All Episodes
Blue Collar Leadership — 504 episodes
500: Meet Derek Brown – The Man Who Inspired This Podcast 8 Years Ago
499: Overview of the 8 Blue-Collar Leadership® Series Books
498: Tribute to Bob Chapman - 50 Quotes on Truly Human Leadership
497: Deposits vs Withdrawals - What Happens After You Make a Commitment
496: Lessons in Servant Leadership from a Marine Hero
495: 5 Love Languages - How We Make Our Marriage Work (Real Talk)
494: Kids Need Love More Than Rules…John Maxwell’s Biggest Lesson
493: Beyond the First Victory: Make Self-Mastery Stick
492: The Ultimate Victory: Conquering Yourself
491: The Other AI...Unlock "Authentic Influence" to Become Indispensable within the Trades
490: Rock Bottom, Rehab, and Rebuilding - The Real Story Behind Beyond Broken
489: 5 Traits of High Impact Team Leaders (Part 2 of 2)
488: 5 Traits of High Impact Team Leaders (Part 1 of 2)
487: 5 Character Traits that Destroy a Leader’s Integrity
Your Boss Sucks – Now What? You Have 3 Options
485: Reflect & Ignite...5 Power Questions to Launch You into 2026
484: Choosing Your Response - How Self-Control Transforms Lives and Expands Options
483: I Was Clueless and Surrounded by Clueless People
482: Blue-Collar Boost: Low Budget Culture Hacks
481: Develop Discipline & Dump the Excuses
480: From F-15E Backseat to Warehouse Leadership...Ben Hopkins Spills the Real Talk
479: 7 Social Media Mistakes that Can Tank Your Job Search
478: The Hidden Ways We Undermine Trust
477: Building Rapport and Trust Through Authentic Relationships
476: Character Over Competency: Crafting Influence That Lasts
475: From Construction Sites to Family Life - Mike Chiles on Values, Responsibility, and Lean Principles
474: Deep Knowledge - Greg Crumpton’s Journey in HVAC and Guiding the Next Generation
473: Your Intent Frames You as a Serving or Self-Serving Person
472: Building Trust in the Workplace
471: Personal Integrity Matters: Crafting Self-Talk & Modeling Character
470: Why Thoughts Rule: The Power of Intentional Thinking
469: You were born a leader!
468: Walkout or Talk It Out? Lessons from a Bold Demand
467: The 5 Types of Leaders
466: Struggling to get your frontline leaders to lead well?
465: Breaking Free - The Journey from Blaming Others to Owning His Story
464: Keep climbing!!!
463: Mountain Moments
462: Those who are highly intentional are likely to become highly inspirational.
461: Modeling a High Degree of Character at Work
460: Modeling a High Degree of Character at Home
459: The Higher You Climb, The Harder It Gets
458: Move Beyond Success and Significance…Leave a Legacy
457: Narrow Your Focus and Stay in Your Lane
456: Developing Yourself Prepares You to Develop Others
455: Listening strengthens relationships.
454: 5 Requirements for Developing Others!
453: Keep climbing with the intent of helping others climb!
452: Our world gets better when we get better.
451: Competency Development at Work
450: Competency Development at Home
449: Saying “No” creates the space to say “Yes”
448: Developing your Competency is Crucial!
447: What do others see when they look at you?
446: Developing Your Character at Work
445: Developing Your Character at Home
444: Character is developed daily, not in a day.
443: From gas station attendant to Sr. VP in a large construction company!
442: When it comes to character development, focus on your weaknesses.
441: Mastering Self-Control
440: Demonstrating Self-Control at Work
439: Demonstrating Self-Control at Home
438: Emotions steer you. Choices determine you.
437: Controlling Yourself Increases Your Influence
436: The Ladder of Influence: Climbing the Steps
435: The Ladder of Influence - Why a Ladder?
434: Truths about Climbing The Ladder of Influence
433: Introduction to The Ladder of Influence
432: The MAJOR key to a better future is YOU!
431: Luck favors those who are preparing while others are sleeping!
430: Don't let knowing prevent you from learning.
429: The cost of distrust in the workplace.
428: When it comes to culture change, trust is a must!
427: When you take responsibility, you take control!
426: Far too often, it's the leaders who can't get the ball across the goal line.
425: He's continuing to make it happen personally and professionally!
424: Bullies in the Workplace: Improve them or Remove them
423: More thoughts on more quotes with Mack Story
422: Thoughts on the most recent quotes Mack Story has collected.
421: High impact leaders create and maintain momentum!
420: He believes every individual has the potential to rise from the ashes of their experiences.
419: This high impact CEO is growing his company and the 6,000+ people in it!
418: He’s leading multiple teams without a formal leadership position!
417: This Sr. Operations Manager is focused on developing himself and his team.
416: This Director of Manufacturing is modeling high impact leadership!
415: He grew up in Mexico City, Mexico and retired as a Lt. Colonel in the US Air Force!
414: He’s been leading his team through weekly book studies for 2 years!
413: He's helping leaders engage the front line to improve the bottom line.
412: She’s a high achiever who helps others achieve success!
411: She’s making it happen in the railroad industry!
410: This VP is intentionally developing himself and his team!
409: This high impact leadership coach wants to help you succeed!
408: This former VP wants to help you Build Your Success!
407: This HR Director cares about people!
406: He’s helping construction leaders deliver projects Easier, Better, Faster, and Cheaper.
405: He looked in the mirror and chose to BE a better man!
404: He doesn’t just sell; he serves!
403: He’s increasing sales by overdelivering and building relationships!
402: He's intentionally transforming himself and the culture of his business!
401: Over deliver! Over deliver! Over deliver!
400: She’s a highly engaged front line team member who loves to learn!
399: How we lose determines how long it will be before we win!
398: He’s leading from the front lines without a leadership position!!!
397: Networking is about selling yourself, not your products and services.
396: Executive VP in a large MEP construction company shares tips for success!!!
395: Losers find an excuse; winners find a way.
394: He created “A Warrior Support Foundation.” Now, he’s telling his story.
393: Don't whine...shine! Attitude matters!!
392: His mission is to ensure skilled trades and craft workers are valued and respected.
391: If you're in sales, everything is your job!
390: This high impact leader is helping first-time managers be awesome at their jobs.
389: Squint with Your Ears
388: This high impact leader believes in those who are turning wrenches and digging trenches.
387: Until You Sell Yourself, You Can't Build a Relationship
386: High impact construction leader believes character development may be the missing link.
385: Stop Selling; Start Helping
384: High impact leader inspires team to increase productivity 300% in 10 months!!
383: I'm like you, so it's ok to like me.
382: He was doing the work. Now, he's leading the team!
381: Principles apply in all situations; practices apply in some situations.
380: He was suicidal and struggling to find himself, but he did!
379: Connection leverages communication.
378: Real examples of high impact leadership in action!
377.5: Special Announcement about "Real People Getting Real Results"
377: Gratitude allows you to demonstrate respect and to show appreciation.
376: Make and keep commitments.
375: Transparency is telling the truth when you don't have to simply because you want to.
374: Don't tell them what they want to hear; tell them the truth.
373: Authenticity is about being, not appearing to be.
372: Think Long Term
371: Think Short Term
370: Emotions Rule!
369: Want to Soar in 2024? Stop making excuses!
368: Happy New Year! Let's open the door for 2024!
367: Don't Be a Salespuppet!
366: What's Your Motive?
365: Leverage Your Character
364: Meet Jason Haines
363: Do your homework!
362: Are you trustworthy?
361: The question every potential customer is asking.
360: Who's Buying You?
359: What are the people you meet saying about you?
358: Today, buyers are often more informed than sellers.
357: The Foundation of Selling
356: Don't let the fear of speaking hold you back!
355: The 7 Levels of Personal Awareness
354: The Quality of the Leader is Revealed by the Character of the Followers
353: 10 Reasons Why Bosses Don't or Won't Lead
352: Defining Influence - Discover the 3 Definitions of Influence
351: How I Write a Book in 7 Days
350: Leading People with Shared Values vs Managing People with Mixed Values
349: Be Relentless - Until you quit, you haven't failed.
348: Be Realistic - Your values are the foundation of your circumstances.
347: Be Optimistic - Hope isn't a strategy, but it's needed to develop one.
346: Be Careful - Some will lift you up; some will tear you down.
345: Be Aware - Until you're aware, you can't beware.
344: Be Inspirational - Inspiration leads to admiration.
343: Be Motivational - Motivation leads to inspiration.
342: Be Certain - Do you know? Or, do you think you know?
341: Be Competent - Leverage strengths; ignore weaknesses.
340: Be Understanding - Seek to understand what others are seeing and feeling.
339: Be Present - Mine the gold; dump the dirt.
338: Be Engaged - Engagement leads to involvement.
337: Be Observant - With people, the small things are the BIG things.
336: Be Helpful - What you do reveals who you are.
335: Be Approachable - Who you know determines where you go.
334: The Ladder of Influence interview with Ria Story
333: Be Open-Minded - There's always another way.
332: Be Teachable - Embrace a beginner's mindset.
331: Be Brave - Do the right things for the right reasons.
330: Be Proud - Exhibit confidence without arrogance.
329: Be Inspired - Go within or you will go without.
328: Be Driven - Purpose creates focus.
327: Meet Andy Daniels and Jeremy Jordan
326: Meet Bill Malach and learn how he's transforming the culture of the City of St. Peters, MO
325: Be Intentional - Action today leads to options tomorrow.
324: Be Disciplined - Give yourself a command and follow through.
323: Be Focused - Minimizing your distractions maximizes your results.
322: Be Flexible - When change happens, some thrive and some take a dive.
321: Be Positive - Those who whine get left behind.
320: Be Responsible - Making this choice gives you a voice.
319: Be Humble - Your level of humility reveals your level of security.
318: Be Trustworthy - Your character will either launch you or limit you.
317: The Teamwork Dilemma...Team Members aren’t always Team Players
316: Got a bad boss? This is for you!
315: Thoughts About Accurate Thinking
314: How do I deal with a problem employee?
313: What's stopping you from raising your hand?
312: Winning the Name Game
311: Leadership Lessons from a Front Line Machine Operator
310: Are you teaching leadership to the young people in your life? I hope so!
309: The 4 Greatest Obstacles to Cultural Transformation
308: The Law of the Lid
307: The Essence of Leadership
306: Who's Buying You? Until You Sell Yourself, You Won't Sell Much
305: Discover a Simple Way to Conduct Workforce and Leadership Development Training
304: The Leader’s Challenge in the 21st Century
303: 7 Key Lessons for Effective Team Leadership
302: Never Underestimate the Power of those Working on the Front Lines
301: The people I work with are terrible. I need a new job!
300: Thoughts on Page 300 from 3 of My Favorite Books
299: Quiet Quitting...Have you heard of it?
298: Leadership is developed daily, not in a day.
297: You will never outperform your own self image!
296: I already know...you're not going to believe a word I say today!
295: The secret to increasing your pay and climbing the ladder of success!
294: Who is recruiting for your team?
293: Does your company promote from within? I hope so!
292: Interview with Joshua Davis (Part 3 of 3)
291: Interview with Joshua Davis (Part 2 of 3)
290: Interview with Joshua Davis (Part 1 of 3)
289: What happens when bad leaders attempt to do good things?
288: 10 Reasons "Why" I Keep Growing
287: Discover the 4 Levels of Responsibility
286: Intro to Blue-Collar Leadership Toolbox Tips
285: Managing with Leadership Principles is still Management
284: Test Your Leadership: Can you lead volunteers?
283: Your character can be masked, but it can't be hidden.
282: For those feeling used and abused at work.
281: Who is responsible for turnover & disengagement?
280: I hope this doesn't offend you!
279: Random lessons about...work, culture, reading, selling, & developing people.
278: Two Key Characteristics of High Impact Team Members
277: How to Find a Great Boss
276: Anger Management: Short Temper Runs in my Family
275: If Bob has a problem everywhere Bob goes, Bob is the problem!
274: People, Excuses, and Choices Shape Your Life.
273: Thoughts about Everyone Being a Brand Ambassador, Being Goal-Oriented, and Becoming a Better Leader
272: Thoughts on Bad Bosses, Timing, Delegation, Success, and Failure.
271: Have you heard of The Peter Principle?
270: Interview with Chad Cox, Construction Superintendent - Trenchless Technology
269: Building Trust- The Behaviors (Part 4 of 4)
268: Building Trust- The Behaviors (Part 3 of 4)
267: What is trust? (Part 2 of 4)
266: What is trust? (Part 1 of 4)
265: Tired of Bad Bosses and Toxic Team Members...This is for YOU!
264: Attention Leaders: The Toxic People on Your Team are Damaging Your Integrity
263: A Simple Lesson to Help You Climb to the Next Level and Beyond in 2022
262: Merry Christmas!
261: We've met a lot of great teams lately!
260: Sustain the Gain
259: The Key to Success
258: Leverage the Leaders
257: Expand the Team
256: Leveraging the Team
255: Lead the Team
254: The Power of How
253: Where's the Problem?
252: High Impact Delegation
251: Avoid Answering Questions
250: Questions Transfer Responsibility
249: Prime the Pump
248: Be a Leader
247: The Key to Buy-In...Learn to leverage the meeting before the meeting.
246: Listen to the Voices
245: Waste Doesn't Motivate
244: Connect First
243: Declare Your Intent
242: The Emotional Trust Account
241: Meet Bobby Kerns and learn how he transformed the culture within his division.
240: Respect for the People
239: Continuous Improvement
238: Righting the Wrong
237: Develop Others
236: Develop Yourself
235: Leading Up
234: Make It Happen
233: Defining Influence - Influence Trumps Authority
232: Overcoming the Resistance
231: Living Kaizen
230: Creating a Kaizen Culture
229: If You Bought It, We Built It.
228: WARNING...This Episode Contains Leadership Truth
227: Developing People, Working on Strengths and Weaknesses, and the Impact Word of Mouth has on Recruiting
226: Update with Lessons on Character Development
225: The Courage to Change
224: Become a Change Champion
223: Initiating Change
222: Communicating Change
221: Leading Change
220: Leveraging Change
219: Embracing Change
218: The Fear of Change
217: The Challenge of Change
216: If You Snooze, You Will Lose
215: Change or Be Changed
214: Resisting Change...Shine Don't Whine
213: Two Ways to Deal with Change
212: The Impact of Change
211: Nothing Fails Like Success
210: Interview with Ria Story, PRIME Time: The Power of Effective Planning (Part 2 of 2)
209: Interview with Ria Story, PRIME Time: The Power of Effective Planning (Part 1 of 2)
208: Culture Equals Character
207: Positive Culture Change won't just Happen; a Leader must Make It Happen
206: Culture is Owned by the CEO, whether He or She Admits it or Not
205: When it comes to Culture Change, Development Equals Execution
204: High Impact Leaders Support the Development of In-House Trainers
203: High Impact Leaders Identify and Engage their Culture Champions
202: High Impact Leaders Facilitate Book Studies
201: High Impact Leaders Provide On Site Development Sessions
200: High Impact Leaders Provide Personal Growth & Leadership Development Resources
199: Unfortunately, Many Leaders Only Do What Is Required
198: When Anxiety Rises, Motivation Falls
197: High Impact Leaders Clarify the Unifying Purpose
196: High Impact Leaders Reduce Confusion
195: Leading Change
194: To Overcome Resistance, Leaders Must Generate Buy-In
193: Eliminate Resistance: Engaging the Disengaged
192: Becoming a Transformational Leader
191: Develop High Impact Leaders
190: Develop High Impact Team Players
189: Develop High Impact Individuals
188: The Leadership Dilemma
187: Leadership Development Never Ends
186: Leading, Following, and Managing
185: Minimize Your Frustrations by Maximizing Your Influence
184: The Transformation Equation
183: Becoming an Employer of Choice
182: Becoming a Sought After Employer
181: The Impact of Culture
180: The Foundation of Culture
179: The Cost of Culture
178: Interview with Justin Gallaway, High Impact Leader- Myrtle Beach, SC
177: Interview with Greg Williams, 6X National Champion Head Coach
176: How I rebuilt my relationship with my son, Eric Story
175: Interview with Brian Brogen, VP Field Operations Southeastern Construction
174: Interview with George Estioko, Blue-Collar Leader, Bakersfield, CA
173: Interview with Jason Denam, VP Electrical Construction, Kilgore Industries
172: Interview with Amir Ghannad, Leadership Speaker & Author
171: Interview with Ria Story, Leadership Speaker & Author
170: Interview with Mike Hough, CEO of GAT Airline Ground Support
169: Interview with Tim McGourty, Owner of TMC Masonry and Northwest Precast
168: Significance is the Foundation of Legacy
167: Success is the Foundation of Significance
166: Change is the Foundation of Success
165: Growth is the Foundation of Change
164: Discipline is the Foundation of Growth
163: Sacrifice is the Foundation of Discipline
162: Hope is the Foundation of Sacrifice
161: Vision is the Foundation of Hope
160: Choice is the Foundation of Vision
159: Thought is the Foundation of Choice
158: Introduction to the 10 Foundational Elements of Intentional Transformation
157: Looking back on 2019 and forward to 2020.
156: Discover the difference between a leadership event and the leadership development process.
155: Whenever there's a fire (a problem), you're either dumping water or gas on it?
154: Blue-Collar isn't a label to be ashamed of...it's a title to be proud of!
153: For those who hate their boss, their job, and/or their pay.
152: The 4 Levels of Leadership Engagement
151: The Ultimate Question: Will you be an informer or a transformer?
150: Top Performers: The challenge of retaining your game changers.
149: Change and Transformation: It's easier to change, but it's better to transform.
148: A Bigger Sacrifice: Will you choose to lead at a higher level?
147: The Weak Links: Don't fire them; fire them up.
146: Focus on Your Leaders: When you lead leaders, you also lead their followers.
145: Believe in Your Team: They need to feel it, not hear it.
144: Everybody Matters: There's potential in everyone!
143: Super Charge Your Team
142: An Abundance Mindset Allows You to Accelerate
141: Motivation is NEVER enough!
140: How high will you climb?
139: 7 Reasons to Ask Your Team Questions
138: Clearing the Path: Leaders remove the obstacles.
137: Make it Happen: Leaders get results, managers plan to get results.
136: Two Powerful Things: The mirror and the window.
135: Jason Denam Interview Part 3 of 3
134: Jason Denam Interview Part 2 of 3
133: Jason Denam Interview Part 1 of 3
132: Unleashing Your Team: The front line determines the bottom line.
131: Leading by Example
130.5: I've just released a new book!
130: Squint with Your Ears: Listen with the Intent to Understand
129: Moving Beyond Communication: The Best Leaders Intentionally Connect
128: Walk the Talk: Trust is a Leader's Best Friend
127: Lead with Confidence, not Arrogance
126: As a Leader, First Impressions Count
125: Secure Leaders Eliminate Problems; Insecure Leaders Cause Problems
124: Thoughts on Becoming a High Impact Leader
123: Interview with Jimmy Collins Retired Chick-fil-A President/COO (Part 3 of 3)
122: Defining Your Leadership Style
121: Interview with Jimmy Collins Retired Chick-fil-A President/COO (Part 2 of 3)
120: Understanding Artificial Influence
119: Interview with Jimmy Collins Retired Chick-fil-A President/COO (Part 1 of 3)
118: Climbing the Leadership Mountain
117: Daniel Ross Interview (Bonus Session Part 4)
116: Daniel Ross Interview (Part 3 of 3)
115: Daniel Ross Interview (Part 2 of 3)
114: Daniel Ross Interview (Part 1 of 3)
113: Demystifying Leadership: Moving Beyond Management & Supervision
112: In the beginning...the challenge of not knowing what you don't know.
111: The 5 Levels of Leadership plus an Intro to Blue-Collar Leadership & Supervision.
110: Leadership Development is the Key to Transformation
109: The 3 Dilemmas: Engagement, Retention, Turnover
108: 7 signs it's time to promote your boss.
107: 7 signs it's time to fire your boss.
106: 5 reasons leaders won't remove low performers.
105: Why should you acknowledge your weaknesses?
104: Are you under construction? You should be!
103: A turnover problem below indicates a leadership problem above.
102: Everyone is a leader, a follower, and a manager.
101: Do you know what's worse than training people and having them leave?
100: Silent gratitude doesn’t do anyone much good.
99: Discover the "Two Types of Competition"
98: I hate the term "brown-nosing"...let me tell you why.
97: Don't let average people keep you average.
96: Are you actively using LinkedIn? You should be!
95: Discover the 5 Foundational Components of Transformational Leadership
94: If you won't bet on yourself, why should anyone else?
93: If you won't invest in yourself, why should anyone else?
92: Working hard doesn't guarantee success, and hope isn't a strategy.
91: When you pay attention to the details, people will pay attention to you.
90: The wise does at once what the fool does at last.
89: Never mistake effort and intentions for results.
88: Everyone remembers the first to help, few remember the second.
87: If you're not familiar with abundance and scarcity, this episode is for you.
86: Don't accept responsibility; take responsibility.
85: Be confident but not cocky.
84: Be prepared to listen, and listen to be prepared.
83: 5 ways high impact followers increase their influence.
82: Positions are overrated...if you can't lead without a position, you won't lead with a position.
81: Discover the difference between a boss and a leader.
80: You can't get to the top of the mountain with base camp character.
79: Who you are on the inside is what others see, feel, and experience on the outside.
78: Those who like you the most are the most like you.
77: Courage allows average people to achieve exceptional results.
76: You can't predict your future, but you can create your future.
75: If you do not conquer self, you will be conquered by self.
74: The face you see least is your own.
73: You should always be grateful but never satisfied.
72: You're always teaching what you're modeling, regardless of what you're teaching.
71: Discover the secret to your success.
70: You don't have to be sick to get better.
69: There is an "I" in Team!
68: Common sense isn't always common practice.
67: You're exactly where you're supposed to be, but not where you have to be.
66.1: It's been 4 months since I started this podcast. Thank you for listening!
66: Believing in others helps them believe in themselves.
65: Intro to Blue-Collar Leadership: Leading from the Front Lines.
64: Discover the Why, How, & What of Leadership
63: If you'll invest in your blue-collar workforce, so will I.
62: The organizational chart reveals management not leadership.
61: Manager vs Leader (Speed)
60: Manager vs Leader (Responsibility)
59: Manager vs Leader (Comfort Zone)
58: Manager vs Leader (Direction)
57: Manager vs Leader (Blame)
56: Manager vs Leader (Credit)
55: Manager vs Leader (Growth)
54: Manager vs Leader (Concern)
53: Manager vs Leader (Conflict)
52: Manager vs Leader (Risk)
51: Manager vs Leader (Energy Source)
50: Manager vs Leader (Decision Making)
49: Manager vs Leader (Power)
48: Manager vs Leader (Others)
47: Manager vs Leader (Self/Role)
46: Manager vs Leader (Change)
45: Manager vs Leader (Vision)
44: It's not the millennials. It's the leaders!
43: Discover the 5 Types of Leaders
42: Bosses have workers. Leaders have followers.
41: Management & Manipulation vs. Leadership & Stewardship.
40: One of those times when I let my team down.
39: Two great lessons that I learned from my co-worker.
38: What you think about is more important than what I say.
37: 7 Problems Insecure Leaders Cause
36: Overview of the 10 Elements of Transformation
35: Increasing your influence increases your options.
34: Focus on the leaders.
33: Introduction to "MAXIMIZE Your Potential"
32: San Diego bound to conduct 10 workshops for the US Navy!
31: Are you going to settle for success? I hope not!
30: Discover when to work on your strengths and weaknesses.
29: The difference between a practice and a principle.
28: 3 simple tips to help you advance to the next level.
27: Are you unlucky? I'll help you learn to be lucky.
26: One way to stand out when applying for a new job.
25: There's more to getting ahead than doing a great job.
24: The opportunity you want is waiting on you to show up.
23: Develop your mind or be controlled by those who do.
22: Are you intentionally improving? Your competition is...
21: When there are differing opinions, don't compromise.
20: I lost my son for 4 years; here's how I got him back.
19: Helping others win causes them to help you win.
18: There's no such thing as time management.
17: Moving from where you are to where you want to be.
16: The most important principle I've ever learned.
15: Introduction to the book that changed my life.
14: That time a front line guy wanted to cut my throat.
13: Motivation & Manipulation
12: Character & Competency
11: Trust is the foundation of influence.
10: They don't speak English...
9: Authentic Influence vs Artificial Influence
8: "Leadership is influence." ~ John C. Maxwell
7: If we won't invest in ourselves, why should someone else?
6: My Story from There to Here Part 5 of 5
5.1: Blue-Collar Leadership & Teamwork is on now on audio.
5: My Story from There to Here Part 4 of 5
4: My Story from There to Here Part 3 of 5
3: My Story from There to Here Part 2 of 5
2: My Story from There to Here Part 1 of 5
1: The Blue-Collar Leadership Podcast is Coming Soon