Leadership Blueprints

BJ Kraemer, MCFA
  • 5.0 (35)
  • MANAGEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Leadership Blueprints is a podcast dedicated to helping leaders align teams, navigate chaos, and accomplish the mission. Hosted by BJ Kraemer—West Point graduate, combat veteran, and President & CEO of MCFA—this show dives into the principles, stories, and strategies behind effective leadership. With a background in military service and experience leading teams in business, infrastructure, and complex projects, BJ understands that success comes down to execution, adaptability, and leading people well. Through in-depth interviews with accomplished leaders across business, sports, the military, and beyond, Leadership Blueprints will help you bring your vision to reality on projects that shape communities and industries. Whether you’re leading in the boardroom, on the field, in the military, or within your own organization, this podcast is designed to provide the tools and mindset needed to lead with clarity, resilience, and purpose. Subscribe now and start building your Leadership Blueprint.

  1. 5D AGO

    Stop Drifting. Start Directing.

    Time is the most precious resource leaders manage, and you can either drift with time or direct it. In a world where there is not a lot you can control, your time is something you can take ownership of. In David Allen’s book Getting Things Done, he teaches readers his methods for stress-free performance and emphasizes that your productivity is directly proportional to your ability to relax. A few years ago, BJ interviewed David about this topic, and today, we are playing that conversation for you again.  Tuning in, you’ll hear all about David’s career and writing journey, the kinds of people who read his book, how to implement his system, and so much more! We delve into ambient anxiety before David tells us about the tools and resources he offers and where you can get his training. He even talks about how often we should be processing information.  Finally, our guest answers our rapid-fire questions. This episode is jam-packed with pearls of wisdom about one of the most popular and timeless productivity methods in the world, so be sure to press play now!  Key Points From This Episode: Why time is the most valuable resource a leader has.How you can direct your time instead of drifting with it.The importance of scheduling your priorities in your calendar.BJ gives listeners a three-step time-management challenge.What it takes to implement his GTD (Getting Things Done) system. Quotes: “I will be bold enough to say that my book, Getting Things Done, was really the seed for the whole life-hack movement that started in the 2000s.” — @gtdguy “You don’t need time, you need space. How long does it take to have a good idea? It takes no time to have a good idea. What you need is no distraction in your head so you can take that idea, grab it, and do something with it!” — @gtdguy “One of the things my stuff delivers is hope.” — @gtdguy “Your head is for having ideas, not for holding them!” — @gtdguy “You can have very, very high-performing people, but if your process sucks, the outcome sucks. But the [converse] is also true. You can have a fabulous process, but if you have people who personally can’t manage themselves and their role in that process, your outcome sucks. You need both.” — @gtdguy Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: David Allen on LinkedInDavid Allen on X David Allen on Instagram  Getting Things Done GTD Focus Installation Guide  Crucial Learning Getting Things Done Humankind My Plan for Living to 156 Hitster Leadership Blueprints Podcast Leadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTube MCFA MCFA Careers BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

    1h 1m

  2. FEB 25

    Leadership Growth Starts in the Mirror

    Part of being a great leader is being self-aware and understanding the blind spots in your leadership approach. In this episode of Leadership Blueprints, we sit down with Jill Macauley to unpack the concept of blind spots through the lens of Martin Dubin’s book Blindspotting. Jill is the Chief Operating Officer at Behavioral Essentials and brings over 15 years of experience in business and non-profit consulting. Her work centers around helping leaders grow, plan strategically, and communicate well with their teams. She supports leaders in analyzing behavioral patterns, navigating role transitions, and fostering healthier and more effective workplace cultures. They discuss what a blind spot is, the misconceptions around the concept, and why being self-aware as a leader is vital. Learn how not recognizing your blind spots impacts your team, the hidden costs of blind spots for an organization, how leaders can balance empathy with accountability, and how to get the most out of your employees while keeping them happy. They also talk about why sustainable performance requires cycles of intensity and recovery, what the Blindspotting model and assessment focus on, and more.  Tune in to learn how spotting your blind spots, building awareness, and leading with agency and dignity can help you show up stronger for your team, your organization, and yourself. Key Points From This Episode: How blindspots and being self-aware act as the foundation for better leadership.Explore the concept of a blind spot in leadership and why it is hard to identify.Discover what turning self-awareness into self-reflection looks like in practice.Learn how fostering dignity and agency in the workplace drives performance.What dignity means in the workplace and how fear-based leadership impacts results. Quotes: “We’re not factory workers, we’re thinkers. Thinking work is the dominant work in the workplace now.” — Jill Macauley  “The definition of business success, quarter to quarter and shareholder output, is not wholesome, it is not sustainable, and it is not how businesses actually have compounding success.” — Jill Macauley  “I think a lot of people forget about awareness of the organization and they forget the organization is bigger than any one of us.” — Jill Macauley “You can’t have a greater understanding unless you understand yourself first.” — Jill Macauley  Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Jill Macauley on LinkedIn Behavioral Essentials Blindspotting: How to See What's Holding You Back as a Leader The Song of Significance: A New Manifesto for Teams  The Dichotomy of Leadership: Balancing the Challenges of Extreme Ownership to Lead and Win Poor Charlie’s Almanack: The Essential Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger Blindspotting Leadership Blueprints Podcast Leadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTube MCFA MCFA Careers BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

    52 min

  3. FEB 18

    Compassion, Clarity, Courage: A Blueprint for Developing Leaders

    What hard conversation are you avoiding right now? In this solo episode of Leadership Blueprints, BJ reflects on Valentine’s Day, Presidents’ Day, and even the Winter Olympics to unpack one central leadership tension: compassion and accountability must coexist. Real leadership is not choosing between love and standards - it is holding both. Through presidential vignettes, youth sports culture, and lessons from business and family life, BJ introduces a practical three-part framework for developing leaders: Compassion, Clarity, and Courage. This episode challenges listeners to examine whether they are truly leading with compassion - or simply avoiding discomfort. Thanks for listening in! Key Points From This Episode: • Why growth - for you and your team - is determined by the number of uncomfortable conversations you’re willing to have. • The difference between compassion and comfort, and why lowering the standard helps no one. • Lessons from presidential leadership such as Lincoln’s empathy paired with accountability, Washington’s self-discipline and moral restraint, and Roosevelt’s belief that high standards are a form of respect.  • The three-part leadership blueprint: compassion, clarity, and courage • What Norway’s youth sports philosophy and Olympic success reveal about balancing joy and standards in development. Quotes: “Love without accountability is a leadership weakness.” — BJ Kraemer “Accountability begins with self-discipline and self-governance.” — BJ Kraemer “I think when you have high-love, high-expectation leadership, performance will increase. The mission will get accomplished. The culture will be improved.” — BJ Kraemer  Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: The Dichotomy of Leadership Lincoln on Leadership  The Art of Manliness Do Hard Things Leadership Blueprints Podcast Leadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTube MCFA MCFA Careers BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

    16 min

  4. FEB 11

    What Youth Sports Gets Right About Leadership

    What does it mean to create a safe space to fail?  During this episode, we are going outside of the built environment to speak to a different kind of inspiring leader in his field. Paul Donovan is the CEO and Head Coach of Jersey Wahoos, a USA swimming club program located in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. He is a champion of self-compassion and kindness. In this conversation, Paul shares how to balance compassion with accountability, navigate parental pressure, and prevent burnout in youth sports. He reflects on quiet leadership, the real mission behind his coaching that goes far beyond the swimming pool, and why leading by example and giving generously of one’s time is essential as a youth sports coach.  There are so many principles for life that can be learned through sports, and today’s episode is a deep dive into how, with the right coach and leadership, participating in them can really be a last bastion of discipline in challenging environments. Thanks for listening.   Key Points From This Episode:   •   What it looks like to balance compassion and accountability while leading young people. •   Causes of burnout in youth sports. •   Building awareness of the organization while remaining focused on celebrating internal successes. •   Leading by example in coaching and youth sports. •   How youth sports can be the final bastion of discipline in challenging environments.     Quotes:   “I think burnout is an emotional state of mind, not a physical state of mind.” — Paul Donovan    “I believe in quiet leadership. You know the old saying parents had about kids is that they should be seen but not heard? I think leaders should be heard but not seen.” — Paul Donovan    “Our actual goal for the kids isn’t for them to win a medal at the world championships. Our actual goal with them all is to open up doors that are otherwise unattainable.” — Paul Donovan    Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Paul Donovan on LinkedIn Paul Donovan on Instagram Jersey Wahoos Swim Club The Power of Habit The Five Dysfunctions of a Team Steve Magness The Sport Parent on X Leadership Blueprints Podcast Leadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTube MCFA MCFA Careers BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

    51 min

  5. FEB 4

    What It Really Means to Be a Leader Worth Following

    Consider your funeral – what is being said in your eulogy, and what do they thank you for? Are they praising your achievements and accomplishments or memorializing your character and the relationships you nourished?  In this solo episode, BJ challenges listeners to define the leader you are trying to become, not just at work, but at home, too! You’ll hear all about the inspirational books (and soldier) that inspired this episode, the danger of being too focused on achievement, the importance of building character, and so much more! BJ even dives into the power of approaching the world from a place of joy.  To hear all this and be inspired to challenge the way you’re forming your character, be sure to tune in now! Key Points From This Episode: The danger of getting too focused on achievement. Why character is far more important than strategy. The importance of being a good leader at work and at home. Why achievement is really about learning and becoming. Bringing a posture of joy to how you approach the world.  Quotes: “It’s easy to get focused on achievement.” — BJ Kraemer  “When I talk about joy, sustainability, and – leadership effectiveness, none of them start with strategy; they all start with character.” — BJ Kraemer  “Your character is what lasts.” — BJ Kraemer  Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Unshakeable Black Hawk Down Steve Young Interview with Tim Ferriss Gary Gordon Leadership Blueprints Podcast Leadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTube MCFA MCFA Careers BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

    19 min

  6. JAN 28

    Why Your Team Isn't Reaching Its Potential

    What if the true measure of leadership is not what happens on your watch, but what happens long after you are gone?  In this episode, we speak with John Teichert, an expert in leadership, about unlocking your team's potential and achieving organizational excellence. John is a retired U.S. Air Force general, combat and test pilot, and senior defense leader with thousands of flight hours across a wide range of aircraft. He is now the founder and president of Capital Leadership LLC, where he focuses on developing innovative, integrity-driven leaders across government and industry.  In our conversation, we explore why leaders should prioritize people and the mission, why investing in people ensures long-term success, and why intentional use of time and resources is essential for organizations. John explains how leaders can demonstrate care and empathy while helping people connect to a greater purpose, and he unpacks the importance of inspiration in leadership. He also breaks down the qualities that make for an effective leader, the ways to foster connections with your team, why continuous learning and self-improvement are essential for leaders, and much more.  Tune in to learn about the significance of intentional leadership and living up to the responsibility of being a leader that people deserve with John Teichert! Key Points From This Episode: Learn why leadership is about leverage and multiplying impact through other people.How organizations show their priorities through how they spend their time and money.Explore why investing in people is vital for the long-term success of an organization.Why leadership is not only about inspiring but also about handling tough situations.Discover the steps for implementing corrective action with empathy and compassion. Quotes: “If [leaders] are not intentional about investing our time and our money in developing people to become the best possible version of themselves, then we are fooling ourselves.” — John Teichert “People need to be loved or cared for, and people want to be part of something greater than themselves.” — John Teichert  “The equipping, challenging, and convicting; those are all some of the bread and butter that [leaders] should be doing every day.” — John Teichert  “We’re all lifelong learners of leadership. No one has arrived.” — John Teichert  Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: John Teichert John Teichert on LinkedIn John Teichert on YouTube Boom! Prayers for a Nation The Dragon Who Earned His Wings InSideOut Coaching The Infinite Game Greater Than Yourself Lincoln on Leadership American Generalship The Maxwell Leadership Bible George Washington’s General Orders Leadership Blueprints Podcast Leadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTube MCFA MCFA Careers BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

    41 min

  7. JAN 21

    Leadership is Leverage: When Leaders Become the Bottleneck

    True leverage is about multiplying leaders!  In this solo episode, BJ explores the concept of leadership and leverage and shares why he believes that leaders are actually levers. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about what to consider when thinking about leverage, the power of discerning leverage properly, and how the 80/20 rule can help leaders.  BJ delves into the importance of leveraging and protecting your time before discussing the difference between responsible and irresponsible leverage. BJ even talks about systems, why they’re imperative, and why bad systems are problematic. Finally, we touch on the idea that people aren’t leverage, their growth is.  To hear all this and even be challenged to consider how you are discerning your leverage, be sure to listen now!  Key Points From This Episode: What leadership actually is and why leaders are levers. BJ explains the 80/20 rule and what it means for leaders. Responsible leverage versus irresponsible leverage. The difference between true leverage and fake leverage. Three things to ask yourself this week to be a better leader. Quotes: “Leverage without discernment and wisdom turns into burnout, overextension, anxiety, or – using people instead of developing them.” — BJ Kraemer  “Leadership requires us to constantly ask, ‘Where am I spending time that someone else can grow into [or] – that I might be able to delegate to somebody? – Where am I holding onto work that’s preventing scalability? Where might I be confusing activity with impact or results?’” — BJ Kraemer “Time is the only resource that you can’t get more of.” — BJ Kraemer  “If your organization or family relies on your heroic effort to function, you don’t have a leadership problem, you have a systems problem.” — BJ Kraemer  Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: The ONE Thing Buy Back Your Time Leadership Blueprints Podcast Leadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTube MCFA MCFA Careers BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

    21 min

  8. JAN 14

    The Cost of "We'll Fix it Later" and What To Do Instead

    Projects don’t fail in the field; they fail when leaders aren’t clear on the upfront work needed to make a project successful.  Today on Leadership Blueprints, Daniel McCaulley joins us to discuss how he ensures projects go well. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about who our guest is and what he does, how he approaches projects so they are successful, how he paces an owner so that a project gets planned properly while maintaining enthusiasm, and so much more!  We delve into some of the best leadership lessons he has learned that have contributed to his success before discussing bad hires and how to avoid them. Daniel touches on his business philosophy and why he prioritizes laser-focused communication in the world of engineering. We even discuss the importance of being open to learning and growing throughout your career. Finally, our guest tells us about his favorite leadership books, quotes, and dream dinner guests (dead or alive). Thanks for listening!  Key Points From This Episode: Daniel explains his blueprint for getting a project on the right track. How to help an owner slow down to plan a project properly. Daniel shares some leadership lessons that have served him well. An example of a bad hire that Daniel made and how he handled it. How he facilitates an environment of constant learning for his employees.  Quotes: “You really do have to go slow to go fast sometimes. Everything in construction is better done yesterday.” — Daniel McCaulley  “Hire good people and get out of their way!” — Daniel McCaulley  “People do need to be managed differently.” — Daniel McCaulley  “We’re all created to be here on a specific mission, and let’s not let that time be wasted.” — Daniel McCaulley  Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Daniel McCaulley on LinkedIn Moonshot The 5 Levels of Leadership  Leadership Blueprints Podcast MCFA MCFA Careers BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

    39 min
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5
out of 5
35 Ratings

About

Leadership Blueprints is a podcast dedicated to helping leaders align teams, navigate chaos, and accomplish the mission. Hosted by BJ Kraemer—West Point graduate, combat veteran, and President & CEO of MCFA—this show dives into the principles, stories, and strategies behind effective leadership. With a background in military service and experience leading teams in business, infrastructure, and complex projects, BJ understands that success comes down to execution, adaptability, and leading people well. Through in-depth interviews with accomplished leaders across business, sports, the military, and beyond, Leadership Blueprints will help you bring your vision to reality on projects that shape communities and industries. Whether you’re leading in the boardroom, on the field, in the military, or within your own organization, this podcast is designed to provide the tools and mindset needed to lead with clarity, resilience, and purpose. Subscribe now and start building your Leadership Blueprint.

Information

  • Creator
    BJ Kraemer, MCFA
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    247
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © MCFA
  • Show Website
    Leadership Blueprints

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