Business Building Blocks Podcast

Send us a text Ever feel like you’re carrying your team instead of leading them? The problem isn’t always laziness or incompetence. Sometimes, it’s misaligned vision, unclear expectations, or the wrong role fit. In this episode, I unpack how leaders can stop micromanaging, clarify what matters, and empower their teams to actually do what they were hired to do. In this episode, Kristina Schmitt unpacks the skill vs. will framework, the importance of clarity, and how to create a culture where p...

Send us a text Does your mindset affect your profit? On this episode of the Business Building Blocks Podcast, I sit down with Suzanne Longstreet to uncover how hidden beliefs—like unworthiness, fear, or not-good-enough—sabotage leaders and their bottom line. We discuss: Why profit problems often start with mindsetThe neuroscience behind breaking sabotaging patternsReal stories of leaders who doubled or tripled revenue through mindset shiftsHow to rewire your unconscious mind for successProfit...

Send us a text Sometimes, the best way to help someone isn’t by giving them the answer—it’s by letting them talk until they find it themselves. In this episode, I share the real-life stories that taught me the value of verbal processing—from a frustrating night with algebra homework to coaching leaders in high-stakes environments. You’ll learn why speaking out loud changes how the brain works, how leaders can create more confident and capable teams, and how YOU can use this approach to stop t...

Send us a text 🎧 Are you putting off change because it feels too big? In Episode 63, I reveal how moving my podcast setup (from a freezing basement to a card table upstairs!) sparked a mindset shift that leaders and high achievers need to hear. Using the Toyota Kata framework, I show you how experimenting with small, flexible changes can lead to major progress—without fear, overwhelm, or perfection paralysis. Tune in to learn the simple way to build momentum in leadership, personal growth, or...

Send us a text 💼 What’s really your job as a leader? If you’re overwhelmed, constantly doing, and your team still isn’t performing the way you hoped—this episode is for you. Most leaders jump straight to results... But without a clear vision and intentional team development, you're just managing chaos. In this episode, I break down the 3 essential roles of a leader: 1️⃣ Create and share a vision 2️⃣ Develop your team 3️⃣ Get results (yes, it comes last—and here’s why) Whether you’re leading a...

Send us a text He was “the bird lady’s son” growing up, worked in jail, threw a javelin on a national stage, and never planned on being a general manager — but Jason Spalding’s leadership story might just change the way you show up at work. 🐝 “It's always about people.” That’s the one lesson he carried across rebar, sports, union tables, and the boardroom. And now, he's sharing how humility, inclusion, vulnerability, and evolution form the foundation of what he calls HIVE Leadership. In this ...

Send us a text 🚨 “It’s not the people. It’s not the process. It’s not even the product. It’s YOU.” That’s the hard truth Andrew Oxley had to face after burning out in a high-powered career, chasing success but losing himself in the process. He thought switching jobs would fix the problem — but the problem followed him. 👉 Why? Because the way we lead follows us into every role, every business, every team. In this episode of the Business Building Blocks Podcast, we talk about: 🔹 Why most lea...

Send us a text "I broke down after mowing the lawn. Not because I was tired—but because of what it represented." When I became a single mom, mowing the lawn became one of the most emotionally exhausting tasks of my life. Not because it was hard physically. But because it was new, unfamiliar, and loaded with stress I didn't expect. Change does that. Even simple things can feel like mountains. In this episode of the Business Building Blocks Podcast, we unpack: Why most change efforts fail witho...

Send us a text I brought them in. I gave the feedback. I thought it was done. But nothing changed. Ever felt that? Like you’re repeating the same conversation over and over — and wondering if it’s you? Here's what I’ve learned: 💬 ‘That’s not accompanied accountability. That’s sink or swim.’ If you’re a leader, parent, coach, or just someone trying to help people grow — this episode is for you. In real life, feedback isn’t one conversation. It’s walking with someone while they’re still learnin...

Send us a text 😳 I snapped. I got defensive. And I shut down. All because of one piece of feedback. I was further into my career than you’d think. I should’ve handled it better… but my body went into full panic mode. Not because the feedback was harsh— …but because of the shame I’d attached to it. 💭 What if feedback doesn’t have to feel like failure? What if your reaction isn’t a flaw—but a clue? 🎧 Episode 57 is raw, real, and it’s for every high-achiever who’s ever felt wrecked by a single c...

Send us a text "I got into my first 'dream job.' It was everything I thought I wanted. Big name. Big opportunity. But within a few months, I felt completely drained. I realized—I was hiding who I really was just to survive the culture. I didn’t even know what my core values were back then. All I knew was that something didn’t feel right." In this episode of the Business Building Blocks Podcast, Jenny Barkan and I dive deep into masking in the workplace—what it is, why we do it, and how it slo...

Send us a text "What if the drive to work felt heavier than the job itself?" In this deeply personal and powerful episode, Kaitlyn Rios, founder & President of Faced with Grace, shares her raw journey through toxic workplaces—and the moment that changed everything. From silent microaggressions to full-blown burnout, Kaitlyn’s story will resonate with anyone who's ever felt unseen, unsupported, or suffocated at work. 🌿 Learn how to spot the subtle signs of toxicity, how to heal aft...

Send us a text I used to shrink myself in meetings. Waited for the perfect moment to speak— Then didn’t. Because I thought: “What if I say the wrong thing?” “What if I sound too emotional?” “What if I take up too much space?” Sound familiar? Somewhere along the way, many of us were taught to be smaller to be accepted. To tone it down to be taken seriously. To lead like someone else. But what if the version of you that feels like too much Is exactly what your business, your team, your clients…...

Send us a text 🗣️ "We were paying ourselves below the poverty line. I remember my tax filing from like 2002, 2003… we were below the poverty line." David Brecount, CEO and Co-Founder of US Digital Partners, joined me on the podcast and shared what those early years of business really looked like: 👉🏼 “You live off savings, and you press on. You go out and sell another project, figure out how to do it. Then you sell another project, and figure out how to do that one too.” We talked about everyt...

Send us a text What if the last chapter of life could be as beautiful as the first? In this deeply moving episode of The Business Building Blocks Podcast, host Kristina Schmitt sits down with Laura Sherwood, Director of Hospice Partnerships, and Brenda Fleming, Executive Director of Hospice of Elgin, to share the powerful story behind a hospice that’s redefining end-of-life care. You’ll hear: 💜 Why Hospice of Elgin was the last to be built in its region—and how that turned into its greatest s...