In this episode, host Josh Elledge interviews Leyah Valgardson Hostetter—Founder and Principal Consultant of Leyah&Co. Leyah shares her unique perspective on why the construction industry struggles with consistency, communication, and client satisfaction, and how business owners can fix these problems by intentionally designing a standout client experience. Drawing from her decades of experience and her work coaching over 150 construction owners, Leyah explains how client experience, operational alignment, and team empowerment can transform chaotic businesses into smooth-running, referral-generating powerhouses.

Leyah explains that many construction companies suffer from predictable reputation challenges—missed deadlines, unclear communication, and constant firefighting—but these issues often stem from the lack of an intentionally designed client experience. She teaches business owners to first define how they want clients to feel at every stage of the project, and then build backward to create workflows, timelines, and touchpoints that support that experience. This shift not only creates consistency but also positions the company as a trustworthy, client-centered leader in a competitive landscape.

She also highlights that behind-the-scenes operations must match the promise made to clients. When team roles are unclear, workflows inconsistent, or processes change from project to project, chaos becomes inevitable. By mapping out every client touchpoint, identifying breakdowns, and establishing standardized systems, construction owners can drastically reduce overwhelm while improving efficiency and client satisfaction. Leyah’s Experience Blueprint workshop guides companies through this process by aligning client experience design with operational excellence.

Finally, Leyah discusses the emotional toll on owners who feel overworked, overwhelmed, and constantly “on call.” She emphasizes that sustainable success requires empowering teams, clarifying expectations, and building repeatable systems that free the owner from daily firefighting. With industry competition tightening for 2025–2026, she stresses that businesses that prioritize client experience, systematization, and operational clarity now will be the ones that thrive in the near future.

Leyah Valgardson Hostetter is the Founder and Principal Consultant of Leyah&Co., where she helps construction business owners transform their operations through intentional client experience design, workflow optimization, and team alignment. With more than two decades of experience and a proven track record working with over 150 construction leaders, Leyah is known for bringing clarity, structure, and strategy to complex business challenges.

Connect with Leyah on LinkedIn.

Leyah&Co. helps construction companies streamline their operations, elevate their client experience, clarify roles, and implement systems that reduce chaos and increase referrals. Through consulting, workshops, and team alignment strategies, the company helps construction leaders build operational excellence and long-term competitive advantage.

• Leyah Valgardson Hostetter on LinkedIn

In this episode, host Josh Elledge speaks with John Murphy, founder of Venture Management Consultants, Inc. and author of more than 20 books including Miracle Minded Manager. Their conversation explores the intersection of nature, spirituality, process improvement, and the art of simplifying leadership in today’s complex business environment. This blog distills the most powerful ideas from their discussion, giving leaders actionable takeaways to elevate performance, mindset, and organizational culture.

John Murphy’s leadership philosophy is grounded in deep observation of nature and the role simplicity plays in high performance. He explains that nature operates without stress or overthinking—trees grow, rivers flow, and ecosystems adapt effortlessly—and leaders can benefit by mirroring this same natural alignment. When leaders learn to be fully present rather than pressured, they unlock clarity, creativity, and more intuitive decision-making that supports healthier teams and stronger business results.

Another major topic John explores is the power of Kaizen events—intensive improvement workshops that rapidly redesign business processes within days rather than months. These transformation sprints dismantle silos, build cross-functional collaboration, and demonstrate what’s possible when teams are given focus, data, and permission to fix what’s broken. The speed and sustainability of Kaizen outcomes often reignite organizational momentum and help leaders rediscover the power of disciplined simplicity.

John also emphasizes mindful leadership, teaching leaders to shift from resistance to acceptance when confronting uncertainty or change. Instead of reacting from fear, mindful leaders recognize what is, examine the root causes of problems, and respond with clarity. This is paired with his advocacy for the art of subtraction—removing unnecessary steps, roles, tools, or habits that drain energy. By simplifying rather than adding more complexity, organizations experience greater flow, higher productivity, and dramatically improved morale.

John Murphy is a renowned leadership consultant, speaker, and author with over 20 published books focused on business transformation, mindfulness, and high-performance leadership. His teachings combine spiritual principles, lean methodologies, and decades of executive coaching experience. Learn more about his work at johnjmurphy.org or connect with him on LinkedIn.

Founded by John Murphy, Venture Management Consultants specializes in business transformation, leadership development, and operational excellence. The firm supports organizations globally through Kaizen events, executive coaching, culture transformation initiatives, and high-performance training programs. Explore resources and offerings at johnjmurphy.org.

• John Murphy’s Website
• John Murphy on LinkedIn

• Nature teaches leaders the power of presence, alignment, and simplicity
• Kaizen events accelerate...

In this episode, host Josh Elledge sits down with Miriam Schulman, founder and CEO of Schulman Art and The Inspiration Place, to unpack the essential principles behind building a profitable and sustainable creative business. Miriam—also the author of the HarperCollins book Art, Inc.—shares her expertise on storytelling, branding, pricing, audience-building, and the mindset needed to overcome creative resistance. Her unique blend of artistic mastery and business strategy provides a powerful roadmap for any creator looking to turn passion into profit.

Miriam introduces the concept of myth-making—drawing inspiration from Greek mythology—as the foundation of compelling branding for creative entrepreneurs. She explains that just as ancient heroes hired bards to tell their stories, modern creatives must proactively shape and share their own narratives to stand out in a crowded marketplace. Storytelling isn’t self-indulgence; it’s strategy.

In the conversation, Miriam breaks down the five pillars of creative business success: production, pricing, prospecting, promotion, and productivity. She details how each pillar supports business growth and provides clear, actionable practices artists can incorporate immediately. From setting a consistent creation schedule to building an email list that actually converts, Miriam offers step-by-step advice grounded in her own business experience.

Finally, she addresses the mindset challenges that hold creatives back—especially fear of failure, perfectionism, and the myth of “selling out.” Miriam emphasizes that discomfort is part of the creative journey. The more talented a person is, the better they often become at talking themselves out of action. Her reminders to “show up even when it’s hard” and to treat creative work like a professional commitment resonate as core lessons for any business-minded artist.

Miriam Schulman is a creative entrepreneur, artist, and the founder of The Inspiration Place, where she teaches artists how to build thriving businesses through marketing systems, pricing strategies, and mindset tools. She is also the author of Art, Inc.—a HarperCollins guidebook for creative professionals—and host of the popular Inspiration Place Podcast. Connect with her on LinkedIn or explore her programs at SchulmanArt.com.

The Inspiration Place is Miriam’s educational platform dedicated to helping artists and creative entrepreneurs grow profitable, sustainable businesses. Through online courses, coaching, community support, and the Inspiration Place Podcast, artists learn practical skills for marketing, selling, pricing, and increasing their visibility. Learn more at SchulmanArt.com.

• Miriam Schulman’s LinkedIn Profile
• The Inspiration Place Website

• Why artists must become the “bard of their own story”
• The five pillars of creative business success
• How to price your work with confidence
• Why email marketing outperforms social...