In this episode, Bradley Hamner explores a critical distinction that many entrepreneurs miss: being excellent at your craft doesn't automatically make you a great business owner. He argues that the reverse is true—becoming a great business owner will naturally lead to excellence in your specific industry.

Thinking Time:

1. What business owner skills do you currently possess?
2. Where are you deficient and need development?

Consider areas like team leadership, financial management, or marketing and sales where you might need growth.

BlueprintOS equips business owners to design and install an operating system that runs like clockwork. Through BlueprintOS, you will grow and develop your leadership, clarify your culture and business game plan, align your operations with your KPIs, develop a team of A-Players, and execute your playbooks. Register to join us at an upcoming WebClass when you visit www.blueprintos.com!

Coach P found great success as an insurance agent and agency owner. He leads a large, stable team of professionals who are at the top of their game year after year. Now he shares the systems, processes, delegation, and specialization he developed along the way. Gain access to weekly training calls and mentoring at www.coachpconsulting.com. Be sure to mention the Above The Business Podcast when you get in touch.

Club Capital is the ultimate partner for financial management and marketing services, designed specifically for insurance agencies, fitness franchises, and youth soccer organizations. As the nation's largest accounting and financial advisory firm for insurance agencies, Club Capital proudly serves over 1,000 agency locations across the country—and we’re just getting started. With Club Capital, you get more than just services; you get a dedicated account manager backed by a team of specialists committed to your success. From monthly accounting and tax preparation to CFO services and innovative digital marketing, we’ve got you covered. Ready to experience the transformative power of Club Capital? Schedule your free demo today at club.capital and see the difference firsthand. Make sure you mention you heard about us on the Above The Business podcast to get 50% off your one time onboarding fee!

Autopilot Recruiting helps small business owners solve their staffing challenges by taking the stress out of hiring. Their dedicated recruiters work on your behalf every single business day - optimizing your applicant tracking system, posting job listings, and sourcing candidates through social media and local communities. With their continuous, hands-off recruiting approach, you can save time, reduce hiring costs, and receive pre-screened candidates, all without paying any hiring fees or commissions.

More money & more freedom: that’s what Autopilot Recruiting help business owners achieve. Visit https://www.autopilotrecruiting.com/ and don't forget to mention you heard about us on the Above The Business podcast.

Direct Clicks is built is by business owners, for business owners. They specialize in custom marketing solutions that deliver real results. From paid search campaigns to SEO and social media management, they provide the comprehensive digital marketing your business needs to grow. Here’s an exclusive offer for Above The Business listeners: Visit directclicksinc.com/abovethebusiness for a FREE marketing campaign audit. They’ll assess your website, social media, SEO, content, and paid advertising, then provide actionable recommendations. Plus, when you choose to partner with them, they’ll waive all setup fees.

Welcome back to another episode of The Above the Business Podcast with Bradley Hamner. Today, we're revisiting a conversation that continues to resonate with entrepreneurs and business leaders everywhere—the impact of neurodiversity, specifically ADHD, on business owners.

Bradley sits down with Dr. Ned Hallowell, a New York Times bestselling author who has written over 20 books on psychological topics. Dr. Hallowell's groundbreaking Distraction series, which began with Driven to Distraction (co-authored with Dr. John Ratey in 1994), sparked a revolution in how we understand ADHD—and that conversation remains just as relevant today.

In this episode, Bradley and Dr. Hallowell dive into the telltale signs that often go unrecognized: unexplained underperformance despite your best efforts, constant "if only" thoughts that keep you stuck in regret cycles, and an inability to stay focused on work you find too simple or routine. If these experiences sound all too familiar, Dr. Hallowell recommends pursuing a medical diagnosis—not as a label, but as a pathway to understanding and optimization.

One of the most powerful concepts they explore is the "state of flow"—those magical moments and hours when you're firing on all cylinders and deeply productive. For many adults with ADHD, accessing this state feels frustratingly out of reach, leaving them unable to achieve goals they know they're capable of reaching.

But here's the good news that remains as true now as ever: ADHD and other forms of neurodiversity don't need to hinder your goals. Dr. Hallowell's mission is to educate and celebrate these differences, highlighting the unique strengths they can provide. By breaking down barriers of stigma and misunderstanding, he shows how all of us benefit from the cognitive diversity in our teams and communities.

Whether you're an entrepreneur struggling to understand your own brain, or a leader looking to better support neurodivergent team members, this conversation offers insights that can transform how you work and lead.

Learn more about Dr. Hallowell and his work at https://drhallowell.com/

This episode of The Above the Business Podcast continues to offer timeless wisdom for business owners navigating the intersection of neurodiversity and entrepreneurship.

BlueprintOS equips business owners to design and install an operating system that runs like clockwork. Through BlueprintOS, you will grow and develop your leadership, clarify your culture and business game plan, align your operations with your KPIs, develop a team of A-Players, and execute your playbooks. Register to join us at an upcoming WebClass when you visit www.blueprintos.com!

Coach P found great success as an insurance agent and agency owner. He leads a large, stable team of professionals who are at the top of their game year after year. Now he shares the systems, processes, delegation, and specialization he developed along the way. Gain access to weekly training calls and mentoring at www.coachpconsulting.com. Be sure to mention the Above The Business Podcast when you get in touch.

Club Capital is the ultimate partner for financial management and marketing services, designed specifically for insurance agencies, fitness franchises, and youth soccer organizations. As the nation's largest accounting and financial advisory firm for insurance agencies, Club Capital proudly serves over 1,000 agency locations across the country—and we’re just getting started. With Club Capital, you get more than just services; you get a dedicated account manager backed by a team of specialists committed to your success. From monthly accounting

Most business owners quit on strategies right before they start working. Success isn't about trying more things—it's about giving the right things enough time.

Take this podcast for example: When we started in 2019, hitting 500 episodes seemed impossible. But consistency over time creates compound results that feel sudden but aren't.

The Solution:

Give strategies minimum 90 days, often 6-12 months before measuring success. Your constraint isn't trying enough things—it's not giving the right things enough time.

Your Challenge:

What's the one thing you've been wanting to quit on that maybe needs more time?

📌 Ready to identify what deserves your long-term commitment?

Book a Blueprint Game Plan call at blueprintos.com to map your Point A (where you are), Point B (where you're going), and the Plan to get there—then stick with it long enough to get noticed.

BlueprintOS equips business owners to design and install an operating system that runs like clockwork. Through BlueprintOS, you will grow and develop your leadership, clarify your culture and business game plan, align your operations with your KPIs, develop a team of A-Players, and execute your playbooks. Register to join us at an upcoming WebClass when you visit www.blueprintos.com!

Coach P found great success as an insurance agent and agency owner. He leads a large, stable team of professionals who are at the top of their game year after year. Now he shares the systems, processes, delegation, and specialization he developed along the way. Gain access to weekly training calls and mentoring at www.coachpconsulting.com. Be sure to mention the Above The Business Podcast when you get in touch.

Club Capital is the ultimate partner for financial management and marketing services, designed specifically for insurance agencies, fitness franchises, and youth soccer organizations. As the nation's largest accounting and financial advisory firm for insurance agencies, Club Capital proudly serves over 1,000 agency locations across the country—and we’re just getting started. With Club Capital, you get more than just services; you get a dedicated account manager backed by a team of specialists committed to your success. From monthly accounting and tax preparation to CFO services and innovative digital marketing, we’ve got you covered. Ready to experience the transformative power of Club Capital? Schedule your free demo today at club.capital and see the difference firsthand. Make sure you mention you heard about us on the Above The Business podcast to get 50% off your one time onboarding fee!

Autopilot Recruiting helps small business owners solve their staffing challenges by taking the stress out of hiring. Their dedicated recruiters work on your behalf every single business day - optimizing your applicant tracking system, posting job listings, and sourcing candidates through social media and local communities. With their continuous, hands-off recruiting approach, you can save time, reduce hiring costs, and receive pre-screened candidates, all without paying any hiring fees or commissions.

More money & more freedom: that’s what Autopilot Recruiting help business owners achieve. Visit https://www.autopilotrecruiting.com/ and don't forget to mention you heard about us on the Above The Business podcast.

Direct Clicks is built is by business owners, for business owners. They specialize in custom marketing solutions that deliver real results. From paid search campaigns to SEO and social media management, they provide the comprehensive digital marketing your business needs to grow. Here’s an exclusive offer for Above The Business listeners: Visit directclicksinc.com/abovethebusiness for a FREE marketing campaign audit. They’ll assess your website, social media, SEO, content, and paid advertising, then provide actionable recommendations. Plus, when

In this episode of Above the Business, Bradley Hamner interviews Bruce Temkin, often referred to as the "Godfather of Customer Experience" and host of the Humanity At Scale: Redefining Leadership podcast. They dive deep into navigating complexity and uncertainty at scale, the power of reflection cycles, and how leaders can provide clarity to their teams—even when they don't feel clear themselves.

"Working above the business is understanding that whatever we do, whatever business you have, we're impacting people, we're impacting employees, we're impacting customers, and we're impacting the communities in which we serve."

Bruce Temkin is a pioneer in human experience management and trusted executive advisor. He helped define the fields of Customer Experience, Employee Experience, and Experience Management, reshaping how organizations serve their most important stakeholders. Bruce founded the Qualtrics XM Institute, co-founded the Customer Experience Professionals Association, led Temkin Group, and was Forrester Research's most-read analyst for 13 consecutive quarters.

1. Guide with purpose.
2. Embrace your values.
3. Cultivate lasting trust.
4. Act with empathy.

BlueprintOS equips business owners to design and install an operating system that runs like clockwork. Through BlueprintOS, you will grow and develop your leadership, clarify your culture and business game plan, align your operations with your KPIs, develop a team of A-Players, and execute your playbooks. Register to join us at an upcoming WebClass when you visit www.blueprintos.com!

Coach P found great success as an insurance agent and agency owner. He leads a large, stable team of professionals who are at the top of their game year after year. Now he shares the systems, processes, delegation, and specialization he developed along the way. Gain access to weekly training calls and mentoring at www.coachpconsulting.com. Be sure to mention the Above The Business Podcast when you get in touch.

Club Capital is the ultimate partner for financial management and marketing services, designed specifically for insurance agencies, fitness franchises, and youth soccer organizations. As the nation's largest accounting and financial advisory firm for insurance agencies, Club Capital proudly serves over 1,000 agency locations across the country—and we’re just getting started. With Club Capital, you get more than just services; you get a dedicated account manager backed by a team of specialists committed to your success. From monthly accounting and tax preparation to CFO services and innovative digital marketing, we’ve got you covered. Ready to experience the transformative power of Club Capital? Schedule your free demo today at club.capital and see the difference firsthand. Make sure you mention you heard about us on the Above The Business podcast to get 50% off your one time onboarding fee!

Autopilot Recruiting helps small business owners solve their staffing challenges by taking the stress out of hiring. Their dedicated recruiters work on your behalf every single business day - optimizing your applicant tracking system, posting job listings, and sourcing candidates through social media and local communities. With their continuous, hands-off recruiting approach, you can save time, reduce hiring costs, and receive pre-screened candidates, all without paying any hiring fees or commissions.

More money & more freedom: that’s what Autopilot Recruiting help business owners achieve. Visit https://www.autopilotrecruiting.com/ and don't forget to mention you heard about us on the Above The Business podcast.

Direct Clicks is built is by business owners, for business owners. They specialize in custom marketing solutions that deliver real results. From paid search campaigns...

In this episode, we explore the concept of wearing multiple "hats" as a business owner and discover how adopting the architect mindset can replace all the other roles you juggle daily.

1. Get Above the Business

• Establish a cadence of reflection.

Weekly Planning: Sunday night sessions (30 minutes to 1 hour)

• Reflect on the previous week.
• Plan for the upcoming week.

Quarterly Reviews: Deep reflection sessions

• What went well?
• What didn't go well?
• What lessons were learned?
• How to apply insights moving forward.

2. Think Like an Architect

• Step back from day-to-day operations.
• Gain perspective (like seeing from an airplane).
• Focus on intentional design rather than reactive problem-solving.

3. Design the Blueprint

• Create a clear plan for your business.
• Use this blueprint to guide decision-making and team direction.
• Build your business by design, not by accident.

BlueprintOS equips business owners to design and install an operating system that runs like clockwork. Through BlueprintOS, you will grow and develop your leadership, clarify your culture and business game plan, align your operations with your KPIs, develop a team of A-Players, and execute your playbooks. Register to join us at an upcoming WebClass when you visit www.blueprintos.com!

Coach P found great success as an insurance agent and agency owner. He leads a large, stable team of professionals who are at the top of their game year after year. Now he shares the systems, processes, delegation, and specialization he developed along the way. Gain access to weekly training calls and mentoring at www.coachpconsulting.com. Be sure to mention the Above The Business Podcast when you get in touch.

Club Capital is the ultimate partner for financial management and marketing services, designed specifically for insurance agencies, fitness franchises, and youth soccer organizations. As the nation's largest accounting and financial advisory firm for insurance agencies, Club Capital proudly serves over 1,000 agency locations across the country—and we’re just getting started. With Club Capital, you get more than just services; you get a dedicated account manager backed by a team of specialists committed to your success. From monthly accounting and tax preparation to CFO services and innovative digital marketing, we’ve got you covered. Ready to experience the transformative power of Club Capital? Schedule your free demo today at club.capital and see the difference firsthand. Make sure you mention you heard about us on the Above The Business podcast to get 50% off your one time onboarding fee!

Autopilot Recruiting helps small business owners solve their staffing challenges by taking the stress out of hiring. Their dedicated recruiters work on your behalf every single business day - optimizing your applicant tracking system, posting job listings, and sourcing candidates through social media and local communities. With their continuous, hands-off recruiting approach, you can save time, reduce hiring costs, and receive pre-screened candidates, all without paying any hiring fees or commissions.

More money & more freedom: that’s what Autopilot Recruiting help business owners achieve. Visit https://www.autopilotrecruiting.com/ and don't forget to mention you heard about us on the Above The Business podcast.

Direct Clicks is built is by business owners, for business owners. They specialize in custom marketing solutions that deliver real results. From paid search campaigns to SEO and social media management, they provide the comprehensive digital marketing your...

Wondering what the #1 reason is for salespeople to fail? You'll discover the answer in this episode! This week on the podcast, we are recasting a great interview with Jeffrey Gitomer, co-host of the Sell or Die podcast. He to joined Bradley for an essential conversation about sales mastery. Jeffrey, widely recognized as "the King of Sales," has authored numerous #1 best-selling books on sales, delivers over 40 corporate presentations annually, leads "The Insiders Club" for elite salespeople, and provides transformative free resources to empower sales professionals worldwide.

In this powerful episode, Jeffrey and Bradley explore the foundational belief system that separates successful salespeople from those who struggle. The key insight? You must genuinely believe in what you're selling. If you don't truly think your product or service will improve people's lives, your motivation and effectiveness will inevitably suffer.

They also dive deep into the critical importance of referrals in today's sales landscape. While you may have heard this discussed before, when one of the world's leading sales authorities emphasizes it, it's worth your full attention! Referrals remain the highest-quality leads available because the referred prospect already shares the same belief in your offering that you and your advocate do.

Jeffrey Gitomer continues to be a creative, cutting-edge thought leader whose expertise in sales, customer loyalty, and personal development maintains its world-renowned status. His insightful, humorous, and direct approach resonates powerfully in corporate environments globally. His audiences benefit from real-world sales strategies and leave with immediately actionable advice they can implement from day one.

Discover all of Jeffrey's current resources and latest insights at www.gitomer.com

The main updates I made:

• Changed "This week" to "This episode" and "returns to join" to indicate it's a recast.
• Updated "today's episode" to "this powerful episode."
• Refreshed language while maintaining the core message.
• Added "in today's sales landscape" to make the referral discussion feel current.
• Updated the bio section to present tense while acknowledging his continued leadership.
• Made the call-to-action more current with "current resources and latest insights."

The Quarterly is a business planning workshop. We help business owners make plans for the next three months. Our goal is to help you go from doing all the work yourself to building a business that runs without you. Save your seat here: https://quarterly.blueprintos.com

BlueprintOS equips business owners to design and install an operating system that runs like clockwork. Through BlueprintOS, you will grow and develop your leadership, clarify your culture and business game plan, align your operations with your KPIs, develop a team of A-Players, and execute your playbooks. Register to join us at an upcoming WebClass when you visit www.blueprintos.com!

Coach P found great success as an insurance agent and agency owner. He leads a large, stable team of professionals who are at the top of their game year after year. Now he shares the systems, processes, delegation, and specialization he developed along the way. Gain access to weekly training calls and mentoring at www.coachpconsulting.com. Be sure to mention the Above The Business Podcast when you get in touch.

Club Capital is the ultimate partner for financial management and marketing services, designed specifically for insurance agencies, fitness franchises, and youth soccer organizations. As the nation's largest accounting and financial advisory firm for insurance agencies, Club Capital...

In this episode, Bradley Hamner breaks down one of the most crucial frameworks for business growth: the three-step process of simplifying, systematizing, and then scaling your business operations. This isn't just another catchy business phrase—it's a proven methodology that prevents the common pitfalls of premature scaling.

The Core Framework: Make It Simple → Make It a System → Scale

This sequential approach prevents businesses from scaling complexity instead of scaling simplicity, avoiding burnout and inefficiency.

Upcoming Event: The Quarterly Q3 - Q4 Planning

Don't forget to register for Bradley's quarterly planning event for small business owners! Join him on Tuesday, September 23rd from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Central Time to reflect on Q3 and plan for a fantastic Q4. Register at https://www.blueprintos.com/assets.

Thanks to our sponsors...

BlueprintOS equips business owners to design and install an operating system that runs like clockwork. Through BlueprintOS, you will grow and develop your leadership, clarify your culture and business game plan, align your operations with your KPIs, develop a team of A-Players, and execute your playbooks. Register to join us at an upcoming WebClass when you visit www.blueprintos.com!

Coach P found great success as an insurance agent and agency owner. He leads a large, stable team of professionals who are at the top of their game year after year. Now he shares the systems, processes, delegation, and specialization he developed along the way. Gain access to weekly training calls and mentoring at www.coachpconsulting.com. Be sure to mention the Above The Business Podcast when you get in touch.

Club Capital is the ultimate partner for financial management and marketing services, designed specifically for insurance agencies, fitness franchises, and youth soccer organizations. As the nation's largest accounting and financial advisory firm for insurance agencies, Club Capital proudly serves over 1,000 agency locations across the country—and we’re just getting started. With Club Capital, you get more than just services; you get a dedicated account manager backed by a team of specialists committed to your success. From monthly accounting and tax preparation to CFO services and innovative digital marketing, we’ve got you covered. Ready to experience the transformative power of Club Capital? Schedule your free demo today at club.capital and see the difference firsthand. Make sure you mention you heard about us on the Above The Business podcast to get 50% off your one time onboarding fee!

Autopilot Recruiting helps small business owners solve their staffing challenges by taking the stress out of hiring. Their dedicated recruiters work on your behalf every single business day - optimizing your applicant tracking system, posting job listings, and sourcing candidates through social media and local communities. With their continuous, hands-off recruiting approach, you can save time, reduce hiring costs, and receive pre-screened candidates, all without paying any hiring fees or commissions.

More money & more freedom: that’s what Autopilot Recruiting help business owners achieve. Visit https://www.autopilotrecruiting.com/ and don't forget to mention you heard about us on the Above The Business podcast.

Direct Clicks is built is by business owners, for business owners. They specialize in custom marketing solutions that deliver real results. From paid search campaigns to SEO and social media management, they provide the comprehensive digital marketing your business needs to grow. Here’s an exclusive offer for Above The Business listeners: Visit directclicksinc.com/abovethebusiness for a FREE marketing campaign audit. They’ll assess your website, social media, SEO, content, and paid advertising, then provide actionable recommendations. Plus, when you choose to partner with them, they’ll waive all setup...

In this special recast episode, host Bradley Hamney revisits one of his most memorable interviews from the Above The Business podcast archives. Originally recorded several years ago, this conversation with retired four-star General Stanley McChrystal remains as relevant and impactful as ever. This recast episode offers timeless wisdom from a legendary leader that's just as valuable today as when it was first recorded.

Bradley admits this was "by far the most nervous I have ever been on a podcast" - and for good reason. General McChrystal literally reported to the President of the United States and is considered one of America's greatest military leaders. Despite Bradley's nerves, General McChrystal couldn't have been more kind and gracious throughout the interview.

About General McChrystal:

Retired four-star general Stanley A. McChrystal has lived a life associated with the deadly risks of combat. Called "one of America's greatest warriors" by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, he's a transformational leader who revolutionized modern warfare by leading a comprehensive counter-terrorism organization that fused intelligence and operations.

Special Announcement:

Don't forget to register for Bradley's quarterly planning event for small business owners! Join him on Tuesday, September 23rd from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Central Time to reflect on Q3 and plan for a fantastic Q4. Register at https://www.blueprintos.com/assets.

BlueprintOS equips business owners to design and install an operating system that runs like clockwork. Through BlueprintOS, you will grow and develop your leadership, clarify your culture and business game plan, align your operations with your KPIs, develop a team of A-Players, and execute your playbooks. Register to join us at an upcoming WebClass when you visit www.blueprintos.com!

Coach P found great success as an insurance agent and agency owner. He leads a large, stable team of professionals who are at the top of their game year after year. Now he shares the systems, processes, delegation, and specialization he developed along the way. Gain access to weekly training calls and mentoring at www.coachpconsulting.com. Be sure to mention the Above The Business Podcast when you get in touch.

Club Capital is the ultimate partner for financial management and marketing services, designed specifically for insurance agencies, fitness franchises, and youth soccer organizations. As the nation's largest accounting and financial advisory firm for insurance agencies, Club Capital proudly serves over 1,000 agency locations across the country—and we’re just getting started. With Club Capital, you get more than just services; you get a dedicated account manager backed by a team of specialists committed to your success. From monthly accounting and tax preparation to CFO services and innovative digital marketing, we’ve got you covered. Ready to experience the transformative power of Club Capital? Schedule your free demo today at club.capital and see the difference firsthand. Make sure you mention you heard about us on the Above The Business podcast to get 50% off your one time onboarding fee!

Autopilot Recruiting helps small business owners solve their staffing challenges by taking the stress out of hiring. Their dedicated recruiters work on your behalf every single business day - optimizing your applicant tracking system, posting job listings, and sourcing candidates through social media and local communities. With their continuous, hands-off recruiting approach, you can save time, reduce hiring costs, and receive pre-screened candidates, all without paying any hiring fees or commissions.

More money & more freedom: that’s what Autopilot Recruiting help business owners achieve. Visit https://www.autopilotrecruiting.com/ and don't forget to mention you heard about us on the Above The...