Evolving Your Workplace

In this week's episode of Throwback Thursday we revisit my conversations with Jimmy Rayford. The episode got so much great feedback that we thought it was necessary to revisit it. "People don't check their personal lives at the door—and pretending they do just makes it show up somewhere else." – Jimmy RayfordIn this week's episode, Carol Schultz sits down with Jimmy Rayford, CEO of Dealers Wholesale, to challenge the old-school belief that "work is work, personal is personal"—and to share the tried-and-true technique leaders can use to build real connection with their teams.Jimmy explains why suppressing what's happening in people's lives doesn't make it disappear—it just resurfaces in the work—and why the single most powerful move a leader can make is to model the openness they want to see. They dig into how simple rituals like "share something good" check-ins and Personal Growth Mondays turn ordinary meetings into genuine connection, why Jimmy embraced the role of "Chief Reassurance Officer" during COVID, and how a leader can build a culture of care without forcing anyone to overshare.The episode closes with candid talk on empowering your team, avoiding the founder-CEO bottleneck, and knowing when to give someone "enough rope"—plus Jimmy's parting advice on finding the environment that brings out your best work.Takeaways1. "Work is work, personal is personal" is outdated—people bring their whole selves to work whether leaders acknowledge it or not.2. You can't ask employees to be open and transparent while everything about you stays closed—modeling comes first.3. The most effective connection technique is simple: model the behavior you want to drive.4. Small, consistent rituals (like weekly "good news" shares) build deep familiarity over time.5. Personal Growth Mondays and deep-question prompts create space for real vulnerability—voluntarily.6. Timing matters: expect early adopters, late adopters, and never-adopters, and focus on whoever shows up.7. Vulnerability from a leader creates a "permission structure" for the whole organization.8. Smaller companies offer outsized impact—your decisions actually matter and you can see the results.9. Founder and CEO leaders risk becoming the bottleneck by involving themselves where they're not needed.10. Give people "enough rope"—but calibrate how much based on their track record and the stakes of the decision.Chapters00:00 Intro: Why "work is work, personal is personal" couldn't be further from the truth00:51 What Dealers Wholesale does & Jimmy's role as CEO02:38 Why the smallest company he's worked for became the best chapter of his career04:11 The hidden cost of bureaucracy and office politics in large organizations05:30 The former CEO who stayed on—and a 38-year lesson in humility and loyalty07:48 The death of the "company guy" and why companies aren't loyal anymore09:58 How getting older changed Jimmy's view on bringing your whole self to work11:24 Becoming "Chief Reassurance Officer" during COVID13:53 The tried-and-true technique: model the behavior you want to see14:53 Vulnerability in action: why leading through emotion builds trust21:19 "Share something good": how small check-ins build connection over time21:47 Personal Growth Mondays & the 365-question ritual22:46 Timing, adopters, and focusing on who shows up24:40 Why shared vulnerability makes leaders more open and sensitive30:58 Building a leadership team empowered to call you out31:27 Avoiding the founder-CEO bottleneck32:47 Giving people "enough rope" and situational leadership33:56 The one thing Jimmy would solve to unlock business growth35:58 Final thoughts: take a true inventory of what really matters to youConnect With Host Carol SchultzFind more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.Want to be our next guest expert? Email [email protected] with your information.And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

Summer break just won't quit, so here's another edition of Throwback Thursday with one of Carol's favorite Venture Capitalists and a hell of a good guy. If you’re curious about the process of venture capital (VC) funding or looking to get funding, this episode is for you. Host Carol Schultz sits down with Seth Levine of the prestigious VC firm Foundry. Whether you're an eager founder, a startup dreamer, or just VC-curious, Seth cuts through the noise, sharing hard-won insights on when to actually seek funding, why VC money might not be as glamorous as you think, how to successfully pitch investors, and what sets standout founders apart. Carol and Seth also dig into the toughest founder challenges, from when to bootstrap versus raise capital, to smart hiring as you grow. Packed with practical advice, stories from the trenches, and candid wisdom about navigating the funding world, this episode will help you avoid the common pitfalls and make smarter choices for your company’s future. Tune in for a straight-talking look inside the journey to funding a business. Connect With Host Carol SchultzFind more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and Instagram.Want to be our next guest expert? Email [email protected] with your information.And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

It's vacation time for us, so here's another Throwback Thursday.For leaders seeking guidance on building a winning culture, this one is for you.In this conversation Carol Schultz speaks with Jason Andrews, multiple time founder, expert in space travel, and the current Cofounder & CEO of Orbite.Carol and Jason discuss the intricacies of building a company that retains talent and the challenges of entrepreneurship. They also explore the importance of company culture, effective marketing strategies, and the financial aspects of running a startup.Jason shares insights from his journey with Orbite, emphasizing the need for vision, adaptability, and the right team to succeed in a rapidly evolving industry.This is an episode you won't want to miss.TakeawaysCreating a company that people don't want to leave is essential for success.Building a strong team and company culture is crucial for retention.Every entrepreneur faces challenges, and adaptability is key.Funding strategies can vary; organic growth is often beneficial.The future of space travel is becoming more accessible to the public.Effective marketing and customer engagement are vital for growth.Understanding your ideal customer profile is essential for targeting.Vision and mission drive the company forward and inspire the team.Entrepreneurship requires a unique mindset and resilience.Learning from failures is part of the entrepreneurial journey.Chapters00:00 Creating a Company People Don't Want to Leave01:11 The Vision Behind Orbit and Human Spaceflight03:18 The Challenges of Building a New Industry06:21 Employee Retention in Startups10:14 Qualities of a Successful Entrepreneur12:47 Funding Strategies for Startups17:15 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs19:20 Understanding Space Training Costs22:08 The Adventure of Space Training24:58 Overcoming Perceptions of Space Travel28:07 Marketing Challenges in the Space Industry30:25 Building a Mission-Driven Team32:43 Navigating Growth and Resource Limitations35:47 The Journey of Entrepreneurship40:41 Navigating Space Experiences and Virtual OperationsConnect With Host Carol SchultzFind more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and Instagram.Find out more about our guest, Jason Andrews, and his company at Orbite Space, LinkedIn, and InstagramWant to be our next guest expert? Email [email protected] with your information.And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

We're on a much needed vacation as we typically are in August, so it's time for Throwback Thursday. Curious to learn more about Founder’s syndrome, or working for someone who may have it? This episode is for you. Host Carol Schultz teams up with social impact entrepreneur Sophia Shaw to dive deep into the tricky dynamics of founder syndrome. From understanding why founders struggle to let go, to practical strategies for succession planning and building a culture that supports new leadership, the conversation is packed with real-world stories and actionable advice for both founders and their teams. Whether you’re just starting your business or looking for ways to future-proof your organization, you won’t want to miss these insights on evolving—without losing what makes your company unique. Hit play and start evolving your workplace today. Connect With Host Carol SchultzFind more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and Instagram.Want to be our next guest expert? Email [email protected] with your information.And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

One in four employees is seriously mentally distressed — and it's rarely about the person; it's about the workplace itself!This conversation dives into why workplace mental health is quietly collapsing, the hidden cost of untrained managers, and the simple systems — from tracked airtime to two-minute check-ins — that can turn a toxic culture around.We discussed:◼ Why depression rates tripled during the pandemic and never came back down◼ How one Gallup number predicts 70% of your team's engagement◼ The two simple questions that instantly rebuild trust with your team◼ Why fixing individuals is solving for the completely wrong problem◼ How one CEO's 30,000 handwritten notes turned a failing company around🎙️ Host: Carol SchultzLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolbschultz/Vertical Elevation: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vertical-elevation/🎤 Guest: Laura PutnamLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauraputnam/Motion Infusion: https://www.linkedin.com/company/various-schools-and-organizations/🎧 Find usYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EvolvingYourWorkplaceSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/72jbAC9Hk4P0EH9wxW1vy4?si=b0eab40cecc343e3Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/evolving-your-workplace/id1562180951Connect With Host Carol SchultzFind more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.Want to be our next guest expert? Email [email protected] with your information.And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!