Think Outside the Boss

What if you're not burned out because you have too much to do, but because you're doing too much of the wrong work?In this solo episode of Think Outside the Boss, Katie Armentrout shares the personal story behind why she left corporate America and the two books by Pat Lencioni that finally gave her the language to understand it. What she couldn't name in that meeting with her VP, a personality assessment helped her explain years later.This episode is a deep dive into the Working Genius assessment, a productivity tool and personality framework that helps individuals and teams understand what types of work energize them, what drains them, and how to have better conversations because of it. Katie breaks down all six types of working genius, what it looks like when a team is missing one, and how a single team map helped one of her clients go from launching 22 products in a year to 8, with 10x revenue growth.Self-awareness is the most important quality in any leader. Not communication. Not strategy. Not confidence. Self-awareness. And this episode gives you a practical tool to start building it today.If you've ever walked into your manager's office and said "I'm burned out, I'm frustrated, I'm unhappy" without knowing what to do next, this episode gives you the language you were missing.In this episode, you’ll discover:Why burnout is usually about the type of work you're doing, not the amountThe six types of working genius and what each one means for your teamWhy having smart, good people does not automatically create a healthy cultureHow one team went from chaos to 10x revenue growth by finding their gapWhy self-awareness is the number one leadership quality (and how to practice it)The difference between a personality assessment and a working genius team mapHow to turn emotional conversations into solvable problemsWhat happens when a team skips the discernment phase (and how to fix it)Why 80 to 85 percent of the benefit comes from taking assessments as a team, not soloHow to use a common language framework to reduce team drama and conflictWe talk about:00:00 The moment that started it all: burnout, frustration, and not having the words03:00 Leaving corporate America and why Katie had no grand plan06:00 The conference that changed everything and Pat Lencioni's Five Dysfunctions of a Team08:00 How good people can still create a toxic culture (and what leaders miss)10:00 Introducing the Working Genius: the six phases of all work12:00 Why tenacity was draining Katie and what that reveals about burnout14:00 The conversation you could have had if your team knew working genius16:00 Real client case study: 22 products, missing discernment, and the team map that fixed it19:00 From launching 22 products to 8, and 10x revenue growth in one year21:00 Why 50% of your work should be in your genius zone (and what happens if it isn't)22:00 Self-awareness as the number one leadership quality and why most leaders miss it23:00 Why your team already knows your weaknesses even if you don't admit them24:00 How to claim your free Working Genius debrief with KatieResources:The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Pat Lencioni: https://amzn.to/497rs8y The Six Types of Working Genius by Pat Lencioni: https://amzn.to/4dI8QOZ Working Genius Assessment: www.workinggenius.comReach out to Katie directly to receive your assessment code and a free debrief session. Email [email protected] and mention the podcast.Connect with meInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/katie_armentroutYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@katiearmentroutLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiearmentrout Newsletter: http://www.peoplefluence.com/newsletterWebsite: http://www.peoplefluence.com#WorkingGenius #LeadershipDevelopment #TeamCulture

What if the reason you’re not feeling wealthy… has nothing to do with how much money you make?In this episode of Think Outside the Boss, Katie Armentrout sits down with Jim Rasmussen, co-founder of Pando Wealth and former Chick-fil-A financial consultant, to unpack the truth most high performers avoid: making more money doesn’t automatically create a better life.After two decades helping business operators increase profit, Jim noticed a pattern. The income was growing, but the clarity wasn’t. Leaders were building businesses without building a financial plan, chasing growth without defining what it was actually for.This conversation flips the script on wealth, legacy, and leadership. From the emotional roots of money habits to the dangerous trap of comparison-driven investing, Jim shares what it really takes to move from reactive earning to intentional living.Because wealth isn’t just something you build. It’s something you steward, shape, and ultimately pass on.If you’ve been focused on growing your income but haven’t stopped to ask what it’s all for, this episode will change how you think about money, leadership, and the life you’re actually creating.In this episode, you’ll discover:Why making more money without a plan leads to long-term dissatisfactionThe difference between a business plan and a financial life plan (and why most people only have one)How comparison culture quietly drives bad financial decisionsThe real reason high earners still feel financially insecureWhy “keeping up with the Joneses” destroys long-term wealthThe moment that changed Jim’s entire perspective on money and legacyHow to shift from reactive spending to intentional wealth buildingThe identity trap that keeps entrepreneurs stuck in financial stressWhy generosity is a core part of sustainable wealth, not an afterthoughtThe mindset shift that moves you from chasing money to leading your life with purposeWe talk about:00:00 Why building wealth without a plan sets the next generation up to fail03:00 Growing up between scarcity and investing, and how it shaped Jim’s money mindset07:00 What Chick-fil-A operators taught him about income growth and financial confusion11:00 The wake-up call that shifted his focus from business profit to personal planning15:00 Why most leaders overspend as their income increases18:00 The leadership principle that drives culture, loyalty, and long-term success22:00 How comparison and social pressure lead to poor financial decisions26:00 Why entrepreneurs tie their identity to their business (and how to break it)30:00 The process of defining your personal vision for money and life34:00 How Pando Wealth approaches financial planning differently38:00 The risks of fast money, investing mistakes, and chasing returns41:00 Why steady, intentional growth always outperforms short-term wins44:00 Final advice for leaders who feel behind, overwhelmed, or financially stuckConnect with JimLinkedIn: personal / companyWebsite: https://www.pandowealth.com/ Bags of MoneyGet Out of Your Head by Jennie Allen https://amzn.to/4mWXp9j Connect with meInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/katie_armentroutYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@katiearmentroutLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiearmentrout Newsletter: http://www.peoplefluence.com/newsletterWebsite: http://www.peoplefluence.com#FinancialPlanning #BusinessOwners #WealthBuilding

Most business leaders aren't behind on AI because they lack access. They're behind because no one told them they already have it and no one gave them permission to use it.In this episode of Think Outside the Boss, Katie Armentrout sits down with Kendra Ramirez, CEO of KR Digital, Claude Ambassador, and one of the most trusted AI voices in the B2B space, to cut through the noise, the overwhelm, and every excuse keeping leaders on the sidelines of the AI era.Kendra has been building AI since 2018. She's delivered hundreds of sessions, consulted organizations of every size, and once saved a client $30,000 in five minutes by asking five questions no one else thought to ask. This is not a conversation about AI being the future. It's a conversation about why it's already here and what to actually do about it today.From auditing your current tech stack, to why Claude outperforms ChatGPT for voice-driven content, to the data security questions your team is afraid to bring to leadership, Kendra makes AI feel less like a threat and more like the smartest colleague you've never properly introduced yourself to.If you lead a team, run a business, or have been quietly waiting for someone to tell you it's safe to move, this episode is that moment.In this episode, you’ll discover:Why most businesses are already sitting on AI they've paid for and never activatedThe five questions that saved one client $30,000 before they signed a single contractWhy Claude outperforms ChatGPT for human-sounding content and how to switch without starting overWhat AI Skills are and why they permanently solve the "re-explaining yourself" problemThe non-negotiable data security rules every leader needs to understand before putting anything into AIWhy free AI tools are more expensive than you realizeHow Kendra built a globally read AI newsletter that generates revenue without ever pushing itThe mindset shift from waiting for organizational permission to leading your team into the AI eraWhy human-centered AI implementation outperforms technology-centered every single timeHow to use your personality assessments inside AI for stronger leadership and team communicationWe talk about:00:00 The real reason your team is waiting on AI and why it starts with you04:00 Kendra's early leadership instincts and what it means to "manage up" the right way08:00 Why silencing the person who always asks "why" is a red flag, not a relief12:00 From technical recruiter to digital pioneer: building a business before anyone believed in it16:00 How to trust your gut when every coach in the room says you're wrong20:00 Limiting beliefs don't just live in you, they live in everyone giving you feedback24:00 Where to start with AI when you genuinely don't know what you don't know28:00 The $30K wake-up call: audit your tech stack before you buy anything new32:00 Claude vs. ChatGPT: what's actually different and whether you should switch36:00 What AI Skills are and how they eliminate the re-explaining problem for good40:00 AI data security: what's actually safe to put in, and what never should be44:00 How Kendra runs AI enablement from the C-suite to the front line48:00 Why human connection is the highest-leverage business strategy of 202652:00 Lightning round: personality assessments, faith, $10K lessons, and walking out to Alicia KeysConnect with KendraLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendraramirez/Website: https://kendraramirez.com/Newsletter: https://kendratech.substack.com/Get Out of Your Head by Jennie Allen https://amzn.to/4mWXp9jConnect with meInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/katie_armentroutYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@katiearmentroutLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiearmentroutNewsletter: http://www.peoplefluence.com/newsletterWebsite: http://www.peoplefluence.com#AIforBusiness #Leadership #Entrepreneurship