The Cnesta Perspective

🎙️ Welcome back to The Cnesta Perspective with Kevin Fitzpatrick

In this episode, Kevin shares some exciting news: after a career's worth of executive search, coaching, and leadership advisory work, he's writing a book — BALANCE: Where Strategy Meets Empathy — with Ross Stockdale, and it's roughly 60% done with a target of end of summer.

The spark was a simple, unsettling question: what if all of it goes away? The frameworks, the stories, the pearls of wisdom from his mentors, the roughly eighteen inches of intellectual property sitting on the credenza beside him. So he decided to put it down on paper — built, as everything Kevin does is, around a single organizing idea: BALANCE. Each letter is its own concept, and together they form what Kevin calls the complete equation — connecting the war for talent, the search process, career transition, and leadership development.

🔥 What You'll Learn ✅ Why "doing what's right" is baked into the name Cnesta — and why the firm takes the calls, and gives the assessments, that others charge for ✅ Where BALANCE came from: how a childhood of undiagnosed learning challenges turned acronyms into Kevin's superpower — and a tool he passed to his daughters ✅ Why balance — across career, personal life, and where the two intersect — sits underneath every piece of advice Kevin gives ✅ What to expect from the book: aha moments, real stories, and pearls of wisdom from Kevin's mentors Jim, Joe, and his former partner Ed ✅ The core promise: you can define what each letter of BALANCE means to you — and make the difference for the people around you

💡 Key Quote: "Balance is the key to everything. You can take balance and create what each letter means to you — and always remember that no matter what you do, you can and will make the difference for those around you."

👇 Timestamps (approximate — adjust to final edit) 0:00 – An exciting update (and a disappearing voice) 0:30 – The calls other firms don't take — and "what Cnesta means" 1:40 – "What if it all goes away?" 18 inches of IP and the decision to write 2:25 – The book: BALANCE — Where Strategy Meets Empathy, ~60% done 2:40 – Why an acronym: learning disabilities, his daughters, and teaching by BALANCE 3:20 – Balance as the complete equation: talent, search, career, leadership 4:00 – The blessings: Kim, and daughter Caitlin (Penn) 4:30 – Mentors, aha moments, and the promise of the book 4:50 – Balance is the key — you can make the difference

👤 About Your Host Kevin Fitzpatrick is the founder and Managing Partner of Cnesta Group, a retained executive search and leadership advisory firm. Through The Cnesta Perspective, Kevin brings clarity, structure, and empathy to the challenges of leadership, career transitions, and professional growth.

🔗 Let's Connect 🌐 Website: https://cnestagroup.com/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cg1kfitzpatrick/

🔔 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you're the first to know when BALANCE launches.

💬 Question for you: If you built your career's philosophy into one word, what would it be?

#TheCnestaPerspective #KevinFitzpatrick #BALANCE #Leadership #ExecutiveSearch #TalentStrategy #LeadershipDevelopment #NewBook

🎙️ Welcome back to The Cnesta Perspective with Kevin Fitzpatrick

In today's episode, Kevin shares the story of his trip to Phoenix to become a Kolbe Certified™ Team Specialist — a journey that turned into 21 hours, 5 airplanes, and 4 airports' worth of mechanical delays, missed connections, weather groundings, and one very wrong pair of pants. What could have been a miserable day became a live demonstration of the very thing he was traveling to study: how your conative strengths — your Kolbe MO — carry you through adversity when nothing goes as planned.

🔥 What You'll Learn

✅ What a Kolbe MO is — and what it feels like when it "fires on all cylinders" under pressure ✅ How to adapt and re-route in real time without losing sight of the goal ✅ Why resilience is a strength you can recognize and deliberately lean on ✅ How preparation and commitment turn a sunk cost into a payoff ("We made an investment — I really want to get to Phoenix") ✅ Why not taking yourself too seriously is a leadership skill

💡 Key Quote: "No matter what's thrown at you, don't take yourself too seriously. Go with the flow — and if it's important, make it work."

👇 Timestamps (approximate — adjust to final edit)

0:00 – Introduction: a story from the Kolbe Team Specialist certification 1:00 – A seasoned traveler's worst travel day begins (Harrisburg, 4:30 AM) 2:15 – Missed connection in Charlotte — and the redirect to Tampa 3:30 – Tampa to DC: still on the East Coast, no closer to Phoenix 4:30 – Three and a half hours on the tarmac — and a choice about attitude 5:30 – Arriving at 11 PM: animal crackers, wrong pants, no socks, no glasses 6:15 – The red eye home and the $40 Philadelphia tourist sweatshirt 7:00 – The moral: go with the flow — if it's important, make it work

👤 About Your Host Kevin Fitzpatrick is the founder and Managing Partner of Cnesta Group, a retained executive search and leadership advisory firm. Through The Cnesta Perspective, Kevin brings clarity, structure, and empathy to the challenges of leadership, career transitions, and professional growth.

🔗 Let's Connect 🌐 Website: https://cnestagroup.com/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cg1kfitzpatrick/

🔔 If this episode made you smile, like, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you never miss a reflection from The Cnesta Perspective.

💬 Question for you: What's the worst travel day you've ever had — and what got you through it?

#TheCnestaPerspective #KevinFitzpatrick #Resilience #KolbeIndex #LeadershipDevelopment #PersonalGrowth #ExecutiveCoaching

In today's episode, Kevin challenges us to start every single day with two of the most powerful words in the English language: What if? Whether you're navigating economic uncertainty, leading a team, or simply trying to show up better for the people around you, the "What If" mindset opens the door to possibility, preparation, and real impact.

✅ What You'll Learn

✅ Why starting your day with an open mind unlocks your full potential

✅ How to shift from reactive thinking to proactive possibility

✅ Why preparation — not perfection — makes you the most intriguing person in the room

✅ How the "What If" framework drives both personal and business ROI

✅ How small mindset shifts create significant cultural impact at work and at home

💡 Key Quote:

"We don't rise to the level of our expectations — we fall to our level of training."

👤 About Your Host

Kevin Fitzpatrick is the founder and Managing Partner of Cnesta Group, a retained executive search and leadership advisory firm. Through The Cnesta Perspective, Kevin brings clarity, structure, and empathy to the challenges of leadership, career transitions, and professional growth.

🔗 Let's Connect

🌐 Website: https://cnestagroup.com/

💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/cg1kfitzpatrick

🎙️ Question for you:

What's one "What If" question you're going to ask yourself tomorrow morning?

In today’s episode, Kevin walks us through why the skills, tools, frameworks, and experiences you’ve built over time are not relics of a past career — they are your personal arsenal for navigating what’s ahead. Rather than chasing the next shiny strategy or waiting for clarity to arrive, he challenges you to use what you already know with intention, focus, and discipline to lead with confidence in uncertain times.

🔥 What You’ll Learn ✅ Why revisiting your leadership tools matters more than ever ✅ How resilience isn’t new — it’s a muscle already developed ✅ Why assessments and frameworks you’ve done are roadmaps, not “completed tasks” ✅ How preparation gives you proactive agency instead of reactive stress ✅ Why small daily practices build confidence and strategic clarity

💡 Key Quote: “Bring those tools out. Open that arsenal and use them so you can be proactive and not reactive.” (or insert a true standout from your transcript)

👤 About Your Host Kevin Fitzpatrick is the founder and Managing Partner of Cnesta Group, a retained executive search and leadership advisory firm. Through The Cnesta Perspective, Kevin brings clarity, structure, and empathy to the challenges of leadership, career transitions, and professional growth.

🔗 Let’s Connect 🌐 Website: https://cnestagroup.com/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cg1kfitzpatrick/

💬 Question for you: What’s one leadership tool you haven’t revisited in years — but should?

🎙️ Welcome back to The Cnesta Perspective with Kevin Fitzpatrick

In today’s episode, Kevin speaks directly to professionals navigating uncertainty, pressure, and change — and offers a simple but powerful reminder: you already have the tools to reignite your passion and strengthen your resilience.

In challenging times, it’s easy to shelve the training, assessments, and development work we’ve done over the years… But Kevin encourages you to pull it back out — and use it as your personal “arsenal” for confidence, clarity, and emotional control.

This episode is a call to prepare intentionally, stay grounded, and show up as your best self — for your career, your team, and your family.

🔥 What You’ll Learn

✅ Why resilience is the inner power we often forget we have ✅ How revisiting old training and leadership tools can reignite motivation ✅ Why assessments like DISC, PI, StrengthsFinder, EQ 2.0, Kolbe can become your roadmap again ✅ How to prioritize what matters instead of what feels urgent ✅ Why journaling daily helps you build confidence and focus ✅ How preparation helps you respond — not react — when uncertainty hits

💡 Key Quote: “Bring those tools out. Open that arsenal and use them… so you can be proactive and not reactive.”

👤 About Your Host

Kevin Fitzpatrick is the founder and Managing Partner of Cnesta Group, a retained executive search expert and leadership & career transition advisor. Through The Cnesta Perspective, Kevin brings clarity, structure, and empathy to the uncertainty of career growth, leadership, and change.

🔗 Let’s Connect

🌐 Website: https://cnestagroup.com/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cg1kfitzpatrick/

🔔 If this episode helps you, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you never miss a weekly reflection from The Cnesta Perspective.

💬 Question for you: What’s one leadership tool, training, or assessment you haven’t revisited in years — but should?

In this episode of The Cnesta Perspective, Kevin Fitzpatrick challenges you to put leadership into action by looking in the mirror—not at how you manage others, but at how you manage yourself, your career, and what comes next in an uncertain economy. He walks through why now is the right time to step back, take inventory of your strengths, and prepare for potential transition so you’re ready for whatever comes—planned or unplanned.​​

Instead of treating your resume as a static list of job descriptions, Kevin invites you to think of it as a powerful piece of marketing collateral that clearly communicates your value proposition. By reframing how you tell your story—what you do, how you do it, and why it matters—you build a sales document for your career that highlights the ROI you bring to any organization.​

You’ll learn:

• Why “leadership in action” starts with honest self-reflection, not just people management.​
• How to run a personal talent inventory and identify the strengths you consistently bring to the table.​
• Ways to repackage your experience so your resume and profile truly “pop” and speak to your impact, not just your responsibilities.​
• How this preparation can reignite your passion, restore your confidence, and positively influence your work, family, and community life.​
• Why being prepared makes you the “strong person you never see coming” when adversity or opportunity shows up.​

Whether you’re actively exploring a job change, sensing potential disruption at your current employer, or simply want to be more intentional about your career story, this episode gives you a practical mindset shift to lead your own journey forward.​​

👤 About Your Host Kevin Fitzpatrick is the founder and Managing Partner of Cnesta Group, a retained search expert, and a leadership and career transition advisor who helps organizations hire and develop high-performing leaders. Through The Cnesta Perspective, he brings clarity, empathy, and structure to the uncertainty of hiring, job change, and executive development.​​

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💼 Ready to strengthen your career story? Visit

https://cnestagroup.com/

to learn more about Cnesta Group and how Kevin and his team support leaders and organizations navigating transition and growth.​

🔔 If this episode was helpful, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you never miss The Cnesta Perspective.​

#TheCnestaPerspective #KevinFitzpatrick #CareerLeadership #LeadershipInAction #CareerTransition #ExecutiveSearch #ResumeTips #TalentStrategy

Welcome back to The Cnesta Perspective with Kevin Fitzpatrick — a show about leadership, self-reflection, and turning adversity into opportunity.

In this episode, Kevin shares lessons inspired by the Philadelphia Eagles’ gritty win in Tampa Bay — and what it means to “break the curse” in your own life. Drawing from Robert Chu’s “The Samurai and The Power of Seven”, Kevin explores how preparation, self-awareness, and the courage to start again help us navigate career transitions, burnout, and the moments when life doesn’t go as planned.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, overlooked, or ready for change — this one’s for you.

🔥 What You’ll Learn

• Why we don’t rise to our expectations — we fall to our level of preparation
• How to break personal “curses” by focusing on process, not outcome
• A 6-step framework for turning setbacks into strengths
• The importance of reflection and preparation over perfection
• How to transform adversity into your greatest competitive advantage

💡 “You can’t control the outcome or correct the past — but you can decide who you want to be, how you’ll show up, and what you’ll do about it.” – Kevin Fitzpatrick

👇 Timestamps 0:00 – Introduction & breaking the curse (Go Birds!) 1:18 – Lessons from “The Samurai and The Power of Seven” 2:30 – The reality of adversity: you got this 3:45 – We fall to our level of preparation 5:00 – How to apply the 6-step reflection model 7:20 – Turning challenges into strengths 9:00 – Why preparation beats visibility every time 10:15 – Ancient wisdom: “The strong man does not need to be seen” 11:10 – Final takeaway: Lead quietly, prepare deeply, and keep showing up

🔗 Let’s Connect → Website: https://cnestagroup.com/ → LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cg1kfitzpatrick/ → Subscribe for weekly reflections on purposeful leadership & personal growth!

📢 Have you ever had to “break your own curse”? Share your story below — Kevin would love to hear how you turned adversity into opportunity.

#LeadershipDevelopment #Resilience #Preparation #MindsetShift #PersonalGrowth #CnestaPerspective #KevinFitzpatrick #ExecutiveCoaching

Welcome back to The Cnesta Perspective with Kevin Fitzpatrick — a podcast that explores leadership, self-awareness, and the power of purposeful growth.

In this solo reflection, Kevin dives deep into one of the most overlooked drivers of success: you — not the professional role, not the résumé, but the person behind it all. Drawing insights from his time at the Kolbe Performance Coaching Seminar, Kevin breaks down how understanding the three parts of the mind — Cognitive, Affective, and Conative — can unlock your true leadership potential and drive real results.

This episode challenges you to pause the daily grind, look in the mirror, and ask: Am I leading from my strengths or fighting against them?

🔥 What You’ll Learn

• Why self-awareness is the foundation of sustainable leadership
• The three parts of the human mind — and why Kolbe focuses on the one most leaders ignore
• How your striving instincts define what you will and won’t do under pressure
• The difference between personality and behavior — and how to flex both with intention
• How to use tools like Kolbe and Take Flight DISC to increase communication, engagement, and retention
• Why being the best version of “you” drives ROI for your company, your team, and your family

💡 “If I look at that assessment, I got this. I can leverage my strengths, increase my communication, and drive the top and bottom line — simply by being a better me.” — Kevin Fitzpatrick

👇 Timestamps 0:00 – Introduction & post-Kolbe reflections 1:12 – Why high performers still feel “stuck” 2:40 – The 3 parts of the mind: Cognitive, Affective, and Conative 4:15 – Understanding the Kolbe Index & striving instincts 7:20 – The Take Flight DISC model: communicating with different styles 9:05 – How Kolbe + DISC create stronger team dynamics 10:30 – Building self-awareness into your leadership 12:45 – Final thoughts: committing to be the best you

🔗 Let’s Connect → Website: https://cnestagroup.com/ → LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cg1kfitzpatrick/ → Subscribe for weekly reflections on leadership, growth, and self-awareness

📢 Have you taken Kolbe or DISC? Share your experience in the comments — Kevin would love to hear what you discovered about yourself.

#LeadershipDevelopment #SelfAwareness #KolbeIndex #DISCProfile #ExecutiveCoaching #PersonalGrowth #CnestaPerspective #KevinFitzpatrick

🎙️ Welcome back to The Cnesta Perspective with Kevin Fitzpatrick

In this powerful solo reflection, Kevin explores how lessons from the sports world — from the Philadelphia Eagles to the Buffalo Bills — mirror the challenges we face in leadership, career transitions, and life. What starts as a story about passion, rivalry, and unexpected adversity on the field transforms into a framework for resilience and intentional leadership off the field.

🔥 What You’ll Learn:

• Why emotional reactions (like losing your temper) can derail progress — and how leaders can reset with conviction
• How Jalen Hurts and Josh Allen model leadership in the face of adversity
• The importance of responding to setbacks with courage, clarity, and integrity
• Why embracing unexpected career transitions requires reflection, ownership, and renewed energy
• How to move forward with purpose when uncertainty strikes

💡 “No matter what challenge is thrown in front of us — expected or otherwise — we have within us the power to make a difference.” – Kevin Fitzpatrick

Whether you’re leading a team, navigating a career transition, or simply striving to be a stronger presence for your family, this episode reminds us that leadership is tested not when things go right, but when adversity shows up unannounced.

🔗 Let’s Connect Stay up to date with Kevin and The Cnesta Group: → Website: https://cnestagroup.com/ → LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cg1kfitzpatrick/ → Subscribe for weekly reflections on purposeful leadership & personal growth!

📢 Have you faced a recent setback or career transition? Share your story in the comments — Kevin would love to hear how you’re moving forward.

#LeadershipDevelopment #Resilience #PersonalGrowth #CnestaPerspective #KevinFitzpatrick #Adversity #ExecutiveCoaching

🎙️ Welcome to The Cnesta Perspective with Kevin Fitzpatrick

In this motivational solo episode, Kevin dives deep into the idea of "YOU" — not just as a pronoun, but as a framework for unlocking your personal power in the face of adversity. With a heartfelt personal story, Kevin introduces an acronym born from a lifetime of overcoming learning challenges, professional setbacks, and navigating change with resilience.

🔥 What You’ll Learn:

What “YOU” really stands for: Yes. Obstacles. Unstoppable.

How Kevin’s struggles with dysgraphia and dyspraxia shaped his learning style

The power of reframing setbacks as openings for transformation

The surprising impact of using “Yes, and…” in the face of challenge

Why being a difference-maker starts with choosing to act

💡 “Everything that is presented in front of you is an opportunity — good or bad — to place your mark and make a difference.” – Kevin Fitzpatrick

Whether you're facing uncertainty, leading through chaos, or supporting loved ones through hardship, this episode reminds us that you are the change agent — for your family, your team, and most importantly, for yourself.

👇 Timestamps

0:00 – Introduction: What “YOU” Means

1:47 – Kevin’s Learning Disabilities & How Acronyms Helped

4:36 – The Power of “Yes, and…” Mindset

6:19 – O is for Obstacles or Openings?

8:02 – Embracing Setbacks, Mistakes & Vulnerability

10:14 – Final Takeaway: You Can Be Unstoppable

🔗 Let’s Connect

Stay up to date with Kevin and The Cnesta Group:

→ Website: https://cnestagroup.com/

→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cg1kfitzpatrick/

→ Subscribe for weekly reflections on purposeful leadership & personal growth!

📢 Have a story of personal resilience or breakthrough? Share it in the comments or send Kevin a message — we’d love to hear from you.

#LeadershipDevelopment #PersonalGrowth #MindsetShift #CnestaPerspective #KevinFitzpatrick #OvercomingAdversity #ExecutiveCoaching