In this episode of Unpacked with Ron Harvey, Ron sits down with George Pesansky, author of Super Performance and president of My Blended Learning, a consulting firm he's led for 17 years. George brings a rare blend of military service, corporate leadership, and entrepreneurship to a conversation that challenges everything most organizations believe about performance, feedback, and growth.

Here's what Ron and George unpack in this episode:

• The "golden hour" framework — how to identify and replicate the root causes of your success, not just your failures, and why most leaders only ever do half the equation
• What "utility" really means — and why your ability to create value is a more reliable foundation for business security than any individual client win or loss
• The prison of expectations — why high-performing teams often hold back their best work, and how leaders can build cultures where full effort is safe, even when it doesn't end in a touchdown
• Strengths over gaps — why pouring resources into a 4-out-of-5 skill to make it a 5 is often the wrong investment, and how to organize teams around contribution instead of correction
• The entrepreneurship mindset shift — how George discovered that running your own business creates more security than corporate dependence, and what losing clients taught him about resilience
• Feedback that sustains, not just improves — George's principle that "you cannot sustain what you can't explain," and why asking for three things to keep matters just as much as three things to fix

Whether you're leading a factory floor, a consulting firm, or your own entrepreneurial journey, this episode delivers a practical framework for unlocking the performance that's already inside your team and yourself.

Super Performance by George Pesansky is available now on Amazon and at bookstores everywhere. Connect with George at georgetheauthor.com, myblendedlearning.com, or on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

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Just Make A Difference: Leading Under Pressure by Ron Harvey

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Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any organization or entity. The information provided in this podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. Listeners should consult with their own professional advisors before implementing any suggestions or recommendations made in this podcast. The speakers and guests are not responsible for any actions taken by listeners based on the information presented in this podcast. The podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice or services. The speakers and guests make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the information, products, services, or related graphics contained in this podc...

We sit down with Kimberely D. Brown to talk about the kind of leadership that’s forged through high standards, hard pivots, and showing up with character. She shares how self-awareness, trust, and relationships shape her path from banking and affordable housing to CDFI lending and community impact.

• tough leaders with high expectations shaping long-term excellence
• learning yourself through 20s, 30s, and repeated setbacks
• getting back up through upbringing, discipline, and perspective
• building trust by leading with ethics and consistent character
• having the hardest conversations with yourself before anyone else
• being qualified but unprepared, and what real readiness requires
• swallowing pride after a public pivot and planning the comeback
• relationships, mentorship, and legacy through how you make people feel
• avoiding burned bridges, especially on social media
• continuous learning to stay ahead of industry shifts and economic threats
• filling gaps as a way to find purpose beyond a paycheck
• choosing a go-to person who tells you the truth with love
Please like us, please give us some reviews, and please share it with some people that you know that can enjoy learning from us as we have fun.

Connect with Ron
Just Make A Difference: Leading Under Pressure by Ron Harvey

Learn more about Global Core Strategies

.
.
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.
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Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any organization or entity. The information provided in this podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. Listeners should consult with their own professional advisors before implementing any suggestions or recommendations made in this podcast. The speakers and guests are not responsible for any actions taken by listeners based on the information presented in this podcast. The podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice or services. The speakers and guests make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the information, products, services, or related graphics contained in this podc...

Natasha Kehimkar, CEO and founder of Melita Advisors, joins Ron Harvey to challenge common leadership assumptions and share what actually moves organizations forward. In this episode:

• The 5-year plan myth: The real strategic horizon has always been 18–24 months — organizations just never fully committed to five years. Vision and mission provide stability; strategy must stay nimble.
• Leaders are freezing under complexity: Overwhelm from AI, geopolitical shifts, and constant change is causing leaders to disengage when they need to be building the muscles to look around corners.
• Vision, mission & values as a trust reset: When trust breaks down between leaders and teams, revisiting VMV with real employee input can reignite engagement, ownership, and even viral advocacy for the organization.
• Conflict is productive — avoidance isn't: When conflict goes underground, things eventually explode. Psychological safety doesn't mean always being nice — it means being honest with care and focusing on shared interests.
• The Kolbe Assessment: Unlike skills or style tools, Kolbe taps into the instinctive, unspoken way people approach challenges — the dimension that truly explains diversity of thought on a team.
• Stop painting generations with the same brush: Use assessments to open real conversations instead of making assumptions based on generational labels.
• Transition coaching is non-negotiable: For any leader stepping into a bigger role, a transition coach helps you ramp up faster, navigate the unspoken dynamics, and lead through the team — not as a solo act. Build it into your offer letter.
• Curiosity is the magic key: In a world of constant change, staying genuinely curious about people, challenges, and the environment is what separates leaders who grow from those who stagnate.

Connect with Ron
Just Make A Difference: Leading Under Pressure by Ron Harvey

Learn more about Global Core Strategies

.
.
.
.
.
Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any organization or entity. The information provided in this podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. Listeners should consult with their own professional advisors before implementing any suggestions or recommendations made in this podcast. The speakers and guests are not responsible for any actions taken by listeners based on the information presented in this podcast. The podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice or services. The speakers and guests make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the information, products, services, or related graphics contained in this podc...