As the year winds down and the pace of projects, planning, and priorities picks up, BJ takes a moment to reflect on what it means to lead through transition.

In this solo episode of Leadership Blueprints, he shares insights on recognizing the natural rhythms of leadership - the seasons of building, the pauses for reflection, and the moments when teams need to reset before accelerating forward.

BJ discusses the importance of taking inventory - not just of your workload, but of your mindset. He reminds leaders that progress isn’t only about pushing harder, but also about pacing yourself, finding clarity in the chaos, and realigning your purpose for what’s ahead.

Whether you’re leading a team, a project, or your own personal growth, this episode offers a timely reminder: leadership is built day by day, season by season.

Key Points From This Episode:

• The parallels between the changing seasons and the cycles of leadership and growth.
• Why reflection and rest are vital to sustainable leadership performance.
• How to find balance between execution, evaluation, and evolution.
• The value of pausing to appreciate your team’s effort before sprinting into what’s next.
• Practical steps for leaders to reset intentions and priorities heading into a new season.
• How slowing down can actually help you accelerate with clarity and purpose.

Quotes:

“Progress doesn’t always mean doing more. Sometimes it means creating space to think, to breathe, and to lead better.” - BJ Kraemer

“Great leaders don’t just build projects. They build people - and that takes reflection, rhythm, and renewal.” - BJ Kraemer

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

• Leadership Blueprints Podcast

• MCFA

• MCFA Careers

• BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

The final months of the year can feel like a sprint - at home, at work, and everywhere in between. For leaders, that “push to the finish line” often comes at the expense of peace, presence, and purpose. In this special re-release of a timely conversation, BJ Kraemer sits down with Valerie Peterson, LMHC, a licensed mental health counselor who helps high-performing professionals find balance and resilience through self-awareness and intentional living.

Together, they explore how to lead with presence through the holidays, avoid burnout, and create rhythms of rest that sustain strong leadership year-round. From practical tips on setting boundaries to reframing your mindset when facing grief or overcommitment, Valerie offers wisdom for anyone looking to enter the holiday season with more peace and less pressure.

Tune in to discover how pacing yourself -not pushing harder -can make you a better leader, parent, and teammate.

Key Points From This Episode:

• How overcommitting leads to exhaustion — and how to redefine productivity through purpose.
• Recognizing when you’re Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired, and what to do before burnout sets in.
• Valerie’s reminder that saying no is an act of leadership — and a gift to yourself and others.
• How to budget, prioritize, and communicate to make the holidays joyful instead of draining.
• Permission to rest, recharge, and treat peace as a professional responsibility.

Quotes:

“Busy isn’t a sustainable practice — it’s often just being busy because you said yes.” - BJ Kraemer
“No one is going to take care of you but you. You have to put on your own oxygen mask first.” -Valerie Peterson
“Boundaries are not walls — they’re clarity about what matters most.” -Valerie Peterson
“It’s hard to heal if you don’t feel.” - Valerie Peterson

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

• Valerie Peterson, LMHC
• Leadership Blueprints Podcast
• MCFA
• BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

At first glance, business development might not appear to be part of a leader’s role. Yet it’s central to how effective leaders build trust, connect vision to operations, and align people and projects around shared purpose. In this episode of The Leadership Blueprints Podcast, BJ welcomes Brad Adams, founder and principal of The R4 Group, a specialized business development consulting firm.

Drawing on decades of experience from Wall Street to partnerships with architects, engineers, developers, and real estate financiers, Brad shares how genuine relationships, curiosity, and empathy drive long-term success far more than transactional sales tactics. He explains why everyone, not just sales teams, plays a role in business development, and how leaders can turn everyday conversations into opportunities for growth. From nurturing connections to recognizing when partnerships align, Brad shows how genuine connection and follow-through lead to meaningful business outcomes.

Tune in to learn how shifting from “always be selling” to “always be connecting” can transform both your leadership and your business development mindset!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Founding the R4 Group to leverage his network and connect clients for mutual success.

• Insights from connecting clients and partners through trusted relationships.

• Case study: helping a global architectural firm establish roots in Philadelphia.

• A walkthrough of what Brad’s client process looks like.

• How empathy and authenticity strengthen business relationships.

• Tips for nurturing networks through genuine, consistent personal connection.

Quotes:

“I never considered myself a great salesperson, but what I did well was building relationships with people, and that's really where my success came from.” — Brad Adams

“I decided to start the R4 group, which basically leverages my network. And the people [who] engage me, I introduce them to people that I know [who] can utilize their services. And that's what I've been doing for the past 20 years, and enjoying myself every day.” — Brad Adams

“Business development is something that is everyone's responsibility, not just a dedicated salesperson or BD person.” — Brad Adams

“I've had some situations where I haven't done as well as I would have liked, and that's okay. I understand that, and you learn from that. You never chalk it up as a bad experience. You chalk it up as a learning experience.” — Brad Adams

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Brad Adams

Brad Adams on LinkedIn

The R4 Group

Principles: Life and Work

Ray Dalio

Ronald Reagan

Steve Prefontaine

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn