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Cut The Tie Podcast with Greg Roche

Most executives think about networking only after something breaks. A missed promotion. A reorg. A quiet signal that their seat is no longer secure. In this episode of Cut The Tie, Thomas Helfrich sits down with Greg Roche to explain why waiting is the most expensive mistake professionals make.

Greg shares his transition from a 20+ year corporate HR career into building his own consulting business, and the exact moment he knew it was time to cut the tie. They explore why compensation and retention are often misunderstood by leadership, how networking quietly creates career insurance, and why the best exits are planned long before you need them.

This conversation is especially relevant for senior leaders who feel stuck, passed over, or uneasy about their long-term role inside large organizations.

About Greg Roche

Greg Roche is the founder of Retention and Rewards Partners, where he helps organizations understand employee compensation, engagement, and retention through a practical, data-informed lens. With more than two decades of corporate HR experience across healthcare, real estate, and cybersecurity, Greg now works with companies on a fractional and consulting basis.

He is also the creator of The Introverted Networker, where he teaches professionals how to grow strong networks without cold outreach, awkward events, or performative networking.

In this episode, Thomas and Greg discuss:

• Why compensation is often a company’s largest unmanaged expense
• The hidden signals executives miss before being passed over
• How age, politics, and reorgs quietly limit upward mobility
• Why networking works best before you need a job
• Fractional consulting as an alternative to corporate leadership roles
• The freedom that comes from detaching your identity from one employer
• How to make yourself “top of mind” without selling or spamming

Key Takeaways

• If you wait until you need your network, you waited too long
  Strong networks are built in calm seasons, not crisis moments.
• Retention problems are usually pay and clarity problems
  Employees leave when they don’t understand their value or future.
• Fractional work creates leverage and emotional distance
  You can give clearer advice when your identity isn’t tied to internal politics.
• Being passed over is often a signal, not a failure
  Ignoring it keeps you stuck longer than necessary.
• Your network is career insurance
  The right connections create options before you feel trapped.

Connect with Greg Roche

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregsroche/
📘 Website: https://www.retentionandrewards.com/

Connect with Thomas Helfrich

🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/thelfrich
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomashelfrich
🌐 Website: https://cutthetie.com
📧 Email: t@instantlyrelevant.com
🚀 https://instantlyrelevant.com

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Cut The Tie Podcast with Adi Klevit
Most founders say they want scale, freedom, and leverage. Few are willing to do the unsexy work that actually makes it possible. In this episode of Cut The Tie, Thomas Helfrich sits down with Adi Klevit, founder of Business Success Consulting Group, to break down why undocumented processes quietly limit growth, automation, and exit potential.

Adi shares how cutting the tie to conventional thinking helped her move from strategy consulting into building a specialized process consulting firm that works with companies from early growth through nine-figure scale. They unpack why AI, automation, and systems only work when the underlying workflows are clear, repeatable, and transferable.

This episode is essential listening for founders who feel stuck inside their business, leaders preparing for scale, and executives who want their company to work without constant personal involvement.

About Adi Klevit

Adi Klevit is the founder and CEO of Business Success Consulting Group, a firm specializing in process documentation, optimization, and implementation for growing companies. With a background in industrial engineering and management consulting, Adi helps organizations turn tribal knowledge into scalable, transferable systems.

Her team works across industries to help businesses reduce errors, shorten training time, improve consistency, and prepare for automation, growth, and exit. Adi is also the host of the Systems Simplified podcast, where she explores process, leadership, and the future of work.

In this episode, Thomas and Adi discuss:

• Why automation fails without documented processes
• Turning tribal knowledge into repeatable systems
• Cutting ties with “the way it’s always been done”
• Process as the foundation for AI and scale
• How documentation increases valuation and exit readiness
• Why founders stay trapped inside their businesses
• The future of work, AI, and human connection

Key Takeaways

• If it isn’t documented, it isn’t scalable
  Automation and delegation both start on paper.
• Process protects growth and margins
  Undocumented work creates errors, delays, and burnout.
• AI amplifies clarity, not chaos
  Bad processes automated only create faster problems.
• Founders must replace themselves to scale
  Systems allow businesses to run without constant oversight.
• Process increases freedom and valuation
  Well-documented companies are easier to grow, sell, or step away from.

Connect with Adi Klevit

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adiklevit
🌐 Website: https://bizsuccesscg.com
📘 Free Resource: https://successreplicated.com
🎧 Podcast: https://www.systemssimplifiedpodcast.com

Connect with Thomas Helfrich

🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/thelfrich
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomashelfrich
🌐 Website: https://cutthetie.com
📧 Email: t@instantlyrelevant.com
🚀 https://instantlyrelevant.com

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Cut The Tie Podcast with Maggie Langley

What if success is not something you reach someday, but something you practice every day? In this episode of Cut The Tie, Thomas Helfrich sits down with Maggie Langley, founder and CEO of OfficeHound, to explore what it really means to build a business without burning out or losing yourself in the process.

From leaving a traditional career path to building a remote social media agency that serves clients around the world, Maggie shares how cutting ties with distraction, unrealistic expectations, and overcomplication allowed her to build a business that supports her life rather than consumes it. This conversation is especially relevant for solopreneurs and small business owners who feel overwhelmed by social media, technology, and the pressure to constantly “do more.”

About Maggie Langley

Maggie Langley is the CEO and founder of OfficeHound, a social media agency built to support business owners who want consistency and clarity without being consumed by online platforms. Originally from the UK, Maggie launched her business in London in 2009 before relocating to rural Iowa, proving that meaningful businesses can be built from anywhere.

With a background as an executive assistant, Maggie brings a systems-first mindset to social media, focusing on simplicity, affordability, and protecting business owners from distraction. She is also the creator of OfficeHound’s Social for Social Good initiative, which donates to overdose prevention efforts through client referrals.

In this episode, Thomas and Maggie discuss:

• Why distraction is the real enemy of modern business owners
• Cutting ties with careers that no longer fit your life
• Why social media should support your business, not consume it
• The danger of chasing vanity metrics instead of real relationships
• Building a business that is sustainable, repeatable, and team-driven
• How success is created through daily focus, not distant goals

Key Takeaways

• Success is lived, not postponed
  Waiting for a future milestone creates dissatisfaction in the present.
• Distraction quietly destroys momentum
  Focus is the most valuable asset a business owner has.
• You do not need more content, just clearer messaging
  Repeating the right message beats chasing trends.
• Vanity metrics do not build businesses
  Meetings and relationships matter more than views and likes.
• Your business should fit your life, not the other way around
  Design systems that work without constant personal involvement.

Connect with Maggie Langley

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/officehounds/
🌐 Website: https://officehounds.com

Connect with Thomas Helfrich

🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/thelfrich
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/cutthetie
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomashelfrich
🌐 Website: https://cutthetie.com
📧 Email: t@instantlyrelevant.com
🚀 https://instantlyrelevant.com

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Cut The Tie Podcast with Rome Madison

What happens when you’ve reached the C-suite, survived restructurings, layoffs, and corporate chaos, yet still feel pulled toward something more? In this episode of Cut The Tie, Thomas Helfrich sits down with Rome Madison to unpack why high-performing executives struggle to act on the entrepreneurial visions that never seem to leave them alone.

Rome shares his journey from corporate leadership in publicly traded life sciences companies to cutting the tie and building a confidence-driven consulting business. Along the way, they explore identity after sports, imposter syndrome at the highest levels, and why most capable people stay stuck not because they lack ability, but because they lack clarity, confidence, and strategy.

This conversation is a wake-up call for executives who know they are capable of more but have not yet made the move.

About Rome Madison

Rome Madison is a life sciences consultant, confidence coach, and former C-suite executive with more than two decades of experience in precision medicine, genomics, and healthcare strategy. He has led sales organizations, launched startups, and navigated companies through restructuring, bankruptcy, and acquisition.

After cutting ties with corporate leadership, Rome founded a consulting and coaching platform focused on helping executives, entrepreneurs, and organizations activate confidence, sharpen strategy, and move faster toward meaningful goals. He is also the host of the Genetics for Healthcare podcast and creator of the Everyday Star Power confidence framework.

In this episode, Thomas and Rome discuss:

• Why successful executives hesitate to act on entrepreneurial ideas
• Identity loss after sports, titles, and corporate roles
• Imposter syndrome at the highest levels of performance
• Confidence as a system, not a personality trait
• The three pillars of confidence: acceptance, skill, and strategy
• Why slowing down is often the fastest way forward

Key Takeaways

• Your dream does not disappear if ignored
  Opportunities move on to those willing to act.
• Titles and accolades are not identity
  True confidence starts after roles are stripped away.
• Confidence is built, not inherited
  Acceptance, skill, and strategy create momentum.
• Any strategy beats no strategy
  Progress requires direction, not perfection.
• Slowing down unlocks clarity
  Focused thinking outperforms constant motion.

Connect with Rome Madison

🌐 Website: https://iwantmorenow.com
🎧 Podcast: https://geneticsforhealthcare.com

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/genomicsellingsolutions/

Connect with Thomas Helfrich

🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/thelfrich
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomashelfrich
🌐 Website: https://cutthetie.com
📧 Email: t@instantlyrelevant.com
🚀 https://instantlyrelevant.com

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What if the healthcare system is optimized for treating disease, not helping you feel your best? In this episode of Cut The Tie, Thomas Helfrich sits down with Dr. Janette Gray, an internal medicine physician who spent more than 25 years challenging the traditional medical model from the inside.

Trained at UCSF and UCSD, Dr. Gray built a large integrative medical practice combining primary care with holistic and preventative approaches. Along the way, she made a bold decision to cut ties with insurance-driven medicine and focus on what actually improves quality of life: individualized care, hormone optimization, and proactive health management.

This conversation explores why “normal” lab ranges are often misleading, how decades of flawed research shaped hormone fear, and why peak performance, longevity, and vitality should matter just as much as disease prevention.

About Dr. Janette Gray

Dr. Janette Gray is a board-certified internal medicine physician with more than 25 years of experience in integrative medicine. She specializes in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy and weight management for men and women, with a focus on optimizing healthspan, not just lifespan.

After running a large insurance-based integrative practice for decades, Dr. Gray founded Perfect Balance Health, a membership-based model centered on hormones and metabolic health. She is the author of The Truth About Sex Hormones, a practical guide to self-advocacy, individualized care, and reclaiming vitality through hormone optimization.

In this episode, Thomas and Janette discuss:

• The difference between “normal” labs and optimal performance
• How flawed hormone studies shaped decades of fear and misinformation
• Why insurance-based care limits preventative and proactive medicine
• The real impact of hormones on mindset, energy, and execution
• Healthspan versus lifespan and why quality matters more than longevity

Key Takeaways

• Normal ranges do not equal optimal health
  Feeling good matters just as much as lab numbers.
• Hormones drive performance, clarity, and resilience
  Mental sharpness and execution depend on biology.
• The system rewards treatment, not prevention
  There is no billing code for feeling better or performing at your peak.
• Longevity without quality is not success
  The goal is a strong finish, not just a longer timeline.

Connect with Dr. Janette Gray

💼 Website: https://perfectbalance.health/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-janette-gray/

📘 Book: https://www.amazon.com/Truth-about-Sex-Hormones-Balancing-ebook/

Connect with Thomas Helfrich

🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/thelfrich
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomashelfrich
🌐 Website: https://cutthetie.com
📧 Emai

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Cut The Tie Podcast with Robin Waite

What if the real reason your business feels heavy has nothing to do with strategy and everything to do with fear? In this episode of Cut The Tie, Thomas Helfrich sits down with Robin Waite, founder of Fearless Business, to unpack why so many entrepreneurs stay stuck trading time for money long after it stops serving them.

Robin shares how productizing services, charging for outcomes instead of hours, and letting go of playing small helped him reclaim time, income, and control. From group coaching models to strategic partnerships, this conversation is a wake-up call for executives and founders who want leverage without burnout.

About Robin Waite

Robin Waite is the founder of Fearless Business, a coaching accelerator that helps coaches, consultants, and freelancers escape the time-for-money trap. With over twenty years of entrepreneurial experience, Robin has helped thousands of business owners simplify pricing, build scalable offers, and create businesses that support the life they want.

He is the author of several books, including Take Your Shot, and is known for his practical, no-nonsense approach to pricing, money mindset, and sustainable growth.

In this episode, Thomas and Robin discuss:

• Why hourly pricing penalizes experience and efficiency
• How to shift from selling time to selling outcomes
• The three pillars of productized services
• Why group models outperform one-to-one coaching
• Cutting the tie to fear, small pricing, and overwork
• Redefining success after a major health wake-up call

Key Takeaways

• Time-for-money is a broken model
  The better you get, the less you earn when you price by the hour.
• Outcomes create leverage
  Clear results, timelines, and pricing reduce friction and scale impact.
• Fear keeps entrepreneurs stuck
  Most people know their value but hesitate to own it.
• Group models unlock freedom
  One-to-many offers deliver better results with less burnout.
• Success comes from fearing less, not knowing more
  Action beats certainty every time.

Connect with Robin Waite

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinmwaite/
📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RobinMWaite
🌐 Website: https://fearless.biz
📘 Free signed book: https://www.fearless.biz/tys

Connect with Thomas Helfrich

🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/thelfrich
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/cutthetie
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomashelfrich
🌐 Website: https://cutthetie.com
📧 Email: t@instantlyrelevant.com
🚀 https://instantlyrelevant.com

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Cut The Tie Podcast with Rebecca Shaddix

What happens when your life, career, and identity have all been shaped by productivity, performance, and the constant pressure to “do more”? In this episode of Cut The Tie, host Thomas Helfrich sits down with Rebecca Shaddix, a tech marketing leader, Forbes contributor, improv comedian, and new mother who is redefining how we think about time, fulfillment, and personal priorities.

Rebecca spent years excelling in the tech world, structuring her life around deadlines, stakeholder expectations, and the validations that come with traditional career success. But motherhood, writing her book, and launching her podcast Time Billionaires forced her to confront something deeper: we waste time in ways we would never waste money — and it’s costing us the life we want.

In this episode, Rebecca shares her journey from corporate leader to creator, her battle with workaholism, the principles that guide her decisions, and why the smallest “hidden minutes” of your day may be the key to reclaiming your life.

About Rebecca Shaddix

Rebecca Shaddix is a Forbes contributor, tech marketing leader, and host of the podcast Time Billionaires, a show focused on how to reclaim the hidden gaps in your day and use them for a more meaningful, aligned life.

She writes about AI, data, business strategy, and the philosophy of time — blending analytics with human behavior to help people build better habits and better lives. Her work sits at the intersection of productivity, personal growth, and intentional living.

Rebecca is also an improv comedian, a mother, and a passionate advocate for using time thoughtfully instead of letting it slip away through busyness, distraction, and noise.

In This Episode, Thomas and Rebecca Discuss:

• Cutting ties with workaholism
  Rebecca shares how her identity became intertwined with being “busy” — and how stepping away from corporate revealed how much she was losing.
• Why we waste time but obsess over money
  The concept behind her podcast Time Billionaires and why the small, fragmented minutes of your day matter more than the big blocks.
• Letting go of perfection and embracing “scruffy hospitality”
  The mindset shift that helped her break free from unrealistic standards at home and work.
• The danger of holding on to identity safety nets
  Why many professionals cling to what’s familiar — and how Rebecca learned to trust her own vision instead.

Key Takeaways:

• Your time has more value than your productivity
  Reclaiming the hidden minutes of your day leads to clarity, energy, and better decisions.
• Letting go of workaholism makes space for real insight
  When she stopped signaling productivity, she finally gained perspective on what mattered.
• Perfection is not a requirement for living well
  The concept of “scruffy hospitality” helped her rethink what is truly non-negotiable.

Connect with Rebecca Shaddix

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccashaddix
📚 Forbes Contributor: https://www.forbes.com/sites/rebeccashaddix

Connect with Thomas Helfrich

🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/thelfrich
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thelfrich/
🌐 Website: https://www.cutthetie.com
📧 Email: t@instantlyrelevant.com
🚀 Instant

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Cut The Tie Podcast with Rande Vick

What happens when your dream job becomes the thing that drains the joy out of you? In this episode of Cut The Tie, Thomas Helfrich sits down with branding strategist, author, and musician Rande Vick. After spending more than two decades in the musical instruments industry with iconic brands like Yamaha and Fender, Rande learned the hard way what happens when your identity gets tied too tightly to your job.

When the pandemic hit, and his corporate role disappeared overnight, Rande was forced to confront a deeper truth. He had spent years building someone else's brand while quietly sidelining his own ideas, creativity, and entrepreneurial drive. That moment became the catalyst for launching The Vick Agency and developing his science-based Neuro Brand Method, helping companies create brands that live rent-free in the minds of their customers.

About Rande Vick

Rande Vick is the founder of The Vick Agency, a branding and strategy firm known for its Neuro Brand Method, a brain science driven approach to building memorable, emotionally resonant brands. Before becoming an agency owner, Rande spent more than twenty years in the musical instruments industry, holding roles at major brands including M Audio, Avid, Yamaha, and Fender.

A lifelong musician, songwriter, and storyteller, Rande blends creative instinct with neuroscience, helping brands create immersive experiences, activate subconscious triggers, and connect with customers at a deeper level. He is also the author of the book Neuro Branding and works closely with founders, solopreneurs, startups, and local retailers who want to stand out in a crowded digital world.

In this episode, Thomas and Rande discuss:

Why memories beat marketing

Rande breaks down his Neuro Brand Method, explaining how immersive experiences, storytelling, and subconscious triggers help brands live rent-free inside customers' minds.

Choosing meaning over metrics

Rande discusses why success now means working with the right clients, spending time with family, and doing creative work that lights him up rather than chasing titles or corporate prestige.

Key Takeaways

• A setback can become the turning point
  Losing his dream job forced Rande to finally pursue entrepreneurship with intention instead of hesitation.
• Great brands create memories, not just attention
  Storytelling, sensory cues, and emotional resonance determine whether customers remember you.
• If your brand is not being recommended, it is not working
  Referrals and reputation reveal whether your message is living rent free in people’s minds.
• Security can become the excuse that holds you back
  Rande spent years choosing stability over potential. The moment he stopped doing that, everything changed.

Connect with Rande Vick

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randevick
🌐 Website: https://vickagency.com

Connect with Thomas Helfrich

🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/thelfrich
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomashelfrich
🌐 Website: https://cutthetie.com
📧 Email: t@instantlyrelevant.com
🚀 InstantlyRelevant.com: https://instantlyrelevant.com

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