Series Description: In this special 4-part series of Making Business Personal, Jason Weiss challenges the cult of personal branding that dominates today's professional landscape. Discover why limiting yourself to a consistent "brand" might be holding back your greatest potential, and how embracing your contradictions and evolution could be your true superpower in business and life. Each episode offers practical insights to help you break free from branding constraints and reclaim your right to change, grow, and thrive as your full, complex self.

Episode 1: The Personal Branding Trap Are you a can of soup or a dynamic human being? In this eye-opening first episode, Jason reveals the hidden costs of reducing yourself to a "personal brand." Through compelling stories and research, he exposes how our obsession with consistency leads to manufactured authenticity and self-imposed limitations. Discover why your contradictions might be your greatest professional assets.

#BeyondTheBrand #LeadershipDevelopment #ProfessionalGrowth

What do ill-fitting pants and outdated business strategies have in common? They both create unnecessary friction in our lives. In this thought-provoking episode, we explore how the things we refuse to let go of—whether in our closets or our companies—can silently sabotage our progress and wellbeing.

Through the story of "Bob" and his closet full of pants that no longer fit, we uncover the powerful connection between our personal mindsets and professional performance. Discover why letting go isn't admitting defeat, but creating space for who you're becoming.

A must-listen for leaders seeking to eliminate hidden friction in their lives and organizations.

Would you ever speak to a valued colleague the way you speak to yourself after a setback?

For most high achievers, the answer is a resounding no. We reserve our harshest criticism for the person in the mirror.

In today's podcast episode, I explore how self-compassion—often misunderstood as self-indulgence—is a critical component of sustainable success and resilience in demanding professional environments.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿:

• Why self-criticism sabotages performance (contrary to what many of us believe)
• The research showing that self-compassionate professionals recover faster from setbacks
• Practical techniques to build self-compassion without sacrificing your edge
• How leaders who model self-compassion create psychologically safer, higher-performing teams

In this thought-provoking episode, we explore the uncomfortable reality of why we lie—not just the small social fibs, but the consequential denials that undermine trust and progress. Drawing from recent examples at Oracle, the Department of Defense, and conversations with executives trapped in cultures of perfection, we unpack how the "mistake tax" transforms honesty from a virtue into a liability.

You'll discover:

• The psychological mechanics behind institutional denial
• How high-stakes environments make dishonesty the rational choice
• Why organizations with psychological safety consistently outperform their peers
• Practical strategies for creating cultures where truth can flourish

Whether you're leading a team or simply trying to navigate a workplace where perfection seems expected, this episode offers a refreshingly honest look at our relationship with truth, failure, and growth.

Listen as we challenge the notion that adults should arrive fully formed and explore how the same patience we extend to children learning might transform our organizations into places where innovation thrives and truth matters.

Is your organization pouring money into communication training only to see the same problems resurface months later? You're not alone.

In today's episode, I reveal why most corporate communication programs create nothing more than a temporary buzz before things slide right back to where they started. Drawing from real conversations with Fortune 500 executives, I'll unpack why these expensive trainings are often designed to make you feel like you're addressing the problem without fixing anything fundamental.

Find out what's really happening beneath the surface of communication breakdowns in your organization, and discover the approaches that actually move the needle on team performance.

Time to look beyond the quick fix and address what's really holding your company back.

In 'When Standards Become Anchors,' we expose the brutal truth that the very policies created to protect your success often transform into concrete boots that prevent innovation while hungry competitors sail freely ahead.

This episode challenges leaders to conduct ruthless policy audits, implement sunset provisions, and create innovation zones where intelligent questioning is rewarded—because your organization's relevance depends on whether your standards are propelling you forward or dragging you into irrelevance while competitors evolve faster.

In 'The Mint Principle,' we reveal the powerful truth that the most dangerous organizational problems aren't the noisy ones, but those silently spreading underground while leaders look away.

This episode challenges listeners to practice 'leadership weeding' by having the courage to seek guidance, the vulnerability to act early with incomplete information, and the wisdom to set clear boundaries—because the truest test of leadership isn't handling obvious crises but addressing small things before they become crises at all.

In 'Leadership Is Life,' we challenge the destructive notion that leadership is about dominance and spectacle, revealing instead that true leadership happens in Tuesday morning exhaustion when no one's watching and you choose the harder, better path.

This episode invites listeners to recognize that there's no such thing as work-life balance—there is only life—and how you lead isn't just about your job but about who you are as a human being taking care of those in your charge.