Applied Leadership Podcast

Two friends. One question. Half an hour. Zero script. Fun and thoughtful conversations, answering your questions about life, business, and all things leadership. Timely topics. Timeless wisdom.

Special Episode - Brandon's Fireside Chat for Perseverance Endurance :: Tattered Cover Bookstore 04/22/2025

Special Episode - Brandon's Fireside Chat for Perseverance Endurance :: Tattered Cover Bookstore We hope you enjoy listening to this special episode of the Applied Leadership Podcast. The Tattered Cover Bookstore in Aspen Grove, CO, hosted Brandon for a fireside chat, book reading, and signing to celebrate the launch of Perseverance > Endurance, written by Brandon and Blayne. During this chat, Brandon discusses his and Blayne's motivation to write the book, combining their experiences on the battlefield in Army Special Operations, and leading in corporate America and in the non-profit sectors. As Brandon says, "No one holds a monopoly over hardship." You don't need to wear a uniform to face hardship, challenges, or to persevere through them. No matter what you're facing in life, we hope this episode and the book provide you with some useful tools to persevere through adversity and grow for the better. /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/36261080

Leading With or Without A Vision 03/23/2025

Leading With or Without A Vision When we talk about a vision, we mean an aspirational picture of a greater future. This is something that leaders need to consider with their teams. As leaders, we need our team to understand that they are a crucial part in the ultimate achievement of our team, so they can have ownership over their piece of the mission. Casting a vision must be made intentionally and invites people to be a part of greatness. And to be great. Here are some crucial questions that leaders should ask when they are creating and communicating a vision to their teams and stakeholders: What's missing? Where are we trying to go? Where are we presently? What are the downfalls if I don't cast a vision for my team? Intro Music: Into the Wasteland by The Wasteland Fathers /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/35840590

Cold Calling, Outreach, Intros, etc. 02/17/2025

Cold Calling, Outreach, Intros, etc. We've done a lot of cold calls with our time working in sales. As much as we've done it, it's still not our favorite thing to do at all. It's tough, it's uncomfortable. And it's necessary if we want to grow our business and reach new audiences that don't know what we're about. Some highlights from the episode, why this is hard, and why it's worthwhile to be earnest: -- Empathize: Put yourself in their shoes. We enjoy deep work, concentration and getting things done. We have some feelings about interrupting others, just as we don't like having our flow of work and thoughts interrupted. -- Put in Effort and be Earnest: Feel really good about what you're asking/proposing to someone. Put a lot of thought and work into your message. It will help raise your professionalism in earnest. -- Ask, don't manipulate: Ask if it's a good time to connect with them and why you're reaching out. If the answer is no, respect that, leave and follow up later. -- Be helpful, be specific, don't name drop: Have something to offer, be specific with your ask. Be interested, not interesting. /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/35308010

What Do We Think About Self-Leadership 02/14/2025

What Do We Think About Self-Leadership We love this topic! At ALPs, we view "self-leadership" as "discipline." Here are some highlights of this episode: -- On a day-to-day basis, discipline is having command over yourself, doing what IS good, not what FEELS good. -- We all know that oftentimes, the thing we need to do is the thing we want to do the least. Which means we need to do it even more. -- When discussing self-discipline regarding leadership, we must have command over the content, the room, and ourselves. We keep the same thought process when we present to our partners and deliver leadership content to our partners. -- Habits and routines are great, but what do they lead us to? We must choose the proper methods of self-discipline that align us with a deep meaning and purpose in achieving a goal, whether it's personal or business. --A brief discussion of the Stoic Virtues - Wisdom, Justice, Temperance, and Courage as a framework for discipline and staying on the right path. /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/35289095

Origin Story - How ALPs Was Created 12/08/2024

Origin Story - How ALPs Was Created We actually talked each other out of starting a leadership consulting business for the better part of 10 years! And then, all of our ideas came together and we couldn't deny what we need to create anymore. We're so grateful to have this opportunity everyday - and we have our family and many of our friends and colleagues to thank for supporting us. Our goal has always been to walk alongside our partners on the trail, pointing out the hazards ahead for them to avoid, as we've tripped over some of the same hazards in our careers. We truly want to be partners with those whom we work with - not just suits on a stage speaking to people. But bringing people into the ALPs family, helping teams truly APPLY solid frameworks and principles within their own business in order to overcome challenges and win. /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/34339220

Managing the Stress of the Unknowns - In Our Lives and In the World Around Us 11/10/2024

Managing the Stress of the Unknowns - In Our Lives and In the World Around Us There are a lot of unknowns happening around us in our country and the world, which add to whatever is going on in our individual lives. All we can do is control what we can control and find the good where we can. Some highlights include: Humans crave and look for predictive patterns. When something happens out of the norm, it can be unsettling. Normalize your stress - feeling that way is okay, and uncertainty is normal. It can be tough to navigate your way through difficult situations when people don't know where to turn for solid information. Choose to lean on our own ability to understand what's going on with our families, in our communities and make assessments with what's going on around us and in our hearts. Control what you can control - your physical wellness with moving your body, your emotional/mental wellness with thoughtful conversations, internal work, genuine relationships and spiritual considerations. Say "No" where you can, do less where you can - Build in some margin to adjust, adapt and dial it up when it's time to sprint. Finally - be cool! Love each other. /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/33870937

How to Create a Culture of Initiative 10/20/2024

How to Create a Culture of Initiative Creating a culture of initiative within your team requires a few things; competence, confidence and an environment where initiative is rewarded and supported. Initiative also requires solid guidance, resources and parameters set by leadership so their people can run and create good work. If leaders can provide those elements, they can help foster courage and responsibility within their team. /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/33534347

How Do We Think About Q4? 10/07/2024

How Do We Think About Q4? The dreaded Q4 is upon us. It's hard for Q3 to come to an end and think that we've reached the summit. But that's a false summit, and we still have to persevere to the end of the year and truly hit the mountain top we aim for. It's an opportunity for greatness and to start the next year strong—stick with it! /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/33352997

How To Get Some Time/Margin Back Into Your Life 09/23/2024

How To Get Some Time/Margin Back Into Your Life We feel this one! We've worked in the corporate world, know what it's like to play calendar Tetris and try to make it all fit. You may have more control over your calendar than you think. Ask yourself, "Does it have to be this way?" It takes some thoughtfulness - fully understanding the goals and objectives, setting, and the priorities of work. It may require some dialogue and communication with the people at work and at home to get some cushion. /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/33169292

How Do We Come Up With This Stuff? 09/20/2024

How Do We Come Up With This Stuff? We get asked a lot about how we come up with our content, modules, and ideas. We've always tried to ask ourselves, "What problem are we trying to solve? What is the need?" The creative process is a total collaborative effort between our team and our partners. We encourage you to set aside time intentionally on a regular basis to think and work on any creative ventures. And try to be genuine and useful, not brilliant! /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/32995452

Who Are ALPs Leadership Inspirations? 08/18/2024

Who Are ALPs Leadership Inspirations? Leadership inspiration and influential figures come and go throughout our lives - parents, relatives, teachers, peers and people we don't personally know. Blayne and Brandon share the individuals who have shaped their leadership style and inspired them at different points in their lives. /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/32626352

How Leaders Can Guard Against Pridefulness: w/ Special Guest Jan Rutherford 08/04/2024

How Leaders Can Guard Against Pridefulness: w/ Special Guest Jan Rutherford We are excited to have our friend Jan Rutherford on the show today. Jan Rutherford is a former Green Beret and founder of Self-Reliant Leadership® where he coaches executives, and leads Crucible® wilderness expeditions with executives and veterans. Jan has over 25 years of business experience and has held executive roles in business development, marketing, sales, training, product management, and as a CEO. He joins us to discuss how leaders can guard against pridefulness and shares insights from his upcoming book "Becoming a Self-Reliant Leader: How Grit and Disciplined Duty Forge Indomitable Teams" co-authored by Jacquie Jordan. Crafted from Rutherford’s Crucible® Expeditions wilderness experience, Becoming a Self-Reliant Leader is a practical guide that explores each step of the Crucible journey and how its lessons can be applied to today’s leadership challenges. Pre-order his book today at /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/32430232

Recent Proud Moments 07/21/2024

Recent Proud Moments Blayne and Brandon rehash some victories so far in 2024 in Episode 25 of the Applied Leadership Podcast, "Recent Proud Moments." We hope you enjoy it and take the time to reflect on your own personal and professional wins so far. Celebrate with your team, friends, and family! /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/32235872

I'm a Leader and Never Wanted to Be - Now What Do I Do? 07/07/2024

I'm a Leader and Never Wanted to Be - Now What Do I Do? We often get what we need, not what we want. You may not want to be a leader, but maybe you need to be one. It's where you're at now, so what do we do about it? It's worth digging deep into yourself and asking why you may feel the way you do. At the same time, you can feel like you don't want it, yet embrace it as a positive opportunity. /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/32040057

Cool Breeds Cool 06/20/2024

Cool Breeds Cool Do you have to always have all the answers as a leader? What do you do when you feel stuck in the moment, and everyone is looking to you? Even as a leader, you cannot always have all the answers, even in a moment of crisis. However, you should always bring calm. Assess the situation and create the conditions for a good answer to emerge from the team. Calm is more important than always having the answer. /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/31825922

How Big Do We Want Our Business to Get? 06/10/2024

How Big Do We Want Our Business to Get? ALPs exist to share hard-earned leadership wisdom with leaders who are on the frontlines of missions that matter and are trying to get better every day. We're always thinking about how to responsibly grow the business, keeping our lives properly integrated as we want, and doing the work with people we love. There's a healthy tension within this that we wrestle with both in work and our family lives. /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/31673667

Getting the Work Done & Providing Ancillary Support 05/28/2024

Getting the Work Done & Providing Ancillary Support There's an inverse relationship between completing the mission and being positively involved in building workplace relationships and advocating for your teams. Sharing the good work that our team is doing and hoping that others find value in it requires building and maintaining relationships. /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/31488652

Social Media: Uses and Abuses 05/12/2024

Social Media: Uses and Abuses Social media is a tricky place, especially when you're a business. Companies have to be careful about posting too much on social media, yet they need to share intentionally to meaningfully attract the right partners and clients. This is something we wrestle with every day, both at ALPs and in our personal lives. Knowing the true motivation and why to use social media for your company is the key. /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/31253847

Presence and Whole Life Integration 04/28/2024

Presence and Whole Life Integration This is an episode everyone will relate to—as a leader, a teammate, a spouse, a parent, a family member, or a friend. We all wear different hats and have a myriad of responsibilities and interests that vie for our time. As leaders, we need to ensure that we are allowing our people the time to be the best versions of themselves in all aspects of their lives. As leaders, we need to make sure we are doing the same for ourselves. /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/31021438

Foundations of Leadership: Elizabeth Fire District of Colorado 04/15/2024

Foundations of Leadership: Elizabeth Fire District of Colorado For this week's episode we are doing another round of answering questions from our Colorado Fire Leadership Series. Our second session with this engaging group of firefighters, volunteers, and dispatchers was about the foundations of leadership, different leadership styles, and theories. Questions answered during this episode include leaders who attempt to manage their way out of leadership, span of control, keeping the mission at the focus, and more. We hope you enjoy it! /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/30820703

Pressure is a Privilege 03/31/2024

Pressure is a Privilege We get asked all the time - "Don't you guys get nervous.... doing public speaking, speaking in front of large audiences, etc." YES! We are nervous every single time! We prepare like crazy, and whether we present to large audiences or small groups of high-caliber people, it's daunting no matter the group. But we also see the nervousness, the opportunity, the pressure, as a privilege. /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/30614358

Cultures of Excellence: Elizabeth Fire District of Colorado 03/17/2024

Cultures of Excellence: Elizabeth Fire District of Colorado We usually tackle one question in our episodes, but today we're doing something a little different. We recently started our Colorado Fire Leadership Series with the Elizabeth Fire District of Colorado, a team of full-time and volunteer firefighters, dispatchers, and support personnel. Our first module of Cultures of Excellence resulted in so many engaging and thoughtful questions that we wanted to dedicate an episode to answer the remaining ones we couldn't get to during our session. These questions are applicable to anyone in a leadership position. We hope you enjoy it! /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/30406993

Balancing Authenticity of Self and Getting the Job Done 03/03/2024

Balancing Authenticity of Self and Getting the Job Done As leaders, how do we balance the relationship between authenticity and understanding we still have a mission and a purpose to accomplish? There's a line to be managed, which can be difficult. It's the work of the leader to understand and exercise judgment within appropriate context and within the company's culture. Authenticity, self-control and consistency together cab lead to overall trust within teams. /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/30206978

What are ALPs Reading/Listening To? 02/18/2024

What are ALPs Reading/Listening To? We get this question asked often - what are we reading, what podcasts are we listening to, what kinds of content and material do we find valuable? We aren't completely immune to the social media junk food, and do our best to stay intentional about what we mentally digest. Blayne and Brandon talk about topics, methods and content that they read and some specific recommendations. /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/30006378

Goals and Intentions 02/06/2024

Goals and Intentions What are your goals and intentions for 2024? Our approach tends to lean toward a more thematic path for what we want to accomplish. We want to challenge ourselves in ways that are hard and lean into having clear objectives on the calendar. There are a ton of ways of how you put together the framework for your life, personally and professionally. Blayne and Brandon provide some of their methods for how they plan out their year. /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/29817273

Balance: Taking Care of Your People AND the Mission 01/26/2024

Balance: Taking Care of Your People AND the Mission It takes a real balance to ensure you hear your people out and take care of their needs while at the same time ensuring the job is getting done. It takes integration of both. It takes hard work. It takes difficult decisions to keep the health of the business at the forefront. /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/29662053

How Do You Choose a Good Business Partner? 01/08/2024

How Do You Choose a Good Business Partner? When you're a small business owner, choosing to bring on a business partner is one of the most significant decisions you can make. Our view is that in this decision, like a marriage or life partnership, you have to think long term. Finding another individual or small team that aligns with your life values is key, with the amount of time you all will be spending with each other, toiling, celebrating wins and bouncing back from losses together. Listen in to more gems of advice from Blayne and Brandon about how they continue to build the ALPs team. /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/29379828

When Business Partners Behave Badly 12/11/2023

When Business Partners Behave Badly Establishing and documenting the expectations of a specific partnership from the very beginning is key to managing that relationship. How do you respond and address any concerns up front to keep the relationship going? What do you do when it's time to cut ties and walk away? /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/29018593

Tragic World Events: Do What You Can, Where You Can 11/26/2023

Tragic World Events: Do What You Can, Where You Can There are so many events happening in the world that are difficult to understand and even more difficult to try and manage our feelings and not feel overwhelmed. Instead of having complete apathy or enmeshing ourselves in everything, our focus should be on doing what we can, where we can. Chipping away at making our families, our homes, and our communities better, doing it together with people we love and keeping hope alive. /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/28797133

When to Push Yourself, and When Not to 11/12/2023

When to Push Yourself, and When Not to How you decide to push yourself depends on what your goal is and what you're aiming for. There's also a cost around how much you push yourself, and how it affects those closest to you. /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/28606398

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