A New Direction

It’s Time to Redefine Success for You and Your People In the high-stakes game of business, we are often obsessed with the scoreboard—profit margins, market share, and rankings. But the greatest mentor of all time, Coach John Wooden, taught us that true success isn’t merely about winning; it is about the peace of mind attained only through self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to do the best of which you are capable. Too many leaders today are burning out chasing the “win” while losing the heart of their team. It is time to redefine what it means to lead. This week on A New Direction, I am sitting down with the man recognized as “America’s Breakthrough Coach,” Brian Biro. We are discussing his book, Beyond Success, and the profound lessons he learned directly from his mentor, John Wooden. Brian doesn’t just theorize about culture; he shows you how to build it. We are going to explore how to apply Wooden’s timeless principles to the modern workplace, shifting your team from a group of employees to a collective of high-performers who genuinely care about the mission and each other. This conversation is vital for every leader, entrepreneur, and coach who wants to build a legacy that lasts. We will dive into how to foster a spirit of “industriousness and enthusiasm” in your organization and how to break through the fear that stifles innovation. Brian is going to share the secrets of how to lead with love and discipline simultaneously, creating an environment where success is the natural by-product of character. This is about taking your business from transactional to transformational. This is your opportunity to learn the blueprint for greatness from a man who learned from the master himself. Bring your notebook and your team—this is the kind of wisdom that changes trajectories. If you cannot join the livestream, make sure to subscribe and download the podcast later. Don’t settle for being a boss; tune in and learn how to become a leader who goes beyond success. Brian Biro‘s book, “Beyond Success: – The 15 Secrets to Effective Leadership and Life Based on Legendary Coach John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success” is a timeless and outstanding read!  The stories and practical applications are just as relevant today as they were when John Wooden coached his last year in the mid-seventies. In today’s world we are so focused on the results we are employing strategies at the sacrifice of human fundamentals that either burn our people out or burn us out.  Let’s be honest all business is about people. Not just the people we sell to, but the people who do the selling, who handle the paperwork, who mop the floor.  All of business is people, and if we are not handling our people well.  We have already lost. The fact is all success is going to start with the number one person we need to develop first. And that is us.  Sadly, in today’s world we are so concerned with our reputation and what other’s think we are less focused on developing our character.  But it is from our character that will drive our enthusiasm, beliefs, and vision.  Without fully developed character or vision is nothing more than words on the wall.  Empty and meaningless. Beyond Success is truly a refreshing read, that gets grounded into the basics of who we are, getting the most out of the people around us, and building the right blocks so that what naturally flows is competitive greatness. Get your copy of “Beyond Success” by clicking here. Please thank the sponsors of A New Direction Linda Craft Team, Realtors   Linda built her business in 1985 one relationship at a time, and her team and her continue to do the same things she did 40 years later. They have provided thousands of people the ability to help people sell or buy their next home with personalized legendary customer service. They have the experience, knowledge, and understanding of the home industry.  They also understand you and what you want and need from your next home purchase or sale. What is more they can help you regardless of where you live.  Ready to buy or sell your next home or your first…click on over to to www.LindaCraft.com Enhance Your Audiobook Experience with Zoundy! If you’re an author or narrator looking to produce high-quality audiobooks with ease, Zoundy is the ultimate tool you need. Designed specifically for audiobook creation, Zoundy delivers crystal-clear sound, seamless editing capabilities, and professional-grade production tools—all in one intuitive platform. Whether you’re recording your own book or refining your narration, Zoundy ensures every word is heard with perfection. And here’s the best part: As a listener of A New Direction, you get an exclusive deal! Head over to zoundy.com/jay and use the code JAY25 at checkout to unlock special savings on your audiobook production. Don’t settle for anything less than studio-quality sound—power up your audiobook journey today with Zoundy! Here is the truth: You tune into A New Direction because you want to grow. But consuming content and executing strategy are two different things. If you are leading a company between $5M and $50M and you feel like you are hitting a ceiling, the problem isn’t a lack of information. It’s likely a “human” bottleneck. I am Coach Jay, a Behavioral Strategist who specializes in fixing the friction that kills profit. I don’t just look at your P&L; I look at the psychology of the people driving it. I recently helped a stalled mid-market firm save $3 Million and secure new capital—not by firing people, but by realigning their behavior. Stop guessing. Let’s find the millions trapped in your org chart. Reach out for a discreet conversation: 919-369-2121 or visit TheCoachJay.com.

It has been said that “Culture eats strategy for breakfast” well if that is so true why do people spend more money on “strategy” than “culture”?  Think about this way…you can have what is considered to be a great strategy, but if your people will not implement it…it really doesn’t matter.  The reality is if you have a great culture you can accomplish nearly anything in your business.  It is that simple.  That is because great people in a great culture work together to accomplish great things.  Folks we must start with culture if we truly want success. In this episode of A New Direction friend of the program, culture expert, and author Colin Ellis returns to not just talk about culture, but what are the steps we need to take to start fixing the culture, all from his book Culture Fix.  Colin states in his book, “Culture change success requires only one ‘lone nut'”.  One person with the radical idea that people and culture come first.  Where there is no doubt that Colin Ellis is that “lone nut” that will influence you to be the “lone nut” when it comes to  fixing and changing your culture.  Culture Fix is not a book on the philosophy of culture it is a practical guide how you can go about changing it!  Get your copy here. Thank you to our sponsors of AND! EPIC Physical Therapy from every day aches and pains, to injuries to keeping elite athletes at the top of their game, EPIC pt has the cutting edge equipment and the certified staff to create an individualized treatment program specifically for you.  They are my physical therapists and I think they should be yours too.  So if you want EPIC Relief, EPIC Recovery, and EPIC Results.  Start by contacting the great people at EPIC Physical Therapy….www.EPICpt.com Linda Craft & Team, Realtors for 35 years they have been known for having “Legendary Customer Service”.  Unaffiliated and independently owned and operated they can recommend the best real estate professional to help you sell your home or buy your next home anywhere in the world.  That is because they are not attached to a company they are attached to what is in your best interest.  So before you buy or sell start with the “Legends” at Linda Craft & Team.  Just click on over to www.LindaCraft.com      

Fear.  So often we do not want to admit it.  But as long as we are human we will fear.  But what about fear when it comes to leadership?  Can a leader afford to be afraid?  A leader may deny their they are afraid, but the truth is their behavior will give them away.  Because no matter how hard you try to deny it or ignore it, fear will rear it’s ugly head in a variety of different ways and flush you out! Overcome Fear – Fearless Leadership – Alan Weiss In this episode of A New Direction I have the Internationally known and recognized rock star millionaire consultant and coach Dr. Alan Weiss!  Dr. Weiss has a brand new book out entitled, “Fearless Leadership” and in it he not only address fear, but then he helps you break it down, throw away your baggage and eliminate your fear.  Fearless Leadership is book that is not simply for leaders it is a book that is for anyone and everyone who is trying to move to the next level of their life and do it without that “little guy” on your shoulder telling you “you can’t”.  Fearless Leadership is Home Run for sure! Please say thank you by reaching out to our sponsors: EPIC Physical Therapy if you want to move better, physically feel better, or get back to the elite level of athlete before you were injured.  All you need to do is contact the certified professionals at EPIC PT.  They have the cutting age treatments with the latest in technology in equipment and the customize every plan to fit you because they understand YOU are unique.  So if you want EPIC Relief, EPIC Recovery, and EPIC Results, contact EPIC Physical Therapy…www.EPICpt.com Linda Craft & Team, Realtors, for 35 years they have created a reputation of relationships.  The understand that your home is more than likely the largest personal investment you will ever make, but they also know that investment is more than money, it is an investment in memories.  And knowing that they want to be part of making your memories special by ensuring that your home is treated with the utmost care and fits your needs.  So whether you are selling or buying leave it to the “legends of customer service”.  Leave it to Linda Craft & Team, Realtors.  Click on over to www.LindaCraft.com And always feel free to listen to replays of A New Direction on local Raleigh Radio Oak 93.5 FM.  Every Thursday at 4 pm EST and every Sunday morning at 10 am EST.  Please tell the station that you have listened to the show and how much you enjoy it.  Listen now by clicking HERE!

There is a variety of research out there that suggests you will have between 7 and 10 jobs in your life time.  For some more and others less.  Of all those jobs that you will take will be with the competition of the employer you are currently working for.  Job transitioning on the outset sounds like a fundamental right.  And it is true you have a right to leave your place of employment, but that doesn’t mean that it will happen without difficulty.  The fact of the matter is whether you have an employment agreement or not a company may exercise it’s right to start litigation to make your job transition difficult and in some cases impossible.  That litigation could turn into a nightmare for your future employer who may not want to invest in the risk.  Now what do you do? In this episode of A New Direction Transition specialist attorney Steven Manchel joins us.  Steven from the very introduction of the book explains why the transitioning process can be difficult and why YOU need to have a plan before you ever say “I Hereby Resign”.  There are so many takeaways from “I Hereby Resign”, but perhaps one of the biggest is that be careful about your behavior, because while you may say all the right things, your behavior patterns may flush you out…and if that should happen you can make it worse by lying (Which by the way “DON”T!”)  Steven Manchel in his book “I Hereby Resign” comes complete with a sample resignation letter, scripts that you should say and more.  It also has a full recommendation for recruiters and even offers help on how to start your own transition program.  Great read!  Must Read! Thank you to our sponsors!  Epic Physical Therapy.  Whether you just wan to move and feel better, have been injured, or you are a professional athlete or anywhere in between Epic Physical Therapy offers the latest in cutting edge equipment and the certified staff with the latest therapeutic techniques to help get your body and you back to where you want to be.  Don’t waste another day, get EPIC Relief, EPIC Recovery, Get EPIC Results, Get EPIC Physical Therapy!  Go to www.EPICpt.com Linda Craft and Team, Realtors they not only sponsor A New Direction, but they are also a corporate sponsor of the Carolina Hurricanes NHL hockey team.  Linda built her business in 1985 one relationship at a time, and her team and her continue to do the same things she did 35 years ago and provide personalized legendary customer service.  They can help you regardless of where you live.  Check them out by going to www.LindaCraft.com Remember you can listen to A New Direction on the Oak 93.5 FM out of Raleigh.  You can listen in your car every Thursday at 4 pm EST and Sundays 10 am EST. Tune in on your radio if you live in the Research Triangle Area or listen on line by clicking here to listen online.  Tell them you heard A New Direction on 93.5 and tell them how much you are enjoying listening.  www.Oak935.org  

Networking is truly more are than science.  There is a tremendous difference between those who are great networkers and those that work at networking.  There are many people, perhaps you who just dread the idea of networking, or perhaps are frustrated by it, or maybe you have felt that you have tried networking face-to-face, but you just didn’t get the results you wanted so you have given up on it.  Steven David Elliot Networking expert and chief visionary officer of Rockstar Connect (www.rockstarconnect.com) joins us on A New Direction (AND) to help you become a more successful networking professional by giving you the skills, motivation, and mentality to make any networking event a more successful one with his book Mingle: The Art of Face-to-Face Networking in the Digital Era. The book Mingle is what is known as a AHA book.  It can be read in one sitting while drinking a cup of coffee or two and is 140 proverbs that Steven David Elliot discovered through trial and error to create perhaps the world’s largest networking events in the country.  He lives by them, I have witnessed them first hand, and while they may seem simple to read, the attention and intention to accomplish these proverbs will consistently be a challenge.  Mingle’s approach is counter-intuitive.  While most people go to networking events to try to get business, Steven’s approach is about truly giving first, with no expectations, and over the course of time the power of reciprocity takes hold and more business and referrals come your way.  Steven also demonstrates how creating your own networking event leads to what we call in psychology as the “mere-exposure effect”.   Every person should read Mingle: The Art of Face-to-Face Networking in the Digital Era., read it often, read it right before you go to a networking event and hand it to every person on your team. Click on the picture of the sponsors of A New Direction and Like their Facebook pages please! From everyday aches and pains to elite athletes EPIC Physical Therapy has the latest cutting edge equipment, certified staff with cutting edge treatments to help you get back to doing the very things you desire to do.  They are my physical therapists and I highly recommend them!  If you really want EPIC relief, EPIC recovery, and EPIC results do you and your body a favor and check out the professionals at EPIC Physical Therapy.  www.EPICpt.com Linda Craft & Team, Realtors have been a partner since the very beginning.  They are the relationship real estate professionals and for 35 years they built a reputation in the world wide real estate community as the real estate people with “Legendary Customer Service”.  They understand that a home is made not of bricks, sticks and mortar, but of people and those are memories that are personal and last a lifetime.  Click on over to www.LindaCraft.com Don’t forget you can listen to AND on The Oak 93.5 fm in Raleigh?  What?  You say you don’t live in Raleigh?  No problem you can stream the show every Thursday at 4 pm EDT and Sunday mornings at 10 am EDT by clicking here OAK 93.5  Tell your friends!  

Agile is a process that allows teams to basically work independently on small pieces of a larger project.  Basically they govern themselves, work in spurts (called sprints) and are suppose to be unified on what they will work on at any given time.  But does that really work without leadership involvement?  Perhaps not as consistently well as we would like to believe.  The fact is even though in principle this all sounds well and good, perhaps a better approach is that there needs to be facilitative leadership to help add rigor, alignment, and efficiency to the process. Agile expert Michael K. Levine joins me on this episode of A New Direction (AND).  Michael helps us understand that even in the best of circumstances when it comes to teams leadership is still critical to making even agile teams more successful.  In his book “People Over Process:  Leadership for Agility”  Michael Levine helps us understand why leadership is still important to these unique teams and provides frameworks to help us better understand how to make agile teams work even more successfully.  Michael will even help us understand how to have better meetings, deal with emotions of people on these teams, and offers some key advice to even the most ardent fan of those who want to work and govern themselves.  Because at the end of the day, it really is about “People Over Process“. Hey friends and listeners I really do appreciate you!  Thank you for listening and please tell your friends.  Also if you would where ever you listen would you give us a positive rating and review!  I would be so grateful. Please like the social media pages and say thank you to our sponsors of A New Direction. EPIC Physical Therapy, they have all the latest equipment, tools, and technology, but what makes EPIC…well…EPIC is their certified staff.  They really do understand that no two injuries or people are exactly the same so they will customize a treatment plan specifically for you.  So if you want EPIC relief, EPIC recovery, and EPIC results whether you are recovering from surgery or overcoming an athletic injury or just want to be a better version of you please contact EPIC Physical Therapy.  www.EPICpt.com Linda Craft & Team, Realtors for 35 years they have remained at the top of the real estate market.  Why? Because they truly are known as the “Legends of Customer Service”.  For 35 years they have built their business by building one relationship at a time.  Linda’s first customer was in 1985 and they still come to see her today, because that relationship is still as important today as it was 35 years ago.  Find out why Linda Craft & Team offer a real relationship difference.  Click on over to www.LindaCraft.com Don’t forget you can listen to AND on The Oak 93.5 fm in Raleigh?  What?  You say you don’t live in Raleigh?  No problem you can stream the show every Thursday at 4 pm EDT and Sunday mornings at 10 am EDT by clicking here OAK 93.5  Tell your friends!

No one ever says:  “We hope to find the right person, fall hopelessly and passionately in love, have a beautiful wedding, live together for a while then let our relationship disintegrate and crash and burn in divorce”.  Yet so many relationships do disintegrate and wind up in divorce.  Why?  When we stop getting the love that we need …we stop loving back.  And when that happens the downward destructive spiral takes the relationship into a path of separation.  The fact is we all want to be loved, and we want to love.  And when it doesn’t happen in our most important relationship, everything else is just a little more empty. Dr. Mike Garrett joins us in studio on this episode of A New Direction with his book co-written with his wife Rhonda Garrett entitle “Love Needs:  Discover Your Top 10 Languages of Loving.  Dr. Mike (as many call him) talks with us about why it can be difficult to get both people into counseling, the challenges of the “conflict cycle”, resentments, and even the importance of sex and why it doesn’t happen.  Love Needs the book, contains 30 chapters that describe a separate need we have when it comes to love and even has an assessment to help you identify your top 10 love needs.  Let me ask you this question, if you are being honest how is your relationship with your significant other…really?  Then let me follow it up with the next question:  Are you getting the love that you need?  Well there is a really good change your significant other is not getting the love they need either.  Tune into the show as Dr. Mike walks you through some counseling, and get yourself a copy of the book Love Needs.  You your significant other will be glad you did! Please say thank you to our sponsors: Epic Physical Therapy, certified, and with cutting edge technology and therapeutic equipment.  They treat you as a whole person helping you reach the goals you have to be the best physical person you can be from every day aches and pains, to surgery recovery, to professional athletes, Epic Physical Therapy provides, EPIC relief.  EPIC recovery.  and EPIC Results!  Check them out by clicking on over to www.EPICpt.com Linda Craft & Team, Realtors, fully locally owned and operated, and unaffiliated with an national brand for 35 years has developed relationships with the worlds best real estate professionals to help people like you have an amazing experience when it come to selling their home or buying a new one.  So if you are looking to connect with the best person in your area…why not start with Linda Craft & Team, Realtors drive on over to www.LindaCraft.com  

Dr. Bill Dorfman We need to be honest with ourselves when it comes to tomorrows leaders. It is our responsibility to teach them, to train them, to guide them, to ultimately mentor them. Many times we look at this next generation and instead of running to our responsibility we run from it, by making excuses and rationalizations about them. Like the grown ups we are we call them names, "entitled", "lazy", "lack of loyalty", "no work ethic", etc. Like those names and labels will in someway change them. Perhaps there is a different way we should approach this next generation.Enter on this episode of "A New Direction" Dr. Bill Dorfman DDS, many of you will know him as the dentist to the celebrities, the dentist to the movie stars, you may have seen him on "Extreme Makeover" or sometimes sitting on the panel on the TV show "The Doctors". But what he is most passionate about is his foundation called LEAP. It is a week long Leadership and Skills Development Camp for young people between the ages of 15 and 25. LEAP which stands for (Leadership Excellence Accelerating Potential) is for those young people who truly want to learn the skills, and have the knowledge to make a real difference in the future of our world. Leadership Excellence Accelerating Potential Once a year for a week 450 young people from countries all over the world gather together at LEAP, at UCLA's campus, to learn to be better leaders, and practical skills such as goal setting, networking, how to interact appropriately with others, how to win over an interview, applying to college, applying to your first job and so much. The speakers that speak during the conference are some of the best known and successful names in the world, like Apollo Ono, Michael Strahan, Eva Longoria, Mark Wahlberg, just to name a few. The beautiful thing about this camp is for less than $2500 you room and board, all your meals, and all the materials are covered for the week. There are even scholarships available. This years LEAP camp is July 21-27 and they still have spaces available, if you want your daughter or son to have the leadership experience of a life time and become the leaders you have always dreamed they would be... please go to www.leapfoundation.comHere is the greatest point that we learn from Dr. Dorfman. We all can mentor our youth and help them become leaders. YOU do not have to have your own foundation like LEAP. YOU just have to take some time to help young people grow. It happened for Dr. Dorfman, and it happened for me, we all can be a part of helping today's young people emerge into tomorrow's leaders.Thanks again to our sponsors of A New Direction! Enlign Business Brokers Enlign Business Brokers and Advisors, internationally known and respected Enlign represents profitable privately-held companies with gross annual revenues in excess of $1,000,000. ENLIGN delivers the highest market value in the shortest amount of time, with complete confidentiality ®. Learn more online at ENLIGN.com Linda Craft & Team, REALTORS And Linda Craft and Team, REALTORS, they can help you find the best real estate expert to assist you in selling or purchasing your home. And if you live in the Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Research Triangle Park area of North Carolina, you can discover personally why they have been know for more than 30 years as having "Legendary Customer Service" You can learn more at www.LindaCraft.com Tony Fink And the t-shirt shout out of the week goes to Tony Fink a real estate expert with Linda Craft & Team, REALTORS. Tony provided me with the XL shirt with the famed Notre Dame slogan of Play Like a Champion! Thanks Tony for the t-shirt and if you would like some help with your real estate needs just reach out to Tony by emailing him: tony@lindacraft.com

Stop Networking More — Start Networking Smarter What if the secret to growing your business wasn’t more connections — but *fewer*? This week on *A New Direction with Coach Jay Izso*, I sit down with David Ackert, Co-Founder and CEO of PipelinePlus and one of the most respected business development minds in the professional services world. Over the past two decades, Ackert has pioneered revenue acceleration programs for hundreds of professional services firms worldwide, and he’s bringing all of that hard-won wisdom to the show. When it comes to business development, professionals often struggle — not from a lack of opportunities, but from not knowing where to focus their attention. And it all starts with their networking. David’s Amazon bestselling book, *The Short List*, tackles that exact problem head-on. With countless LinkedIn connections and cluttered CRM databases, the real question becomes: “What is the best use of my time?” David’s answer is elegant, powerful, and completely counterintuitive to how most people think about networking. *The Short List* delivers a clear, actionable networking guide to identifying the people you need to prioritize and the techniques you can use to nurture those relationships into career catalysts — with a step-by-step plan and easy-to-use exercises for both newcomers and seasoned rainmakers alike. At the heart of the method is a very specific, curated list of people you want to stay in contact with — grouped into deliberate buckets and rated by factors like chemistry and potential for genuine collaboration. This isn’t just networking theory — it’s a proven networking system. *The Short List* is a Gold Winner of the 2025 Nonfiction Book Award, and David has lectured at USC’s Marshall School of Business, Carnegie Mellon, and UCLA School of Law. But beyond the accolades, this is a man whose life’s work is about the power of investing deeply in the right people — professionally *and* personally. Don’t miss this conversation. Learn how and who exactly deserves a spot on *your* short list. David Ackert’s book, “The Short List: How to Drive Business Development by Focusing on the People Who Matter Most” is the most practical applicable networking book I have ever read! The Short List is filled with great research, and diamonds of how to network.  It is not just a networking book, it is a book that will help you network with the right people that you can collaborate with that will ultimately become a win-win for both of you. The exercises in this book are fantastic.  Each exercise, will help you reevaluate your networking, build a better network, a more efficient network, maintain the network, and sets you up for success at any level. A word of CAUTION.  This book requires you to truly rethink not only how you are networking, but who you are networking with.  It’s going to definitely require not only a change of your mindset, but your behavior and actions. If you believe that networking should be strictly transactional think again.  As David Ackert explains it is about developing real relationships with the right people.  Then truly investing in those relationships not to simply help you, but that you can help each other. Fantastic book!  Highly recommend. Get your copy  of The Short List by clicking here. We are so grateful for the financial support of the sponsors of A New Direction. Please go to their websites and thank them.  Even going to their social media pages and giving them a LIKE would be awesome! One click. That’s all it takes for ransomware or phishing to shut your business down. Stop the threat at the source with Data443 Cyren. Powered by the world’s most robust threat intelligence network, Cyren detects and blocks attacks in real-time—protecting your data, your employees, and your reputation. Stop hoping you’re safe, and start knowing you’re safe. Visit Data443.com right now to see the solution in action.“ Linda Craft Team, REALTORS, their clients say that their customer service is “legendary” and the reason for that is because for more than 40 years they build and maintain personal relationships with their clients. Why?  Because buying and selling of a house is a great deal more than a business transaction, it is a life altering experience. That’s because we don’t just live in a home, some of our most significant memories will be made in that home. The Linda Craft Team are dedicated to taking care of your memory maker as if it were their own.  Whether you are about to purchase a new home, or sell your current home, start with the relationship legends. Start with Linda Craft  Team, Realtors – www.LindaCraft.com The Missing Piece to Your Success As a business leader or founder, you often carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. You have the vision, the drive, and the strategy, yet sometimes it feels like you are hitting an invisible ceiling. The truth is, the biggest barrier to your company’s growth isn’t usually the market or the economy—it is human behavior. As a Behavioral Strategist, I help you decode the psychological patterns that are silently sabotaging your culture, your execution, and your personal leadership. I don’t just tell you what to change; I help you understand why those behaviors exist so you can finally break through the noise and lead with absolute clarity and confidence. Your potential is limitless, but only if you are willing to look at the human element of your business through a new lens. Stop letting behavioral blind spots dictate your future and start making decisions that align your people with your purpose. If you are ready to stop spinning your wheels and start moving in a new, more profitable direction, let’s have a conversation that will change the way you lead forever. Visit me today at www.jayizso.com or reach out directly to start your transformation at Jay@TheCoachJay.com.

Faith as the Foundation for Leadership, Purpose, and Success For Jim Allen, faith isn’t a compartmentalized part of life; it is the bedrock upon which his entire leadership philosophy is built. In a high-stakes industry like real estate, where the pressure to perform can often lead to a “me-first” mentality, Jim’s faith provides a different North Star. It instills a sense of stewardship, reminding him that his platform and success are not just personal achievements, but tools meant to be used for a higher purpose. This spiritual grounding allows him to lead with a sense of peace and stability that filters down through his entire team. Purpose Beyond the Transaction While many define success by the closing of a deal, Jim’s faith shifts his focus toward the impact of the relationship. To him, leadership purpose is found in serving others—whether that is guiding a family into their dream home or mentoring an agent to reach their full potential. By viewing his work through the lens of a calling, the mundane tasks of business are transformed into opportunities for ministry and service. This shift from “transactional” to “transformational” is what truly sets his leadership apart in the Raleigh market. Success Defined by Integrity In the world of Coldwell Banker and beyond, Jim has reached the pinnacle of professional success, but his faith ensures that his “how” is just as important as his “what.” Success, in Jim’s eyes, is hollow if it isn’t achieved with unyielding integrity. His faith acts as an ethical compass, ensuring that even when no one is looking, his decisions align with his core values. This commitment to doing the right thing for the right reasons has built a legacy of trust that outlasts any market cycle or sales record. Empowering Others to Rise Finally, Jim’s faith fuels a leadership style rooted in humility and empowerment. He understands that true success is measured by how many people he can bring along with him. By leading with a servant’s heart, he creates a culture where his team feels valued as individuals, not just as producers. Jim’s faith teaches him that every person has inherent worth, and his purpose as a leader is to help them realize their God-given potential, creating a ripple effect of success that extends far beyond the walls of his office. Don’t Miss This Episode! Ready to go behind the scenes with one of the most successful names in real estate? Whether you’re looking to elevate your business or find deeper meaning in your daily grind, this conversation is packed with “gold” you can apply immediately. Listen to the full interview with Jim Allen on A New Direction now—available on your favorite podcast platform! Please reach out and thank the sponsors of our show A New Direction: Linda Craft Team, Realtors they have been helping people with their home selling and buying needs and wants for more than 40 years. Their clients call their customer service “legendary”. That’s because Linda and her team recognize that your home is more than a purchase, it is the place that some of your most significant memories will be made. When you are looking for the best expert when it comes to real estate in your area start with the “legends of customer service” start with Linda Craft Team.  Head on over to www.LindaCraft.com In a digital landscape where cyber threats move faster than a morning espresso hits your system, “good enough” security is a gamble you can’t afford. Enter Cyren by Data443—your real-time global radar for the modern age. By leveraging a massive intelligence network that processes billions of transactions daily, Cyren detects and neutralizes phishing, malware, and zero-day attacks before they even graze your inbox. It’s not just a shield; it’s proactive, AI-driven peace of mind that turns the world’s most sophisticated threat data into your greatest competitive advantage. Stop reacting to threats and start outsmarting them at data443.com/cyren. The Missing Piece to Your Success As a business leader or founder, you often carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. You have the vision, the drive, and the strategy, yet sometimes it feels like you are hitting an invisible ceiling. The truth is, the biggest barrier to your company’s growth isn’t usually the market or the economy—it is human behavior. As a Behavioral Strategist, I help you decode the psychological patterns that are silently sabotaging your culture, your execution, and your personal leadership. I don’t just tell you what to change; I help you understand why those behaviors exist so you can finally break through the noise and lead with absolute clarity and confidence. Your potential is limitless, but only if you are willing to look at the human element of your business through a new lens. Stop letting behavioral blind spots dictate your future and start making decisions that align your people with your purpose. If you are ready to stop spinning your wheels and start moving in a new, more profitable direction, let’s have a conversation that will change the way you lead forever. Visit me today at www.jayizso.com or reach out directly to start your transformation at Jay@TheCoachJay.com.

Discovering Your Life and Career Map. Join us on A New Direction for an exploration of the mental frameworks that define a successful life and career map. We are sitting down with Ed Hajim, author of The Island of the Four Ps, to dissect the structural philosophy behind his modern-day fable that is your life and work map. This session isn’t about the past; it’s about the mechanics of the future. We will focus entirely on the inner workings of the “Four Ps”—Passions, Principles, Partners, and Plans—and how these four distinct pillars interact to create a stable foundation for any ambitious journey for your life and career. The core of our discussion will center on the protagonist Marketus’s arrival at the Four Capes, where the abstract becomes concrete on your life and career map. We’ll examine why Passions are the fuel, but Principles are the engine that keeps you on course. Ed will explain how to distinguish between fleeting interests and the deep-seated drives that can sustain a lifelong career. We’ll challenge the idea that success is a solo endeavor by analyzing the “Partner” quadrant, looking at how to identify the right collaborators who align with your internal compass. Planning is often where the best intentions fall apart, and we intend to spend significant time on the “Plans” aspect of the book. We will discuss the balance between rigid discipline and the flexibility required to survive “The Forest of Choices.” This conversation is designed to be a technical deep-dive into the book’s logic, offering listeners a literal life and career map for their own decision-making processes. If you’ve ever felt like your goals were missing a cohesive structure, this live stream will provide the blueprints you need to build a more intentional life. This is a unique opportunity to see the “Four Ps” framework applied to the complexities of the our modern world, and the life and career map we need to find our way. Whether you are navigating a major transition or simply looking to refine your daily output, the principles found on Ed’s metaphorical island offer a universal language for achievement. Prepare to shift your perspective from wandering around your life and career map to winning. Ed Hajim’s book, ” The Island of the Four Ps: A Modern Fable About Preparing for Your Future” is a fun, insightful quick read that brings life to all of our journey in finding our life and career map.  He lays out for us in this fable featuring Marketus that we need to dig deep into ourselves in order for us to find our place. This fable asks us to look at four areas of our life: Our Passions, Principles, Partners, and Plans.  And as we take the deep dive into discovering them we must all recognize that is is not easy, it can be more complicated than we think, and things often will change.  But then we have to look at them and how each of these intersect with our self, family, work and community. The book may sound like it is for the very young, high school etc.  However, this book is for everyone in any stage of life.  It begs us to take an inventory of ourselves, regardless of our stage of life and start asking the hard questions that can change us.  One of the biggest take-aways is this: It is not an overnight process.  In fact, is a life long journey that we will return to again and again as we discover new things about ourselves and our different environments. Fabulous read.  This was not a book I would typically read, but I am so glad I did.  Even being what I might term stable in my career, I found that the Ideas and Question after the chapters challenged me to rethink about myself, where I am at on my career and life road map, and where I am heading and where I may go next. Get your copy of The Island of the Four Ps by clicking here. Please say thank you to our sponsors of A New Direction: Linda Craft Team, Realtors, they have been serving people in the real estate world for more than 40 years. And in so doing their customers rave about them, by saying they have “legendary customer service”. When you have customers from more than 40 years ago still stopping in to say “hello” and “thank you” that says there is something special about Linda and her dedication to her clients and her team. When you are ready to sell or buy why not start with Linda Craft & Team, www.LindaCraft.com Here is the truth: You tune into A New Direction because you want to grow. But consuming content and executing strategy are two different things. If you are leading a company between $5M and $50M and you feel like you are hitting a ceiling, the problem isn’t a lack of information. It’s likely a “human” bottleneck. I am Coach Jay, a Behavioral Strategist who specializes in fixing the friction that kills profit. I don’t just look at your P&L; I look at the psychology of the people driving it. I recently helped a stalled mid-market firm save $3 Million and secure new capital—not by firing people, but by realigning their behavior. Stop guessing. Let’s find the millions trapped in your org chart. Reach out for a discreet conversation: 919-369-2121 or visit TheCoachJay.com.

Demolish Your Comfort Zones This week on A New Direction, Coach Jay Izso welcomes elite performer and Fortune 500 coach Art Turock to discuss his transformative book, Demolish Your Comfort Zones. We aren’t just talking about “stepping outside” of where you feel safe; we are talking about a total demolition. Art argues that conventional self-improvement tools like basic goal setting and time management are often “watered down” to fit within our existing comfort zones, making them effective for modest gains but useless for bold breakthroughs. If you feel like you’ve been “trying hard” but staying stuck, it’s likely because you’ve unknowingly prioritized short-term comfort over long-term results. Art will reveal how comfort zones act as a ceiling on your potential, killing more dreams than failure ever could. During the show, we will dive into the “Colossal Deception”—the internal rationalizations we use to avoid the discomfort necessary for growth. By shifting from mere “interest” to “no matter what” commitment, you can begin to dismantle the barriers that keep you from your absolute best effort. This conversation is designed to disturb your current mindset and replace it with extreme accountability, ensuring your comfort zones no longer dictate the boundaries of your success. To truly crush your hidden limitations, you must be willing to pay the “price of freedom,” which is temporary discomfort. Art’s approach is born from over 1,200 self-experiments and his own journey as a championship sprinter who began at age 55. We will explore how to identify the “Guy/Gal on the Couch”—that voice in your head advocating for “reasonableness”—and how to use tools like the Freedom Log to rehearse the mindset shifts needed to stay ahead of your comfort zones every single day. Whether you are a business leader, an athlete, or someone looking to reignite a personal passion, this episode will provide the 90-day blueprint you need to stop negotiating with bad habits. Join Coach Jay and Art Turock as they teach you how to live a life where your comfort zones simply cannot survive. It’s time to stop dreaming and start achieving by learning to embrace the very situations you’ve been trained to avoid. And for all my A New Direction listeners here is your link to a FREE complimentary coaching call with Art. Coaching – Art Turock Art Turock’s book, “Demolish Your Comfort Zones: 6 Unconventional Practices to Crush Your Hidden Limitations” is a book that is not for the faint of heart.  Let’s be honest with each other, change is difficult.  To change ourselves is even more demanding.  It requires not just a change in behavior, but a change in mindset. So often we think and act in a “victim” mindset.  We don’t even realize the words that we use on a daily basis actually have us thinking that we have no control over our life, change, or being better.  We don’t’ even know that we have stopped ourselves before we have even tried. But what is even more daunting for many of us is the idea of what it will take to make change. And that’s the point of Demolish Your Comfort Zones.  It is going to take work.  It is going to take time.  It is going to take consistency.  It is going to take practice, and ultimately it is going to take discipline.  But if we will do the work we experience freedom! What you and I do not realize is that we have set up our own prisons, from a combination of nature and nurture. We have allowed ourselves to simply go with the status quo.  Say it is good enough.  And for most of us we never pursue, or worse yet have given up on our dreams. Demolish Your Comfort Zones, challenges our notions of success, improvement, and high performance.  The 6 Keys that Art Turock lays out, if we will do them, will change any doubts and fears we have about success. This is a book filled with practical wise guidance.  It is a book that will be a life changer for those who have the courage to take it on.  The book is fantastic!  Isn’t it time you should live your best free life?  Then this book is for you! Get your copy by clicking “Demolish Your Comfort Zones“. Please say thank you to the sponsors of A New Direction: DLinda Craft Team, Realtors, for more than 40 years they have been helping people with their home buying and selling needs around the world. Their customers call them the “Legends of Customer Service”…why? Because Linda Craft and her team believe that the relationship is the most important part of the home buying and selling process. Because after all your home is about your memories not the bricks and mortar.  Learn more by going to www.LindaCraft.com Here is the truth: You tune into A New Direction because you want to grow. But consuming content and executing strategy are two different things. If you are leading a company between $5M and $50M and you feel like you are hitting a ceiling, the problem isn’t a lack of information. It’s likely a “human” bottleneck. I am Coach Jay, a Behavioral Strategist who specializes in fixing the friction that kills profit. I don’t just look at your P&L; I look at the psychology of the people driving it. I recently helped a stalled mid-market firm save $3 Million and secure new capital—not by firing people, but by realigning their behavior. Stop guessing. Let’s find the millions trapped in your org chart. Reach out for a discreet conversation: 919-369-2121 or visit TheCoachJay.com.

Success and Leadership with a Purpose What happens when your professional success is no longer enough to satisfy your personal “why”? This week on A New Direction, Coach Jay explores the deeper mechanics of fulfillment with a man who has mastered the art of the pivot. Bob Winstead joins us to discuss the essential shift from chasing achievements to living a life rooted in purpose and Leadership. If you’ve been feeling like you’re winning the race but running in the wrong direction, this conversation is designed to help you recalibrate your internal compass and find a path that truly resonates. Leadership isn’t just about the person at the front of the room; it’s about the values that person carries when no one is watching. Bob brings a wealth of experience in building organizations and fostering high-performing teams, but his real expertise lies in the “human element.” We will dive into how authentic success is built on a foundation of service and integrity. Bob shares his philosophy on how to lead with an “impact” mentality, ensuring that every milestone reached is a victory for the collective rather than just an individual accolade. In this deep-dive episode, Coach Jay and Bob unpack the leadership, entrepreneurship and the “Purpose Gap”—the space between where we are and where we feel called to be. They’ll explore practical strategies for identifying your core mission and, more importantly, how to integrate that mission into your daily leadership style. Whether you are an executive, an entrepreneur, or a community builder, you’ll learn why a clear sense of leadership with a purpose as the ultimate competitive advantage and the only sustainable fuel for long-term success. Join us for this live transformation! This isn’t just an interview; it’s an opportunity to audit your own leadership journey and ask the hard questions about what success really means to you. Don’t miss this chance to hear Bob Winstead’s insights on how to align your work with your soul’s direction. Tune in live and take the first step toward a more purposeful future. If you would like to connect with Bob and learn more about his leadership go to his website: Bob Winstead for NC Secretary of State You can also go directly to his facebook page Bob Winstead Please thank the sponsors of A New Direction we are so grateful that they help us cover our expenses! Linda Craft Team, REALTORS for more than 40 years and going strong find out why they are known as legends of life transition. Every place you have lived is a transition in life.  Find out the reasons why 1000’s of people from all over the world choose Linda Craft Team and keep coming back for all their home selling and buying needs and making their life transition..  They are the independently and locally owned company that is world renown.  Learn more by going to www.LindaCraft.com Here is the truth: You tune into A New Direction because you want to grow. But consuming content and executing strategy are two different things. If you are leading a company between $5M and $50M and you feel like you are hitting a ceiling, the problem isn’t a lack of information. It’s likely a “human” bottleneck. I am Coach Jay, a Behavioral Strategist who specializes in fixing the friction that kills profit. I don’t just look at your P&L; I look at the psychology of the people driving it. I recently helped a stalled mid-market firm save $3 Million and secure new capital—not by firing people, but by realigning their behavior. Stop guessing. Let’s find the millions trapped in your org chart. Reach out for a discreet conversation: 919-369-2121 or visit TheCoachJay.com.

Congrats, You’re Promoted—Now What? The champagne has been poured, the desk is clean, and the new title looks incredible on your email signature. But then Monday morning hits, and the terrifying reality sets in: the skills that got you the job are not the skills that will help you keep it. In an instant, you’ve been promoted from being “one of the team” to the one responsible for the team’s success, their failures, and their future. This week on A New Direction, we’re cutting through the corporate fluff to talk about the messy, emotional, and high-stakes transition of the “new leader.” We are joined by the legendary Noel Massie, author of the essential guide Congrats! You’ve Been Promoted! Noel knows that a promotion is a double-edged sword; it’s a reward for your past, but it’s a relentless demand on your future. He brings a raw, authentic look at the “promotion trap”—the moment where many high-achievers fail because they try to manage people the same way they managed tasks. This isn’t just a business interview; it’s a survival guide for your career’s most pivotal moment. The shift from “me” to “we” is the hardest psychological hurdle any professional will ever face. Noel breaks down the internal architecture of a leader, showing you how to navigate the loneliness of the top floor and the pressure of being the person with all the answers (even when you’re still figuring them out). We dive into why your technical expertise is now your biggest liability and why your “soft skills” are now your only hard currency. If you’ve ever felt like an imposter in your own office or worried that your promotion might be the ceiling of your potential, this episode is your wake-up call. Coach Jay and Noel Massie are handing you the keys to the executive suite—not just to get you through the door, but to ensure you own the room. Stop playing small in your big new role; it’s time to stop managing and start leading. Noel Massie’s book, “Congrats! You’ve Been Promoted: An Essential Guide for Helping New Leaders and Their Teams Succeed” is one of the most practical, insightful, leadership books that is filled with wisdom for leaders you will use right now! Noel, takes his decades of experience and the lessons he learned and applied along his journey in UPS.  This is not your ordinary leadership book.  It is not theory; it is practical guidance in how to handle real world situations with your employees. The fact is, when we get promoted to any leadership position it is easy for us to have our ego get in the way.  Noel takes us through understanding that while you may be a leader you carry the responsibility for all your employees.  Every behavior, on or off the clock matters.  You are being evaluated by your employees by every action and every word. And the only person that is responsible for how you act and talk is you! While many books are written for the CEO this is written to anyone who has just been promoted to a leadership position. If you want to truly lead people who want to follow you, support you, and be champions for you, Congrats! You’ve Been Promoted is an absolute must read! Get Your Copy by clicking here! If you would like to learn more about Noel Massie and his programs head on over to www.noelmassie.com you can reach out directly by contacting kaylah@noelmassie.com Also, Noel has a special promotion.  If you purchase 100 books he will do a FREE seminar.  If you purchase 50 books he will do a FREE webinar.  Head on over to NoelMassie.com! Please thank the sponsors of A New Direction we are so grateful that they help us cover our expenses! Linda Craft Team, REALTORS for more than 40 years and going strong find out why they are known as legends of life transition. Every place you have lived is a transition in life.  Find out the reasons why 1000’s of people from all over the world choose Linda Craft Team and keep coming back for all their home selling and buying needs and making their life transition..  They are the independently and locally owned company that is world renown.  Learn more by going to www.LindaCraft.com Here is the truth: You tune into A New Direction because you want to grow. But consuming content and executing strategy are two different things. If you are leading a company between $5M and $50M and you feel like you are hitting a ceiling, the problem isn’t a lack of information. It’s likely a “human” bottleneck. I am Coach Jay, a Behavioral Strategist who specializes in fixing the friction that kills profit. I don’t just look at your P&L; I look at the psychology of the people driving it. I recently helped a stalled mid-market firm save $3 Million and secure new capital—not by firing people, but by realigning their behavior. Stop guessing. Let’s find the millions trapped in your org chart. Reach out for a discreet conversation: 919-369-2121 or visit TheCoachJay.com.  

Become the Brand Your Customers Feel Great About Have you ever wondered why you are fiercely loyal to certain brands while ignoring others that offer the exact same thing? It’s not about the price, and it’s rarely about the features. It is about brain physiology and how it interacts with our decisions when it comes to brands. Today, we are diving deep into the science of emotion with Kevin Perlmutter, the pioneering strategist and author of the groundbreaking new book, Brand Desire. Kevin is here to reveal that the secret to business growth isn’t “selling”—it’s “solving.” We are going to explore his “Limbic Sparks” approach, a method rooted in behavioral science that helps you stop chasing customers and start magnetically attracting them. Whether you are leading a Fortune 500 company or building a personal brand, you will learn how to tap into the instinctive, emotional part of the brain that drives our decision-making. In this episode of A New Direction, we are moving beyond the old-school 20th century branding like “Unique Selling Proposition.” Kevin will walk us through his proven “Focus, Connect, Evolve” framework, showing us how to align your business with what people actually care about. We will discuss why traditional marketing language is dead and how you can earn loyalty by making your customers feel seen, heard, and understood. Join us live on A New Direction as we uncover the blind spots in your current strategy. If you are ready to stop shouting into the void and start building a brand that people don’t just buy from—but truly desire—this is a conversation you cannot afford to miss. Kevin Perlmutter’s book, “Brand Desire: Spark Customer Interest Using Emotional Insights” is the absolute essential book for today’s brand leaders.  This is a book that is founded solidly on research both from the brand researchers and his own research working with different companies. For most of us we are still stuck in the 20th century branding ideas of persuasion. We are talking about all the great things about ourselves and what WE THINK we do for the future customer, but here’s the problem…how do your customers feel about your brand.  Because at the end of the day it is all about how they feel about you. This is an important, because as we know we, as humans, do not make logical purchasing decisions, not matter how big or how small.  It also does not matter if you are B2C or B2B, every human makes a decision based on emotions triggered by the limbic system and then justifies it with logic. And Kevin Perlmutter’s book, “Brand Desire” helps solve the problem. Kevin Perlmutter, helps us understand the 3 Steps to creating a brand that resonates with customers and makes them come back for more…Focus, Connect, Evolve.  That is doing the right research asking the right questions, then creating a message that emotionally is in sync with the organization and the customer, and then how you are seen how you are heard, and does the message really something the customer cares about. Amazing book, one that will change you as a brand leader whether you are on a one person show, or a corporation looking to increase profitability. Click here to get your copy of Brand Desire! Linda Craft Team, Realtors for more than 40 years they have been helping people make a life transition.  Wait! What? Think about it, every place you have ever lived has been a transition in your life.  And since 1985 they have been helping people reduce the stress and making that transition easier for thousands of people. Unaffiliated and independently owned and operated they can recommend the best real estate professional to help you sell your home or buy your next home anywhere in the world. That is because they are not attached to a national company, they are attached to what is in your best interest. So before you buy or sell start with the “Legends” at Linda Craft Team.  Just click on over to www.LindaCraft.com Here is the truth: You tune into A New Direction because you want to grow. But consuming content and executing strategy are two different things. If you are leading a company between $5M and $50M and you feel like you are hitting a ceiling, the problem isn’t a lack of information. It’s likely a “human” bottleneck. I am Coach Jay, a Behavioral Strategist who specializes in fixing the friction that kills profit. I don’t just look at your P&L; I look at the psychology of the people driving it. I recently helped a stalled mid-market firm save $3 Million and secure new capital—not by firing people, but by realigning their behavior. Stop guessing. Let’s find the millions trapped in your org chart. Reach out for a discreet conversation: 919-369-2121 or visit TheCoachJay.com.

The Art of The Pivot  It happens to the best of us. The calendar is set, the mic is hot, and then the notification pops up—a last-minute cancellation. This week on A New Direction, I faced a choice: scramble to replay an old hit or walk the walk. I chose the latter. This unexpected gap in the schedule wasn’t a setback; it was a perfect metaphor for what we discuss on this show every week. It was a clear sign to talk about the one skill that separates the successful from the stagnant: The Art of the Pivot. If I had to adjust my direction on the fly, it seemed like the perfect time to teach you how to do the same. How do you know when it’s time to change course? We often wait for a catastrophe to force our hand, but the real signs are much subtler. In this episode, I break down the red flags you might be ignoring, specifically the “Sunday Night Dread”—that physical rejection of your current reality—and the “Competence Trap,” where being good at your job actually becomes the cage that keeps you from being great. We also have a hard conversation about why your jealousy of others is actually a roadmap disguised as envy. Recognizing these signals is the first step out of the drift and into the driver’s seat, and start your pivot Identifying the problem is easy; navigating the transition to pivot is where most people quit. I call this the “Messy Middle”—that terrifying space between letting go of the old trapeze bar and catching the new one. In this solo session, I share the specific tool kit you need to survive the gap, including shifting your mindset from “How do I do this?” to “Who can help me?” and conducting “15-Minute Experiments” to test the waters without drowning. You don’t need to burn the ships to make a change; you just need a better strategy to handle the uncertainty. Finally, we move from information to execution. I am not interested in you just listening; I want you moving. I’m issuing a “24-Hour Challenge” to every listener with three specific options to get you started on your pivot. Whether it’s sending a “scary email” to a mentor or making a micro-commitment, I’m asking you to take one concrete step today. A “New Direction” isn’t a destination you wish for; it’s a decision you make. Tune in to hear the full breakdown, and let’s turn this unexpected solo show into your pivot. Please thank the sponsors of A New Direction Linda Craft Team, Realtors   Linda built her business in 1985 one relationship at a time, and her team and her continue to do the same things she did 40 years later. They have provided thousands of people the ability to help people sell or buy their next home with personalized legendary customer service. They have the experience, knowledge, and understanding of the home industry.  They also understand you and what you want and need from your next home purchase or sale. What is more they can help you regardless of where you live.  Ready to buy or sell your next home or your first…click on over to to www.LindaCraft.com Enhance Your Audiobook Experience with Zoundy! If you’re an author or narrator looking to produce high-quality audiobooks with ease, Zoundy is the ultimate tool you need. Designed specifically for audiobook creation, Zoundy delivers crystal-clear sound, seamless editing capabilities, and professional-grade production tools—all in one intuitive platform. Whether you’re recording your own book or refining your narration, Zoundy ensures every word is heard with perfection. And here’s the best part: As a listener of A New Direction, you get an exclusive deal! Head over to zoundy.com/jay and use the code JAY25 at checkout to unlock special savings on your audiobook production. Don’t settle for anything less than studio-quality sound—power up your audiobook journey today with Zoundy! Here is the truth: You tune into A New Direction because you want to grow. But consuming content and executing strategy are two different things. If you are leading a company between $5M and $50M and you feel like you are hitting a ceiling, the problem isn’t a lack of information. It’s likely a “human” bottleneck. I am Coach Jay, a Behavioral Strategist who specializes in fixing the friction that kills profit. I don’t just look at your P&L; I look at the psychology of the people driving it. I recently helped a stalled mid-market firm save $3 Million and secure new capital—not by firing people, but by realigning their behavior. Stop guessing. Let’s find the millions trapped in your org chart. Reach out for a discreet conversation: 919-369-2121 or visit TheCoachJay.com.

Persuade and Influence for More Effective Selling Have you ever presented a perfectly logical argument, only to have it completely ignored? Most of us believe that if we just explain the facts clearly enough, people will change their minds. But the reality is that decision-making is rarely purely rational; it is deeply rooted in psychology, emotion, and trust. This week on A New Direction with Coach Jay, we are shattering the myth that persuasion is just about having the “gift of gab” and revealing the actual science behind why people say “yes.” I am thrilled to be joined live by negotiation expert Andres Lares, author of The 4-Step Process to Influence People and Decisions. As the Managing Partner at the Shapiro Negotiations Institute, Andres has spent his career dissecting the mechanics of influence. He doesn’t just share theories; he provides a practical, tactical blueprint that you can use immediately. Whether you are leading a team, closing a sale, or simply trying to navigate family dynamics, Andres is going to walk us through how to move from being ignored to being indispensable. In this episode, we are diving deep into the “Persuasion Cycle.” We will explore why credibility is the currency of influence, how to ethically leverage emotion, and why logic only works after you’ve established a connection. Andres will break down his proven 4-step framework, teaching you how to prepare for high-stakes conversations and how to structure your communication so that your ideas aren’t just heard—they are accepted and acted upon. This is about ethical influence that builds long-term relationships, not manipulation. Don’t leave your success up to chance—join us! If you want to stop guessing and start influencing, you cannot afford to miss this conversation.  Let’s take A New Direction together! Andres Lares book, “Persuade: The 4-Step Process to Influence People and Decisions” is an outstanding read for anyone in sales or negotiations.  This book is backed by their own research, as well as research of others.  It is timeless and practical. Is it a sales tool kit? Yes!  And so much more! In Persuade, Andres and his colleagues from their research outline the 4 Step process to increasing your sales, closing, and influencing others.  This book is not just about business, it applies to everyone who is ever been in negotiations…that may even include your children, spouse, or significant other. The 4 Step Process builds on each in the form of a pyramid.  So, the base level is “Build Credibility”.  Wait!  Before you assume credibility there is more to it than what you may be thinking.  If you said the word, “trust” as part of that equation you would be correct.  But Andres Lares et al. break it down on how to develop trust.  And it’s not just with words; it is also non-verbal as well. The next stage that comes next is “Engage Emotion”. Fact is, we don’t make our decisions with logic.  That has been demonstrated time and time again.  If you want to really get to the meat of getting people to make a decision you need to understand their emotions, but you also need to understand yours as well.  This is where Persuade really differentiates itself from other “sales how to” books.  The research is quite robust. The third level is demonstrating logic, and the top level is “Facilitate Action” or the close.  I believe this to be one of the best books I have read.  Personally, I have used this on my sales teams and found it to be so beneficial to build confidence and increase their ability to close more. Get Your Copy of Persuade by Clicking Here Please thank the sponsors of A New Direction Linda Craft Team, Realtors   Linda built her business in 1985 one relationship at a time, and her team and her continue to do the same things she did 40 years later. They have provided thousands of people the ability to help people sell or buy their next home with personalized legendary customer service. They have the experience, knowledge, and understanding of the home industry.  They also understand you and what you want and need from your next home purchase or sale. What is more they can help you regardless of where you live.  Ready to buy or sell your next home or your first…click on over to to www.LindaCraft.com Enhance Your Audiobook Experience with Zoundy! If you’re an author or narrator looking to produce high-quality audiobooks with ease, Zoundy is the ultimate tool you need. Designed specifically for audiobook creation, Zoundy delivers crystal-clear sound, seamless editing capabilities, and professional-grade production tools—all in one intuitive platform. Whether you’re recording your own book or refining your narration, Zoundy ensures every word is heard with perfection. And here’s the best part: As a listener of A New Direction, you get an exclusive deal! Head over to zoundy.com/jay and use the code JAY25 at checkout to unlock special savings on your audiobook production. Don’t settle for anything less than studio-quality sound—power up your audiobook journey today with Zoundy! Here is the truth: You tune into A New Direction because you want to grow. But consuming content and executing strategy are two different things. If you are leading a company between $5M and $50M and you feel like you are hitting a ceiling, the problem isn’t a lack of information. It’s likely a “human” bottleneck. I am Coach Jay, a Behavioral Strategist who specializes in fixing the friction that kills profit. I don’t just look at your P&L; I look at the psychology of the people driving it. I recently helped a stalled mid-market firm save $3 Million and secure new capital—not by firing people, but by realigning their behavior. Stop guessing. Let’s find the millions trapped in your org chart. Reach out for a discreet conversation: 919-369-2121 or visit TheCoachJay.com.

Peers and Innovation – Peernovation This week on A New Direction with Coach Jay, we’re diving back into a powerful idea that has only grown more relevant: Peernovation. Leo Bottary returns with the newly revised 2nd Edition of Peernovation: Leverage Peer Wisdom to Create Team Excellence and trust me… this update is not just a cosmetic refresh. It is a transformational rethinking of how people, teams, and leaders rise together. In a world where complexity increases and isolation becomes easier; Leo makes a bold case: the future belongs to the teams who intentionally harness the wisdom of their peers. This is not “team building”—this is unlocking human potential through connection. We’ll explore why the most successful groups don’t happen by accident—they happen by design. Peernovation challenges leaders to rethink the way they select, develop, and inspire teams. It shows why the who always comes before the what, and why the right peers can elevate performance faster than any strategy, incentive program, or motivational campaign. Leo breaks down the research behind high-performing groups and reveals the hidden habits that allow teams to become more innovative, more accountable, and more resilient. If you’ve ever wondered why some teams consistently outperform—even when they shouldn’t—this episode will give you the blueprint. We’re also going to dig into the shift from individual excellence to collective greatness—something many leaders say they want but rarely know how to cultivate. Peernovation demonstrates that peer influence is the most powerful driver of behavior and performance inside any group. When you understand how peer dynamics shape standards, culture, and outcomes, you stop “managing people” and start unleashing them. This is where the magic happens. This is where belonging fuels bravery, and where teams start to multiply their potential instead of adding to it. Join us to discover how peer-powered teams are built, how they sustain excellence, and how you can create them in your organization, your business, or your life. Whether you’re a business owner, a leader under pressure, or someone who wants to elevate the people around you, this conversation with Leo Bottary will challenge you, inspire you, and give you tools you can use immediately. Peernovation isn’t just a concept… it’s a movement. And tomorrow, we’re going to show you how to become part of it. Leo Bottary‘s book, “Peernovation: Leverage Peer Wisdom to Create Team Excellence (2nd Edition) is insightful and gives the most fundamental and necessary components to building organizational and business groups and teams that are not only effective but will lead your business to greater growth and profitability. We all know it’s true, we can be far more creative in a group that we can be on our own.  We know that we make better decisions in groups then we can on our own. We also know that growth doesn’t happen in a silo it happens in groups and teams.  So how do we build these groups and teams so that we can be as successful as possible.  This is where “Peernovation” comes to the rescue. Peernovation is the combination of two words.  Peers, such as your colleagues and people like you, and Innovation, the creative process that helps us grow and achieve more.  We put them together to create Peernovation.  But it is not for the faint of heart.  To have successful peernovation there are some hard choices we have to make.  Such as insuring that there is absolute psychological safety, that there are value and behavior alignment, etc. The 2nd edition is a great read.  It flows well.  The new ideas added to the book are fantastic and insightful.  After reading it I also found myself trying to figure how I take my own existing teams and reestablish ground rules and better communication so that I have better Peernovation. Click here to get your copy of Peernovation Please thank our sponsors for joining us here on A New Direction Linda Craft Team, Realtors has been a partner with A New Direction since the very beginning. They are the relationship real estate professionals, and for more than 40 years they have built a reputation in the world wide real estate community as the real estate people with “Legendary Customer Service”. They understand that a home is made not of bricks, sticks and mortar, but of people and those are memories that are personal and last a lifetime.  You don’t last for 40 years in the real estate business if you don’t provide an amazing client experience and fantastic customer service after a home has sold and closed.  Are you ready to experience the Linda Craft Team difference?  Click on over to www.LindaCraft.com. and Enhance Your Audiobook Experience with Zoundy! If you’re an author or narrator looking to produce high-quality audiobooks with ease, Zoundy is the ultimate tool you need. Designed specifically for audiobook creation, Zoundy delivers crystal-clear sound, seamless editing capabilities, and professional-grade production tools—all in one intuitive platform. Whether you’re recording your own book or refining your narration, Zoundy ensures every word is heard with perfection. And here’s the best part: As a listener of A New Direction, you get an exclusive deal! Head over to zoundy.com/jay and use the code JAY25 at checkout to unlock special savings on your audiobook production. Don’t settle for anything less than studio-quality sound—power up your audiobook journey today with Zoundy! There are No Business Problems… Only Personal Problems that Infect Your Business Most Consultants Fix the Spreadsheet. I Fix the Human Who Broke It. If you are running a company of $10M+, you don’t need more strategy. You have plenty of strategy. You don’t need more “motivation.” You have plenty of drive. So why are you stuck? Why is the profit margin slipping? Why does everything feel like it relies on you? Here is the uncomfortable truth: The bottleneck isn’t the market. It isn’t the product. It’s the psychology. And that is exactly why you hire me. 1. I Go Where Others Won’t Most business coaches will look at your P&L and tell you to cut costs. I look at your leadership team and tell you to cut the behavior. Whether you are navigating a high-conflict divorce, suffering from “Founder’s Ego,” or paralyzed by indecision—I don’t shy away from the personal chaos. I build a blast shield around your business so the personal storm doesn’t sink the ship. 2. I Don’t “Guess”—I “Profile” I am a Behavioral Strategist. I don’t operate on gut feeling. I use deep behavioral diagnostics to see exactly why your team is failing. Example: I recently found a “COO” hiding inside a client’s Marketing Department. We didn’t hire an expensive executive; we just realigned an existing employee based on her psychological profile. Result: 100% execution rate. 3. I Turn “Mindset” into “Millions” “Psychology” sounds soft until you see the math. I recently worked with a Founder who was psychologically attached to a “global footprint”—expensive offices and servers he didn’t need. The “business” advice was ignored. It took a Behavioral Intervention to break that attachment. The result? We saved $3 Million annually and brought investors back to the table. The Bottom Line: There are no business problems. There are only personal problems that infect your business. If you want a cheerleader, hire a coach. If you want to unlock the millions trapped behind human friction, hire a Strategist. Check out my case study on LinkedIn Hey book lovers!  Would you rather read or listen to a book?  Well, here is your chance to listen to books and a FREE 30-day trial. Now you can get your FREE 30-day trial and other discounts by using going to www.audibletrial.com/AND

Why Do Leaders Have a Reluctance to Change When you look around today’s business landscape—with all the books, podcasts, research studies, and hard-won lessons on leadership—you’d think we’d be experiencing a golden age of healthy cultures and high-performing teams. But we’re not. And that’s exactly why this week on A New Direction, I’m bringing on John Palumbo of Bigheads Network to dive deep into The Leadership Disconnect. If you’ve ever wondered why leaders continue to resist the overwhelming evidence of what works, this conversation is going to open your eyes… and maybe make you rethink the way you lead. John has spent years studying the gap between what leaders say they want and what they actually do. He’s seen firsthand how organizations sabotage their own culture—not intentionally, but because they’re operating from outdated assumptions, fear-based habits, or ego-driven patterns. On Wednesday, we’re going to pull back the curtain on the real reasons leaders struggle to change—even when the data, the stories, and the results are staring them right in the face. And we’re going to talk about how that disconnect silently destroys morale, momentum, and innovation. But here’s the twist: John and I won’t just be exposing the problem. We’re going after the psychology behind it—the blind spots, the excuses, and the hidden beliefs that keep leaders stuck repeating yesterday’s mistakes. If you’re an entrepreneur, executive, manager, team leader, or someone who’s ever had to influence people in any direction… this will challenge you. It will provoke you. And it just might give you the breakthrough you’ve been needing in your own leadership. When you understand the leadership disconnect, you can become the leader people want to follow—not the one they resist. Tune in, take notes, and prepare for a shift. Check out John by clicking here. Ready for your next internal podcast go to BigHeads Network. Please thank our sponsors for joining us here on A New Direction Linda Craft Team, Realtors, fully locally owned and operated, and unaffiliated with a national brand for more than 40 years. They have developed relationships with the world’s best real estate professionals to help people like you have an amazing experience when it comes to selling their home or buying a new one. So, if you are looking to connect with the best person in your area…why not start with Linda Craft Team, Realtors drive on over to www.LindaCraft.com and Enhance Your Audiobook Experience with Zoundy! If you’re an author or narrator looking to produce high-quality audiobooks with ease, Zoundy is the ultimate tool you need. Designed specifically for audiobook creation, Zoundy delivers crystal-clear sound, seamless editing capabilities, and professional-grade production tools—all in one intuitive platform. Whether you’re recording your own book or refining your narration, Zoundy ensures every word is heard with perfection. And here’s the best part: As a listener of A New Direction, you get an exclusive deal! Head over to zoundy.com/jay and use the code JAY25 at checkout to unlock special savings on your audiobook production. Don’t settle for anything less than studio-quality sound—power up your audiobook journey today with Zoundy! There are No Business Problems… Only Personal Problems that Infect Your Business Understanding the Role of a Leader in Business Are you ready to break through barriers, build unstoppable resilience, and create the success you’ve always envisioned? I’m Here to Help You do exactly that. Whether you want to strengthen your mindset, develop unshakable resilience, grow your business, or take control of your life, our coaching programs are built to ignite transformation. Through personalized strategies, actionable insights, and unwavering support, we empower you to step boldly into your next level of success. Life and business throw challenges our way, but resilience is the key to thriving—not just surviving. As a mindset, resilience, business, and life coach, I help you develop the habits and mental strength that turn obstacles into opportunities. My coaching dives deep into the proven strategies that high achievers use to stay focused, driven, and unshaken, no matter what comes their way. Success isn’t about avoiding failure—it’s about learning how to rise stronger every time. Whether you’re an entrepreneur looking to scale, a leader aiming to inspire, or someone simply ready to take back control of your life, my coaching meets you where you are and accelerates your growth. With expert guidance, a results-driven approach, and a focus on real transformation, I help you redefine what’s possible and turn your ambitions into reality. You don’t have to figure it all out alone—together, we’ll create a roadmap that aligns with your goals and fuels your passion. It’s time to step into your greatness. Are you ready to power up your mindset, resilience, business, and life? Let’s get to work. Visit coachingmavericks.com to learn more and take the first step toward the life you deserve. Hey book lovers!  Would you rather read or listen to a book?  Well, here is your chance to listen to books and a FREE 30-day trial. I use Audible and I love it!  I believe you will too. Now you can get your FREE 30-day trial and other discounts by using going to www.audibletrial.com/AND

Focus on the Right Number and You Will Watch Your Business Success! What if I told you there’s a better way to succeed than chasing goals you never hit? This week on A New Direction, I’m sitting down with Wall Street Journal and USA Today Best-Selling Author Lee Benson, and we’re diving into his powerful book Your Most Important Number. Lee’s going to show us why traditional goal setting often falls flat—and how focusing on one transformational number can simplify your strategy, elevate your performance, and change the way you lead and live. If you’ve ever felt stuck or overloaded, this conversation will bring the clarity and direction you’ve been searching for. Lee’s developed the MIND Methodology—Most Important Number + Drivers—a framework that’s helping organizations around the world cut the clutter and dial in on what really matters. We’ll dig into how you can find your most important number, align your people around it, and track progress in a way that builds confidence and momentum. It’s practical. It’s proven. And you’ll be able to use it the second the show ends. But you know me—I’m always about the human side. And that’s what makes Lee’s approach so powerful. This isn’t just about data or performance metrics. It’s about people, purpose, unity, and ownership. When you focus on the right number, you create a culture where everyone knows what winning looks like—and how to move the needle together. That’s when progress becomes a habit instead of a hope. This episode will show you The 1 Number That Changes Everything. Because once you know your most important number, you stop chasing random goals… and start achieving what truly matters. Lee Benson’s book, “Your Most Important Number” is a brilliantly, logical, practical guide to helping any business of any size and any leader no matter the level achieve more as entire company and individually. So often we read or hear people talk about goal setting.  “We have to set goals!” They will shout.  And experts from all different parts of the business world will say “set goals” if you want to achieve more success. Well, that sounds good in theory, but the fact is this, no matter how SMART you make them it’s not working! Your company is not getting all that much better if it all because you do them, and here is the fact:  Setting goals are not motivating anyone! There has got to be another way!  And there is! Lee Benson’s MIND (Most Important Number and Drivers).  Wow!  Talk about eye opening.  When leadership comes to the conclusion of what their MIN (Most Important Number) is, and then each area of the business determine what their MIN is that is connected to the overall MIN, and then each person knows what they need to deliver in terms of behavior to add value to the MIN.  Bam!  It’s a huge win! The book is complete with an appendix that will start walking you through the how to…get the book…read it, absorb it, put it into practice, it has worked for so many businesses which he gives examples of it will work for your business too. By the way, he even offers freebies to get yourself started.  Just go to www.etw.com/tools  it’s all right there. And get your copy of Your Most Important Number by clicking here! Please reach out and thank the financial sponsors of A New Direction: Enhance Your Audiobook Experience with Zoundy! If you’re an author or narrator looking to produce high-quality audiobooks with ease, Zoundy is the ultimate tool you need. Designed specifically for audiobook creation, Zoundy delivers crystal-clear sound, seamless editing capabilities, and professional-grade production tools—all in one intuitive platform. Whether you’re recording your own book or refining your narration, Zoundy ensures every word is heard with perfection. And here’s the best part: As a listener of A New Direction, you get an exclusive deal! Head over to zoundy.com/jay and use the code JAY25 at checkout to unlock special savings on your audiobook production. Don’t settle for anything less than studio-quality sound—power up your audiobook journey today with Zoundy! And… Linda Craft Team, REALTORS, for  more than 40 years they have been known as the “Legends of Customer Service”. They don’t say it…their clients do.  Why? It’s a culture that developed for more than 40 years that focuses on the client experience first. It’s not about selling or buying a home, Linda recognized that it was a place where dreams were realized and memories would be made…and that makes more than a transaction, and that is why Linda created a client first culture where before, during and after your experience you have a partner that will help you for the rest of your life. They have helped people from all over the world find the right professional to sell or buy their home. And if you are located in the greater Raleigh Research Triangle Park (RTP) area stop in and get a FREE bottle of water and learn how they can help you. There are No Business Problems… Only Personal Problems that Infect Your Business Are you ready to break through barriers, build unstoppable resilience, and create the success you’ve always envisioned? I’m Here to Help You do exactly that. Whether you want to strengthen your mindset, develop unshakable resilience, grow your business, or take control of your life, our coaching programs are built to ignite transformation. Through personalized strategies, actionable insights, and unwavering support, we empower you to step boldly into your next level of success. Life and business throw challenges our way, but resilience is the key to thriving—not just surviving. As a mindset, resilience, business, and life coach, I help you develop the habits and mental strength that turn obstacles into opportunities. My coaching dives deep into the proven strategies that high achievers use to stay focused, driven, and unshaken, no matter what comes their way. Success isn’t about avoiding failure—it’s about learning how to rise stronger every time. Whether you’re an entrepreneur looking to scale, a leader aiming to inspire, or someone simply ready to take back control of your life, my coaching meets you where you are and accelerates your growth. With expert guidance, a results-driven approach, and a focus on real transformation, I help you redefine what’s possible and turn your ambitions into reality. You don’t have to figure it all out alone—together, we’ll create a roadmap that aligns with your goals and fuels your passion. It’s time to step into your greatness. Are you ready to power up your mindset, resilience, business, and life? Let’s get to work. Visit coachingmavericks.com to learn more and take the first step toward the life you deserve. Hey book lovers!  Would you rather read or listen to a book?  Well, here is your chance to listen to books and a FREE 30-day trial. I use Audible and I love it!  I believe you will too. Now you can get your FREE 30-day trial and other discounts by using going to www.audibletrial.com/AND