The Effort Trap: Discover the Smarter Path to Business Success

Feeling like you’re putting in a ton of effort but not seeing the payoff? You’re not alone. This year’s top podcast episodes revealed a crucial truth: effort isn’t everything. We’re diving into the conversations that offered clarity, structure, and real strategy — the keys to working smarter, not just harder.

This week, I’m highlighting our most recent episode and the top three most-played episodes of 2025 — a CEO interview, solo deep dive, and expert insight — all with a golden nugget to take into your business today.

Latest Episode: Ops Excellence with Ryan Fortner, Director of Operations for William Valve

In this raw and honest conversation, Ryan shares what it takes to lead a legacy brand through change. With decades of operational experience and a no-excuses leadership style, he talks about scaling a people-first company, the pressures of modern leadership, and why culture eats strategy for breakfast.

Listen to Ryan’s Episode → Ryan’s grounded perspective on business — from shop floors to boardrooms — offers invaluable insights on the future of leadership.

Most-Played CEO Interview Jon MacDonald, CEO of The Good Jon helps companies like Adobe and The Economist turn browsers into buyers — and he does it without gimmicks. In this…