What happens when success stops being something you enjoy and starts becoming something you need?

In this episode of The Clark Connection Podcast, Aaron Clark sits down with singer, songwriter, entrepreneur, nonprofit leader, and former Nashville Star contestant David St. Romain for a conversation about the dangerous side of success, leadership, resilience, trauma, faith, and finding purpose beyond recognition.

David opens up about a realization that changed the way he viewed success: he was living by the applause. When the crowd was there and things were going well, he felt great. When the applause disappeared, so did the emotional high.

That journey eventually led David toward Stoicism, personal responsibility, faith, and a deeper understanding of where his identity and purpose really come from.

Aaron and David also discuss David’s journey through the music industry, entrepreneurship, and nonprofit leadership. David shares how his organization, Songs of Survivors, uses songwriting and storytelling to help military veterans process trauma, build connection, and reframe painful experiences through music.

They also get into what real leadership requires, why leaders must take responsibility when things go wrong, the importance of routines and reflection, and how tools like EOS and the book Traction have helped David bring structure to his entrepreneurial ventures.

David also shares the story behind his upcoming autobiography, This Hole in Me, which explores childhood trauma, resilience, vulnerability, healing, and the experiences that shaped the man and leader he is today.

If you’re an entrepreneur, leader, creator, high achiever, or anyone who has ever tied your identity to achievement or other people’s approval, this conversation is for you.

Because success isn’t necessarily the problem.

The danger begins when you need the applause.

🎙️ The Clark Connection Podcast with Aaron Clark

🎤 Guest: David St. Romain

CONNECT WITH DAVID:

DavidStRomain.com

MeetDSR.com

Text #CoachClark to 225-396-4166 and stay connected with David St. Romain

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Connect with Coach Clark

🌐 Website: https://www.coachclarkleadership.com

📱 Follow Coach Clark on all social media: @coachclarkleadership

Got Questions? Ask THE Coach!

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Thank You to Our Sponsors

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Business has changed. The way we market, sell, lead, and reach customers continues to evolve, and what worked five or ten years ago may not be enough to keep you competitive today.

In this episode of The Clark Connection Podcast, Aaron Clark sits down with Chris Blades, Director of Sales at Guaranty Media and Gatorworks, to talk about what it takes to keep up.

Chris shares lessons from more than 20 years in media and marketing, including how traditional media companies have adapted to digital platforms, streaming, social media, and changing consumer behavior. He also shares his own career journey from television production and marketing to sales and leadership.

The conversation goes beyond media. Chris and Aaron discuss why leaders shouldn't try to be the smartest person in the room, the importance of hiring people who complement your weaknesses, and how giving people room to think and create can build a stronger team.

Chris also shares how leaving media during COVID and working in his family's farming business forced him to learn sales, deal with rejection, and find new ways to create opportunities when the old way of doing business suddenly didn't work.

If you're a leader, entrepreneur, or business owner trying to navigate a world that refuses to stop changing, this conversation is a reminder that you don't have to know everything.

But you've got to keep up.

In this episode:

* Why businesses and leaders have to continually adapt

* How digital media changed the traditional advertising model

* Why great leaders hire people who know what they don't

* Giving your team freedom while still holding them accountable

* Learning sales through rejection and adversity

* Why continuous learning matters more than ever

Subscribe to **The Clark Connection Podcast** for more conversations about leadership, personal growth, and entrepreneurship.

Connect with Coach Clark

🌐 Website: https://www.coachclarkleadership.com

📱 Follow Coach Clark on all social media: @coachclarkleadership

Got Questions? Ask THE Coach!

Have a leadership, personal growth, or entrepreneurship question you'd like answered on a future episode or livestream?

Submit your question here:

https://forms.gle/CxAoZ2xw6Z8aDifg8

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Premium Sponsors

Hubbard Flooring Studio

Vicki and the team at Hubbard Flooring Studio

📞 225-924-1582

🌐 https://www.hubbardflooringstudio.com

📍 11880 Boylan Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70809

TruScaler

Improve your visibility in AI-powered search with TruScaler.

🌐 https://truscaler.com/

Sponsors

Steadfast Electric

BJ and the team at Steadfast Electric

📞 225-364-9218

🌐 https://steadfastelectric.com/

Automate Integrate Professional Services

Andrew and the team at Automate Integrate Professional Services

📧 andrew@automate-integrate.com

🌐 https://automate-integrate.com/

Dr. Robert W. Smith, DC, DABCI

Chiropractic Internist

📞 225-291-2626

🌐 https://www.brspine.com/

Interested in Sponsoring The Clark Connection Podcast?

Partner with one of Louisiana's fastest-growing leadership podcasts and put your business in front of leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals each week.

🌐 https://www.coachclarkleadership.com

📧 aaron@coachclarkleadership.com

What happens when you’re always the smartest person in the room?

In this episode of The Clark Connection Podcast, Aaron sits down with Julia LaRose, owner of Pink’s Window Cleaning and Services in East Baton Rouge, for a conversation about leadership, entrepreneurship, service, and why real growth requires people who are willing to challenge you.

Julia shares her journey from civil engineering and technical sales into entrepreneurship and explains why she and her husband built Pink’s around something much bigger than cleaning windows. Their mission is about serving people, restoring human connection, developing young leaders, and strengthening their community.

Aaron and Julia also dig into why great leaders don’t need to have all the answers. They discuss the value of surrounding yourself with people who think differently, being willing to admit when you’re wrong, and developing what Julia calls “confident humility.”

They also discuss:

* Why leadership starts with making people feel seen and valued

* Hiring for character, values, and coachability instead of just experience

* Building a culture that employees actually understand and believe in

* Giving young people real opportunities to develop leadership skills

* Recognizing the people who helped you succeed

* Why growth requires challenge and discomfort

* The importance of service, community, and human connection

* Why leaders should remain lifelong learners

Julia also shares the influence her grandfather had on her approach to leadership, the books shaping how she thinks about business and service, and why she has started exchanging handwritten letters with her parents.

If you’re an entrepreneur, business owner, or leader who wants to build something bigger than yourself, this conversation is a reminder that you don’t grow by always being right. You grow by staying humble enough to be challenged.

Connect with Julia & Pink’s Windows:

Pink’s Windows: pinkswindows.com

Facebook: Pink’s Windows East Baton Rouge

Email: [Julia@pinkswindows.com](mailto:Julia@pinkswindows.com)

Be sure to subscribe to The Clark Connection Podcast and follow @coachclarkleadership for more conversations about leadership, entrepreneurship, and personal growth.