Growth Think Tank

Gene Hammett is a Speaker, Executive Coach, Inc Columnist, and Host of "Gr
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Develop leadership skills and understand leadership development from expert interviews with transformational leaders. Leaders in the Trenches gives raw discussions that dive deep into new strategies to accelerate your company growth and your leadership abilities. Get interviews from Fortune 100 leaders to experts in various domains of marketing, sales, and leadership that allows you to explode your growth. Learn from their failures and discover the finer elements of significance that will impact your company. Guests include Daymond John, Les Brown, Michael Gerber, Jonah Berger, Bob Berg, Greg McKeown, and with the host Gene Hammett.

  1. 5D AGO

    Who Are You Becoming? The Mental Game Behind Leadership and High Performance with Joshua Lifrak, Author of Win Today

    In this episode, Joshua Lifrak shares how leadership and performance are shaped by mental preparation, self-awareness, and the choices we make in everyday moments. Drawing on his background in sports psychology, he discusses the importance of setting daily intentions, mentally preparing before important conversations, and returning to "mile zero" so that past experiences don't negatively influence the next interaction. Joshua also emphasizes the value of being "present, not perfect," explaining how greater awareness of our thoughts and emotions creates space between stimulus and response, leading to more intentional leadership and better decision-making. He also explores visualization as a practical tool for building confidence, sharpening focus, and improving execution in both sports and business environments. Episode Highlights & Time Stamps 6:43 Rapid Change Happens 9:27 Define Your Story 13:48 Begin Before It Begins 17:23 Be Present, Not Perfect 19:27 The Power of Visualization 25:02 Where to Find the Book Key Takeaways ✔️ Leadership starts with mindset before action. ✔️ Intentional daily focus can dramatically shift performance. ✔️ Rapid transformation is possible when people choose who they want to become. ✔️ Presence and self-awareness create better decision-making under pressure. ✔️ Visualization strengthens confidence, focus, and execution. ✔️ Preparation before important moments creates separation in performance. ✔️ Leaders do not have to carry past failures into future opportunities. This episode is a must-listen for CEOs and executives looking to lead innovation with purpose, scale responsibly with AI, and build cultures where people feel empowered to think boldly and grow. About Joshua Lifrak Joshua Lifrak is a sports psychology expert, speaker, and author of Win Today. Over the past 20 years, he has worked with elite athletes and organizations, including the Chicago Cubs during their championship era, Olympic medalists, Wimbledon finalists, and professional athletes across multiple sports. Joshua specializes in helping individuals improve performance through mindset, mental preparation, visualization, and intentional leadership practices that translate from sports into business and everyday life. How to Connect with Joshua Lifrak: LinkedIn: Joshua Lifrak https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-lifrak-59ab5442/ Company Website: joshualifrak.com – to learn more about his work and platform Resources & Next Steps Ready to take your leadership energy to the next level? Explore free training and resources at https://training.coreelevation.com/ to help you identify energy leaks, strengthen your leadership presence, and elevate your team's performance.

    27 min

  2. MAY 11

    The Hidden Price of Open Door Leadership: Your Best Work Never Gets Done

    In this episode, we explore the hidden downsides of open-door leadership and how it can quietly impact productivity, focus, and team performance. While the intention is to create accessibility and strong communication, constant interruptions can derail priorities and create unintended bottlenecks. Drawing on research from UC Irvine, I share how frequent disruptions affect deep work, along with a real case study of a CEO who found himself overwhelmed by team dependencies. You'll hear how he restructured his leadership approach by setting clearer boundaries, empowering independent thinking, and implementing focused one-on-one meetings. The result was more time, stronger team confidence, and improved overall performance. If you're a leader looking to support your team without sacrificing focus, this episode will help you rethink how accessibility and accountability can work together. Episode Highlights & Time Stamps 1:07 The Reality of Open Door Policies 2:47 Hidden Costs of Open Door Leadership 4:52 Strategies for Better Leadership 7:01 Conclusion and Key Takeaways 🎯Key Takeaways ✔️Interruptions are costly; it can take 23 minutes to fully refocus after each one. ✔️Open-door policies can unintentionally reduce productivity and create constant distractions. ✔️Leaders often become bottlenecks when teams rely on them for decisions they could make themselves. ✔️Without structure, leaders lose time for high-value strategic work and end up overworking. ✔️Scheduled one-on-ones and intentional check-ins reduce interruptions and improve communication. ✔️Empowered teams make better decisions and increase overall performance. ✔️Protecting focus is a leadership responsibility, not a limitation. Ideal For: Founders, CEOs, executives, managers, and anyone committed to elevating their leadership capacity. Resources & Next Steps Ready to take your leadership energy to the next level? Explore free training and resources at https://training.coreelevation.com/ to help you identify energy leaks, strengthen your leadership presence, and elevate your team's performance. 🌐 Explore More: https://training.coreelevation.com/ 🎧 Listen to the Full Episode: Growth Think Tank Podcast

    8 min

  3. MAY 4

    The Future of AI-driven Leadership with Mark Hughes at Solidroad

    In this episode, I sit down with Mark Hughes, co-founder and CEO of Solidroad, for a real conversation about how AI is reshaping customer experience and what that means for leaders today. We explore how tools like the Claude coworking system are changing team communication and improving transparency, and why Mark sees radical transparency as a key to building trust and ownership across an organization. We also get into how leadership evolves as companies scale, why hiring specialists matters, how your role shifts as a leader, and what it takes to step into a more strategic mindset. Mark shares his own journey through that transition, along with the lessons he's learned along the way. We wrap up by looking at how embracing AI isn't just about efficiency, but about fostering a culture of continuous learning, adaptability, and growth. Episode Highlights & Time Stamps 6:34 The Power of AI in Customer Experience 8:41 Managing Team Burnout 10:02 Core Leadership Principles 11:34 The Importance of Ownership 13:52 Defining Radical Transparency 17:17 Future of AI-Driven Leadership 23:34 Evolving Leadership Practices About Mark Hughes Mark Hughes is the co-founder and CEO of Solidroad, a company focused on using AI to improve how customer-facing teams train, perform, and deliver support. His work centers on building AI agents that help companies coach their teams, analyze conversations, and raise the overall quality of customer experience at scale. Before launching Solidroad, Mark founded Gradguide, a mentorship and coaching platform for recent graduates, where he raised funding, built a team, and successfully exited the company. He also brings deep experience from roles in sales, support, and customer success leadership, previously leading EMEA teams at Chargify (now Maxio) and working as an early sales hire at Intercom. Through Solidroad, Mark is helping organizations rethink how teams learn and improve, combining AI-driven insights with real-world training to accelerate onboarding, boost performance, and create more consistent customer experiences. How to Connect with Mark Hughes: LinkedIn: Mark Hughes https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-hughes-a36915a7 Company Website: Solidroad https://www.solidroad.com/ Resources & Next Steps Ready to take your leadership energy to the next level? Explore free training and resources at https://training.coreelevation.com/ to help you identify energy leaks, strengthen your leadership presence, and elevate your team's performance. 🌐 Explore More: https://training.coreelevation.com/ 🎧 Listen to the Full Episode: Growth Think Tank Podcast

    27 min

  4. APR 27

    Black Belt Lessons: How Competing Against a World Champion Taught Me What Great Leadership Teams Do

    In this episode, I share how competing against a two-time world champion in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu shaped my understanding of leadership and personal growth. I highlight the significance of hard work and preparation, drawing parallels between competition and leadership challenges in business. I discuss overcoming fears, resilience, and the continuous journey of growth, likening the path to success to the pursuit of a black belt. I outline three key lessons: growth knows no limits, preparation is vital, and the most significant battles occur within our minds. I hope to inspire listeners to embrace their leadership journeys with courage and resilience. Episode Highlights & Time Stamps 3:26 Lessons from Competing 6:32 Facing Fear and Doubt 8:14 Key Takeaways for Leaders 9:41 Creating Better Leadership Teams 🎯Key Takeaways ✅Growth never stops; success is just the next starting point. ✅Fear is normal, don't lead from it. ✅Reframe the challenge to focus on what you can control. ✅Preparation builds confidence and reduces doubt. ✅The biggest battle is in your mind. ✅Competing at higher levels makes you better. ✅Great leadership requires courage under pressure. Ideal For: Founders, CEOs, executives, managers, and anyone committed to elevating their leadership capacity. Resources & Next Steps Ready to take your leadership energy to the next level? Explore free training and resources at https://training.coreelevation.com/ to help you identify energy leaks, strengthen your leadership presence, and elevate your team's performance.

    10 min

  5. APR 20

    Building the Right Team for Every Stage of Growth with Mark Rampolla

    In this episode, I sit down with Mark Rampolla, co-founder of Ground Force Capital and the brand behind Zico Coconut Water, to unpack the inner and outer work of leadership. Mark shares how the stories we tell ourselves can quietly shape our decisions and sometimes hold us back. We talk about why self-reflection isn't optional if you want to grow, and how leaders can evolve alongside their organizations. We also get into the practical side of scaling: making smart operational shifts, building teams that truly complement each other, and adapting your leadership style as your company grows. One theme keeps coming up: feedback. Mark explains why embracing it (even when it's uncomfortable) is one of the fastest ways to improve. Along the way, he opens up about his entrepreneurial journey and the lessons that shaped how he leads today, offering actionable insights for anyone navigating growth and building a thriving organization. Episode Highlights & Time Stamps 2:16 The Inner Game of Leadership 7:40 Overcoming Growth Challenges 13:59 Building the Right Team 20:10 Self-Assessment for Leaders 25:43 Finding Your Zone of Genius 27:19 Wrapping Up Insights from Mark About Mark Rampolla Mark Rampolla is a visionary entrepreneur, investor, author, and coach known for helping mission-driven leaders build businesses that matter. As co-founder and managing partner of Ground Force Capital, he works with founders to scale purpose-driven companies while creating meaningful impact. He is best known for founding Zico Coconut Water, helping pioneer the coconut water category, and later selling the company to The Coca-Cola Company. Today, his work centers on helping entrepreneurs redefine success, aligning business growth with personal freedom, purpose, and long-term impact. How to Connect with Mark Rampolla: LinkedIn: Mark Rampolla https://www.linkedin.com/in/marksrampolla/ Company Website: https://www.groundforcecapital.com/ Get In Touch with Mark: https://www.markrampolla.co/ Resources & Next Steps Ready to take your leadership energy to the next level? Explore free training and resources at https://training.coreelevation.com/ to help you identify energy leaks, strengthen your leadership presence, and elevate your team's performance. 🌐 Explore More: https://training.coreelevation.com/ 🎧 Listen to the Full Episode: Growth Think Tank Podcast

    28 min

  6. APR 13

    CEO Time Optimization

    In this episode, we break down how CEOs and founders can take back control of their time to become more effective leaders. If you're stuck doing everything yourself, it's likely costing you growth, creating bottlenecks, and leading to burnout. You'll learn how to delegate with confidence, empower your team, and focus on the highest-value activities that actually move the business forward. I also share a real-world success story that shows how leveraging your "genius hours" can dramatically improve performance and results. Episode Highlights & Time Stamps 0:07 Introduction to CEO Time Optimization 3:42 Shifting from Doer to Delegator 5:11 Understanding High vs. Low Value Work 8:57 Building Systems for Team Ownership 9:50 Transitioning to a Team-Driven Organization 🎯Key Takeaways CEOs who try to do everything themselves become the biggest bottleneck to growth Effective delegation is a leadership skill not a loss of control Your time should be focused on high-value, growth-driving activities "Genius hours" unlock your highest impact and best results Empowered teams create stronger performance and accountability Letting go of lower-value tasks is essential to scaling your business Leadership is about building capacity in others, not carrying the load alone Small shifts in time prioritization can lead to major business growth A collaborative culture accelerates execution and innovation Scaling success starts with trusting and developing your team Ideal For: Founders, CEOs, executives, managers, and anyone committed to elevating their leadership capacity. Resources & Next Steps Ready to take your leadership energy to the next level? Explore free training and resources at https://training.coreelevation.com/ to help you identify energy leaks, strengthen your leadership presence, and elevate your team's performance. 🌐 Explore More: https://training.coreelevation.com/ 🎧 Listen to the Full Episode: Growth Think Tank Podcast

    11 min

  7. APR 6

    Why Precise Leadership Drives Culture, Accountability, and Growth with Chris Gonzalez at A-G ASSOCIATES

    In this episode, we sit down with Chris Gonzalez, Co-Founder and President of A-G Associates Inc. (Ranked No. 717 in 2025), to explore his powerful concept of precise leadership, a leadership style centered on clarity, accountability, and understanding what truly motivates your team. Chris shares how his military background shaped his approach to leadership, emphasizing direct communication, adaptability, and ownership at every level of an organization. As companies grow, maintaining agility and alignment becomes more challenging, and Chris breaks down how leaders can overcome these obstacles with intentional messaging and a culture of transparency. If you're a business leader, entrepreneur, or manager looking to improve team performance and communication, this episode delivers practical insights you can apply immediately. Episode Highlights & Time Stamps 3:24 The Role of AI in Consulting 5:56 Military Leadership to Business 10:58 Transitioning to Precise Leadership 14:49 Understanding Precise Leadership 16:45 The Importance of Accountability 18:41 Maintaining Agility in Growth 20:30 Reflection on Leadership Principles 👤 About Chris Gonzalez Chris Gonzalez is the Co-Founder and President of A-G Associates, a veteran-owned consulting firm specializing in strategy, data analytics, and stakeholder engagement. A former U.S. Marine, he brings a leadership style rooted in clear communication, accountability, and mission-driven results, helping organizations scale and improve performance. Resources & Next Steps Ready to take your leadership energy to the next level? Explore free training and resources at https://training.coreelevation.com/ to help you identify energy leaks, strengthen your leadership presence, and elevate your team's performance. 🌐 Explore More: https://training.coreelevation.com/ 🎧 Listen to the Full Episode: https://growththinktank.com/

    22 min

  8. MAR 30

    In Hard Times, the Right Leadership is Essential

    This episode explores the essential role of leadership in challenging business environments. I reflect on my journey as a founder and coach, emphasizing resilience and the importance of maintaining vision during turbulent times. Through personal anecdotes, including a significant setback in my sports tour company in 2010, I illustrate how adversity can be transformed into growth opportunities. I introduce the mantra "life happens for you, not to you," encouraging a shift from victimhood to empowerment. Key themes include rising above chaos, leading by example, and fostering a collaborative culture in leadership to alleviate burdens. My goal is to support leaders in navigating hardships and emerging stronger. Episode Highlights & Time Stamps 0:02 Hard Times, Right Leadership 2:31 Leadership Insights for Entrepreneurs 4:16 Embracing Change and Resilience 6:14 Tools for Overcoming Challenges 7:15 Leading Through Breakdown Moments Resources & Next Steps Ready to take your leadership energy to the next level? Explore free training and resources at https://training.coreelevation.com/ to help you identify energy leaks, strengthen your leadership presence, and elevate your team's performance. 🌐 Explore More: training.coreelevation.com 🎧 Listen to the Full Episode: Growth Think Tank Podcast

    8 min
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4.9
out of 5
172 Ratings

About

Develop leadership skills and understand leadership development from expert interviews with transformational leaders. Leaders in the Trenches gives raw discussions that dive deep into new strategies to accelerate your company growth and your leadership abilities. Get interviews from Fortune 100 leaders to experts in various domains of marketing, sales, and leadership that allows you to explode your growth. Learn from their failures and discover the finer elements of significance that will impact your company. Guests include Daymond John, Les Brown, Michael Gerber, Jonah Berger, Bob Berg, Greg McKeown, and with the host Gene Hammett.

Information

  • Creator
    Gene Hammett is a Speaker, Executive Coach, Inc Columnist, and Host of "Gr
  • Years Active
    2014 - 2026
  • Episodes
    1.2K
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2014-2021
  • Show Website
    Growth Think Tank

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