No Trade Secrets

Jarome McKenzie
  • 5.0 (53)
  • Entrepreneurship

Everyone sees the most visible part of a founder’s journey: the outcome. But the truth is that few understand the mindset, pressure, and discipline behind it. This podcast explores the deeper system behind business and life. The beliefs, habits, and decisions that shape growth long before the numbers appear. Through thoughtful conversations, Jarome McKenzie sits down with founders, operators, and thinkers who have built meaningful things. Together they explore the moments that shaped them, the pressure that forged their discipline, and the mindset behind their success. Jarome approaches each episode as both a builder and a student. He learns alongside the audience while weaving each guest’s insights into the frameworks he uses with founders and leaders. The result is an honest exploration of business, leadership, and intentional living. A look at how great builders think, make decisions, and design lives that matter.

  1. From Kitchen Dreams to Bar Realities, The Art of Researching Your Guests, and Why Hospitality Starts With Your Staff w/ Anton Kinloch (Part 1) - Ep. 28

    1d ago

    From Kitchen Dreams to Bar Realities, The Art of Researching Your Guests, and Why Hospitality Starts With Your Staff w/ Anton Kinloch (Part 1) - Ep. 28

    Anton Kinloch set out to be a chef, graduating from the Culinary Institute of America with a business degree in hand. But his first job behind a bar triggered a massive pivot. He discovered the power of instant gratification - seeing a guest's reaction in real-time, and realized the financial upside of a beverage-first model. In this episode, Anton unpacks his playbook for engineering unforgettable guest experiences, revealing why true hospitality starts with paying your staff a living wage and how he navigates an industry where a 3% profit margin is the new, unsustainable normal. 💡 Unlocking the Playbook The Instant Gratification Pivot: Anton’s career shifted from a chef-focused path to a bar-centric one due to the immediate feedback loop of serving guests drinks. Unlike the back-of-house, where you rarely see a diner's reaction, the bar offers an instant connection and the ability to see if you’ve created a magical moment. This insight, combined with the superior profit margins of beverage programs, led him to build his businesses around a strong bar with a tight, intentional food menu. Proactive Hospitality: Anton’s team goes beyond standard service by researching guests before they even arrive. Using publicly available information from social media, they look for small details—like a recent vacation or an anniversary—to create surprise-and-delight moments. Recreating a cocktail someone enjoyed in Hawaii or surprising a couple with a custom dessert for their anniversary transforms a simple night out into a core memory, all without being intrusive. Invest in Your Team First: Anton’s philosophy is that exceptional service is impossible when your staff is stressed about making rent. By paying a living wage well above the industry standard, he removes the pressure of relying on tips. This allows his team to be fully present, creative, and genuinely focused on the guest experience, which reduces turnover and builds a team of true advocates for the business. 🤫 PART ONE's Playbook Secret (The official No Trade Secret drops in PART THREE, but here is the hidden secret of PART ONE!) The secret to delivering exceptional hospitality isn't just about the guest; it's about removing the financial pressure from your team. By paying a living wage, you free your staff from the stress of relying on tips, allowing them to be fully present, creative, and genuinely invested in the guest experience. A secure team is empowered to create unforgettable moments. 🗣️ Words to Build On "[People] will always forget the drinks, they'll forget the food, but they will never forget how you made them feel. The same is applicable to your staff." – Anton Kinloch "How do we deliver a whole experience where we can... signal to them, hey, we see you, we recognize the situation you're in, and we're here to make it better?" – Anton Kinloch "I do not know many F&B professionals who are both creative and financially minded. Like, you can either be one or the other, but it's very rare where you can find somebody who's able to do both successfully." – Anton Kinloch 👤 About Anton Anton is a hospitality operator, bartender, educator, and consultant based in the Hudson Valley. He is the owner and operator of Lone Wolf in Kingston, New York, and previously operated Fuchsia Tiki Bar in New Paltz. His work blends craft cocktails, food, design, education, and service into hospitality concepts that are thoughtful, intentional, and deeply rooted in the guest experience. Through his bars and consulting work, Anton has built a reputation for bringing creativity, technical skill, and a strong point of view to the hospitality industry.  🔗 Links & Resources Email Anton at anton@kinlochconsulting.orgVisit the Lone Wolf Cocktail Bar WebsiteCheck out Lone Wolf's Instagram 🎧 Make sure to listen to PART TWO and keep waiting for that momentum to hear Anton Kinloch’s ultimate "No Trade Secret" in PART THREE

    32 min

  2. 3d ago

    Listen Before You Lead: Clarity Over Control - Ep. 27

    Leadership communication isn't about speaking well or being persuasive; it’s the disciplined practice of understanding before trying to be understood. In this debrief, Jarome dismantles the common misconception that communication is simply the transfer of words, revealing it as the transfer of meaning. He introduces the "leader's temptation" - the urge to jump into correction and solution-mode, and explains how this single impulse can create a vicious cycle of misalignment and disengagement. By reframing listening as a strategic act of data gathering and risk management, Jarome provides a new operating system for leaders to solve the right problems, build psychological safety, and foster a culture of genuine ownership. ✨ Why This Matters for You For founders and operators, mastering this communication philosophy is the difference between a team that complies and a team that commits. Here’s the perspective shift you’ll gain: You will learn to identify how most "execution problems" are actually communication problems in disguise, allowing you to solve the root cause, not just the symptoms.You will move from a default mode of control, which breeds compliance, to a system of clarity that creates true ownership and a healthier culture.You will reframe listening from a "soft skill" into your most powerful tool for risk management, pattern recognition, and uncovering the fragile points in your organization.📝 Key Takeaways The Leader's Temptation: This is the innate urge for a leader—who often has more context and is steps ahead—to immediately correct, direct, or solve a problem. Succumbing to this temptation means you skip the crucial diagnostic step, often leading you to solve the wrong problem with confidence and damage team trust.Seek First to Understand: This is the core principle for effective leadership communication. By prioritizing listening and making a genuine effort to understand your team's perspective, you lower their defensiveness, create psychological safety, and gain access to higher-quality information that separates symptoms from root causes.Listening as a Strategic Advantage: Far from being a soft skill, intentional listening is a form of data gathering, pattern recognition, and risk management. It reveals where trust is strong, where processes are broken, and allows you to hear about issues before they become organizational fires.🚀 Put It Into Action Rephrase Your Questions for Understanding. Instead of asking "Why didn't you get this done?", shift your language to invite context. Try using phrases like, "Help me understand what got in the way," "Walk me through your thought process," or "What part of this feels difficult?"Practice the Pause-Reflect-Clarify Loop. The next time you feel the urge to immediately respond or correct, consciously pause. Reflect by repeating back what you heard ("Here's what I'm hearing, is that correct?"), then clarify any missing pieces before attempting to align on a goal or make a decision.Decouple Understanding from Correction. Make a deliberate effort to separate the act of listening from the act of fixing. When a team member shares their reasoning after you’ve prompted them, do not immediately follow their explanation with a correction. This sequencing builds trust and ensures they don't associate being open with being disciplined.🔗 Stay Connected Subscribe to the No Trade Secrets podcast so you never miss an episode.Connect with Jarome on LinkedInShare this episode with a fellow founder who is building with intention.

    18 min
  3. The Two Jobs of a Leader and Generating True Buy-In w/ Erik Berglund (Part 3) - Ep. 26

    5d ago

    The Two Jobs of a Leader and Generating True Buy-In w/ Erik Berglund (Part 3) - Ep. 26

    Welcome back to the finale of our deep dive with communication and leadership expert, Erik Berglund! In PART THREE, we pivot from the foundational principles of influence to the tactical execution that separates good leaders from great ones. What are the only two jobs a leader is truly responsible for? What is the three-step "enrollment" formula that generates authentic buy-in without manipulation? And what is the most common trap that turns high-performing experts into burnt-out, ineffective managers? Get ready to take notes. ⏮️ Catch Up on Previous Parts 💡 Unlocking the Playbook The Subject Matter Expert Trap: Promoting your best individual contributor into a leadership role is a tale as old as time—and a massive trap. Erik explains that when a leader has all the answers because they used to do the job, they get sucked into solving their team's problems for them. The best leaders don’t need to know how to do the work; their job is to lead their people to solve their own damn problems and develop their talent in the process. The Leader's Two Core Responsibilities: According to Erik, the job of a leader boils down to only two things. First, hold people accountable to the mission of the organization, ensuring the team gets things done. Second, and just as crucial, is to develop the talent of the people you've been entrusted to lead. If you excel at these two functions, you are an awesome leader, regardless of your subject matter expertise. The Recipe for Authentic Buy-In: To get true buy-in, you must frame your ask around what's in it for the other person. Erik shares a simple but powerful three-step enrollment formula: 1) Start with what you genuinely want for them. 2) Clearly state your intention or what you'd like to do. 3) Ask for their permission to proceed. This approach disarms resistance and ensures their "yes" is genuine because you gave them a real opportunity to say "no." 🤫 The No Trade Secret I talk to myself like a crazy person. In the shower, on a drive somewhere. I have gotten over the awkward sensation of literally talking to myself and saying the thing I want to say in that next meeting again and again and again, such that it's just normal... it is very helpful to have said the words you're about to say to a person under stress or under duress a couple times to yourself in a zero-risk environment. 🗣️ Words to Build On "Doing what you like to do is pretty expensive. Doing the thing that's effective is far more profitable, whatever profit means in your world." – Erik Berglund "A really good leader doesn't need to know a single thing about what you do in order to help you be more effective at getting it done." – Erik Berglund "Giving somebody the opportunity to say no is the only thing that actually makes their yes mean anything." – Erik Berglund 👤 About Erik Erik is the founder of the Language of Leadership and Loominary, and the host of the 'I have some questions' podcast. His work focuses on changing what people say and how they say it in order to be influential. His companies create skill simulation systems that allow people to practice the most difficult conversations before they occur in real life. He lives in Bend, Oregon with his daughters (10 and 7) and his wife of 13 years.  🔗 Links & Resources Connect with Erik on LinkedInCheck out the I Have Some Questions PodcastVisit the Loominary website🎧 Missed the beginning? Go back and catch up on PART ONE and PART TWO

    28 min
  4. Cracking the Communication Code, Cultural Nuances, and How to Truly Influence People w/ Erik Berglund (Part 2) - Ep. 25

    Jun 26

    Cracking the Communication Code, Cultural Nuances, and How to Truly Influence People w/ Erik Berglund (Part 2) - Ep. 25

    Welcome back to another powerhouse session with the incredible Erik Berglund! In PART ONE, we laid the groundwork for understanding our internal decision-making frameworks. In PART TWO, Erik shifts from the "what" to the "how," giving us the tactical playbook for authentically influencing others. How do you uncover someone's preferred communication style when they don't even know it themselves? What's the critical difference between using scarcity as a cheap tactic versus inspiring through abundance? How can a single word or a subtle shift in tone completely change your message across different cultures? ⏮️ Catch Up on Previous Parts 💡 Unlocking the Playbook The Simplest Hack: Just Ask: To understand how to best communicate with someone, the most effective method is the most direct: ask them. Erik explains that most people have never articulated their communication preferences, but the sheer act of asking builds immediate trust and connection. Even if they don't have a clear answer, your curiosity shows you care about them as a human, making them far more receptive to your influence. Tune In to WII.FM: Everyone is naturally tuned into their favorite radio station: "What's In It For Me?" To truly influence someone—whether in sales, leadership, or a personal debate—you must first invest the effort to understand what they value and what they're trying to accomplish. Pitching your solution without understanding their world first feels transactional and will almost always fail because you haven't answered why they should care. Beyond Words to Culture and Tonality: Communication is so much more than the words you choose. Erik demonstrates how tonality, pace, and body language can completely alter a message's meaning. These signals are culturally specific; what signifies respect in one culture (like averting eye contact) can be interpreted as disrespect in another. True influence requires being aware of these nuances and adapting your approach to bridge the gap. 🤫 PART TWO's Playbook Secret (The official No Trade Secret drops in PART THREE, but here is the hidden secret of PART TWO!) The core answer is to just try. Be aware of the gap that might exist between your preferred communication style and theirs. Your awareness alone and your effort to bridge that gap will bring you closer to connection and influence than if you had spent no time trying at all. It isn't about getting it perfectly right; it's about the genuine effort to understand the person across from you. 🗣️ Words to Build On "[It] is never going to go out of style to validate the human being across from you, to convey empathy to them, and to seek to understand what's going on in their world just because you're curious and interested." – Erik Berglund "The best indicator of how somebody is going to be influenced is how they've previously been influenced." – Erik Berglund "Just your awareness alone, your effort to bridge the gap, is going to bring you closer than if you had spent no time trying." – Erik Berglund 👤 About Erik Erik is the founder of the Language of Leadership and Loominary, and the host of the 'I have some questions' podcast. His work focuses on changing what people say and how they say it in order to be influential. His companies create skill simulation systems that allow people to practice the most difficult conversations before they occur in real life. He lives in Bend, Oregon with his daughters (10 and 7) and his wife of 13 years.  🔗 Links & Resources Connect with Erik on LinkedInCheck out the I Have Some Questions PodcastVisit the Loominary website🎧 Make sure to tune in to PART THREE to hear Erik Berglund’s ultimate "No Trade Secret" and keep this momentum going

    33 min
  5. Beyond Words: The Three Arenas of Communication and Influence w/ Erik Berglund (Part 1) - Ep. 24

    Jun 24

    Beyond Words: The Three Arenas of Communication and Influence w/ Erik Berglund (Part 1) - Ep. 24

    Most leadership problems are just communication problems in disguise. So what if you could master communication by treating it not as a soft skill, but as a sport you can practice and win? In PART ONE, communication expert Erik Berglund unpacks his playbook, revealing the three distinct arenas of communication: information transfer, shared experience, and pure influence. He challenges you to recognize that your default communication style is likely a foreign language to others and provides the master key to unlocking how anyone—from a client to your spouse—truly wants to be persuaded. 💡 Unlocking the Playbook Communication is a Sport, Not a Gift: Stop believing that great communicators are born, not made. Erik argues that communication is a professional skill that improves dramatically with deliberate practice and targeted feedback, just like athletics. He honed his own skills through early role-playing in high school, proving that anyone can level up their ability to connect and influence by treating communication as a trainable discipline. The Three Arenas of Communication: To communicate with intent, you must first know which game you’re playing. Erik divides all communication into three categories: transferring information (teaching or explaining), sharing an experience (connecting and bonding, often nonverbally), and influence (causing someone to do something they wouldn't have done otherwise). Understanding which arena you're in dictates your strategy and clarifies your objective. Adapt or Be Ignored: Your default communication style—whether it's driven by logic, abundance, or risk avoidance—is not universal. Trying to persuade someone using a "language" they don't speak is a guaranteed path to failure. The first step to becoming influential is acknowledging that your preferred method of making a point is likely not the way the person across from you needs to hear it. 🤫 PART ONE's Playbook Secret (The official No Trade Secret drops in PART THREE, but here is the hidden secret of PART ONE!) The single most effective way to understand someone's communication style isn't through complex analysis or trying to read body language—it's to simply ask. If you need to persuade someone, ask them directly: "If someone had to make a compelling argument to you, what would you hope to see in that argument?" They will tell you exactly what they need to hear, whether it's data, stories, or a vision for the future. 🗣️ Words to Build On "If you practice something and get feedback on it, you get better at it. And that doesn't just happen in sports." – Erik Berglund "My primary way of thinking about communication is being influential. That means getting somebody to do something they would not have done otherwise." – Erik Berglund "Recognize that your default style is probably not the way everybody around you would prefer to be communicated with... It's like they speak a different language." – Erik Berglund 👤 About Erik Erik is the founder of the Language of Leadership and Loominary, and the host of the 'I have some questions' podcast. His work focuses on changing what people say and how they say it in order to be influential. His companies create skill simulation systems that allow people to practice the most difficult conversations before they occur in real life. He lives in Bend, Oregon with his daughters (10 and 7) and his wife of 13 years.  🔗 Links & Resources Connect with Erik on LinkedInCheck out the I Have Some Questions PodcastVisit the Loominary website 🎧 Make sure to listen to PART TWO and keep waiting for that momentum to hear Erik Berglund’s ultimate "No Trade Secret" in PART THREE

    26 min
  6. The Human Side of AI, Why Money Stops Moving the Needle, and The Power of In-Person Community w/ Michael Greenberg (Part 2) - Ep. 23

    Jun 22

    The Human Side of AI, Why Money Stops Moving the Needle, and The Power of In-Person Community w/ Michael Greenberg (Part 2) - Ep. 23

    Welcome back to No Trade Secrets! We're thrilled to have AI and Operations expert Michael Greenberg back with us. In PART ONE, we laid the groundwork for leveraging automation in your business. In PART TWO, we shift from theory to execution and dive deep into the human element of entrepreneurship. How do you get your team to stop fearing AI and start embracing it as a tool for high-impact work? What happens when the financial milestones stop bringing you joy, and what truly drives a founder's fulfillment? And what ancient wisdom holds the key to navigating the modern business world? ⏮️ Catch Up on PART ONE 💡 Unlocking the Playbook Win Hearts and Minds Before Code: To successfully implement AI and automation, you must get your people on board before you ever touch the process or technology. Team members often resist change because they fear their "tribal knowledge" is their only job security. Michael's approach is to build trust by showing them how automation can eliminate the tedious, "copy-paste hell" parts of their job, freeing them up to focus on the high-impact, analytical work they actually enjoy. The Happiness Plateau: For many successful entrepreneurs, there comes a point where making more money no longer moves the needle on happiness. Michael experienced this early in his journey, shifting his definition of success from financial milestones to the tangible impact he has on others. He now counts his wins not in dollars, but in the text messages and calls from people whose lives and businesses he’s helped improve. Community is the Key to Longevity: Running a business, especially a remote one, can be isolating. Michael emphasizes that according to longevity research, in-person social relationships are the single largest indicator of life expectancy. This is why he moved back to his hometown to be closer to family, joins social clubs, and prioritizes taking significant time completely offline to foster real-world connections. 🤫 The No Trade Secret Michael offers a two-part secret. First, for aspiring founders: don't start a business until you've worked for other people in real companies for at least five years. The best ideas come from understanding complex operations from the inside. If you can't do that, your first business should be one that gives you maximum exposure to many other businesses. Second, understand that money is just a tool. The pursuit of extreme wealth often requires doing unpleasant things, and the answers to a fulfilling life are more likely found in 2,000-year-old books than in last year's best-seller. 🗣️ Words to Build On "We have to get the people on board before we can do the process, before we can do the technology." – Michael Greenberg "I count my success on the text messages or the emails or the calls where they say, 'hey, you know, you really changed the way we do things.' ... I don't count it on like making money." – Michael Greenberg "You're going to probably find the answers to life in books that are already 1,000 or 2,000 years old. You're much less likely to find them in the book published last year." – Michael Greenberg 👤 About Michael Michael is the founder and Chief Architect of 3rd Brain Digital Operations, where he leads transformations that move clients from spreadsheet sprawl to unified workflows and automation. His work and case studies inform the book’s playbook-style guidance and give operators a shared language, and a clear path to reach Level 3 and beyond. Author of Digital Operations Playbook: AI Readiness for SMBs, a practical roadmap that helps small and mid-sized businesses build the operational foundation needed to plug in automation and AI, without chaos. The book shows leaders exactly where they are today and what has to happen next to move from “paper to AI.” Drawing on the book’s core frameworks, the 5 Levels of Digital Operations, the 3 Cs (Consistency → Clarity → Capacity), and the Pillars of Digital Operations, Michael translates tech trends into step-by-step execution. His approach focuses on sequencing change (people → process → tools) so teams standardize work, unify data, and then automate safely, unlocking capacity with measurable results. 🔗 Links & Resources  Connect with Michael on LinkedInVisit the 3rd Brain websiteCheck out The Digital Operations Playbook: AI Readiness for SMBs on Amazon 🎧 Missed the beginning? Go back and listen to Part 1

    40 min
  7. Automating Chaos, Building Custom Tools, and AI Readiness w/ Michael Greenberg (Part 1) - Ep. 22

    Jun 19

    Automating Chaos, Building Custom Tools, and AI Readiness w/ Michael Greenberg (Part 1) - Ep. 22

    In the deafening roar of AI hype, it’s easy for founders to feel like they’ve already missed the boat. Michael Greenberg, founder of 3rd Brain Digital Operations and author of The Digital Operations Playbook, is here to tell you that’s not true—but you can’t start with the shiny new tools. You must fix the foundation first. In this episode, Michael dismantles the myth of overnight AI success, revealing why you can't automate chaos and why most businesses are dangerously unprepared for the future. Get ready to learn the three-part framework for true digital transformation. 💡 Unlocking the Playbook You Can't Automate Chaos: Before you can even think about AI, you need a solid foundation. Michael explains that if your processes are chaotic and your data lacks a single source of truth, AI will only amplify the dysfunction. This is especially true for SMBs, which have too many unique nuances and exceptions—like the client who pays in cash and golf pro shop credits—to rely on rigid, cookie-cutter automation. Master the process by hand first; you can't use a chainsaw if you can't swing an axe. People, Process, Tools—In That Order: The only way to achieve successful digital transformation is by following a strict sequence. Start by getting your people on board, ensuring they feel heard and understand the "why" behind the change. Once you have buy-in, you can map out and refine the process of how they actually do the work. Only then should you introduce tools that are specifically chosen to fit the needs of your people and your process. Starting with tools is a massive red flag. How to Vet an "AI Agency": With a flood of new "AI experts" on the market, it's critical to know who to trust. Michael provides a simple vetting process: be wary of anyone calling themselves an "AI agency," especially dev shops that have simply pivoted their branding. A real partner will have their own standardized methodologies, a trained team, and—most importantly—their own internal AI tools that they use to run their business. If they aren't using AI to improve their own operations, they can't help you with yours. 🤫 Part 1's Playbook Secret (The official No Trade Secret drops in PART TWO, but here is the hidden secret of PART ONE!)  The adoption of new technology in an established organization spreads more like a virus than a commandment. Instead of forcing change from the top down, which creates resistance, find a champion within a team or department. Get them started on the new tools and processes. As they start winning and getting recognition for their improved efficiency, the social pressure will build, and others will naturally want to get on board. 🗣️ Words to Build On "You can't use a chainsaw if you can't swing an axe." – Michael Greenberg "If you're hiring an AI consultant or an AI agency and they have no internal AI tools that they actually use, Huge red flag to me." – Michael Greenberg "That sort of adoption of new technology spreads more like a virus than it does like a commandment. You've got to get it bubbling up inside the org and then watch how people adapt to it." – Michael Greenberg 👤 About Michael Michael is the founder and Chief Architect of 3rd Brain Digital Operations, where he leads transformations that move clients from spreadsheet sprawl to unified workflows and automation. His work and case studies inform the book’s playbook-style guidance and give operators a shared language, and a clear path to reach Level 3 and beyond. Author of Digital Operations Playbook: AI Readiness for SMBs, a practical roadmap that helps small and mid-sized businesses build the operational foundation needed to plug in automation and AI, without chaos. The book shows leaders exactly where they are today and what has to happen next to move from “paper to AI.” Drawing on the book’s core frameworks, the 5 Levels of Digital Operations, the 3 Cs (Consistency → Clarity → Capacity), and the Pillars of Digital Operations, Michael translates tech trends into step-by-step execution. His approach focuses on sequencing change (people → process → tools) so teams standardize work, unify data, and then automate safely, unlocking capacity with measurable results. 🔗 Links & Resources  Connect with Michael on LinkedInVisit the 3rd Brain websiteCheck out The Digital Operations Playbook: AI Readiness for SMBs on Amazon🎧 Make sure to listen to Part 2 to hear Michael Greenberg’s ultimate "No Trade Secret"

    42 min

  8. Jun 17

    Your Greatest Moat is a Beginner's Mind - Ep. 21

    In the race to adopt AI, most founders are making a critical mistake: waiting for stability or for a perfect understanding before they even start. In this solo reflection, Jarome McKenzie dismantles this fallacy, arguing that the greatest competitive advantage isn't technical expertise—it's the willingness to play. He reveals that the feeling of "being behind" is an illusion, and the only way to grasp the power of this new technology is to abandon the need for mastery and embrace the posture of a curious beginner. This episode isn't about prompts or hacks; it's about the fundamental mindset shift required to build with, and not just consume, the most transformative tools of our time. ✨ Why This Matters for You This episode provides the mental model needed to move from an observer to an active builder in the age of AI. You will learn how to: Reframe the overwhelming AI landscape from a source of scarcity and fear into a playground for innovation and opportunity.Recognize that the true barrier to entry isn't technical skill but the psychological hurdle of embracing a beginner's mindset.Understand the pathway from simple experimentation to building bespoke internal systems that cut costs and are perfectly tailored to your team's needs.📝 Key Takeaways The Fallacy of Understanding Before Using: The single biggest mistake is believing you need to comprehend AI before you start. True understanding is an emergent property of using it—through experimentation, testing its limits, and learning how to ask better questions through direct interaction.The Willingness Moat: In this new era, the competitive advantage is not a technical one. It's a psychological one. The moat is your willingness to start, play, and learn through doing, giving you an inherent edge over those waiting for the landscape to "settle down."From Consumer to Creator: The journey with AI begins with simple tasks, but the real power is unlocked when you progress from using it as a "glorified search engine" to building your own custom internal tools. This allows you to create superior, cost-effective solutions that are perfectly aligned with your unique workflows.The Myth of "Being Behind": The perception that everyone else is an AI expert is a distortion created by social media. The data shows that the vast majority of people have minimal to no experience with these tools, meaning the bar for getting started is incredibly low.🚀 Put It Into Action Become a Thought Partner: This week, use a free AI tool (like ChatGPT or Claude) for a low-stakes "thought partnership" task. Ask it to summarize a long article you've been meaning to read, role-play a difficult conversation, or help you brainstorm solutions to a nagging operational problem. The goal is simply to interact and observe its response.Systematize Your Logic: Take a transcript from a recent call (sales, client check-in, etc.) and feed it into an AI. Instead of a generic prompt, explicitly state your own analysis logic (e.g., "When I review this, I look for [X], then I listen for [Y] to decide on [Z]"). Ask it to apply your framework to create a summary, draft a proposal, or identify key action items.Embrace the Beginner: Acknowledge that feeling like a beginner is a prerequisite for mastery. Schedule 15-30 minutes of unstructured "play time" with an AI tool this week. Don't try to solve a problem—just experiment with different inputs, see how it breaks, and get comfortable with not knowing the answer.🔗 Stay Connected Subscribe to the No Trade Secrets podcast so you never miss an episode.Connect with Jarome on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jarome-mckenzie-778177187Share this episode with a fellow founder who is building with intention.

    19 min
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5
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About

Everyone sees the most visible part of a founder’s journey: the outcome. But the truth is that few understand the mindset, pressure, and discipline behind it. This podcast explores the deeper system behind business and life. The beliefs, habits, and decisions that shape growth long before the numbers appear. Through thoughtful conversations, Jarome McKenzie sits down with founders, operators, and thinkers who have built meaningful things. Together they explore the moments that shaped them, the pressure that forged their discipline, and the mindset behind their success. Jarome approaches each episode as both a builder and a student. He learns alongside the audience while weaving each guest’s insights into the frameworks he uses with founders and leaders. The result is an honest exploration of business, leadership, and intentional living. A look at how great builders think, make decisions, and design lives that matter.

Information

  • Creator
    Jarome McKenzie
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    29
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 No Trade Secrets
  • Show Website
    No Trade Secrets