Do you ever wonder what truly separates successful business owners from the pack? What hidden habits, tough pivots, and real-life lessons matter in the long run?

In this energizing episode, Chris Thomson sits down with Ted Duncan, an accomplished real estate leader and Student Works Management Program alum, whose career took him everywhere from high-stakes sailing in Muskoka to leading top-performing teams and even chasing his acting dreams in New York.

Together, they reveal proven systems, the discipline myth most young leaders get wrong, and what it really takes to create success worth loving plus the unexpected tools Ted still uses from his earliest entrepreneurship days.

If you’re hungry to skip regret, build real impact, and become the kind of leader people rave about, listen right now. Don’t wait for perfect. You’ll miss secrets you can’t find anywhere else.

1. [00:00:21] – From motorboat newspapers to sailboats: Ted’s unexpected origin story
2. [00:01:09] – Getting up at 4:30 AM… is this how ambition feels before business?
3. [00:02:04] – A “not-salesy” mentor sparks Ted’s real entrepreneurial leap
4. [00:03:12] – The sales technique that transformed Ted’s life (use it in any field)
5. [00:05:44] – What most young operators miss about systems and how it costs you
6. [00:09:53] – “Wish I’d done it again”—Why experience multiplies results
7. [00:14:15] – From real estate to acting in NYC: surprising career pivots, customer skills
8. [00:18:07] – Why acting wasn’t just a wild detour, but a key self-discovery
9. [00:24:49] – The honest truth: why failure usually points in the mirror
10. [00:29:36] – How Ted built lasting habits, resilience, and real rewards

Ted Duncan is a top-performing real estate agent in Washington D.C., celebrated for leading high-volume, high-impact teams and guiding clients through life-changing home purchases. A longtime Student Works Management Program alum, Ted’s journey spans business launches, district management, entrepreneurship, and seven years as a working actor in New York, making him a powerful mentor for ambitious young leaders.

🔗 Website

1. Atomic Habits by James Clear
2. Net Promoter Score (Bain & Company)
3. Rick Eastwood (entrepreneur, Student Works...

Ever wonder why health feels like a losing battle for high achievers even when you “know what to do”?

If you’re tired of the Monday restarts, toxic self-criticism, and feeling like your energy never matches your ambition, this episode is your permission slip to break the cycle and reclaim your power.

Chris Thompson welcomes health and mindset coach Steph Kawaja, founder of She’s Better Than Ever, to reveal the surprising psychology and revolutionary frameworks behind creating sustainable healthy habits without all-or-nothing thinking or burnout. From healing your relationship with food to unlocking career-changing energy through unshakable routines, discover why the Future Ready Framework is helping leaders (and their teams) perform at their best, in and out of the gym.

Listen now or risk repeating another year of the same-old struggles. Don’t wait! These exclusive mindset and habit shifts aren’t found in any generic fitness guide. This episode is your unfair advantage to lead, love, and live your best.

1. [00:00] – What is the “Future Ready Framework,” and why healing beats hustle for high achievers?
2. [00:08:39] – Why do so many ambitious women (and men) secretly struggle with food and confidence?
3. [00:12:49] – High performers and the hidden cost of being too hard on yourself
4. [00:17:20] – How your health is quietly derailing your career performance—and how to fix it
5. [00:22:35] – Plan A, Plan B: The secret to staying consistent (even when life hits)
6. [00:29:31] – Why doing “more” isn’t always better—and trusting the power of small, relentless wins
7. [00:34:10] – The 3 (surprisingly simple) non-negotiable habits every hustler needs
8. [00:44:43] – What would be possible—in business, life, and love—if you truly trusted yourself?

Stephany Kawaja is the founder and lead coach of She’s Better Than Ever, a results-driven program helping ambitious women (and men) heal their relationship with food, master sustainable routines, and achieve peak health without sacrificing career success. Drawing on her experience as a top Student Works alum and sales leader, Steph’s Future Ready Framework has transformed 100+ lives by unraveling perfectionism, toxic diet culture, and burnout cycles.

🔗 LinkedIn | Website

1. She’s Better Than Ever (Steph Kawaja’s program)
2. Atomic Habits by James Clear

What if the ONLY thing standing between you and extraordinary success is how you leverage your values and your time? Whether you dream of leading high-impact teams, building a thriving business, or setting yourself apart as a transformative entrepreneur, this episode is your inside pass to leadership mastery.

Chris Thompson welcomes back talent optimization expert Rob Friday, live and unscripted. They break down the true ROI of writing books and core values, unveil “buying back your time” strategies, and reveal how predictive tools fuel massive growth and retention across businesses and sports teams. If you want actionable tools to smash your limits, boost retention, and win with a team of A-players, this conversation is your unfair advantage.

Don’t wait for “one day.” Listen now, because the leaders who act today are the ones tomorrow admires, and this episode unlocks insights few ever hear straight from Canada’s proven leadership trenches.

1. [00:00] – Why “Happy, Not Satisfied” Is the Mindset That Sets Elite Leaders Apart
2. [00:01:44] – Rob Friday’s whirlwind 21% growth, marrying in France, and building family and business resilience
3. [00:03:33] – Unlocking Freedom: How “Buy Back Your Time” Turns Stress Into Strategic Focus
4. [00:06:29] – Painful Truths: Why Writing a Book Is the Ultimate Entrepreneur’s Calling Card
5. [00:10:10] – Talent Optimizer Revealed—The Proven Blueprint for Attracting and Keeping A+ Team Members
6. [00:18:36] – Scare the Wrong People Away: How Radical Clarity in Values Creates Great Teams
7. [00:24:12] – NHL Teams, Predictive Index, and the Art of Placing Winners in Their Sweet Spot
8. [00:41:31] – Flywheels, Net Promoter Scores, and the Secret Sauce That Keeps Alumni Raving Long After Graduation
9. 
   

Rob Friday is the Managing Principal of Predictive Success and author of “Talent Optimizer” and the forthcoming “The Core Value Code.” Known for pioneering data-driven hiring and strategizing with Fortune 500 clients (and Stanley Cup-winning coaches), Rob specializes in unlocking the hidden levers that drive extraordinary performance, alignment, and growth. He is also a student works alumnus who has become an influential force in leadership development worldwide.

🔗 LinkedIn | LinkTree

1. Talent Optimizer by Rob Friday
2. The Core Value Code (Up-and-coming book by Rob Friday)