The Uncommon Leader Podcast

Episode 211: Willow vs. Oak - Why Rigidity is Killing Your Leadership in the AI Era of Kristie Jones

We talk with Kristie Jones about how to build revenue resilience by choosing sales roles that match your strengths instead of forcing yourself into the wrong seat. We dig into the “hunter vs farmer” mindset, why coaching is a competitive edge, and how accountability and adaptability matter even more as AI changes work. 👉 Learning business and financial literacy through a “kitchen table MBA” 👉 Writing Selling Your Way In to help people pick the right sales job 👉 Using hunters, farmers, and gatherers to describe sales risk profiles 👉 Spotting the many sales career paths beyond the stereotype of prospecting 👉 Investing in coaches and experts to strengthen skills and the mental game 👉 Raising standards by protecting your circle and leaving rooms that limit growth 👉 Applying “I’ve got 30 minutes for everyone” to give back with practical help 👉 Hiring and leadership lessons on character, integrity, and trusting patterns 👉 Staying employable by being more willow than oak in the age of AI  Finally, Kristie explains why leaders and teams need to be more willow than oak as AI reshapes hiring, workflows, and what “valuable” means at work. If you want practical frameworks for hiring salespeople, building an accountability culture, and taking control of your career trajectory, this one will stick with you.Subscribe for more conversations with uncommon leaders, share this with someone choosing their next role, and leave a review so more people can find the show.𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐊𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬👇➡️ 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐈𝐧 (primary): https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiekjones/➡️ 𝐖𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞: https://kristiekjones.com/➡️ 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊: https://kristiekjones.com/book/selling-your-way-in/#GrowingChampions #TheUncommonLeaderPodcast #ChampionsBrew #CoachJohnGallagher #KristieJones #RevenueGrowth #OwnYourOwnSh*tThanks for listening in to the Uncommon Leader Podcast.  Please take just a minute to share this podcast with that someone you know that you thought of when you heard this episode.  One of the most valuable things you can do is to rate the podcast and leave a review.  You can do that on  Apple podcasts, or rate the podcast on Spotify or any other platform you listen.  Did you know that many of the things that I discuss on the Uncommon Leader Podcast are subjects that I coach other leaders and organizations ?  If you would be interested in having me discuss  1:1 or group coaching with you, or know someone who is looking to move from Underperforming to Uncommon in their business or life, I would love to chat with you.  Click this link  to set up a FREE CALL to discuss how coaching might benefit you and your team) Until next time, Go and Grow Champions!!Connect with me 

Episode 210: Finding Your Purpose - Football Is Your Job, But It’s Not Who You Are | Kent Chevalier

A steady paycheck can feel like “wisdom” until you realize it is actually fear wearing a suit. That realization sits at the heart of my conversation with Kent Chevalier, the Pittsburgh Steelers team chaplain and the author of Do It Afraid, a book built for leaders who feel called to more but keep hesitating at the edge of the jump.• a childhood IOU note and how scarcity quietly shapes leadership decisions• why comfort, familiarity, and responsibility can smother purpose• the birds' nest story that clarified calling and provision• “What God initiates, He permeates, and why self-started plans drain us• LEAP and PRAY as a simple framework for big decisions• expressing fear without shame and why real men cry out to God• identity beyond performance and the pressure elite athletes carry• active waiting through spiritual disciplines instead of doomscrolling• delayed obedience as a form of disobedience and why Jesus is not a buffet lineKent takes us back to a childhood moment in western Pennsylvania that planted a scarcity story in his heart, then walks us forward into the very adult struggle of responsibility, comfort, and control. We talk about what holds people back from their God-given purpose, why familiarity can quietly erase a dream, and how God used an unexpected bird's nest on a patio to drive the message home: you are more valuable than the birds, and God can provide when you step out in faith. If you have ever felt stuck between obedience and “being practical,” this will hit home.We also dig into a simple, repeatable decision-making approach from Kent’s work, including the LEAP framework and the discipline of active waiting. That leads to some of the most honest parts of the conversation: how high performers handle anxiety, why expressing fear is not weakness, and how identity gets tangled up with performance in the NFL and in everyday leadership. Kent shares lessons he has learned alongside Coach Mike Tomlin and Steelers players, plus a direct challenge about obedience: what God reveals is not meant to be negotiated.🎁 BOOK GIVEAWAY👇𝙂𝙚𝙩 𝙆𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝘾𝙝𝙚𝙫𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙧 "𝘿𝙊 𝙄𝙏 𝘼𝐅𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐃" 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠:Type in Comment section: "𝘿𝙊 𝙄𝙏 𝘼𝐅𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐃"𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 Kent Chevalier👇➡️ 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐈𝐧 (primary): https://www.linkedin.com/in/kentchevalier/➡️ 𝐖𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞: https://www.kentchevalier.com/➡️ 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊: https://www.amazon.com/Do-Afraid-Kent-Chevalier/dp/1969508213/Thanks for listening in to the Uncommon Leader Podcast. Please take just a minute to share this podcast with that someone you know that you thought of when you heard this episode. One of the most valuable things you can do is to rate the podcast and leave a review. You can do that on Apple podcasts, or rate the podcast on Spotify or any other platform you listen. Did you know that many of the things that I discuss on the Uncommon Leader Podcast are subjects that I coach other leaders and organizations ? If you would be interested in having me discuss 1:1 or group coaching with you, or know someone who is looking to move from Underperforming to Uncommon in their business or life, I would love to chat with you. Click this link to set up a FREE CALL to discuss how coaching might benefit you and your team) Until next time, Go and Grow Champions!!Connect with me

Episode 209: Jake Plummer was an NFL Star, but Success Broke His Body. Here’s How He Flipped the Script

We trace Jake Plummer’s path from NFL leadership to functional mushroom entrepreneurship, focusing on recovery, healthspan, and the discipline behind nature-first performance. He shares practical ways mushrooms support sleep, energy, and inflammation, and why meaningful dosing and education matter.• a fifth-grade playground moment defining inclusive leadership• the cost of playing through pain and rethinking recovery• hemp and cannabinoids as a gateway to functional mushrooms• the mushroom kingdom explained: functional, gourmet, psychedelic• quality extraction, real dosing, and daily rituals that work• the grind of mushroom farming and building a skilled team• Pat Tillman’s influence: passion, action, and asking hard questions• healthspan over lifespan and consistent habits for longevity• Umbo’s vision: research, access, and athlete-led impact• how to try Umbo and connect with JakeUse "uncommon 15" at checkout, and you can get a 15% discount to give it a shot𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝟭𝟱% 𝗢𝗙𝗙 𝗨𝗺𝗯𝗼 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺𝘀:Use Code: 𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐎𝐍𝟏𝟓Shop: https://getumbo.comPlease, a couple of things. 𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐄 it with someone else who needs to hear it. 𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐮𝐬 𝐚 𝐟𝐢𝐯𝐞-𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 if you can, and then ultimately take advantage of that uncommon 15. Try out a sample pack at getumbo.com and see if it might be something that's good for you========================================================𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 Jake Plummer👇➡️ 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐈𝐧 (primary): https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-plummer-5b95b719/➡️ 𝐖𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞:  https://getumbo.com/➡️ 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊: https://getumbo.com/pages/functional-mushroom-playbook 𝙒𝘼𝙉𝙏 𝙈𝙊𝙍𝙀 𝙄𝙉𝙎𝙋𝙄𝙍𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝙇𝙀𝘼𝘿𝙀𝙍𝙎?𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭:🚀𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭s: 🍎 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-uncommon-leader-podcast/id1577348656 🚀𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲: 💚 https://open.spotify.com/show/5uJi4cd4vbTeLTweSKz9FR?si=b4a655399eb248e5 🚀𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐓𝐮𝐛𝐞: https://youtu.be/Y0j6LZtZeyA#TheUncommonLeaderPodcast #JakePlummer #ExecutiveLongevity #NFL #PatTillman #Umbo #GrowingChampions #CoachJohnGallagherThanks for listening in to the Uncommon Leader Podcast.  Please take just a minute to share this podcast with that someone you know that you thought of when you heard this episode.  One of the most valuable things you can do is to rate the podcast and leave a review.  You can do that on  Apple podcasts, or rate the podcast on Spotify or any other platform you listen.  Did you know that many of the things that I discuss on the Uncommon Leader Podcast are subjects that I coach other leaders and organizations ?  If you would be interested in having me discuss  1:1 or group coaching with you, or know someone who is looking to move from Underperforming to Uncommon in their business or life, I would love to chat with you.  Click this link  to set up a FREE CALL to discuss how coaching might benefit you and your team) Until next time, Go and Grow Champions!!Connect with me 

Episode 208: Don’t Ask for a Lighter Load. The Secret to Professional Accountability w/ Dalmo Cirne

We walk through the Four Streams of Leadership—reservoir, downstream, upstream, and side stream—and show how leadership is a continuous flow. Reservoir is self-management: values, habits, and the reflection that keeps you steady under pressure. Downstream is team and operations: assembling roles, setting standards, and maintaining momentum. Upstream is partnering with your boss and senior leaders: aligning priorities and preventing strategic drift. Side stream is collaborating with peers: building shared commitments and removing cross-team friction. When each stream runs clean, you move faster with fewer surprises.• reframing the Peter Principle as unpreparedness• replacing stories with explanatory frameworks and exercises• defining the four streams: reservoir, downstream, upstream, side stream• building a culture that holds when we are absent• habits to fill the reservoir: reading, audiobooks, feedback loops• composing teams with visionaries, implementers, and closers• interviewing for role fit through consistent depth• timing process for discovery versus reliability• making disagreement and commitment possible with a clear why• further reading influences: Popper, Feynman, Deutsch• where to learn more and get the bookHiring and team design get specific through three vital roles: visionaries who define the problem and direction, implementers who build the thing, and closers who ship it. Too many visionaries means swirl; too few closers means value never lands. We share interviewing tactics that probe for consistent depth across envisioning, building, and finishing, so you can place people where they thrive. Then we tackle the third rail—process. Early on, heavy process kills discovery; after product-market fit, light process kills reliability. We map the why, when, what, and how of process so your team can innovate without chaos and deliver without drift. Along the way, we unpack “disagree and commit” the right way: explain the why, or you’ll get “disagree and resent.”If you’re ready to trade fables for frameworks and build a culture that acts the right way when you’re not in the room, this conversation is your field guide. Subscribe, share with a manager who just took the leap, and leave a quick review to tell us which framework you’ll try first.𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 Dalmo Cirne👇➡️ 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐈𝐧 (primary): https://www.linkedin.com/in/dalmocirne/➡️ 𝐖𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞:  https://dalmocirne.com/➡️ 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1510785183 Thanks for listening in to the Uncommon Leader Podcast.  Please take just a minute to share this podcast with that someone you know that you thought of when you heard this episode.  One of the most valuable things you can do is to rate the podcast and leave a review.  You can do that on  Apple podcasts, or rate the podcast on Spotify or any other platform you listen.  Did you know that many of the things that I discuss on the Uncommon Leader Podcast are subjects that I coach other leaders and organizations ?  If you would be interested in having me discuss  1:1 or group coaching with you, or know someone who is looking to move from Underperforming to Uncommon in their business or life, I would love to chat with you.  Click this link  to set up a FREE CALL to discuss how coaching might benefit you and your team) Until next time, Go and Grow Champions!!Connect with me 

Episode 207: Success Is a Numbers Game: Kyle Austin Young on How to Change the Odds of Your Goals

Most advice says work harder and keep trying. We put that to the test and reveal why so many smart teams still miss: they average their confidence across steps instead of multiplying their true odds. With award-winning strategy consultant and author Kyle Austin Young, we break down a simple, rigorous way to change results by changing probability—without needing a PhD or a spreadsheet marathon.We start by exposing the averaging trap and building a clean success diagram: a left-to-right map of every step that must go right to hit your goal. Then we estimate the likelihood of each step, multiply to reveal real odds, and hunt for the failure modes stealing your probability. Kyle calls it “think negative” thinking: not doom and gloom, but a disciplined scan for what could go wrong—glitches, delays, weak offers, misreads—so you can de-risk them in advance. You’ll hear how he used this method to land a leadership job at 21 by neutralizing age bias, shifting interviews to future-focused plans, and mirroring team language drawn from their favorite books.Inside this episode, we cover:➡️ The 34% Trap: Why most leaders mathematically overestimate their chance of success and how to fix it.➡️ The "Beard & Book" Strategy: How Kyle probability-hacked his way into a Director role at age 21.➡️ Think Negative: Why identifying "failure modes" is the ultimate creative tool for CEOs.➡️ Tuition Costs: How to view high-stakes mistakes as the price of your leadership education.➡️ The Revenge Tour: Lessons in humility and strategic adjustment from trout fishing.We dig into a nonprofit case where donations fell off a cliff. Agencies tried fresh stories, but a success diagram pointed somewhere less glamorous: a deliverability glitch that blocked a major inbox provider. Fixing the pipe beat rewriting the message. From there, we explore Hail Mary diagrams for stalled goals, when to pause versus quit, and how to stack smaller wins—bylines, relationships, proof—so big moves become high-odds plays. Along the way, Kyle’s stories about resilience, iteration, and the math behind confidence will give you tools to raise your odds in hiring, product launches, fundraising, and personal goals like marathon training.If you’re ready to stop guessing, map your steps, and steal probability back from failure, this conversation gives you the playbook. Subscribe, share with a friend who bets on big goals, and leave a quick review to help more uncommon leaders find the show.Thanks for listening in to the Uncommon Leader Podcast.  Please take just a minute to share this podcast with that someone you know that you thought of when you heard this episode.  One of the most valuable things you can do is to rate the podcast and leave a review.  You can do that on  Apple podcasts, or rate the podcast on Spotify or any other platform you listen.  Did you know that many of the things that I discuss on the Uncommon Leader Podcast are subjects that I coach other leaders and organizations ?  If you would be interested in having me discuss  1:1 or group coaching with you, or know someone who is looking to move from Underperforming to Uncommon in their business or life, I would love to chat with you.  Click this link  to set up a FREE CALL to discuss how coaching might benefit you and your team) Until next time, Go and Grow Champions!!Connect with me