The Business Coach Unplugged Podcast

Meetings are supposed to help us get work done. But what happens when we spend so much time in meetings that the meetings actually become the work?

In this episode of the Business Coach Unplugged Podcast, Tom Kelly explores the growing problem of meeting overload and why it has become much more than a time-management issue. He shares the story of an executive whose calendar revealed that 92% of his 40-hour workweek was being spent in meetings. When meetings, email and preparation were combined, the workload being generated was estimated at 195% of his available capacity.

At that point, telling someone to “manage their time better” misses the real problem.

Tom explains how organizations can unintentionally create a culture where meetings become the default solution for communication, decision-making, problem-solving and accountability. The result is a workforce that spends more and more time talking about the work while having less time to actually do it.

But the answer isn’t simply to eliminate meetings. The right meeting can solve a complicated problem, resolve conflict, create alignment or move an important decision forward. The goal is to make sure every meeting earns the time and attention it requires.

In this episode, Tom shares practical strategies leaders can use to rethink their meeting culture, including how to determine whether a meeting is actually necessary, who really needs to be in the room, how to create clearer outcomes, when to shorten or eliminate recurring meetings, and how leaders can give their people permission to protect their time.

Most importantly, Tom challenges leaders to ask one simple question before putting another meeting on the calendar:

What will be different when this meeting is over?

If your calendar is packed with recurring meetings, or your team feels like there is never enough time to get the real work done, this episode will give you practical tools to create more space for the work that matters.

Listen to Episode 26: Death by Meetings – When Meetings Become the Work.

Learn more about us at www.businesscoachchicago.com

A few months ago, I walked out of my annual physical with a problem I didn’t particularly like. My doctor wanted me to go on a statin.  My first reaction? “No way.”  Instead of arguing with my doctor or ignoring the problem, I asked for 90 days. I would make some changes, create a plan, execute it, and then come back and measure the results.

What happened next was surprising.  And this isn’t really a story about cholesterol. It’s a story about ownership. It’s about what happens when you stop focusing on everything you can’t control and start focusing on what you can control.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized that the exact same principle applies to business.  Your market may be difficult. Your competitors may be aggressive. Your sales team may not be performing. Your business may have plateaued. You may be working too many hours.  You can’t control all of those circumstances.  But you can control what you do next.

In this episode of the Business Coach Unplugged Podcast, I walk through the 90-day experiment I ran, what I changed, what I learned, and why I believe the lessons apply to virtually any problem you’re trying to solve—whether it’s in your business, your career, or your personal life.

You don’t need to know exactly how everything is going to turn out.  You don’t need the perfect plan.  You don’t need to have all the answers.  Sometimes you just need to decide what you can control, make a plan, execute it consistently, and see what happens.

So here’s the question I want you to think about:

What could you change in the next 90 days?  Not forever.  Not someday.  90 days.

Listen to the full episode of the Business Coach Unplugged Podcast and find out what happened when I decided to give myself 90 days to see what I could change.

Learn more about us at www.businesscoachchicago.com

Why do smart people stop doing the very things that made them successful?

In this episode of the Business Coach Unplugged Podcast, I’m going to tackle one of the biggest reasons business owners, salespeople, and leaders lose momentum. Surprisingly, it’s usually not because they don’t know what to do. It’s because they stop doing the simple, proven disciplines that created their success in the first place.

As we gain experience, it’s easy to get distracted by the next big idea, a new strategy, or the latest business trend. Meanwhile, the habits that consistently drive results—prospecting, networking, following up, coaching, planning, and executing the fundamentals—slowly disappear. The result isn’t an overnight failure. It’s a gradual decline in performance that often leaves people wondering what changed.

In this practical and thought-provoking episode, you’ll discover:

Whether you’re leading a team, growing a business, or building your sales pipeline, this episode will challenge you to stop searching for the next breakthrough and start recommitting to the habits that already work.

Sometimes the fastest way to grow isn’t to start doing something new—it’s to start doing, consistently, what you’ve stopped doing.

Learn more about us at: www.businesscoachchicago.com

We’ve all experienced it before — a sales conversation that felt like it was going incredibly well, only to have the prospect suddenly disappear, stall out, or tell you they’ve “decided to go in another direction.” Most salespeople immediately assume the problem was price, timing, or competition. But in reality, most deals are lost much earlier in the conversation.

In this episode of the Business Coach Unplugged Podcast, I’m going to break down why sales conversations fail — and why the real issue usually has nothing to do with price. The truth is that most salespeople move too quickly into solution mode before the prospect has emotionally connected to the problem they are trying to solve. When that happens, value never fully gets established, and even great solutions start to feel expensive.

In this impactful episode you’re going to discover:

• Why most sales conversations stay too surface level
• The hidden reason prospects say “Let me think about it”
• Why “price objections” are often really value problems
• How to create emotional clarity that drives urgency and action
• The biggest mistake salespeople make when presenting solutions
• A powerful 4-step sales framework to help you close more business

Whether you’re a salesperson, business owner, consultant, or leader, this episode is packed with practical strategies that will help you lead stronger conversations, build more value, and stop losing deals you should be winning.

Learn more about us at: www.businesscoachchicago.com

Are you playing small in your business—without even realizing it?

In this episode of the Business Coach Unplugged Podcast, I’m pulling back the curtain on the hidden cost of “safe” decisions. Underpricing your services, delaying hires, and avoiding tough sales conversations might feel responsible… but over time, they quietly cap your growth, shrink your margins, and limit your potential.

You’ll discover:

How fear disguises itself in pricing, hiring, and selling

Why timid decisions destroy revenue, opportunities, and team performance

How to shift your mindset from caution to confident action

One simple change that can start expanding your business trajectory today

If you’re ready to stop shrinking and start building the business—and life—you’re capable of, this episode is packed with actionable strategies you can apply immediately.

Listen now and start playing bigger: www.businesscoachchicago.com

We all want to feel confident—but why do so many salespeople, leaders, and business owners struggle to build it consistently?

In this episode of the Business Coach Unplugged Podcast, I’m going to tackle the topic of confidence. Most people think confidence is something you either have or you don’t, tied to personality, experience, or natural ability. But the truth is, confidence isn’t a feeling—it’s a system.

In this impactful episode, you’re going to discover:

Why tracking your wins is the key to building evidence-based confidence

How preparation transforms uncertainty into clarity and self-assurance

The critical role self-trust plays in creating lasting confidence

Why taking consistent, challenging action builds belief faster than positive thinking alone

A simple 7-day confidence-building challenge you can start immediately

Whether you’re leading a team, selling to clients, or running your own business, this episode is packed with practical, actionable strategies to help you build real confidence that sticks.

Learn more about us at: www.businesscoachchicago.com

We’ve all had conversations that just flow—where trust builds quickly and the connection feels effortless. But why is it that with some people it clicks, and with others it falls flat?

In this episode of the Business Coach Unplugged Podcast, I’m going to tackle the topic of building instant rapport. Too often, leaders and business owners think rapport is about being likable or finding common ground. In reality, it’s about understanding the deeper drivers of human behavior and learning how to meet people where they are.

In this episode you’ll discover:

A proven framework for creating connection in minutes, not months

How to use DISC insights to instantly “read the room”

The role of motivation triggers and how they shape communication

Why cultural and generational cues can make or break a first impression

Practical ways to apply these tools in leadership, sales, and everyday interactions

Whether you’re leading a team, selling a service, or simply wanting to connect more effectively, this episode is packed with strategies you can put into practice immediately.

Learn more about us at: www.businesscoachchicago.com

We all want to grow our business and keep more of what we earn—but why do so many small business owners miss out on the very tax breaks designed to help them?

In this episode of the Business Coach Unplugged Podcast, I’m diving into the One Big Beautiful Bill Act—a sweeping new law passed on July 4th, 2025 that delivers powerful tax benefits to small business owners. On paper, it’s one of the most pro-business bills in decades. But unless you understand how to take advantage of it, these benefits could pass you by.

From expanded deductions to new tax credits, this legislation isn’t just policy—it’s opportunity. And in this episode, I’ll walk you through exactly what’s changed, what it means for your business, and how to take action now.

In this impactful episode, you’re going to discover:

💼 How to lock in the 20% Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction—permanently
💸 New Section 179 rules that let you deduct more of what you invest in your business
👶 How to claim up to $500,000 in child care credits for supporting your team
🏠 Estate tax changes that protect family businesses from being forced to sell
🏦 A powerful SALT workaround that helps high-income earners in high-tax states
📈 What to do today to benefit from these provisions before the end of the year

Whether you’re running a solo shop or leading a growing team, this episode is packed with practical insights and real-world strategies to help you thrive in this new tax landscape.

🎧 Tune in and take advantage of the tools built to help you succeed.

Learn more about us at: www.businesscoachchicago.com

Most business owners want to keep more of what they earn—but why do so many leave thousands on the table when it comes to taxes?

In this episode of the Business Coach Unplugged Podcast, I’m diving into one of the most overlooked (and misunderstood) tools for saving money, building wealth, and setting up your business for long-term success: the S-Corporation.

While it might not sound flashy, the truth is that choosing the right business structure—and using it the right way—can mean the difference between barely getting by and having the financial freedom to grow, invest, and thrive.

In this powerful episode, you’ll discover:

💰 How one business owner saved over $15,000 by switching to an S-Corp
📉 How to reduce your self-employment tax legally and strategically
🏦 The 3 best retirement plans for S-Corp owners—and how to contribute up to $81,000/year tax-deferred
🏥 How to deduct your health insurance and business expenses the smart way
💡 Why the QBI deduction is a game-changer for high-earning entrepreneurs

Whether you’re just getting started or your business is finally profitable, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you pay less in taxes—and keep more of your hard-earned money.

🎧 Tune in now and learn how to make your business work for you.
Learn more at: www.businesscoachchicago.com

We all want empowered teams—but why do so many managers fall short when it comes to empowering their employees?

In this episode of the Business Coach Unplugged Podcast, I’m going to tackle the topic of empowerment.  There seems to be a goal or desire in most business environments to create a culture of empowerment, where employees are given the autonomy, resources, and support they need to make decisions, take ownership of their work, and contribute to the company’s success.  While this seems like a great goal and intention to have, many companies struggle to create this type of environment for multiple reasons.  The reality is you can try to empower your people by giving them the autonomy to create their own results, but if they don’t have self-leadership skills, then empowerment just won’t work.

In this impactful episode you’re going to discover:

Whether you lead a team—or want to lead yourself better—this episode is packed with practical insights you can apply today.

Learn more about us at: www.businesscoachchicago.com