Change Champions

Riley McGhee and Pedram Parasmand
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Navigating change, overcoming hardship, or trying to become the best version of yourself? Learn how top coaches and consultants across industries help people or organizations make significant positive change.

  1. 5d ago

    What 15 Years of Entrepreneurship Actually Looks Like | Ep 58

    Community to create more sales opportunities using relationship-first business development habits: networkandsell.com Ped’s career makes much more sense looking backwards than it did while he was living it. In this behind-the-scenes episode of Change Champions, Riley talks with Ped about the path from studying theoretical physics to teaching, facilitation, consulting, entrepreneurship and, eventually, the work we do today with coaches, consultants and facilitators. They unpack some of the less obvious turning points along the way: graduating without a job, deliberately building the skills his CV was missing, discovering facilitation through experiential learning, moving from education into corporate work, and learning business development through associate work and subcontracting. Ped also shares what happened when years of referrals and being “busy and in demand” suddenly led to six months without new work, why the pandemic forced another rethink, and how accidentally finding a niche changed the way he thought about his business. It’s a conversation about career pivots, identity, niching and the skills that compound over time, especially when your career doesn’t follow a neat plan. And underneath all those changes, Ped shares the through line that has stayed remarkably consistent: helping people grow. Timestamps: 00:00 Why Ped’s career story is worth unpacking 01:18 Why theoretical physics came first 02:55 Graduating highly educated and unemployed 05:00 Deliberately building the skills his CV was missing 06:00 Discovering facilitation through experiential learning 07:45 The email that led Ped into teaching 09:55 Why five years of teaching changed his direction 10:35 Realising corporate life wasn’t for him 11:38 Moving from teaching into leadership development 12:18 Building the bridge from education to business 15:40 How networking started opening doors 17:15 Going fully self-employed 19:05 How associate work built Ped’s business skills 20:55 Taking risks on proposals and unpaid work 22:45 When being busy and in demand suddenly stopped 25:20 The pandemic and the question of financial runway 26:10 Turning existing skills into digital transformation work 29:20 How Ped “niched by accident” 30:25 Designing a business around the life he wanted 32:30 Choosing what kind of work to do next 33:15 Why coaches, consultants and facilitators became the focus 34:25 From workshop design to helping clients sell their work 35:20 Looking back at the career through line 37:05 The “why” behind Ped’s work 38:40 Where Riley and Ped are today

  2. Sep 9

    What to Do When You Don’t Have Time to Grow Your Business | Ep 57

    Newsletter for stories, tips and resources: leverageaccelerator.co There’s rarely a perfect time to build your coaching or consulting business. Life happens. You move house. Family needs more of you. Work changes. Your energy drops. And sometimes you simply don’t have the capacity you had a few months ago. In this behind-the-scenes episode of Change Champions, Riley and Ped talk about a different way to think about building your client pipeline: instead of treating business development as something you’re either doing or not doing, build the skills and habits that let you dial your activity up or down. They unpack why waiting for more time can keep you stuck, what can go wrong when you rely entirely on agencies or lead generation services, and why learning to create your own sales opportunities gives you more control. Ped also shares the practical minimum and stretch goals he uses for conversations and content, while Riley explains why maintaining some momentum matters more than repeatedly stopping and starting. If you’re a coach, consultant, trainer or facilitator trying to grow a business alongside everything else happening in your life, this episode offers a more sustainable way to think about your pipeline. Timestamps: 00:00 Why the “right time” may never arrive 00:29 When life competes with building your business 02:10 Why mindset alone can’t create more capacity 04:10 The problem with waiting or outsourcing growth 05:20 When more leads create a different problem 07:35 Taking control of your own client pipeline 09:35 Why you should understand the process before delegating it 10:25 Coaching is still a business 11:35 Finding opportunities in a tougher market 12:45 Learning to build your own pipeline 14:00 Dialling business development up and down 15:05 Ped’s two core business development activities 16:20 Minimum and stretch goals for outreach and content 17:15 Why stopping completely kills momentum 18:45 Authentic Outreach versus paid ads 19:40 A business development skill you can take anywhere 20:45 Pipeline Builder and where to learn more

  3. Aug 5

    How Coaches and Consultants Can Create More Opportunities Before They Need Them | Ep56

    Newsletter for stories, tips and resources: leverageaccelerator.co Community to create more sales opportunities using relationship-first business development habits: networkandsell.com Layoffs are rising, budgets are tightening, and more coaches, consultants, trainers, and facilitators are thinking seriously about how much control they have over their next opportunity. In this behind-the-scenes episode of the Change Champions podcast, Riley and Ped unpack three practical ways to become more proactive about your work: get clear on who you want to help, review the relationships you already have, and build a simple system for staying in touch. They also share real client examples, including one person who uncovered 250 potential contacts from past projects and another who booked more than 40 conversations after believing his network had dried up. The conversation covers: - Why marketability matters when you’re a proud generalist - How to turn existing relationships into new conversations - Why networking and sales are often the same activity - How to structure a virtual coffee without making it feel forced - What a simple CRM needs to help you stay organised - Why being useful creates more opportunities than pushing for a sale This is a grounded look at relationship-first business development for people who want to create more control over where their work comes from. Chapters 00:00 Why layoffs and budget cuts matter 00:50 The risk of relying on job security 02:38 Why more people are creating their own opportunities 03:31 A client who replaced lost revenue quickly 04:22 Start by choosing who you want to help 04:56 Why generalists struggle with marketability 06:17 Claiming your corner 06:56 Review the relationships you already have 07:28 Finding 250 potential contacts 07:50 What happens when your network feels exhausted 09:00 Where marketing and sales become the same activity 10:04 How to structure a virtual coffee 12:50 Listen for problems, goals, and useful connections 13:39 Treat sales as an act of service 14:47 Replace “always be closing” with “always be serving” 15:37 Why you need a simple system 16:55 What a basic CRM should contain 18:07 How to track warm and cold opportunities 19:09 Why 250 contacts does not mean 250 conversations 19:34 The notebook habit that made sales more human 21:44 The three actions to take now 22:04 Final recap

  4. Jul 15

    How We Sold Out a Pilot Before Building Everything | Ep 55

    Join Waitlist for Pipeline Builder: https://leverageaccelerator.co/pb-waitlist/ Newsletter for stories, tips and resources: leverageaccelerator.co A leadership coach recently told Riley she had spent two years building a new program. Around the same time, Riley and Ped launched a new pilot in three weeks and sold it out in nine days. In this behind-the-scenes episode of the Change Champions podcast, they break down what made that possible, why they designed the offer before building the full program, and how they tested real demand without relying on a huge audience. They also share how they filled their Pipeline Builder pilot, why they started with their warmest relationships, and how they kept moving while dealing with house moves, renovations, family commitments, and the usual reality of running a business. For coaches, consultants, trainers, and facilitators who keep refining their offer without putting it in front of buyers, this episode offers a more grounded way to make progress: define the outcome, test the demand, learn from real clients, and build from there. Timestamps: 00:00 Two years of building versus three weeks to launch 00:48 Why productive work can still be procrastination 02:27 Designing the offer before the program 03:29 The pros and cons of building with a partner 04:27 The difference between the product and the offer 06:17 What makes a coaching offer clear 07:33 Connecting your work to business outcomes 09:17 Why context shapes what buyers value 10:39 Testing demand with real buying decisions 11:22 Starting with your warmest relationships 12:40 Moving from conversations to email and social media 13:39 Why the buyer journey looks more like a web 14:49 You do not need an audience to begin 16:48 Launching while life is already busy 19:07 Why waiting for the right time does not work 20:23 The value of testing quickly 21:12 Why your pipeline needs regular attention 22:08 What the first cohort taught us

  5. Jun 10

    Why Simon Sinek is wrong | Ep 54

    Newsletter for stories, tips and resources: leverageaccelerator.coCommunity to create more sales opportunities using relationship-first business development habits: networkandsell.com In 2009, “Start With Why” gave coaches, consultants and leaders a simple way to talk about purpose. But the market has changed. In this episode, Riley and Ped unpack why values, purpose statements and polished positioning are no longer enough to help leadership coaches stand out. AI has made advice easier to access, buyers are more sceptical, and trust is harder to build online. The shift Riley and Ped explore is simple, but uncomfortable: people need to know who you are before they can fully trust what you do. They talk through market sophistication, why coaching is different from regulated professional services, why big “irresistible” offers can feel less believable now, and what coaches can do instead. You’ll hear three practical shifts: Have more real conversationsPromise less, so your offer feels believableShare more of yourself without oversharing For leadership coaches, facilitators, trainers and consultants who want a more human, credible way to be known and trusted. Timestamps: 00:00 Why “Start With Why” may not be enough anymore 00:20 Ped’s history with Simon Sinek’s golden circle 01:50 Why values and purpose statements started to blend together 02:20 AI, trust and the pressure on the coaching industry 03:10 The five stages of market sophistication 04:10 Why coaching is now in a trust recession 05:10 Why each market needs its own trust strategy 06:10 Why coaching is different from regulated professional services 07:10 The rock and hard place for leadership coaches 08:00 AI as an on-demand coach 09:10 Why your ideal customers need to know you 10:20 Integrity, leadership and being yourself 11:10 Three ways to build more trust 12:00 Why oversized offers can feel unbelievable 13:10 Practising what you preach in outreach and offers 14:00 Sharing more without oversharing 15:10 Micro-moments of connection 15:40 Start smaller, deliver well, retain better 16:10 Subscribe and next steps

  6. May 24

    The Uncomfortable Truth About How Coaches Actually Get Clients | Ep53

    Most coaches don’t have a lead magnet problem. They have a conversation problem. In this video, I break down the uncomfortable reality of how coaches actually get clients, especially when you’re balancing subcontracting work, trying to build your own business, and wondering why content alone isn’t creating consistent opportunities. We unpack the three routes to client acquisition: OutreachContentAdsBut more importantly, we look at why so many coaches start in the wrong place. I share the mindset shift that completely changed how I think about outreach, why content felt safer than conversations, and the expensive lesson I learned after spending thousands on ads before validating my offer properly. You’ll also hear: Why many coaches unconsciously avoid outreachThe belief that makes outreach feel transactionalHow authentic outreach differs from “pitch slapping”Why conversations create better offers, better content, and better salesReal examples of launches that failed and succeeded based on whether outreach happened firstIf you’ve been posting consistently but still struggling to build a steady pipeline, this video will help you understand what actually moves things forward. Authentic Outreach Playbook: https://drive.google.com/file/d/13W-SEKdcSUOThYE78z5oh66Vm1MxaBtM/view?usp=sharing Newsletter for stories, tips and resources: leverageaccelerator.co Timestamps: 00:00 The Uncomfortable Reality Of Getting Coaching Clients 01:00 The 3 Ways Coaches Get Clients 01:50 Why Most Coaches Avoid Outreach 02:00 Why Ads And Content Get Complicated Fast 03:20 The Real Reason Outreach Feels Icky 03:50 The Ladder Of Inference Explained 05:30 Why Coaches Avoid Outreach Entirely 06:40 Why This Is A Belief Problem 07:10 Why I Chose Content Over Outreach 08:20 What Happened When I Tried Ads 09:25 The Missing Foundation Behind Offers That Sell 10:20 Why Outreach Comes Before Content 11:25 The GPS Analogy That Changed Everything 12:10 What Authentic Outreach Actually Looks Like 13:25 What A Real Client Pipeline Feels Like 13:50 Why Outreach Works Before Funnels Do 14:20 Turning Conversations Into Offers And Content 15:20 The Webinar Launch That Failed 16:05 The Launch That Made $21K 16:55 Why Conversations Beat Polished Marketing 17:10 The Honest Starting Point For Coaches

  7. May 20

    How We Escaped the “Too Many Priorities” Trap | Ep 52

    Newsletter for stories, tips and resources: leverageaccelerator.co Community to create more sales opportunities using relationship-first business development habits: networkandsell.com If your days are full but your business isn’t moving, this conversation will likely hit close to home. In this behind-the-scenes episode of the Change Champions podcast, Riley and Ped unpack a real moment inside their own business where things started to feel stretched, scattered, and unsustainable. More tasks, more ideas, more “important” work… but less clarity, less energy, and less progress. They walk through the exact conversation that helped them reset. You’ll hear: Why doing more can quietly make your business worseHow “legacy tasks” keep you stuck without you realising itThe simple prioritisation filter that changed everythingWhat to do when everything feels important (but clearly isn’t)How to free up time without dropping what actually matters This isn’t theory. It’s a raw look at how two business partners navigated overwhelm in real time and came out with a clearer, more focused way of working. If you’ve been feeling busy but not effective, this episode will give you a practical way to rethink what’s actually on your plate. Timestamps: 00:00 Working hard but stuck 00:20 The moment the workload felt too much 01:40 Too many plates, not enough room 03:10 Why prioritisation matters 04:00 The frustration of “was this even important?” 05:00 The hidden cost of taking work away 06:20 Riley’s burnout warning sign 08:30 The real issue: legacy activities 09:40 Habits that quietly keep you overloaded 10:30 Making space means removing something 11:20 Obligation, little fires, and product roadmaps 12:50 How they started solving the problem 14:20 Brain dumping what’s actually on the plate 15:40 Sorting the work into clearer buckets 16:40 Rechecking the goal 17:50 Using strategy as the filter 18:20 Asking what drains the most energy 19:00 The Venn diagram for better prioritisation 20:20 Bringing work forward to take work off 21:10 Good enough is good enough 22:30 Focus, simplification, and perfectionism 23:10 Why crossing things off isn’t the full answer 24:00 Ship it, finish it, move on 25:00 The process you can use yourself 26:00 You’re spending time on the wrong things 26:10 Teasing the next behind-the-scenes episode 27:00 Thanks for hanging out

  8. May 13

    Why We Paid $30,000 for Help (And What We Expect to Learn) | Ep 51

    Newsletter for stories, tips and resources: leverageaccelerator.coCommunity to create more sales opportunities using relationship-first business development habits: networkandsell.com We just got accepted into a $30,000 coaching programme. And in this behind-the-scenes episode, we break down exactly why we made that decision. This isn’t about hype or “leveling up” for the sake of it. It’s about something more honest: we hit a point in our business where effort alone wasn’t enough to create consistent growth. We were solving problems… but new ones kept appearing. In this episode, we talk about: Why even experienced coaches still need coachingThe bottlenecks that kept us stuck between growth stagesWhat we hope to learn (especially around content, sales, and leverage)The tension between figuring it out yourself vs getting helpThe personal reasons behind the investment — time, family, and lifestyleWe also share the mindset shift that changed everything for us: being the kind of client we want to attract. If you’re a coach, consultant, or facilitator trying to grow your business without burning out — this will give you a clear, honest look at what it actually takes to move forward. Hosted by Riley and Ped, co-founders of Leverage Accelerator. Timestamps: 00:00 Why we joined a $30,000 coaching programme 00:40 Getting accepted and what Black Belt is 01:57 Why we’re happy to share we’re getting help 03:30 Growth mindset, learning, and serving clients better 04:39 Why experience beats figuring it out alone 06:10 The growth ceiling we kept hitting 08:09 Why now was the right time to invest 10:28 What we hope to learn from the programme 13:17 The real content lesson we want to improve 15:00 Adapting what we learn to our own audience 16:29 Systems, positioning, and our unique strengths 17:18 Letting go of insecurity around asking for help 17:49 Pressure, integrity, and being a good client 19:28 Relief, accountability, and shortening the learning cycle 20:50 Did we wait too long to do this? 22:26 The personal reasons behind the investment 23:20 Why helping people has to come first 24:45 Why we’re documenting this journey

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About

Navigating change, overcoming hardship, or trying to become the best version of yourself? Learn how top coaches and consultants across industries help people or organizations make significant positive change.

Information

  • Creator
    Riley McGhee and Pedram Parasmand
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    59
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Riley McGhee and Pedram Parasmand
  • Show Website
    Change Champions