If you’ve got a team that feels “off”—turnover, tension, miscommunication, or projects that keep slipping—this conversation will hit home. Workplace culture expert Lindsay Barnett breaks down why culture problems usually aren’t a “them” issue… they’re a leadership clarity issue.

In this episode, we unpack how leaders accidentally create chaos (even with good intentions), why “being nice” can kill accountability, and how to build a culture where people feel seen, understood, and motivated—without sacrificing performance.

• Why most team problems start with unclear expectations

• The leadership trap: managing others the way you want to be managed (and why it backfires)

• The shift from the Golden Rule to the Platinum Rule (treat people how they want to be treated)

• How to balance empathy with accountability (so work still gets done)

• What to do when you have an overbearing boss who keeps piling on tasks

• How to “negotiate” workload using scope, timeline, quality, or budget tradeoffs

• Why sustainable performance requires psychological safety + standards

• A practical team tool: work style assessments to reduce stories, blame, and friction

• How leaders lose credibility when values are “on the wall” but not modeled

• Steve’s hard-earned leadership lesson: “The common denominator wasn’t them—it was me.”

• Lindsay’s framing: leaders “create the weather” on a team.

• The boundary-setting example that changes everything: start small, test assumptions, and build courage with reps.

1. Clarify one expectation you’ve assumed your team “should already know.” Write it down, then say it out loud.

2. Use this phrase in your next tough conversation:

   “Are you open to negotiating?”

3. Before reacting, replace your story with curiosity:

   “Help me understand what you’re optimizing for.”

4. If you lead a team, pick one value/behavior you’ll model consistently for 30 days (no exceptions).

Over the past two decades, Lindsay Barnett has helped transform workplace cultures, leaders, teams, and individuals across Fortune 500 companies and high-growth startups. After becoming “corporate crispy,” she founded Barnett Coaching, a boutique coaching and consulting firm focused on helping people and organizations thrive. She’s also the author of Working Hell to Working Well: Making Your Company Work For You.

You can find Lindsay's resources in the links below:

• Book: Working Hell to Working Well: Making Your Company Work For You — Lindsay Barnett
• Connect with Lindsay on LinkedIn
• Learn more at Barnett Coaching - www.barnettcoaching.com

If you’re building a team (or surviving one), share this with a founder or manager who cares about performance and people. And don’t forget to subscribe to Grow Your Impact, Income & Influence for more conversations that help you scale impact without burning out.

If you feel like your business is invisible online…

If you’re struggling with brand clarity…

If you’re posting content but not attracting clients…

The problem isn’t your talent.

According to brand visibility expert Kim Speed, the real issue is your messaging.

In this episode of Grow Your Impact, Income & Influence, Kim shares how entrepreneurs can improve brand positioning, increase business visibility, and attract ideal clients—without spending thousands on logos, websites, or rebrands.

After building global brands like Coca-Cola and Ford as a Creative Director, Kim now helps solopreneurs and service providers clarify their brand identity and confidently communicate their value.

• Why being “good at what you do” isn’t enough to grow your business

• The difference between branding (visual identity) and brand (reputation and positioning)

• How unclear messaging makes your business invisible

• Why perfectionism kills visibility and confidence

• How networking and conversations can grow your brand faster than social media

• The importance of niching down to attract ideal clients

Kim introduces her TRUE Brand Framework to help entrepreneurs clarify and communicate their value:

T – Truthful: Be honest about who you are and what you do

R – Relevant: Clearly define who you serve and the problem you solve

U – Unique Genius: Identify the strengths that differentiate you

E – Expression: Communicate your message consistently and confidently

Your business growth does not start with a website redesign.

It starts with clarity.

When you clearly articulate:

• Who you help

• What problem you solve

• Why it matters

You increase visibility, build trust, and attract the right clients.

The biggest risk isn’t being imperfect.

It’s being unseen.

If you found this interesting, you can visit Kim's website and socials here: 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimspeed/ 👉 https://purplemooncreative.com/ 👉 https://www.facebook.com/groups/employeetoentrepreneursociety/

“Freedom” is the word almost every entrepreneur chases.

But what if that chase is the very thing keeping you stuck?

In this episode of Grow Your Impact, Income & Influence, Steve sits down with Mark Dolfini, 4x best-selling author, U.S. Marine veteran, and founder of The Strategic Boardroom, to unpack a hard truth most business owners don’t want to hear:

👉 Unlimited freedom often leads to burnout, confusion, and businesses that quietly take over your life.

Mark shares how he built a multi-million-dollar real estate portfolio—only to nearly work himself to death—and how that breakdown forced him to rethink everything about success, systems, and what business is actually for.

This is a grounded, no-fluff conversation about vision, discipline, and building businesses that serve your family, faith, and future—not just your bank account.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• 🔥 Why “freedom” without structure creates chaos (and why entrepreneurs feel trapped by the businesses they built)

• 🧭 The difference between personal vision and business vision—and why most people skip the first one

• 🐍 How Mark’s V.I.P.E.R. Framework helps entrepreneurs reclaim time, clarity, and energy

• ⚙️ Why systems should follow vision—not the other way around

• ⏱️ How working harder is often a sign you’re working out of alignment

• 🧠 The hidden psychology behind burnout, shiny object syndrome, and overworking

• ❤️ Why success that costs your marriage, health, or peace isn’t success at all

If you’ve ever said, “I thought entrepreneurship was supposed to feel more free than this,” this episode will hit home.

If you found this interesting, you can visit Mark's website here: 👉 https://strategicboardroom.com/