The CEO Project Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Are you still running your company like you're in a product business, when your customers are actually buying like it's fashion?

If you're leading a brand today, you've probably felt the pressure: customers constantly asking "what's new," markets shifting faster than your product cycles, and differentiation getting harder by the quarter. In this episode, you'll hear how one CEO realized that success in the beverage industry had less to do with the product itself—and everything to do with thinking like a fashion brand driven by innovation, education, and timing.

By listening, you'll gain:

• A new way to think about your market—shifting from product-driven to trend- and innovation-driven strategy
• Practical insight into how education and continuous innovation create long-term brand loyalty
• A smarter growth approach by expanding with the right customers instead of constantly chasing new ones

Hit play now to learn the mindset shift that can help you stay relevant, innovate faster, and grow alongside your best customers.

Check out:

1. The "Fashion Business" Realization (~14:30)
Ron shares the pivotal moment at a trade show when buyers kept asking "What's new?"—leading to the breakthrough insight that he wasn't in the tea business, but the fashion business driven by constant innovation.

2. Innovation + Education as a Growth Engine (~12:00)
A deep look at how educating customers (green tea, matcha, etc.) and consistently introducing new products created a premium category—and sustained competitive advantage.

3. Growing with Customers vs. Chasing New Ones (~27:30)
Ron explains his strategy of scaling alongside key accounts like Whole Foods, Panera, and Total Wine—offering a powerful alternative to the typical "always be prospecting" mindset.

About Ron Rubin

Ron Rubin, author of GOLD IN YOUR BACKYARD, has spent more than five decades building iconic beverage brands and giving back to the communities and industries he loves. He began his career in 1972 at his family's business, Central Wholesale Liquor Co. In 1994, he purchased The Republic of Tea, which has become one of the most beloved tea brands in the United States. In 2011, he acquired River Road Family Vineyards and Winery in Sonoma County. Under his leadership, the winery is known for its quality and commitment to sustainability as a Certified B Corporation.

What if getting things done wasn't about more strategy—but about the same high-stakes instincts used by prison bosses to survive and lead?

You're busy, pulled in a hundred directions, and still expected to deliver results that matter. This episode flips the script on productivity by showing you how real execution happens under pressure—where decisions aren't theoretical, and hesitation has consequences. If you've ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or as if your team isn't truly executing, this conversation will challenge the way you think about leadership, priorities, and impact.

• Learn how to sharpen your decision-making so you can act faster and with more confidence—even when the stakes are high
• Discover how to read people and situations more effectively to drive better outcomes and avoid costly missteps
• Understand what it really takes to build a culture of execution—not just ideas—so your team actually gets things done

Hit play now to discover a radically different approach to getting things done—and start executing at a level most leaders never reach.

Check out:

• [08:45] – Turning "Purpose" into Real Impact
  Andre breaks down why most corporate giving falls flat—and how a simple 5% shift can create meaningful, measurable change.
• [24:10] – Prison Boss vs. CEO: The Truth About Execution
  A powerful comparison showing how high-stakes environments force clarity, speed, and accountability—and what leaders can learn from it.
• [41:30] – The Gravestone Test for Better Decisions
  A memorable framework for aligning your daily actions with what actually matters in the long run.

About Andre Norman

Andre Norman is a globally renowned transformational speaker, strategist, and consultant revolutionizing correctional systems worldwide. As the founder of Second Chance University, a program designed to give access and inspiration to people seeking to improve their lives, Andre embodies resilience and innovation. As a former Harvard University fellow and collaborator with prestigious institutions worldwide, he brings a wealth of knowledge to his engagements.

Through dynamic presentations, practical strategies, and his personal journey overturning an over 105-year prison sentence to becoming a Harvard Fellow, Andre empowers audiences to overcome obstacles, navigate change, and unlock their true potential. His profound impact, global reach, and unwavering dedication make him a trusted expert for personal and professional transformation.

If mastering negotiation could instantly increase your business worth, how differently would you handle your next deal?

You negotiate every day—whether you call it that or not. From acquisition offers and partnership terms to real estate, compensation, and vendor contracts, you're constantly shaping outcomes that affect your company's growth and long-term business worth. The problem? Most leaders treat negotiation like a tug-of-war over price. In this episode, you'll learn why mastering negotiation is really about leverage, psychology, timing, and knowing when to walk away.

By listening, you'll gain:

• A smarter framework for mastering negotiation that goes beyond price and focuses on leverage, certainty, and deal structure

• Proven tactics like "never go first," strategic silence, and the flinch to strengthen your position without creating conflict

• A clearer understanding of motivation and timing so you can spot desperation, avoid overpaying, and protect your business worth

Press play now to sharpen your negotiation edge—and make your next deal one that compounds your business worth instead of quietly eroding it.

Check out:

• 07:45 – Leverage Changes Everything
  A practical breakdown of how leverage actually works in real deals—foreclosures, timing pressure, experience, and certainty of close—and why price is rarely the most important factor.

• 18:30 – The Power of Walking Away
  A sharp discussion on why the best negotiators are willing to walk, how desperation shifts leverage, and why "who comes back first" often determines who really has the power.

• 29:10 – The Flinch, Silence & Controlling the Pen
  Tactical gold: how to use silence to make the other party negotiate against themselves—and why drafting the agreement gives you structural control over the deal.

Onyi Odunukwe is CEO of Glo Tanning Centers, Inc. His specialties are:

• Marshaling limited resources to the most productive uses with the aim of creating maximum value for the company's stakeholders.
• Developing and cascading the organization's strategy/mission statement to the lower-ranking staff, and implementing appropriate rewards/recognition and coaching/corrective practices to align personnel with company goals.
• Planning by prioritizing customer, employee, and organizational requirements.
• Maintaining and monitoring staffing, levels, Knowledge-Skills-Attributes (KSA), expectations and motivation to fulfill organizational requirements.
• Driving performance measures for the operation (including a consideration of efficiency versus effectiveness), often in the form of dashboards convenient for review of high level key indicators

The podcast episode features an interview with Bill Simmons, the founder of Thrive Business Operations, discussing fractional CXO roles. The host introduces the concept of fractional CXOs, such as CFOs, CMOs, and Chief Revenue Officers, which are hired for specific needs or to fill critical positions temporarily. Bill Simmons explains how his company provides operational support for businesses through fractional CXOs, helping them navigate challenges and improve operational excellence.

They discuss scenarios where businesses might consider hiring fractional executives, such as when a company's growth outpaces its operational capacity or when there's a need for strategic guidance and execution. Simmons emphasizes the value of fractional executives in bridging the gap between vision and execution and highlights the cost-effectiveness and expertise they bring compared to full-time hires.

The interview explores the role of fractional executives in driving strategic outcomes and the importance of clear deliverables and accountability in their engagements. Overall, the conversation offers insights into the benefits and considerations of leveraging fractional CXOs for business growth and operational efficiency.

In this episode of The Lazy CEO Podcast, host Jim Schleckser interviews Doug Conant, a seasoned leader with over 40 years of experience, including roles such as Former CEO of Campbell's Soup, on the Power of People in Achieving Results. Conant shares insights on leadership and teamwork in large organizations. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing the power of the organization over individual contributions and discusses the pivotal role of community and engagement in achieving productivity and fulfillment.

Conant reflects on being fired from a job, highlighting the transformative experience it was for him and the realization of the significance of working with others. He discusses the challenge of leaders who struggle to accept help from their teams due to a belief in their own talent, stressing the importance of cultivating a team-centric mindset.

In this podcast episode, host Jim Schleckser speaks with guest, Sheila Heen, who is an expert in difficult conversations and feedback. Heen co-founded the Triad Consulting Group and has extensive experience in negotiation, including at Harvard Law School. She discusses her journey into this field and the importance of understanding emotions in communication.

Heen emphasizes the need to go beyond surface conversations and delve into the underlying thoughts and feelings in difficult interactions. She introduces three internal conversations: the "what happened" conversation, focused on narratives about past, present, and future events; the emotional conversation, addressing how individuals deal with their feelings; and the identity conversation, concerning what the situation reflects about one's self-image.

The discussion highlights the importance of shifting from blaming individuals to understanding contributions to problems within a system. Heen suggests focusing on learning from mistakes rather than assigning blame, fostering a culture where feedback is seen as an opportunity for growth. The episode underscores the significance of systems thinking in addressing organizational issues and promoting effective communication and accountability among team members.

This podcast features Jim Schleckser, host of The Lazy CEO Podcast, introducing Nicole Grinnel, founder of Mic'd Up Booking and Boseman Solutions, as a guest. Nicole shares her journey into podcasting, starting eight years ago, and discusses how podcasting can benefit various types of businesses. She explains Mic'd Up Booking's services, including assisting with hosting and guest appearances on podcasts, and highlights the importance of targeting the right audience for maximum impact. Nicole provides advice for podcast guests, emphasizing the importance of storytelling, authenticity, and preparation. She also discusses leveraging podcast appearances for networking, online presence, and content repurposing, making it a valuable tool for business owners. Finally, Nicole and Jim discuss the potential of podcasting as a marketing tool and the importance of promoting podcast appearances effectively.

In this episode of The Lazy CEO Podcast, host Jim Schleckser welcomes Julian, an expert in recruiting and leadership development, to discuss the challenges and strategies for attracting top talent to organizations. Julian, a former head of recruiting at Bottle Rocket and a key leader at Reach Global, shares his insights based on over 15 years of experience in the field.

The conversation begins with discussing the ongoing "war for talent" and the evolving recruiting landscape in today's market. Julian emphasizes the importance of understanding and embracing an organization's Employment Value Proposition (EVP) as a key element in attracting top talent. He provides examples of successful EVPs, such as a private ride-hailing service that emphasizes immediate impact for software engineers.

In this episode of The Lazy CEO Podcast, host Jim Schleckser introduces Valerie Alexander, an expert on happiness and inclusion in the workplace. Valerie is known for her TED Talk on unconscious bias and her work as a screenwriter for Christmas movies on the Hallmark Channel. The conversation focuses on happiness in the workplace, with Valerie highlighting the importance of employee satisfaction for retention and recruitment. She emphasizes the need for employees to feel a sense of accomplishment, autonomy, and acknowledgment in their roles. The discussion also touches on the role of managers in creating positive work environments and the impact of happiness on turnover rates. Valerie shares anecdotes and insights to illustrate these points, emphasizing the significance of fostering a positive workplace culture.

In this episode of The Lazy CEO Podcast, host Jim Schleckser welcomes Julian Harris, founder of Julian Harris Services and a former commercial lawyer. Julian shares insights from his experience working with various brands, including Manchester United and Twinings. While their initial plan was to discuss soccer, they delve into the Inside Out conceptual model, focusing on the importance of internal awareness in shaping external reality. Julian emphasizes the role of constant mental chatter in distorting perceptions and suggests cultivating awareness to discern truth from judgments. They explore philosophical perspectives on reality and discuss methods for quieting the mind to access inner wisdom and creativity, including showers as a tool for idea generation. They conclude by highlighting the importance of practice in developing self-awareness to navigate daily challenges effectively.