Shows
The Business FixFlexible or Inconsistent? The Leadership Mistake That’s Costing You TrustSend a textFlexibility sounds great… until your team feels confused, burned out, or treated unfairly.In this episode of The Business Fix, Chrissy and Josh tackle one of the most common leadership blind spots they see with business owners and managers: mistaking inconsistency for flexibility.If you’ve ever said, “We like to go with the flow,” but still struggle with turnover, decision fatigue, or frustrated employees, this conversation is for you.You’ll learn:Why “unstructured flexibility” creates stress instead of freedomThe real difference between being flexible and being inconsis...
2026-02-2547 minThe Business FixCulture Killers: The 3 Silent Toxins Destroying Your BusinessSend a textCulture doesn’t collapse overnight. It erodes quietly.In this episode of The Business Fix, Chrissy and Josh break down the three most dangerous culture killers that silently destroy businesses from the inside out — and what leaders must do to stop them before turnover, disengagement, and brand damage take over.If you're a small business owner, CEO, executive, or manager, this episode will challenge how you think about performance, leadership, accountability, and operational alignment.The 3 Culture Killers We Break Down:1️⃣ The Brilliant JerkYour hig...
2026-02-1847 min
Better Business for Small Business LeadersHow Zhao Liu Went From Solo Hustle To Scalable TeamSend a textWhat if one smart hire could flip your business from constant scramble to controlled scale? That’s the spark behind our conversation with Zhao Liu, the operator-turned-founder of ZL Workforce, who transformed an eight-year solo grind into a data-driven, delegation-first machine after hiring a single virtual assistant.We walk through the pivotal moves: quitting corporate while running a growing product company, joining Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, and confronting the limit of doing everything alone. Zhao shares how he trained his first VA live over Zoom, then had her write the SOPs as sh...
2026-02-1722 minThe Business FixThe Nice Leader Trap: When “Nice” Creates DysfunctionSend a textAre you the “nice” boss who hates conflict… but lies awake replaying the conversations you didn’t have? In this episode of The Business Fix, Chrissy and Josh unpack the Nice Leader Trap, when leaders avoid hard feedback to protect their own comfort, and accidentally torch trust, culture, and performance instead.Using Chrissy’s own “nice leader” ulcer story as a jumping-off point, they dig into toxic niceness vs real kindness during Workplace Kindness Month, and why “I just want them to like me” quietly wrecks teams.From there, Chris...
2026-02-1144 minThe Business FixThe Conflict Cure: Fix the Process, Save the PersonSend a textIs your team actually toxic… or is your workflow just broken?In this episode of The Business Fix, Chrissy (CEO) and Josh (marketing/ops guy) break down conflict resolution for small and medium-sized businesses in a way that’s practical, a little punchy, and very real-world. Instead of treating conflict like random “drama,” they show you how to see it as data about your systems, your culture, and your leadership habits.Chrissy walks through her 3 R’s of Conflict Resolution—Regulate yourself first so you don’t...
2026-02-0443 min
Better Business for Small Business LeadersMarc Lee Shannon on How Resilience and Systems Transform a Creative CareerSend us a textThe myth says a creative life runs on inspiration; the truth is that it runs on timing, resilience, and a reliable system. We sit down with guitarist and former VP of Sales Marc Lee Shannon to map the dirt roads that led from LA session work to corporate leadership and back to a purpose-driven creative practice. Along the way, Mark explains how he learned to read industry headwinds, pivot before ego dragged him under, and rebuild from a humbling retail job into a role leading hundreds across the Western Hemisphere.What...
2026-02-0327 minThe Business FixEmployee Reviews: A Tool for Growth, Not a Burden for Managers and OwnersSend a textAnnual reviews shouldn’t feel like a surprise attack followed by a tiny raise and a big dose of resentment… but for a lot of small and midsize businesses, that’s exactly what happens.In this episode of The Business Fix, Chrissy Myers (CEO of Clarity HR) and Josh Troche (marketing & operations guy) break down why traditional performance reviews are broken—and how to turn them into one of your strongest tools for culture, clarity, and growth.You’ll hear Josh’s own “top performer gets blindsided” review horror story, then Chrissy wal...
2026-01-2850 minThe Business FixThe Rockstar Trap: Why Top Performers Often Fail as ManagersSend a textEver promoted your star employee into management and instantly regretted it? You’re not alone—and you're not crazy. In Episode 39 of The Business Fix, Chrissy and Josh dive into the dangerous (and all-too-common) trap of promoting high-performing "rockstars" into roles they’re just not built for.This episode exposes the "Rockstar Trap"—the mistaken assumption that great doers automatically make great leaders—and unpacks the Peter Principle, which states that employees rise to the level of their incompetence.With their signature mix of straight talk, humor, and real-world...
2026-01-2147 min
Better Business for Small Business LeadersPlaying The Long Game: Alicia Jarboe on Values, Community, And Sustainable GrowthSend us a textWhat if your best marketing isn’t marketing at all, but the way you show up when it costs you? That’s the heartbeat of our conversation with Alicia Jarboe, the Worcester-based realtor and nonprofit leader who proves that relationships, not transactions, build businesses that last.We dive into the practices that turn clients into community: thoughtful follow-up, handwritten cards, and client appreciation nights that feel like family gatherings. Alicia shares how transparency, like telling a seller to wait out short-term capital gains or walking away from a misaligned deal, creates trus...
2026-01-2025 minThe Business FixCivility Isn’t Just Being Polite: It's Building A Better WorkplaceSend a textIn this eye-opening episode of The Business Fix, Chrissy Myers and Josh Troche tackle a subject that’s more critical than ever—civility in the workplace. With tensions on the rise and stress levels at an all-time high, being “nice” just doesn’t cut it anymore. Chrissy explains why civility is not just about politeness—it’s a core business strategy rooted in protecting your culture, your people, and your profits.Drawing on research from SHRM and Google’s Project Aristotle, Chrissy and Josh explore why a lack of civility is fueling confl...
2026-01-1442 minThe Business FixGrowing Is Lonely: Here’s How High-Performing Leaders Handle ItSend a textGrowing your business is exciting… and quietly isolating. One day you’re chasing bigger goals, making harder decisions, and realizing the people who used to “get it” no longer do. Welcome to one of the least talked about realities of leadership: growing often comes with loneliness.In this episode of The Business Fix, Chrissy and Josh unpack why business growth and leadership loneliness go hand in hand and why nothing is “wrong” with you if success feels a little lonely. This conversation is for business owners, entrepreneurs, and managers who are leveling up professio...
2026-01-0736 min
Better Business for Small Business LeadersBuilding Unshakable and Intentional Leaders with Janet Kendall WhiteSend us a textWhat if the difference between a resilient culture and a fragile one is a single intentional choice? We sit down with Janet Kendal White, author of Unshakable Leadership and founder of Berkshire Group, to unpack how real leadership moves beyond titles, clever slogans, and “crappy wall art.” From a jarring early career story to building a company that equips managers with practical tools, Janet shows why values must be defined in observable behaviors—and how to act when they’re violated.We dig into the tough calls leaders face and the ripple e...
2026-01-0628 minThe Business FixA, B, or C Players? How Smart Leaders Build Teams Without Destroying CultureSend a textIn Episode 36 of The Business Fix, Chrissy and Josh tackle one of the most uncomfortable (and unavoidable) realities of leadership: not every employee shows up the same way, and pretending they do is hurting your business. This episode takes a hard, honest look at A, B, and C players, why those labels are so often misunderstood, and how great leaders use them ethically to build strong teams without wrecking their culture.With a mix of real-world stories, sharp humor, and no-BS leadership insight, they break down how to identify high...
2025-12-3140 minThe Business FixWhat You Should Expect From Your Employees (And What You Absolutely Shouldn’t)Send a textIn Episode 35 of The Business Fix, Chrissy and Josh dive into one of the most frustrating and misunderstood parts of being a business owner or manager: employee expectations. What should you realistically expect from your team—and what is completely out of line?They break it all down with a candid, hilarious, and deeply practical discussion, laying out the 3 E’s of a healthy team member—Engagement, Ethics, and Evolution—and why these non-negotiables are the baseline for a thriving workplace culture.You’ll also hear...
2025-12-2441 minThe Business FixWhat Employees Expect From Leaders in Today’s WorkplaceSend a textWhat do employees really expect from their leaders today and why are so many leaders missing the mark?In this episode of The Business Fix, Chrissy and Josh break down the unspoken expectations employees have of their leaders in today’s workplace and why pay, perks, and benefits aren’t enough to keep people engaged or loyal anymore.From clarity and consistency to honesty, fairness, and predictable leadership, this conversation digs into what actually drives employee retention, motivation, and trust. You’ll hear real-world examples of leadership mistakes that q...
2025-12-1743 minThe Business FixSmarter and Stronger Business Decisions Start with Overcoming the Fear Behind ThemSend a textWhat if the biggest thing holding your business back… is a fear you haven’t even named yet? Most leaders think fear shows up as hesitation but in reality, it disguises itself as over-preparation, procrastination, busyness, and even perfectionism. In this episode of The Business Fix, Chrissy and Josh break down how fear silently shapes decisions inside small and medium-sized businesses. They reveal why fear isn’t the enemy (unmanaged fear is) and walk through practical tools to help business owners and managers regain clarity, momentum, and confidence. From identifying catastro...
2025-12-1046 minThe Business FixBroken or Bored? How to Tell and What to Do Before You Break Your BusinessSend a textTinkering with your business because you’re “just making it better”? Be careful! You might be unintentionally setting fire to something that wasn’t broken to begin with. In this episode of The Business Fix, Josh Troche and Chrissy Myers explore the surprisingly common problem of business owners who shake things up out of boredom: leading to mission drift, marketing misfires, and flatlined sales.If you're a small business owner, marketing manager, or CEO trying to build authority with podcasting, grow your brand, or improve your content strategy without blowing up what’s already...
2025-12-0340 minThe Business FixResilient or Burned Out? How to Build Bounce-Forward Leadership in BusinessSend a textIn this episode of The Business Fix, Chrissy and Josh dive headfirst into a crucial topic for every small business owner and manager: resiliency. Following last week's breakdown on burnout, this conversation flips the script and focuses on building the kind of resilience that doesn't just help you bounce back but helps you bounce forward.Chrissy shares personal insights from her book Reluctantly Resilient and breaks down what she calls the Resilient Operating System, a practical toolbox of habits, mindsets, and systems to help leaders lead...
2025-11-2641 minThe Business FixBurnout Warning Signs Business Leaders Miss (Until They Crash)Send a textYou’re hitting your goals. Business is growing. But you’re running on fumes—and no one’s asking if you’re okay. If that feels familiar, this episode is for you.In this honest and relatable conversation, Chrissy and Josh break down what burnout really looks like for business owners and managers. Josh shares how ignoring the signs landed him in the hospital. Chrissy explains why “rest is a leadership skill” and how she learned (the hard way) to protect her energy and her team. Chrissy and Josh unpack...
2025-11-1949 minThe Business FixFailure Happens... Here’s What to Expect and What Great Leaders Do NextSend a textWhen failure shows up at your business’s front door for the third time... Should you offer it coffee or finally figure out why it keeps showing up? In this episode, Chrissy and Josh dive headfirst into the messy middle of managing failure in leadership, because let’s be real: business mistakes happen, and how you respond can make or break your company culture.From missed targets to employee slip-ups to operational misfires, this episode is your unofficial guide to handling setbacks with clarity, courage, and just enough humor to stay...
2025-11-0536 minThe Business FixThe 3 Leadership Habits That Turn Managers Into Trusted LeadersSend a textYou’ve built a team, juggled priorities, and probably asked yourself more than once, “Why aren’t they just doing the thing?” If leading people feels harder than it should, you’re not alone and you’re not doing it wrong. But you might be defining leadership the wrong way.In this episode, Chrissy Myers and Josh Troche get real (and get a little feisty) about what leadership actually looks like in today’s workplace. Whether you're a small business owner, mid-level manager, or a leader-in-training, this conversation is packed with practical...
2025-10-2942 minThe Business FixWork-Life Balance vs. Work-Life Harmony: What’s the Better Play for Leaders?Send a textThink owning a business means total freedom and unlimited time off? Yeah… about that.In this episode of The Business Fix, Chrissy Myers and Josh Troche challenge the outdated hustle mindset and break down why work-life balance is a myth and how work-life harmony is a more sustainable goal for business owners and leaders.Through stories, stats, and a little sarcasm, they share how intentional leadership, smart time management, and better business systems can help you scale without sacrificing your sanity.You’ll learn how to perform a simp...
2025-10-2236 min
Better Business for Small Business LeadersSmall Starts, Strong Bonds: Why Mutually Beneficial Partnerships Win According to Chris CanovaSend us a textCollaboration only works when both sides win—and when you can prove your value every single day. That’s the lens Chris Canova brings as he walks us through how Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates (JOG) scaled from a small team to 70+ staff across ten counties, serving youth, specialized populations, and now adults in manufacturing, business, and the growing polymer sector. We unpack the hard truth behind the word “collaboration”: it’s overused, under-practiced, and only becomes real through engagement, relationships, and clear mutual benefit.We dig into a practical framework leaders can...
2025-10-2125 minThe Business FixWhat Happens When Community Involvement Becomes Core to Your BusinessSend a textReal impact starts when your business shows up for something bigger than profit.In this episode, Chrissy Myers and Josh Troche break down how purpose-driven businesses are using community engagement to boost brand loyalty, strengthen company culture, and create meaningful impact both inside and outside the workplace.From offering pro bono services and sponsoring youth sports to celebrating employee volunteer hours, Chrissy and Josh share real-world tactics that small and medium business leaders can start applying today, without a massive budget or marketing team.They also explore how...
2025-10-1541 minThe Business FixStop the Next PR Disaster: Protect Your Brand with a Clear Social Media PolicySend a textYour employee just posted something wild at 2 a.m., and now your phone won’t stop buzzing. Sound familiar? In today’s business climate, every team member is a public voice and that can either boost your brand reputation or torch it in a blaze of digital drama.In this no-fluff episode of The Business Fix, Chrissy and Josh unpack the must-know strategies for managing personal social media without losing your mind or your mission. It’s not about micromanaging; it’s about setting expectations for healthy online behavior, smart leadership communication, and a pr...
2025-10-0847 min
Better Business for Small Business LeadersErika Hill on Positioning Self and Closing the Generational GapSend us a textConfidence doesn’t show up on command; it grows after courage. That’s the heartbeat of our conversation with Erica Hill, the creator of Positioning Self—a coaching framework that turns soft skills into daily, practiced habits for interns, first-year hires, and emerging leaders. We dig into a two-sided model that pairs early-career professionals with mentors or supervisors who actively make space to practice, so growth isn’t left to chance or squeezed into yet another classroom.Erica breaks down why “questionable” curiosity is a superpower when it’s grounded in self-checks, r...
2025-10-0725 minThe Business FixFear of Success Is Real And It Might Be Destroying Your Leadership Mindset and Business CultureSend a textIs fear running your company... or are you?From bad hires to business blowups, fear has a way of sneaking into your strategy, even when you think you’ve got it all under control.In this episode of The Business Fix, Chrissy and Josh unpack the often-ignored ways fear influences your decision-making, disrupts team dynamics, and chips away at your leadership mindset. Chrissy shares how the fear of hiring mistakes leads to reactive decisions and cultural chaos, while Josh digs into how uncertainty in business creates anx...
2025-10-0136 minThe Business FixThe ROI of Professional Development: How Coaching Culture and Time Management Drive Business GrowthSend a textYour team is always moving, but is it moving forward? If you’re constantly solving the same problems, it might be time to rethink how you’re developing your people.In this episode of The Business Fix, Chrissy and Josh dive headfirst into the misunderstood world of professional development and why it’s not just another line item on your HR checklist. Whether you’re a business owner trying to improve employee retention, a manager focused on team engagement, or a leader looking to level up your communication skills, this conversation will make you...
2025-09-2447 min
Better Business for Small Business LeadersBroker or Broken? Finding the Right Health Insurance Partner with Alice RhodesSend us a textDo you know what your health insurance broker actually does? Most small business owners assume their broker simply shops for the cheapest rates, but that's just skimming the surface of what a true strategic benefits advisor should provide.Alice Rhodes from AUI breaks down this misunderstood role, revealing that for businesses with fewer than 50 employees, benefits aren't just about price—they're about protection, retention, and compliance. A great broker doesn't just deliver quotes; they develop game plans tailored to your specific business needs, navigating the complex world of insurance options to fi...
2025-09-2320 minThe Business FixStrategic Planning Isn’t Boring, It’s Your Superpower for Business GrowthSend a textLet’s be real… running a business can feel like an endless game of whack-a-mole. You're juggling emails, putting out fires, chasing invoices, and somewhere in the chaos, you know you’re supposed to be “strategically planning”… but what does that actually look like when you’re just trying to make payroll?In this episode of The Business Fix, Chrissy and Josh dive into the often-overcomplicated world of strategic planning and how it can bring real structure to your business. Whether you’re leading a small team or scaling a growing company, you’ll learn how...
2025-09-1741 minThe Business FixLeadership Skills for Tough Talks: How Difficult Conversations Improve Workplace CommunicationSend a textMost of us try to dodge tough conversations at work, but avoiding them only creates bigger problems.In this episode of The Business Fix, Chrissy and Josh unpack what it takes to confidently navigate the sweaty, uncomfortable moments that most business owners and managers try to avoid. Whether you’re managing performance issues, dealing with employee feedback, or preparing to set clear expectations, you’ll walk away with actionable leadership skills you can implement immediately. From layoffs and late arrivals to navigating client breakups, the duo dives deep into the art o...
2025-09-1046 min
Better Business for Small Business LeadersJulie Wheeler Breaks Down What Company Culture Really MeansSend a textDo your employees dread Sunday nights because they have to return to your workplace on Monday morning? That's one of the clearest signs your company culture needs attention, according to HR expert Julie Wheeler.In this eye-opening conversation about workplace culture, Julie cuts through the superficial trappings that many businesses mistake for culture—ping pong tables, pizza parties, and motivational posters. Instead, she reveals what truly matters to employees: feeling safe, understood, and valued in their workplace."No business owner ever starts a business for no reason and no purpose, wi...
2025-09-0925 minThe Business FixHow Strong Core Values and Leadership Mindset Shape Customer Experience and Service ExcellenceSend a textIs your team accidentally sabotaging your customer experience?In this brutally honest episode of The Business Fix, Chrissy and Josh unpack why most businesses get the customer experience (CX) so wrong and what to do about it. Whether you're struggling with client retention, poor reviews, or disjointed customer handoffs, this conversation gives you a clear roadmap to service excellence.Chrissy shares how her company uses three questions to empower employees to act in real-time, while Josh explores how operational consistency and smart automation tools can enhance (not hinder) the customer...
2025-09-0336 minThe Business FixEmotions in the Workplace: Building Better Workplace Culture Through Empathetic LeadershipSend a textEver walked into the office wondering if you’re leading with strength or just faking calm while barely holding it together?In this episode of The Business Fix, Chrissy Myers and Josh Troche dive into the real-world challenges of managing emotions in leadership. They explore the true role of emotional intelligence in effective business leadership, breaking down the difference between emotional regulation and suppression, and how leaders can provide emotional support without becoming a therapist.You’ll learn why tone and timing matter in employee communication and office communication, and how...
2025-08-2741 min
Better Business for Small Business LeadersSimple Solutions for Complex Business Problems with Adrienne WilkersonSend us a text"There's always a solution. It might be over, might be under, might be around, or straight through." These words of wisdom from Adrienne Wilkerson, co-founder of Beacon Media + Marketing, perfectly capture the mindset needed to navigate what she calls "the messy middle" of entrepreneurship.From her beginnings as Alaska's first full-service digital marketing agency to becoming a specialized partner for mental health and behavioral health businesses nationwide, Adrienne's journey demonstrates the power of stubborn determination coupled with strategic flexibility. Her two-time Inc. 5000 company has weathered industry disruptions and major pivots by...
2025-08-2622 minThe Business FixStop Losing Great People: How Consistency Fuels Employee Retention and Team AccountabilitySend a textIf your team feels like it’s spinning its wheels, your top performers seem quietly disengaged, or your company values don’t line up with day-to-day behavior, you’re not alone. Business owners, people managers, and team leads are juggling high-stakes decision making, complex team dynamics, and the constant pressure to deliver results. The one ingredient that often separates thriving teams from dysfunctional ones? Consistency.In this episode of The Business Fix, Chrissy and Josh unpack how consistency in leadership isn't just a nice-to-have, it is your company culture. From missed...
2025-08-2044 min