This week’s episode is titled Vision Boards & Pivot Points, where dreams collide with discipline, and transformation starts with a choice. In this episode, we sit down with Travis Smith—a national champion, resilient entrepreneur, and man of faith—to unpack a journey marked by setbacks, self-reflection, and spiritual grit.

From the locker room to the boardroom, Travis shares how losing a title led to gaining wisdom. We explore how he reimagined his future with a vision board and learned to pivot when life moved his cheese. This isn’t just about medals or milestones—it’s about who you become when the spotlight fades, the comparisons creep in, and the real work begins.

If you’ve ever hit a wall chasing success, felt crushed after doing the work, or wondered if your identity is tied too tightly to your achievements—this conversation is for you.

Travis reminds us that the gold isn’t the goal… faithfulness is.

And when you do your part, God gives the increase.

This week’s episode is titled: Overcoming Mental Burnout

Opening Hook: Imagine your iPhone in low power mode—screen dimmed, background apps paused, performance throttled. It’s not broken, just depleted. That’s burnout. And right now, it’s the #1 threat to mental health in leadership.

Why This Matters: Burnout isn’t just tiredness—it’s emotional and mental exhaustion. It’s disengaging from what you love, snapping at those you care about, and wondering, “Is this really me?” It’s a silent epidemic affecting leaders, parents, spouses, and teams. And it’s showing up in stress, anxiety, depression, strained marriages, family tension, grief, and loneliness.

Today’s Guest: Joining me is Steve, a leader who’s walked through burnout and come out stronger. He’s built teams, hired over 1,000 people, and learned how to lead with influence—not just authority. His keynote, The Intersection of Leadership & Mental Health, is reshaping how we think about performance and soul care.

What We’ll Explore:

Steve’s Wisdom:

“My greatest happiness is being able to control my day. I’ve built non-negotiables into my life—taking my kid to school, working out, connecting over coffee. That’s how I invest in my soul.”

Final Thought: 68% of leaders have never been trained for their job. No one’s coming with a script. Leadership is learned in the trenches—through presence, awareness, and influence. And today, we’re going to help you find your center line… so you don’t end up in the ditch.

Connect with Steve on LinkedIn 

Connect with Patrick on LinkedIn

Podcast Sponsor: CCB Technology – #1 Managed Services Provider (MSP) for Nonprofits & SMBs for 34 Years! 

What does it take to walk away from the corporate fast track and build something that truly matters? Today’s guest, Steve Baue, did just that—trading in boardrooms and burnouts for impact, innovation, and meaning.

After two decades of chasing traditional success, Steve had a moment of radical clarity: he’d been living someone else’s plan. So he rewrote his own. With his wife by his side, he invested everything they had into Employee Resource Center (ERC), a mental health benefits company based in Wisconsin.

Ten years later, Steve has not only led ERC in transforming over 200,000 lives—he’s also scaled the company’s reach, quadrupled its margins, and earned a reputation for operational excellence and human-first leadership. His vision has helped set new standards in virtual mental health care, trust-centered systems, and leadership culture.

Oh—and did we mention? He’s also a Wisconsin Titan 100 award winner, recognized as one of the region’s most accomplished and influential leaders in business.

In this conversation, we talk about courage, clarity, and the decision to build a business around what matters most.

You’re about to hear how one leader found his purpose—and is helping thousands more find theirs.

This week’s episode is titled JOY IS A CHOICE.

The famous IOL blog writer, Ashley Buenger, is our guest.

In this episode, courage meets real life and purpose is found in unexpected places.

Ashley is a force of creative energy and resilience. She’s a stay-at-home mom to three amazing boys—ages 8, 7, and 4—and she somehow manages to carve out pockets of time between packed lunches and packed schedules to write, podcast, and inspire.

Ashley is a lifelong writer who comes alive in front of a blank page. From her early days winning a DARE essay contest in sixth grade to crafting powerful stories and leading IOL’s blog, writing has always been her calling. Her words come from a deep well of passion, faith, and raw honesty. Whether she’s unpacking leadership lessons, exploring German music, or writing about garage doors, she finds the thread that connects it all—and turns it into art.

In this episode, we talk about fear, faith, and the lie of perfection. Ashley opens up about how depression and anxiety show up in leadership and motherhood, and how saying your fears out loud can shrink their power. We discuss the myth of balance, the magic of community, and how joy really is a daily choice.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, under-qualified, or alone in your calling—this episode is for you. Ashley reminds us that our gifts matter. Our voices matter. And that faithfulness in the little things makes a big impact.

You can find all of Ashley’s blogs on the IOL website. 

Here are her recent ones:

Full Hands

The Silver Tsunami

Who You Know

Let Them

Not Meeting Expectation – Addressing Underperformance 

There are many more!!!

Contact IOL me you have any feedback on how the podcast is impacting you.

[email protected]

Welcome to today’s episode of our podcast, where we dive deep into the topic of people-pleasing and its impact on our lives. In this insightful conversation, Steve Black explores the complexities of people-pleasing, the fear that drives it, and the strategies to overcome it.

We share personal struggles with people-pleasing and how it affects their professional and personal life. Steve offers valuable insights on recognizing the fear behind people-pleasing and the importance of setting boundaries. They discuss the detrimental effects of seeking constant approval and admiration, and how it can lead to stress, burnout, and even affect parenting.

Throughout the episode, Steve emphasizes the significance of integrating various aspects of life to achieve a holistic approach to leadership and personal growth. We touch on the importance of quiet time, the role of faith, and practical strategies for managing stress and avoiding burnout.

This episode aims to provide valuable insights and practical advice for anyone looking to improve their leadership skills, enhance their well-being, and navigate the complexities of modern life. Whether you are a seasoned leader or someone striving to find balance, the wisdom shared in this conversation will resonate and inspire you to take meaningful steps towards a more fulfilling and balanced life.

This week’s episode is titled Leadership Common Fears.

In this episode, we dive deep into the concept of fear, exploring its impact on leadership and personal growth. Our guest, Steve Black, a partner and senior human resources manager at Brixey & Meyer, shares his insights on how fear can be unmasked and overcome to unlock potential and ignite passion.

In this episode, Steve discusses the common fears that leaders face, such as people-pleasing, losing security, and losing comfort. He shares his personal experience with fear, including a diagnosis of a chronic illness that led him to confront limitations and make fear-based decisions. Steve emphasizes the importance of recognizing patterns of fear-based thinking and decision-making to grow through discomfort and achieve personal and professional growth.

Steve introduces techniques to engage the senses and activate the thrive side of the brain, improving leadership and decision-making.

Listen to learn how to unmask your fears, have vulnerable conversations, and grow through discomfort to unlock your potential and ignite your passion. Let’s embark on this journey together and discover how to overcome fear and thrive in leadership and life.

Don’t forget to subscribe and share this podcast with your friends and colleagues.

Let’s conquer fear together!

This week’s podcast is my 16-minute view on why “𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐈𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐚 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭!” ⬅️

If you’re leading a team, you need to know what leadership actually means.

👉 Second, make sure you have the right team for the culture you’re building. Define your core values—and live by them. Hold your people accountable. You can’t please everyone, and you’re not serving ice cream, so focus on pushing for excellence and ensuring they deliver on expectations.

👉 Third, when someone leaves, don’t panic. Your business was here before them, and it will be here after. You got this. Overthinking worst-case scenarios won’t fix anything. Stop the “what if” spiral and start putting plans behind your questions instead.

💡 The weight of leadership is heavy—but you are not alone. That’s why I started this podcast: to remind leaders that there’s support, there’s wisdom, and there’s community.

And remember—indecision is dangerous. Don’t be the squirrel caught in the middle of the road, hesitating while the car is coming. Make a decision, trust your instincts, and move forward.

At The Impact of Leadership, we believe nobody drifts into excellence, and you are supported and loved by many.

My leadership knowledge comes from 24 years of working in a family business.

Welcome to the Impact of Leadership Podcast (brought to you by CCB Technology – The Best IT Managed Services Provider for Nonprofits & Small Businesses. – Go to CCB Technology today and get connected!

At IOL we believe no one drifts into excellence.

Last episode was with Kevin Calhoun, (Founder of Document Mountain by Cornerstone) where Kevin uncovered the must-have data points for buying a business, dive into acquisition frameworks, and learn from the successes—and failures—that come with this journey. If you missed it – you got to listen to it – it will impact your life on how to buy a business.

This episode is Part 2 with Kevin Calhoun and he talks about his organic growth and leadership style that leads with “Empathy, Humility. It’s  Purpose-Driven Leadership Style for him”

We dive deep into the minds of trailblazing leaders and uncover the stories that shape their journeys. Today, I’m thrilled to introduce Kevin Calhoun, a visionary business leader who has turned challenges into stepping stones and transformed his organization through purpose-driven growth.

From navigating the complexities of scaling a company from $3 million to $5 million, Kevin reflects on the enduring struggles we all face—people, cash, sales, and marketing—and shares how these issues magnify as your business grows. With insight into organic growth and customer retention, Kevin highlights the obstacles and opportunities of balancing churn rates and conquering the mysterious realm of digital marketing.

But this interview goes beyond numbers. Kevin opens up about the pivotal moments of his leadership evolution—from a “new sheriff in town” to a leader grounded in humility, respect, and resourcefulness. He candidly shares the lessons he’s learned through trial and error, his shift to empowering his team, and his personal decision to embrace minority business partners as a step toward shared success.

What sets Kevin apart is his approach to business as a ministry, intertwining care, empathy, and connection with strategic growth. He believes that the core of leadership lies in understanding the lives of your team, building trust, and recognizing the value of every individual’s journey.

Join us as Kevin Calhoun delves into his vision, his journey to developing pillars within his company, and how he motivates his team to embrace goals and share in the rewards of success. Whether you’re striving to grow your business, navigate people challenges, or find the right balance between expectations and anticipation—this episode promises insights that are equal parts personal and professional.

Are you ready? Let’s dive in.

This week’s episode is titled Buy vs. Build:

We’re living in a wild time—a time where opportunity and transition collide. You’ve probably heard the term silver tsunami. It’s the wave of baby boomers retiring and leaving behind a wealth of businesses ready for new ownership. The marketplace is open like never before, with platforms like BizBuySell and BizQuest offering just about anything you could dream of acquiring.

But let’s be real—this isn’t Wall Street. This is real life, with real people, and sometimes, real challenges. Here, we don’t sugarcoat or fluff things up. We keep it raw, authentic, and genuinely insightful.

In this week’s episode, my interview with Kevin Calhoun (Founder of Document Mountain by Cornerstone) we’ll uncover the must-have data points for buying a business, dive into acquisition frameworks, and learn from the successes—and failures—that come with this journey. From making sure your acquisition has structure, to crafting deals where the business pays for itself, to leveraging the talent and relationships that come with buying, we leave no stone unturned.

Are you ready to explore the world of buying versus building a business, and find out which strategy is right for you?

Let’s dive in.

Resources for IOL: Website | LinkedIn | Host – Patrick Booth 

Cedarville University Impact Conference – October 22-23, 2025 

*This is where I heard Kevin speak last year*

In this week’s episode, we dive into the powerful journey of transformation, leadership, and the relentless pursuit of growth with Steve Kohlmann, the Executive Director of IBAW. Steve shares how IBAW is a true testament to the power of resilience. Starting with just 80 businesses and now leading 252, this story is one of overcoming financial setbacks, leadership change, and a commitment to building something greater.

We’ll explore what it means to “eat what you kill” in business and how leadership isn’t just about guiding teams—it’s about fighting for your mission, learning from past mistakes, and fostering an environment where people can thrive.

A key lesson I learned was Steve’s teaching on the importance of perspective over advice. People get offended when you don’t take their advice but not when you ask for their perspective. Set the conversation up for success with this one-word difference-maker.

We discuss the difference between good leaders and bad ones, the power of hope, and how treating people fairly can leave a lasting legacy. You don’t want to miss this inspiring conversation on leadership, business, and personal growth.

Enjoy! 

Resources: 

Guest: Steve Kohlmann’s LinkedIn | IBAW Website

Host: Patrick Booth LinkedIn  

Podcast Sponsor: CCB Technology (Managed Services For Small Businesses & Nonprofits)