Systematic Leader

Join us for a discussion about developing a marketing strategy for your team that meets your customer’s needs. Tommy Walker is the author of the State of Discontent and consultant to startups so they create powerful content that works. One of my favorite parts of this interview was the story of a failed a launch and how it shifted his business systems.

You can get the Magnetic Systems Method (and other systems guides) to find issues before they become expensive problems.

Highlights from the interview:

1. How to create products your customers want

I love the story that Tommy shared about a failed product launch and what he did to learn and grow from it.

2. How to create more powerful content

He shares how leaders can listen to marketing department and their customers to gather great content. 

3. Why leader need to listen to their employees

Leaders often want instant results and don’t listen to what will help the marketing team understand the pain points of the customers so they can create better content.

4. The importance of research

Why leaders often avoid research and what they can do to give themselves and their employees the time to dig deeper into creating great content.

5. The power of sharing ideas with employees

Learn how you can show employees that the leadership team is listening and wants to highlight people’s great work in every part of the company.

To dive deeper, listeners can visit Tommy at The Content Studio website. You can also connect with him on Linkedin.

As always, if you have any questions or want to submit an amazing guest for the podcast, just reach out to me on the Systematic Leader website, and I’ll do my best to get them on. If you enjoy the interview, please take 30 seconds to rate the Systematic Leader podcast on your favorite platform. Thanks!

Join us for a discussion about aligning your priorities with your vision, so everyone knows what they need to focus on each day. Harry Max is the author of Managing Priorities: How to Create Better Plans and Make Smarter Decisions. One of my favorite parts of this interview is the story that Harry shares when he went way over budget on a new microphone and how his boss handles it.

You can get the Magnetic Systems Guide (and other business system guides) to find issues before they become expensive problems.

Highlights from the interview:

1. Priorities and Vision

Leadership success starts with focusing on what matters most. True priorities stem from having a clear vision and leveraging systems to revisit and refine those priorities regularly. Harry shared how a near-death bicycle accident at age 15 taught him that control is an illusion, sparking a lifelong commitment to identifying and focusing on what truly matters. This lesson reemerged in his executive leadership roles, where he learned that consistent review and alignment with vision are critical for effective prioritization.

2. The Balancing Act of Decision-Making

Decision-making as a leader requires a delicate balance of confidence and humility. Leaders must portray confidence when they are at least 51% certain but stay humble enough to adjust as new information emerges. Harry highlighted the value of using tools like confidence intervals to improve precision, noting that with practice, leaders can act decisively when 90% confident. Calibrating confidence over time helps leaders make better decisions while maintaining the humility to admit when they’re wrong and adapt accordingly.

3. Understanding Others’ Priorities

Success as a leader also hinges on understanding and aligning with the priorities of others—whether employees, colleagues, or stakeholders. Building strong relationships requires curiosity about what drives others’ decisions and goals. By asking questions, showing empathy, and aligning your goals to support theirs, you create trust and foster collaboration. This approach not only strengthens relationships but also helps secure buy-in for your priorities.

4. Building Leadership Strength

Finally, effective communication and feedback are critical components of strong leadership. Harry emphasized the importance of paying attention to subtle cues like body language and tone to identify incongruities between verbal and non-verbal communication. Addressing these signals allows leaders to test their understanding and refine their approach. Over time, prioritizing relationship quality over immediate tasks builds long-term leadership strength and resilience, creating a foundation for sustainable success.

To dive deeper, listeners can visit Harry at harrymax.com, connect with him on LinkedIn, and check out his book Managing Priorities on Amazon. Harry also invites feedback on his upcoming chapter on execution, encouraging collaboration to refine and promote these impactful ideas.

Join us for a conversation about overcoming psychological barriers as a leader. Mo Bunnell is the author Give to Grow and CEO of Bunnell Idea Group. One of my favorite parts of the interview was how we tell ourselves lies to avoid doing the hard project.

You can get the Magnetic Systems Guide (and other business system guides) to find issues before they become expensive problems.

Here’s a five-part summary highlighting the best ideas from the podcast interview:

1. The Power of Systems in Leadership and Relationship Building

Mo and Karl emphasized the importance of identifying and leveraging systems in both leadership and relationship development. 

Using a "10x mindset": Focus on providing value 10 times to build trust, expecting only one success out of ten efforts.

Balancing tasks: Leaders must manage the duality of "winning the work" (persuasive relationship-building) and "doing the work" (execution with precision).

The actionable insight: Approach relationships with intentionality, structure, and clear processes to maximize effectiveness and impact.

2. Overcoming Psychological Barriers and the Five Lies

Mo shared the "Five Lies" that hinder relationship building. Leaders can use these insights to identify personal roadblocks and take actionable steps toward growth.

3. Leading Through Emotional Awareness

Mo’s example of organizing a large-scale event revealed how labeling emotions (e.g., stress, worry) can foster team collaboration.

By sharing his concerns openly with his team, he transformed stress into actionable solutions, leading to a successful event.

System Insight: Recognize emotions as indicators, articulate them to trusted collaborators, and use collective brainstorming to navigate challenges effectively.

4. Strategic Giving and Its Boundaries

The distinction between "successful givers" and "unsuccessful givers" lies in setting boundaries:

Successful givers say no to unnecessary demands and scale the size of their contributions relative to the expected impact.

Examples: Offering small, manageable assistance to lower-priority requests while reserving deeper engagement for high-impact relationships.

The core idea: Giving should be generous but sustainable, ensuring that it does not drain the giver’s energy or resources.

5. Leadership Bottlenecks and Business Growth

Mo introduced a four-box model to diagnose and address bottlenecks in business growth:

Solution: Ensure differentiation and ease of purchase.

Learn more about Mo Bunnell over at Bunnell Idea Group. You can also check out his book Give to Grow (Amazong Link). Connect with him on LinkedIn. 

As always, if you have any questions or want to submit an amazing guest for the podcast, just reach out to me on the Systematic Leader website, and I’ll do my best to get them on. If you enjoy the interview, please take 30 seconds to rate the Systematic Leader podcast on your favorite platform. Thanks!

Join us for a discussion about developing a simple marketing system that works for your company. Billy Broas is the author of Simple Marketing for Smart People. One of my favorite parts of this interview is the 5 lightbulb method that he uses to attract his ideal clients.

You can get the Magnetic Systems Guide (and other business system guides) to find issues before they become expensive problems.

Billy Broas introduces himself as the author of "Simple Marketing for Smart People" and a marketing consultant. He shares how he got into marketing after initially working in the energy industry and how he had to learn marketing from scratch to promote his online beer brewing courses.

1. The five-light bulbs framework

He explains his "five light bulbs" messaging framework. My favorite was number 5. The customer's desired future state and the benefits of your solution He emphasizes the importance of making a compelling argument for your approach (light bulb 3) rather than just focusing on the offer.

2. Applying the framework internally

I ask how the five light bulbs can be used to sell ideas and projects internally within an organization rather than just to external customers. Billy advises that the framework can be applied the same way, by clearly defining your unique approach and making a well-reasoned argument supported by evidence.

3. Feedback and continuous improvement 

He recommends regularly reviewing and updating your "message map" that captures the five light bulbs, incorporating customer feedback and insights. He suggests doing this on a weekly basis as part of a marketing meeting.

4. Closing and next steps

The discussion concludes with Billy encouraging listeners to check out his book "Simple Marketing for Smart People" to learn more about his approach. Karl thanks Billy for the insightful conversation.

Learn more about Billy Broas over at his website. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn.

As always, if you have any questions or want to submit an amazing guest for the podcast, just reach out to me on the Systematic Leader website, and I’ll do my best to get them on. If you enjoy the interview, please take one minute to rate the Systematic Leader podcast on your favorite platform. Thanks!

Join us for a discussion about building a business that supports your needs and helps you run it more efficiently. Dustin Riechmann is the founder of 7 Figure Leap. One of my favorite parts of the interview was how he got through burnout by creating better systems.

You can get the Magic of Feedback Guide (and other business system guides) to find issues before they become expensive problems.

Highlights from the interview:

1. Dustin's business journey

Dustin provides an overview of his background, starting as an engineer and transitioning to entrepreneurship about 6 years ago. He describes the rapid growth of his current business, Seven Figure Leap, which helps entrepreneurs scale their marketing and offers through podcast guesting. Dustin shares the trajectory of growing from $50K in 2022 to a $250K quarterly run rate in early 2024.

2. Reaching a burnout point

Dustin describes a pivotal moment in January 2024 when the demands of running his business, including hosting Zoom calls from conferences and managing a growing program, made him feel overwhelmed and resentful. This prompted him to reevaluate his approach and consider scaling his business more sustainably.

3. Shifting to a 10M CEO mindset

With the help of a coach, Dustin explored the mindset shift of seeing himself as the CEO of a $10M company, rather than a solo entrepreneur. This prompted him to start building out systems, processes, and a team to support the growth of his business in a way that aligned with his values and goals.

4. Hiring an executive assistant

He hired a dedicated executive assistant, Tiffany, to take administrative tasks off his plate and help him focus more on the CEO-level responsibilities. He describes the structured hiring process, the importance of finding the right fit in terms of temperament and skills, and how Tiffany has helped create boundaries and efficiency.

5. Establishing operational systems

He outlines the three main operational platforms he has implemented - ClickUp for project management, Circle for client-facing activities, and High-level for sales and marketing. He explains how he is intentionally creating silos and ownership for each system, with the goal of eventually having team members manage these domains while he oversees the overall strategy.

6. Ongoing challenges with fulfillment

He acknowledges that while he has made significant progress in building systems and a team, he is still grappling with how to best handle the fulfillment and delivery aspects of his core programs. He is exploring ways to delegate more of this work while maintaining his client involvement and connection.

Learn more about Dustin Riechmann at 7 Figre Leap and connect with him on LinkedIn.

As always, if you have any questions or want to submit an amazing guest for the podcast, just reach out to me on the Systematic Leader website, and I’ll do my best to get them on. If you enjoy the interview, please take 30 seconds to rate the Systematic Leader podcast on your favorite platform. Thanks!

Join us for a discussion standing out in a crowded leadership space. Mark Levy is a Differentiation expert and former advisor to Simon Sinek. One of my favorite parts of the interview is how he encourages clients to gather stories and use them at work.

You can get the Magic of Feedback Guide (and other business system guides) to find issues before they become an expensive problem.

Highlights from the interview:

1. Differentiation and positioning

Mark discusses the importance of differentiation and positioning for businesses and leaders. He explains how he helps organizations and individuals stand out through unique ideas, messaging, and strategies. They discuss examples of how leaders can differentiate themselves and their organizations.

2. Gathering and using stories

Mark shares techniques for gathering and leveraging stories within an organization, including having leaders share "proud moments" and systematically collecting stories about reliability, problem-solving, and other vital themes. They discuss how this can empower employees to communicate the company's unique value effectively.

3. The power of free-writing

Mark introduces the free-writing technique he learned from author Peter Elbow. This technique involves 10-minute bursts of uninterrupted writing to access new ideas and insights. He explains how this process can help overcome the limitations of the internal editor and lead to creative breakthroughs.

You can learn more about Mark Levy over at Levy Innovation. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn.

As always, if you have any questions or want to submit an amazing guest for the podcast, just reach out to me on the Systematic Leader website, and I’ll do my best to get them on. If you enjoy the interview, please take one minute to rate the Systematic Leader podcast on your favorite platform. Thanks!

Join us for a discussion about leading people so they feel appreciated and understood. Allen Cooper is the President/CEO of Ancilla Ventures. One of my favorite parts of this interview was when he discussed his approach to his feedback loops so he understands what his employees need and how he can align them with the company’s goals.

You can get the Magic of Feedback Guide (and other business system guides) to find issues before they become expensive problems.

Highlights from the interview:

1. Servant leadership approach

Allen describes his leadership style as a "servant leadership" approach, where he tries to remove barriers for his employees, hold them accountable, and enable them to be their best. He believes in getting the most out of people by being a mentor and sounding board.

2. Prioritizing and balancing work

He discusses how he helps employees prioritize their work and balance "shiny objects" (new, exciting tasks) with necessary routine work. He uses a Scrum-based approach to spread work across all projects and clients, allowing employees to gain breadth of experience.

3. Feedback loops and core values

He explains how he has implemented monthly reviews of the company's core values, including clearly defining what each value means. He also has a "monthly shout-outs" program to recognize employees who embody the core values. This helps reinforce the culture and gives employees a voice.

4. Documenting processes and continuous improvement

He discusses how the company has documented standard operating procedures (SOPs) for various processes, which helps with onboarding and ensures consistency. These SOPs are regularly reviewed and updated to adapt to changing needs.

You can learn more about Allen Cooper over at Ancilla Ventures. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn.

As always, if you have any questions or want to submit a guest for the podcast that you think would be amazing, just reach out to me on the Systematic Leader website, and I’ll do my best to get them on. If you enjoy the interview, please take 30 seconds to rate the Systematic Leader podcast on your favorite platform. Thanks!

Join us for a discussion about improving the sales process for you and the people you lead. John Meese is the author of Serve to Sell. One of my favorite parts of the interview is hearing the questions that John uses on a sales call. Such powerful questions that will alter how you approach a sales call. 

You can join the 5 Day Proactive Feedback Challenge to build a feedback systems that improves your team and company's systems.

Highlights from the interview:

1. Shifting from a sales mindset to a service mindset 

John shares how he struggled with the pressure and failure of traditional sales calls, which led him to reframe them as "serve calls" focused on genuinely helping the client rather than just making a sale. He explains how this shift in mindset was a key starting point for developing his serve to sell framework.

2. The six-step serve to sell framework 

John outlines the six steps of his serve to sell framework: 1) Relationship, 2) Results, 3) Roadblocks, 4) Resources, 5) Recap, and 6) Recommendation. He explains how each step is designed to deeply understand the client's needs and position the solution as a natural fit, rather than a hard sell.

3. Emphasizing the importance of listening and empathy 

John stresses the importance of truly listening to the client, asking open-ended questions, and providing space for them to share what matters most. He explains how this empathetic approach builds trust and makes the client feel genuinely cared for, rather than just being sold to.

4. Capturing client success stories as social proof 

John discusses the value of systematically collecting client success stories and testimonials, as this social proof helps demonstrate the real-world impact of the solutions being offered. He shares an example of how he uses automated emails to gather these stories.

You can learn more about John Meese over at Serve to Sell. You can also check out his book Serve to Sell (Amazon Link).

As always, if you have any questions or want to submit a guest for the podcast that you think would be amazing, just reach out to me on the Systematic Leader website, and I’ll do my best to get them on. If you enjoy the interview, please take 30 seconds to rate the Systematic Leader podcast on your favorite platform. Thanks!

Join us for a discussion about building team culture as a leader. Bradley Hamner is the founder of Blue Print OS and Above the Business podcast. One of my favorite parts of the interview is how Bradley cultivates feedback loops so he learns from his employees and continues to find way to improve the business.

You can join the 5 Day Proactive Feedback Challenge to build a feedback systems that improves your team and company's systems.

1. Importance of operations and processes

Bradley discusses how entrepreneurs often focus on growth, sales, and marketing, but neglect the importance of operations and processes. He explains that this is because entrepreneurs value flexibility and freedom, which can clash with the structure and routine needed for operational efficiency. However, he emphasizes that putting the right processes in place ultimately enables greater creativity and success.

2. Cultivating feedback loops with team

Bradley shares how he initially resisted implementing structure and processes, but learned that it was necessary to get the best from his team. He discusses the importance of building trust and understanding each team member's personal goals in order to create an environment where they feel comfortable providing honest feedback. This feedback loop allows the business to improve.

3. Designing a "perfect repeatable week" 

Bradley outlines his approach to designing a "perfect repeatable week" that balances his personal and professional priorities. This involves blocking off time for deep work, limiting meetings to certain windows, and protecting his energy levels. He emphasizes the need to experiment and adjust this schedule on a quarterly basis to ensure it continues to work effectively.

4. Appreciation for a former manager 

Bradley shares a story about a former manager, Sharma, who pushed him hard but ultimately helped him recognize his full potential. He explains how Sharma's high expectations and tough feedback, while difficult in the moment, inspired him to exceed his own expectations and become the best version of himself.

You can learn more about Brady Hamner over at Blue Print OS and Above the Business podcast. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn. 

As always, if you have any questions or want to submit a guest for the podcast that you think would be amazing, just reach out to me on the Systematic Leader website, and I’ll do my best to get them on. If you enjoy the interview, please take 30 seconds to rate the Systematic Leader podcast on your favorite platform. Thanks!

Join us for a discussion about the power of vulnerability with Justin Moore of Creator Wizard. One of my favorite parts of this interview is when he shares his struggles with growing a business when his last one fell apart due to COVID-19.

Listen to his interview on the Systematic Leader website and get the guides that help you build systems to make your life as a leader more productive, happier, and value-driven.

Highlights from the interview:

1. Justin's background and Creator Wizard business

Justin shares the story of how his sponsorship coaching business, Creator Wizard, has grown rapidly over the past couple years, going from a passion project to a full-fledged media and education company. He discusses the challenges of balancing growth with maintaining a healthy work-life balance as an entrepreneur.

2. Developing systems and processes

Justin and Karl discuss the importance of developing systems and processes to manage a growing business, including tracking metrics, getting customer feedback, and delegating work to a team. They explore Justin's efforts to transition from being the sole provider to building a team to scale the business.

3. Embracing vulnerability and transparency

Justin shares how he has tried to be more open and vulnerable about the challenges he faces as an entrepreneur, rather than projecting an image of having everything figured out. They discuss the benefits of this approach in building trust and connection with customers.

4. Feedback loops and customer insights

Justin describes specific tactics he has used to gather customer feedback and insights, such as creating an assessment tool and sharing behind-the-scenes content. They emphasize the value of truly understanding your customers' needs and pain points beyond just your core product or service.

5. Expressing gratitude and celebrating wins

Justin and Karl discuss the importance of expressing gratitude and celebrating wins, both for oneself and one's team. They acknowledge the difficulty of this, especially for driven entrepreneurs, and explore ways to build a culture of appreciation.

You can learn more about Lauren Cockerell over at her website Kwedar & Co. You can also connect with her on LinkedIn.

As always, if you have any questions or want to submit a guest for the podcast that you think would be amazing, just reach out to me on the Systematic Leader website, and I’ll do my best to get them on. If you enjoy the interview, please take 30 seconds to rate the Systematic Leader podcast on your favorite platform. Thanks!