Host Mark McNees interviews Damon Rich of Rich Coaching and Consulting on the InNOLEvation® Mindset podcast. Rich explains how his firm helps organizations strengthen internal and vendor relationships, often stepping in during crisis to diagnose root issues by starting with the story rather than becoming “data blind.” He shares his background from rural Carrabelle, Florida, lessons in hard work and reading, and the completion of his degree at WGU after building a career in healthcare and government, including 13 years as a bureau chief at Florida’s Agency for Healthcare Administration. Rich discusses leadership principles influenced by Sun Tzu, avoiding micromanagement, humility, and seeking wise counsel. He describes leaving AHCA in 2022 due to stress, funding his transition through temporary roles, and growing into trusted-advisor coaching that includes personal support, faith, and capacity management, ending with advice to not overthink the small stuff.

Website and Social media addresses:

• www.richcoachingandconsulting.com

• https://www.instagram.com/richcoaching_consultinggroup

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/damon-rich/

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

00:30 What Rich Coaching Does

01:28 Crisis Relationship Fixing

02:46 Story Before Data

03:38 Roots in Rural Florida

04:46 Reading and Self-Education

08:49 Relationships and Father Figures

10:17 Books and Leadership Quotes

13:21 Delegation Without Micromanaging

18:32 Career Path in Healthcare

22:22 Leaving to Start the Business

24:48 First Clients and Networking Hurdles

27:11 Spouse Support Leap

28:05 Bootstrapping Through Temp Work

30:09 Entrepreneur Fear Moments

32:53 People First Mission

36:05 Small Fox Diagnosis

40:36 Consultant Questions Humility

46:05 Trusted Advisor Coaching Model

51:02 Mindset Capacity Boundaries

55:29 Final Advice Wrap Up