Episode Links:

LinkedIn: Jeff Parnell - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffparnell/

Website: The Heart of Transition (Book - Release: Early 2026) - https://theheartoftransition.com

Summary:

In this episode of The Corvus Effect, I speak with Jeff Parnell, a fractional interim CEO who brings 30 years of operational leadership to businesses facing critical transitions. After a 2018 heart transplant, Jeff uses the experience as a metaphor for business transformation in his upcoming book, The Heart of Transition. He shares how his trial by fire at Overton's taught him that numbers matter over style, addresses the silver tsunami of aging business owners trapped in their companies, and explains why execution beats beautiful consulting reports. Through stories of his transplant surgeon's confidence and a coffee company owner's bold transparency, Jeff illustrates why legacy means building something that serves your life rather than consuming it.

Show Notes:

00:32 Guest Introduction: Jeff Parnell

01:56 Owning It: Trial by Fire at Overton's

03:54 The Michael Jordan Philosophy

05:14 Adapting Leadership Across Different Cultures

06:25 Avoiding Burnout and Staying Grounded

07:45 The 2018 Heart Transplant Journey

09:51 The Hospital Game Face

12:30 Second Chances and Gratitude

13:15 The Silver Tsunami: Trapped Business Owners

15:02 What Happens If You're Hospitalized for 90 Days?

16:43 Beautiful Notebooks, Zero Execution

18:25 The Coffee Company Success Story

20:56 Pride: The Biggest Obstacle

22:47 Vulnerability and Creating Safe Spaces

23:44 The Transplant Surgeon's Confidence

25:15 KPIs and the Heart of Transition Metaphor

26:40 Faith During Crisis

29:46 Legacy: Building What Lives Beyond You

32:07 It's Not Too Late

33:25 Be Bold But Not Reckless