Ever feel like your "new product" ideas stall out — not because they're bad, but because the team can't stay aligned long enough to bring them to life?

If you're trying to grow in a world of constant AI disruption, you can't afford ideation that dies in committee or teams that melt down under pressure. This episode hits the real blocker most CEOs run into: brilliant people get promoted, but nobody ever taught them how to lead, think clearly under stress, or build a team that can take an idea from "interesting" to "in market." You'll hear how misdefined problems, ego-driven leadership habits, and check-the-box people programs quietly slow your growth — and what to do instead.

• A practical way to spot why ideas aren't turning into products (hint: it's usually a problem-definition gap, not a talent gap).

• A clearer read on your own leadership wiring — what's hardwired, what's learned, and how that mix impacts trust, communication, and execution.

• Simple, high-leverage moves to elevate your team's thinking so you can stop living in the tactical weeds and lead more strategically.

Hit play now and steal Curtis Sprouses' tools for sharpening your team (and your own leadership) so your next big idea actually makes it to market — with fewer headaches and better results.

Check out:

06:30 — The perfectionist founder example + why EQ can cap your growth
Curtis walks through the real profile of a biotech CEO (high dominance, extreme perfectionism, low emotional intelligence) and shows how that combo derails fundraising, trust, and team performance — even when talent is off the charts.

18:45 — "Do you want to be remembered as the leader who grew people… or the one everyone avoided?"
Curtis shares a sharp coaching story about a long-tenured exec who'd been rewarded for harsh habits for decades — and the one reframing that finally got him to shift how he led (with ripple effects at work and home).

28:00 — The #1 fatal flaw: CEOs define the problem wrong
Curtis explains the "pressure vs. problem" distinction and gives a quick diagnostic (person vs. process vs. resources vs. priorities). This is the core "aha" for why teams spin and boards get frustrated.

About Curtis Sprouse

Curtis Sprouse is the founder of EurekaConnect and the Institute for Biomedical Entrepreneurship (IBE), where he helps leaders and teams outperform through strategic behavioral programs. With over 5,000 professionals coached and 200+ biomedical innovations advanced, Curtis specializes in turning science and technology into viable, impactful ventures. His programs have helped companies raise tens of millions in capital and bring real products to market. Curtis speaks on leadership, team building, personal development, and the future of business and society.

What if the real competitive edge in your company isn't another strategy shift—but your human sustainability as a leader?

You're expected to perform like a high-level athlete: stay sharp, set direction, handle pressure, and keep your team moving—often while AI disruption speeds everything up. But here's the catch: if your internal system is running at red line, your decision-making, culture, and results eventually pay the price. In this episode, Jim Schleckser talks with Pearce Cucchissi, a former Army Ranger turned executive performance coach, about how leaders build the stamina, clarity, and resilience to thrive long-term—without burning out or becoming the bottleneck themselves.

By listening, you'll gain:

• A fresh way to think about leadership as human sustainability—how to keep your mind and body durable enough for the pace you're running.

• Tools to identify "people bottlenecks" on your team, including what's really behind wrong-person/wrong-seat issues.

• A practical, data-informed approach (like psychometric assessments) to reduce stress deltas, improve fit, and increase longevity for you and your leaders—especially during growth or acquisitions.

Press play to learn Pearce's battle-tested methods for building human sustainability into your leadership—so you can win the long game with more energy, focus, and staying power.

Check out:

• 04:30 – "Business athlete" framing
  Jim and Pearce connect elite athletic performance to executive leadership—stamina, mental state, keeping score, and bringing the team along.

• 12:40 – Operator syndrome → CEO burnout bridge
  Pearce explains "operator syndrome" (stuck in fight-or-flight) and why the same pattern shows up in CEOs, athletes, and PE-backed exec teams.

• 24:10 – Psychometric delta + right person/right seat
  The Culture Index / psychometric "delta" idea: how to spot misalignment, stress, disengagement, and predict longevity—plus what to do with hotspots on a leadership team.

About Pearce Cucchissi

Pearce is a former military special operator who brings battlefield-tested strategic thinking and elite team dynamics to the boardroom. As the founder of Built to Evolve, he helps executives and teams unlock peak performance through a cutting-edge blend of neuroscience, psychology, and physiology. His mission is to create business athletes, leaders with the stamina, clarity, and resilience to thrive under pressure and deliver maximum positive impact.

Pearce has worked with top-tier organizations including Citibank, The Las Vegas Raiders, and Charter Communications. Today, he advises executives within Private Equity-backed portfolio companies, where the stakes are high and the mental toll is real. His coaching style is direct, data-driven, and deeply human, balancing performance optimization with personal well-being to ensure leaders are built to evolve, not burn out.

Do you ever wonder why, no matter how much your business grows, your personal finances still feel out of control?

If you've ever felt like your success at work doesn't translate to financial peace at home, this episode is your wake-up call. Jim Schleckser sits down with money expert and bestselling author Mike Michalowicz—creator of Profit First—to talk about why most people, even entrepreneurs, struggle with money and how simple behavior shifts can create real financial freedom.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• How to "pay yourself first" in a way that guarantees profit instead of hoping for it.

• The behavioral money trap that keeps even smart business owners broke—and how to intercept it.

• A simple system to reduce financial stress for you and your employees, leading to happier, more productive teams.

Hit play now to learn Mike's practical, life-changing approach to mastering your money habits—and start keeping more of what you earn today.

Check out:

• [08:45] – The "Profit First" Mindset: Mike explains how reversing the traditional approach to profit—taking it off the top instead of waiting until the end—can transform how you run your business.

• [22:10] – The Behavioral Intercept: A powerful discussion on why most people fail with budgets and how simple systems at the bank level can automatically change your financial behavior for good.

• [39:25] – Redefining Retirement: Jim and Mike challenge the traditional idea of retirement and explore how to plan for a meaningful, flexible, and financially confident future.

About Mike Michalowicz

Mike Michalowicz is the entrepreneur behind four multi-million-dollar companies and the author of bestselling business books including Profit First, Clockwork, The Pumpkin Plan, and All In. His newest book, The Money Habit, is a groundbreaking approach to personal finance. The television host of The 4 Minute Money Maker and a former columnist for The Wall Street Journal, Mike now travels the world helping individuals grow thriving businesses and live richer lives.