.

In this episode, we trace her journey from HR leader to entrepreneur, why business development is the real gauntlet, how networks—not algorithms—actually create opportunity, and why the ability to choose your work may be the highest form of wealth.

We talk about corporate identity, the loneliness of early consulting, the illusion of digital shortcuts, and the gift of designing your life around family—especially when life throws real-world challenges like caring for a dying parent.

No clichés. No hustle fantasy.Just the reality behind “success”—and why meaning often pays in different currencies.

TL;DR

Success isn’t salary: Impact, thought leadership, and flexibility often matter more than income.Corporate → Startup → Consulting: Three worlds, three definitions of achievement.Network beats algorithms: You don’t get clients—or jobs—from LinkedIn applications. You get them from people.Business dev never stops: Land a client → get busy → pipeline dries up → repeat.Life design is wealth: The freedom to choose work, time, and commitments is a form of success money can’t buy.Lean thinking > corporate thinking: Consultants who’ve lived outside the safety net think clearer, simpler, and more efficiently.Legacy isn’t money: Books, models, and ideas can become your version of “immortality.”

Memorable Lines

“Starting a business teaches you everything you never knew you didn’t know.”“You can apply for 2,000 jobs online and hear nothing—your network is your real résumé.”“Consulting is freedom, but freedom comes with the cost of building your own pipeline.”“My definition of success now is simple: choice.”“Thought leadership is being known for what your mind creates—not for who signs your paycheck.”

Guest

Meg Crosby — Former Wall Street & Google People Ops leader turned consultant; co-author of Running the Gauntlet, corporate board member, and advisor to organizations seeking modern talent, culture, and people-strategy practices.

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meg-thomas-crosby/🔗 Website: https://peoplecap.com/

Why This Matters

Most founders measure themselves by revenue—especially in the early grind.But Meg’s story reframes success in a way today’s entrepreneurs desperately need:

* You can be financially stable and still feel empty.

* You can make less money and be far more fulfilled.

* You can design work around the life you want—not the other way around.

* Real opportunity comes from people, not platforms.

* Freedom—time, autonomy, meaning—is a form of wealth that compounds differently.

If you’re building something, this episode gives you permission to expand the definition of “winning.”

Call to Action

If this conversation lit something up for you, don’t just let it fade. Come join me inside the Second Life Leader community on Skool. That’s where I share the frameworks, field reports, and real stories of reinvention that don’t make it into the podcast. You’ll connect with other professionals who are actively rebuilding and leading with clarity. The link is in the show notes—step inside and start building your Second Life today.

https://secondlifeleader.com

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

Most people treat their career pivot like a crisis. Adam approached his like compounding interest — small, consistent moves that eventually broke the equation. We talk about the finance industry’s myths (no, you are not beating the market), why sharing your story works even when you think you’re “not that person,” how giving away thousands of books became a growth engine, and why content creation is the new credibility layer for every entrepreneur.

We explore the second-life moment: when you’ve spent years mastering one system only to realize the next version of you is waiting in a completely different world. Adam’s journey from “professional low-stakes grifter” (his words for financial advisors) to founder of a fast-growing media company is a case study in paying attention to what starts pulling you forward.

This isn’t a story about leaving finance. It’s a story about finally doing work that compounds in every direction.

TL;DR

* No one beats the market: Most managed-money careers hide behind complexity; transparency wins.

* Your story is an asset: A book isn’t a $5 product — it’s a credibility accelerant.

* Content scales trust: Podcasting, writing, and storytelling create leverage regulated industries never allow.

* Pivots aren’t leaps: They’re a series of realizations you can’t unknow.

* Second-life careers reward clarity: When you know what you can do exceptionally well, the right path becomes obvious.

Key Themes

1. The Finance Illusion

Adam spent 14 years across every side of the money-management business — IRA departments, CFP work, retirement plans, running his own RIA. The deeper he went, the clearer the hard truth became:Complexity sells. Simplicity performs.Most investors would do better with a simple S&P split and quarterly rebalancing than paying a point-plus in fees. The industry doesn’t like that sentence.

2. The Accidental Author

Adam wrote his first book because his mentor forced him to.He didn’t believe in $5 products.He didn’t believe in writing books.He definitely didn’t believe he had a story worth telling.

But giving away thousands of books changed everything:

* Attracted assets

* Opened doors

* Taught him the power of simple ideas (compound interest, APR, basic personal finance)

* Showed him that people are starving for clarity, not complexity

Stories scale. Silence doesn’t.

3. When Others Ask You to Lead

Peers started asking Adam to help them publish books — CEOs, business owners, professionals.He thought it was absurd.But the model worked: anthology-style, collaborative, marketing budget pooled, broad distribution.

What started as a side experiment became a series that has now published 400+ authors.

4. The Media Pivot

With books working and the podcast exploding, Adam faced a choice:Try to run two careers poorly, or choose one and let it compound.He chose media. Nine years later, that call looks obvious.

5. The Bigger Realization

Money is an accounting entry for resource ownership.But we’re consuming resources at an unsustainable pace to create more accounting entries.Every financial system eventually resets.What matters isn’t the illusion of compounding — it’s the relationships, reputation, and value you build that survive resets.

Memorable Lines

* “If you can market yourself in finance, you can grow 10x faster in a non-regulated industry.”

* “I thought broke people wrote books — turns out authors build trust faster than anyone.”

* “You don’t need to beat the market; you need to beat obscurity.”

* “I’m not Elon. I can do one thing really well — that’s it. And that’s enough.”

* “Content is the new credibility. Silence is the new obscurity.”

Guest

Adam Torres — Media Founder, Author, PodcasterCo-founder of Mission Matters, publisher of hundreds of books and host of nationally distributed business podcasts. Former CFP and RIA owner turned media-builder helping entrepreneurs amplify their stories.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamtorres8/

Website: https://missionmatters.com/

Why This Matters

Because your second life might not look like an escape — it might look like leverage.

Adam’s story shows that the skills you build in one industry become unstoppable when combined with storytelling, ownership, and the courage to pivot.

If you want a career that compounds — not just capital but impact, relationships, opportunities — you have to build something the system can’t reset: your voice, your story, your platform.

Call to Action

If this conversation lit something up for you, don’t just let it fade. Come join me inside the Second Life Leader community on Skool. That’s where I share the frameworks, field reports, and real stories of reinvention that don’t make it into the podcast. You’ll connect with other professionals who are actively rebuilding and leading with clarity. The link is in the show notes—step inside and start building your Second Life today.

https://secondlifeleader.com

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

In this conversation with entrepreneur and outsourcing leader Carmen Williams, we unpack the moment she walked into work, felt a physical “no” in her stomach, and quit her job that same day. No plan, no runway, no strategy deck—just bravery born from clarity.

This episode isn’t about hustle culture. It’s about permission—to pivot, to shrink your life, to rebuild your identity, and to stop performing your way into burnout.

We explore why corporate stability is an illusion, why minimalism creates freedom, how virtual teams scale your capacity, and why the “first hire fantasy” founders chase is usually wrong.We also talk about life after collapse—the rebirth that happens when you stop clinging to the version of yourself that was built to survive, not thrive.

No hype. Just the quiet courage of starting over.

TL;DR

* The brave pivot: Carmen quit her job in one day after realizing life is short and fear is expensive.

* Job security is riskier than entrepreneurship: One employer = one point of failure.

* Minimalism is leverage: Less stuff, lower burn rate, fewer emergencies.

* Founders hire the wrong “clone”: You don’t need another visionary—you need a steady executor.

* AI + VAs is the winning combo: AI increases the demand for great operators; it doesn’t replace them (yet).

* Saying “no” builds more trust than yes: Filtering clients improves ROI and reputation.

What we unpack

1. The moment you stop pretending you have time

Carmen’s turning point came when her mother was diagnosed with a terminal illness—20 years older than her. Mortality compresses priorities.She realized: “If I knew I had 20 years left, would I stay here?”Her answer was a clean no.

2. The illusion of corporate safety

Doug reflects on climbing into bigger houses and bigger bills—only to realize everything you own also owns a piece of you.Entrepreneurs face volatility monthly.Employees face catastrophe suddenly.Pick your pain.

3. Minimalism as a business strategy

Doug downsized from 3,800 sq ft → 560 sq ft.Less space. Fewer things. More intention.The easy life is the one with fewer dependencies.

4. Why founders hire the wrong personality

Entrepreneurs imagine a “mini-me” assistant—someone spontaneous, creative, high-initiative.What they need is the opposite:A detail-driven operator who finishes what the founder starts.

5. How Carmen accidentally built a 100-person outsourcing company

She hired VAs for her own consulting practice.People kept asking for help.She kept saying no—until the market refused to let her.No website. No pitch deck. Twenty VAs anyway.

6. Why AI doesn’t replace VAs—it amplifies them

Her teams use AI as a force multiplier, not a threat.Training loops, outside experts, and self-directed learning have made her VAs more valuable—not redundant.

Memorable lines

* “If you only have one income stream, you don’t have stability—you have a trap.”

* “Minimalism isn’t aesthetic. It’s leverage.”

* “Your first hire shouldn’t be you—it should be your opposite.”

* “The day you stop pretending you have time is the day you become brave.”

* “AI doesn’t replace people. It replaces excuses.”

Guest

Carmen Williams — Founder & CEO of a global outsourcing agency supporting 100+ virtual assistants across multiple industries. Known for helping entrepreneurs scale through operational discipline, delegation frameworks, and mindset shifts around capacity and courage.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmenwilliamsau/Website: https://globalteams.com.au/

Why this matters

If you want your second life to work, you can’t drag your first-life habits with you.That means:

* lower burn rate

* fewer possessions

* more clarity

* better support

* braver decisions

* honest self-assessment

You can’t rebuild while holding onto the version of yourself that burned out.

Call to Action

If this conversation lit something up for you, don’t just let it fade. Come join me inside the Second Life Leader community on Skool. That’s where I share the frameworks, field reports, and real stories of reinvention that don’t make it into the podcast. You’ll connect with other professionals who are actively rebuilding and leading with clarity. The link is in the show notes—step inside and start building your Second Life today.

https://secondlifeleader.com

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

In this episode, we use cybersecurity as a lens to expose a truth that every leader forgets: the biggest threats to your company are the ones you can’t see—until they take you down.

Scott’s career mirrors the evolution of tech itself—from software stores in the ’80s to early network integration, to building one of the original managed services models before “MSP” was even a phrase. His latest book, Visible Ops for Cybersecurity, reframes the discipline not as an IT function, but as a visibility function: if you can’t see it, you can’t secure it… and if you can’t secure it, you can’t scale it.

We break down why ransomware is now franchised, why even the best companies get breached, why cyber insurance is becoming a false safety net, and why every founder—yes, even a team-of-one startup—needs a security-first mindset.

This isn’t fear-mongering. It’s leadership.

TL;DR

* Assume breach. The #1 mistake founders make is believing they’re “too small” to be a target.

* Backups are not backups unless they’re encrypted, immutable, and air-gapped.

* Cyber insurance is not protection—44% of claims were denied in 2024.

* Reinvention is mandatory. Tech evolves, threats evolve, your systems must evolve.

* Visibility beats bravado. Most failures come from what leaders think is secure, not what actually is.

Memorable lines

* “Security by obscurity died the day ransomware became a franchise.”

* “If the best cybersecurity companies get hacked, your only strategy is resilience.”

* “Backups aren’t safety—they’re hope, unless they’re air-gapped.”

* “Reinvention isn’t optional in tech—it’s the price of staying alive.”

* “Make the invisible visible, or the invisible will make the decision for you.”

Key Ideas We Unpack

1. Reinvention as a Survival Skill

Scott turned retail software into network integration, then into managed services, then into cybersecurity leadership.The pattern:Visibility → Competence → Reinvention.Most founders skip the first step and collapse at the third.

2. The Modern Threat Landscape Is Industrialized

Ransomware now has:

* franchises

* training

* support hotlines

* experts who “close the deal” when an amateur hacker gets stuck

This is organized crime with a customer-service department.

3. Backups Are the New Lifeboats

Threat actors sit inside systems for 60–365 days before triggering an attack.If your backups are not:

* encrypted

* immutable

* air-gappedyou don’t have backups—you have illusions.

4. Cyber Insurance Is Becoming a Mirage

44% of claims denied.Policies are unregulated.Exclusions keep growing.Insurance is no longer a plan—it’s paperwork.

5. The Startup Founder Version of Cybersecurity

If you’re a team of one, your mantra is simple:Be good to your future self.Design tools, workflows, and systems with a security-first mindset from day one.The cheapest hack is the one that never becomes possible.

6. Visibility Is a Leadership Habit

You can’t manage what you can’t see.And almost everything that destroys a business—breaches, failures, slow decay, talent risk—starts in the invisible layer.

Guest

Scott Aldridge — President & CEO of IP Services.Cybersecurity author, technologist, MSSP leader, and early pioneer of managed services.Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-alldridge-1a976/Website: https://ipservices.com/

Why This Matters

Most founders underestimate risk because they overestimate visibility.If you want a business that survives the next decade, the job is simple:

Design for resilience.Assume breach.Back up reality, not hope.Reinvent before the market forces you to.And make the invisible visible—before someone else does.

Call to Action

If this conversation lit something up for you, don’t just let it fade. Come join me inside the Second Life Leader community on Skool. That’s where I share the frameworks, field reports, and real stories of reinvention that don’t make it into the podcast. You’ll connect with other professionals who are actively rebuilding and leading with clarity. The link is in the show notes—step inside and start building your Second Life today.

https://secondlifeleader.com

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

Most founders want a hack. Most apps promise a shortcut.But the fundamentals haven’t changed in 300,000 years: sleep deeply, hydrate, eat real food, and lift heavy things.

This episode dismantles the fantasy that “more tech = more health,” exposes why busy executives burn out even with expensive tools, and reframes fitness as relationship-based, not software-based.

We dig into why high achievers chase optimization instead of consistency, how food processing quietly wrecks your hormones, and why proactivity beats the doctor’s-warning-reactivity most men experience at 55.

No aesthetic fluff. No app worship.Just the truth: your body runs on basics—and basics need a human.

TL;DR

* Health ≠ apps. The industry sells tools; humans want results.

* AI can scale, but it can’t notice when your voice sounds off at 7am.

* Proactivity > reactivity. Don’t wait for arrhythmia to start caring.

* The “3–4 hour rule”: If you can’t give your body 3–4 hours a week, you’re lying about priorities.

* Food processing is a hidden health killer: cheap ≠ harmless.

* Fitness works best when integrated into life—not scheduled around it.

Memorable Lines

* “Nobody cares about tools. They care if they look better naked.”

* “AI can give you a program. It can’t give you empathy.”

* “If you’re too busy to walk, but never too busy to scroll, you’re not busy—your priorities are.”

* “You are what you eat… and what what-you-eat has eaten.”

Guest

Cameron Harris — Founder, Truth FitnessCoaches entrepreneurs and senior executives who want results without gimmicks—and who need a human who actually notices the small things apps never can.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/camtruth/Website: https://truthfitness.co.uk/

Why This Matters

If you’re a founder or operator, your health is your leverage.A bigger house, nicer car, or faster software means nothing if chronic fatigue or preventable illness takes you out of the game.

Strong leaders build routines around sleep, nutrition, movement, and recovery—not around convenience.

Design for the long arc:Simple habits. Real food. Human coaching. Consistency over optimization.That’s what keeps you productive at 45… and still mobile at 70.

Call to Action

If this conversation lit something up for you, don’t just let it fade. Come join me inside the Second Life Leader community on Skool. That’s where I share the frameworks, field reports, and real stories of reinvention that don’t make it into the podcast. You’ll connect with other professionals who are actively rebuilding and leading with clarity. The link is in the show notes—step inside and start building your Second Life today.

https://secondlifeleader.com

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

Most people think leadership is about having answers. In reality? AI already has those. The leaders who win next are the ones who know how to ask better questions.

In this episode, Luciana and I trace the evolution from old-school hierarchy (titles, power, layers, politics) into something flatter, peer-driven, and choice-based — where people follow you because they want to, not because they “report” to you.

We dig into how AI accelerates this shift, why the next generations won’t tolerate traditional management structures anyway, and why solopreneurs will scale bigger than ever without hiring armies of employees. And most importantly, how coaching — real coaching — becomes the meta-skill that makes people better thinkers, better collaborators, and better humans.

Luciana also shares her trilogy model for helping anyone move from where they are to where they want to be, why listening is a superpower, and how the best leaders guide people to their own answers instead of supplying canned solutions. Think less “Cobra Kai drill sergeant,” more “Mr. Miyagi builds muscle memory while you think you’re just sanding the deck.”

This isn’t soft leadership. It’s the new competitive edge.

TL;DR

* AI kills “leader as the answer-giver.” The winners will be the leaders who ask the right questions.

* Hierarchy is collapsing. Future teams form around choice, not authority.

* Solopreneurs scale bigger. AI makes “teams of one” way more powerful.

* Coaching = the foundational skill. Listening + powerful questions = 10x commitment.

* The trilogy model: What do you want → How will you get it → Who does what by when.

* People own what they discover. If they found the solution, they’ll fight for it.

* Next-gen leaders will not tolerate 1950s management. Flat, peer-based, and values-driven is the future.

Memorable Lines

“AI gives you the answers. Leaders win by knowing which questions matter.”

“Authority doesn’t make people follow you. Being worth following does.”

“Coaching isn’t teaching — it’s helping someone see what’s already within them.”

“When someone finds their own answer, their commitment goes up 10x.”

“The new organizational chart is horizontal — not vertical.”

Guest

Luciana Nunez — Executive Coach, former CEO & GM, 20+ years in corporate leadership, now helping leaders upgrade from command-and-control to collaborative, coaching-based leadership.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luciana-nunez-coachny/Wesbite: https://www.theprestonassociates.com/

Why This Matters

If you want to stay relevant as AI reshapes work, you need to master the one thing machines can’t replicate:human guidance, human insight, and human development.

Leadership is no longer about being the smartest person in the room — it’s about being the person who unlocks everyone else’s smartest thinking.

This episode shows you how.

Call to Action

If this conversation lit something up for you, don’t just let it fade. Come join me inside the Second Life Leader community on Skool. That’s where I share the frameworks, field reports, and real stories of reinvention that don’t make it into the podcast. You’ll connect with other professionals who are actively rebuilding and leading with clarity. The link is in the show notes—step inside and start building your Second Life today.

https://secondlifeleader.com

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

In a world obsessed with hacks and mindset quotes, Sahil breaks down what actually builds momentum — consistent execution.

Doug and Sahil explore how founders can use AI tools to automate busywork without losing the human edge, and why showing up every day — even when no one’s watching — still beats every algorithm. This episode dives into the difference between mindset fluff and measurable action, and how discipline compounds faster than luck or inspiration.

TL;DR

* Motivation fades — consistency wins.

* AI is a multiplier, not a miracle. It rewards disciplined operators, not dreamers.

* Growth comes from doing the boring work daily: follow-ups, systems, outreach.

* Small, repeated actions compound into momentum and credibility.

* The secret isn’t working harder — it’s working steadier.

Memorable lines

* “You don’t need motivation — you need momentum.”

* “AI won’t save your business if you don’t show up for it.”

* “Consistency compounds — that’s how empires are built.”

* “Do the small things daily; the big results take care of themselves.”

Guest

Sahil Patel — Entrepreneur and growth strategist helping founders scale through systems, accountability, and AI-powered efficiency.🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sahilanamipatel/🔗 Website: https://www.spiralyze.com/

Why it matters

Success isn’t about hype — it’s about habits. In the AI era, the entrepreneurs who win aren’t the loudest, they’re the most consistent. This episode is a masterclass in pairing automation with discipline to create results you can actually measure — not just manifest.

Call to Action

If this conversation lit something up for you, don’t just let it fade. Come join me inside the Second Life Leader community on Skool. That’s where I share the frameworks, field reports, and real stories of reinvention that don’t make it into the podcast. You’ll connect with other professionals who are actively rebuilding and leading with clarity. The link is in the show notes—step inside and start building your Second Life today.

https://secondlifeleader.com

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

Leadership expert and author Morag Barrett joins Doug Utberg to challenge the myth that “real connection means keeping the peace.” Together they unpack why the best teams — and the strongest friendships — aren’t the ones that avoid conflict, but the ones that use it to grow stronger.

Morag, founder of SkyTeam, shares how two decades of leadership research revealed a truth few executives want to hear: false harmony kills innovation. Real connection, she says, requires friction, feedback, and the courage to say the hard things before a crisis hits.

Doug reflects on his own journey from people-pleasing to presence — and how letting go of performance-based validation can create genuine relationships at work and in life. The result? A conversation that’s equal parts psychology, leadership, and personal transformation — reminding us that the path to trust runs straight through tension.

TL;DR

* Connection without conflict isn’t trust — it’s tolerance.

* Great teams talk about tension before it breaks them.

* Supporters agree; allies challenge and grow with you.

* Presence beats performance — every time.

* Friction, handled with care, forges deeper bonds.

Memorable lines

* “Connection isn’t soft — it’s steel wrapped in empathy.”

* “Supporters make you comfortable; allies make you better.”

* “False harmony is where innovation goes to die.”

* “You can’t build trust if no one’s willing to be uncomfortable.”

Guest

Morag Barrett — Founder and CEO of SkyTeam, leadership expert, keynote speaker, and author of You, Me, We: Why We All Need a Friend at Work (and How to Show Up as One).- LinkedIn: - Website:

Why it matters

Teams don’t fail from lack of skill — they fail from lack of trust. Learning to embrace healthy friction turns conflict into connection, feedback into growth, and work relationships into real human partnerships.

Call to Action

If this conversation lit something up for you, don’t just let it fade. Come join me inside the Second Life Leader community on Skool. That’s where I share the frameworks, field reports, and real stories of reinvention that don’t make it into the podcast. You’ll connect with other professionals who are actively rebuilding and leading with clarity. The link is in the show notes—step inside and start building your Second Life today.

https://secondlifeleader.com

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

Employment attorney Gary Martoccio joins Doug Utberg to unpack how artificial intelligence is rewriting the rules of work — and where the law hasn’t caught up yet.

From layoffs driven by automation to courts banning AI-written pleadings, Gary breaks down how fast this shift is moving and what workers need to know before they sign a severance package. Doug and Gary explore how fear, efficiency, and regulation are colliding — and why most people shouldn’t panic (yet).

TL;DR

* No federal or state laws currently prevent replacing humans with AI.

* Discrimination in AI-related layoffs will trigger lawsuits — be careful who gets cut.

* Severance packages often include waivers that kill your right to sue; read before signing.

* AI is reshaping “back-office” legal work but can’t replace human judgment in court.

* Courts are banning AI-generated filings to protect legal integrity.

* The real danger isn’t mass job loss — it’s unchecked confusion, burnout, and trauma from constant change.

Memorable lines

* “Regulation always lags the market — and AI is running a marathon at sprint speed.”

* “You can’t let ChatGPT argue your case in court — not yet, anyway.”

* “Layoffs don’t have to be illegal, but they do have to be fair.”

* “Don’t panic — AI isn’t taking every job, just the ones nobody wants to do.”

Guest:

Gary Martoccio — Employment attorney representing plaintiffs in workplace disputes; expert in wrongful termination, discrimination, and AI-related employment challenges.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suenorelle/

Website: https://www.nobletalent.group/

Why it matters

AI isn’t just an innovation story — it’s a workforce revolution with no rulebook. Understanding where legal lines are drawn (and where they aren’t) helps both employers and employees navigate the next wave without getting blindsided. For founders, leaders, and teams, this episode is your roadmap to staying human — and lawful — in the automation age.

Call to Action

If this conversation lit something up for you, don’t just let it fade. Come join me inside the Second Life Leader community on Skool. That’s where I share the frameworks, field reports, and real stories of reinvention that don’t make it into the podcast. You’ll connect with other professionals who are actively rebuilding and leading with clarity. The link is in the show notes—step inside and start building your Second Life today.

https://secondlifeleader.com

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

We explore how avoidance, disguised as politeness, slowly erodes trust — and how courageous conversations can actually strengthen relationships and performance. Katherine breaks down what “calling out the elephant” looks like in practice: reading the emotional landscape, choosing timing over impulse, and speaking truth without weaponizing it.

From emotional intelligence to communication frameworks, we examine how leaders can replace fear with curiosity — and transform tension into alignment.

TL;DR

* Avoidance kills trust faster than conflict ever will.

* Clarity + compassion = productive honesty.

* Name the issue early — silence grows resentment.

* True kindness includes telling the truth.

* Courageous dialogue builds stronger, safer teams.

Memorable lines

* “Kindness without honesty is just avoidance in disguise.”

* “The longer you avoid the elephant, the bigger it gets.”

* “When you name what’s real, people finally exhale.”

* “Courage isn’t about comfort — it’s about connection.”

Guest:

Katherine Lazaruk — Founder, LZRK Consulting | Executive Coach & Keynote Speaker LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherinelazaruk/

Website: https://lzrkconsulting.com/

Why it matters

Every organization has its unspoken truths — unaddressed conflicts, performance gaps, or cultural tension. Leaders who learn to name those realities, with empathy and clarity, create workplaces where honesty isn’t feared but valued. The courage to speak the unsaid is what separates management from leadership.

Call to Action

If this conversation lit something up for you, don’t just let it fade. Come join me inside the Second Life Leader community on Skool. That’s where I share the frameworks, field reports, and real stories of reinvention that don’t make it into the podcast. You’ll connect with other professionals who are actively rebuilding and leading with clarity. The link is in the show notes—step inside and start building your Second Life today.

https://secondlifeleader.com

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