The Uncommon Leader Podcast

Episode 203: Why Your Leadership Pipeline is Actually a Placement Problem by Mac Lake

What if your calling stayed the same, but your assignment changed? That’s the pivot Mac Lake made—moving from pastoring and church planting to building leadership pipelines for churches and, later, for businesses hungry to grow healthy leaders. We sat down to unpack the turning points, the practical frameworks, and the simple habits that turn lofty leadership talk into measurable impact.Mac shares the “intervention” that ignited his growth, why investing in yourself isn’t optional, and how a clear leadership pipeline can stop bottlenecks before they burn out your best people. We walk through the five-tier pathway—from leading yourself to leading the organization—so you can spot gaps, set ratios, and prepare your next layer of leaders on purpose. You’ll hear how development beats placement every time, and why the triad of knowledge, experience, and coaching is the simplest engine for transformation you can run across any team.• origins of purpose and early leadership wake-up call• moving from church staff to founding Multiply Group• treating business as a platform for discipleship and influence• investing in yourself with intentional growth plans• designing a leadership pipeline with healthy ratios• shifting from leader placement to leader development• triad of knowledge, experience, and coaching• pairing character with competency for trusted impact• daily health practices that fuel longevity and focus• how we develop our own team through monthly huddlesWe also dig into the balance of character and competency, anchored in David’s model of a pure heart and skillful hands. Mac explains how pairing virtues with skills—patience with conflict, humility with decision-making, courage with change—“supercharges” leadership people trust. And because energy is a competitive edge, we zoom in on health span: eat, sleep, move, think, hydrate. From ditching processed foods and seed oils to resistance training and hydration, Mac shows how daily habits protect focus, raise resilience, and help you finish strong.If you lead a business, a nonprofit, or a church, you’ll leave with a blueprint to restructure your team, a repeatable way to develop leaders, and a personal plan to sustain the energy leadership demands. Subscribe for more conversations with uncommon leaders, share this with someone who needs the nudge, and leave a review to help others find the show.𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 Barb Betts:👇➡️ 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐈𝐧 (primary): https://www.linkedin.com/in/maclake/➡️ 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐓𝐮𝐛𝐞: https://www.youtube.com/maclake➡️ 𝐖𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞:  https://www.multiplygroup.org/➡️ 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤:  https://multiply-group.myshopify.com/Connect with The Uncommon Leader: 🚀𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭s: 🍎 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theThanks 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 202: Is Your Network Drifting? Barb Betts Reveals the "5x5" Relationship System

If you’ve ever wondered why good relationships quietly fade, this conversation will change how you lead, sell, and show up. We sit down with speaker and author Barb Betts to unpack a simple truth: relationships don’t fail overnight—they drift when we stop being intentional. Starting with the inner game, Barb reframes self-doubt and imposter syndrome as signs you’re stretching into growth, not proof that you’re a fraud. By 85, you’ll spend roughly 44 million minutes with yourself; the way you speak to you becomes the template for every other connection.We move from mindset to method with Barb’s VVR factor: visibility, vulnerability, and relatability. Show up consistently, be human without oversharing, and find a real point of common ground. Then apply a Relationship Operating System that ranks your most important people, sets a contact cadence, and uses the five by five method—five genuine, no-ask messages to five people a day—to prevent drift. Barb shares a personal story of nearly losing a 24-year friendship and how simple, consistent touchpoints would have saved months of hurt.• redefining self-doubt and imposter syndrome as growth signals• VVR factor: visibility, vulnerability, relatability• preventing drift with a relationship operating system• five by five daily outreach method with no asks• ranking relationships and setting contact frequency• why everyone is in sales because sales is influence• building trust accounts and making deposits before withdrawals• making people feel known, not just counted• where AI helps and where it can’t• practical tools: CRM, sheets, top 100 listSales leaders will appreciate her broader frame: sales is influence, and everyone sells. The goal isn’t how many people you know; it’s how many feel known by you. That shift boosts referrals, deepens trust, and turns your name on someone’s phone into a call they can’t wait to answer. We also get practical about tools—CRMs, Google Sheets, even AI for drafting and organizing—while drawing a hard line where tech can’t replace a voice note, phone call, or handwritten card.If you’re ready to stop relying on “let’s get together soon” and start building relationships before you need them, this episode offers a playbook you can use today. If it resonates, follow Barb, send those five messages, and tell us who you’re reconnecting with. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs this nudge, and leave a quick review to help others find the show.𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 Barb Betts:👇➡️ 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐈𝐧 (primary): https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbbetts/➡️ 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐓𝐮𝐛𝐞: https://www.youtube.com/@BarbBetts➡️ 𝐖𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞: https://www.barbbetts.com/➡️ 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤: https://www.barbbetts.com/book-barbThanks 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 201: The Kobe Standard- Quinn Harwood Reveals the Secret to Unwavering Leadership Confidence

What if the missing piece in your leadership isn’t a new tactic but a new identity? Coach and author Quinn Harwood joins us to unpack the Power of You, a practical path for zillennial leaders who crave meaning, impact, and confidence that lasts. We dig into his coaching fable, Growth Time, where each stop on a life journey mirrors a growth zone leaders must face, from escaping Uville’s ego traps to choosing a weekly mindset that actually moves your mission.Quinn doesn’t preach from the podium; he shares from the trenches. He opens up about the highs of pro basketball and the lows of losing a long-time role and walking through a painful divorce. Out of that life quake came structure, purpose, and a mantra he now coaches every week: mindset changes behavior. You’ll hear how Monday Movers, his free mindset ritual, helps leaders replace doom scrolling with deliberate focus, turn confidence into a practice, and show up for hard conversations with clarity and conviction.We also explore how faith, service, and legacy shape uncommon leadership. Quinn carries his father’s charge—help others help others—into every chapter of his work, translating purpose into daily habits: early training sessions to prime the mind, simple commitments that stick, and consistent shots taken when the game gets tight. If you’re a mission-driven professional who wants more than metrics, this conversation offers a clear, doable roadmap to build real confidence, align ambition with values, and lead with impact.Subscribe now, share this with a friend who needs Monday momentum, and leave a quick review so more mission movers can find the show. Then tell us: what mindset will you commit to this week?🎁 Special Offer: Quinn is giving away signed/prayed-over books to the first 3 listeners who join his Monday Movers Mindset at mygrowthtime.com.𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 Quinn Harwood:👇➡️ 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐈𝐧 (primary): https://www.linkedin.com/in/quinn-harwood-455517108/➡️ 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐓𝐮𝐛𝐞: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZE_USSrrHNVpIcpEqkScnQ➡️ 𝐖𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞:  https://coachqharwood.com/➡️ 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Quinn-Harwood/author/B0F1G7BR2G?ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=trueThanks 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 200: Lifting the Lid - Scottie Pennington on Scaling to COO and 9-Figure Leadership

What if your biggest breakthrough starts where you’ve been saying “can’t”? We celebrate episode 200 with Scottie Pennington, a COO who scaled operations across eight sites while proving that lean, faith, and relentless discipline can transform people and performance. From foundries and scrapyards to maintenance shops that used to be locked down, Scottie shows how 5S and clear communication can shift culture fast—especially when you win over the quiet influencer everyone trusts.We dig into the shift from doing to developing, and how to avoid becoming the leadership lid as your scope expands. Scottie explains why multiplication beats control, how he built a bench of directors leading plant managers, and why intentionality and gemba rigor still matter when your calendar explodes. His lens is practical and people-first: build leaders who build leaders, and watch results follow. Along the way, he shares the foundations that still guide him—Maxwell’s laws, The Goal, 360 Leader—and how those principles anchor daily behavior.• COO journey across multiple business lines and sites• Lean and 5S implemented in foundries and maintenance• Winning buy-in through communication and influencers• Avoiding the leadership lid by growing leaders• Intentionality, discipline, and gemba rigor• Fitness as process: Spartan races, from if to when• Family priorities, protected time, and boundaries• Faith, integrity, trust, and using your gifts• Practical advice: remove the can’t box and add yetThen we go personal. Scottie quit alcohol, embraced Spartan races, and replaced motivation with discipline. He describes the “if to when” mindset, dropping 40 pounds, and crossing a Beast finish line wearing Philippians 4:13, a moment powered by faith and family. With six grandkids and a spouse who protects the schedule, he talks about saying no, honoring boundaries, and living integrity when no one is watching. If you’ve ever wondered how to integrate purpose, performance, and personal health without losing your soul, this conversation gives you a map—and a push.Ready to grow leaders who multiply leaders, implement 5S where it’s hardest, and trade “can’t” for “yet”? Hit play, subscribe for more uncommon leadership stories, and leave a review to help others find the show. Then tell us: what habit will you turn from if to when today?Connect with Scottie Pennington:➡️ LinkedIn (primary): https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottie-pennington-mba-a4b3b129/overlay/contact-info/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 199: You Don't Have "People Problems"—You Have This Design Flaw with Matt Granados

What if the real problem on your team isn’t “people problems,” but the problems your people carry? We sit down with Matt Granados—founder of Life Pulse, author of Motivate the Unmotivated and The Intentional Week—to rethink leadership from the ground up. Matt makes a clear, compelling case for aiming at optimal performance: high output at a sustainable pace compared to yourself. No burnout badge. No hustle theater. Just systems that help humans do their best work without losing themselves.We break down a simple weekly cadence that top teams use to spot issues before they explode. Three questions—What are you focused on? What are you grateful for? What are you working toward?—surface trends, context, and capacity. Matt explains why leaders should listen for patterns over one-off answers, and how kindness (truth with care) beats niceness (comfort without growth). You’ll hear the four levels of performance, the pitfalls of managing like a babysitter, and the practical steps to equip rather than enable.• the claim that people don’t have people problems, people have problems• what equipping looks like versus enabling• three weekly questions that reveal trends fast• the difference between high and optimal performance• why kindness beats niceness for real growth• using structure and rhythm to prevent burnout• Eagle U’s role in early systems thinking• the Take Part Foundation’s focus on research, resources, storytelling• daily disciplines to abide and lead with integrityMatt also shares the heart behind the Take Part Foundation, co-founded with his wife Maria after their daughter Natalie was diagnosed with an ultra-rare genetic condition. Their mission—fund research, provide resources like genetic testing, and tell stories—shows what hope looks like in action. It’s a masterclass in leading through adversity: build structure, choose obedience over opportunism, and serve people with courage and clarity.If you lead teams, coach leaders, or care about culture, you’ll leave with a playbook to boost output without sacrificing well-being. Try the three questions for four weeks and watch the signal emerge. Then act with curiosity, not judgment. If this conversation moved you, share it with a leader who needs it, subscribe for more thoughtful interviews, and leave a review so we can reach more uncommon leaders.Connect with Matt Granados: ➡️ LinkedIn (primary): https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt87granados/➡️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lifepulseinc7163➡️ Website: http://www.lifepulseinc.com/uncommonleaderThanks 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