Cut The Tie Podcast with Clifford Starks

What if the only thing holding you back was the belief that you’re not enough?

In this empowering episode of Cut The Tie, Thomas Helfrich sits down with Clifford Starks, former UFC fighter turned peak performance coach, to explore what it really means to lead from within. Clifford shares how his journey—from an overweight teen to elite athlete to entrepreneur—was never about talent or luck. It was about mindset, resilience, and choosing growth even in the face of fear.

He opens up about the toughest tie he had to cut: staying silent. Clifford explains how asking for help transformed his business, his family life, and his own personal evolution—and why vulnerability is the hidden superpower of successful leaders.

If you’re stuck in achievement mode, craving purpose, or afraid to admit you don’t have it all figured out, this episode is your wake-up call.

About Clifford Starks

Clifford Starks is a performance coach, speaker, and founder of Starks Transformational Coaching. A former UFC fighter, Clifford now helps high-performing entrepreneurs and executives master their mindset, reconnect with their purpose, and lead with integrity. Drawing on his experience in elite athletics and personal development, he guides leaders toward sustainable success across business, health, and relationships.

He’s also a devoted husband and father, passionate about building a legacy rooted in values, clarity, and growth.

In this episode, Thomas and Clifford discuss:

• The tie of silence
  Why Clifford’s biggest shift came when he started asking for help—and why that decision unlocked a new level of freedom.
• From octagon to ownership
  How elite athletic performance shaped Clifford’s approach to business and mindset coaching.
• The power of “I don’t know”
  Clifford explains how embracing curiosity and releasing ego transformed his personal and professional life.
• What performance really means
  It’s not about grinding harder—it’s about aligning your mind, mission, and methods.
• Family, legacy, and fulfillment
  Clifford shares how fatherhood and marriage reshaped his definition of success—and what he wants his kids to see in his journey.

Key Takeaways:

• You can’t grow until you ask for help
  Real leadership starts with vulnerability and the courage to say “I don’t know.”
• Your identity isn’t static
  From fighter to founder to father—Clifford proves you can rewrite your story at any stage.
• Performance isn’t hustle—it’s alignment
  True success is built when your habits match your purpose.
• Let go of the ego
  Ego keeps you stuck. Curiosity moves you forward.
• Legacy starts now
  The version of you your kids see today is the story they’ll tell tomorrow.

Connect with Clifford Starks

💼 LinkedIn: Clifford Starks

Connect with Thomas Helfrich

🐦 Twitter: @thelfrich
📘 Facebook: Cut the Tie Group
💼 LinkedIn: Thomas Helfrich
🌐 Website: www.cutthetie.com
📧 Email: t@instantlyrelevant.com
🚀 InstantlyRelevant.com

Support the show

Serious about LinkedIn Lead Generation? Stop Guessing what to do on LinkedIn and ignite revenue from relevance with Instantly Relevant Lead System

Cut The Tie Podcast with Chaz Horn

What if the real reason your business isn’t growing… is you?

In this episode of Cut The Tie, Thomas Helfrich sits down with Chaz Horn, a sales leadership coach and founder of Mastery of B2B Sales, to unpack how ego, fear, and lack of clarity can quietly stall your business—even when you’re doing everything “right.” Chaz opens up about the moment he realized he was the bottleneck and the painful but necessary mindset shift that followed.

This is a raw conversation about accountability, emotional growth, and building systems that let you scale without sacrificing your peace. For any business owner stuck in the weeds, this is the episode you didn’t know you needed.

About Chaz Horn

Chaz Horn is the founder of Mastery of B2B Sales, a coaching and implementation program that helps entrepreneurs, consultants, and sales leaders eliminate self-sabotage, close more deals, and build scalable, values-driven sales systems. With over two decades of experience in sales and leadership, Chaz is known for his direct but compassionate coaching style, empowering clients to get out of their own way and lead with clarity and confidence.

In this episode, Thomas and Chaz discuss:

• The power of brutal self-honesty
  How Chaz realized he was the one slowing everything down—and why facing that truth saved his business.
• Why tactics don’t work without clarity
  Most sales problems are really identity problems. Until you fix how you think, the strategy won’t matter.
• From reactive to intentional
  Chaz shares how systems and standards helped him reclaim his energy, focus, and time.
• Breaking out of the emotional loop
  The link between past trauma and business self-sabotage—and what to do about it.
• Why slowing down is the new scaling up
  Clarity, not speed, is the true accelerant.

Key Takeaways

• You can’t scale if you’re in the way
  Until you evolve as a leader, your business will always reflect your limitations.
• Clarity beats hustle every time
  If you don’t know what you want, all the action in the world won’t help you get there.
• Systems give you freedom
  Structure isn’t restrictive—it’s what lets you focus on what matters most.
• Emotional wounds show up in business
  Deal with your junk or it’ll keep dealing with you—especially in sales and leadership.
• Leadership starts with self-leadership
  If you can’t lead yourself, you can’t lead others—or scale anything that lasts.

Connect with Chaz Horn

🌐 Website: Mastery of B2B Sales
💼 LinkedIn: Chaz Horn

Connect with Thomas Helfrich

🐦 Twitter: @thelfrich
📘 Facebook: Cut the Tie Group
💼 LinkedIn: Thomas Helfrich
🌐 Website: www.cutthetie.com
📧 Email: t@instantlyrelevant.com
🚀 InstantlyRelevant.com

Support the show

Serious about LinkedIn Lead Generation? Stop Guessing what to do on LinkedIn and ignite revenue from relevance with Instantly Relevant Lead System

Cut The Tie Podcast with Sherman Merricks

How do you go from college dropout to multiple seven-figure businesses—with no roadmap and no excuses? In this episode of Cut The Tie, Thomas Helfrich sits down with Sherman Merricks, founder of Dynasty CrossFit and co-owner of the LASSO Framework, to talk about ownership—of your time, your choices, and your outcome.

Sherman gets real about the moment he realized he was stuck—not because of the job or the system, but because he lacked a plan. He didn’t wait for the perfect opportunity—he created one. And then another. And another. From building a thriving gym to running a marketing agency that helps gym owners scale smarter, Sherman shares a no-BS blueprint for taking back control of your life and business.

About Sherman Merricks

Sherman Merricks is a serial entrepreneur, sales coach, and co-owner of LASSO Framework, a marketing and sales implementation company helping gym owners grow profitable, sustainable businesses. After founding Dynasty CrossFit in Gainesville, FL, and growing it into a 7-figure business, Sherman shifted his focus to helping other fitness entrepreneurs overcome their biggest roadblocks—sales, marketing, and systems. Today, through LASSO, he helps gym owners stop spinning their wheels and start building real freedom. Sherman is also a husband, father, and believer in creating a life by design—not by default.

In this episode, Thomas and Sherman discuss:

• The shift from chaos to clarity
  Why most people aren’t actually stuck—they’re just undisciplined and unfocused.
• The secret to scaling: it’s not hustle
  Sherman breaks down how delegation, systems, and sales mastery unlocked growth in multiple industries.
• Why gym ownership wasn’t enough
  After building a successful gym, Sherman realized he still didn’t have the freedom he wanted. So he built again.
• The trap of “being busy”
  Productivity is not progress. Sherman explains how he simplified his days to drive more value with less stress.

Key Takeaways

• You’re not stuck—you just need a better plan
  If you’re serious about freedom, start with clarity and follow with execution.
• Sales solves most business problems
  If you're not selling, you're not scaling. Learn how to close or hire someone who can.
• Busy is the new broke
  Constant activity doesn’t mean progress. Focus on the few things that actually move the needle.
• Systems create separation
  Want freedom? Build processes that don’t require your presence.

Connect with Sherman Merricks

🌐 Website: www.lassoframework.com
💼 LinkedIn: Sherman Merricks

Connect with Thomas Helfrich

🐦 Twitter: @thelfrich
📘 Facebook: Cut the Tie Group
💼 LinkedIn: Thomas Helfrich
🌐 Website: www.cutthetie.com
📧 Email: t@instantlyrelevant.com
🚀 InstantlyRelevant.com

Support the show

Serious about LinkedIn Lead Generation? Stop Guessing what to do on LinkedIn and ignite revenue from relevance with Instantly Relevant Lead System