Free To Lead

Episodes

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  Why True Leadership Requires Pivoting: Insights from Michele Locke 27.10.2026 27m

  What happens when relentless career drive catches up with your health? In this powerful, candid episode of Free to Lead, former family court judge and seasoned trial attorney Michele Locke opens up about the real, unfiltered costs of non-stop ambition. From undergoing 15 surgeries under anaesthesia to facing a painful political loss and navigating divorce, Michele reflects on how unaddressed emotional stress physically manifested in her body. Together, they explore why the body keeps score, how childhood conditioning about fairness can shatter in the real world, and what it truly takes to dismantle defensive walls, rebuild trust, and step into unapologetic authenticity. KEY TAKEAWAYS The Body Keeps Score: Ignoring chronic stress and emotional strain eventually forces physical health consequences that demand total lifestyle reassessment. Failure Teaches More Than Success: Losses provide crucial self-reflection that victories rarely offer, shaping resilience and emotional depth. The Power of the Pivot: Growth requires adapting when plans unravel, whether in high-stakes courtroom litigation or personal life transitions. Unpack Childhood Conditioning: Realising that working hard does not always guarantee winning allows you to let go of bitterness and outdated narratives. Lead with Radical Authenticity: Dropping polished facades builds genuine credibility, relatable connections, and lasting trust with others. QUOTES "In life, you got to be willing to pivot." "Your body keeps score on everything you've done to it, and it appears... when you don't have the time for it." "In life you learn much, much more from your losses than from your wins." "The worst thing someone could tell you is no. And then you're in the exact same position that you were before." "The breakthroughs for people happen when they tell the truth, when they open up." Michele Locke Links https://www.michelelocke.com/ https://www.instagram.com/attorneymichelelocke/?hl=en https://www.youtube.com/@lovelustlaw WILL STEEL LINKS 🔥 Connect with Will Steel – Business Coach & High Performance Transformation Expert If you're ready to level up your mindset, scale your business, and unlock peak performance, check out Will Steel’s coaching and content below: 🌐 Official Website https://willsteel.com/ 📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/willsteelcoaching/ 📘 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/willsteelcoaching/ 💼 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-steel-business-coach-high-performance-transform
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  From Crisis to Growth: Rachel Minion's Marketing Leadership Journey 27.10.2026 18m

  When her family printing business collapsed during the 2008 recession, Rachel Minion was forced to rebuild from the ground up—initially working from a crowded beach house apartment to prove her skill set. Years later, while navigating a career at Ticketmaster, a sudden furlough during the pandemic became the exact push she needed to take her side hustle, Rock Star & Moon, full-time. In this inspiring episode of Free to Lead, Rachel shares her journey through career setbacks, overcoming a sudden cancer diagnosis, founding a chemo-care non-profit, and evolving from an order-taker to a true strategic marketing leader. We explore how small businesses can cut through marketing noise, the importance of shifting from doer to expert, and why resilience is every entrepreneur's secret weapon. KEY TAKEAWAYS Adversity Can Be a Catalyst: Sudden career shifts and crises often provide the exact push needed to step out of comfort zones and build something lasting. Impact Drives Purpose: Supporting small businesses strengthens whole communities, creating a positive ripple effect from families to local non-profits. Shift from Firefighter to Expert: True leadership means setting expectations, guiding strategy, and delivering genuine results rather than simply saying yes to every request. Listen to the Market: Business is a continuous test—if the market isn't responding, adapt the offer, refine the message, and pivot. Turn Personal Trials into Action: Channeling personal health battles into actionable support led to creating chemo care kits for others in need. QUOTES "I believe in the power of small business." "The goal in the end is make the biggest impact that we can while we're here." "There is no manual on how to do this." "This is all a test... if you keep hearing no, change the offer, pivot and let's get something better." "I was so tired of being a firefighter... let me go actually get you the results." Rachel Minion Links https://www.instagram.com/rachminion/ https://rockstarrandmoon.com/ https://beyondbasicneeds.org/ WILL STEEL LINKS 🔥 Connect with Will Steel – Business Coach & High Performance Transformation Expert If you're ready to level up your mindset, scale your business, and unlock peak performance, check out Will Steel’s coaching and content below: 🌐 Official Website https://willsteel.com/ 📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/willsteelcoaching/ 📘 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/willsteelcoaching/ 💼 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-steel-business-coach-high-performance-transform
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  How to Build, Scale, and Sell a Business (Twice!) with Glenn Poulos 19.10.2026 16m

  What does it take to transition from a government employee to building and successfully exiting two multi-million dollar tech distribution companies? In this episode, seasoned sales expert and author Glenn Poulos shares the raw, unfiltered truth about scaling a business, learning from failed acquisitions, and avoiding the trap of "shiny object syndrome". Discover why most companies fail at customer experience despite claiming otherwise, and how adopting a simple, relentless policy of being a pleasure to work with transforms customer retention. Plus, learn why putting your top revenue producer into a management role could be destroying your sales pipeline, and how to structure your team for sustainable, scalable success using accountability charts. KEY TAKEAWAYS Always be a pleasure to do business with: Exceptional customer service comes down to basic details like answering calls with real humans and responding to inquiries with care. Beware the "Reverse Midas Touch": Success in one core business doesn't mean you can launch a side venture without investing the exact same focus and energy. Structure your business before placing people: Using an accountability chart helps prevent putting high-performing producers into roles they aren't suited to manage. Top salespeople rarely make great sales managers: Promoting your highest producer to manager deprives the business of their core strength while misaligning team leadership. Focus on your core strengths to maximise valuation: Cutting unaligned business divisions allows you to double down on core operations and scale toward record exit valuations. QUOTES "The salesmen could only leverage themselves one to one, whereas the owner can leverage themselves one to many." "Get, act, and stay in front of your customers and be a pleasure to do business with always." "The reverse Midas touch is where everything you touch, other than your core business, turns to shit." "Don't think just because you can sell products, you can climb a tower and put them up." "Structure first, people second. Look at your business holistically and figure out what you need." Glenn Poulos Links https://glennpoulos.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/glennpoulos/ https://www.instagram.com/glenn.poulos/?hl=en WILL STEEL LINKS 🔥 Connect with Will Steel – Business Coach & High Performance Transformation Expert If you're ready to level up your mindset, scale your business, and unlock peak performance, check out Will Steel’s coaching and content below: 🌐 Official Website https://willsteel.com/ 📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/willsteelcoaching/ 📘 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/willsteelcoaching/ 💼 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-steel-business-coach-high-performance-transform
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  The Hidden Damage of Screen Time with Dr Roger Wu 12.10.2026 17m

  Glancing at screens all day leaves most eyes feeling dry, fatigued, and completely drained. Over two decades in optometry reveal how smartphones and laptops trigger high-energy blue light damage and drastically slow down natural blink rates, leading to long-term macular degradation and persistent dry eye. Beyond standard advice like taking frequent breaks or using basic eye drops, targeted nutrition offers real protection. Combining AREDS 2 formulations, vegan omega-3s, and coconut water hydration creates a practical daily routine designed to nourish vision health from the inside out. Discover actionable habits to safeguard eyesight and reverse screen-induced fatigue in a world dominated by digital devices. KEY TAKEAWAYS High-energy blue light (400–450 nm) penetrates directly to the retina, degrading macular pigmentation and increasing long-term risks. Screen time reduces average blinking from 12–18 times per minute to as low as 2.5 times, causing rapid tear evaporation. Partial or "lazy" blinking prevents eyelids from closing completely, leaving the lower half of the eye vulnerable to severe drying. Macular pigment optical density (MPOD) scores reflect eye protection levels, with functional damage appearing well before structural harm occurs. Bioavailable triglyceride omega-3s combined with proper hydration offer significantly higher nutrient absorption than standard daily capsules. QUOTES "Ever since the first iPhone iPad start coming out, oh my God, all the numbers are going through the roof." "Your blink rate could go down as low as 2.5 times per minute." "You get this high energy blue light that can potentially penetrate all the way to the back of the eye." "Your upper eyelid only come down half or two thirds... causing the bottom half of the eye to get completely dried out." "In 90 days we see some tremendous some crazy numbers. The number was so good we had to repeat the test." Dr Roger L Wu Links https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-roger-wu-321a3710/ https://theeyedrink.com/investors/ https://www.drwuod.com/our-team.html WILL STEEL LINKS 🔥 Connect with Will Steel – Business Coach & High Performance Transformation Expert If you're ready to level up your mindset, scale your business, and unlock peak performance, check out Will Steel’s coaching and content below: 🌐 Official Website https://willsteel.com/ 📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/willsteelcoaching/ 📘 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/willsteelcoaching/ 💼 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-steel-business-coach-high-performance-transform
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  Why $500M Valuations Fail: Lessons in Investor Battles and Business Loss With Gregory Vetter 05.10.2026 18m

  What kind of man steals another man's salad dressing—and how does that lead to starting a clean food revolution? In this episode of Free to Lead, host Palm sits down with Greg Vetter, innovator, clean food pioneer, and author of Undressed: The Unfiltered Story of My Failed American Dream and How It Led to Success. Greg details his journey from selling insurance over a bodega to building Tessemae's into the nation's top organic salad dressing brand. He candidly shares how a missing two-litre bottle of his mom's homemade dressing sparked a multi-million dollar company, how he pitched grocery buyers using wet lettuce out of Tupperware, and how clean manufacturing was born. Greg reveals the harsh realities on the way down: board infighting, failed $500M acquisition attempts, three legal battles, and eventually handing the company over to private equity for $4.5 million. This episode offers a masterclass on trusting your gut, maintaining voting control, and leading through crisis. KEY TAKEAWAYS Recognising True Demand: Extraordinary products create extreme reactions; a stolen bottle of homemade dressing was the spark that launched a national brand. Conviction Beats Perfection: Pitching buyers with passion and wet lettuce out of Tupperware proved that real conviction outweighs fancy packaging. Trust Your Intuition: Ignoring gut instincts when selecting advisors or investment bankers can lead to misaligned priorities and lost value. Protect Corporate Governance: Entrepreneurs must maintain voting control and proper board structures to avoid becoming employees of their own ideas. Lead by Example in Defeat: True leadership is leaving things better than you found them and turning painful business failures into lessons for future founders. QUOTES "What kind of man steals another man's salad dressing? The real question was, what salad dressing is good enough to be stolen?" "I lived the actual pursuit of the American dream on the way up, and then I experienced everything that could go wrong on the way down." "Fast forward, we're handing it over to a private equity group for $4.5 million." "You don't own it anymore, you're an employee of your own idea." "Fight as hard as you can for what your gut tells you, but also be prepared for the consequences of those actions." Gregory Vetter LINKS https://www.gregoryvetter.com/ https://www.instagram.com/glvetter/?hl=en https://open.spotify.com/show/4U4qVX5PeFUYHZ7RR0sWHT https://www.youtube.com/@gregoryvetter WILL STEEL LINKS 🔥 Connect with Will Steel – Business Coach & High Performance Transformation Expert If you're ready to level up your mindset, scale your business, and unlock peak performance, check out Will Steel’s coaching and content below: 🌐 Official Website https://willsteel.com/ 📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/willsteelcoaching/ 📘 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/willsteelcoaching/ 💼 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-steel-business-coach-high-performance-transform
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  How to Turn College Dropout Rejection into a 12-Country Empire 28.09.2026 24m

  Ever feel like the traditional path to success just wasn't built for you? Liana Zavo dropped out of college, faced rejection from five PR agencies, and was told soft skills didn't matter. Today, she runs a globally recognised agency spanning 12 countries, writes for Forbes, and empowers leaders to step into their authority. In this conversation, we dive into how Liana turned pure ambition and storytelling into an international media empire. You'll discover how to leverage proprietary frameworks to launch your book, why third-party validation makes or breaks your personal brand, and how to recruit top-tier talent using energy and charm. Plus, Liana breaks down the staggering statistics on video content and why nearly 80% of clients Google you before ever signing a contract. KEY TAKEAWAYS Soft skills like storytelling and personal branding often outweigh formal degrees in real-world business growth. Launching a book requires a repeatable, branded framework to position you as an in-demand keynote speaker. Over 80% of prospective clients research you online, making third-party media validation essential for trust. Scaling a global agency relies on hiring talent with high emotional intelligence, charm, and magnetic energy. Building category-exclusive referral networks drives consistent, high-value business opportunities. QUOTES "Your first presence, right? Your first impression is your last impression." "Nobody cares about soft skills, right? Nobody cares if you are a great storyteller... those are soft skills that are not taught in school." "89% of founders are aligned with video content. So if they don't see video content, you basically don't exist." "PR comes in where the third party helps you have that third party validate your story." "You need to also have the persona, the energy, the charm to work with people." Liana Zavo Links https://www.linkedin.com/in/lianazavoprpro/ https://zavomediapr.com/ https://www.instagram.com/officiallianazavo WILL STEEL LINKS 🔥 Connect with Will Steel – Business Coach & High Performance Transformation Expert If you're ready to level up your mindset, scale your business, and unlock peak performance, check out Will Steel’s coaching and content below: 🌐 Official Website https://willsteel.com/ 📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/willsteelcoaching/ 📘 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/willsteelcoaching/ 💼 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-steel-business-coach-high-performance-transform
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  How Non-Tech Founders Can Leverage Generative AI Today 21.09.2026 21m

  Ever feel like AI is leaving you behind because you can't write code? Forget the technical jargon—the most powerful skill in modern AI isn’t computer science; it’s deep domain expertise. Serial entrepreneur Chris Daigle breaks down how non-technical founders and leaders can stop fearing AI tools and start using them as strategic thought partners. From safe ways to anonymise confidential business data to slashing proposal prep time from days to minutes, this conversation redefines what it means to build, adapt, and lead in an automated world. Plus, dive into the raw realities of start up life, overcoming operational chaos, and building bulletproof mental resilience when scaling through the storm KEY TAKEAWAYS Your existing industry experience matters more than technical prowess when prompting generative AI. Treat AI as an interactive thought partner rather than an absolute thought leader. Protect sensitive operational data by anonymising specific company details before processing. Professionals using AI will consistently outpace those who resist adopting it. Reframing major entrepreneurial roadblocks as essential learning moments strips away unnecessary anxiety. QUOTES "On the learning curve of AI, you've done the hard work already." "Use the tool as a thought partner, not as a thought leader. You're the leader." "Which employee do you hire? The one who can get more done in a day, or the one who can get less done in a day?" "Take the power away from that experience so that it's not negative... It's just a thing." "We tell people, look on the learning curve of AI. You've done the hard work already." Chris Daigle Links https://chrisdaigle.com/ https://www.facebook.com/thedoctordaigle/ https://chiefaiofficer.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/doctordaigle/ WILL STEEL LINKS 🔥 Connect with Will Steel – Business Coach & High Performance Transformation Expert If you're ready to level up your mindset, scale your business, and unlock peak performance, check out Will Steel’s coaching and content below: 🌐 Official Website https://willsteel.com/ 📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/willsteelcoaching/ 📘 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/willsteelcoaching/ 💼 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-steel-business-coach-high-performance-transform
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  Overcoming Personal Adversity, Resilient Leadership & BNI Growth 14.09.2026 15m

  Navigating life when everything feels like a do-or-die situation takes a special kind of grit. Claudia Thompson, Director of Field Operations for BNI, sits down to share her raw journey through surviving personal trauma, navigating single motherhood, and carving out a massive career in sales and leadership. She breaks down the messy reality of unlearning deep-seated people-pleasing habits, establishing actual boundaries, and adopting the liberating "Let Them" mindset to stop worrying about what others think. From managing operations across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast to creating space for genuine human connection, this conversation dives deep into what happens when you stand firmly in your self-worth, trust your gut, and refuse to let life's hardest moments dictate your future. KEY TAKEAWAYS True resilience comes from getting up and focusing on goals no matter what life throws your way. Forgiveness is a tool for personal peace, not a favour for the person who harmed you. Releasing the need to control what others think frees up energy for things that actually matter. An inner circle should consist of people who love you enough to tell you the unfiltered truth. Real business growth stems from building authentic, long-lasting human relationships. QUOTES "We're just stronger than we think we are." "Forgiveness, I believe, is for you and not for the other person." "Standing on self-respect and self-worth and not letting people step on you." "Once I give up that there's nothing I can control... it just goes away." "My purpose is I want everyone to feel like they can just be—we're all connected." Claudia Thompson Links https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudiathompson/ https://www.instagram.com/claudiayankee/ https://www.bnipodcast.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@BNITEAMUSA WILL STEEL LINKS 🔥 Connect with Will Steel – Business Coach & High Performance Transformation Expert If you're ready to level up your mindset, scale your business, and unlock peak performance, check out Will Steel’s coaching and content below: 🌐 Official Website https://willsteel.com/ 📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/willsteelcoaching/ 📘 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/willsteelcoaching/ 💼 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-steel-business-coach-high-performance-transform
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  How Gut Health Controls Your Cravings, Brain, and Longevity 07.09.2026 34m

  Most of us treat our bodies like we're stuck with whatever health hand we were dealt, settling for low energy, bad sleep, and slow weight gain. True health transformation isn't about grinding through another fad diet or forcing yourself to live on sheer willpower. Real, lasting vitality starts when you fix metabolic dysfunction, reset your gut microbiome, and unlock your brain’s neuroplasticity. When you shift what goes into your system, your cravings change, your focus sharpens, and your body learns to heal itself. From reversing chronic conditions to exploring cutting-edge regenerative cell therapies, this conversation breaks down how to stop settling for unworkable health and take back control of your biology. KEY TAKEAWAYS Address Root Causes First: Chronic symptoms like joint pain, brain fog, and weight gain stem from metabolic and gut imbalances, not just aging. Cravings Are Environmental: The gut microbiome directly influences brain signals, meaning sugar or alcohol cravings can be systematically reset. Fat Loss Is Dietary: Exercise isn't mandatory for initial weight loss; structured, complete nutrition drives metabolic realignment. Fuel Drives Focus: Improving metabolic health boosts neuroplasticity and new brain cell growth, sharpening decision-making. Regenerative Options Exist: Emerging treatments like targeted cell therapy and non-surgical stem cell work offer new alternatives for severe illnesses and joint repair. QUOTES "You have a body, you are not your body." "It'll be a way more interesting way to go than heart disease or type two diabetes. That's so beige." "Every time you put something in your mouth, who you're feeding first are those microbes in your gut." "Losing the weight is the easy part. You just do what we say." "When someone [is] in that nutritional approach... their brain becomes very malleable." Dean Kilby Links https://www.instagram.com/kilbydean/https://www.simplrhealth.com.au/https://www.linkedin.com/in/deankilby/ WILL STEEL LINKS 🔥 Connect with Will Steel – Business Coach & High Performance Transformation Expert If you're ready to level up your mindset, scale your business, and unlock peak performance, check out Will Steel’s coaching and content below: 🌐 Official Website https://willsteel.com/ 📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/willsteelcoaching/ 📘 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/willsteelcoaching/ 💼 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-steel-business-coach-high-performance-transform
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  Scaling a Multi-Million Dollar Portfolio in Under 5 Year 28.08.2026 30m

  When a sudden tech layoff threatened her family's security, Emma Powell turned a terrifying moment into a multi-million dollar real estate empire. Going from a part-time photographer homeschooling six kids to retiring her husband in just five years, Emma reveals how she built a massive portfolio through strategic leverage and capital raising. We dive deep into the real math of passive income, shifting from equity to cash flow, and overcoming a scarcity mindset. If you've ever felt trapped by a single income or wondered how to break out of the middle-class paycheck cycle, this candid breakdown of private debt, mindset shifts, and full-time family travel will change how you look at building wealth. KEY TAKEAWAYS Strategic leverage can scale a portfolio drastically faster than waiting to pay 100% cash. High net worth and equity mean nothing for daily living without consistent cash flow. Specialising in capital raising allows you to partner with expert operators rather than manage properties yourself. Financial freedom doesn't eliminate problems; it upgrades them to challenges money can solve. Internal mindset work is mandatory, as external wealth alone will not cure financial anxiety QUOTES "I am never going to let this happen to us again." "These strangers do not deserve cheap photography like my children deserve me to not be editing photos..." "I've got a multi-million dollar net worth and we can't quit our jobs..." "It's like upgrading your problems." " Until you fix what's going on inside, what you have on the outside will never fix what's going on inside." Emma Powell Links https://www.youtube.com/@emmapowell28 investwithemma.com linkedin.com/in/emmapowell28 facebook.com/emmapowell28instagram.com/passiveincomeadventureshighrise.group youtube.com/@passiveincomeadventures?sub_confirmation=1 WILL STEEL LINKS  🔥 Connect with Will Steel – Business Coach & High Performance Transformation Expert If you're ready to level up your mindset, scale your business, and unlock peak performance, check out Will Steel’s coaching and content below: 🌐 Official Website https://willsteel.com/ 📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/willsteelcoaching/ 📘 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/willsteelcoaching/ 💼 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-steel-business-coach-high-performance-transform
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  From Soccer Pitch to Real Estate Success: Dr Jacopo Iasiello 24.08.2026 21m

  When a devastating injury crushed a childhood dream of playing professional soccer at 17, for Dr Jacopo Iasiello giving up wasn't an option. Instead, it sparked a complete reinvention leading from the streets of Naples to building a global real estate empire across Miami, Italy, and Dubai. Packed with raw lessons on losing €1 million, mastering over 350 property flips, and turning market crashes into massive opportunities, this conversation breaks down the practical blueprint for creating true wealth and freedom. It’s not just about money—it's about aligning health, happiness, and financial abundance to build a business that serves your life. KEY TAKEAWAYS Control Is Everything: Never invest money into opportunities where you lack direct control over the outcome. The 4 Pillars: Scale any venture using research, growth, action, and contribution. Avoid Real Estate Pitfalls: Profit is made at the buy, but project success relies on matching renovation quality directly to the target client. Three Paths to Wealth: Segment property investments across quick-turn flips, cash-flowing multifamily units, and high-upside land variations. Inner Power First: True external abundance only lasts when backed by a focused mind and health-first lifestyle. QUOTES "Never, never, never, never, never invest in something where you don't have control." "When you play soccer you are focused on soccer... I need to completely reinvent myself, understand where I need to go." "Real estate give you the freedom to create your team based in the most important part." "One book possible change lives and one book changed my vision, my life, everything." "First of all we need to create our inner power and after go through the external abundance." Dr Jacopo Iasiello Links https://www.jacopoiasiello.com/ https://www.instagram.com/jacopoiasiello/?hl=en-gb https://healthyrichandhappy.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacopo-iasiello-50936244/ WILL STEEL LINKS  🔥 Connect with Will Steel – Business Coach & High Performance Transformation Expert If you're ready to level up your mindset, scale your business, and unlock peak performance, check out Will Steel’s coaching and content below: 🌐 Official Website https://willsteel.com/ 📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/willsteelcoaching/ 📘 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/willsteelcoaching/ 💼 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-steel-business-coach-high-performance-transform
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  Billy Schwer World Champion Mindset: From Boxing Glory to Total Breakdown 17.08.2026 14m

  Ever wonder what happens when the applause stops and the fight of your life begins outside the ring? Former World Boxing Champion Billy Schwer opens up about the brutal reality of elite performance, the high cost of overtraining, and the devastating crash that followed his retirement from sport. Winning titles took extreme aggression and relentless drive—traits that built a champion but ultimately shattered a marriage and led to bankruptcy. Rebuilding from rock bottom meant unlearning those very traits, mastering self-leadership, and discovering how to truly thrive. Today, those hard-earned lessons power a unique approach to coaching entrepreneurs and leaders, helping them transform their energy from a survival-mode 3/10 to a fulfilled 10/10. Packed with raw honesty and practical wisdom on energy management, health values, and the power of saying no, this conversation will challenge how you define real success. KEY TAKEAWAYS Self-Leadership Comes First: True performance starts with prioritising personal well-being, health, and mental alignment before leading others. The Power of "No": Pushing through when burnt out or overtrained isn't grit; real integrity means knowing when to pull back. Unlearning Destructive Habits: Traits required to win in hyper-competitive arenas can prove destructive in personal relationships and daily life if left unchecked. Separating Action from Identity: Who you are is distinct from how you operate; stepping away from a career requires redefining self-worth beyond past titles. Lifting the Performance Ceiling: Transforming the personal state of a business owner directly lifts the ceiling on what the entire business can achieve. QUOTES "You don't play boxing. The intention is very different. It is kill or be killed." "To succeed in life you got to take care of yourself first and foremost." "I had the tools that made me a champion in the ring, but those traits didn't work in my marriage." "I know what it feels like to be on top of the world and then on the canvas with nothing." "Transform the business owner, you transform the business. They are the lid on what's possible." Billy Schwer Links https://www.instagram.com/billy.schwer/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/billy-schwer/ https://billyschwer.com/ WILL STEEL LINKS  🔥 Connect with Will Steel – Business Coach & High Performance Transformation Expert If you're ready to level up your mindset, scale your business, and unlock peak performance, check out Will Steel’s coaching and content below: 🌐 Official Website https://willsteel.com/ 📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/willsteelcoaching/ 📘 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/willsteelcoaching/ 💼 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-steel-business-coach-high-performance-transform
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  20 Years of PR: What It Really Takes to Build a Legacy With Lilian Raji 10.08.2026 24m

  Lepping out of corporate stability into running your own business sounds heroic until you’re staring down the barrel of rent day with no safety net. Entrepreneurship isn’t all glossy wins and milestone posts; it’s a grueling test of grit, self-awareness, and relentless perseverance. Lilian Raji peels back the curtain on two decades of building a top-tier luxury PR agency, securing over $100M in startup funding, and navigating the mental battles of leadership. From the unexpected push that sparked a 20-year journey to discovering how meditation and raw introspection turn fear into fuel, this is an honest unpack on what it actually takes to survive—and thrive—in business. Expect practical wisdom on reframing setbacks, honoring personal legacy, and staying fiercely true to your standards even when the rest of the world tells you to tone it down. KEY TAKEAWAYS Fear Isn't the Enemy: Courage isn't missing fear; It's staring at the uncertainty and taking action anyway because the mission matters more. Roadblocks Are Re-Calculations: Business obstacles aren't signs to quit; they're data points highlighting internal or strategic gaps to fix. Decouple Ego from Results: True commitment to a client means focusing entirely on delivering exceptional outcomes rather than chasing applause. Practice Objective Introspection: Stepping back as an impartial observer allows you to analyze choices dispassionately and learn from failure faster. Trust Your Internal Compass: Distinguishing quiet intuition from external noise and ego is the ultimate superpower for long-term survival. QUOTE "Courage is not the absence of fear. It's looking at that fear and doing it anyway." "If I can tell you all the horrible things I've been through and it scares you away, you were not made for this." "Roadblocks aren't there to make us fail. There's something that we need to understand." "My place in this world is to be the very best at what I do, to take extraordinary pride in my work." "It's about finding what they call the permanent witness and being able to objectively look at my actions and decisions." Lilian Raji Links https://www.linkedin.com/in/lilianrajipr/ https://www.instagram.com/lilianraji/ https://www.lmrpr.com/ WILL STEEL LINKS  🔥 Connect with Will Steel – Business Coach & High Performance Transformation Expert If you're ready to level up your mindset, scale your business, and unlock peak performance, check out Will Steel’s coaching and content below: 🌐 Official Website https://willsteel.com/ 📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/willsteelcoaching/ 📘 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/willsteelcoaching/ 💼 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-steel-business-coach-high-performance-transform
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  Beyond Organic Posts: The Proven LinkedIn Strategy for Business Growth With Colin Hirdman 03.08.2026 25m

  Ditching organic post algorithms for targeted connection strategies might sound counterintuitive, but it completely transforms how you find ideal clients on LinkedIn. Colin Hirdman drops by to break down his exact playbook for building high-converting networks through authentic outreach, educational content, and strategic automation. From leveraging competitor events to using thought-leader proxies, learn how to turn LinkedIn into a predictable revenue driver without relying on endless posting. We also dive into his personal journey as a serial entrepreneur, the balance of scaling service-based businesses, and why supporting small business owners is the key to thriving communities. KEY TAKEAWAYS Focus on 1st-degree connections: Building a targeted network of 1st-degree connections unlocks LinkedIn features that foster deep, long-term relationships far better than an email list. Adopt an educational mindset: Spammy sales pitches fall flat; prospects respond to authentic communication that addresses their actual pain points. Leverage events for lead generation: Attending competitor or industry LinkedIn events helps identify prospects actively looking to solve specific problems. Use thought leaders as proxies: Tapping into open connection lists of key industry influencers provides a pre-vetted pool of ideal prospect profiles. Maintain healthy network hygiene: Removing pending connection requests older than 30 days helps keep accounts optimised and running smoothly. QUOTES "You have to be authentic and genuine on LinkedIn... coming in with an educational mindset and figuring out what it is your audience can learn from you." "I would much rather have a 1st-degree connection over someone's email." "We are not using a connection message most of the time. If someone doesn't connect within 30 days, then we withdraw the invite." "You need to position yourself as a thought leader... that is your job, that's your role, and that's how you can really leverage LinkedIn." "Entrepreneurs and small business owners are the lifeblood of our local communities. Supporting them means sustainability within those communities." COLIN HIRDMAN LINKS https://www.linkedin.com/in/colinhirdman/ https://www.monkeyislandventures.com/ https://www.rainmakergrows.com/ WILL STEEL LINKS  🔥 Connect with Will Steel – Business Coach & High Performance Transformation Expert If you're ready to level up your mindset, scale your business, and unlock peak performance, check out Will Steel’s coaching and content below: 🌐 Official Website https://willsteel.com/ 📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/willsteelcoaching/ 📘 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/willsteelcoaching/ 💼 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-steel-business-coach-high-performance-transform
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  How to Hire 10x Faster Using AI Automation 27.07.2026 22m

  Finding top-tier talent usually feels like an expensive, time-consuming nightmare, but smart automation changes everything. Danika Chilibeck breaks down how she went from feeling completely overwhelmed by recruitment to building an AI platform that books candidate interviews ten times faster. She shares her exact framework for stitching together off-the-shelf tools to build a minimum viable product without writing a single line of code, alongside the massive mindset shift required when moving from corporate giant Shopify to running a lean startup. Plus, get practical advice on avoiding common founder mistakes, setting up tight feedback loops, and why ditching generic AI copy is the real secret to standing out on LinkedIn. KEY TAKEAWAYS Automate pain points without code: Connect existing, off-the-shelf tools using workflow automation platforms to validate solutions quickly before spending heavily on custom software. Prioritise momentum over perfection: Transitioning from corporate roles to startups requires trading 99% accuracy for 70% solutions that keep business moving forward. Establish continuous feedback loops: Speak to customers constantly throughout product development to avoid building features nobody actually wants. Protect against key-person risk: Overcommunicate with top performers early and often to prevent unexpected departures that derail small teams. Keep social content authentic: Ditch generic AI text generators on LinkedIn; genuine, human posts with personal photos or unscripted video drive far higher engagement. QUOTES "I asked myself, 'What's the one thing I really dislike doing the most?' And that's talent sourcing. So I stitched a few tools together to find a way to automate this process." "If you try to hit that perfection, you just get nothing done. You need to be okay with the 70% solution and finding that right balance." "The overall theme for me, in terms of my failures, has just been putting more time aside to have those feedback loops for anyone on your team." "People who create very genuine and authentic content always perform better than the very well-structured, almost scripted posts." "I refuse to use AI tools for my LinkedIn posting. I definitely want to keep it authentic and genuine and it always comes from me." Danika Chilibeck Links https://www.linkedin.com/in/dchilibeck/ https://www.hirecaddie.ai/ WILL STEEL LINKS 🔥 Connect with Will Steel – Business Coach & High Performance Transformation Expert If you're ready to level up your mindset, scale your business, and unlock peak performance, check out Will Steel’s coaching and content below: 🌐 Official Website https://willsteel.com/ 📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/willsteelcoaching/ 📘 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/willsteelcoaching/ 💼 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-steel-business-coach-high-performance-transform
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  The 80% Rule: Letting Go of Control to Empower Your Team Austin Davis 20.07.2026 19m

  What if the biggest bottleneck in your business isn’t your marketing, your finance, or your team—but a promise you made to yourself when you were ten years old? Austin Davis, founder of Clearfork Academy, built a phenomenal mental health and addiction treatment enterprise for teenagers from the ground up, scaling from just eight beds to over eighty. But behind the incredible growth lies a classic founder’s trap: the absolute compulsion to do every single task yourself. In this incredibly raw and reflective coaching session, we trace that need for extreme self-reliance back to a pivotal childhood moment on a wooden porch swing. We dive into why letting go of perfectionism is the only way to truly scale, how to embrace the 80% rule of delegation, and the practical steps you can take today to stop abdicating and start empowering. KEY TAKEAWAYS The Adult Rehab Revelation: Treating adult patients often reveals that the root trauma occurred during their teenage years, highlighting the urgent need for early-intervention care. The Founder's Paradox: Balances are hard to strike when a leader is caught between a clinical desire for perfection and an entrepreneurial drive to scale. The 80% Victory: Scaling requires accepting that if a team member can complete a task 80% as well as you, it is a massive win for the business. Tracing the Handbrake: Subconscious, self-protective rules formed in childhood often manifest as operational bottlenecks in adult leadership. Active Interruption: Breaking the habit of micromanagement requires actively noticing the urge to take over, pausing, and intentionally redirecting the task. QUOTES "All of these grown men are processing childhood wounds 20, 30 years later with me." "We literally jumped out of the plane without a parachute... we just kind of knew that's what we were supposed to do." "If I need something or want something, I got to go do it myself... this internal self-reliance, for sure." "If they can do it 80% as good as you, that's a win." "Probably half of my to-do list right now could be assigned to other people." Austin Davis Links https://clearforkacademy.com/about-us/our-team/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/austindaledavis/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW9obDBg7ElpdXichEyOS9Q https://www.instagram.com/clearforkacademy/ WILL STEEL LINKS 🔥 Connect with Will Steel – Business Coach & High Performance Transformation Expert If you're ready to level up your mindset, scale your business, and unlock peak performance, check out Will Steel’s coaching and content below: 🌐 Official Website https://willsteel.com/ 📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/willsteelcoaching/ 📘 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/willsteelcoaching/ 💼 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-steel-business-coach-high-performance-transform
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  Overcoming the Burnout Plateau: Strategic Growth for Tired CEOs 13.07.2026 18m

  When business owners hit an unbreakable revenue plateau, they often arrive at the end of their rope—physically drained and deeply exhausted. Business strategist and certified mindset coach Celie Arias joins the show to share her 25-year entrepreneurial journey, spanning from a childhood babysitting business to running a global fashion line. She dives deep into the realities of navigating failed product launches, surviving a period of homelessness, and overcoming a deep-seated aversion to financial spreadsheets. This conversation uncovers why overworking in your strengths is actually a symptom of overcompensating for hidden business gaps. It is rarely a lead generation or a strategy problem holding a company back; rather, it is the psychological blockages sitting directly between the business owner's ears. KEY TAKEAWAYS The Overcompensation Cycle: Burnt-out business owners often subconsciously overwork in their area of strength to avoid dealing with key operational departments they fear or lack skill in. The Lead Gen Myth: Demanding more leads is rarely the true fix; revenue plateaus are usually caused by underlying gaps in pricing, messaging, product suites, or offer structures. Perfectionism Destroys Launches: Founders frequently obsess over perfecting a digital or physical product, completely forgetting to market and talk about it until it is too late. The Limits of Corporate Theory: Traditional academic structures, like an MBA, focus heavily on corporate theory and are largely unapplicable to the nimble realities of small business entrepreneurship. Mindset Dictates Strategy: No growth system or strategy will magically execute itself if a founder lacks the psychological willingness to get uncomfortable and put skin in the game QUOTES "What's the limit on the business? It's not those structures... It's the business owner. It's what's going on between your ears." "When you don't have a clear strategy and a clear understanding of how business works, you're going to overcompensate for that by overworking." "Let's be real about that... I hope you've had failed launches. If you've had failed launches, you were learning something." "No strategy is going to magically work if you don't believe it, if you don't put your action into it, if you don't put some skin in the game." "The symptom is just a part of a greater problem or it's an effect of a greater cause. And it's the same in business." Celia Arias Links https://celiarias.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/celiarias/ https://www.instagram.com/celigrowsbusiness/ WILL STEEL LINKS 🔥 Connect with Will Steel – Business Coach & High Performance Transformation Expert If you're ready to level up your mindset, scale your business, and unlock peak performance, check out Will Steel’s coaching and content below: 🌐 Official Website https://willsteel.com/ 📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/willsteelcoaching/ 📘 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/willsteelcoaching/ 💼 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-steel-business-coach-high-performance-transform
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  10,000 Ways That Won't Work: Building a Seven-Figure Global Mobility Platform 06.07.2026 21m

  Moving to a new country shouldn't feel like a logistical nightmare, but for anyone who has tried it, you know exactly how painful sorting housing, bank accounts, and visas can be. After experiencing this first-hand when moving from Spain to the UK, Óscar Rubio Martin decided to build the exact solution he wished he'd had. Today, that idea has evolved into Luxury Lodging, a digital ecosystem managing over 90,000 rental units globally. Driven by the philosophy that mistakes are merely data points on the road to success, this conversation pulls back the curtain on what it truly takes to scale a business. From losing $100,000 on a failed coworking venture to shifting from top-down management to empowering a world-class team, discover the operational grit required to break through the seven-figure glass ceiling and eye a future Nasdaq listing. KEY TAKEAWAYS Solve Personal Pain Points: The business was born directly from the immense frustration of navigating housing and administrative hurdles during an international relocation. Target the Mid-Term Gap: Success lies in bridging the 1-to-11-month gap that holiday platforms miss, integrating rental agreements, visa access, and local banking setup. Failures Give Knowledge: Mistakes shouldn't be feared; they provide the direct operational experience and knowledge needed to iteratively improve the business model. Evolve Your Leadership: Scaling past seven figures requires transitioning from a top-down director to a motivator who hires experts smarter than themselves. Prioritise Financial Health: Long-term global expansion requires robust financial discipline rather than continuously burning cash without a stable structure. QUOTES "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." "For me, the success come from the mistakes because the mistakes give you the experience..." "To be successful, you need to have the best team that you can afford. If not, it's impossible." "I always say you hit the ball when the ball comes." "The vision is good, execution is better." Óscar Rubio Martin Links https://www.lodgerin.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/oscar-rubio-martin/ WILL STEEL LINKS 🔥 Connect with Will Steel – Business Coach & High Performance Transformation Expert If you're ready to level up your mindset, scale your business, and unlock peak performance, check out Will Steel’s coaching and content below: 🌐 Official Website https://willsteel.com/ 📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/willsteelcoaching/ 📘 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/willsteelcoaching/ 💼 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-steel-business-coach-high-performance-transform
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  From Top Gear to Tech Disruptor: Dan Gable on Creative Evolution 29.06.2026 21m

  What happens when you spend four decades at the absolute top of the television and video industry, picking up a BAFTA nomination and working on everything from Top Gear to Big Brother? You realise that the most powerful thing you can create isn’t a heavily polished, multi-million-pound production—it’s a raw, immediate piece of human communication. Dan Gable dives deep into the incredible evolution of media, from the days of rigid TV unions and tape editing to the digital revolution and the rise of AI. It’s a look at what happens when a lifelong overachiever decides to stop chasing the next financial milestone and shifts focus toward finding genuine life balance. Expect a fascinating look at technology, the democratisation of content, and the timeless power of staying completely authentic. KEY TAKEAWAYS The Power of Raw Authenticity: Filming content on a mobile phone often captures a far more genuine, relatable human story than big-budget, heavily polished studio setups. Disruption Requires Education: Introducing a tool that changes how an industry works naturally meets resistance, making the education of your market a massive, ongoing hurdle. Democratisation of Creation: The rise of online platforms acted like the "punk rock" of content, tearing down strict gatekeepers and allowing anyone to become a creator. AI is Not Hyped Enough: Artificial intelligence is a foundational shift akin to climate change in its scale, completely redefining how humans interact with software interfaces. Redefining Success Over Time: After decades of driving hard to overachieve, true leadership eventually means stepping back to prioritise life balance over financial growth. QUOTES "It's taken me maybe like 40 years to figure out why they're great." " It's like punk rock of content was happening." "It's better to have mistakes and it be real than all polished." "I just like the rawness that you can achieve by doing something immediate." "I spent my whole career kind of trying to overachieve... now I'm sort of seeing the benefits of balance." Dan Gable Links https://www.linkedin.com/in/dangable/ https://www.shoutout.social/ https://sprat.tv/ WILL STEEL LINKS 🔥 Connect with Will Steel – Business Coach & High Performance Transformation Expert If you're ready to level up your mindset, scale your business, and unlock peak performance, check out Will Steel’s coaching and content below: 🌐 Official Website https://willsteel.com/ 📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/willsteelcoaching/ 📘 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/willsteelcoaching/ 💼 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-steel-business-coach-high-performance-transform
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  Beyond the Money: Beyond the Money: Mastering Consciousness and True Wealth Mastering Consciousness and True Wealth 24.06.2026 19m

  Imagine hitting every financial milestone you ever dreamed of, stepping onto a beach halfway across the world, and suddenly asking yourself: Is this all there is? That’s the exact wall Scott Royal Smith hit after building a massive legal and real estate empire. True freedom isn't just an automated asset protection structure or a bulletproof tax strategy; it’s an inside job. When you learn to quiet the internal chaos, you eliminate the mental static that distorts your everyday reality. True self-leadership means organising your entire life around joyful creation instead of fear-driven hustle. By aligning your financial, social, and personal structures from within, you stop reacting to the world and start commanding it. KEY TAKEAWAYS The Dual Engine: Everything you experience boils down to your thoughts and your emotions. True self-leadership is mastering both to dictate your actions. Clear the Screen: Mental distortion acts like static on a television. Removing it makes complex business decisions instantly simple. The Joy Multiplier: Choosing to only pursue revenue streams that bring genuine alignment can yield results 10 to 100 times greater than fear-driven chasing. The Retirement Trap: Stripping away a 9-to-5 often causes a quiet identity crisis because modern self-worth is deeply entangled with external work structures. Systemising Fulfilment: Ultimate life optimisation requires taking internal clarity and scaling it across your life's buckets using predictable systems, processes, and teams. QUOTES All you really have to do to be able to optimise and change everything in your life... is learn how to control your thoughts and emotions." "The results of that were ten times or 100 times better than I ever would have achieved had I constantly been chasing a bunch of things driven from the fear." "It's like eliminating the static from the television, and once you can see the picture clearly, everything becomes really simple." "Once you become free [of] money, life can actually become super crippling." "Imagine if you didn't have to work for money anymore and you thought you were going to go on perpetual vacation. This is what happens to people in retirement. They come to present and they die." SCOTT ROYAL SMITH LINKS https://royallegalsolutions.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottroyalsmith https://www.instagram.com/scottroyalsmith/ WILL STEEL LINKS 🔥 Connect with Will Steel – Business Coach & High Performance Transformation Expert If you're ready to level up your mindset, scale your business, and unlock peak performance, check out Will Steel’s coaching and content below: 🌐 Official Website https://willsteel.com/ 📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/willsteelcoaching/ 📘 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/willsteelcoaching/ 💼 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-steel-business-coach-high-performance-transform