The Business Development Podcast

In Episode 319 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy sits down with Jamie Crozier, an entrepreneur who did something most people only dream about. He bought the company he once worked for. Jamie shares his journey from stocking shelves at a dollar store to building his career in industrial sales, eventually acquiring Thunder Bay Hydraulics and expanding through the acquisition of Custom Hydraulics and the founding of Atlas Elite Lifts. His story is a powerful reminder that ownership is not about where you start, but about the moment you decide to bet on yourself and step into uncertainty.

This episode dives deep into the realities of acquisition, the emotional weight of taking over a legacy business, and the resilience required to build and scale manufacturing companies in Canada during a time of tariffs, competition, and global uncertainty. Jamie also shares his innovative approach to transparency in service businesses and his vision for building premium, design-driven lift solutions across North America. This is a conversation about risk, responsibility, and the identity shift that happens when you stop working for someone else’s future and start building your own.

Key Takeaways:

1. Ownership starts as an identity decision before it becomes a legal one.
2. If you are going to be an entrepreneur, you have to get comfortable accepting risk and believing in yourself when everything depends on you.
3. When acquiring a business, build your own relationships with your bank, accountant, and lawyer because those relationships will carry you through the process.
4. Vendor take back financing can make acquisitions possible by aligning the seller with the future success of the business.
5. Trust and personal relationships matter more than numbers because without trust, the deal will not happen or succeed.
6. Buying a competitor requires patience, respect, and confidentiality because pushing too hard can destroy the opportunity.
7. The emotional commitment to ownership begins before the deal closes, and the fear of losing the opportunity can be as powerful as the responsibility itself.
8. Starting a company from nothing is far harder than buying one because you must build reputation, customers, and trust from zero.
9. Transparency with customers during difficult times strengthens relationships and turns challenges into partnerships.
10. Great companies differentiate themselves by solving real customer problems and making the experience easier, clearer, and faster.

Check out Thunder Bay Hydraulics and learn more about the incredible work Jamie and his team are doing:

https://thunderbayhydraulics.com

Learn more about Custom Hydraulics:

https://customhydraulics.com

Explore Atlas Elite Lifts and their premium automotive lift solutions:

https://www.atlaselitelifts.com/

You can also connect with Jamie directly at [email protected] and follow Jamie on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-crozier-128177104/

The Business Development Podcast is proudly brought to you by our Title Sponsors, Hypervac Technologies and Hyperfab, and by a man who has been instrumental in supporting this show and the mission behind it, Colin Harms.

Hypervac Technologies is a world class Canadian manufacturer, building industry leading hydrovac equipment that is trusted across North America and beyond. Their commitment to innovation, quality, and excellence represents the very best of Canadian manufacturing and entrepreneurship. Learn more about Hypervac Technologies at www.hypervac.com

Hyperfab stands alongside them as a leader in custom fabrication, turning complex challenges into precision built solutions and proving every day that Canadian companies can compete and win on the global stage.

And behind it all is Colin Harms, a leader who believes deeply in people, in business, and in building something that matters. Colin’s belief in this podcast has helped make these conversations possible and has helped us reach leaders around the world.

You can follow Colin Harms and connect with him on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colin-harms-03a27625/

Hypervac, Hyperfab, and Colin, thank you for your continued partnership and for helping elevate the business development community.

Join The Catalyst Club: www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Mentioned in this episode:

Hyperfab Midroll

In Episode 318 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy sits down with Jemia and Tim Zagiel, Co-Founders of Pacific Ropes, to explore what it truly means to build a business in an environment where courage is not optional. What began as a small operation run from their living room grew into an industry-leading rope access company that helped modernize safety and training standards across Western Canada. Tim shares how his early experiences working on ropes without proper systems sparked a mission to professionalize the industry, while Jemia reveals how her transition from film into entrepreneurship helped shape the culture, operations, and leadership foundation that drives the company today.

This episode goes far beyond rope access and into the mindset required to lead through uncertainty, fear, and constant external change. Jemia and Tim open up about surviving economic downturns, learning not to rely on a single client or industry, and the importance of diversification, relationships, and long-term thinking. At its core, Episode 318 is a powerful conversation about entrepreneurship, partnership, and the defining moments every leader faces when standing at the edge of the unknown and choosing to move forward anyway.

Learn more about Tim and Jemia and their work with Pacific Ropes: www.pacificropes.com

Key Takeaways:

1. The moment before you go over the edge is where growth lives, and success often requires committing fully despite fear.
2. Safety, preparation, and mindset are what allow people to operate confidently in environments where mistakes are not survivable.
3. Building an industry does not require inventing everything yourself, it requires learning from others and bringing proven ideas into your market.
4. You cannot build a resilient business with a single client or industry, diversification is what allows you to survive external shocks.
5. Culture is built on trust and shared responsibility, especially when your team’s lives depend on each other every day.
6. Mindset is the foundation of resilience, and the ability to stay calm and find solutions during uncertainty determines long term survival.
7. The best leaders are willing to ask for help and continuously learn, rather than pretending they already have all the answers.
8. Partnership strength comes from respecting differences, where vision and caution work together to create sustainable growth.
9. Fear never fully disappears, but learning to act despite fear is what separates those who build meaningful things.
10. Success in business and life requires intentional boundaries, because achievement means nothing if you lose yourself or your family along the way.

Special thank you to our 2026 Title Sponsors, Hypervac Technologies and Hyperfab.

Hypervac continues to set the standard across North America for air excavation, bringing innovation, safety, and precision to some of the most demanding infrastructure projects in the world. Alongside them, Hyperfab represents the next generation of manufacturing excellence, delivering world-class fabrication built on the same commitment to quality and forward thinking leadership.

These companies are not just sponsors of the show. They are builders of the business community and strong believers in the power of entrepreneurship, leadership, and growth.

Learn more about Hypervac Technologies at www.hypervac.com

Learn more about Hyperfab at www.hyperfab.ca

Last but not least, join The Catalyst Club.

The Catalyst Club is my private leadership community for founders, business developers, and growth minded professionals who are serious about building, growing, and moving forward. It is a trusted room where real relationships are built, ideas are shared openly, and members support each other through the challenges that come with leadership.

If you are ready to surround yourself with people who understand the journey, I invite you to join us.

If you know, you’re known.

Join The Catalyst Club: https://www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Mentioned in this episode:

Hyperfab Midroll

Episode 317 is a three year anniversary reflection on what it actually takes to build something that lasts. Kelly shares how impossible 300 plus episodes felt at the beginning, how the early days were full of uncertainty and scrambling for guests, and how planning ahead became the foundation that made consistency possible. He breaks down how podcasting and entrepreneurship change you, why growth comes from staying in motion, and why the further you go, the more you realize you still have to learn.

He then delivers ten hard-earned lessons that apply to podcasting, personal branding, and building a business: share what you are afraid to share, lean into your unique perspective, expect your impact to outgrow your imagination, and commit to routines that keep you showing up. Kelly also talks about rituals and habits that make a show yours, why listener messages matter more than you think, and why your show is never “good enough” if you want it to keep improving. He closes with gratitude for the Rockstars, a major shoutout to Hypervac Technologies and Hyperfab for supporting the mission, and an update on the upcoming launch of I Used To Work There.

Submit a story for I Used To Work There: [email protected]

Key Takeaways:

1. The world needs what you are afraid to share, and the moment you step into that fear is the moment your real impact begins.
2. Your unique experience is your greatest asset, and it is not about why you should do it, but why the world is waiting for you to.
3. Your impact will grow far beyond what you can imagine if you stay consistent and keep putting your message out into the world.
4. Showing up every week will reveal strengths, capabilities, and growth you never would have discovered otherwise.
5. Building something consistently will naturally build your personal brand, even when that was never the original goal.
6. Your podcast, your business, and your identity will evolve over time, and that evolution is proof that you are growing.
7. The habits and rituals you create around your work become the foundation that makes long term consistency possible.
8. The messages you receive from the people you help will remind you why you started and give you the fuel to keep going.
9. Consistency is not accidental, it is the result of planning, preparation, and making the decision to show up no matter what.
10. Your work will never be finished, and staying humble, improving constantly, and refusing to settle is what keeps you moving forward.

This episode is proudly brought to you by our 2026 Title Sponsor, Hypervac Technologies, and I want to take a very special moment to recognize the man behind it all, Colin Harms.

Colin, your belief in this show means more than you know. You didn’t just sponsor The Business Development Podcast, you invested in the mission. You invested in the Rockstars. You invested in the idea that business development knowledge should be shared freely with the world, and because of that, this show continues to grow, evolve, and reach leaders in over 150 countries.

Hypervac Technologies is North America’s leading manufacturer of industrial vacuum trucks, setting the standard for performance, reliability, and innovation across the industries that keep our world moving. And now, with the launch of Hyperfab, they are bringing that same world-class excellence to custom fabrication, laser cutting, and precision welding right here in Alberta. Hyperfab is built for companies that demand the highest quality, the highest standards, and partners they can trust to deliver.

Colin, thank you for standing beside this show. Thank you for believing in what we are building. And thank you for helping make the next chapter of The Business Development Podcast possible.

To learn more about Hypervac Technologies and Hyperfab, visit www.hypervac.com.

And if you are ready to take these lessons and apply them alongside a community of driven leaders, join us inside The Catalyst Club, where business development leaders from around the world come together to grow, learn, and support each other every single week. You can join us at www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub.

Mentioned in this episode:

Hyperfab Midroll

Episode 316 of The Business Development Podcast features Aaron Lambert, mining technology innovator and founder of RIINO, a company developing a modular electric rail haulage system designed to transform how mines move rock, equipment, and eventually people. Aaron takes us deep into modern mining, explaining how underground operations have evolved, why development has become slower and more expensive over time, and how safety, logistics, and economics are constantly in tension.

We then explore the RIINO breakthrough. Aaron explains why moving rock is one of the most expensive parts of mining, why rail is the most energy efficient method of transport, and how RIINO is engineering a hybrid electric system capable of operating on incline while integrating both grid power and onboard batteries. He also shares the entrepreneurial journey behind building deep tech from scratch, collaborating with industry leaders, navigating funding and grants, and pushing forward through uncertainty to turn a bold idea into a real world pilot with global potential.

Check out this incredible mining technology! www.riino.com

Key Takeaways:

1. Mining becomes a completely different world once you are inside it, with its own language, realities, and way of operating.
2. Modern mining is safer than decades ago, but underground work is still dangerous and seismic events can happen without warning.
3. The way mines are built is shaped by the tools available, and bigger equipment often forces bigger tunnels, more ground support, and higher costs.
4. In some regions, mines were being developed faster 20 years ago because smaller equipment and smaller tunnels allowed quicker progress.
5. Mining is fundamentally a logistics game, and moving rock is one of the most expensive parts of the entire operation.
6. Rail is the most efficient means of transportation for heavy material, which is why RIINO is built around electric rail haulage.
7. RIINO is combining proven tech from outside mining, like electrified transit concepts, and adapting it to mine conditions with a system that can climb inclines using traction solutions beyond steel on steel.
8. If you are building something that has never been done, there is no single right answer, and the product you start with will not be the product you finish with.
9. The real path of entrepreneurship is not linear, and the only way through is one step at a time, adapting constantly, and not quitting when the plan changes.
10. Big innovations require deep collaboration, a support network, and partners who believe in the purpose and help shape the system so it actually works in the real world.

This episode is proudly brought to you by Hypervac Technologies, North America’s leading vacuum truck manufacturer.

Hypervac doesn’t just build equipment. They engineer performance that professionals trust when uptime and precision matter most. Designed and manufactured for rugged job sites across utilities, infrastructure, oil and gas, and industrial sectors, Hypervac trucks deliver durability, power, and reliability operators depend on every single day.

And now, their new division Hyperfab is expanding their impact even further. From laser cutting to expert fabrication and welding, Hyperfab can handle your fabrication needs with the same commitment to quality and performance that defines the Hypervac name.

Hyperfab is coming to Southern Alberta.

To learn more about industry leading vacuum solutions and fabrication expertise, visit www.hypervac.com.

Leadership is lonely. It does not have to be.

If you are serious about growth, accountability, and surrounding yourself with driven entrepreneurs who actually execute, join us inside The Catalyst Club.

Workshops. Live sessions. Real conversations. Real momentum.

Just $29 CAD per month. Month to month. No long-term commitment.

If you know, you’re known.

👉 Join now: www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Mentioned in this episode:

Hyperfab Midroll

Episode 315 dives into a conversation Canada needs to be having right now. Erin Benjamin, President and CEO of the Canadian Live Music Association, breaks down why live music is one of the most powerful and misunderstood economic engines in the country. This episode goes far beyond concerts and culture, unpacking how live music fuels jobs, tourism, talent attraction, and city growth, while contributing billions to Canada’s GDP. Despite its impact, the industry remains largely undervalued and underinvested, not because it lacks potential, but because business and policy have failed to fully recognize what’s already working.

Drawing from more than three decades in the music industry, Erin Benjamin explains what it will take to unlock the next phase of growth and why Canada is standing at a critical inflection point. From de-risking promoters and venues to integrating live music into economic development and tourism strategies, this episode makes a compelling case for why now is the moment to act. If Canada wants stronger cities, better talent retention, and globally competitive cultural industries, this conversation makes it clear that investing in live music isn’t optional anymore, it’s strategic.

Rockstars, I just want to say thank you.

Three years ago, this show started as an idea and a conversation I felt needed to exist. Today, it exists because you kept showing up, listening, sharing, challenging ideas, and supporting the journey week after week. Your support has turned this podcast into a global community, and I’m incredibly grateful for every download, every message, every conversation sparked because of it.

Here’s to the last three years of growth, learning, and momentum and to what we’re building next. If you’ve been here since day one or you just joined us recently, know this: this show doesn’t happen without you. Appreciate you all more than you know. 🔥🎙️

Key Takeaways:

1. Live music is not just entertainment, it is a serious economic engine driving jobs, tourism, and city growth across Canada.
2. Canada’s live music industry generates billions in GDP and supports over one hundred thousand jobs, yet it remains largely undervalued and underinvested.
3. The biggest missed opportunity is not talent or demand, it is the lack of coordinated policy and business investment supporting live music infrastructure.
4. Venues, promoters, and festivals are the backbone of the industry, and without protecting this infrastructure, artist development and touring collapse.
5. De-risking live music is not about bailouts, it is about enabling smart growth and allowing promoters to take calculated chances on emerging talent.
6. Live music plays a critical role in attracting and retaining talent, making cities more competitive places to live, work, and build businesses.
7. Music tourism is one of Canada’s most underleveraged advantages and has the potential to scale economic impact far beyond ticket sales.
8. COVID exposed how fragile the live music ecosystem was, but it also proved what is possible when government, business, and industry align.
9. Business leaders have far more to gain from supporting live music than they realize, from brand alignment to employee experience to city vitality.
10. As Erin Benjamin makes clear, Canada is standing at a moment where investing in live music is no longer cultural support, it is a strategic economic decision.

This conversation would not be possible without the organizations and leaders doing the real work behind Canada’s live music ecosystem. We’re grateful to highlight the groups Erin referenced throughout the episode and the impact they continue to make across the country.

The Canadian Live Music Association is the national voice representing Canada’s live music infrastructure, including venues, promoters, festivals, and suppliers. Their advocacy and leadership have helped reshape how governments understand the economic, cultural, and social value of live music in Canada.

https://www.canadianlivemusic.ca

The Hear and Now initiative delivered the first-ever comprehensive economic impact study of Canada’s live music industry, fundamentally changing the national conversation around music as an economic driver.

https://www.canadianlivemusic.ca/economic-impact-assessment

The Canada Music Fund, administered by the Government of Canada, played a critical role in delivering historic first-time support to the live music sector, helping stabilize venues and promoters during an unprecedented period of disruption.

https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/funding/music-fund.html

Folk Canada continues to support artists, festivals, and presenters nationwide, helping develop sustainable pathways for Canadian music and live performance from the grassroots up.

https://www.folkcanada.com

The National Music Centre in Calgary preserves, celebrates, and amplifies Canada’s musical heritage while serving as a hub for education, performance, and innovation within the industry.

https://www.studiobell.ca

The Music Cities Events team is bringing the Music Cities Convention to Calgary, creating an important platform for city builders, policymakers, and industry leaders to collaborate on the future of music-driven urban development.

https://www.musiccitiesevents.com

https://www.musiccitiesevents.com/alberta-mcc-2026

West Anthem is helping advance music city strategies across Alberta, connecting municipalities, industry leaders, and cultural institutions to strengthen regional music ecosystems.

https://www.westanthem.com

A special thank you to Jake Gold for making the introduction and for his continued leadership through The Management Trust. When Jake connects people, it’s always with intention and impact.

https://mgmtrust.ca

And finally, thank you to our title sponsor Hypervac Technologies for their nonstop support of The Business Development Podcast. Their commitment to meaningful conversations, Canadian leadership, and long-term thinking makes episodes like this possible.

https://www.hypervac.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Hyperfab Midroll

Episode 314 features Adam Danyleyko from AMII (the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute) breaking down what AMII actually does and how they help organizations move from AI curiosity to real adoption. Adam explains AMII’s foundation in world class research and how the institute translates that research into industry impact by supporting everyone from startups to large corporations through training, shared AI language inside teams, roadmap building, and hands on proof of concept work.

The real lesson of the episode is that adapting to AI starts with clarity, not hype. Adam walks through how the “right tool for the problem” mindset changes everything, why data strategy matters especially for startups, and why AI projects often require experimentation with no guaranteed outcome the way a typical software build might. He also touches on where AI is headed next through more efficient models, edge computing, and practical real world constraints, plus how AMII screens work through a principled AI lens focused on impact, fairness, and responsible use.

Additional note: This episode also marks three years of The Business Development Podcast.

Follow Adam Danyleyko on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-danyleyko/

Learn more about AMII: https://www.amii.ca

Key Takeaways:

1. AI is not a strategy on its own; it only works when it supports a clearly defined business problem.
2. Starting with the tool instead of the bottleneck almost always leads to wasted time and stalled initiatives.
3. Businesses need a shared AI language internally before they can successfully adopt or scale it.
4. Data readiness matters more than model choice when it comes to real-world AI outcomes.
5. AI projects often require experimentation, iteration, and learning rather than guaranteed deliverables.
6. The right AI solution depends on context, constraints, and environment, not what is trending.
7. Building internal capability is more sustainable than outsourcing all AI decision-making.
8. Responsible AI requires intentional choices around fairness, impact, and long-term use.
9. AI works best as an amplifier of good processes, not a fix for broken ones.
10. Organizations that adapt to AI successfully treat it as infrastructure, not a magic product.

This episode of The Business Development Podcast is proudly sponsored by Hypervac Technologies and Hyperfab, our 2026 Title Sponsors. We’re incredibly grateful for their continued support of the show and the work they do building world-class industrial solutions right here in Canada. Hypervac and Hyperfab represent innovation, reliability, and execution at the highest level, and we genuinely appreciate them being part of this journey.

If you’re in the industrial space, we highly encourage you to check them out at www.hypervac.com.

If you’re the kind of Rockstar who wants more from your circle, more from your conversations, and more from your leadership journey, we want you inside The Catalyst Club.

Inside the Club, you’ll get 4–5 live events every month, a private leadership community, curated resources, the Rockstar Marketplace, Catalyst GPT, and access to leaders who actually show up and engage. This is the leadership community you’ll want to talk about.

Join us at www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Mentioned in this episode:

Hyperfab Midroll

In episode 313, Kelly shares a hard lesson from a time he tried to “help” a client by booking a series of account management meetings he was not going to attend. The introductions were easy because the trust and credibility were already built, and the prospects said yes because of Kelly’s relationship with them. But once the client missed one meeting, then another, Kelly realized the damage was landing on his name, not theirs. Instead of doing business development, he found himself apologizing, rescheduling, and working to repair relationships that took years to earn.

The core message is simple and sharp: if you are not accountable for the outcome, you should not be booking the meeting. Kelly breaks down exactly what went wrong and how quickly credibility can be spent when you put yourself in the middle of a process you do not control. He closes with clear principles to protect your reputation: only book what you are willing to own, control the first impression, treat your network like equity, remove yourself as the middleman, and ensure accountability before opening doors.

Key Takeaways:

1. If your name is on the meeting, you are accountable for the outcome whether you attend or not.
2. Credibility is currency in business development and every introduction spends a little of it.
3. Never book meetings you cannot personally control or confidently stand behind.
4. Acting as the middleman without authority puts all the risk on you and none of the control.
5. First impressions set the tone for the entire relationship so be present to guide them.
6. Good intentions do not protect your reputation. Boundaries do.
7. Relationships built over years can be damaged quickly by missed expectations.
8. Accountability must exist before opportunity or you are gambling with trust.
9. Your network is equity, not loose change. Treat every intro like it costs something.
10. Protecting your reputation is more important than trying to help or say yes to everything.

This episode of The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by our 2026 Title Sponsor, Hypervac Technologies, North America’s leading manufacturer of industrial vacuum and hydro excavation trucks. If you are looking for world class equipment built for performance, reliability, and the toughest job sites, check them out at www.hypervac.com and see why so many companies trust Hypervac to power their operations.

Got a wild, funny, unbelievable, or unforgettable story from your time at work? Submit your story to I Used To Work There and you might be featured on the show. Email us at [email protected] and we’ll send you the quick intake form and recording options. We review every submission and would love to hear yours.

If you want to connect more directly, ask questions, and grow alongside other driven leaders, join The Catalyst Club. It’s Kelly Kennedy’s private leadership and business development community built for leaders by leaders, with live sessions, practical resources, and real conversations that help you move the needle every week. Learn more at www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub.

Mentioned in this episode:

Hyperfab Midroll

Episode 312 of The Business Development Podcast features a practical and candid conversation with Gordon Sheppard, CEO of Executive Wins, about what really holds teams and organizations back from growth. Drawing on more than 25 years of executive coaching experience, Gordon shares what happens behind the scenes when businesses stall, leaders feel overwhelmed, and execution breaks down. Instead of chasing strategy or quick fixes, he explains why structure, accountability, and difficult conversations are often the true levers that create lasting change.

Together, Kelly and Gordon dig into the habits of high-performing leaders, how to build teams that actually execute without constant supervision, and the simple but powerful questions every CEO should be asking themselves. This episode is a grounded, no-nonsense look at leadership in the real world, offering clear insights for founders and operators who want fewer fires, stronger teams, and consistent, scalable wins.

Check out Executive Wins: https://executivewins.com/

Check out The Executive Wins Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1P1NEQVF744tV6xEjm5vRC

Key Takeaways:

1. Strategy rarely breaks businesses. Poor execution does. Most growth problems are alignment and accountability issues, not planning issues.
2. Leaders often hold onto too much. If everything funnels through you, your team isn’t built to scale without you.
3. Hard conversations are not optional. Avoiding them quietly compounds dysfunction inside teams.
4. Behavior change beats theory. Real leadership impact happens when people change what they do, not just what they know.
5. Status quo is usually the hidden decision. If nothing changes after the meeting, you’ve already chosen comfort over growth.
6. Great coaches and leaders ask better questions, not give better answers. The right question creates clarity faster than advice.
7. Psychological safety unlocks performance. Teams move faster when people feel safe enough to be honest.
8. Small, consistent improvements outperform big, dramatic initiatives. Daily execution beats occasional breakthroughs.
9. Structure creates freedom. Clear roles, responsibilities, and expectations remove friction and speed up decision-making.
10. Leaders must stay coachable. The moment you stop listening is the moment your growth plateaus.

This episode of The Business Development Podcast is proudly brought to you by our 2026 Title Sponsor Hypervac Technologies, North America’s leading vac truck manufacturer, and their new division Hyperfab, delivering custom industrial fabrication solutions built for performance and reliability.

If your operations depend on serious equipment and serious uptime, these are the people to know. Go check them out at www.hypervac.com.

Learn more about The Catalyst Club, Kelly Kennedy’s private community built for leaders, by leaders. It’s where founders, sales professionals, and business developers connect, sharpen their skills, and grow alongside people who are serious about moving the needle. Join us at www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub.

Mentioned in this episode:

Hyperfab Midroll

Episode 311 of The Business Development Podcast features a deep and thought-provoking conversation with Wayne Lee Diduck, a world-class hypnotist and peak performance expert who reframes hypnosis as something far more practical and present in daily life than most people realize. Wayne explains that hypnosis is not about mind control or stage theatrics, but about influence, belief, and the subconscious programs that quietly shape our behavior, decisions, and results. Drawing from his background as a five-time national wrestling champion, he connects visualization, mental rehearsal, and identity to real performance outcomes in business, leadership, and life, showing how most people are already operating in a “trance” whether they’ve chosen it or not .

Throughout the episode, Kelly and Wayne explore how beliefs formed early in life create invisible limits, why authority and language are so powerful, and how intentional subconscious programming can unlock clarity, confidence, and sustained momentum. Wayne shares practical frameworks for reshaping mindset, explains why fear and burnout can take even high performers off track, and highlights how hypnosis and mental conditioning can rapidly break negative loops when traditional approaches fail. The conversation ultimately challenges listeners to take ownership of the stories they tell themselves and consciously choose the mental programs that drive their future performance, fulfillment, and success.

Key Takeaways:

1. You are already in a trance most of the day, the question is whether it’s serving you or sabotaging you.

2. Hypnosis is not mind control, it’s focused attention combined with belief and intention.

3. Visualization works because the brain responds to imagined experiences almost the same as real ones.

4. Your subconscious identity will always override your conscious goals if they are not aligned.

5. Fear is not the problem, the meaning you assign to situations is what creates paralysis or progress.

6. Authority and confidence are inherently hypnotic, people follow belief before logic.

7. Small, repeated mental habits shape outcomes far more than one big breakthrough moment.

8. Language matters, words like try, but, and can quietly program failure or limitation.

9. Burnout and anxiety are often the result of subconscious programs running unchecked, not weakness.

10. Change can happen far faster than people expect once beliefs and emotional associations shift.

If you want to take the ideas from Episode 311 even further, Wayne Lee Diduck offers a range of transformational services for individuals, leaders, teams, and organizations. From mindset coaching and hypnotic performance training to keynote speaking, workshops, and corporate programs, Wayne helps people shift limiting beliefs, boost confidence, and unlock peak performance. Whether you want deeper personal work, team development, or a memorable live event, he’s a go-to expert in practical influence and subconscious change.

Explore Wayne’s services and connect with him here:

🌐 Website: https://waynelee.com/

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wayneleegps/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hypnotistwaynelee/

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wayne.lee.75470

If you’re ready to change how you think, perform, and lead, Wayne’s work can be the catalyst.

2026 Title Sponsor 🔥

The Business Development Podcast is proudly sponsored by Hypervac Technologies and Hyperfab 🚛

Together, Hypervac and Hyperfab represent North America’s leaders in vac truck manufacturing and industrial fabrication. Their continued support helps make this show possible week after week. Learn more at www.hypervac.com

Join The Catalyst Club

The Catalyst Club is a private leadership community for founders, business developers, and next generation leaders who want real momentum through consistency and accountability. Members get 4 to 5 live events every month plus access to Catalyst GPT 2.0. Join now at www.kellykennedyofficial.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Hyperfab Midroll

In Episode 310 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy sits down with Anders Liu Lindberg, a global thought leader in business partnering and one of the strongest voices shaping the future of finance today. Anders has built a reputation for turning finance teams into strategic powerhouses, helping CFOs and finance leaders move beyond reporting and compliance into real influence, better decision making, and measurable business impact. This conversation is a masterclass in why finance must evolve, and why the professionals who learn to partner with the business will become indispensable.

Anders breaks down what business partnering actually is, why most finance teams struggle to earn a seat at the table, and how influence and communication are now just as critical as technical skill, especially as automation and AI accelerate. You will also hear Anders’ philosophy on purpose, fulfillment, and building authority through consistency, the same mindset that helped him grow into one of the most trusted educators in the space. If you want to understand where finance is headed and why Anders is leading that change, this episode delivers.

Key Takeaways:

1. Finance earns a seat at the table when it shows up to help leaders win, not to police budgets.

2. Business partnering is when functional experts translate their expertise into insights leaders can understand and use for better decisions.

3. Insights alone are not enough, because if you cannot influence decisions, your impact becomes zero.

4. The fastest way to build trust is to lead with empathy and partnership: “How can I help you meet and beat the budget” changes everything.

5. If finance shows up as the cold messenger of bad news, leaders will avoid them, but if finance shares ownership of outcomes, leaders will pull them closer.

6. AI and automation are shrinking the value of pure number crunching, so finance must get better at people skills like communication, relationship building, and influence.

7. You can teach “numbers people” to become stronger with people by giving them structure, tools, and repeatable frameworks they can practice.

8. Leaders should not just tell finance to “be strategic” and figure it out, they need to invest in training and create a clear path for that transformation.

9. Personal branding is not a hack, it is consistency plus authenticity over time, and your voice cannot be “wrong” when you are sharing real experience and perspective.

10. Passion comes and goes, but purpose creates staying power, and purpose plus passion is where fulfillment and long-term momentum come from.

About Anders Liu-Lindberg:

Anders Liu-Lindberg is a global thought leader in business partnering and finance transformation, helping finance teams evolve from reporting and control into strategic partners who drive real business outcomes. He runs the Business Partnering Institute, a worldwide hub for training, tools, and community built to raise the influence and impact of finance leaders (https://www.bpidk.org/), and he’s also the author of Communicating Financials to Executives, a practical guide for turning numbers into clear, decision driving communication at the executive level (https://www.amazon.ca/Communicating-Financials-Executives-Anders-Liu-Lindberg/dp/1394292600). Connect with Anders directly on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andersliulindberg/.

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