On this episode of the McCoy Leadership Podcast, I sat down with Eden Lovejoy, creator of the innovative Virtual GM Matrix. Eden shared her journey from small-town Alaska to transforming how businesses operate, emphasizing that today’s leadership is all about engaging with your team—not micromanaging. We explored why old-school management styles no longer work, how to create true accountability, and why articulating your mission and values is critical for small business success. Interested in building a more empowered team and scaling your business sustainably? This episode is packed with actionable insights you won’t want to miss!

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00:00 Finding Focus in Small Business

05:47 Micromanagement's Persistence Across Generations

09:47 Evolving Business Ownership Mindsets

11:14 Pandemic's Impact on Workplace Accountability

15:34 Startups: Early Growth Challenges

18:11 "Building Accountability with Values"

24:53 "Authority for Accountability"

26:53 Evaluating Business Metric Effectiveness

30:51 "Small Business Challenges and Team Engagement"

32:57 Workplace Policy Avoidance and Solutions

36:12 Advice for School Administrators

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Top 3 takeaways:

🔹 Modern Leadership Is About Working With, Not On, Your Team Eden emphasized that people want to be worked with—not managed or micromanaged. Engaging today’s workforce (especially Millennials and Gen Z) means co-creating solutions and empowering them to contribute their strengths.

🔹 Your Mission, Vision, and Values Aren’t Just Wall Art She drove home the need for business owners (even solo founders) to articulate their why. Clearly communicating your mission and values, then actually living by them, is crucial for aligning your team and building accountability.

🔹 Accountability = Clear Results + Delegated Authority It’s not about creating new rules every week. Eden suggests writing clear role definitions that focus on outcomes, then ensuring staff have the true authority needed to deliver. This shift from task-based management to results-based leadership increases ownership and reduces turnover.

If you’re a small business owner wrestling with team engagement, micromanagement, or scaling your leadership impact, give this episode a listen. Eden also shares more resources at https://yourbusinesslifestyle.com/ and on her LinkedIn.

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Want to learn more about McCoy Leadership? Check out our website, https://www.mccoyleadership.com/ and don't forget to subscribe to receive all the latest podcast episode.

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Links

Eden's Website

https://yourbusinesslifestyle.com/

LinkedIn

Eden's Book

https://a.co/d/2WenmwR

Eden's Book Recommendation

https://a.co/d/9UG9371

On today’s McCoy Leadership Podcast, I sat down with Gee Ranasinha to unpack the real difference between marketing and promotion—and why so many businesses get it wrong. Gee dove deep into why emotional connection and understanding your customer beats chasing vanity metrics and empty ad spends every time. We talked about the role of behavioral science, the traps of AI in marketing, and how simply doing what you say you’ll do sets you apart as a leader. If you want to elevate your impact, connect with people, and truly grow your business, you won’t want to miss these insights!

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00:00 Boosting Sales Through Strategic Marketing

04:34 Leadership Meets Marketing & Psychology

07:56 "Marketing Misunderstood: Fundamentals Unchanged"

11:21 "Balancing Emotion and Logic in Marketing"

17:10 Misguided Marketing Assumptions

19:38 Shallow, Forgettable Marketing Woes

22:05 Children's Perception of Social Media

26:06 "Resurgence of Real Conversations Needed"

30:24 AI's Role in Auction Marketing

31:32 AI's Strengths and Misapplications

36:28 Automating Marketing with AI

39:54 "AI: A Tool, Not a Voice"

44:45 Marketing Fundamentals Unveiled

46:12 "Brand Awareness as Mental SEO"

51:04 "Commit to Your Promises"

53:06 "Balancing Business Freedom and Commitments"

56:30 "Love is the Killer App"

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Here are the top 3 takeaways you’ll want to consider for your own leadership or marketing journey:

🔑 Marketing ≠ Promotion Promotion is just a small slice of marketing. The real value (and business impact) comes from the strategic work: understanding your customers, creating memorable brands, and building long-term relationships—not just cranking out ads or social posts.

🔑 Emotional Connection Still Wins The most effective marketing taps into both logic and emotion. Facts, bullet points, and features won’t stick unless you’re also building memories, telling stories, and truly resonating with people on a human level.

🔑 Technology Is a Tool, Not a Substitute Whether it’s AI, social media, or the latest MarTech, these should amplify your human creativity, not replace it. Gee reminds us: “No one has satisfactorily answered the fundamental question of why I should bother to read something that you couldn’t be bothered to write.” Use tech as a second brain, but let your message be authentically yours.

Are you leading your business (or your marketing) with genuine connection and purpose? What’s working for you—strategy, emotion, technology, or some combination?

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Want to learn more about McCoy Leadership? Check out our website, https://www.mccoyleadership.com/ and don't forget to subscribe to receive all the latest podcast episode.

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Links

Gee's Website

LinkedIn

Gee's Book Recommendations:

• How Brands Grow (Byron Sharp)

• Influence & Pre-Suasion (Robert Cialdini)

• Thinking, Fast and Slow (Daniel Kahneman)

• Nudge (Richard Thaler)

• Love is the Killer App (Tim Sanders)

Join us for an inspiring episode featuring the dynamic Dr. Danny Brassell, known as the "Jim Carrey with a PhD." 🤩 With over 3,500 talks and 19 books to his name, Dr. Brassell shares his unique insights from his incredible journey—from the bustling world of journalism to the impactful realm of education and beyond.

In this captivating conversation, Dr. Brassell delves into:

• The art of storytelling and its power to connect and move audiences.

• Strategies for creating a memorable, impactful presentation.

• Overcoming life's setbacks with resilience and positivity.

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00:00 From Bankruptcy to Speaking Success

05:54 "Ethical, Humorous Public Speaking"

08:02 Children's Insightful Questions

12:22 "Execution Inspires Famous Slogan"

14:23 Emotion Drives Effective Engagement

16:35 "Connecting Through Stories"

20:30 "Using Facebook Live for Daily Talks"

22:49 Effective Audience Understanding

27:08 Call an Expert

30:59 "Transformative Storytelling Success"

33:11 Story Cataloging for Leadership Lessons

37:50 Connecting Dots in Personal Narratives

41:09 "Impact of a Handwritten Letter"

43:10 Inspiring Overcoming Adversity Story

47:41 Turning Technical Issues into Triumph

50:26 "Ultimate Respect Bow Strategy"

53:29 "Key Advice for Future Leaders"

56:40 Free Storytelling Blueprint Offer

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Here's a quick recap of some key takeaways from the episode:

🔹 Storytelling Power: Dr. Brassell emphasized the importance of storytelling in presentations. Facts might tell, but stories sell. Connecting through stories can profoundly engage your audience and drive action.

🔹 Embrace Vulnerability: Sharing personal failures and vulnerabilities can create a stronger connection with your audience. This approach helps people see themselves in you, fostering trust and relatability.

🔹 Flexibility in Presentations: Whether faced with technical difficulties or adapting to different audiences, Dr. Brassell highlighted the importance of having varied strategies and stories ready to keep your presentation engaging and impactful.

For more insightful conversations on leadership and actionable strategies, make sure to follow the McCoy Leadership Podcast. And don't miss your chance to check out Dr. Danny Brassell's free storytelling blueprint at freestoryguide.com! 🚀

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Want to learn more about McCoy Leadership? Check out our website, https://www.mccoyleadership.com/ and don't forget to subscribe to receive all the latest podcast episode.

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Links

Danny Brassell books on Amazon:

https://amzn.to/4338iMW

Danny's website:

https://wellcraftedstoryworkshop.com/blueprint

Linkedin:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dannybrassell/

The Success Principals by Jack Canfield

https://a.co/d/g2kxjgN