Most founders and creators think they need “more hands,” but what actually scales a business is more minds that can think, decide, and execute like the owner. In this episode, Business Growth Strategist and G.R.O.W. Methodology creator Maritza Davila walks through exactly how to build that kind of team, starting with a brutally honest audit of your own skills, what you love and hate doing, and what truly matters for the business. She explains how to use two lenses, skill/enjoyment and urgent/important, to decide what to keep, what to schedule, what to delegate, and what to delete completely.​

Maritza breaks down why so many entrepreneurs hire blindly for hard skills, then get stuck micromanaging, and how to flip the process: get crystal clear on expectations, show concrete examples of “good” outcomes (like podcast edits or product quality), and remember that your job as founder is to guide, not guess. She explains the G.R.O.W. framework, Guide, Research, Optimize, Win; including how “guide” starts with defining and living your own core values so your team knows exactly how they’re expected to behave while achieving company goals, not just what tasks to complete.​

You’ll also hear a candid discussion about top‑down vs bottom‑up culture change: why it’s far easier to lead by example than to fix a hypocritical boss from below, and how misaligned behavior (like preaching punctuality while always being late) silently destroys trust. Maritza shares practical advice on hiring for hard vs soft skills, training both, and developing leaders under you so values don’t get diluted as your org chart adds layers. If you’re a solopreneur or early‑stage founder ready to stop being the bottleneck and start growing with a team you actually trust, this conversation is a playbook.​

Topics:

- How to audit your own work by skill vs enjoyment to decide what to keep and what to delegate

- Using urgent vs important to decide what to do now, schedule, delegate, or drop

- Hiring when you don’t know the role deeply: setting clear expectations and using examples instead of technical know‑how

- The difference between hiring for hard skills vs soft skills, and why you always have to train one (or both)

- Why founders need “more minds, not more hands” and the leader’s job is to guide, not just add people

- Defining and living clear core values so team behavior matches the owner’s standards

- Top‑down vs bottom‑up culture change: how leaders model behavior, and when (and how) team members can push back on misalignment

Guest:

Maritza Davila – Business Growth Strategist and creator of the G.R.O.W. Methodology; MBA with 10+ years in operations; she helps companies across SWFL and the U.S. accelerate revenue by building aligned, accountable teams, with client results like 5x revenue in 3.5 months and scaling from $1.7M to $4M in annual revenue.​

If you’re ready to move from “doing everything yourself” to leading a team that grows the business with you, watch the full episode, then visit opt360.co to access Maritza’s free resources or book a call to see how the G.R.O.W. Methodology can help your team execute with confidence.

The views and opinions expressed by the guest in this episode are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or the podcast. The host is not responsible for any statements made by the guest.

Being “the reliable one” is probably the reason you’re stuck. In this episode, internationally published author, TEDx speaker, and career coach Kendall Berg explains why high performers sabotage themselves by secretly doing other people’s work, rescuing unreliable colleagues like “Clark,” and then wondering why those same people keep getting credit and opportunities. She introduces the idea of creating “space to fail”, delivering your part, leaving their slides blank, and letting the gap be visible, so the system finally sees who is actually doing the work and who is dead weight.​Kendall breaks down the biggest hidden mistake mid-career professionals make: assuming their manager understands the complexity and impact of their work. She shows how to “educate your leadership” instead, translating tasks into business impact by asking, “What would not have happened if I hadn’t done my job?”, and why that shift helps your boss advocate for you in cross-calibration and promotion discussions where your whole career is decided in a room you’re not in.​The conversation dives deep into navigating bad bosses and toxic coworkers: building a broad internal network so your fate isn’t tied to one manager, documenting expectations and meetings to protect yourself, warning your manager about conflicts before they blow up, and learning your boss’s communication style so you can anticipate what they need like “Jean Grey reading minds.” Kendall also tackles corporate subterfuge, credit stealers, manipulators, and office politicians, and shares how to play the long game ethically while still protecting your career, plus when it’s time to stop trying to fix the system and leave.​Topics:- “Space to fail” instead of swooping in to save unreliable coworkers (letting blank slides expose who didn’t deliver)- The biggest mid-career mistake: assuming your manager understands the complexity and impact of your work- How to “educate your leadership” and talk about impact by asking, “What would not have happened if I hadn’t done my job?”- Shifting from “I build widgets” to “I enable outcomes” as you move from individual contributor to manager and director- Navigating bad bosses: building relationships with your boss’s peers and leaders so promotions don’t depend on one person- Protecting yourself from toxic coworkers through documentation, expectation-setting, and giving your boss a heads-up before conflicts escalate​- Why office subterfuge (credit-stealing, manipulation) often wins short term, and how to play the long game ethically—or decide it’s time to leaveGuest:Kendall Berg – Executive career coach, TEDx speaker, and author of Secrets of the Career Game: 36 Strategies to Get Ahead in Your Career, where she reveals the unspoken rules of promotions, office politics, and leadership presence that most professionals are never taught.​

The views and opinions expressed by the guest in this episode are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or the podcast. The host is not responsible for any statements made by the guest.

When does “I just love food” quietly turn into binge eating disorder and a full‑blown mental health struggle? In this episode, binge eating recovery coach and author Ronni Robinson breaks down the real difference between normal eating, emotional eating, and binge eating disorder.​​Ronni shares how she spent 30 years secretly binge eating, obsessing about food 24/7, and planning solo binges in shame before finally recovering and staying binge‑free for 18 years. You’ll hear why binge eating is not about “no willpower,” how diet culture sets you up to fail, and why trauma and childhood micro‑wounds show up later as compulsive eating.​​In this conversation, we dive into:- The exact signs you’re crossing from “normal” or emotional eating into binge eating disorder- Why binge eating is a mental health issue, not a lack of discipline or motivation- How diet culture, “good/bad” foods, and chasing the “perfect body” trigger years of binging- The role of childhood trauma, micro‑traumas, and feeling “unworthy” in compulsive overeating- How social media amplifies body shame, diet pressure, and constant food exposure- The difference between enjoying food, occasional comfort eating, and a true binge cycle- Why GLP‑1s and quick fixes are a band‑aid, not a cure, if you never address the root cause- Practical first steps if you suspect you’re struggling with binge eating, compulsive overeating, or emotional eatingAbout Ronni RobinsonRonni Robinson is an author, mom, Certified Eating Disorder Recovery Coach, three‑time Ironman, recovered binge eater, introvert, and proud “foster‑fail” cat mom. She created “Recover with Ronni” to help women recover from binge eating, compulsive overeating, and emotional eating without diets or food elimination, so they can reclaim their lives and stop being obsessed with food 24/7.​Her memoir, “Out of the Pantry: A Disordered Eating Journey,” is an honest look at decades of secret binge eating, shame, and the recovery work it took to finally heal her relationship with food. Her passion is helping others break the binge-guilt-restrict cycle and build a calm, sustainable relationship with eating.​Connect with Ronni:- Website: ronnrobinson.com​- Instagram: @ronnirobwrites / @imrecovered- Book: “Out of the Pantry: A Disordered Eating Journey” (available online and in audio)​If this episode helped you see your eating patterns differently, hit like, drop your questions or experiences in the comments, and share this with someone who might be quietly struggling with binge eating. And if you’re still watching and haven’t subscribed to Yollab Central yet, that’s on you, fix it now.​The views and opinions expressed by the guest in this episode are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or the podcast. The host is not responsible for any statements made by the guest.

Most people think owning a phone camera and hammering the shutter makes them a “photographer”, but veteran shooter and novelist Kirk Voclain says that’s like trusting a broken clock just because it’s right twice a day. In this episode, Kirk breaks down the real mindset shift from casual snapper to intentional photographer: seeing everything in the frame (including the ugly building behind the nice backyard), spotting flaws most people never notice, and deliberately using focus, contrast, and composition to control exactly where the viewer’s eye goes.​Kirk shares how today’s world of 5+ billion selfies a day means average photos get scrolled past in milliseconds, and why studying basics like crop, color harmony, and editing will instantly put you ahead of 99% of “point‑and‑shoot” creators. He explains how stock photography became his toughest teacher, rejection after rejection forcing him to level up his technical and artistic game, and how that discipline translates into better work on social media, for clients, and in real‑world assignments.​You’ll also hear the wild real‑life airport story that sparked his debut spy thriller Double Exposure, about an agent whose cover is a photographer, and the “dare” from a friend that turned into his clean romance novel Boots and Stilettos. Kirk talks about how decades behind the lens helped him write fiction that feels like a movie in your head, and he closes with hard‑won advice on how to choose a wedding or event photographer so you don’t trust your once‑in‑a‑lifetime memories to someone who just bought a camera yesterday.​Key Topics- How a photographer’s eye differs from how most people see (noticing everything in the frame)- Looking for “flaws” (background distractions, facial features, angles) and then fixing them- Directing viewer attention using focus, contrast, composition, and color harmony​- Why social media makes it harder to stand out (billions of selfies, endless scrolling) and why strong fundamentals matter​- Using stock photography rejections as a learning tool to improve technical and artistic quality​- How decades of shooting informed Kirk’s fiction writing in Double Exposure and Boots and Stilettos​- What to look for when hiring a photographer for important events (experience, portfolio, client feedback, professionalism)Guest:Kirk Voclain – South Louisiana photographer turned novelist; author of the spy thriller Double Exposure and the clean romance Boots and Stilettos; known for turning real studio and client lessons into simple, practical steps photographers can use right away.​If you’re serious about going beyond random “lucky shots,” watch the full episode, then check out kirkvoclain.com for his books, kvphoto.com for his photography, and his education platforms where he teaches photographers how to see, shoot, and edit like a pro.The views and opinions expressed by the guest in this episode are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or the podcast. The host is not responsible for any statements made by the guest.

Most people try to reinvent themselves with “willpower” and vision boards, and then wonder why they snap back into the same habits within weeks. In this episode, author, coach, and creator of The Storyboard Method™, Tanya Thompson, explains why personality change and life reinvention are never about forcing yourself harder, and always about rewriting the invisible stories running your autopilot. She breaks down how the brain turns past experiences into automatic reactions, and why the first real step in transformation is becoming conscious of your current reality and the stories you’re telling about who you are.​Tanya shares her three‑act Storyboard Method for reinvention: first, clearly mapping your current story and identity; second, deeply picturing your “preferred reality” beyond traditional vision boards; and third, identifying hidden barriers like culture, environment, or systemic bias that quietly shape your behavior. Drawing from her own experience as a Black woman conditioned to overachieve “twice as much for half as far,” she shows how those external narratives become internal archetypes—and how tools like meditation and her “Catch it, Check it, Change it” (Triple C) framework can help you pause your autopilot and build new neural pathways over time.​The conversation also dives into modern traps like rage‑bait and click‑bait on social media, and how to stop getting yanked into arguments and distractions that hijack your focus. Tanya explains how to treat these moments as training reps—catching the pattern sooner each time, refusing to judge yourself, and redirecting your attention back to aligned action. She also talks about creating content that meets people where they are (long‑form, short‑form, and different learning styles) while still honoring their priorities, and previews her upcoming book Beyond the Vision Board: Using The Storyboard Method© to Picture and Produce Your Preferred Reality.​Key Topics- Why willpower alone doesn’t work for reinvention- How “autopilot” is formed from past experiences and stories- Tanya’s three-act Storyboard Method: current reality, preferred reality, and barriers- Identifying hidden barriers (culture, environment, systemic bias, identity)- The “Catch it, Check it, Change it” (Triple C) tool for rewiring habits- Handling rage-bait and click-bait: catching distractions without self-judgment- Creating content and learning experiences that match different styles and attention spansGuest:Tanya Thompson – Author, coach, and creator of The Storyboard Method™; upcoming author of Beyond the Vision Board; she helps people reinvent their lives through clarity, alignment, and story so they can reclaim power in life and at work.​If you’re ready to stop living on autopilot and start consciously scripting your next chapter, watch the full episode—then visit levelupcoaching.info to learn more about Tanya’s Storyboard Method™, get updates on Beyond the Vision Board, and explore ways to work with her.​The views and opinions expressed by the guest in this episode are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or the podcast. The host is not responsible for any statements made by the guest.

Prosperity

Most entrepreneurs don’t have a “people problem”, they have a systems problem. In this episode, Marine veteran, 30‑year entrepreneur, and author of Escape the Owner Prison Richard Walsh breaks down why your business feels like a grind, why your phone is killing your focus, and how to build command-level systems so your team wins every single day.​Richard explains his “tip of the spear” mindset: as the owner, you’re supposed to be the sharp edge driving the business forward, not the dull blade buried in day-to-day chaos. He talks about why most delegation fails (you dump tasks without building guardrails), how over‑KPI’ing turns managers into toxic micromanagers, and why real leadership is about command, identity, and clear systems where people know exactly what winning looks like daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly.​You’ll also hear how Richard is now attacking the manufacturing leadership crisis by installing frontline “command systems” that stop profit bleed, reduce firefighting, and create a pipeline of prepared leaders instead of promoting your best worker into a role that ruins both their life and your operations. Along the way, he shares blunt advice on killing phone distractions, ditching social media dependency, and building real relationships that actually grow your business instead of chasing empty likes.​Key topics in this episode:- The “tip of the spear” mindset and why dull owners get stuck in owner prison- Why your phone is the enemy of deep work, focus, and real leadership- Delegation vs abdication: how to build systems where people actually know how to win- KPI sanity: what to track, what to ignore, and how micromanagers destroy trust- Command as an identity: creating leaders, not just filling supervisor seats- Fixing the frontline: why manufacturing (and other industries) bleed profit at the supervisor level- How to build a business that runs on systems and people, not just on youGuest:Richard Walsh – CEO, Sharpen the Spear Coaching; author of Escape the Owner Prison: The Contractor’s New Way to Scale, Regain Control and Fast-Track Growth While Loving Life; Marine, entrepreneur, and frontline leadership architect.​Connect with Richard:Command leadership & coaching: grittolead.com / Sharpen the Spear Coaching​Book: Escape the Owner Prison (contractors & owners who feel stuck in the business)​If you’re tired of feeling like a prisoner in your own company and ready to lead like a commander instead of a micromanager, this episode will hit uncomfortably close - and show you what to do next.The views and opinions expressed by the guest in this episode are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or the podcast. The host is not responsible for any statements made by the guest.

Most businesses say they want to “use AI,” but the truth is: they’re not ready. In this episode, strategy advisor and Generative AI expert Dr. Justin Trombold breaks down how to honestly assess your AI readiness and avoid wasting money on shiny tools that never move past the toy phase.Justin explains his “crawl vs. walk” framework for small and mid-sized companies, why processes and ways of working matter more than tech stacks, and how to turn random ChatGPT experiments into real, scalable business value. You’ll learn what needs to be true in your culture, processes, and people before you start automating decisions, content, or CRM flows with LLMs.We talk about:- Crawl vs. walk: how to know if your company is truly ready for Generative AI- Why you must fix process and continuous improvement before you automate anything- The basics every team needs: prompt discipline, human-in-the-loop, and understanding LLM limits- How to use “intelligent failure” instead of sloppy experimentation with AI pilots- Why 60-90% of AI projects get stuck in the pilot/toy phase, and how to break through- Practical guardrails for data privacy, enterprise LLM use, and not leaking your IP- How leaders should decide where to invest in AI (and where not to bother)If you’re a founder, exec, or team lead trying to figure out how to bring AI into your business without breaking things, or turning your people into prompt-dependent zombies, this conversation gives you a grounded, actionable playbook.Guest:Dr. Justin Trombold - President, Antesyn Advisors; strategy advisor for enterprise transformation and Generative AI readiness; former Deloitte, Grant Thornton, and academic researcher.Connect with Justin & resources:- Antesyn Advisors (Generative AI readiness & strategy):​- Start your own value-creating GenAI Journey with our "rapid" diagnostic here: https://www.antesynadvisors.com/blank-3Comment with “CRAWL” or “WALK” if you want a follow-up breakdown on how to move your company to the next stage of AI readiness.The views and opinions expressed by the guest in this episode are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or the podcast. The host is not responsible for any statements made by the guest.