Ever caught yourself pushing your team harder for your own deadlines without considering what’s in it for them?

This episode draws from Mack Story's insights in "Defining Influence" to highlight the power of intent in blue-collar leadership, distinguishing low-impact manipulation from high-impact motivation.

Perfect for mechanics, welders, or any hands-on foreman, Mack will break down why believing "I'm here to serve others" fosters trust and moves your crew to action, while a self-serving attitude creates distrust and reduces your influence in the workplace.

Engage with key "Stop and Think" reflections: Does self-concern build or destroy trust, and how does that affect your influence?

Mack covers how principles—like adapting to individual differences—outperform one-size-fits-all practices, using examples from parenting parallels to workplace dynamics.

Discover the value of empathy in recognizing what truly benefits your team, and learn from personal stories of transformation to elevate your leadership.

By focusing on mutual gains and demonstrating genuine care, you'll increase your effectiveness, strengthen relationships, and lead with the kind of integrity that transforms groups of people working together into empowered teams making things happen together.

Find out what kind of leader you are and what kind of leader you report to at The5TypesOfLeaders.com

In this episode, Mack Story dives into the core of what makes a great leader in the trades and the impact of the intent behind your actions and words.

Drawing from his insights in "Defining Influence," he explore how your inner character shapes your influence with co-workers. Whether you're a foreman directing a construction team or a mechanic leading those working under the hood, understanding that intent is the bedrock of trust can transform how your team responds to you.

Mack will break down why first impressions hinge on your motives and how hiding a shady agenda can erode your authority fast.

He’ll also tackle real-world scenarios with thought-provoking questions to help you stop and think: When a coworker builds trust with you, does their influence grow? Flip it around—what happens when distrust creeps in?

By internalizing these principles, you'll learn to shift from manipulation to genuine motivation, boosting your effectiveness and opening up more options in your blue-collar career. Tune in to discover how aligning your 'why' with honest intent can elevate your leadership game and foster unbreakable team bonds.

Find out what kind of leader you are and what kind of leader you report to at The5TypesOfLeaders.com

Explore how negative self-talk erodes hope and often leads to life-altering despair. Then, consider how modeling unshakeable character allows you to increase your influence. Learn to borrow belief from others and cultivate habits that reflect integrity which will allow you to turn personal struggles into powerful examples of resilience.

Looking for resources? You'll find them at BlueCollarLeadership.com

In this no-nonsense episode, Mack Story gets real about the mental grind that powers your daily hustle—because if you knew exactly what to do, you'd already be running the show instead of punching the clock.

Mack draws from his blue-collar roots in small-town Tallassee, Alabama (pop. under 6,000), and breaks down the Choice Formula: Thought + Emotion + Action = Choice.

Thoughts harden into habits that build your circumstances, good or bad. Whether you're swinging a hammer or calling the shots as a foreman, tune in for a dose of straight-talk that will help you toughen your thinking, own your actions, and turn everyday choices into the wins that will launch you from where you are to where you want to be.

Looking for resources? You'll find them at BlueCollarLeadership.com

You were born a leader! Your awareness of self, others, and your environment has been increasing since your birth.

Your influence increased the most in your early years. For many people, it seems to slow down dramatically as they reach adulthood.

How much influence do you have with others at this moment?

Your influence today is based on the choices you made in the past. Your influence in the future will increase or decrease based on the choices you make today.

Choose wisely!

Want to dive deeper into leadership and influence?

Don't miss our FREE 2-hour course at The5TypesOfLeaders.com which comes with an 8 page downloadable Participant's Guide. Once complete, you'll receive an official Certificate of Completion.

Be sure to add that to your resume or as an achievement on your LinkedIn profile to begin separating yourself from your competition as you strive to climb the leadership mountain.

Here's what some of those who have completed the FREE course had to say...

“Excellent learning opportunity!“ ~ Thomas Armitage

“A great training I did about a month ago! I would recommend Blue Collar Leadership to anyone who’s already in leadership in a formal or informal position. Mack Story will give the avenue to a great learning experience!” ~ Jamel Wofford

“Just took this course. Great information here and would recommend this to anyone looking to invest in themselves!” ~ Lane Goos

“Mack & Ria, I wanted to reach out and thank you for your free course “The 5 Types Of Leaders!” This was very eye-opening for me. I have been in management for civil construction for 18 years, and your course just turned a light on for me. I appreciate you taking the time to share and look forward to listening to your podcast and taking more courses! Keep on rocking it have a great day!”

Thank you, Paul Campbell lll

Join Mack and Ria Story as they dive into a compelling LinkedIn post that sparked Mack’s curiosity.

The story centers on a frustrated equipment operator who boldly marched into their boss’s office, demanding a raise and threatening to walk out if their demands weren’t met.

In this episode, Mack and Ria unpack the operator’s frustration, explore how the boss responded, and discuss what could have been done to avoid this high-stakes showdown.

They’ll also reflect on a bigger question: How many people quietly leave their jobs without ever speaking up?

This scenario plays out in workplaces everywhere, and Mack and Ria’s insights will leave you thinking about communication, leadership, and how to address frustration before it leads to farewells.

Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation that’s sure to resonate with anyone navigating workplace dynamics!

Want to dive deeper into leadership and influence?

Don't miss our FREE 2-hour course at The5TypesOfLeaders.com which comes with an 8 page downloadable Participant's Guide. Once complete, you'll receive an official Certificate of Completion.

Be sure to add that to your resume or as an achievement on your LinkedIn profile to begin separating yourself from your competition as you strive to climb the leadership mountain.

Here's what some of those who have completed the FREE course had to say...

“A great training I did about a month ago! I would recommend Blue Collar Leadership to anyone who’s already in leadership in a formal or informal position. Mack Story will give the avenue to a great learning experience!” ~ Jamel Wofford

“Just took this course. Great information here and would recommend this to anyone looking to invest in themselves!” ~ Lane Goos

“Excellent learning opportunity!“ ~ Thomas Armitage

“Mack & Ria, I wanted to reach out and thank you for your free course “The 5 Types Of Leaders!” This was very eye-opening for me. I have been in management for civil construction for 18 years, and your course just turned a light on for me. I appreciate you taking the time to share and look forward to listening to your podcast and taking more courses! Keep on rocking it have a great day!”

Thank you, Paul Campbell lll

Dive into this episode and discover what type of leader YOU are and learn what kind of leader you report to.

You’ll learn what type of leader is most effective.

And, you'll learn how character and competency impact each type of leader.

Want to dive deeper?

Don't miss our FREE 2-hour course at The5TypesOfLeaders.com which comes with an 8 page downloadable Participant's Guide. Once complete, you'll receive an official Certificate of Completion.

Be sure to add that to your resume or as an achievement on your LinkedIn profile to begin separating yourself from your competition as you strive to climb the leadership mountain.

Here's what some of those who have completed the FREE course had to say...

“A great training I did about a month ago! I would recommend Blue Collar Leadership to anyone who’s already in leadership in a formal or informal position. Mack Story will give the avenue to a great learning experience!” ~ Jamel Wofford

“Just took this course. Great information here and would recommend this to anyone looking to invest in themselves!” ~ Lane Goos

“Excellent learning opportunity!“ ~ Thomas Armitage

“Mack & Ria, I wanted to reach out and thank you for your free course “The 5 Types Of Leaders!” This was very eye-opening for me. I have been in management for civil construction for 18 years, and your course just turned a light on for me. I appreciate you taking the time to share and look forward to listening to your podcast and taking more courses! Keep on rocking it have a great day!”

Thank you, Paul Campbell lll

Are your front-line leaders struggling to lead effectively? You’re not alone.

In this powerful episode, we dive deep into a common frustration voiced by top leaders, HR professionals, and Learning & Development experts: “I need help getting front-line leaders to lead!”

Inspired by Gino Wickman’s insight—“Most leaders spend their time overwhelmed, tired, and buried in the day-to-day, unable to see beyond tomorrow”—we uncover the real root of the problem. Spoiler: it’s not just the front-line leaders. The issue often traces back to the top, where leaders may be failing to set expectations, provide development, or take responsibility.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why blaming front-line leaders misses the mark and where the true responsibility lies.
• Practical examples of what top leaders are (or aren’t) doing that holds organizations back.
• How to shift from casting blame to fostering a culture of high-impact leadership.
• Actionable strategies to implement continuous leadership development at every level.

Featuring key insights from leadership experts like Gino Wickman, Myron Golden, and Amir Ghannad, this episode challenges leaders to stop pointing fingers and start looking in the mirror. Learn why responsibility flows up the org chart and how to unleash your team’s potential with proven leadership principles.

Click to listen now and explore the Blue-Collar Leadership & Culture: The 5 Components for Building High Performance Teams to transform your organization from the top down.

Don’t miss this chance to rethink leadership and drive real change!