As we wrap up 2025, this episode dives deep into the lessons, challenges, and breakthroughs that shaped the year for leaders everywhere. This episode reflects on the highs and lows—not just the wins, but the crashes that taught resilience and growth. Leadership isn’t about perfection; it’s about how you respond in the shock moments of life.
This episode revisits some of the most impactful conversations from this year:

John Greenwood (Ep. 161) – The Five Driver Model: People, Culture, Strategy, Structure, Process.

Kevin Calhoun (Ep. 165) – Buy vs. Build: Two paths to business growth.

Steve Black (Ep. 168 & 169) – Unmasking fear and overcoming the people-pleasing trap.

Steve Bowie (Ep. 171 & 172) – Burnout and finding balance through intentional wins.

Kathy Pinero (Ep. 178) – People before profits and leading with empathy.

This episode also introduces the Five Pillars of IOL—Faith, Family, Foundation, Leadership, and Work—as a compass for navigating uncertainty and leading with purpose. These pillars aren’t just words; they’re a way of life that shapes how we show up for our teams, families, and communities.

Key Takeaways:

Leadership starts with how you respond in tough moments.

People come before profits—empathy matters.

No one drifts into excellence; growth requires intention.

Faith and family are the foundation for everything else.

Join us as we reflect on 2025 and gear up for an incredible 2026. Because at IOL, we believe you are loved—not just by us, but by the Lord.

In this episode, I share lessons from a powerful C‑Suite for Christ event that reminded me how vital it is for leaders to stay spiritually fueled. Inspired by Paul Neuberger’s message, we’ll explore three principles of stewardship — Appreciate, Activate, and Authenticate — and how they can transform both your leadership and your faith. From cultivating gratitude, to boldly using your God‑given gifts, to living with authentic integrity, these truths challenge us to lead with purpose and courage. I’ll also reflect on Moses’ journey and what it teaches us about trusting God fully.

Tune in to be encouraged, equipped, and reminded that when we put faith first, God moves in amazing ways through our leadership and our lives.

As a dad, there’s nothing more terrifying than watching your child face death—and nothing more humbling than seeing God’s hand carry him through it. In this deeply personal episode, I share the story of my son’s survival through three near-death experiences: a childhood fire, teenage seizures, and a recent 60 mph car crash. These moments shattered my illusion of control and forced me to confront the fragility of life, the power of prayer, and the sovereignty of God. What emerged wasn’t just survival—it was transformation.

This isn’t just a story about pain; it’s a testimony of purpose. I unpack 10 life-changing lessons that shaped me as a father and a believer—lessons rooted in Scripture and forged in crisis. If you’ve ever questioned why storms come or how to hold onto hope when everything feels broken, this episode is for you. It’s raw, it’s real, and it might just change how you see your own story, your faith, and the God who never lets go.

In this powerful episode, we explore what it truly means to lead with unwavering conviction and Christ-centered grace. This theme runs throughout the stories and […]

Welcome to today’s episode of Finding Your Anchor In The Sea of Chaos.

Just like an anchor holds a boat steady in turbulent waters—keeping it from drifting, grounding it in place, and providing security—Christ is our anchor in life’s storms. When everything around us feels chaotic, uncertain, or overwhelming, He offers stability, peace, and unwavering hope. An anchor doesn’t remove the waves, but it keeps the vessel from being lost to them. In the same way, Christ doesn’t always calm the storm immediately—but He keeps us from being overcome by it.

Six weeks ago, I hit a wall. Not a physical one, but a spiritual one. I looked at the man in the mirror and saw someone I swore I’d never become. I was short-tempered, frustrated, and joyless. My family felt it. My wife felt it. My kids felt it. And deep down, I knew it too.

I had let stress and frustration steal my joy. I justified my anger. I blamed others. I wanted to be heard—but not with love. I wanted control. I wanted to send a message: I’m in charge. But the message that came through was pain. My kids felt spoken down to. My wife and I couldn’t communicate. And the truth? I wasn’t leading—I was hurting.
But God didn’t leave me there.
I got on my knees. I cried out. I said, “Lord, take this from me. Fill my heart with your joy. I know my circumstances won’t be easy, but I know you love me. You have a plan for my life—and I surrender to it.”
Then something beautiful happened.

This week’s interview is with Tim Hanley, a Milwaukee native & Titan 100 HOF whose career reads like a Hollywood script—until it didn’t. From rising to partner at Arthur Andersen to navigating the collapse of the firm during the Enron scandal, Tim faced a leadership crucible that tested everything he believed about trust, transparency, and tenacity.

But that wasn’t the end. Years later, after retiring from Deloitte, Tim stepped into another storm—this time as interim dean at Marquette University just as COVID shut down the world. What he thought would be a one-year commitment turned into a 4½-year mission to guide a business school through unprecedented uncertainty.

💡 This episode is a masterclass in resilience. Tim shares:

How servant leadership and overcommunication built trust in crisis
Why perspective—shaped by personal loss—reframes professional adversity
What routines helped him stay mentally tough while leading others
How to balance empathy with performance when the stakes are high
Why investing in people is the legacy that outlasts any title

This is part 2 with Travis Smith where we dig deeper into leadership! 

Travis explains his four-step training method that he used to build his business.

This brings loyalty between the leader and the employee.

Peace of mind is the key to every decision that needs to be made even in the tough moments of trying to decide if an employee should stay or go. 

Being present, direct, and consistent is how you can build a strong team under your leadership.

If you have ever struggled with trust, making the tough leadership decision or managing the weight of leadership – this episode is for you!