Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast The Business Development Podcast

JAR Podcast Solutions gave two producers the same topic. One used AI to build a podcast from the ground up. The other drew on her own travel experiences. When the team shared the finished pieces with a small test audience of about 100 people, Jennifer Moss says 99 preferred the human story. The difference was in the experience behind the words.

In Episode 370 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy speaks with Jennifer Moss, co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of JAR Podcast Solutions, about the future of podcasting and why human connection remains at its centre. Drawing on her experience with CBC Radio, the National Film Board of Canada and teaching at UBC, Jen explores how brands can create shows people actually want to hear. They discuss choosing between audio and video, using AI without losing your voice, measuring success beyond downloads, and finding listeners through relevant podcast partnerships. Jen also explains why the best starting point is understanding who your show serves and what you want it to accomplish.

1. How to choose between audio and video based on your story, audience and resources.
2. Why defining your podcast’s job, audience and intended result helps guide creative decisions.
3. How consumption rate and audience engagement can tell you more than download counts alone.
4. Where AI can support production and why lived experience still matters in storytelling.
5. How to interpret listener drop-off and improve your show without overreacting to one episode.
6. Why consistent publishing, cross-promotion and relevant podcast advertising matter for audience growth.

00:00 Why a download alone doesn’t mean success

01:09 Introducing Jennifer Moss

05:33 From childhood storytelling to a career in audio

09:33 Building JAR and rethinking branded podcasts

12:05 How audio and video create different kinds of connection

14:09 YouTube, discovery and the next generation of listeners

16:57 Choosing the right format for your audience and budget

21:33 Defining what success means for your podcast

23:01 Measuring impact beyond downloads

27:25 AI tools and the value of human connection

29:49 Fact-checking and protecting your content

32:36 Keeping your own voice in the creative process

33:29 JAR’s human versus AI podcast experiment

36:52 Why the person behind the story matters

39:00 Personal stories and creative possibilities for branded podcasts

42:32 Analytics, consumption and understanding listener drop-off

46:28 Setting realistic expectations for audience growth

49:26 Cross-promotion and advertising on other podcasts

51:18 Relationships and pitching Apple’s editorial team

53:58 How JAR Podcast Solutions helps brands build shows

57:42 Reaching people who are ready to listen

58:48 Award-winning shows and creative impact

01:01:07 Connecting with Jennifer

Jennifer helps brands and creators develop podcasts through strategy, storytelling, production and audience growth. Through JAR Podcast Solutions, she works with organizations to find the conversations they are best positioned to lead and create content that serves their listeners.

Website: https://jarpodcasts.com/

Email: jen@jarpodcasts.com

Learn more about Jen: https://jarpodcasts.com/staff/jen-moss/

Our one year old son Foxx is currently fighting cancer. If you are able to donate or share our GoFundMe, our family would be incredibly grateful.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-shelby-kelly-during-foxxs-fight-against-cancer

Thank you to Colin Harms and our title sponsor, Hypervac Technologies, for your steadfast support of The Business Development Podcast. We are also grateful to Hyperfab for helping us continue to bring these conversations to listeners.

Hypervac Technologies builds professional duct cleaning equipment, including duct trucks, portable vacuums and tools for contractors in the field.

https://hypervac.com/

Hyperfab provides custom fabrication and specialized solutions for industrial applications.

https://hyperfab.ca/

The Catalyst Club brings business development leaders, entrepreneurs, executives and senior professionals together for live sessions, recorded conversations and practical support.

https://www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

If you know someone building a podcast or considering one for their business, share this episode with them. Follow The Business Development Podcast for more honest conversations about what it takes to build and lead.

Mentioned in this episode:

Hypervac - Revolution Vacuums

The day after surviving the Miracle on the Hudson, Dave Sanderson walked into his office to let his company know he was alive. His manager’s first question was, “You’re going to Michigan next week, right?” Dave had survived a plane crash. Now he was questioning the career he had built.

In Episode 369 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy speaks with Dave about surviving US Airways Flight 1549, helping fellow passengers escape, and the preparation that helped him act under extraordinary pressure. Drawing on his sales career and years working with Tony Robbins, Dave explains how to lead without a title, manage your response to uncertainty, and choose your best next step when you cannot control the outcome. He also shares how surviving the crash pushed him to reconsider his definition of success and begin finding a way out of the golden handcuffs.

1. How leadership can begin with taking responsibility before anyone gives you authority.
2. How your focus, internal dialogue and physical state influence your response to pressure.
3. Why choosing the best next step can help you act when you cannot solve the whole problem.
4. How anticipation and resourcefulness help you support a team when circumstances change.
5. Why Dave measures freedom through time, money, mission and relationships.
6. How mentors helped Dave move from a successful sales career into speaking and entrepreneurship.

00:00 Surviving a plane crash and returning to work

01:17 Introducing Dave Sanderson

02:52 Dave’s early life and entrepreneurial beginnings

04:17 An unexpected mentor and a promise to pass on his lessons

06:47 Working with Tony Robbins and learning through proximity

08:44 The four freedoms Dave realized he was missing

10:29 Surviving the Miracle on the Hudson

15:04 Leading without authority

17:25 Managing your state under pressure

22:01 Choosing your best next step

23:31 Why anticipation matters in leadership

26:54 Acting despite fear

29:37 Resourcefulness, decisions and improving your processes

31:46 Leaving the golden handcuffs behind

35:38 Building a speaking and coaching career

39:04 Connecting with Dave

Dave works with leaders and organizations through speaking, coaching and advisory work focused on resilience, decision-making and leadership under pressure.

Website: https://davesandersonspeaks.com/

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

Explore Dave’s books, including Moments Matter and From Turmoil to Triumph, and his Moments Matter magazine:

https://davesandersonspeaks.com/books/

Our one year old son Foxx is currently fighting cancer. If you are able to donate or share our GoFundMe, our family would be incredibly grateful.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-shelby-kelly-during-foxxs-fight-against-cancer

Thank you to Colin Harms and our title sponsor, Hypervac Technologies, for your steadfast support of The Business Development Podcast. We are also grateful to Hyperfab for helping us continue to bring these conversations to listeners.

Hypervac Technologies builds professional duct cleaning equipment, including duct trucks, portable vacuums and tools for contractors in the field.

https://hypervac.com/

Hyperfab provides custom fabrication and specialized solutions for industrial applications.

https://hyperfab.ca/

The Catalyst Club brings business development leaders, entrepreneurs, executives and senior professionals together for live sessions, recorded conversations and practical support.

https://www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

If Dave’s story made you think of someone facing a difficult decision, share this episode with them. Follow The Business Development Podcast for more honest conversations about what it takes to build and lead.

Mentioned in this episode:

Hypervac - Revolution Vacuums

Ten weeks after Trevor Muir became CEO of Surepoint Group, the bank swept $400,000 from the company’s account and froze its line of credit. Surepoint could not make payroll. Trevor had already turned down the job twice. Now he had to decide what to tell the people whose livelihoods depended on the company.

In Episode 368 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy speaks with Trevor about telling his team the truth, asking employees and vendors for help, and rebuilding a company around the principle of caring for people. Trevor also shares how a period of depression changed the way he led, why Surepoint’s leaders gave up part of their pay during the pandemic, and what inspired his Someday to Today initiative.

Content note: This episode includes a discussion of depression and suicidal thoughts.

00:00 Trevor’s story and introduction

05:05 Growing up on an Alberta farm

17:27 Building Surepoint with nine friends

20:43 Why Trevor turned down the CEO role

25:29 The bank freeze and the threat to payroll

27:49 Trevor’s personal crisis and decision to seek help

34:39 Learning to care for himself, too

40:41 Rebuilding Surepoint through honesty

46:54 The pandemic puts “We Care” to the test

55:29 Surepoint’s growth after the pandemic

59:18 The meaning behind Someday to Today

1:08:38 What Trevor is doing next

1. Trevor took the CEO role because he felt responsible to the people who had believed in Surepoint.
2. When the company faced possible collapse, he told employees how serious the situation was and asked for their help.
3. Seeking help during a personal crisis changed Trevor’s understanding of vulnerability and leadership.
4. During the pandemic, Surepoint’s leaders accepted substantial pay cuts as part of a plan to support the wider team.
5. Trevor believes caring for people helped Surepoint rebuild its culture and grow.
6. Someday to Today is a reminder to make time for the people and experiences that matter while we can.

Trevor works with leaders and organizations through speaking, coaching and advisory work.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-muir-b7231356/

Our one year old son Foxx is currently fighting cancer. If you are able to donate or share our GoFundMe, our family would be incredibly grateful.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-shelby-kelly-during-foxxs-fight-against-cancer

Thank you to Colin Harms for your steadfast support of The Business Development Podcast. We are also grateful to Hypervac Technologies and Hyperfab for helping us continue to bring these conversations to listeners.

Hypervac Technologies builds professional duct cleaning equipment, including duct trucks, portable vacuums and tools for contractors in the field.

https://hypervac.com/

Hyperfab provides custom fabrication and specialized solutions for industrial applications.

https://hyperfab.ca/

The Catalyst Club brings business development leaders, entrepreneurs, executives and senior professionals together for live sessions, recorded conversations and practical support. Trevor is part of this community and brings the same openness to its conversations that you hear in this episode.

https://www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

If Trevor’s story stayed with you, follow The Business Development Podcast for more conversations with leaders who speak honestly about what it takes to build and lead.

Mentioned in this episode:

Hypervac - Revolution Vacuums

What if the people closest to the work understand what needs to change better than the leaders making the decisions? In Episode 367 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy sits down with Karli Grove, founder of Kantency Consulting, organizational change strategist, speaker and workshop facilitator, to explore why meaningful transformation rarely begins with immediate action. Karli shares her journey from growing up in small town Alberta and building experience across insurance, community organizations and local leadership to buying a one way ticket to New Zealand, living from a campervan and eventually creating a business devoted to helping organizations navigate change more intentionally.

Karli explains why organizations often become overwhelmed by what appear to be thousands of different problems when many of them originate from the same underlying issue. She shares how her Step 0 approach helps leaders pause, step back and map the entire system before deciding what needs to change. Kelly and Karli also discuss the dangers of top down decision making, why employees resist changes they were never invited to understand and what leaders can learn from the people closest to the work. As Karli explains, if you want to understand where waste exists inside an organization, sometimes the first person you should speak with is the janitor.

The conversation also examines the importance of shared language, continuous feedback and human connection during periods of uncertainty. Karli introduces her Water Cycle Framework, which uses familiar images such as storm clouds, rivers and waterfalls to help teams communicate the scale, pressure and emotional reality of change. She explains why feedback should be gathered throughout the entire process rather than only at the end, how involving employees during the brainstorming stage creates stronger buy in and why the rise of artificial intelligence may ultimately make genuine human connection even more valuable. Karli also shares how Kantency supports leaders and organizations through speaking, facilitation, coaching and immersive mapping.

Key Takeaways:

1. Resistance to change is often a response to being blindsided, excluded or ignored rather than a rejection of change itself.
2. If implementing change is Step 1, Step 0 is the pause required to understand the complete system before taking action.
3. Organizations may appear to have thousands of different problems when many are different expressions of the same root issue.
4. The people closest to the work often possess critical information that leadership cannot see from the top.
5. Leaders make better decisions when they involve employees during the brainstorming process rather than after the decision has already been made.
6. Shared language helps teams recognize when they are discussing the same issue from different perspectives.
7. Metaphors can communicate the scale, pressure and emotion of change more effectively than conventional business language.
8. Feedback should be collected throughout the entire change cycle because waiting until the end means missing the information needed to adjust.
9. Loyalty inside a smaller organization can be powerful but fragile because leadership decisions feel deeply personal to employees.
10. As technology becomes increasingly available, authentic human connection, empathy and in person experiences may become even more valuable.

Learn more about Karli Grove and Kantency Consulting, explore the Step 0 approach and discover how Karli helps leaders and organizations map the bigger picture, strengthen communication and navigate change with greater clarity and confidence.

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

Kantency Consulting: https://kantency.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGtWcw78iQvqjc0mdViZotQ

Our one year old son Foxx is currently fighting cancer, and our family is navigating a tremendous amount of uncertainty in the weeks and months ahead. If you are able to donate or simply share our GoFundMe with your network, we would be incredibly grateful for your support.

❤️ Donate to Support Foxx and Our Family

🎸 Sponsor Shoutouts: Thank you Colin Harms for your steadfast support of The Business Development Podcast! 🫶

The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by Hypervac Technologies and Hyperfab. 🎸⭐

🔹 Hypervac Technologies: North America’s leader in vacuum truck manufacturing, building high performance hydrovac and industrial vacuum trucks designed for the toughest field conditions. www.hypervac.com

🔹 Hyperfab: The custom fabrication division of Hypervac, delivering engineered solutions and specialized builds tailored to demanding industrial applications. www.hyperfab.ca

Join The Catalyst Club Community

The Catalyst Club is so much more than a community. It is a growth platform for business development leaders, entrepreneurs, executives and senior professionals who want to sharpen their mindset, expand their leadership and learn directly from people who have been there.

Members get immediate access to more than 40 recorded Catalyst Sessions from incredible experts like Nausheen Chen, Carmen Leibel, Pia Silva, Joel Zeff, Wayne Lee and many more, along with weekly live sessions, growth conversations and practical business development support from Kelly Kennedy and other leaders.

If you are serious about growth, leadership, business development and surrounding yourself with people who are committed to becoming better, The Catalyst Club is where you need to be.

Learn more here: www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Mentioned in this episode:

Hypervac - Revolution Vacuums

What allows some people to remain clear, composed and effective when the pressure is at its highest? In Episode 366 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy sits down with entrepreneur, sales leader and performance coach Alex Marr to explore how structure, skill set and mindset work together to create consistent high performance. Alex shares his journey from selling pottery at childhood craft fairs and working in a car dealership at 16 to building an international career with Xerox, leading businesses in Dubai and eventually bringing the globally recognized Red to Blue performance framework to Canada.

Alex explains how early sales training at Xerox transformed him from an average salesperson achieving approximately 80 percent of his target into a consistent President’s Club performer. He explores why most traditional sales training is quickly forgotten, how the human brain responds under pressure and why complex systems must be made simple enough to use in the moment they are needed. Kelly and Alex also discuss the four stages buyers move through when making decisions, why selling is ultimately about creating trust and peace of mind, and how understanding a buyer’s real drivers can shorten the sales cycle and prevent conversations from becoming price negotiations.

The conversation also examines the growing role of fractional executives and why small and medium sized businesses should not need enormous budgets to access experienced leadership. Alex explains the difference between consultants who provide recommendations and fractional executives who become embedded within an organization and execute the work. He shares how Fractional Execs Canada gives companies access to experienced CROs, CFOs, CMOs, chiefs of staff and other leaders for a fraction of the time and cost of a full time executive. Alex also introduces the company’s expanding technology division, including AI supported business development, customer onboarding and business intelligence tools designed to give leadership teams a single source of truth.

Key Takeaways:

1. Mindset is not simply a personality trait. It is a skill that can be developed, practised and measured.
2. High performers recognize when pressure is pulling them into a reactive state and redirect their attention toward the next useful action.
3. Sales training only creates value when people can remember and apply it during real conversations.
4. The sales cycle is actually a buying cycle because the final decision takes place in the buyer’s mind.
5. Successful selling begins by understanding the customer’s drivers and requirements before presenting a solution.
6. Buyers are ultimately looking for trust and peace of mind, regardless of the product or service being sold.
7. Anticipating comparison, perceived risk and anxiety allows sales professionals to address objections before they prevent a decision.
8. Fractional executives differ from traditional consultants because they become embedded within the business and help execute the strategy.
9. Experienced fractional leaders can often accomplish in 60 or 90 days what may take a new full time executive six months to deliver.
10. The best fractional leaders bring experience without ego, transfer their knowledge and leave stronger systems behind.

Learn more about Alex Marr, Gazing Canada and Fractional Execs Canada, and discover how Alex helps individuals, leadership teams and growing businesses improve performance, strengthen decision making and execute under pressure.

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

Gazing Canada: https://gazingcanada.ca

Fractional Execs Canada: https://www.fractional-execs.ca

Our one-year-old son Foxx is currently fighting cancer, and our family is navigating a tremendous amount of uncertainty in the weeks and months ahead. If you are able to donate or simply share our GoFundMe with your network, we would be incredibly grateful for your support.

❤️ Donate to Support Foxx and Our Family

🎸 Sponsor Shoutouts: Thank you Colin Harms for your steadfast support of The Business Development Podcast! 🫶

The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by Hypervac Technologies and Hyperfab. 🎸⭐

🔹 Hypervac Technologies: North America’s leader in vacuum truck manufacturing, building high performance hydrovac and industrial vacuum trucks designed for the toughest field conditions. www.hypervac.com

🔹 Hyperfab: The custom fabrication division of Hypervac, delivering engineered solutions and specialized builds tailored to demanding industrial applications. www.hyperfab.ca

Join The Catalyst Club Community

The Catalyst Club is so much more than a community. It is a growth platform for business development leaders, entrepreneurs, executives and high-level professionals who want to sharpen their mindset, expand their leadership and learn directly from people who have been there.

Members get immediate access to more than 40 recorded Catalyst Sessions from incredible experts like Nausheen Chen, Carmen Leibel, Pia Silva, Joel Zeff, Wayne Lee and many more, along with weekly live sessions, growth conversations and practical business development support from Kelly Kennedy and other leaders.

If you are serious about growth, leadership, business development and surrounding yourself with people who are committed to becoming better, The Catalyst Club is where you need to be.

Learn more here: www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Mentioned in this episode:

Hypervac - Revolution Vacuums

What can today’s content creators learn from someone who has spent more than three decades producing television designed to capture and hold the attention of millions? In Episode 365 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy sits down with Emmy-winning executive producer, showrunner and director Carl Buehl to explore the evolution of television, storytelling and content creation. Carl shares his journey from radio and music to producing some of television’s most recognizable programs, including The Amazing Race, America’s Most Wanted, Supernanny, Celebrity Fit Club, My Lottery Dream Home and Undercover Billionaire.

Carl explains why successful content begins with character, how television producers use hooks to keep audiences watching and why authenticity must also be relatable to the audience. Kelly and Carl discuss the disruption created by YouTube, podcasts and short form content, why creators no longer need traditional networks to build enormous audiences, and how businesses are increasingly being asked to operate like media companies. Carl also shares why long form content requires greater structure, why production can overwhelm business owners, and how working backward from the desired outcome can help creators build stronger stories and more sustainable content strategies.

Key Takeaways:

1. Great content begins with compelling characters and people the audience can understand.
2. The modern content hook is television’s traditional tease adapted for a faster media environment.
3. Authenticity matters, but a story must also be relatable to hold an audience’s attention.
4. Content creators can now build trusted audiences without relying on traditional television networks.
5. Strong storytelling is more important than achieving Hollywood-level production quality.
6. Businesses must determine which content format best supports their actual goals.
7. Short form success does not automatically translate into compelling long form content.
8. Consistent content creation requires significant time, structure, resources and production support.
9. Brands can build trust by creating meaningful stories instead of forcing products into the spotlight.
10. Effective producers begin with the desired outcome and reverse engineer the story from the end.

Learn more about Carl Buehl, Cre8TV Spot and his work helping brands, creators and production companies develop compelling content through authentic storytelling.

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

Cre8TV Spot: https://cre8tvspot.com

Our one-year-old son Foxx is currently fighting cancer, and our family is navigating a tremendous amount of uncertainty in the weeks and months ahead. If you are able to donate or simply share our GoFundMe with your network, we would be incredibly grateful for your support.

❤️ Donate to Support Foxx and Our Family

🎸 Sponsor Shoutouts: Thank you Colin Harms for your steadfast support of The Business Development Podcast! 🫶

The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by Hypervac Technologies and Hyperfab. 🎸⭐

🔹 Hypervac Technologies: North America’s leader in vacuum truck manufacturing, building high performance hydrovac and industrial vacuum trucks designed for the toughest field conditions. www.hypervac.com

🔹 Hyperfab: The custom fabrication division of Hypervac, delivering engineered solutions and specialized builds tailored to demanding industrial applications. www.hyperfab.ca

Join The Catalyst Club Community

The Catalyst Club is so much more than a community. It is a growth platform for business development leaders, entrepreneurs, executives and high-level professionals who want to sharpen their mindset, expand their leadership and learn directly from people who have been there.

Members get immediate access to more than 40 recorded Catalyst Sessions from incredible experts like Nausheen Chen, Carmen Leibel, Pia Silva, Joel Zeff, Wayne Lee and many more, along with weekly live sessions, growth conversations and practical business development support from Kelly Kennedy and other leaders.

If you are serious about growth, leadership, business development and surrounding yourself with people who are committed to becoming better, The Catalyst Club is where you need to be.

Learn more here: www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Mentioned in this episode:

Hyperfab Midroll

What happens when a startup achieves extraordinary growth, but the founder is not prepared for the pressure that comes with it? In this episode of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy sits down with serial entrepreneur, investor and strategic growth advisor Phil Neil to explore his journey from sales and pharmaceutical work to scaling Neobex Medical to more than $70 million in revenue in just eight months. Phil shares the extraordinary rise of the company, the founder conflict and burnout that followed, and the devastating setbacks that ultimately transformed his understanding of entrepreneurship.

Phil explains why the root cause of startup failure is often not a lack of capital, strategy or opportunity, but a founder’s inability to sustain decision quality under pressure. Kelly and Phil discuss the emotional shadow of entrepreneurship, the difference between perseverance and adaptive intelligence, why founders must manage their energy instead of simply managing their time, and how clarity can prevent reactive leadership. Phil also shares his perspective on personal branding, AI, long-term planning and why lasting success begins by understanding who you want to become.

Key Takeaways:

1. Startup failure often begins when founders lose the ability to make quality decisions under pressure.
2. Rapid growth can expose weaknesses in leadership, communication and founder alignment.
3. Entrepreneurial grit requires founders to learn, adapt and improve, not simply persevere.
4. Clarity creates meaningful progress, while uncertainty often creates unnecessary motion.
5. Self-regulation helps founders prevent fear and pressure from driving reactive decisions.
6. Managing your energy is just as important as managing your time.
7. Founders do not need to fight every fire or react to every problem immediately.
8. Keep your purpose stable while remaining flexible about how you achieve it.
9. AI can support business decisions, but it cannot replace founder clarity and judgment.
10. True transformation requires founders to redefine what success means to them.

Learn more about Phil Neil, his work with founders and his approach to building stronger, more resilient entrepreneurs.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philippe-neil/

Phil Neil: https://philnel.com

Founders Compass: https://founderscompass.com

Our one-year-old son Foxx is currently fighting cancer, and our family is navigating a tremendous amount of uncertainty in the weeks and months ahead. If you are able to donate or simply share our GoFundMe with your network, we would be incredibly grateful for your support. (gofundme.com)

❤️ Donate to Support Foxx and Our Family

🎸 Sponsor Shoutouts: Thank You Colin Harms for your steadfast support of The Business Development Podcast! 🫶

The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by Hypervac Technologies & Hyperfab, 🎸⭐

🔹 Hypervac Technologies: North America’s leader in vacuum truck manufacturing, building high performance hydrovac and industrial vacuum trucks designed for the toughest field conditions. www.hypervac.com

🔹 Hyperfab: The custom fabrication division of Hypervac, delivering engineered solutions and specialized builds tailored to demanding industrial applications. www.hyperfab.ca

Join The Catalyst Club Community

The Catalyst Club is so much more than a community. It is a growth platform for business development leaders, entrepreneurs, executives, and high-level professionals who want to sharpen their mindset, expand their leadership, and learn directly from people who have been there.

Members get immediate access to over 40+ recorded Catalyst Sessions from incredible experts like Nausheen Chen, Carmen Leibel, Pia Silva, Joel Zeff, Wayne Lee, and many more, along with weekly live sessions, growth conversations, and practical business development support from Kelly Kennedy and other leaders.

If you are serious about growth, leadership, business development, and surrounding yourself with people who are committed to becoming better, The Catalyst Club is where you need to be.

Learn more here: www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Need Business Development Advisory? www.kellykennedyofficial.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Hypervac - Revolution Vacuums

In this episode of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy sits down with Lina Bil, founder and CEO of Elevate Talent Solutions, fractional Chief Human Resources Officer, and executive coach. Lina shares her journey from growing up in an entrepreneurial family in Poland to moving to Canada at fourteen, finding her voice, and building a career spanning psychology, human resources, organizational transformation, and leadership development. She also explores how her lifelong mindfulness practice and MBA research led her to study the connection between neuroscience, workplace performance, and effective leadership.

Lina explains how stress, emotional intelligence, resilience, and self-awareness influence the way leaders communicate, make decisions, and support their teams. She challenges fear-based management, reveals difficult realities she has witnessed behind the scenes in HR, and explains why psychological safety is essential for creativity and sustainable performance. From regulating stress through breathing to recognizing the early signs of burnout, Lina offers practical insights for leaders navigating an increasingly complex workplace. The conversation ultimately makes the case that compassion is not a soft skill, but one of the most important qualities leaders can bring into the future of business.

Key Takeaways:

1. Mindful leadership starts with awareness: Leaders must understand their own reactions before they can effectively lead others.
2. Your breathing influences your performance: Regulating your breath can calm your nervous system and help you think more clearly under pressure.
3. Fear shuts down creativity: Fear-based management limits problem-solving, innovation, and the willingness of employees to speak honestly.
4. Psychological safety begins at the top: Trust throughout an organization depends heavily on the behaviour and integrity of senior leadership.
5. Not all stress is harmful: The right amount of challenge can improve performance, but burnout begins when demands consistently exceed capacity.
6. Consistency creates lasting change: Small practices repeated over time are more powerful than ambitious actions that cannot be sustained.
7. Emotional intelligence requires self-awareness: Understanding your own thoughts and emotions helps you respond to others with greater empathy and intention.
8. HR must balance people and business: Strong HR leadership protects the organization while still pursuing fairness, trust, and positive outcomes for employees.
9. Coaching exposes blind spots: The right coach can help leaders recognize limitations, set realistic goals, and navigate challenges more effectively.
10. Compassion is a leadership strength: Honest conversations, accountability, and humanity will become increasingly important as technology reshapes the workplace.

Website: https://www.linabil.ca/

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

Our one-year-old son Foxx is currently fighting cancer, and our family is navigating a tremendous amount of uncertainty in the weeks and months ahead. If you are able to donate or simply share our GoFundMe with your network, we would be incredibly grateful for your support. (gofundme.com)

❤️ Donate to Support Foxx and Our Family

🎸 Sponsor Shoutouts: Thank You Colin Harms for your steadfast support of The Business Development Podcast! 🫶

The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by Hypervac Technologies & Hyperfab, 🎸⭐

🔹 Hypervac Technologies: North America’s leader in vacuum truck manufacturing, building high performance hydrovac and industrial vacuum trucks designed for the toughest field conditions. www.hypervac.com

🔹 Hyperfab: The custom fabrication division of Hypervac, delivering engineered solutions and specialized builds tailored to demanding industrial applications. www.hyperfab.ca

Join The Catalyst Club Community

The Catalyst Club is so much more than a community. It is a growth platform for business development leaders, entrepreneurs, executives, and high-level professionals who want to sharpen their mindset, expand their leadership, and learn directly from people who have been there.

Members get immediate access to over 40+ recorded Catalyst Sessions from incredible experts like Nausheen Chen, Carmen Leibel, Pia Silva, Joel Zeff, Wayne Lee, and many more, along with weekly live sessions, growth conversations, and practical business development support from Kelly Kennedy and other leaders.

If you are serious about growth, leadership, business development, and surrounding yourself with people who are committed to becoming better, The Catalyst Club is where you need to be.

Learn more here: www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Need Business Development Advisory? www.kellykennedyofficial.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Hypervac - Revolution Vacuums

In Episode 362 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy sits down with three-time founder, leadership coach, keynote speaker, and author Mandy Balak for a powerful conversation about ambition, entrepreneurship, and the never-ending pursuit of more. Drawing from her new book, Chasing Enough, Mandy explores why ambition itself isn't the problem, but constantly operating from an empty tank is. Together, Kelly and Mandy discuss burnout, the growing expectations placed on entrepreneurs, the impact of AI on productivity and workload, building authentic brands in an increasingly artificial world, and why leaders need to intentionally decide what "enough" looks like before the finish line moves again.

The conversation also explores Mandy's Well Resourced Method and what it takes to move from leading from empty to leading from full, while protecting the creativity, relationships, and priorities that make success worth pursuing in the first place. In an unexpectedly timely episode for Kelly and his family, the discussion challenges entrepreneurs to consider the season of life they're actually in, give themselves permission to evolve, and recognize that just because they can do more doesn't always mean they should. Episode 362 is a deeply human conversation about redefining success, stewarding ambition, and building a business and life that don't cost you everything that matters along the way.

Key Takeaways:

1. Ambition Isn’t the Problem – Sustainable success means learning how to steward your ambition without sacrificing everything around you.
2. Define What Enough Looks Like – If you never decide what “enough” means, the finish line will continue to move.
3. Build Capacity Before You Need It – You cannot consistently create, lead and make strong decisions when you are already running on empty.
4. Just Because You Can Doesn’t Mean You Should – Strong leaders know when to say no, simplify and protect what matters most.
5. Protect Your Creative Energy – Chasing every new idea can distract you from the priorities that actually move your business forward.
6. Humanity Is Your Competitive Advantage – In an AI-driven world, authenticity, trust and genuine human connection are becoming more valuable than polish.
7. Mastery Comes From Repetition – You become great by shipping imperfect work, learning from it and continuing to get the reps.
8. There Has to Be One Before There Can Be One Hundred – Every audience, community and movement starts by serving the first person exceptionally well.
9. Evolution Is Not Failure – Sometimes a pivot simply means you have outgrown the previous version of yourself or your business.
10. Lead for the Season You’re In – Recognize the demands of your current season and adjust your resources, expectations and priorities accordingly.

Continue the conversation with Mandy, learn more about the Well-Resourced Method, and explore her work on sustainable leadership and redefining success. You can also pre-order her new book, Chasing Enough: The High Achiever’s Guide to Sustainable Success, and learn more about The Gathering Festival.

🔹 Connect with Mandy on LinkedIn

🔹 Visit MandyBalak.com

🔹 Pre-Order Chasing Enough

🔹 Explore The Gathering Festival

Our one-year-old son Foxx is currently fighting cancer, and our family is navigating a tremendous amount of uncertainty in the weeks and months ahead. If you are able to donate or simply share our GoFundMe with your network, we would be incredibly grateful for your support. (gofundme.com)

❤️ Donate to Support Foxx and Our Family

🎸 Sponsor Shoutouts: Thank You Colin Harms for your steadfast support of The Business Development Podcast! 🫶

The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by Hypervac Technologies & Hyperfab, 🎸⭐

🔹 Hypervac Technologies: North America’s leader in vacuum truck manufacturing, building high performance hydrovac and industrial vacuum trucks designed for the toughest field conditions. www.hypervac.com

🔹 Hyperfab: The custom fabrication division of Hypervac, delivering engineered solutions and specialized builds tailored to demanding industrial applications. www.hyperfab.ca

Join The Catalyst Club Community

The Catalyst Club is so much more than a community. It is a growth platform for business development leaders, entrepreneurs, executives, and high-level professionals who want to sharpen their mindset, expand their leadership, and learn directly from people who have been there.

Members get immediate access to over 40+ recorded Catalyst Sessions from incredible experts like Nausheen Chen, Carmen Leibel, Pia Silva, Joel Zeff, Wayne Lee, and many more, along with weekly live sessions, growth conversations, and practical business development support from Kelly Kennedy and other leaders.

If you are serious about growth, leadership, business development, and surrounding yourself with people who are committed to becoming better, The Catalyst Club is where you need to be.

Learn more here: www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Need Business Development Advisory? www.kellykennedyofficial.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Hypervac - Revolution Vacuums

In this deeply personal update, Kelly Kennedy speaks from the pediatric oncology ward at the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton.

Kelly and Shelby’s one-year-old son, Foxx, has been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. As their family begins navigating treatment and an entirely new reality, Kelly is placing The Business Development Podcast on hold so he can focus fully on Foxx, Shelby, and their other boys.

This is not goodbye. The podcast will return as soon as Kelly and his family are able.

Guests who have already recorded conversations can be assured that their episodes will still be released as Kelly begins to understand what this new family schedule will look like. For the next few weeks, however, everything remains uncertain, and his family must come first.

For updates about Foxx, Shelby will be sharing through her Instagram account:

https://www.instagram.com/shelbeenatural⁠

A GoFundMe has also been created to support the family throughout Foxx’s treatment. Donations are deeply appreciated, but sharing the fundraiser can also make an enormous difference.

💙 Support or share Foxx’s fight:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-shelby-kelly-during-foxxs-fight-against-cancer⁠

Kelly and his family are incredibly grateful for your patience, support, and prayers as they walk through this together.

In Episode 360 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy sits down with communication expert, leadership coach, and bestselling author Salvatore Manzi to explore why the clearest voice in the room often becomes the most influential. After losing his voice during an early speaking experience, Salvatore dedicated more than two decades to understanding the neuroscience, psychology, and storytelling principles behind powerful communication. Today, he helps executives, entrepreneurs, TEDx speakers, and global organizations transform complex ideas into clear and compelling messages that move people to action.

Kelly and Salvatore discuss how introverted leaders can command attention without pretending to be extroverts, why people do not care who you are until they understand how much you care, and how storytelling makes ideas memorable. They also unpack the biggest shift Salvatore made in his career: stopping the effort to sell and beginning to genuinely connect. From speaking with confidence and communicating bold ideas to developing memorable talking points and leading with authenticity, this episode offers practical strategies for anyone who wants to become a stronger communicator and a more influential leader.

Key Takeaways:

1. Clear communication is a skill that can be learned, practised, and continuously improved.
2. The clearest voice often carries more influence than the loudest voice.
3. Start with your audience’s needs before introducing yourself, your ideas, or your agenda.
4. Stop trying to sell and focus on building genuine human connection.
5. Bold ideas become persuasive when people understand why they matter to them.
6. Stories make information easier to understand, remember, and act upon.
7. Strong business stories move through three stages: pain, process, and measurable outcome.
8. Metaphors and analogies turn complex information into ideas people can immediately understand.
9. Prepare concise answers to the questions you receive most often so you can speak confidently under pressure.
10. Great speakers strengthen their skills by experimenting with new delivery techniques outside their comfort zones.

Get in Touch with Salvatore

Learn more about Salvatore Manzi’s leadership communication coaching, speaking, workshops, and free resources:

Website: https://www.salvatoremanzi.com

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

Buy Clear and Compelling

Discover Salvatore’s practical frameworks for turning complex ideas into clear, memorable, and influential communication.

Book information: https://www.salvatoremanzi.com/book

Amazon: Buy Clear and Compelling

🎸 Sponsor Shoutouts: Thank You Colin Harms for your steadfast support of The Business Development Podcast! 🫶

The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by Hypervac Technologies & Hyperfab, 🎸⭐

🔹 Hypervac Technologies: North America’s leader in vacuum truck manufacturing, building high performance hydrovac and industrial vacuum trucks designed for the toughest field conditions. www.hypervac.com

🔹 Hyperfab: The custom fabrication division of Hypervac, delivering engineered solutions and specialized builds tailored to demanding industrial applications. www.hyperfab.ca

Join The Catalyst Club Community

The Catalyst Club is so much more than a community. It is a growth platform for business development leaders, entrepreneurs, executives, and high-level professionals who want to sharpen their mindset, expand their leadership, and learn directly from people who have been there.

Members get immediate access to over 40+ recorded Catalyst Sessions from incredible experts like Nausheen Chen, Carmen Leibel, Pia Silva, Joel Zeff, Wayne Lee, and many more, along with weekly live sessions, growth conversations, and practical business development support from Kelly Kennedy and other leaders.

If you are serious about growth, leadership, business development, and surrounding yourself with people who are committed to becoming better, The Catalyst Club is where you need to be.

Learn more here: www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Need Business Development Advisory? www.kellykennedyofficial.com

www.capitalbd.ca

Mentioned in this episode:

Hypervac - Revolution Vacuums

What if the biggest thing influencing your pricing, growth, and business decisions has nothing to do with strategy? In Episode 359 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy sits down with growth strategist, certified business coach, Trauma of Money Certified Practitioner, and Imposter Syndrome Coach Practitioner Brittney Ashley to explore the hidden ways money trauma, scarcity, self-worth, and imposter syndrome can quietly shape the way entrepreneurs lead and grow. From sitting on proposals out of fear of charging too much to the invisible financial beliefs we inherit from childhood, Brittney reveals why some of our most important business decisions may be driven by stories we do not even realize we are carrying.

Brittney also shares her journey from toxic workplaces and personal loss to building Creative Dynamics Virtual Services, a business designed around the belief that work should support your life, not consume it. Together, Kelly and Brittney explore the psychology behind undercharging, the anxiety entrepreneurs can feel around money, the shift from selling hours to delivering outcomes, and why understanding your own money story may be one of the most important steps you can take as a business owner. This is an honest and deeply relatable conversation about the emotional side of entrepreneurship and the question every business owner should be asking: Is money trauma making your business decisions?

Key Takeaways:

1. Money trauma can quietly influence pricing, spending, saving, and major business decisions without you realizing it.
2. The money stories you inherit from childhood and family can continue shaping your behaviour as an entrepreneur.
3. Imposter syndrome often shows up as hesitation, undercharging, overthinking, and questioning whether you are truly worth your price.
4. Sometimes the best thing you can do for your business is create enough space to reflect instead of constantly reacting.
5. Undercharging is not always a pricing problem; it can be connected to people pleasing, self-worth, and fear of rejection.
6. You do not have to make massive changes overnight; small, consistent increases in confidence and pricing can compound over time.
7. Entrepreneurs need to shift their mindset from selling hours to delivering valuable outcomes and transformations.
8. Building a successful business requires working on yourself as much as working on your strategy, systems, and operations.
9. A business should be designed to support your life, not consume it or require you to be involved in every decision.
10. Growth begins when you become curious about your own patterns and ask what is really driving the decisions behind your business.

• Connect with Brittney on LinkedIn
• Listen to Breaking Norms, Building Dreams on SoundCloud
• Visit Creative Dynamics Virtual Services

🎸 Sponsor Shoutouts: Thank You Colin Harms for your steadfast support of The Business Development Podcast! 🫶

The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by Hypervac Technologies & Hyperfab, 🎸⭐

🔹 Hypervac Technologies: North America’s leader in vacuum truck manufacturing, building high performance hydrovac and industrial vacuum trucks designed for the toughest field conditions. www.hypervac.com

🔹 Hyperfab: The custom fabrication division of Hypervac, delivering engineered solutions and specialized builds tailored to demanding industrial applications. www.hyperfab.ca

Join The Catalyst Club Community

The Catalyst Club is so much more than a community. It is a growth platform for business development leaders, entrepreneurs, executives, and high-level professionals who want to sharpen their mindset, expand their leadership, and learn directly from people who have been there.

Members get immediate access to over 40+ recorded Catalyst Sessions from incredible experts like Nausheen Chen, Carmen Leibel, Pia Silva, Joel Zeff, Wayne Lee, and many more, along with weekly live sessions, growth conversations, and practical business development support from Kelly Kennedy and other leaders.

If you are serious about growth, leadership, business development, and surrounding yourself with people who are committed to becoming better, The Catalyst Club is where you need to be.

Learn more here: www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Need Business Development Coaching or Support? www.kellykennedyofficial.com

www.capitalbd.ca

In Episode 358 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy welcomes Mitch Jacobsen, Founder and CEO of Rviita Inc., back to the show for a powerful conversation about entrepreneurship, faith, and the resilience required to build something from nothing. Mitch shares his journey from petroleum engineer to beverage entrepreneur, risking his student line of credit, spending two years developing a product that initially finished dead last in a blind taste test, and ultimately growing Rviita Energy Tea into a nationally recognized Canadian brand.

Kelly and Mitch explore the realities behind the entrepreneurial highlight reel, the rollercoaster of building a company, and why perseverance may be more important than intelligence. From burnout and failure to scaling with strong core values and refusing to quit when the path forward feels impossible, this episode is an honest conversation about the years of work behind meaningful success and the faith required to begin before you know exactly how the story will end.

Key Takeaways:

1. Perseverance may be the most important skill an entrepreneur can develop.
2. You do not need to know every step before you start, you just need to take the first one.
3. Small actions repeated consistently can compound into extraordinary progress.
4. Failure only becomes final when you decide to quit.
5. Entrepreneurship is a long game, not a shortcut to overnight success.
6. The greatest reward of building a business is often the impact you have on others.
7. Constant one, two, and three percent improvements can completely transform a product over time.
8. Core values become increasingly important as a company grows and scales.
9. You will likely overestimate what you can accomplish in a year and underestimate what you can accomplish in a decade.
10. Faith may give you the courage to begin, but resilience is what keeps you moving when the journey gets hard.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-jacobsen-p-eng-89277649/

Rviita Contact: https://rviitalize.com/pages/contact-us

🎸 Sponsor Shoutouts: Thank You Colin Harms for your steadfast support of The Business Development Podcast! 🫶

The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by Hypervac Technologies & Hyperfab, 🎸⭐

🔹 Hypervac Technologies: North America’s leader in vacuum truck manufacturing, building high performance hydrovac and industrial vacuum trucks designed for the toughest field conditions. www.hypervac.com

🔹 Hyperfab: The custom fabrication division of Hypervac, delivering engineered solutions and specialized builds tailored to demanding industrial applications. www.hyperfab.ca

Join The Catalyst Club Community

The Catalyst Club is so much more than a community. It is a growth platform for business development leaders, entrepreneurs, executives, and high-level professionals who want to sharpen their mindset, expand their leadership, and learn directly from people who have been there.

Members get immediate access to over 40+ recorded Catalyst Sessions from incredible experts like Nausheen Chen, Carmen Leibel, Pia Silva, Joel Zeff, Wayne Lee, and many more, along with weekly live sessions, growth conversations, and practical business development support from Kelly Kennedy and other leaders.

If you are serious about growth, leadership, business development, and surrounding yourself with people who are committed to becoming better, The Catalyst Club is where you need to be.

Learn more here: www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Need Business Development Coaching or Support? www.kellykennedyofficial.com

www.capitalbd.ca

Mentioned in this episode:

Hypervac - Revolution Vacuums

Episode 357 of The Business Development Podcast features entrepreneur, executive advisor, international keynote speaker, and bestselling author Michèle Hecken. After building and successfully exiting a global company that eventually ran with only a handful of hours of her time each week, Michèle shares the mindset shifts that allowed her to stop being the center of her business. Together, Kelly and Michèle explore why so many founders unintentionally become the biggest bottleneck in their own organizations, how to redefine your role as your company grows, and why true leadership begins when you empower others to succeed without you.

The conversation also dives into entrepreneurship, work-life integration, AI, business development, marketing, and the growing importance of authentic human connection in an increasingly automated world. From the emotional story that changed the course of her life to practical strategies for solopreneurs and growing businesses, Michèle delivers actionable insights on creating systems, focusing on your highest-value work, and building a business that creates freedom instead of dependence. If you're an entrepreneur, executive, or business leader looking to scale your company without sacrificing your life, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

Key Takeaways:

1. Your business should serve your life, not the other way around.
2. As your company grows, your role as a founder must evolve with it.
3. The biggest bottleneck in your business is often the founder.
4. Every new service offering should strengthen your business, not dilute it.
5. Delegate the work others can do so you can focus on the work only you can do.
6. Great leaders intentionally make themselves less essential over time.
7. Don't chase every trend; adopt new tools only when they create real value.
8. Strong businesses are built on trust, relationships, and authentic human connection.
9. Clarity around your highest-value work is the foundation of sustainable growth.
10. Freedom isn't the reward for building a business; it should be part of the design from the beginning.

Connect with Michèle Hecken

🌐 Website: https://michelehecken.com

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelehecken/

📘 Latest Book: The Art of Offboarding: How to Transform Your Business to Run Without You

🎁 Exclusive Offer for Business Development Podcast Listeners:

https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/exclusive/podcast/special/offer

🎸 Sponsor Shoutouts: Thank You Colin Harms for your steadfast support of The Business Development Podcast! 🫶

The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by Hypervac Technologies & Hyperfab, 🎸⭐

🔹 Hypervac Technologies: North America’s leader in vacuum truck manufacturing, building high performance hydrovac and industrial vacuum trucks designed for the toughest field conditions. www.hypervac.com

🔹 Hyperfab: The custom fabrication division of Hypervac, delivering engineered solutions and specialized builds tailored to demanding industrial applications. www.hyperfab.ca

Join The Catalyst Club Community

The Catalyst Club is so much more than a community. It is a growth platform for business development leaders, entrepreneurs, executives, and high-level professionals who want to sharpen their mindset, expand their leadership, and learn directly from people who have been there.

Members get immediate access to over 40+ recorded Catalyst Sessions from incredible experts like Nausheen Chen, Carmen Leibel, Pia Silva, Joel Zeff, Wayne Lee, and many more, along with weekly live sessions, growth conversations, and practical business development support from Kelly Kennedy and other leaders.

If you are serious about growth, leadership, business development, and surrounding yourself with people who are committed to becoming better, The Catalyst Club is where you need to be.

Learn more here: www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Need Business Development Support? Book a Business Development Breakthrough Audit Here: www.kellykennedyofficial.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Hypervac - Revolution Vacuums

In episode 356 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy sits down with international keynote speaker, leadership expert, and Well by Design founder Steven Langer for a powerful conversation about the hidden cost of success. After years of leading schools, developing provincial wellness curriculum, and building high-performing teams, Steven found himself facing burnout, anxiety, panic attacks, and a life-changing warning from a doctor who told him he was on the path to a heart attack, stroke, or diabetes if nothing changed. Together, Kelly and Steven explore why so many ambitious leaders ignore the warning signs, why the mindset of "I've got this" can become dangerous, and how the very habits that drive success can quietly begin working against us.

Steven also introduces his refreshing alternative to the outdated pursuit of work-life balance: work-life coherence. Rather than chasing an impossible 50/50 split, he explains how leaders can build sustainable success by living and leading with greater intention, protecting time for deep work, recognizing the hidden cost of constant pressure, and creating space for genuine restoration. From transforming a struggling school by reducing suspensions from more than 300 days to just 10, to launching a business dedicated to healthier leadership, Steven shares practical strategies that will help entrepreneurs, leaders, and high performers build lasting success without sacrificing the very things that matter most.

Key Takeaways:

1. The mindset of “I’ve got this” can become dangerous when it causes you to ignore warning signs.
2. Burnout is not always caused by workload. It can also come from misalignment, lack of autonomy, cognitive overload, and poor support.
3. The habits that help you succeed can eventually become the same habits that hurt you.
4. Work-life balance is not always realistic. Steven’s better model is work-life coherence.
5. Rest is not laziness. It is a requirement for performance, decision-making, and long-term sustainability.
6. Leaders cannot take care of their teams if they are running themselves into the ground.
7. If your work and personal life keep creating tension, that is a warning sign, not something to ignore.
8. Deep work requires protected time. An “always open door” can destroy focus and make important work harder.
9. Healthy leadership requires intention. Without it, your day happens to you by default.
10. Sustainable success means building room for real life before the unexpected happens.

Get in touch with Steven Langer:

www.wellbydesign.ca

Buy The Coherence Compass:

https://wellbydesign.ca/coherence-compass-book/

Connect with Steven on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-langer-b9b64945/

🎸 Sponsor Shoutouts: Thank You Colin Harms for your steadfast support of The Business Development Podcast! 🫶

The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by Hypervac Technologies & Hyperfab, 🎸⭐

🔹 Hypervac Technologies: North America’s leader in vacuum truck manufacturing, building high performance hydrovac and industrial vacuum trucks designed for the toughest field conditions. www.hypervac.com

🔹 Hyperfab: The custom fabrication division of Hypervac, delivering engineered solutions and specialized builds tailored to demanding industrial applications. www.hyperfab.ca

Join The Catalyst Club Community

The Catalyst Club is so much more than a community. It is a growth platform for business development leaders, entrepreneurs, executives, and high-level professionals who want to sharpen their mindset, expand their leadership, and learn directly from people who have been there.

Members get immediate access to over 40+ recorded Catalyst Sessions from incredible experts like Nausheen Chen, Carmen Leibel, Pia Silva, Joel Zeff, Wayne Lee, and many more, along with weekly live sessions, growth conversations, and practical business development support from Kelly Kennedy and other leaders.

If you are serious about growth, leadership, business development, and surrounding yourself with people who are committed to becoming better, The Catalyst Club is where you need to be.

Learn more here: www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Need Business Development Support? Book a Business Development Breakthrough Audit Here: www.kellykennedyofficial.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Hypervac - Revolution Vacuums

What does real confidence look like when life refuses to slow down? In Episode 355 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy welcomes back Founder of Let Me Introduce Yourself and Confidence Coach Alyssa McMasters for a powerful conversation about confidence, emotional neutrality, resilience, entrepreneurship, sales, leadership, and the realities of balancing a high-performing career with parenthood. Alyssa shares her own journey through burnout, imposter syndrome, motherhood, and rebuilding her career, revealing how learning to embrace emotional neutrality transformed not only the way she leads, but the way she makes decisions, sets boundaries, and shows up in every aspect of her life.

Together, Kelly and Alyssa explore why so many high performers tie their self-worth to outcomes, how to navigate guilt, embarrassment, rejection, and uncertainty without allowing them to dictate your decisions, and practical strategies for regulating your nervous system, building resilience, and creating confidence that isn't dependent on the next win. Whether you're an entrepreneur, sales professional, leader, parent, or simply someone striving to become more grounded in an increasingly demanding world, this episode offers an honest and actionable roadmap for leading yourself with greater clarity, confidence, and purpose.

Key Takeaways:

1. Confidence is built by learning to keep moving when life feels uncertain.
2. Emotional neutrality allows you to feel guilt, fear, or embarrassment without letting those emotions control your decisions.
3. High performers often struggle because they tie their self-worth to wins, losses, clients, and outcomes.
4. Boundaries are not selfish, they are how you protect your capacity and show up honestly.
5. Saying no still might feel uncomfortable, but discomfort does not mean the decision is wrong.
6. You cannot do everything well at once, so honesty about capacity is essential.
7. Detaching from the outcome is critical in sales, entrepreneurship, parenting, and leadership.
8. Real resilience is the ability to return to neutral faster after setbacks.
9. Nervous system regulation helps you make better decisions instead of reacting from emotional highs or lows.
10. Confidence is not about pretending everything is fine, it is about building the skills to keep showing up.

Connect with Alyssa McMasters

To learn more about Alyssa McMasters, Founder of Let Me Introduce Yourself, or to connect with her for confidence coaching, speaking, workshops, and leadership development, visit the links below.

🌐 Website: https://www.letmeintroduceyourself.com/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssamcmasters/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alyssasmcmasters/

🎸 Sponsor Shoutouts: Thank You Colin Harms for your steadfast support of The Business Development Podcast! 🫶

The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by Hypervac Technologies & Hyperfab, 🎸⭐

🔹 Hypervac Technologies: North America’s leader in vacuum truck manufacturing, building high performance hydrovac and industrial vacuum trucks designed for the toughest field conditions. www.hypervac.com

🔹 Hyperfab: The custom fabrication division of Hypervac, delivering engineered solutions and specialized builds tailored to demanding industrial applications. www.hyperfab.ca

Join The Catalyst Club Community

The Catalyst Club is so much more than a community. It is a growth platform for business development leaders, entrepreneurs, executives, and high-level professionals who want to sharpen their mindset, expand their leadership, and learn directly from people who have been there.

Members get immediate access to over 40+ recorded Catalyst Sessions from incredible experts like Nausheen Chen, Carmen Leibel, Pia Silva, Joel Zeff, Wayne Lee, and many more, along with weekly live sessions, growth conversations, and practical business development support from Kelly Kennedy and other leaders.

If you are serious about growth, leadership, business development, and surrounding yourself with people who are committed to becoming better, The Catalyst Club is where you need to be.

Learn more here: www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Need Business Development Support? Book a Business Development Breakthrough Audit Here: www.kellykennedyofficial.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Hypervac - Revolution Vacuums

Episode 354 of The Business Development Podcast features serial entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and ScaleIQ founder Kari Enns for a thought-provoking conversation about the future of business in an AI-driven world. Drawing from her own journey of rebuilding her life and business from scratch twice, Kari shares why resilience, community, and authentic human connection will become the greatest competitive advantages as technology continues to evolve. Together, Kelly and Kari explore why so many entrepreneurs struggle in isolation, how to embrace AI without losing your humanity, and why the businesses that thrive over the next decade will be those that blend innovation with timeless business fundamentals.

Throughout the episode, Kari introduces her framework for building a future-proof business, breaking down the seven essential pillars every entrepreneur should understand while offering practical advice on implementing AI with purpose rather than fear. From branding, marketing, and systems to leadership, automation, and the irreplaceable value of human relationships, this conversation is packed with actionable insights for entrepreneurs looking to stay ahead in a rapidly changing world. If you've ever wondered how to prepare your business for what's next without sacrificing what makes it uniquely human, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

Key Takeaways:

Here are 10 one-line key lessons in your standard BDP format:

1. The businesses that thrive in the AI era will be the ones that stay the most human.
2. AI should solve intentional business problems, not be adopted simply to keep up.
3. Community and collective intelligence will always outperform trying to build a business alone.
4. Your ability to build authentic relationships will remain your greatest competitive advantage.
5. Strong branding is about making the value of your business obvious within seconds.
6. Future-proof businesses are built on strong systems, adaptable teams, and purposeful technology.
7. Entrepreneurs who embrace change early will create opportunities while others resist them.
8. Technology can enhance your business, but it can never replace your lived experience or intuition.
9. Growth begins when you identify your biggest bottlenecks before searching for new tools.
10. Courage to take action will always create more opportunities than waiting until you feel ready.

Connect with Kari Enns: LinkedIn

Learn more about ScaleIQ: ScaleIQ Entrepreneurs Growth Network

🎸 Sponsor Shoutouts: Thank You Colin Harms for your steadfast support of The Business Development Podcast! 🫶

The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by Hypervac Technologies & Hyperfab, 🎸⭐

🔹 Hypervac Technologies: North America’s leader in vacuum truck manufacturing, building high performance hydrovac and industrial vacuum trucks designed for the toughest field conditions. www.hypervac.com

🔹 Hyperfab: The custom fabrication division of Hypervac, delivering engineered solutions and specialized builds tailored to demanding industrial applications. www.hyperfab.ca

Join The Catalyst Club Community

If you are serious about growth, community, leadership, and surrounding yourself with high-level, human-centric thinkers, The Catalyst Club is where you need to be.

Learn more here: www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Need Business Development Support? Book a Business Development Breakthrough Audit Here: www.kellykennedyofficial.com

Episode 353 of The Business Development Podcast features Simon Ostler, a former newsroom leader, media strategist, and founder of Simon Ostler Consulting. With more than 20 years of experience in Canadian media, including senior leadership roles at Global News Toronto, Simon spent his career deciding which stories earned attention and which ones were ignored. In this conversation, he explains why most companies do not have a marketing problem, they have a storytelling problem.

Kelly and Simon explore why people connect with human experiences, not corporate messaging, and why trust has become one of the most valuable currencies in business. They discuss earned media, reputation, thought leadership, AI, and why authentic stories matter more than ever. Whether you are a founder, executive, entrepreneur, marketer, or business development professional, this episode will challenge the way you think about attention, credibility, and the story your organization is telling.

Key Takeaways:

1. Most companies do not have a marketing problem, they have a storytelling problem.
2. The story is rarely the company, the story is the human being impacted by it.
3. People remember real people, not corporate updates, product launches, or bullet points.
4. Trust is built long before you need it, not during the crisis.
5. AI can create content, but it cannot replicate lived human experience.
6. Earned media matters because third-party validation still builds credibility.
7. If your story only excites your company, it probably will not connect with anyone else.
8. Great storytellers find the person, the emotion, and the reason people should care.
9. Start small, stay consistent, and build your reputation one story at a time.
10. In a noisy world, authentic human stories are your greatest competitive advantage.

Connect with Simon Ostler

Simon Ostler is a media strategist, public relations consultant, journalism instructor, and former newsroom leader with more than 20 years of experience in Canadian media. Through Simon Ostler Consulting, he helps organizations build trust, strengthen credibility, uncover compelling stories, and earn meaningful attention through authentic storytelling and strategic communications.

🔹 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonostler/

🔹 Website: https://simonostler.com/

🎸 Sponsor Shoutouts: Thank You Colin Harms for your steadfast support of The Business Development Podcast! 🫶

The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by Hypervac Technologies & Hyperfab, 🎸⭐

🔹 Hypervac Technologies: North America’s leader in vacuum truck manufacturing, building high performance hydrovac and industrial vacuum trucks designed for the toughest field conditions. www.hypervac.com

🔹 Hyperfab: The custom fabrication division of Hypervac, delivering engineered solutions and specialized builds tailored to demanding industrial applications. www.hyperfab.ca

Join The Catalyst Club Community

If you are serious about growth, community, leadership, and surrounding yourself with high-level, human-centric thinkers, The Catalyst Club is where you need to be.

Join us here: www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Need Business Development Support? Book a Business Development Breakthrough Audit Here: www.kellykennedyofficial.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Hypervac - Revolution Vacuums

In Episode 352 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy sits down with Rob Durant, CEO of U.S. Operations for the Institute of Sales Professionals, founder of Flywheel Results, and author of The Social Enablement Blueprint. What follows is a powerful conversation that challenges everything most people think they know about sales. Rob shares his unexpected journey from customer service to sales leadership and explains why the best salespeople are not focused on convincing, pressuring, or closing. Instead, they focus on understanding problems, building trust, and helping people make informed decisions. Together, Kelly and Rob explore why so many entrepreneurs struggle to sell their own products and services, how personal beliefs often get in the way of growth, and why asking for the sale is often the most helpful thing you can do.

The conversation also dives into relationship building, personal branding, social enablement, and the future of sales in an increasingly digital world. Rob explains why success is not about what you know or even who you know, but who knows you for what you know. From LinkedIn strategy and networking to sales ethics and long-term business development, this episode is packed with practical insights for entrepreneurs, sales professionals, and business leaders looking to build meaningful connections and create sustainable growth. If you want to become the person people think of first when they need help, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

Connect with Rob Durant

Rob Durant is the CEO of U.S. Operations for the Institute of Sales Professionals, founder of Flywheel Results, author of The Social Enablement Blueprint, and a passionate advocate for ethical, relationship-driven sales.

📧 Email: rob@isp-us.org

🌐 Institute of Sales Professionals: the-isp.org

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robdurant/

Whether you're looking to improve your sales process, build stronger relationships, explore sales certification, or learn more about modern sales leadership and social enablement, Rob is an outstanding resource and a great person to connect with.

Key Takeaways:

1. Great salespeople do not sell, they help people make informed decisions.
2. Asking for the sale is not pressure when you have identified a real problem and have a real solution.
3. Not offering your solution can actually be a disservice because you are taking away the customer’s choice.
4. Entrepreneurs often struggle to sell because they are too emotionally connected to their own business.
5. You are not asking for money, you are asking for permission to help.
6. The best sales training helps people walk a mile in the shoes of their prospect.
7. Trust is built by being relatable, genuine, and consistent over time.
8. Social selling should not be “connect and pitch.” It should be “connect and connect.”
9. Success is not just about what you know or who you know. It is about who knows you for what you know.
10. Sales teams need time to cultivate real relationships because business development requires a runway long enough to win.

🎸 Sponsor Shoutouts: Thank You Colin Harms for your steadfast support of The Business Development Podcast! 🫶

The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by Hypervac Technologies & Hyperfab, 🎸⭐

🔹 Hypervac Technologies: North America’s leader in vacuum truck manufacturing, building high performance hydrovac and industrial vacuum trucks designed for the toughest field conditions. www.hypervac.com

🔹 Hyperfab: The custom fabrication division of Hypervac, delivering engineered solutions and specialized builds tailored to demanding industrial applications. www.hyperfab.ca

Join The Catalyst Club Community

If you are serious about growth, community, leadership, and surrounding yourself with high-level, human-centric thinkers, The Catalyst Club is where you need to be.

Join us here: www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Need Business Development Support? Book a Business Development Breakthrough Audit Here: www.kellykennedyofficial.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Hypervac - Revolution Vacuums

In Episode 351 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy breaks down why so many modern growth strategies are becoming nothing more than noise. From automated emails and LinkedIn DMs to AI-driven outreach tools promising quick wins, Kelly challenges the idea that more activity automatically means more progress. He explains why vanity metrics can be misleading, why downloads in podcasting are similar to meaningless outreach numbers in business development, and why the real metric that matters is creating qualified meetings with the right people.

Kelly then brings listeners back to the fundamentals of real business development: authentic human connection, active marketing, and consistency over time. He explains why AI and automation cannot replace trust, relationships, and direct conversations, and shares a practical 10-step action plan to help business developers, entrepreneurs, and leaders cut through the noise, stop wasting money, and create opportunities that actually matter. This episode is a reminder that there is no easy button for growth, but with the right strategy and consistent execution, real opportunity is always possible.

Key Takeaways:

1. Activity is not the same as progress. More outreach only matters when it creates real conversations and opportunities.
2. There is no easy button for real growth. Sustainable business development still requires trust, strategy, and effort.
3. Being human is your greatest competitive advantage. In the age of AI, authentic connection is what helps you stand out.
4. Vanity metrics can create false confidence. Big numbers mean very little if they do not lead to meaningful results.
5. Meetings with the right people are the metric that matters. Qualified conversations are what move business forward.
6. Automation cannot replace authentic human connection. Tools can support the process, but people still build trust with people.
7. Active marketing creates real opportunity. Growth happens when you intentionally reach out instead of waiting to be found.
8. Relationships should be built before the customer has a need. Getting ahead of the opportunity gives you a competitive advantage.
9. Consistency over time is your secret weapon. Weekly action compounds into long-term business development success.
10. Real business development is built through trust, strategy, and action. The fundamentals still matter, even in the age of AI.

🎸 Sponsor Shoutouts: Thank You Colin Harms for your steadfast support of The Business Development Podcast! 🫶

The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by Hypervac Technologies & Hyperfab, 🎸⭐

🔹 Hypervac Technologies: North America’s leader in vacuum truck manufacturing, building high performance hydrovac and industrial vacuum trucks designed for the toughest field conditions. www.hypervac.com

🔹 Hyperfab: The custom fabrication division of Hypervac, delivering engineered solutions and specialized builds tailored to demanding industrial applications. www.hyperfab.ca

Join The Catalyst Club Community

If you are serious about growth, community, leadership, and surrounding yourself with high-level, human-centric thinkers, The Catalyst Club is where you need to be.

Join us here: www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Need Business Development Support? Book a Business Development Breakthrough Audit Here: www.kellykennedyofficial.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Hypervac - Revolution Vacuums

In milestone Episode 350 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy sits down with TEDx speaker, entrepreneur, actor, filmmaker, and Ikigai consultant Paul Barry for a conversation that goes far beyond business. As this episode releases, Paul is nearly 1,000 miles into his 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail journey, walking from Mexico to Canada while raising funds for cancer awareness and prevention in honour of his mother. Together, Kelly and Paul explore the Japanese concept of Ikigai, the intersection of what you love, what you are great at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for, and why so many people find themselves successful on paper but unfulfilled in life.

Throughout the conversation, Paul shares his remarkable journey from actor and acting teacher to entrepreneur, coach, storyteller, and adventurer, offering powerful insights into purpose, reinvention, entrepreneurship, and the courage to choose an unconventional path. Whether discussing the closure of a startup, the lessons learned from caring for his parents through cancer, or the decision to embark on one of the world's most challenging long-distance hikes, Paul reminds us that true success is not about building the life others expect of us, but about having the freedom to build a life that is authentically our own.

Key Takeaways:

1. Success without fulfillment is not success.
2. You do not have to spend your life living someone else's definition of success.
3. Ikigai is found at the intersection of what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.
4. Your purpose is not fixed. It evolves as you evolve.
5. Sometimes the most courageous decision is walking away from something that no longer serves you.
6. Failure is often redirection, not defeat.
7. If you are not fulfilled, ask yourself which part of your Ikigai is missing.
8. Life is too short to spend decades waiting to do what you truly want to do.
9. Freedom comes from intentionally designing your life, not accidentally drifting through it.
10. You do not just make a living. You make a life.

Connect with Paul Barry

If this conversation resonated with you and you'd like to follow Paul's journey, connect with him online or support his Pacific Crest Trail fundraiser.

🔹 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulbarryofficial/

🔹 Email: paul@dreamingforaliving.com

🔹 Pacific Crest Trail Cancer Fundraiser & Donation Page: https://www.yeschapter.com/

As this episode releases, Paul is nearly 1,000 miles into his 2,650-mile journey from Mexico to Canada, raising funds for cancer awareness and prevention while living the very philosophy he teaches: build a life aligned with purpose, freedom, adventure, and fulfillment.

🎸 Sponsor Shoutouts: Thank You Colin Harms for your steadfast support of The Business Development Podcast! 🫶

The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by Hypervac Technologies & Hyperfab, 🎸⭐

🔹 Hypervac Technologies: North America’s leader in vacuum truck manufacturing, building high performance hydrovac and industrial vacuum trucks designed for the toughest field conditions. www.hypervac.com

🔹 Hyperfab: The custom fabrication division of Hypervac, delivering engineered solutions and specialized builds tailored to demanding industrial applications. www.hyperfab.ca

Join The Catalyst Club Community

If you are serious about growth, community, leadership, and surrounding yourself with high-level, human-centric thinkers, The Catalyst Club is where you need to be.

Join us here: www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Mentioned in this episode:

Hypervac - Revolution Vacuums

In Episode 349 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy sits down with mindset expert, transformational coach, and entrepreneur Stacey Berger for a powerful conversation about why external success is never enough if it comes at the cost of fulfillment, purpose, and personal well-being. Stacey shares her journey from growing a corporate subsidiary from a million-dollar balance sheet to $60 million, to realizing that the career she once loved no longer aligned with the life she wanted to create.

This episode explores burnout, leadership, work-life harmony, mindset, purpose, and the hidden beliefs that keep high achievers stuck. Stacey opens up about the hospital wake-up call that changed everything, the decision that helped her double her income while working half the hours, and why success begins by asking better questions. For entrepreneurs, executives, and ambitious leaders, this conversation is a reminder that you can never outperform your mindset, and that building a life you love starts with choosing a different way forward.

Key Takeaways:

1. You can never outperform your mindset. Your beliefs ultimately determine the actions you take, the opportunities you see, and the results you create.
2. Success without fulfillment will eventually catch up to you. Titles, income, and achievements are not substitutes for purpose, alignment, and joy.
3. Burnout often disguises itself as ambition. Many high performers don't realize they're burning out because they view exhaustion as a normal part of success.
4. The quality of your life is determined by the quality of the questions you ask. Replacing "I can't" with "What if I could?" opens the door to new possibilities and solutions.
5. Work-life balance is a myth. True success comes from creating harmony between the different areas of your life rather than trying to perfectly balance them.
6. Your subconscious beliefs are driving most of your decisions. If you want different results, you must first identify and challenge the beliefs that are shaping your behavior.
7. Purpose does not need to be complicated. Knowing what gives you life, energy, growth, freedom, and fulfillment is often enough to start moving in the right direction.
8. Success is not about working longer, harder, and faster. Sustainable success comes from combining the right mindset with the right strategy rather than relying on hustle alone.
9. If you are unhappy, waiting rarely changes anything. Transformation often begins with a decision to stop accepting the status quo and take responsibility for your own happiness.
10. Life is too short to live someone else's version of success. The greatest regret is often not what we did, but what we failed to pursue because fear, comfort, or circumstances convinced us to stay where we were.

Get in Touch with Stacey Berger

Connect with Stacey Berger on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacey-berger/

Learn more about Stacey’s coaching, programs, and transformational work:

www.staceyberger.ca

Get your tickets for Passion to Purpose Live, happening in October 2026:

https://staceyberger.thrivecart.com/ppl-super-early-bird/

🎸 Sponsor Shoutouts: Thank You Colin Harms for your steadfast support of The Business Development Podcast! 🫶

The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by Hypervac Technologies & Hyperfab, 🎸⭐

🔹 Hypervac Technologies: North America’s leader in vacuum truck manufacturing, building high performance hydrovac and industrial vacuum trucks designed for the toughest field conditions. www.hypervac.com

🔹 Hyperfab: The custom fabrication division of Hypervac, delivering engineered solutions and specialized builds tailored to demanding industrial applications. www.hyperfab.ca

Join The Catalyst Club Community

If you are serious about growth, community, leadership, and surrounding yourself with high-level, human-centric thinkers, The Catalyst Club is where you need to be.

Join us here: www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Mentioned in this episode:

Hypervac - Revolution Vacuums

In Episode 348 of The Business Development Podcast, Colin Christensen returns for his fourth appearance on the show to explore one of the most fascinating and misunderstood industries in the world today. As CEO of Tidal Care Inc. and a mentor to more than 2,000 founders, Colin shares his journey into the mushroom industry, the differences between functional mushrooms and psilocybin, the emerging research surrounding mental health and wellness, and why entrepreneurs, researchers, and healthcare professionals are paying close attention to this rapidly evolving space.

Throughout the conversation, Kelly and Colin discuss entrepreneurship, mentorship, human potential, innovation, and the future of mushroom-based therapies. From lion's mane and cordyceps to the commercialization of mushroom products and the challenges of building a business in an emerging industry, this episode offers an educational and thought-provoking look at a topic many people have heard about but few truly understand. Whether you're curious, skeptical, or simply interested in learning something new, this conversation will challenge assumptions and expand your perspective.

Key Takeaways:

1. Entrepreneurship rarely follows the plan you start with. The pieces appear as you keep moving.
2. Mentorship matters because no founder can see every side of the problem alone.
3. Wisdom is not about having the only right answer. It is about helping people see more clearly.
4. Experienced leaders should not simply retire and disappear. Their knowledge needs to be passed on.
5. Business is still deeply human. You cannot separate life, grief, family, purpose, and work completely.
6. Impact matters more than ego. The real question is whether you made the world better.
7. Mushrooms are far more complex than most people realize, ranging from culinary to functional to psychedelic.
8. Functional mushrooms like lion’s mane, cordyceps, and reishi are gaining attention for focus, energy, and wellness.
9. Emerging industries require patience, education, regulation, and a real business model, not just hype.
10. Human potential sits at the intersection of health, mindset, mentorship, entrepreneurship, and the courage to explore new ideas.

If you enjoyed this conversation and would like to learn more about Colin's work in entrepreneurship, mentorship, startup growth, and the mushroom industry, you can connect with him here:

🔹 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colinchristensen/

🔹 MYCĀO: https://mycao.ca

Colin has spent more than 30 years building businesses, mentoring founders, and helping entrepreneurs navigate growth, innovation, and uncertainty. Whether you're interested in entrepreneurship, mentorship, functional mushrooms, or emerging opportunities in the wellness space, Colin is a wealth of knowledge and experience.

🎸 Sponsor Shoutouts: Thank You Colin Harms for your steadfast support of The Business Development Podcast! 🫶

The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by Hypervac Technologies & Hyperfab, 🎸⭐

🔹 Hypervac Technologies: North America’s leader in vacuum truck manufacturing, building high performance hydrovac and industrial vacuum trucks designed for the toughest field conditions. www.hypervac.com

🔹 Hyperfab: The custom fabrication division of Hypervac, delivering engineered solutions and specialized builds tailored to demanding industrial applications. www.hyperfab.ca

Join The Catalyst Club Community

If you are serious about growth, community, leadership, and surrounding yourself with high-level, human-centric thinkers, The Catalyst Club is where you need to be.

Join us here: www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Mentioned in this episode:

Hypervac - Revolution Vacuums

In Episode 347 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy sits down with Paul Riismandel, President of Signal Hill Insights and one of the leading voices in podcast audience research, to explore the future of podcasting, media, and audience attention. Drawing on more than two decades of experience in digital audio, podcasting, advertising, and audience measurement, Paul shares what creators, entrepreneurs, marketers, and business leaders need to understand about where the industry is headed and how audiences are consuming content in 2026 and beyond.

From the myth that everyone skips podcast ads to the reality of audience growth, community building, content discovery, and the evolving relationship between audio and video, this conversation is packed with practical insights and thought-provoking perspectives. Paul challenges conventional wisdom around virality, explains why community matters more than most creators realize, and reveals what successful podcasters are doing differently to build loyal audiences in an increasingly competitive media landscape. Whether you're a podcaster, content creator, thought leader, marketer, or business owner, this episode offers a valuable look at the forces shaping the future of attention and influence.

Key Takeaways:

1. Audience quality matters more than audience quantity.
2. One podcast listener is not the same as one passive TV or radio listener.
3. A hundred downloads can represent a room full of people who chose to hear from you.
4. Podcasting is a long game, not a viral lottery.
5. You need to know who your audience is and why they should listen.
6. Discovery starts by finding the audience, not just finding podcast listeners.
7. Audio is not dead, but creators need to remind people how and when to listen.
8. Short form content may be losing some of its hold as people want their attention back.
9. Community is one of the strongest drivers of podcast growth and loyalty.
10. Podcast ads work better than many people think because listeners do not skip them as much as they say they do.

Want to learn more from Paul?

Check out Signal Hill Insights and subscribe to Paul's newsletter. If you care about podcasting, media, audience growth, advertising, and the future of audio, it's one of the best sources of industry insights available.

Signal Hill Insights Newsletter

🎸 Sponsor Shoutouts: Thank You Colin Harms for your steadfast support of The Business Development Podcast! 🫶

The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by Hypervac Technologies & Hyperfab, 🎸⭐

🔹 Hypervac Technologies: North America’s leader in vacuum truck manufacturing, building high performance hydrovac and industrial vacuum trucks designed for the toughest field conditions. www.hypervac.com

🔹 Hyperfab: The custom fabrication division of Hypervac, delivering engineered solutions and specialized builds tailored to demanding industrial applications. www.hyperfab.ca

Join The Catalyst Club Community

If you are serious about growth, community, leadership, and surrounding yourself with high-level, human-centric thinkers, The Catalyst Club is where you need to be.

Join us here: www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Mentioned in this episode:

Hypervac - Revolution Vacuums

In Episode 346 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy sits down with Rudy A. Zacharias and Terry Elkins of About That... to explore one of the most misunderstood topics in business: branding. Drawing on decades of experience helping organizations navigate growth and transformation, Rudy and Terry explain why a brand is far more than a logo. It is the sum total of what people think, feel, and experience when they interact with your company. Together, they unpack the warning signs that your business may have outgrown its brand, the importance of aligning perception with reality, and why successful companies often reach a point where evolution becomes necessary.

The conversation also provides a behind-the-scenes look at About That...'s own transformation from G Squared to its new identity. Rudy and Terry share the intentional process behind the rebrand, the challenges of balancing existing brand equity with future growth, and the critical role of employee buy-in, change management, and communication throughout the journey. Whether you're considering a full rebrand, a brand refresh, or simply want to better understand how your organization is perceived, this episode offers practical insights into building a brand that reflects who you are today and where you want to go tomorrow.

Key Takeaways:

1. A brand is not your logo. Your brand is the sum total of what people think, feel, and experience when they interact with your company.
2. The biggest reason companies rebrand is misalignment. When who you are as a business no longer matches how you are perceived in the market, a rebrand may be necessary.
3. Growth often creates branding challenges. As companies evolve, expand into new markets, add services, or change leadership, their original brand may no longer accurately represent them.
4. Living things grow and living things evolve. Businesses that remain exactly the same year after year risk becoming stagnant and losing relevance.
5. Rebranding should never start with design. Before changing logos, websites, or visual identity, organizations must first understand their values, purpose, positioning, and stakeholder perceptions.
6. Internal alignment comes before external messaging. Employees must understand and believe in the brand before the marketplace ever sees it. Your team becomes your most important group of brand ambassadors.
7. The truth about your brand is often found through listening. Leadership's perception of the company can be very different from what employees, customers, vendors, and partners actually experience.
8. A rebrand is not always the answer. Sometimes a refresh, updated messaging, service clarification, culture improvements, or operational changes can solve the real issue without a complete overhaul.
9. Successful rebrands require change management and communication. If stakeholders do not understand why a change is happening, they will create their own narratives and assumptions.
10. Values must be lived, not displayed. Trust is built when customers and employees can clearly see an organization's values reflected in its actions, decisions, and relationships every day.

🌐 About That...

Website: www.weareaboutthat.com

📧 Email

hello@weareaboutthat.com

📞 Phone

780-465-0682

💼 Rudy A. Zacharias

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/rudyazacharias/

🎨 Terry Elkins

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/terry-elkins-23234315/

About That... is an Edmonton-based branding, communications, and marketing agency helping organizations align their brand, strategy, and story to drive meaningful growth.

This keeps it clean, professional, and consistent with your recent episode descriptions.

🎸 Sponsor Shoutouts: Thank You Colin Harms & Jamie Crozier for your steadfast support of The Business Development Podcast! 🫶

The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by Hypervac Technologies, Hyperfab, Thunder Bay Hydraulics Inc, and Atlas Elite Lifts. 🎸⭐

🔹 Hypervac Technologies: North America’s leader in vacuum truck manufacturing, building high performance hydrovac and industrial vacuum trucks designed for the toughest field conditions. www.hypervac.com

🔹 Hyperfab: The custom fabrication division of Hypervac, delivering engineered solutions and specialized builds tailored to demanding industrial applications. www.hyperfab.ca

🔹 Thunder Bay Hydraulics Inc: A trusted provider of hydraulic cylinder repair and manufacturing, supporting industries like mining, forestry, and construction with reliable, high quality service. www.thunderbayhydraulics.com

🔹 Atlas Elite Lifts: A premium supplier of automotive lift systems, focused on performance, safety, and long term reliability for shops and garages. www.atlaselitelifts.com

Join The Catalyst Club Community

If you are serious about growth, leadership, and surrounding yourself with high level thinkers, The Catalyst Club is where you need to be.

Join us here: www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Mentioned in this episode:

Hypervac - Revolution Vacuums

Episode 345 of The Business Development Podcast dives into a conversation that almost never gets talked about in entrepreneurship: what happens at the end. Kelly Kennedy sits down with Robert Welke, business growth strategist, Certified Exit Planning Advisor, entrepreneur, and Co-Founder of MExit Inc., to explore why so many business owners spend decades building companies only to discover they have nothing they can actually sell. Together, they unpack Canada’s growing entrepreneurial challenges, the reality that more businesses are closing than opening, and why owner dependency may quietly be destroying business value long before owners ever think about exiting.

Drawing from more than 35 years of entrepreneurial and leadership experience, Robert shares a practical framework for building businesses that are scalable, transferable, and capable of surviving beyond the founder. The conversation explores what makes a company truly sellable, why systems and leadership matter more than most owners realize, alternative exit strategies including employee ownership, and why building with the end in mind may be one of the most overlooked business disciplines today. Whether you plan to exit in three years, twenty years, or never at all, this episode will challenge the way you think about growth, legacy, and the future of entrepreneurship.

Key Takeaways:

1. If you want to sell your business, you have to build it to be sellable from the beginning.
2. Owner dependency is one of the biggest threats to business value and transferability.
3. Exit planning is not an event. It is a process that usually takes three to five years.
4. A business that cannot run without the founder is much harder to sell successfully.
5. Most business owners are experts at their craft, but not always experts at the business of business.
6. Systems, processes, people, and leadership structure are what make a company scalable and transferable.
7. Your employees may be a viable exit path, especially through employee ownership structures.
8. Revenue alone does not determine business value. Readiness, attractiveness, profitability, and risk matter deeply.
9. The future of Canadian entrepreneurship depends on helping more owners transition businesses instead of simply closing them.
10. A great business should survive beyond the founder and continue creating value for employees, customers, and communities.

Connect with Robert:

Robert Welke on LinkedIn

MExit Inc.

🎸 Sponsor Shoutouts: Thank You Colin Harms & Jamie Crozier for your steadfast support of The Business Development Podcast! 🫶

The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by Hypervac Technologies, Hyperfab, Thunder Bay Hydraulics Inc, and Atlas Elite Lifts. 🎸⭐

🔹 Hypervac Technologies: North America’s leader in vacuum truck manufacturing, building high performance hydrovac and industrial vacuum trucks designed for the toughest field conditions. www.hypervac.com

🔹 Hyperfab: The custom fabrication division of Hypervac, delivering engineered solutions and specialized builds tailored to demanding industrial applications. www.hyperfab.ca

🔹 Thunder Bay Hydraulics Inc: A trusted provider of hydraulic cylinder repair and manufacturing, supporting industries like mining, forestry, and construction with reliable, high quality service. www.thunderbayhydraulics.com

🔹 Atlas Elite Lifts: A premium supplier of automotive lift systems, focused on performance, safety, and long term reliability for shops and garages. www.atlaselitelifts.com

Join The Catalyst Club Community

If you are serious about growth, leadership, and surrounding yourself with high level thinkers, The Catalyst Club is where you need to be.

Join us here: www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Mentioned in this episode:

Hypervac - Revolution Vacuums

After launching CTK at just 24 years old in the middle of a global pandemic, Chris Vasiliou didn’t wait for perfect timing, certainty, or permission. In this episode, Chris shares the realities of scaling a construction company in one of Canada’s toughest industries, the lessons learned from growing from a handful of people to a national operation, and why entrepreneurship can’t truly be taught, it has to be lived. From earning trust as a young founder to building credibility through responsiveness, authenticity, and consistency, this conversation is packed with practical insight for anyone trying to grow something meaningful.

But this episode goes deeper than business growth. Kelly and Chris unpack the hidden side of entrepreneurship, including risk, cash flow pressure, sleepless nights, non payment challenges, and the responsibility that comes with leading people. They also tackle the future of construction in Canada, why contractors should be treated as partners instead of commodities, and how trust, transparency, and long term thinking can create stronger businesses and stronger communities. Whether you’re building a company, leading a team, or standing on the edge of taking your first leap, this episode is a reminder that success rarely comes quickly, but it is built one decision at a time.

Follow Chris:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-vasiliou-a05752262/

CTK Website: https://ctksys.com/

Key Takeaways:

1. Entrepreneurship cannot really be taught, it has to be experienced.
2. There is no perfect time to start, sometimes you have to put both feet into the fire.
3. Starting young is an advantage because time, risk, and learning can compound.
4. Credibility is built through consistency, responsiveness, and doing what you say you will do.
5. Soft skills can become a major competitive advantage in established industries.
6. Growth starts with small wins, strong relationships, and proving yourself over time.
7. Authenticity and transparency are not just values, they are business development tools.
8. Construction is brutally hard, and the hidden challenges are often cash flow, non payment, risk, and tight margins.
9. The best contractors act like partners, not vendors chasing the lowest bid.
10. Canada’s next major opportunity will require builders, tradespeople, and contractors who are willing to step up and do good work.

🎸 Sponsor Shoutouts: Thank You Colin Harms & Jamie Crozier for your steadfast support of The Business Development Podcast! 🫶

The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by Hypervac Technologies, Hyperfab, Thunder Bay Hydraulics Inc, and Atlas Elite Lifts. 🎸⭐

🔹 Hypervac Technologies: North America’s leader in vacuum truck manufacturing, building high performance hydrovac and industrial vacuum trucks designed for the toughest field conditions. www.hypervac.com

🔹 Hyperfab: The custom fabrication division of Hypervac, delivering engineered solutions and specialized builds tailored to demanding industrial applications. www.hyperfab.ca

🔹 Thunder Bay Hydraulics Inc: A trusted provider of hydraulic cylinder repair and manufacturing, supporting industries like mining, forestry, and construction with reliable, high quality service. www.thunderbayhydraulics.com

🔹 Atlas Elite Lifts: A premium supplier of automotive lift systems, focused on performance, safety, and long term reliability for shops and garages. www.atlaselitelifts.com

Join The Catalyst Club Community

If you are serious about growth, leadership, and surrounding yourself with high level thinkers, The Catalyst Club is where you need to be.

Join us here: www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Mentioned in this episode:

Hypervac - Revolution Vacuums

In episode 343 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy breaks down the 10 must-have tools every business development professional should be using in 2026 and beyond. From timeless essentials like the phone, email, LinkedIn, notepads, Excel, and CRM systems to modern tools like ChatGPT, Apollo.io, Surfe, AI note takers, and Canva, this episode provides a practical look at the tools that can improve efficiency, consistency, prospecting, follow-up, meeting preparation, and overall BD performance.

More importantly, Episode 343 reinforces that no tool can replace authentic human connection. Kelly explains why structure, consistency, personalization, and relationship-building remain the foundation of great business development, even as AI and automation continue to advance. The right tools can make you faster and more effective, but your humanity, voice, judgment, and ability to build trust are still your greatest competitive advantages.

Key Takeaways:

1. Your humanity is still your greatest business development advantage, even in the age of AI.
2. The phone remains the most powerful business development tool for building rapport and booking meetings.
3. Personalized emails consistently outperform automated AI outreach when it comes to real connection and trust.
4. Consistency matters more than intensity in business development. Small actions repeated weekly create momentum.
5. A CRM is only valuable if it is used consistently and structured in a simple, actionable way.
6. Writing goals and tracking metrics physically improves accountability and increases the likelihood of success.
7. LinkedIn is no longer optional for business developers. It is one of the most powerful prospecting tools ever created.
8. AI should be used to refine and enhance your work, not replace your voice, ideas, or authenticity.
9. Tracking your numbers weekly helps you understand your pipeline, improve performance, and stay accountable.
10. The best business developers combine modern technology with authentic human relationship-building instead of relying entirely on automation.

🎸 Sponsor Shoutouts: Thank You Colin Harms & Jamie Crozier for your steadfast support of The Business Development Podcast! 🫶

The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by Hypervac Technologies, Hyperfab, Thunder Bay Hydraulics Inc, and Atlas Elite Lifts. 🎸⭐

🔹 Hypervac Technologies: North America’s leader in vacuum truck manufacturing, building high performance hydrovac and industrial vacuum trucks designed for the toughest field conditions. www.hypervac.com

🔹 Hyperfab: The custom fabrication division of Hypervac, delivering engineered solutions and specialized builds tailored to demanding industrial applications. www.hyperfab.ca

🔹 Thunder Bay Hydraulics Inc: A trusted provider of hydraulic cylinder repair and manufacturing, supporting industries like mining, forestry, and construction with reliable, high quality service. www.thunderbayhydraulics.com

🔹 Atlas Elite Lifts: A premium supplier of automotive lift systems, focused on performance, safety, and long term reliability for shops and garages. www.atlaselitelifts.com

Join The Catalyst Club Community

If you are serious about growth, leadership, and surrounding yourself with high level thinkers, The Catalyst Club is where you need to be.

Join us here: www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Mentioned in this episode:

Hypervac - Revolution Vacuums

Episode 342 of The Business Development Podcast features the return of entrepreneur, speaker, author, and Foureva Media founder Jamar Jones for one of the most powerful conversations yet on reinvention, visibility, personal branding, and becoming the person your future requires. From opening for artists like Snoop Dogg, T.I., Common, and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony to losing his voice and rebuilding his entire life through entrepreneurship, Jamar shares the hard-earned lessons that transformed his mindset and ultimately led him to building one of the most respected personal branding agencies in the space.

Together, Kelly Kennedy and Jamar dive deep into what it actually takes to build a brand people remember in 2026. They unpack why most people stay stuck, why visibility matters more than ever, how to position yourself for bigger opportunities, why your offer might not be converting, and the mindset shift required to stop waiting and start building momentum. This is not a surface-level branding conversation. It is a powerful discussion about identity, growth, purpose, and learning to put yourself out there before life forces you to reinvent yourself. If you are an entrepreneur, creator, leader, or someone trying to reach the next level, this episode will challenge the way you think about your brand, your future, and your potential.

Key Takeaways:

1. Don’t tie your identity to one vehicle. Tie it to your mission and purpose.
2. Reinvention is not optional. At some point, life will force you to evolve.
3. Most people are not failing because they are incapable. They are failing because they have not started.
4. Opportunities do not usually come to people who wait. They come to people who are actively looking.
5. Your personal brand is how people talk about you in rooms you are not in.
6. If people do not know what you do, they cannot help you, refer you, hire you, or advocate for you.
7. More visibility creates more opportunity. In today’s world, you need to put yourself out there consistently.
8. Your offer should sell the transformation, not the features, details, or deliverables.
9. Social proof matters. Capture testimonials, case studies, wins, and proof every chance you get.
10. Do not let a proposal sell for you. Align on the offer, investment, and expectations before you send it.

Follow Jamar, grab a copy of Change Your Circle, Change Your Life, and learn how to build a brand people actually remember with Foureva Media.

🌐 Foureva Media: www.fourevamedia.com

📘 Change Your Circle, Change Your Life: https://www.amazon.ca/Change-your-Circle-Life-Anyones/dp/1737191903

🔗 Connect with Jamar on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/relatablejamar/

🎸 Sponsor Shoutouts: Thank You Colin Harms & Jamie Crozier for your steadfast support of The Business Development Podcast! 🫶

The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by Hypervac Technologies, Hyperfab, Thunder Bay Hydraulics Inc, and Atlas Elite Lifts. 🎸⭐

🔹 Hypervac Technologies: North America’s leader in vacuum truck manufacturing, building high performance hydrovac and industrial vacuum trucks designed for the toughest field conditions. www.hypervac.com

🔹 Hyperfab: The custom fabrication division of Hypervac, delivering engineered solutions and specialized builds tailored to demanding industrial applications. www.hyperfab.ca

🔹 Thunder Bay Hydraulics Inc: A trusted provider of hydraulic cylinder repair and manufacturing, supporting industries like mining, forestry, and construction with reliable, high quality service. www.thunderbayhydraulics.com

🔹 Atlas Elite Lifts: A premium supplier of automotive lift systems, focused on performance, safety, and long term reliability for shops and garages. www.atlaselitelifts.com

Join The Catalyst Club Community

If you are serious about growth, leadership, and surrounding yourself with high level thinkers, The Catalyst Club is where you need to be.

Join us here: www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Mentioned in this episode:

Hypervac - Revolution Vacuums

Episode 341 of The Business Development Podcast features an incredibly honest and inspiring conversation with Stephanie Gross, Founder & CEO of Bumby Wool, a Canadian wool clothing brand built from the ground up through resilience, creativity, and relentless determination. Stephanie shares her journey from working in oil and gas and raising a family to launching a sustainable manufacturing company that has grown from homemade cloth diapers into a recognized Canadian apparel brand focused on ethical production, innovation, and purpose-driven entrepreneurship.

This episode dives deep into the realities of entrepreneurship, including burnout, tariffs, financial pressure, leadership, reinvention, and the emotional weight of nearly losing everything. Stephanie opens up about hitting a breaking point, rebuilding her mindset, rediscovering her purpose, and ultimately turning the business around by embracing community, visibility, partnerships, and a renewed vision for the future. It is a powerful conversation about resilience, Canadian manufacturing, and what happens when entrepreneurs refuse to quit.

Follow Stephanie Gross and Bumby Wool

Stephanie Gross: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-gross-bumbywool/

Bumby Wool: www.bumbywool.com

Key Takeaways:

1. Entrepreneurship is rarely a straight line. Stephanie’s journey moved through oil and gas, customer service, HR, safety, and motherhood before eventually becoming Bumby Wool.
2. Sometimes the best businesses start by solving your own problem. Bumby Wool began because Stephanie simply could not find the cloth diapers she wanted for her son.
3. Grassroots entrepreneurs succeed through resilience, not perfection. Stephanie built the business without major advertising, polished systems, or outside investment for most of its existence.
4. Your “why” matters more than growth for growth’s sake. For years, Stephanie intentionally structured the business around raising her children and supporting her family life.
5. Big setbacks can become turning points. COVID, website failures, and tariffs pushed the business to its breaking point, but those moments forced Stephanie to rethink and rebuild the company.
6. Entrepreneurs need to stop occasionally and recognize how far they’ve already come. One of Stephanie’s biggest breakthroughs came when she paused and reflected on the impact she had already created.
7. What gets you to one level may not get you to the next. Stephanie realized she had to change direction, build new systems, expand her network, and become more visible to move the company forward.
8. Relationships and community matter deeply in entrepreneurship. From The Catalyst Club to Alberta Women Entrepreneurs and Trade Accelerator programs, Stephanie’s turnaround accelerated once she leaned into community and collaboration.
9. Young people need opportunities and mentorship. Stephanie now works closely with students, interns, and work-integrated learning programs to create real-world opportunities while also helping grow her company.
10. Quitting is sometimes easier than continuing, but purpose changes everything. Stephanie repeatedly emphasizes that Bumby Wool became bigger than herself, and that realization gave her the strength to keep going during the hardest moments.

🎸 Sponsor Shoutouts: Thank You Colin Harms & Jamie Crozier for your steadfast support of The Business Development Podcast! 🫶

The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by Hypervac Technologies, Hyperfab, Thunder Bay Hydraulics Inc, and Atlas Elite Lifts. 🎸⭐

🔹 Hypervac Technologies: North America’s leader in vacuum truck manufacturing, building high performance hydrovac and industrial vacuum trucks designed for the toughest field conditions. www.hypervac.com

🔹 Hyperfab: The custom fabrication division of Hypervac, delivering engineered solutions and specialized builds tailored to demanding industrial applications. www.hyperfab.ca

🔹 Thunder Bay Hydraulics Inc: A trusted provider of hydraulic cylinder repair and manufacturing, supporting industries like mining, forestry, and construction with reliable, high quality service. www.thunderbayhydraulics.com

🔹 Atlas Elite Lifts: A premium supplier of automotive lift systems, focused on performance, safety, and long term reliability for shops and garages. www.atlaselitelifts.com

Join The Catalyst Club Community

If you are serious about growth, leadership, and surrounding yourself with high level thinkers, The Catalyst Club is where you need to be.

Join us here: www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Mentioned in this episode:

Hypervac - Revolution Vacuums

Episode 340 of The Business Development Podcast features a powerful conversation with Manja Horner, founder of Boost LD, on the hidden skilled trades crisis happening across North America. As experienced tradespeople retire, companies are losing decades of knowledge, systems, instincts, and expertise that were never properly documented or passed down. Kelly and Manja dive deep into workforce development, retention, onboarding, leadership, and why the future of the trades depends on capturing and transferring knowledge before it disappears forever.

This episode also explores how AI is changing the future of workforce training and why companies need to rethink how they develop people. From building internal “YouTube style” knowledge systems to creating better onboarding and career development processes, Manja shares practical strategies that can dramatically improve retention, performance, and long-term growth. If you lead a company with people in the field, this episode will completely change the way you think about training and the future of business.

Key Takeaways:

1. Skilled trades companies are not just facing a labour shortage, they are facing a knowledge transfer crisis.
2. When experienced tradespeople retire without documenting what they know, decades of wisdom can disappear forever.
3. Training is not just information sharing, it requires practice, feedback, repetition, and measurable behaviour change.
4. Companies need to stop relying on informal “watch and learn” systems if they want consistent performance.
5. AI can help companies capture, organize, and retrieve internal knowledge faster than ever before.
6. Every company should be building its own internal knowledge library so employees can learn how things are done properly.
7. Retention starts with better onboarding, stronger culture, and real career conversations.
8. Skilled workers need more than pay to stay, they need growth paths, leadership, recognition, and purpose.
9. The future of workforce development will blend technology, live coaching, field-based learning, and structured practice.
10. Companies that invest in training now will reduce risk, improve quality, retain better people, and build a stronger competitive advantage.

Check Out Boost LD & Follow Manja Horner

If this conversation resonated with you, make sure to connect with Manja Horner and learn more about the incredible work happening at Boost LD.

🔹 Website:

Boost LD

🔹 LinkedIn:

Manja Horner on LinkedIn

🎸 Sponsor Shoutouts: Thank You Colin Harms & Jamie Crozier for your steadfast support of The Business Development Podcast! 🫶

The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by Hypervac Technologies, Hyperfab, Thunder Bay Hydraulics Inc, and Atlas Elite Lifts. 🎸⭐

🔹 Hypervac Technologies: North America’s leader in vacuum truck manufacturing, building high performance hydrovac and industrial vacuum trucks designed for the toughest field conditions. www.hypervac.com

🔹 Hyperfab: The custom fabrication division of Hypervac, delivering engineered solutions and specialized builds tailored to demanding industrial applications. www.hyperfab.ca

🔹 Thunder Bay Hydraulics Inc: A trusted provider of hydraulic cylinder repair and manufacturing, supporting industries like mining, forestry, and construction with reliable, high quality service. www.thunderbayhydraulics.com

🔹 Atlas Elite Lifts: A premium supplier of automotive lift systems, focused on performance, safety, and long term reliability for shops and garages. www.atlaselitelifts.com

Join The Catalyst Club Community

If you are serious about growth, leadership, and surrounding yourself with high level thinkers, The Catalyst Club is where you need to be.

Join us here: www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Mentioned in this episode:

Hypervac - Revolution Vacuums

Episode 339 of The Business Development Podcast breaks down The Ten Follow Up Rule, Kelly Kennedy’s personal standard for building real pipeline through consistent, disciplined business development. Kelly shares why most sales and BD professionals stop far too early, how fear of rejection and lack of structure kill opportunities, and why every qualified prospect deserves at least ten follow-ups before being disqualified.

Through real stories, including the time it took thirty follow-ups to book a major mining meeting, Kelly shows that success in business development is rarely about talent alone. It comes from weekly execution, CRM discipline, clear next steps, performance tracking, and the willingness to keep showing up long after most people quit.

Key Takeaways:

1. Most salespeople quit the follow-up process far too early to ever see real results.
2. Consistent weekly follow-up is one of the biggest separators between average and exceptional business development professionals.
3. Fear of rejection causes more lost opportunities than lack of skill.
4. Buyers are usually overwhelmed and distracted, not intentionally ignoring you.
5. A CRM is not just a contact database. It is your business development execution engine.
6. If there is no defined next step, there is no real opportunity.
7. Strong follow-up comes from clarity and structure, not confidence alone.
8. Emotional avoidance often disguises itself as “being busy” with lower-value work.
9. Tracking outreach, meetings, opportunities, and new contacts weekly creates accountability and long-term improvement.
10. The professionals who stay in the game through follow-up number ten consistently create more opportunities than the people who stop after one or two attempts.

Sponsor Mentions

A huge thank you to Colin Harms and Jamie Crozier for their steadfast support of The Business Development Podcast.

The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by Hypervac Technologies, Hyperfab, Thunder Bay Hydraulics Inc., and Atlas Elite Lifts.

Hypervac Technologies

North America’s leader in vacuum truck manufacturing, building high-performance hydrovac and industrial vacuum trucks for the toughest field conditions.

www.hypervac.com

Hyperfab

The custom fabrication division of Hypervac, delivering engineered solutions and specialized builds for demanding industrial applications.

www.hyperfab.ca

Thunder Bay Hydraulics Inc.

A trusted provider of hydraulic cylinder repair and manufacturing, supporting mining, forestry, construction, and industrial operations with reliable, high-quality service.

www.thunderbayhydraulics.com

Atlas Elite Lifts

A premium supplier of automotive lift systems focused on performance, safety, and long-term reliability for shops and garages.

www.atlaselitelifts.com

Join The Catalyst Club Community

If you are serious about growth, leadership, and surrounding yourself with high-level thinkers, The Catalyst Club is where you need to be.

Join us here: www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Statistics referenced in this episode were sourced from the following article by MarketsandMarkets:

“Why Sales Reps Stop Following Up and How to Fix It”

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/AI-sales/why-sales-reps-stop-following-up-how-to-fix-it

Mentioned in this episode:

Hypervac - Revolution Vacuums

In Episode 338 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy sits down with Charlotte Lloyd to break down one of the biggest misconceptions in modern business development: that content alone will bring you clients. With over 20 years in B2B sales and millions in closed revenue, Charlotte shares how LinkedIn is often misunderstood as a content platform when in reality, it’s a conversation platform. She explains why most entrepreneurs struggle to convert attention into revenue, and how the real opportunity lies in starting meaningful, intentional conversations with the people already engaging with your brand.

This episode dives deep into practical client acquisition strategies, including how to structure your LinkedIn profile for conversion, how to identify warm prospects, and how to use direct messaging without sounding salesy. Charlotte introduces her SPICE framework for building authentic, high-converting conversations and emphasizes the importance of prioritizing sales activity over perfectionism. If you’ve been posting consistently but not seeing results, this conversation will shift your perspective and give you a clear path to turning visibility into real business growth.

Connect with Charlotte Lloyd on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlottelloydsales/

If you’re ready to take action on what you heard in this episode, check out the Client Acquisition Club:

https://www.thecharlottelloyd.com/clientacquisitionclub

Key Takeaways:

1. Content builds awareness, but conversations are what actually turn attention into paying clients.
2. Most entrepreneurs don’t have a content problem, they have a lack of consistent, intentional outreach.
3. The people most likely to buy are already watching you, they’re just not engaging publicly.
4. Rejection is part of the game, and learning to handle it is a requirement for building a real business.
5. Your LinkedIn profile should clearly show who you help, how you help them, and the outcome they can expect.
6. You don’t need a website to start, you need clients first, because clients define your real business.
7. Generic, copy and paste messaging kills trust, while personalized conversations create real opportunities.
8. You only need a small number of high quality conversations each day to consistently win new business.
9. Most business owners ignore the warmest opportunities sitting in their existing network.
10. Sales is not about pressure, it’s about understanding the problem, guiding the conversation, and helping the right people move forward.

🎸 Sponsor Shoutouts: Thank you Colin Harms and Jamie Crozier for your steadfast support of The Business Development Podcast! 🫶

The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by Hypervac Technologies, Hyperfab, Thunder Bay Hydraulics Inc, and Atlas Elite Autolifts Inc. 🎸⭐

Hypervac Technologies: North America’s leader in vacuum truck manufacturing.

www.hypervac.com

Hyperfab: The custom fabrication division of Hypervac.

www.hyperfab.ca

Thunder Bay Hydraulics Inc: Hydraulic cylinder repair and manufacturing for mining, forestry, and construction.

www.thunderbayhydraulics.com

Atlas Elite Autolifts Inc.: Premium automotive lift systems for shops and garages.

www.atlaselitelifts.com

Join The Catalyst Club Community:

www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Mentioned in this episode:

Hypervac - Revolution Vacuums

Episode 337 of The Business Development Podcast features a powerful and timely conversation with Brianna Solberg of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, diving deep into what is now being called Canada’s “Entrepreneurial Drought.” Backed by real data, the episode uncovers a troubling reality: more businesses are closing than opening in Canada for six consecutive quarters, marking the worst startup activity outside of the pandemic. Together, Kelly and Brianna break down the mounting pressures facing small and medium-sized businesses, including rising costs, labor shortages, declining consumer demand, and a growing sense that entrepreneurship in Canada is becoming increasingly unsustainable.

But this conversation goes far beyond economics. Kelly and Brianna explore the deeper, long-term implications of this trend, highlighting how the decline of small business threatens the very fabric of Canadian communities. From lost local jobs and reduced economic circulation to the erosion of vibrant main streets and community identity, the impact is far-reaching. The episode also outlines potential solutions, including reducing the cost of doing business, cutting regulatory red tape, and addressing labor market challenges, while calling for greater awareness, advocacy, and action from both business owners and policymakers.

Key Takeaways:

1. Canada is facing an entrepreneurial drought, with more businesses closing than opening for six consecutive quarters.
2. Small and medium-sized businesses are not a side issue in Canada. They make up 99% of all businesses and employ around 60% of private sector workers.
3. When small businesses struggle, communities struggle with them.
4. The decline of entrepreneurship is not just an economic problem. It affects jobs, local identity, opportunity, and community vibrancy.
5. Many business owners are working harder than ever just to survive, not thrive.
6. Rising costs, payroll burdens, taxes, insurance, rent, and utilities are making it harder for businesses to grow.
7. Labour shortages remain a major barrier, especially for small businesses that cannot easily absorb hiring challenges.
8. Red tape takes time, money, and energy away from actually running and growing a business.
9. Internal trade barriers are holding Canada back from becoming a true national economic union.
10. Business owners need to speak up, get involved, and add their voices to organizations advocating for real change.

Connect with Brianna on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianna-solberg/

If you are a business owner in Canada, your voice matters now more than ever.

The CFIB represents over 100,000 small and medium-sized businesses across the country, advocating for better policy, lower costs, and a stronger future for entrepreneurs.

Join here:

https://www.cfib-fcei.ca/en/membership-benefits

🎸 Sponsor Shoutouts: Thank you Colin Harms and Jamie Crozier for your steadfast support of The Business Development Podcast! 🫶

The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by Hypervac Technologies, Hyperfab, Thunder Bay Hydraulics Inc, and Atlas Elite Lifts. 🎸⭐

🔹 Hypervac Technologies: North America’s leader in vacuum truck manufacturing, building high performance hydrovac and industrial vacuum trucks designed for the toughest field conditions.

www.hypervac.com

🔹 Hyperfab: The custom fabrication division of Hypervac, delivering engineered solutions and specialized builds tailored to demanding industrial applications.

www.hyperfab.ca

🔹 Thunder Bay Hydraulics Inc: A trusted provider of hydraulic cylinder repair and manufacturing, supporting industries like mining, forestry, and construction with reliable, high quality service.

www.thunderbayhydraulics.com

🔹 Atlas Elite Lifts: A premium supplier of automotive lift systems, focused on performance, safety, and long term reliability for shops and garages.

www.atlaselitelifts.com

If you are serious about growth, leadership, and surrounding yourself with high level thinkers, The Catalyst Club is where you need to be.

Join us here:

www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Mentioned in this episode:

Hypervac - Revolution Vacuums

In episode 336 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly sits down with Andrew Z. Brown, a leading authority in B2B referral marketing, strategic alliances, and sales acceleration, to unpack a powerful truth most businesses overlook. Your biggest deals are not coming from cold outreach, ads, or chasing leads. They are coming from referrals. Andrew explains how a well timed and well informed referral can move a prospect from the top of the funnel to the bottom, often eliminating competitors entirely from the conversation.

Together, they break down why most companies treat referrals like luck instead of building a system around them, and how that mindset is costing them their most valuable opportunities. From the dangers of the “hope and dream” approach to the structure of a managed referral program, this episode shows how to turn referrals into a predictable, intentional, and scalable growth strategy that drives real results.

Key Takeaways:

1. Your biggest deals often come from referrals, but most businesses leave them completely unmanaged.
2. Referrals are not luck. They can be built into a predictable, intentional revenue system.
3. A strong referral can move a prospect from the top of the funnel to the bottom faster than almost any other strategy.
4. Hope is not a referral strategy. Waiting for people to send business is not the same as managing referrals.
5. A referral source needs three things to be effective: skill, opportunity, and willingness.
6. Your current customers are not always your best referral sources. Professional colleagues, former clients, suppliers, and strategic partners may be stronger.
7. Referral sources are putting their reputation on the line, so they need to trust you deeply before referring you.
8. The “half-assed” referral approach can damage relationships when people are used without context, support, or respect.
9. Fewer high-quality referral sources can outperform a large, unfocused channel program.
10. Managed referrals work best when you support your referral sources, make them feel valued, and help them succeed.

Connect with Andrew Z. Brown:

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

Email: andrewb@getreferred.biz

Andrew has also generously offered 10 free copies of his book, Get Referred, to listeners of The Business Development Podcast. Just DM Kelly Kennedy on LinkedIn and he will pass your name and address along to Andrew.

Free resource:

Andrew also offered access to his Get Referral Ready webinar, designed to help you understand whether your business is ready to build a managed referral program.

Watch it here: https://www.getreferred.biz/get-referral-ready-registration

Get the book:

If this episode opened your eyes to the power of referrals, Andrew’s book Get Referred is the next step. It breaks down how to turn referrals from random opportunities into a structured, intentional, and predictable business development system.

Get the book here: https://www.getreferred.biz/get-referred-the-book

🎸 Sponsor Shoutouts: Thank You Colin Harms & Jamie Crozier for your steadfast support of The Business Development Podcast! 🫶

The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by Hypervac Technologies, Hyperfab, Thunder Bay Hydraulics Inc, and Atlas Elite Lifts. 🎸⭐

🔹 Hypervac Technologies: North America’s leader in vacuum truck manufacturing, building high performance hydrovac and industrial vacuum trucks designed for the toughest field conditions. www.hypervac.com

🔹 Hyperfab: The custom fabrication division of Hypervac, delivering engineered solutions and specialized builds tailored to demanding industrial applications. www.hyperfab.ca

🔹 Thunder Bay Hydraulics Inc: A trusted provider of hydraulic cylinder repair and manufacturing, supporting industries like mining, forestry, and construction with reliable, high quality service. www.thunderbayhydraulics.com

🔹 Atlas Elite Lifts: A premium supplier of automotive lift systems, focused on performance, safety, and long term reliability for shops and garages. www.atlaselitelifts.com

Join The Catalyst Club Community

If you are serious about growth, leadership, and surrounding yourself with high level thinkers, The Catalyst Club is where you need to be.

Join us here: www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Mentioned in this episode:

Hypervac - Revolution Vacuums

Episode 335 of The Business Development Podcast features Rochelle Carrington, a former seven-figure sales leader who now helps high performers break through the invisible barriers holding them back. In this conversation, Rochelle introduces the concept of “performance drag,” the accumulated emotional pressure in the nervous system that quietly slows decision-making, clouds clarity, and makes growth feel harder than it should. She challenges the traditional belief that success starts with mindset, revealing instead that emotions drive thought, not the other way around, and that many high performers are stuck not because they lack skill or strategy, but because their internal systems are working against them.

Together, we unpack why burnout is often misdiagnosed, why pushing harder eventually stops working, and how unresolved emotional patterns can limit execution, revenue, and momentum over time. Rochelle shares how her Emotional Blueprinting methodology helps entrepreneurs, CEOs, and leaders remove these hidden constraints without reliving past experiences, allowing them to regain clarity, energy, and performance quickly. This episode is a powerful reframe for anyone who feels like they’re doing everything right but not moving the way they should, and offers a new path forward rooted in alignment, awareness, and emotional mastery.

📩 Get in touch with Rochelle Carrington

Learn more about Emotional Blueprinting and her work here:

👉 https://www.emotionalbp.com/

🧠 Find out how much performance drag you’re carrying

Take the 1-minute scorecard:

👉 https://form.typeform.com/to/wCNWE0TN?typeform-source=www.emotionalbp.com

Key Takeaways:

1. Emotions drive results before thoughts ever do, so trying to “think your way” to success without emotional alignment will always hit a ceiling.
2. High performers don’t usually lack skill or strategy, they carry hidden pressure that slows execution and creates what Rochelle calls performance drag.
3. Burnout is often a misdiagnosis, the real issue is accumulated stress in the nervous system that never got resolved.
4. You can know exactly what to do and still not do it because your nervous system is perceiving threat and holding you back.
5. The nervous system only cares about safety, not success, so if growth feels like a threat, you will unconsciously avoid it.
6. Emotional patterns are built over years and run automatically, which is why success can suddenly feel harder even when you’re more capable than ever.
7. Awareness and mindset work alone are not enough, you cannot use a logical tool to fix an emotional problem.
8. Momentum doesn’t require constant force, but many high performers create pressure by believing they must always be “on” to keep things moving.
9. Unresolved emotional experiences stack up like open files, and until they are cleared, they continue to drain focus, energy, and performance.
10. You don’t have to relive past experiences to move forward, when emotional patterns are properly resolved, clarity, energy, and execution return quickly.

The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by Hypervac Technologies, Hyperfab, Thunder Bay Hydraulics Inc, and Atlas Elite Lifts. 🎸⭐

Hypervac Technologies is North America’s leader in vacuum truck manufacturing, engineering high performance hydrovac and industrial vacuum trucks built to handle the toughest demands in the field. If you work in construction, utilities, or industrial services, check them out at https://hypervac.com

Hyperfab, the fabrication division of Hypervac, delivers custom-built solutions engineered to handle the toughest demands in the field. Learn more at https://hyperfab.ca

Thunder Bay Hydraulics Inc has been a trusted name in hydraulic cylinder repair and manufacturing for decades, supporting industries like mining, forestry, and construction. Visit www.thunderbayhydraulics.com

Atlas Elite Lifts delivers premium automotive lift solutions built for performance, safety, and reliability. Learn more at www.atlaselitelifts.com

Join The Catalyst Club: www.kellykennedyofficial.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Hypervac - Revolution Vacuums

Episode 334 with Ally Stone is a powerful journey through leadership, resilience, and what it truly means to put people first when everything is on the line. From building and scaling a multi-million-dollar restaurant group to leading through one of the most emotionally intense moments in business during COVID, Ally shares how real leadership shows up in action, not words. Her decision to feed hundreds of employees when the business shut down, instead of protecting margins, is a defining moment that reflects the culture she built and the values she stands for.

But this episode goes far deeper than business. Ally opens up about the life-altering moment in Tokyo that changed everything for her and her husband, leading to a complete shift in identity, priorities, and purpose. What follows is a raw and honest conversation about burnout, pressure, and rebuilding from the ground up, not just as a leader, but as a human being. This is an episode about becoming, about learning to lead yourself before you lead others, and about finding strength in the moments that break you.

Connect with Ally Stone

🌐 theinspiredleader.com

Key Takeaways:

1. Leadership is revealed in crisis, not comfort, and the decisions you make under pressure define your legacy.
2. People-first cultures are not a strategy, they are a commitment that shows up when it’s hardest to follow through.
3. Your team is the true engine of your business, not your product, pricing, or location.
4. Success in business is built on human connection, and when you invest in people, they invest back in you.
5. Burnout does not happen overnight, it builds quietly through ignored signals until your body forces you to stop.
6. You cannot lead others effectively if you are running on empty, self-leadership comes first.
7. Life can change instantly, and resilience is built through how you respond, not what happens to you.
8. Letting go of control and identity tied to your role can open the door to a more meaningful purpose.
9. Authentic leadership requires vulnerability, even when it feels uncomfortable or unfamiliar.
10. Growth is not about doing more, it is about becoming more, both as a leader and as a person.

🎸 Sponsor Shoutouts:

A huge thank you to Colin Harms and Jamie Crozier for your continued support of The Business Development Podcast. Your partnership helps make these conversations possible. 🫶

The Business Development Podcast is proudly sponsored by Hypervac Technologies, Hyperfab, Thunder Bay Hydraulics Inc., and Atlas Elite Lifts. 🎸⭐

Hypervac Technologies is North America’s leader in hydrovac excavation, delivering safe, non-destructive solutions for critical infrastructure and utility work.

🌐 www.hypervac.com

Hyperfab, the fabrication division of Hypervac, builds custom industrial solutions designed to perform in the toughest field conditions.

🌐 www.hyperfab.ca

Thunder Bay Hydraulics Inc. is a trusted leader in hydraulic cylinder repair, manufacturing, and system support for industries like mining, construction, and forestry.

🌐 www.thunderbayhydraulics.com

Atlas Elite Lifts provides premium automotive lift solutions built for safety, performance, and long-term reliability.

🌐 www.atlaselitelifts.com

Join The Catalyst Club Community: www.kellykennedyofficial.com

If you are serious about growth, leadership, and surrounding yourself with people who are actually moving the needle, The Catalyst Club is where that continues. Weekly live sessions, real conversations, and a community built to help you grow.

Mentioned in this episode:

Hyperfab Midroll

Some moments in life don’t make sense… but they stay with you forever. In Episode 333 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy sits down with Mike Schoenberger, CEO of Sunco Communications, for a conversation that goes far beyond business strategy. Together, they explore two deeply personal experiences they’ve never fully been able to explain, moments where they both knew something had happened before they were ever told. What unfolds is a powerful discussion on human connection, intuition, and the unseen forces that shape how we lead, think, and show up in the world.

This episode also dives into Mike’s journey building a $20M company rooted in people, culture, and authenticity, and why the leaders who win today are the ones willing to be vulnerable, present, and real. From leading with love versus fear to embracing the uncomfortable moments that drive growth, this is a conversation that challenges traditional thinking and reminds us that business is built on something much deeper than strategy alone.

Key Takeaways:

1. The leaders who win are the ones who are willing to be real, vulnerable, and fully seen by their teams.
2. Human connection is the foundation of business, not strategy, systems, or processes.
3. The most powerful growth often comes from moments you cannot explain but choose to learn from.
4. Leading from love creates trust and performance, while leading from fear creates tension and limitation.
5. Failure is not the opposite of success, quitting is, and every setback is an opportunity to grow.
6. Initiative is everything, don’t wait to be told what to do, just start and adjust as you go.
7. The strongest cultures are built when people feel safe to be vulnerable and make mistakes.
8. Real leadership requires slowing down, becoming aware, and making intentional decisions instead of reacting.
9. The more connected you are to yourself, the more effectively you can connect with others.
10. Success is not just built on what you know, but on how you show up for people every single day.

🔗 Connect with Mike Schoenberger

🌐 Website: https://mikeschoenberger.com/

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-schoenberger/

🎸 Sponsor Shoutouts

The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by Hypervac Technologies, Hyperfab, Thunder Bay Hydraulics Inc, and Atlas Elite Lifts. 🎸⭐

Hypervac Technologies is North America’s leader in hydrovac excavation, delivering safe, non-destructive solutions for critical infrastructure projects. If you work in construction, utilities, or industrial services, check them out at www.hypervac.com

Hyperfab, the fabrication division of Hypervac, delivers custom-built solutions engineered to handle the toughest demands in the field. Learn more at www.hyperfab.ca

Thunder Bay Hydraulics Inc has been a trusted name in hydraulic cylinder repair and manufacturing for over 55 years, supporting industries like mining, forestry, and construction across North America. Visit www.thunderbayhydraulics.com

Atlas Elite Lifts delivers premium automotive lift solutions built for performance, safety, and reliability. If you are looking to upgrade your shop, check them out at www.atlaselitelifts.com

If you enjoy the show, please take a moment to support these incredible companies who make conversations like this possible. 🎸⭐

Join The Catalyst Club Community

If you are serious about growth, leadership, and surrounding yourself with high level thinkers, The Catalyst Club is where you need to be.

This is a private community for entrepreneurs, business leaders, and professionals committed to moving the needle every single week.

Join us here: 🌐 www.kellykennedyofficial.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Hyperfab Midroll

In Episode 332 of The Business Development Podcast, Jeroen Kraaijenbrink challenges one of the most common misconceptions in business today: that strategy belongs to leadership. With over 20 years of experience across academia and consulting, Jeroen breaks down why traditional, top-down strategy approaches consistently fail and what it really takes to build strategies that stick. His human-centered approach reframes strategy as a shared capability, not a static plan, and introduces the idea that everyone in an organization should be thinking and acting strategically.

This conversation dives into the shift from strategy as a one-time exercise to strategy as a daily practice. Jeroen explains how organizations can build strategic competence across teams, why adaptability is the most critical skill in today’s environment, and how leaders can move from control to empowerment to drive real execution. If you’ve ever built a plan that didn’t translate into results, this episode will challenge your thinking and give you a new way to approach strategy that actually works.

Key Takeaways:

1. Strategy should not belong only to leadership. It needs to become a capability built across the entire organization.
2. Strategy works best as a daily practice, not a once-a-year planning exercise. Real execution happens when it becomes part of normal operations.
3. Strategic thinking is not enough on its own. People also need the ability to act, align others, and execute.
4. Most strategy failures happen because the human side gets ignored. If people do not believe in it, they will not carry it forward.
5. Adaptability is one of the most valuable strategic skills a person can build. The people who adapt best tend to have stronger long-term success.
6. A plan still matters, even if it changes. It gives you direction and helps you recognize the right opportunities when they show up.
7. Tools do not make strategy work on their own. Frameworks only help when the people and processes behind them are strong.
8. Everyone in a company should spend some time thinking strategically. That habit cannot sit only with executives.
9. Big strategic change can start small. A single team or department can prove a better way before the whole company adopts it.
10. The best strategy leaders stay open-minded. They listen, learn, and stay willing to challenge their own assumptions.

🔗 Connect with Jeroen Kraaijenbrink

🌐 Strategy Inc: https://www.strategy.inc

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeroenkraaijenbrink/

📘 The One-Hour Strategy

Jeroen’s latest book, The One-Hour Strategy, flips the script on traditional planning and shows how to make strategy a daily habit across your entire organization.

Get your copy here: https://www.jeroenkraaijenbrink.com/One-Hour-Strategy

🎸 Sponsor Shoutouts

The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by Hypervac Technologies, Hyperfab, Thunder Bay Hydraulics, and Atlas Elite Lifts. 🎸⭐

Hypervac Technologies is North America’s leader in hydrovac excavation, delivering safe, non-destructive solutions for critical infrastructure projects. If you work in construction, utilities, or industrial services, learn more at www.hypervac.com

Hyperfab, the fabrication division of Hypervac, delivers custom-built solutions engineered to handle the toughest demands in the field. Learn more at www.hyperfab.ca

Thunder Bay Hydraulics has been a trusted name in hydraulic cylinder repair and manufacturing for over 55 years, supporting industries like mining, forestry, and construction across North America. Visit www.thunderbayhydraulics.com

Atlas Elite Lifts delivers premium automotive lift solutions built for performance, safety, and reliability. If you are looking to upgrade your shop, check them out at www.atlaselitelifts.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Hyperfab Midroll

In this episode of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy breaks down the real difference between people who build something meaningful and those who never get started. Drawing from the rapid launch of his new show and years of entrepreneurial experience, he challenges the idea of failure, reframing it as iteration, evolution, and intentional pivots. This is a powerful reminder that success is not about perfection, it is about momentum, action, and staying in the game long enough to win.

Kelly dives into the 10 most common pitfalls that stop new ideas in their tracks, from overthinking and imposter syndrome to slow execution and poor resource allocation. He emphasizes moving fast, taking imperfect action, and building relentless momentum while others hesitate. If you are sitting on an idea, questioning your next move, or struggling to gain traction, this episode will give you the clarity and push you need to take that first step and keep moving forward.

Key Takeaways:

1. Ideas without action die quickly, and the people who win are the ones who move first while others are still thinking.
2. Momentum is one of the most powerful forces in business, and small consistent actions will always outperform waiting for the perfect move.
3. Failure is not the end, it is either a lesson or a pivot that creates space for something better.
4. Nobody sees your vision the way you do, so you cannot rely on others to validate what you already feel is right.
5. Good enough executed today will always beat perfect that never gets launched.
6. Imposter syndrome disappears when you keep showing up and proving to yourself that you belong.
7. The biggest risk is not starting, because hesitation kills more opportunities than failure ever will.
8. Everything meaningful will take longer and cost more than expected, so staying in the game is the real advantage.
9. Revenue and profitability must come early, because businesses cannot survive on effort alone.
10. If you stick with anything long enough, keep evolving, and continue moving forward, success becomes inevitable.

The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by Hypervac Technologies, Hyperfab, Thunder Bay Hydraulics, and Atlas Elite Lifts. 🎸⭐

Hypervac Technologies is North America’s leader in hydrovac excavation, delivering safe, non-destructive solutions for critical infrastructure projects. If you work in construction, utilities, or industrial services, check them out at www.hypervac.com

Hyperfab, the fabrication division of Hypervac, delivers custom-built solutions engineered to handle the toughest demands in the field. Learn more at www.hyperfab.ca

Thunder Bay Hydraulics has been a trusted name in hydraulic cylinder repair and manufacturing for over 55 years, supporting industries like mining, forestry, and construction across North America. Visit www.thunderbayhydraulics.com

Atlas Elite Lifts delivers premium automotive lift solutions built for performance, safety, and reliability. If you are looking to upgrade your shop, check them out at www.atlaselitelifts.com

Join The Catalyst Club

If you are serious about growth, leadership, and surrounding yourself with high-level thinkers, The Catalyst Club is where you need to be.

This is a private community for entrepreneurs, business leaders, and professionals committed to moving the needle every single week.

Join us here:

🌐 www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Mentioned in this episode:

Hyperfab Midroll

In Episode 330 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy sits down with Jordan Labelle, entrepreneur, strategist, and founder of Evergreen Growth Collective, to break down what actually drives long-term success in business. Jordan shares his journey through corporate, startup, and solopreneur life, revealing how each step wasn’t failure, but refinement. Together, they challenge the traditional “hustle harder” mindset and unpack why most founders burn out trying to do everything instead of focusing on what truly matters.

This conversation dives deep into redefining failure, building a business around your strengths, and the importance of staying in the game long enough to reach clarity. Jordan explains why growth doesn’t come from doing more, but from doing the right things with the right people, and how the breakthrough most entrepreneurs are searching for only comes through iteration, awareness, and persistence. If you’ve ever questioned your path, your business model, or whether it’s all going to work, this episode will bring clarity, reassurance, and a powerful reminder to keep going.

Follow Jordan Labelle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-labelle/

Check out Evergreen Growth Collective: https://www.evergreengrowthcollective.com/

Email Jordan Labelle: jordan@evergreengrowthcollective.com

Key Takeaways:

1. Failure isn’t missing the result, it’s failing to learn and repeating the same mistakes.
2. Every step in your journey is refinement, not failure, if you’re paying attention and adjusting.
3. Most entrepreneurs burn out because they try to do everything instead of focusing on what actually matters.
4. The breakthrough you’re looking for doesn’t come from planning, it comes from staying in the game long enough to find it.
5. You should build your business around what you’re best at and what you enjoy, not what you think you “should” be doing.
6. The things you’re best at are often invisible to you but obvious to everyone else, so ask for outside perspective.
7. Growth isn’t always about scaling bigger, sometimes it’s about staying intentionally small and building smarter.
8. Hiring should be based on trust, proactiveness, and willingness to learn, not just current skill level.
9. You don’t need to solve every problem yourself, leveraging partners and specialists can create better outcomes with less effort.
10. The people who succeed aren’t the smartest, they’re the ones who keep refining and don’t quit when things get hard.

The Business Development Podcast is Proudly supported by Hypervac Technologies, Hyperfab, Thunder Bay Hydraulics, and Atlas Elite Lifts. 🎸⭐

Hypervac Technologies is North America’s leader in hydrovac excavation, delivering safe, non-destructive solutions for critical infrastructure projects. If you’re in construction, utilities, or industrial services, check them out at www.hypervac.com

Hyperfab, the fabrication division of Hypervac, provides custom-built solutions designed to meet the toughest demands in the field. Learn more at www.hyperfab.ca

Thunder Bay Hydraulics has been a trusted name in hydraulic cylinder repair and manufacturing for over 55 years, supporting industries like mining, forestry, and construction across North America. Visit www.thunderbayhydraulics.com

Atlas Elite Lifts delivers premium automotive lift solutions built for performance, safety, and reliability. If you’re looking to upgrade your shop, check them out at www.atlaselitelifts.com

Join The Catalyst Club

If you’re serious about growth, leadership, and surrounding yourself with high-level thinkers, The Catalyst Club is where you need to be.

This is a private community for entrepreneurs, business leaders, and professionals who are committed to moving the needle every single week.

Join us here:

🌐 www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Mentioned in this episode:

Hyperfab Midroll

In Episode 329 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy sits down with Nausheen I. Chen, 3x TEDx speaker and Fortune 500 communication coach, to unpack why so many capable leaders struggle when it’s time to speak. From the fight, flight, or freeze response to the pressure of being seen and judged, Nausheen explains what’s really happening in your brain when you feel nervous, lose your words, or freeze under pressure. This episode breaks down the psychology behind communication and why even highly successful professionals can sound flat, robotic, or disconnected when it matters most.

More importantly, Nausheen reveals the shift that changes everything. Public speaking isn’t about confidence, it’s about focus. When you stop trying to perform and start focusing on delivering value, the pressure disappears and your ability to connect skyrockets. If you want to communicate with more clarity, presence, and authority in meetings, presentations, or content, this episode gives you the mindset and tools to finally take control.

Connect with Nausheen I. Chen and learn more about her work:

Website: https://www.speaking.coach

Speak as a Leader Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/5QTpeh8l5ow8y72rtr8np2

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nausheenichen

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nausheen.speaking.coach/

Email: nausheen@speaking.coach

Key Takeaways:

1. You don’t freeze because you lack confidence, you freeze because your brain thinks you’re under threat.
2. Public speaking fear is a primal response, not a personal weakness, and it can be trained.
3. The biggest shift in communication is moving from performing to delivering value.
4. When you focus on the audience instead of yourself, pressure drops and clarity rises.
5. Confidence is not something you’re born with, it’s built through repetition, self-talk, and preparation.
6. Your voice, energy, and body language are the three levers that determine how your message lands.
7. Most people fail in communication because they focus too much on what to say and not how it’s delivered.
8. Memorizing scripts creates pressure and increases the chance of freezing, speaking naturally creates connection.
9. Exposure and repetition reduce fear, but only if you review and learn from each performance.
10. The goal isn’t to impress people, it’s to make their time feel valuable, and everything changes when you do.

Sponsor Shoutouts

This episode of The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by Hypervac Technologies, a leader in hydro excavation equipment helping contractors excavate safer, faster, and more efficiently across North America.

Alongside Hypervac, Hyperfab delivers custom-built fabrication solutions designed for durability, performance, and real-world industrial application.

🌐 https://www.hypervac.com

🌐 https://www.hyperfab.ca

This episode is also proudly supported by Thunder Bay Hydraulics Inc., specializing in hydraulic manufacturing, repair, and systems integration across Canada.

Alongside them, Atlas Elite Lifts delivers high-end lift solutions for luxury homes, condos, dealerships, and elite garage spaces, with systems that are truly Bat Cave Ready.

🌐 https://www.thunderbayhydraulics.com

🌐 https://www.atlaselitelifts.com

If you enjoy the show, please take a moment to support these incredible companies who make conversations like this possible. 🎸⭐

Join The Catalyst Club

If you enjoy conversations like this and want to connect with entrepreneurs, leaders, and business builders focused on real growth, join us inside The Catalyst Club.

🌐 https://www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Mentioned in this episode:

Hyperfab Midroll

In Episode 328 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy sits down with sales strategist Trystan Keller to break down why so many businesses are struggling to convert effort into real revenue. Trystan shares his journey from early challenges to building high-performing sales teams, and delivers a direct, no-nonsense perspective on the disconnect between marketing, sales, and business development. At the core of the conversation is a powerful truth: most companies are trying to scale before they’ve truly understood their customer or validated what actually drives buying decisions.

Together, they explore how to uncover the real emotional drivers behind a purchase, why asking better questions is the foundation of effective sales, and why “marketing is just word of mouth amplified.” The episode also highlights Trystan’s work with Messed Up Mondays, an Edmonton-based initiative built around honest conversations about failure and growth. This conversation is a clear reminder that before investing in marketing or chasing scale, businesses must first earn trust, understand their audience deeply, and build real human connections that lead to long-term success.

To connect with Trystan Keller and learn more about his work, including his Edmonton-based event series Messed Up Mondays, visit:

🌐 https://messedupmondays.com/

Messed Up Mondays is a growing community where entrepreneurs come together to share real business mistakes, lessons learned, and the realities of building something meaningful.

Key Takeaways:

1. Marketing only works when it amplifies something real. If nobody is already talking about your business, marketing has very little to build on.
2. Sales and marketing are not the same job. Marketing gets attention, while sales turns that attention into action and revenue.
3. Most businesses try to scale too early. They push ads and content before they truly understand their customer or why people buy.
4. The first step to selling better is talking to more people. Real conversations reveal what customers actually care about far faster than guessing.
5. Customers do not buy products for surface-level reasons. They buy because of deeper emotional drivers tied to identity, confidence, security, and meaning.
6. Better questions lead to better sales. If you can ask questions that help people understand themselves more clearly, you can uncover what really moves them to act.
7. Word of mouth has to be earned. You earn it by delivering value, getting results, and creating experiences people actually want to talk about.
8. Validation should come before big marketing spend. Get people in a room, test the offer, gather feedback, and use that proof before trying to scale it.
9. Business development, marketing, and sales each play different roles. Confusing them causes companies to miss the critical steps between awareness and conversion.
10. Authenticity is becoming more valuable, not less. As AI-generated content increases, real human connection, direct communication, and honest insight will stand out even more.

Sponsor Highlights

This episode of The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by our 2026 Title Sponsor, Hypervac Technologies. Hypervac designs and manufactures industry-leading hydro excavation equipment used across North America to help contractors excavate safer, faster, and more efficiently.

Alongside Hypervac Technologies, Hyperfab delivers custom-built fabrication solutions designed for performance, durability, and real-world industrial application.

🌐 www.hypervac.com

🌐 www.hyperfab.ca

This episode is also proudly supported by our 2026 Roadblock Sponsor, Thunder Bay Hydraulics Inc. Thunder Bay Hydraulics specializes in hydraulic manufacturing, repair, and systems integration supporting industries across Canada.

Alongside Thunder Bay Hydraulics, Atlas Elite Lifts delivers premium automotive lift solutions for high-end homes, luxury condos, dealerships, and elite garage spaces, with lift systems so cool they are Bat Cave Ready.

🌐 www.thunderbayhydraulics.com

🌐 www.atlaselitelifts.com

If you enjoy the show, please take a moment to give these leaders and their companies some love for supporting the podcast and helping us continue bringing powerful conversations like this to the business community. 🎸⭐

Join The Catalyst Club Community

If you enjoy conversations like this and want to connect with other entrepreneurs, leaders, and business builders who are focused on real growth, I invite you to join us inside The Catalyst Club Community.

🌐 www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Mentioned in this episode:

Hyperfab Midroll

Episode 327 of The Business Development Podcast features Joel Zeff, a nationally recognized speaker, humorist, and work culture expert who has spent more than 25 years helping organizations build stronger teams and better leaders. In this conversation, Joel shares how losing his job became one of the most defining moments of his life when he walked out with a harmonica he did not even know how to play and used that moment to choose energy, humor, and resilience over defeat. That story becomes the gateway into a much bigger conversation about leadership, mindset, and why fun is not something extra at work, it is often the very thing that helps people stay engaged, adaptable, and ready to perform at a higher level.

Throughout the episode, Joel breaks down why celebrating small wins matters more than most leaders realize, how positive support creates momentum, and why staying in the game is one of the most important choices any professional can make. We also explore public speaking, confidence, workplace culture, embracing change, and how leaders can create environments where people feel energized instead of drained.

Learn more about Joel Zeff:

https://www.joelzeff.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelzeff/

Get Joel’s book, Make the Right Choice:

https://www.amazon.ca/Make-Right-Choice-Passion-Elevate/dp/1394278950

Business Development Podcast listeners can also access Joel’s special offer, a free chapter on change, directly through his website.

Just Mention the Show.

Key Takeaways:

1. Fun is not a distraction, it is a competitive advantage that drives energy, engagement, and performance.
2. Celebrating small wins consistently builds momentum and fuels long-term success more than waiting for big milestones.
3. Staying in the game is the most important decision you can make, because quitting guarantees failure while persistence keeps opportunity alive.
4. Confidence does not come from perfect outcomes, it comes from choosing how you show up in difficult moments.
5. Leaders create culture by giving people ownership and supporting them, not by demanding passion without building the foundation for it.
6. Positive support multiplies performance, when people feel encouraged they take more risks, produce more, and grow faster.
7. Most people do not fear public speaking, they fear making mistakes, and learning to embrace imperfection unlocks confidence.
8. Fun looks different for everyone, the key is identifying what energizes you and leaning into it consistently.
9. Your response to setbacks defines your trajectory more than the setback itself, mindset is the difference between collapse and growth.
10. The best leaders bring humanity into their work by creating environments where people feel safe, valued, and motivated to contribute.

Sponsor Highlights

This episode of The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by our 2026 Title Sponsor, Hypervac Technologies. Hypervac designs and manufactures industry-leading hydro excavation equipment used across North America to help contractors excavate safer, faster, and more efficiently.

Alongside Hypervac Technologies, Hyperfab delivers custom-built fabrication solutions designed for performance, durability, and real-world industrial application.

🌐 www.hypervac.com

🌐 www.hyperfab.ca

This episode is also proudly supported by our 2026 Roadblock Sponsor, Thunder Bay Hydraulics Inc. Thunder Bay Hydraulics specializes in hydraulic manufacturing, repair, and systems integration supporting industries across Canada.

Alongside Thunder Bay Hydraulics, Atlas Elite Lifts delivers premium automotive lift solutions for high-end homes, luxury condos, dealerships, and elite garage spaces, with lift systems so cool they are Bat Cave Ready.

🌐 www.thunderbayhydraulics.com

🌐 www.atlaselitelifts.com

If you enjoy the show, please take a moment to give these leaders and their companies some love for supporting the podcast and helping us continue bringing powerful conversations like this to the business community. 🎸⭐

Join The Catalyst Club Community

If you enjoy conversations like this and want to connect with other entrepreneurs, leaders, and business builders who are focused on real growth, I invite you to join us inside The Catalyst Club Community.

🌐 www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Mentioned in this episode:

Hyperfab Midroll

Episode 326 of The Business Development Podcast features Chris Yeung, one of Edmonton’s most recognized business leaders, as he shares the defining moments that reshaped his life, career, and perspective on success. From building momentum in business development and entrepreneurship to facing the very real possibility of losing everything, Chris opens up about the pressure, the setbacks, and the moment he was forced to confront his ego and ask for help. What followed was not a quick fix, but a complete reset that changed how he approaches business, leadership, and life.

Now serving as Executive Director of Edmonton Destination Marketing Hotels, Chris has rebuilt with intention, combining creativity, strategy, and personal brand to create new opportunities and impact. In this episode, we explore the realities of entrepreneurship, the growing importance of personal branding, and how professionals can stand out in an increasingly competitive world. Chris shares practical insights on overcoming fear, showing up authentically, and turning hard lessons into forward momentum, leaving listeners with a clear takeaway: real growth happens when you are willing to evolve, connect, and ask for help when it matters most.

Key Takeaways:

1. Success can unravel quickly, and when it does, the real test is how you respond, not how you got there.
2. Waiting too long to ask for help can make a hard situation worse, while early conversations can open unexpected solutions.
3. Ego is often the biggest barrier to growth, especially when you are used to being the one who has it all figured out.
4. Financial pressure affects every part of your life, and protecting your stability is just as important as chasing opportunity.
5. Your personal brand is what differentiates you in a crowded market where everyone is technically competent.
6. You do not need a massive audience to win, you just need to connect with the right people consistently.
7. Creativity is a powerful advantage in business, especially when you can take ideas from concept to execution.
8. The best opportunities are often the ones you did not plan for but were open enough to pursue.
9. Speaking directly to one person, not an audience, is the key to becoming more natural and effective on video.
10. Real growth happens when you pause, reflect, and align your work with what genuinely drives and excites you.

Learn more about Chris Yeung:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-yh-yeung/

https://chrisyeung.co/

Learn more about Edmonton Destination Marketing Hotels:

https://edmh.ca/

Sponsor Highlights

This episode of The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by our 2026 Title Sponsor, Hypervac Technologies. Hypervac designs and manufactures industry-leading hydro excavation equipment used across North America to help contractors excavate safer, faster, and more efficiently.

Alongside Hypervac Technologies, Hyperfab delivers custom-built fabrication solutions designed for performance, durability, and real-world industrial application.

🌐 www.hypervac.com

🌐 www.hyperfab.ca

This episode is also proudly supported by our 2026 Roadblock Sponsor, Thunder Bay Hydraulics Inc. Thunder Bay Hydraulics specializes in hydraulic manufacturing, repair, and systems integration supporting industries across Canada.

Alongside Thunder Bay Hydraulics, Atlas Elite Lifts delivers premium automotive lift solutions for high-end homes, luxury condos, dealerships, and elite garage spaces, with lift systems so cool they are Bat Cave Ready.

🌐 www.thunderbayhydraulics.com

🌐 www.atlaselitelifts.com

If you enjoy the show, please take a moment to give these leaders and their companies some love for supporting the podcast and helping us continue bringing powerful conversations like this to the business community. 🎸⭐

Join The Catalyst Club Community

If you enjoy conversations like this and want to connect with other entrepreneurs, leaders, and business builders who are focused on real growth, I invite you to join us inside The Catalyst Club Community.

🌐 www.kellykennedyofficial.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Hyperfab Midroll

Episode 325 is a powerful conversation with Jodi Barrett that explores the gap between mental strength and physical capacity. As high performers, many of us pride ourselves on pushing through challenges, staying disciplined, and showing up no matter what. But as Jodi shares through her own experience, there comes a point where the body starts to push back. What looks like strength on the outside can hide fatigue, disconnection, and a system that is no longer able to support the pace of life we are trying to maintain.

This episode dives into what it really means to rebuild from that point. Jodi breaks down the role of nervous system regulation, sustainable strength, and reconnecting with your body in a way that supports long-term performance. It is not about doing more, it is about doing the right things consistently. For anyone who has been running on empty while trying to maintain a high level of output, this conversation offers a grounded and practical path back to energy, resilience, and true strength.

Get in touch with Jodi Barrett

🌐 https://kbstronger.com

📸 https://www.instagram.com/kbstronger/

💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodi-barrett-kbstronger/

✉️ jodi@kbstronger.com

Key Takeaways:

1. Mental toughness can mask physical burnout, but eventually your body forces the conversation you have been avoiding.
2. Strength is not just about how much you can push, it is about how well your body can support consistency over time.
3. Most people do not change until the discomfort becomes too big to ignore, but waiting that long comes at a cost.
4. Nervous system regulation is a foundation of performance, not a wellness add-on.
5. If everything feels heavy, it is often a signal that your system is overloaded, not that you need to push harder.
6. Sustainable progress comes from doing the right things consistently, not from extreme bursts of effort.
7. Rebuilding strength requires reconnecting with your body, not fighting against it.
8. High performance is limited by physical capacity, no matter how strong your mindset is.
9. Slowing down and simplifying your approach can actually accelerate long-term results.
10. True strength is the ability to show up fully in your life, not just grind through it.

Sponsor Highlights

This episode of The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by our 2026 Title Sponsor, Hypervac Technologies. Hypervac designs and manufactures industry-leading hydro excavation equipment used across North America to help contractors excavate safer, faster, and more efficiently.

Alongside Hypervac Technologies, Hyperfab delivers custom-built fabrication solutions designed for performance, durability, and real-world industrial application.

🌐 www.hypervac.com

🌐 www.hyperfab.ca

This episode is also proudly supported by our 2026 Roadblock Sponsor, Thunder Bay Hydraulics Inc. Thunder Bay Hydraulics specializes in hydraulic manufacturing, repair, and systems integration supporting industries across Canada.

Alongside Thunder Bay Hydraulics, Atlas Elite Lifts delivers premium automotive lift solutions for high-end homes, luxury condos, dealerships, and elite garage spaces, with lift systems so cool they are Bat Cave Ready.

🌐 www.thunderbayhydraulics.com

🌐 www.atlaselitelifts.com

Join The Catalyst Club

If you enjoy conversations like this and want to go deeper, I invite you to join us inside The Catalyst Club. This is a private community of entrepreneurs, leaders, and business builders focused on real growth, real conversations, and real connection.

Inside, we host live sessions, workshops, and open discussions designed to help you move forward with clarity and confidence alongside people who are doing the same.

🌐 www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Mentioned in this episode:

Hyperfab Midroll

In Episode 324 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy sits down with Kris Marks, CEO of VIV Mental Health, keynote speaker, and psychological health and safety advisor, for one of the most powerful conversations on the show to date. Kris shares his deeply personal journey from trauma, homelessness, and a suicide attempt to becoming a national voice for mental health leadership and psychological safety in workplaces and communities. His story is raw, honest, and deeply human, revealing how years of quiet healing and self-reflection ultimately led him to transform pain into purpose.

Throughout the episode, Kris and Kelly explore the growing importance of mental health in leadership, the cultural shift toward human-centered workplaces, and the reality that authenticity and psychological safety must be intentionally built within organizations. Kris also shares how he transitioned from a Red Seal machinist and musician into an entrepreneur and founder, building VIV Mental Health into a fast-growing organization focused on helping leaders support their people in meaningful ways.

Key Takeaways:

1. Your past does not define your future. Even the darkest experiences can become the foundation for a life of purpose and impact.
2. Healing is rarely instant. Kris spent years doing quiet, difficult internal work before he was ready to speak openly about his experiences and help others.
3. Authentic leadership starts with vulnerability. When leaders are willing to go first and model honesty, it creates the psychological safety others need to speak up.
4. Mental health is one of the defining leadership challenges of this decade. Organizations that ignore it will struggle to attract, retain, and support great people.
5. Psychological safety is not created by policy alone. It requires trust, consistent behavior from leaders, and environments where people feel safe being human.
6. People often carry invisible struggles. Many individuals who appear confident and successful are privately dealing with experiences others never see.
7. Your story has power. Sharing lived experiences, when done thoughtfully, can create connection, healing, and understanding for others facing similar struggles.
8. Career pivots are possible at any stage. Kris transitioned from the trades into entrepreneurship and mental health leadership by leaning into his experiences and strengths.
9. Leadership is about people first. The most effective leaders focus on empathy, communication, and understanding the human side of performance.
10. Trying matters more than perfection. Growth often begins with the simple willingness to take the first step, even when the path forward is uncertain.

Sponsor Highlights

This episode of The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by our 2026 Title Sponsor, Hypervac Technologies. Hypervac designs and manufactures industry-leading hydro excavation equipment used across North America to help contractors excavate safer, faster, and more efficiently. Alongside Hypervac, Hyperfab delivers custom-built fabrication solutions designed for performance, durability, and real-world industrial application.

🌐 www.hypervac.com

🌐 www.hyperfab.ca

This episode is also proudly supported by our 2026 Roadblock Sponsor, Thunder Bay Hydraulics. Thunder Bay Hydraulics specializes in hydraulic manufacturing, repair, and systems integration supporting industries across Canada. Alongside Thunder Bay Hydraulics, Atlas Elite Lifts delivers premium automotive lift solutions for high-end homes, luxury condos, dealerships, and elite garage spaces, with lift systems so cool they are Bat Cave Ready.

🌐 www.thunderbayhydraulics.com

🌐 www.atlaselitelifts.com

If you enjoy the show, please take a moment to give these incredible companies some love. Their support helps make powerful conversations like this possible and allows us to continue bringing valuable insights to the business community.

Join The Catalyst Club

If you enjoy conversations like this and want to connect with other entrepreneurs, leaders, and business builders who are focused on real growth, I invite you to join us inside The Catalyst Club.

The Catalyst Club is a private leadership community where we host live workshops, expert sessions, and real conversations about business development, leadership, entrepreneurship, and growth. It’s a room built for people who want to move forward, share ideas, and support one another along the journey of building great businesses and meaningful careers.

We are now 80+ members strong and growing, filled with entrepreneurs and leaders who are serious about improving their craft and helping others succeed along the way.

If that sounds like the kind of room you want to be in, come join us.

🌐 www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Mentioned in this episode:

Hyperfab Midroll

In Episode 323 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy welcomes back entrepreneur, brand strategist, and bestselling author Pia Silva to dive into the philosophy behind her newest book, Scale Solo. Pia shares the story of how building a traditional agency with employees nearly pushed her business into debt and forced her to rethink everything about growth. Instead of chasing the conventional path of hiring more people and increasing overhead, Pia developed a radically different model focused on scaling expertise, increasing value, and designing a lean, highly profitable business that prioritizes freedom and simplicity.

Throughout the conversation, Pia breaks down the practical math behind scaling solo, including how to price services based on lifestyle goals, why profitability matters more than revenue, and how experts can dramatically increase income by intensifying their process and focusing on fewer, higher-value clients. She also explains the importance of simplifying offers, building authority through proven processes, and creating businesses that generate real freedom rather than constant stress. The episode is a powerful reminder that growth does not have to mean bigger teams and more complexity—sometimes the smartest way to scale is to do less, better, and more profitably.

Key Takeaways:

1. Scaling a business does not always mean hiring more people. For many service businesses, adding employees too early increases complexity and overhead while reducing profitability.
2. Profitability matters more than revenue. A smaller number of highly profitable projects can create far more freedom than chasing large projects with thin margins.
3. Experts should price their services based on the lifestyle they want to support, not just what the market expects or what competitors charge.
4. Many entrepreneurs unintentionally build businesses that look successful on the outside but generate very little take-home income once expenses and payroll are considered.
5. Increasing the perceived and real value of an offer is one of the fastest ways to justify higher pricing and improve business sustainability.
6. Raising prices gradually helps build confidence in your value and prevents the psychological shock that can come from doubling prices overnight.
7. Fewer clients at higher value often lead to better outcomes for both the business and the client because focus and delivery improve dramatically.
8. Simplifying your offers into clear packages, often small, medium, and large, removes confusion for buyers and makes the sales process easier.
9. Entrepreneurs should build relationships and referral networks first rather than relying entirely on social media content to generate early clients.
10. The ultimate goal of business growth should be freedom, the ability to control your time, work on meaningful projects, and design a life that actually reflects why you became an entrepreneur in the first place.

Sponsor Highlights

This episode of The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by our 2026 Title Sponsor, Hypervac Technologies. Hypervac designs and manufactures industry-leading hydro excavation equipment used across North America to help contractors excavate safer, faster, and more efficiently. Alongside Hypervac, Hyperfab delivers custom-built fabrication solutions designed for performance, durability, and real-world industrial application.

🌐 www.hypervac.com

🌐 www.hyperfab.ca

This episode is also proudly supported by our 2026 Roadblock Sponsor, Thunder Bay Hydraulics. Thunder Bay Hydraulics specializes in hydraulic manufacturing, repair, and systems integration supporting industries across Canada. Alongside Thunder Bay Hydraulics, Atlas Elite Lifts delivers premium automotive lift solutions for high-end homes, luxury condos, dealerships, and elite garage spaces, with lift systems so cool they are Bat Cave Ready.

🌐 www.thunderbayhydraulics.com

🌐 www.atlaselitelifts.com

Join The Catalyst Club

If you enjoy conversations like this and want to connect with other entrepreneurs, leaders, and business builders who are focused on real growth, I invite you to join us inside The Catalyst Club.

The Catalyst Club is a private leadership community where we host live workshops, expert sessions, and real conversations about business development, leadership, entrepreneurship, and growth.

We are now 80+ members strong and growing, filled with people who are serious about building better businesses and supporting each other along the way.

If that sounds like the kind of room you want to be in, come join us.

🌐 www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Mentioned in this episode:

Hyperfab Midroll

In Episode 322 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy sits down with entrepreneur, brand strategist, and bestselling author Pia Silva to explore what it really takes to build a brand that stands out and commands premium pricing. Pia shares her journey from hustling hourly design work with her husband to building a powerful branding business after facing a moment of crisis when their agency found itself $40,000 in debt with no cash left. That turning point forced them to rethink everything about how they worked with clients and ultimately led to a revolutionary approach to branding that helps service-based businesses position themselves as premium experts rather than commoditized providers.

Throughout the conversation, Pia breaks down the mindset and strategic shifts required to stop blending in and start building a truly differentiated brand. She explains why most entrepreneurs misunderstand branding, how eliminating unnecessary complexity can transform both profitability and freedom, and why compressing work into focused brand intensives can dramatically increase value while eliminating the endless revisions and communication that often derail projects. The episode is a powerful reminder that strong branding is not just about design, it is about positioning, clarity, and the confidence to charge what your expertise is truly worth.

Key Takeaways:

1. A strong brand is not just about how your business looks, it is about how clearly you are positioned in the market and why people choose you over everyone else.
2. Pia’s story shows that hitting a breaking point can become the exact moment that forces a smarter, more profitable business model.
3. Many entrepreneurs start by selling their skills hourly, but real growth often happens when they package expertise into a higher value offer.
4. Premium pricing becomes much easier when clients understand your process, trust your expertise, and see a clear outcome attached to your work.
5. Too many businesses blend in because they never take the time to define what makes them different in a meaningful way.
6. Branding should solve a business problem, not just satisfy a creative preference or make something look more modern.
7. Pia’s intensive model proves that simplifying delivery and removing unnecessary back and forth can increase both client value and profitability.
8. Endless revisions, scattered communication, and unclear direction are often the real reasons service businesses lose time, margin, and momentum.
9. Entrepreneurs need to stop chasing every opportunity and start building offers that align with the kind of business and life they actually want.
10. The episode reinforces that confidence, clarity, and a differentiated brand are what allow business owners to stop competing on price and start charging what they are truly worth.

Explore Pia Silva’s work and the resources discussed in this episode:

Pia Silva Website: https://www.piasilva.com/

No BS Agency Mastery: https://www.nobsmastery.com/

Check out Pia’s books featured in this conversation:

Badass Your Brand: https://www.badassyourbrand.com/

Scale Solo: https://scalesolobook.com/

🎁 Special for listeners of The Business Development Podcast:

Get a free copy of Badass Your Brand through Pia’s exclusive listener offer:

https://www.nobsagencies.com/businessdevelopment

A powerful thank you to the incredible companies that make The Business Development Podcast possible.

Our Title Sponsor, Hypervac Technologies, led by President Colin Harms, is setting the standard in hydro excavation technology across North America, helping contractors and infrastructure teams excavate safer, faster, and more efficiently.

https://www.hypervac.com/

Our Roadblock Sponsor, Thunder Bay Hydraulics, led by President Jamie Crozier, delivers trusted hydraulic manufacturing, repair, and systems integration solutions that keep critical industries moving across Canada.

https://www.thunderbayhydraulics.com/

Our Roadblock Sponsor, Atlas Elite Lifts, brings premium automotive lift solutions to high end homes, luxury condos, dealerships, and elite garage spaces, helping turn dream garages into reality.

https://www.atlaselitelifts.com/

If you’re looking for the leadership support community you never knew you needed, come join us inside The Catalyst Club. With 80+ members and growing, it’s a room filled with entrepreneurs, leaders, and business builders committed to helping each other move the needle forward.

Join The Catalyst Club: https://www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Mentioned in this episode:

Hyperfab Midroll

Episode 321 of The Business Development Podcast challenges one of the most common myths in business and life: that success is a future moment we eventually arrive at. In this solo episode, Kelly Kennedy reframes success as something far more powerful and accessible. Instead of waiting for a milestone like wealth, recognition, or a big breakthrough, Kelly explains that success is actually a daily pattern built through forward movement, personal standards, and the decision to keep showing up. If you are learning, growing, solving problems, and continuing to move forward, you are already living a successful life.

Kelly also shares practical strategies to help listeners live in success today, including keeping your word to yourself, defining your own scoreboard, building standards instead of relying on motivation, and staying in the game even when things get difficult. Through personal stories, real-world examples, and a powerful mindset shift, this episode encourages entrepreneurs and leaders to stop waiting for success to arrive and instead recognize the success they are already building every single day.

Key Takeaways:

1. Success is not a moment you arrive at. It’s a pattern of daily actions and standards you live by.
2. If you are consistently moving forward, learning, and improving, you are already living a successful life.
3. Waiting for the world to declare you successful will leave you waiting forever. You must define success for yourself.
4. Real success comes from keeping your commitments to yourself, especially when no one else is watching.
5. Momentum beats intensity. Small actions taken consistently create massive results over time.
6. Motivation fades, but standards last. Successful people operate based on discipline and personal expectations.
7. Growth rarely happens in comfort. Choosing challenges over convenience is what builds capability.
8. Most people don’t fail because they lack ability. They fail because they quit too soon.
9. Gratitude for what you have and ambition for what comes next can exist at the same time.
10. The question to ask every day is simple: “What would the successful version of me do today?” Then take that action.

Here is a clean show notes sponsor section that combines both sponsors while keeping it professional and appreciative for the episode page.

The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by incredible companies that believe in the mission of educating, inspiring, and equipping leaders and entrepreneurs around the world.

Our Title Sponsor, Hypervac Technologies, continues to lead the way in industrial vacuum excavation equipment and solutions across North America. Their commitment to innovation, safety, and industry leadership has helped power this show for years. A special thank you to President Colin Harms for his continued support and belief in what we are building together.

Learn more about Hypervac Technologies:

https://www.hypervac.com

We are also excited to welcome our newest Roadblock Sponsors, Thunder Bay Hydraulics and Atlas Elite Lifts. These companies are doing incredible work in their respective industries. Thunder Bay Hydraulics is known for delivering expert hydraulic system service, repair, and solutions for heavy industry, while Atlas Elite Lifts is raising the bar with innovative automotive lift solutions designed for professional shops that demand reliability, performance, and safety.

A big thank you to Jamie Crozier, President of Thunder Bay Hydraulics and Atlas Elite Lifts, for getting behind the show and supporting our mission.

Learn more about these companies:

Thunder Bay Hydraulics: https://www.thunderbayhydraulics.com

Atlas Elite Lifts: https://www.atlaselitelifts.com

If today’s episode resonated with you, then you belong in The Catalyst Club.

The Catalyst Club is a private leadership community where entrepreneurs, executives, and business development professionals come together to grow, learn, and support each other’s success. Inside the Club you’ll find live expert workshops, leadership discussions, business development training, and a powerful network of people committed to moving forward every single day.

If you’re serious about growth and want to surround yourself with leaders who are building something meaningful, I invite you to join us.

Learn more and become a member here:

www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Success isn’t something you wait for.

It’s something you choose and build every day.

Mentioned in this episode:

Hyperfab Midroll