About Chad Meyer:

Chad Meyer’s faith in Jesus Christ is the foundation that guides every aspect of his life, both personally and professionally. With 30 years of experience in sales and sales leadership, Chad has built and led multiple companies throughout his career. Most notably, he co-founded Sales Xceleration with his business partner, Mark Thacker. The company, which they sold a few years ago, partnered with thousands of B2B organizations around the world, helping them scale in ways that business owners and their leadership teams often couldn’t achieve on their own. On average, these companies experienced 25% growth, collectively managing over a billion dollars through the work of Sales Xceleration’s Advisors.

While the numbers tell an impressive story, what matters most to Chad is how God used this platform for His glory — to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives and to prepare Chad for the next adventure God has in store.

In this episode, Jim and Chad Meyer discuss:

• The founding and impact of Sales Xceleration in the fractional leadership space
• How faith and values created a foundation for business and community impact
• Why tough conversations with business owners matter for real growth
• Chad’s upcoming Silent Lions initiative for leaders and legacy-minded individuals
• How emotions aren’t the enemy of leadership — they’re powerful indicators

Key Takeaways:

• Success isn’t just about revenue, it’s about restoring lives. When business owners regain peace, stay close to family, and build stronger communities, the numbers naturally follow.
• Leadership is as much about managing your own emotions as it is about managing others. Emotional intelligence isn’t weakness; it’s wisdom in motion.
• The people at the top often carry invisible burdens. Chad reminds us how essential it is to speak truth in love, offering owners a safe space for honesty and course correction.
• Your name carries weight. Every leader’s legacy is shaped by how people feel when they hear their name — trust, integrity, compassion, or the opposite.
• Stay centered in your purpose. In tough times, exceptional leaders don’t abandon their values — they lean into them, with clarity, humility, and courage.

"You can have all the successes and be emptied and bankrupt on the inside, you're not fulfilled, and that's what it's about. How do you lead a wonderful life? How do you lead others properly, and how do you lead your own personal life and have the fruit you feel?" – Chad Meyer

Connect with Jim Hardwick:

Website: www.mag-sig.com

Book: https://www.mag-sig.com/ebook

Email: jim@mag-sig.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimhardwick/

About Shawn Nelson:

Shawn D. Nelson is the author of Let Me Save You 25 Years: Mistakes, Miracles, and Lessons from the Lovesac Story. He is the founder and CEO of the Lovesac Company, which designs, manufactures, and sells furniture such as modular couches and bean bag chairs. Nelson holds a BA in Mandarin Chinese from the University of Utah and a Master’s degree in Strategic Design and Management from Parsons, The New School for Design in New York City, where he later became an instructor.

In this episode, Jim and Shawn Nelson discuss:

• How LoveSac grew from a side hustle to a billion-dollar brand
• Navigating a business through bankruptcy, public scrutiny, and massive pivots
• Why staying close to the customer matters at every stage of growth
• The importance of resilience, integrity, and long-game thinking in leadership
• Why company culture must include a willingness to sweep floors and stay humble

Key Takeaways:

• Success is built one hard decision at a time. Business will test you constantly, and the choice is always the same: quit, or keep going. If it’s a tie, you keep going.
• Customer feedback is your most valuable business intelligence. Being face-to-face with buyers reveals what works, what doesn’t, and what no spreadsheet can tell you.
• Resilience isn’t a trait — it’s a decision you make daily.
• Leaders can’t afford to lose touch with the front lines. Real growth happens when executives stay connected to their people and customers.
• Stay cool and be kind. In the heat of business crises or tough decisions, self-control and grace under pressure are underrated superpowers.

"You quit or you keep going. And if you're not going to quit, there is no other option, so you might as well not suck at it" – Shawn Nelson

Connect with Shawn Nelson:

Website: https://shawndnelson.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawnoflovesac/?hl=en

Book: https://www.amazon.com/Let-Me-Save-You-Years/dp/B0CHNZ6VY5

Connect with Jim Hardwick:

Website: www.mag-sig.com

Book: https://www.mag-sig.com/ebook

Email: jim@mag-sig.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimhardwick/

About Pete Mastin:

Pete is the founder of Learnie. Pete has exited from startups, as well as worked in senior leadership in public companies. He was the founder/CTO of MulticastMedia. That company was acquired by Kit Digital in 2010. He also took on the role of CEO at Jolokia, where, after pivoting the company, they were acquired by the publicly held Canadian company NextechAR in 2020. Between those adventures, he worked in the AI solutions group at IBM's Watson Media and ran the content delivery and IP business for Internap (another public company).

In this episode, Jim and Pete Mastin discuss:

• Pete’s journey from software engineer to multi-startup founder
• Why traditional long-form training videos fail in today’s workforce
• The importance of capturing tribal knowledge before it walks out the door
• How microlearning increases knowledge retention and engagement
• How operational leaders can better support frontline teams through easy, community-driven training

Key Takeaways:

• Most corporate training fails because it isn’t built for the way people work and learn today. Deskless workers, short attention spans, and outdated systems have created a disconnect in how companies transfer knowledge.
• Community microlearning creates powerful engagement. When content comes directly from internal experts — not actors or outsourced trainers — people retain it better and feel more connected.
• Recognition is retention. Giving employees a platform to share their expertise validates their value and increases loyalty, reducing turnover in the process.
• Great training should be fun, fast, and mobile-first. Pete’s platform proves that two-minute, authentic videos created by peers outperform hour-long, check-the-box training every time.
• Innovation in learning is just beginning. With AI integrations and community-led tools, the future of workforce education is evolving rapidly, and leaders need to embrace it or fall behind.

"If you want to actually create content that people will retain the knowledge they're given, it needs to have a certain type of format. And I think we've got the secret sauce on that." – Pete Mastin

Connect with Pete Mastin:

Website: www.mylearnie.com/ | www.learnie.ai/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petemastin/

Connect with Jim Hardwick:

Website: www.mag-sig.com

Book: https://www.mag-sig.com/ebook

Email: jim@mag-sig.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimhardwick/

About Grace Koval:

Grace is the founder of The Watchdog Foundation. Founded in 2023, The Watchdog Foundation is a 501(3)(c) non-profit whose mission is to help eradicate the stray animal population in Arizona by educating the public and supporting local animal rescues and shelters. Through rescue, we aim to uplift and assist in keeping animals off the streets and into the loving care they deserve.

In this episode, Jim and Grace Koval discuss:

• The powerful personal story that led Grace to animal rescue
• How the notorious Chandler 55 case exposed animal hoarding issues in Arizona
• The critical role of spay and neuter education in reducing stray overpopulation
• The 3-3-3 rule for helping rescue dogs adjust to new homes
• Simple, meaningful ways anyone can support local rescues

Key Takeaways:

• Every rescue story matters. Behind each stray animal is a story of survival, and giving them a second chance changes not just their life, but yours too.
• Spay and neuter programs are essential in breaking the cycle of stray overpopulation, and rescues like Grace’s are working hard to provide no-cost options for communities in need.
• The 3-3-3 Rule is a must-know for new pet owners: 3 days to decompress, 3 weeks to settle into a routine, and 3 months to feel fully safe and at home.
• Supporting animal welfare isn’t one-size-fits-all. If you can’t adopt, foster. If you can’t foster, volunteer. If you can’t volunteer, donate. Every bit counts.
• Mental health matters in rescue work. Grace shares how small daily habits like workouts, meditation, and walks help her stay grounded in such emotionally heavy work.

"I swear, rescue dogs know when they've been saved." – Grace Koval

Connect with Grace Koval:

Website: https://www.thewatchdogfoundation.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewatchdogfoundation/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewatchdogfoundationaz/

Connect with Jim Hardwick:

Website: www.mag-sig.com

Book: https://www.mag-sig.com/ebook

Email: jim@mag-sig.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimhardwick/

About Bruce Dammeier:

Bruce Dammeier is a lifelong Pierce County resident. He grew up in University Place, graduated from Curtis High School, and went on to graduate with distinction from the United States Naval Academy in 1983. Bruce served eight years as a Civil Engineer Corps Officer in the U.S. Navy, deploying worldwide and gaining valuable leadership experience. After his military service, Bruce worked in his family’s printing business for eight years and remains a partner in a printing business today.

His public service began with the Puyallup School Board, and he later served eight years in the Washington State Legislature. In 2016, he was elected Pierce County Executive, a role he held until 2024.

During his time as County Executive, Bruce led Pierce County through the challenges of the pandemic, earning national recognition for innovation and fiscal responsibility, including achieving two bond rating increases, culminating in an Aaa rating from Moody’s. He also launched the Open Pierce County website and created the Emmy-winning Inside Pierce County video series to enhance transparency.

Bruce spearheaded efforts like the Blue Zones Project and Good Neighbor Village Partnership, working to build healthier and stronger communities.

Bruce has been married to his wife Lauren for over 40 years and has three married sons and four granddaughters. His dedication to family, service, and community has left a lasting impact on Pierce County.

In this episode, Jim and Bruce Dammeier discuss:

• The unexpected path from Navy officer to community leader
• How to win elections in opposing-party districts by prioritizing people over politics
• The importance of building diverse, high-performing leadership teams
• Leading through crises and staying grounded in your core values
• The dangers of polarization and what it will take to bring common sense back to public service

Key Takeaways:

• The best leaders serve, not perform. Lasting leadership isn’t about applause or popularity — it’s about doing what’s right for your people, even when it costs you personally.
• Winning trust starts with working hard, serving well, and showing up for your community. Over time, consistent integrity can flip even the toughest districts.
• Crisis leadership requires calm, collaboration, and clarity. Bruce proved that bipartisan, mission-driven teams outperform echo chambers every time.
• The loudest voices aren’t always the wisest. True progress happens when reasonable people work together, away from the extremes, for the good of their community.
• Things are rarely as bad—or as good—as they first appear. Taking a breath, assessing with clarity, and responding thoughtfully is one of the most underrated leadership tools.

"You do the right thing because it’s the right thing, regardless of personal consequences." – Bruce Dammeier

Connect with Bruce Dammeier:

Email: bruce@brucedammeier.com

Connect with Jim Hardwick:

Website: www.mag-sig.com

Book: https://www.mag-sig.com/ebook

Email: jim@mag-sig.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimhardwick/

About Kerry Siggins:

Kerry Siggins is the CEO of StoneAge, a fast-growing, employee-owned manufacturing and technology company based in Colorado. In 2023, Kerry was named EY Entrepreneur Of The Year and Colorado’s CEO of the Year. StoneAge is recognized as a top company for which to work by Outside Magazine and Inc. Magazine. She is a dynamic, sought-after speaker who presents worldwide at corporations, universities, and conferences. Kerry hosts Reflect Forward, a popular leadership podcast, and is an author, blogger, and contributor to Forbes, Entrepreneur, Authority Magazine, and BIC Magazine. Her blog is visited by thousands of readers each month, and she recently released her first book, The Ownership Mindset: A Handbook for Transforming Your Life and Leadership.

In this episode, Jim and Kerry Siggins discuss:

• The power of self-leadership in driving personal and professional growth
• How StoneAge built a thriving employee-owned culture with accountability at its core
• The difference between authenticity and vulnerability in leadership
• How to create a workplace where employees hold themselves — and each other — accountable
• The importance of mindset in transforming challenges into opportunities

Key Takeaways:

• Leadership starts with how you lead yourself. Every day, you choose how to show up — your attitude, effort, and accountability are fully within your control.
• Culture thrives on clarity. When expectations are clearly defined and modeled consistently, people rise to meet them, and those who don’t naturally opt out.
• Some of life’s most valuable lessons happen off the job. Kerry has seen firsthand how a values-driven work culture positively influences employees' families and communities.
• Authenticity without accountability is reckless. Being your true self matters, but it can’t come at the expense of how you impact others — awareness and responsibility are vital.
• The ownership mindset changes everything. When you believe life happens through you, not to you, you stop making excuses and start creating meaningful change.

"I am responsible for everything that happens in my life. Things don't happen to me. They happen because of me, or they happen through me." – Kerry Siggins

Connect with Kerry Siggins:

Website: www.stoneagetools.com | www.kerrysiggins.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerry-siggins-166b66/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUkUm5NWErHdI2o-v9jqB0A/featured

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kerry.siggins/

Connect with Jim Hardwick:

Website: www.mag-sig.com

Book: https://www.mag-sig.com/ebook

Email: jim@mag-sig.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimhardwick/