On the surface, it sounds perfect. Work hard and you will be successful. How could that possibly be bad advice? That is exactly what Ovie Mughelli believed. He carried that idea through high school, college football, and then into the NFL. Hard work was the plan. Hard work was supposed to be enough.

Except it wasn’t.

Ovie learned the hard truth. Hard work does not speak for itself. Hard work puts you in the room, but it does not guarantee anyone will notice you once you get there. If you do not advocate for yourself, someone else will gladly take the opportunity you hoped your effort alone would earn.

Ovie eventually became the highest paid fullback in the league and a Pro Bowler, but only after he learned when to speak up, when to ask for the chance, and how to be ready when that moment arrived.

In this episode, he breaks down why effort alone is a trap, why silence can stall your career, and why confidence plus preparation is the real equation for success.

If you have ever believed that working harder would automatically get you where you want to go, Ovie’s story will open your eyes.

Listen now on The Worst Advice I Ever Got.

Roy Keely grew up being told that college was the only path that mattered. The worst advice he ever got was to chase the traditional route at all costs, even when it didn’t fit. He tried to follow it. He tried to force it. It never worked.

What did work was everything he learned outside the classroom. Roy built his career through experience, curiosity, and a willingness to step into the unknown. Today he is the founder of Firm Studio, where he helps companies reclaim their product strategies and build technology with intention instead of guesswork.

In this episode, Roy talks about the moment he realized that the “safe path” was not actually safe at all, why doing the work beats talking about the work, and how he created a life and career that made sense for who he is instead of who he was expected to be.

If you have ever questioned the traditional blueprint for success, Roy’s story will speak directly to you.

Listen now on The Worst Advice I Ever Got.

Carla McCall spent years believing the worst advice she ever got: “Don’t laugh so much.” It came early in her career and it came from someone she thought she had to listen to. The message was simple. Fit in. Blend in. Tone it down.

Carla did the opposite. Today she is the Managing Partner of AAFCPAs, a top firm known for innovation, inclusion, and a culture that actually values people for who they are. She has been recognized as one of the most powerful women in the accounting profession and has built a career by leading with authenticity instead of fear.

In this episode, Carla shares how she learned to trust her voice, why humor became her superpower, and why shrinking yourself is never the path to real leadership.

If you have ever felt pressure to tone yourself down or play it safe, this conversation will stay with you.

Listen to Carla’s full story now on The Worst Advice I Ever Got.

When Ripley Rader was told to trust consultants and experts instead of her own instincts, she almost lost sight of what made her brand special. Instead, she doubled down on her vision—building her company from a $100 Shopify template into one of fashion’s fastest-growing names.

In this episode, Ripley shares how trusting herself over “the pros” became her biggest competitive edge. She talks about the myth of the expert, the power of failure, and why every woman deserves a little “delusional self-confidence.”

Hosted by Sean Taylor
Produced by JB
Presented by Smith + Howard

Mehrnush Saadat grew up with one message: to be somebody, you had to be a doctor, lawyer, or engineer. She followed that path into real estate law, even merging her firm with a larger one, but found herself burned out, in pain, and questioning everything. A herniated disc, a New Year’s Eve epiphany, and her passion for plant-based health led her to launch Sober ish, a cannabis and non-alcoholic bottle shop redefining what success looks like. In this episode, she shares how health, happiness, and authenticity matter more than any title

Joy Youell was told to ‘become an expert.’ Starting college at 14, she was pushed toward hyper-specialization and a life of academia. But a detour working with the UN in Sudan—and the realization that expertise alone can isolate rather than connect—changed her path. Joy shares how leaving the pursuit of being the expert opened the door to curiosity, leadership, and a life defined by usefulness, not titles.

Sam Reese, CEO of Vistage, shares how the worst advice he ever got—‘separate work and family completely’—shaped years of overwork, ego, and missed moments. In this candid conversation, Sam reflects on burnout, regret, and the shift from compartmentalization to integration, showing why being a whole person matters more than playing separate roles.

Leroy Hite turned ‘fancy firewood’ from a laughable idea into a luxury brand. In this episode, he shares how faith, grit, and one bold decision—selling his house to save his business—transformed Cutting Edge Firewood into a national success.

Chris Cleveland, Head of School at Wesleyan, looks back on the worst advice he ever got: “Do what makes you happy.”

On the surface, it sounds harmless—even good. But in this episode of The Worst Advice I Ever Got, Chris explains how chasing happiness alone can lead to shallow choices, and why purpose, responsibility, and faith create something deeper and more sustaining.

It’s an honest conversation about leadership, values, and the difference between living for happiness and living for meaning.

Kyle followed that rule for years, becoming a decorated airline pilot by shutting his feelings down. But eventually he realized the truth: every decision we make, whether in the air or on the ground, is fueled by emotions. Suppressing them doesn’t make us stronger, it makes us weaker.

In this episode, Kyle shares how unlearning that advice changed his career, his relationships, and his entire approach to leadership. We talk about emotional intelligence, stress as a superpower, why control is a myth, and why real leaders act more like lighthouses than tugboats.

It’s a conversation for anyone who’s been told to “tough it out” or “leave feelings at the door.” Turns out, emotions aren’t the problem. They’re the key.