Is ambition always about climbing the ladder or can it be about mastering where you are? In this episode of the #LeadershipTraitsDecoded Podcast, Cynthia Kiriazis and Drea Martin unpack the often misunderstood trait of hunger & drive - the internal ambition to achieve, improve, and push beyond expectations with relentless energy and proactive ownership. They explore: •  Hunger/drive as a constant push for progress and self-fueled motivation •  Why a 50th percentile score means “average,” not failing — and why that’s often enough •  Vertical drive (pursuing advancement) vs. horizontal drive (mastering your current role) •  How personal purpose shapes the way hunger/drive shows up in leaders •  Why leaders should ask about their team’s passions to better understand motivation •  Why drive should be evaluated against role needs, not arbitrary standards. The conversation highlights how personal purpose shapes drive, how leaders can better understand what motivates their teams, and why matching the right level of hunger and drive to the right role is essential for both satisfaction and performance. Ready to explore your leadership traits? Connect with us on LinkedIn or visit www.plllab.com (http://www.plllab.com) to see how we transform leadership intelligence into return-driven action.

Is your next level of growth a process problem or a people problem? Highlights Covered • How a three-tier, national franchise model adds complexity to culture alignment • The difference between handing out handbooks and living your mission • Why the right senior hire is often the real unlock for growth • How Covid forced consistent, system-wide communication and culture buy-in • Leadership takeaway - most plateaus aren’t solved with how - they’re solved with who! Summary This episode offers practical insights on scaling culture, leading remotely, and making the people investments that matter most. Will Gladhart is joined by Adam Povlitz (https://www.linkedin.com/in/apovlitz/) , CEO and President of Anago Cleaning Systems (https://anagocleaning.com/) , a national commercial cleaning franchise with a unique three-tier model.  With experience in both corporate finance and entrepreneurship, Adam shares how a shift from IBM analyst to franchise owner gave him the grounded leadership perspective he brings to the business today. Adam reflects on the challenges of leading culture across a multi-layered franchise system - corporate team, master franchisees, and unit-level operators - many of whom he rarely sees in person.  Especially during Covid, Adam and his team built a cadence of twice-weekly, system-wide communication to create clarity, encourage feedback, and drive alignment in real time - not just once a year at an annual meeting. He also shares one of the most important lessons of his leadership journey - growth isn’t always about refining the process.  Often, it’s about finding the right person to get the organization to the next level. For Adam, progress has almost always come down to a “who,” not a “how.” Connect with Adam on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/apovlitz/overlay/contact-info/) We'd love your feedback on how we can improve - send us a Text!! (https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2244596/open_sms) Seeking to align your culture, boost performance & impact your bottom line? Let’s chat (https://calendly.com/willgladhart/ctt-15-minute-lets-chat-intro) —no sales, just real talk about your challenges. Not ready? Join our PL3 Community (https://community.plllab.com/) for free insights & connections.

What happens when you’re the biggest asset in your business - and the biggest liability to its sale value?  In this episode of Buyers’ Frenzy, host Will Lindstrom sits down with exit planning advisor and business coach Len Breskowitz (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lbruski/) to unpack one of the most common- and costly - deal killers: owner dependency. Len explains why a business that can’t run without its owner is essentially worth nothing to a buyer, and how his “two-week vacation test” quickly reveals the level of risk.  They discuss practical ways to reduce that dependency, including Len’s “80% rule” for delegation, step-by-step approaches to building owner independence, and the critical importance of defining your “next big adventure” beyond business ownership. The conversation also covers the emotional and strategic sides of letting go, the surprising gap between owner expectations and family succession reality (50% vs. 25%), and why early, open conversations with family - ideally three to five years before a transition - can prevent valuation surprises and conflict.  Len also shares a simple way to explain valuation and risk to family members so everyone understands their role in protecting and increasing enterprise value. Highlights Covered: • Why buyers avoid businesses tied too closely to their owner • The “two-week vacation” litmus test for sale readiness • How the 80% rule helps owners delegate effectively and reduce dependency • The emotional side of letting go and owner identity after a sale • Why early family conversations (3–5 years in advance) prevent exit surprises • The gap between owner expectations and reality in family succession (50% vs. 25%) • Building an advisory team to guide the exit process • Explaining valuation and risk in simple, relatable terms Whether you’re years from selling or actively preparing for an exit, this episode shows why your ability to step away may be the single best indicator of your company’s value. Have insights on “Deal Killers”? If you’re a CEPA, CPWA, CFP, or fiduciary with experience navigating the hidden risks that derail deals, we’d love to hear from you. Connect with us on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/willlindstrom/) or at theculturethinktank.com/contact (https://www.theculturethinktank.com/contact)

Is strategic thinking something you’re born with or can it be developed over time? In this episode of Leadership Traits Decoded, Cynthia Kiriazis and Drea Martin explore the leadership trait of strategic perspective - the ability to connect individual actions to long-term goals and make decisions with future impact in mind. They discuss how this skill shows up differently across leaders, from those who seem naturally wired to “see the whole board” to those who develop their strategic muscles through intentional practice and reflection.  Drawing on real experiences and data-driven insights, they explore: •  Why strategic perspective is more than just “big picture” thinking •  How downtime and reflection create space for strategic connections •  Ways leaders can practice by integrating strategy discussions into team meetings •  How to balance high-level vision with day-to-day execution •  Development tactics for both under- and over-strategizing leaders.  The conversation also addresses a common leadership challenge: finding the right rhythm between generating new ideas and completing existing initiatives without overwhelming the team.  Whether you’re in the C-suite or building your leadership capacity, this episode offers practical ways to strengthen your strategic perspective and help others do the same. Ready to explore your leadership traits? Connect with us on LinkedIn or visit www.plllab.com (http://www.plllab.com) to see how we transform leadership intelligence into return-driven action.

What happens when leaders stop pretending and start leading with vulnerability? In this episode of Leadership Levers, Tucker Graves (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tucker-graves-322a792b/) , CEO and co-founder of Pineapple Academy (https://pineappleacademy.com/) , shares how his content training company unexpectedly pivoted into the world of SaaS - and the leadership lessons that came with it. With roots in a multi-generational family business, Tucker brings a grounded perspective on culture, growth, and people. When faced with the challenge of running a company they weren’t fully equipped to lead, Tucker and his co-founder didn’t fake expertise - they asked for help.  That simple act of vulnerability became a cultural foundation, transforming how they built the team and tackled growth. Tucker walks through: • The real impact of process gaps when scaling a company • How embracing vulnerability helped align their team and culture • Why honesty builds trust faster than pretending to have all the answers • The performance formula that guides his decisions - investments come from growth, and growth comes from people. For leaders navigating unfamiliar terrain or high-impact growth, this episode is a reminder that admitting what you don’t know might be your greatest leadership strength. We'd love your feedback on how we can improve - send us a Text!! (https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2244596/open_sms) Seeking to align your culture, boost performance & impact your bottom line? Let’s chat (https://calendly.com/willgladhart/ctt-15-minute-lets-chat-intro) —no sales, just real talk about your challenges. Not ready? Join our PL3 Community (https://community.plllab.com/) for free insights & connections.

What really kills M&A deals?  In this episode of Buyers’ Frenzy, Will Lindstrom sits down with Dionisio Roman III (https://www.linkedin.com/in/dionisio-roman-iii-6a228590/) , co-founder of Next Phase Partners (about:invalid#zCSafez) , to explore why speed and organization are the defining factors in exit success. Dionisio explains why time equals cost for both buyers and sellers, and how messy data, delayed responses, or lack of preparation can derail even the most promising transactions.  He also shares why the period between LOI and closing is more than paperwork - it’s an “interview process” between buyer and seller that often determines whether a deal makes it to closing. They discuss practical ways to prepare, including building organized systems for financials, contracts, and customer data well before going to market, ensuring management depth so operations don’t falter during a deal, and reframing financials from tax strategy to valuation strategy.  The conversation also touches on the personal side of selling: why founders must clarify their post-sale identity, objectives, and lifestyle before entering the process. Highlights Covered: • Why time is the biggest cost driver in M&A transactions • How disorganized data and slow responses derail deals • The due diligence period is an “interview process” between buyer and seller • Why organizing contracts, financials, and customer data benefits operations now and exit value later • The myth that preparing for sale means you have to sell • The identity shift founders face after exiting their company • Why management depth matters when owners step away to focus on a deal • The importance of starting pre-due diligence at least a year in advance • How to reframe your P&L from minimizing taxes to maximizing value.  Whether you’re months away from an exit or years from even considering one, this episode reveals why preparation isn’t just good business - it’s the difference between a stalled deal and a successful transition. Have insights on “Deal Killers”? If you’re a CEPA, CPWA, CFP, or fiduciary with experience navigating the hidden risks that derail deals, we’d love to hear from you. Connect with us on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/willlindstrom/) or at theculturethinktank.com/contact (https://www.theculturethinktank.com/contact)

What does it really mean to be resilient as a leader? Too often, resilience is mistaken for simply “toughing it out.”  In reality, it’s about cultivating the sustained energy and adaptability that allow you not just to survive setbacks, but to emerge stronger from them. In this episode of Leadership Traits Decoded, Cynthia Kyriazis and Drea Martin unpack the science and practice of resilience. They reveal why resilience isn’t a trait you can master through technical training - it requires a holistic approach that bridges both professional and personal life. Listeners will discover practical strategies for developing resilience, from building recovery and reflection time into daily routines to reframing failures as learning opportunities and focusing energy on what you can control.  The hosts also explore how resilience connects directly to organizational culture: trust, communication, and support systems create the conditions for leaders and teams to thrive under pressure. For those who struggle with self-reflection, Cynthia and Drea highlight valuable tools - from data-driven assessments like The Crucible (https://thecrucible.com/) and Sageforge.ai (https://www.sageforge.ai/) to leaning on trusted colleagues, family, or coaches for perspective and accountability. T heir key insight? Resilience isn’t built in isolation. It grows through intentional design, external feedback, and supportive relationships across all areas of life. You’ll Learn: •  Why resilience is more than “bouncing back” - it’s about thriving through challenges •  How reframing failures builds mental endurance •  Practical ways to design recovery time and preserve energy •  Why resilience requires both personal habits and cultural trust at work •  How tools and coaching can support leaders who struggle with self-reflection •  The importance of leaning on family, friends, and colleagues in resilience-building.  Whether you’re navigating daily stress or unexpected crises, this episode offers a blueprint for strengthening resilience - in leadership and in life. Ready to explore your leadership traits? Connect with us on LinkedIn or visit www.plllab.com (http://www.plllab.com) to see how we transform leadership intelligence into return-driven action.

What happens when a leader avoids the hard people decisions—and everyone else quietly lowers their standards to match? In this episode of Leadership Levers, Mike Walrod (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikewalrod/) , founder of Incite Business Strategies (https://incitebusiness.com/) and longtime fractional integrator of EOS (https://www.eosworldwide.com/) shares why accountability is one of the most powerful cultural signals a leader sends. With over 30 years in operations and executive roles, Mike has seen the same pattern across organizations - people issues ignored at the top become performance issues everywhere else. Through EOS’s “right person, right seat” framework, Mike helps leadership teams confront misalignment, rebuild trust, and reset expectations—often for the first time in years. And when leaders finally raise the bar, the culture responds almost immediately. Mike walks through: • Why people issues must be fixed before processes • How one misaligned leader creates a ripple effect across culture and morale • Why employees watch what leaders tolerate—not what they say • How communication breakdowns fuel organizational drift • Why resetting standards begins with honest, direct conversations.  Mike also shares how fractional integrators help teams rebuild trust, alignment, and clarity by reigniting honest conversations—often the first candid conversation the team has had in years. For leaders navigating team dysfunction, misalignment, or cultural stagnation, this episode is a reminder that accountability isn’t punitive—it's cultural stewardship. And culture changes the moment leaders decide to raise the bar again. We'd love your feedback on how we can improve - send us a Text!! (https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2244596/open_sms) Seeking to align your culture, boost performance & impact your bottom line? Let’s chat (https://calendly.com/willgladhart/ctt-15-minute-lets-chat-intro) —no sales, just real talk about your challenges. Not ready? Join our PL3 Community (https://community.plllab.com/) for free insights & connections.