A New Direction

Hosted by Jay Izso

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300

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Jun 2026

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Interviewing Best Selling Authors from around the world for success and leadership in business, life and career.

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June 10, 202658 min

What Got You Here, Isn’t What’s Going to Get You There

A 4-Step Process to Stop Stressing and Your Team Start Leading What if the exact habits that built your success are now the very thing quietly holding your business back? You hustled, you solved every problem, you held the standard — and it worked, so it became automatic. But somewhere along the way the company stopped being able to run without you, your talented team stopped stepping up, and you started wondering why working harder only makes the wheel spin faster. If any of that lands a little too close to home, this week’s conversation is for you. In this episode of A New Direction, we dig into The High-Altitude Entrepreneur with Chris Clearfield — and this episode is about you, not just the book. You’ll discover why what got you here won’t get you there, why all your systems still leave you trapped at the center, and the uncomfortable truth that your team won’t take ownership until you stop jumping in. We even go into the brain science of it: how “predictive processing” keeps you reacting on autopilot to problems you haven’t even really looked at yet — and why that’s the real reason willpower never broke the cycle. Most importantly, you’ll walk away with a way out. We’ll unpack the shift from low-altitude founder — reactive, indispensable, exhausted — to high-altitude leader who rises above the chaos, sees the whole system, and finally lets the business grow beyond them. You’ll learn how to spot the conditioned instinct that’s capping your growth, how to hand your team real ownership, and why personal freedom isn’t the reward you earn after success — it’s the precondition that makes success possible in the first place. Join us and come ready to see your own patterns clearly, bring the questions you’ve been afraid to ask out loud, and bring a fellow founder who needs to hear it too. This is the conversation that helps you stop running your business from the ground — and start leading it from altitude. Chris Clearfield‘s book, “The High-Altitude Entrepreneur: A Framework for Scaling Smarter, Leading Better, and Living Freer, is a book for entrepreneurs and leaders. And quite honestly you are going to need put aside your defensiveness, which will immediately happen when you start reading this book. Why do I say that so confidently? Because no one wants to hear that the real problem why you as a leader are always stressed, feel like you team won’t take leadership, feel like everything falls on you, is because you are the bottleneck to your business. But you really can’t do your out of this. Your problem is not your people the problem is the monster you created because of the way you are wired that causes your people to not want to take action and lead. The fact is when you started your business, you pushed your way through. You had to. Every decision fell on you. So you put in the work, and you went into grind mode. You lost sleep. You pushed hard! So now when things are not going well, or things start to go south, what do you do? You employ your old operating system of work hard, push, and grind. The problem. Now you have people, and they aren’t responding. Now you are under even more stress. Your frustrated. You feel more burned out than ever. You may even slump into depression. You think your people are lazy. They’re not the problem. You see what got you there at the beginning was great! But now that your business is grown, what once got you there, isn’t going to get you there now. You don’t need to do different you need to “be” different. That is the beauty of Chris Clearfield’s book “The High-Altitude Entrepreneur”. He has to together the High-Altitude framework that takes you step by step through a process where you can start removing yourself, so you can truly rely on others. Is it easy? Nope. Is it a quick fix? Nope. Will change your business for the better? Yep. Will it change your life for the better? You bet! This is one of those books that if you have the guts to do it, will fundamentally change your business and you. The book is worth every penny. Get your copy of The High-Altitude Entrepreneur by clicking here! Special Offer from Chris Clearfield If you would like to experience first hand how the process works. Chris offers a group for free that you can watch and learn how the High-Altitude Framework works. Just go to: Clearfieldleadership.com/elevate and sign up! Please say thank you to our sponsors! It is their financial support that allows A New Direction to continue growing and getting great authors. “You tune in to A New Direction to grow your business and your mindset. But you can’t move forward if you’re worried about what’s lurking in your inbox. That’s where Data443 Cyren comes in. It’s the industry standard for real-time email security and URL filtering. They stop phishing and malware before they strike, so you can focus on your success, not your safety. Don’t let a cyberattack derail your journey. Go to Data443.com today and secure your future.“ Linda Craft Team, Realtors for more than 40 years the choice of people all over the world. They are not only experts in buying and selling real estate, they are expert negotiators that will fight for you! But perhaps their greatest expertise is that they understand that your home is more is a place where you created some of your fondest memories. When you want a real estate professional who not only will get you the best price, but will care about your home like you would care about your home start with the Legends of Customer Service start with Linda Craft & Team. www.LindaCraft.com ABOUT YOUR HOST Meet Jay Izso Executive Performance Coach | Host of A New Direction Every week on A New Direction, I sit down with CEOs, founders, and the researchers behind the science of leadership performance. The conversations go deep. We talk about the decisions that built companies, the mistakes that nearly destroyed them, and the personal breakthroughs that changed everything. But here’s what most people don’t know about me: the show is an extension of the work I do every day with executives behind closed doors. Who I Am I’m an Executive Performance Coach. I work with CEOs and founders of $5M-$50M companies who have hit a wall they can’t explain. The marketing looks fine. The team is capable. The market is there. But the business won’t move. The problem, almost every time, is the person running it. I find the personal behavioral patterns that are driving the business dysfunction. Then I help the CEO disrupt those patterns so the company can grow. That’s it. No motivational platitudes. No vision boards. Diagnostics, intervention, results. Where This Comes From My approach comes from two places most coaches never set foot in. The farm. I grew up as a farmhand in Ithaca, Nebraska—population 100. I started working at nine years old. By the time I left for college, I’d spent a decade learning that you can’t cheat the harvest, pain is part of the job, and the work has to get done whether you feel like it or not. I was fourteen the first time I had to castrate boars. Nobody was going to do it for me. That lesson never left: sometimes you have to do things afraid. The forensic psychology unit. In graduate school at Washington State University, I trained under Dr. Thomas Brigham—co-author of the Handbook of Applied Behavior Analysis—in a human behavior lab focused on real-world problems. I then served in a Clinical Psych II role at Eastern State Hospital in Medical Lake, Washington, a forensic setting where I conducted psychological evaluations of individuals charged with the most serious criminal offenses. Sixteen months assessing human behavior at its most extreme taught me how to cut through defenses, identify what’s really driving someone’s decisions, and see what they can’t see in themselves.

June 3, 202659 min

3 Steps to the Deep Transformation of Your Success

You Don’t Need a Business Transformation…you need a YOU Transformation Ever feel like you’re doing all the “right” things—reading the self-help books, checking off your goals, grinding every day—but inside, you’re still wrestling with the exact same anxieties? You aren’t broken; you’ve just hit the ceiling of what your current self can handle. Real, lasting change requires more than just adding new habits to your daily routine; it demands a total identity transformation. If you are ready to stop merely managing your symptoms and start evolving who you are at your core, it is time for a radical internal upgrade. Today on A New Direction, Coach Jay dives deep into this psychological frontier with cutting-edge mindset expert and best-selling author, Dr. Ryan Gottfredson. We are breaking open his latest, game-changing book, Becoming Better: The Ground Breaking Science of Persona Transformation. Dr. Gottfredson bypasses the usual self-help clichés to deliver the actual, hard science behind vertical development. He will show us how to achieve a deep mental transformation that rewires our internal operating systems for unprecedented success and peace. In this powerful conversation, you will discover why traditional willpower consistently fails and how your hidden mindsets are secretly sabotaging your growth. Dr. Gottfredson will reveal the neurological and psychological blueprints necessary to shed your defensive armor, heal old wounds, and accelerate your personal transformation. This isn’t a superficial conversation about doing more; it is an exploration of how to fundamentally alter how you see yourself and the world from the inside out. Do not miss this chance to experience a life-altering transformation in real-time. Join us right here on A New Direction with Coach Jay to catch every insight, absorb the science, and discover the keys to unlocking your next level. Your old self has taken you as far as it can—it is time to step into the ultimate transformation and meet the person you were actually meant to become. A FREE Transformational Offer! If you go to RyanGottfredson.com and you click on any of the assessments and tell Ryan you heard him on my show A New Direction with Coach Jay he will give you a FREE 30 minutes call to go over your assessment! Just click here for the assessments. Ryan Gottfredson’s Book, “Becoming Better: The Groundbreaking Science of Personal Transformation” is a life changing book that will be transformational for your business. You may be asking how can that be? Because the fact is your business success is limited by your personal success in life. And when you are broken (which we all are) we are never going to be as successful in life and business until we start our journey of healing from the inside out. Dr Gottfredson likes to use the analogy of our brain and reactions, and mindsets and thinking as an operating system. That operating system has coding from birth to now. So, anything that we react to our coding kicks in and we respond in a way that can damage our success. So, the fact is our operating system really needs to be recoded, the problem is we don’t want to do the hard work to do it. But here is the irony. When we have problems in life and business what do we typically do? We try to find ways we can “do” our way out of something. We may go to a conference to go new ways of “doing” things. That all sounds great but let’s take the analogy one step further. Think of it this way. If you download another app on your phone to help you “do” something, but your operating system coding (IOS) is screwed up, and is a mess, how effective is that app… it’s not. And no transformation. That’s the point of Becoming Better. Until you change the coding from the bad coding in your past all the “do this” and “do that” are nothing more than great apps on a horribly written operating system. And your business and life transformation is at a stand still. The brilliance of the book is that not only does Dr. Gottfredson address these issues he gives you the science behind them and offers the small building blocks and steps to start erasing the bad code in your operating system and writing new code. But it is not easy. And I am speaking from my own experience here. When you realize just how much trauma in your past (that you will deny, like I did) and how it has affected your coding, you will see how much success you can achieve. Please get a copy of this book Becoming Better and do the work! We really would like to ask you to thank our sponsors. Their financial support of A New Direction is so critical to helping us provide quality guests, books, and great sounding show. “You tune in to A New Direction to grow your business and your mindset. But you can’t move forward if you’re worried about what’s lurking in your inbox. That’s where Data443 Cyren comes in. It’s the industry standard for real-time email security and URL filtering. They stop phishing and malware before they strike, so you can focus on your success, not your safety. Don’t let a cyberattack derail your journey. Go to Data443.com today and secure your future.“ Linda Craft Team, Realtors they literally are a locally owned independent real estate company, that serves the world. How can a small company serve the world? They have created relationships with the best real estate experts in the world to help you regardless of where you live get the best person possible. And because they are independent of any national brand, they have relationships with other professionals from all the companies, not just the ones that are part of a national branded network. For more than 39 years they continue to build relationships because that is how Linda started the business and continues to do so today. Head on over to www.LindaCraft.com Hey…do me a favor and please tell your friends to subscribe to A New Direction on their favorite podcast platform and give us a 5 star rating we are so grateful when you do! ABOUT YOUR HOST Meet Jay Izso Executive Performance Coach | Host of A New Direction Every week on A New Direction, I sit down with CEOs, founders, and the researchers behind the science of leadership performance. The conversations go deep. We talk about the decisions that built companies, the mistakes that nearly destroyed them, and the personal breakthroughs that changed everything. But here’s what most people don’t know about me: the show is an extension of the work I do every day with executives behind closed doors. Who I Am I’m an Executive Performance Coach. I work with CEOs and founders of $5M-$50M companies who have hit a wall they can’t explain. The marketing looks fine. The team is capable. The market is there. But the business won’t move. The problem, almost every time, is the person running it. I find the personal behavioral patterns that are driving the business dysfunction. Then I help the CEO disrupt those patterns so the company can grow. That’s it. No motivational platitudes. No vision boards. Diagnostics, intervention, results. Where This Comes From My approach comes from two places most coaches never set foot in. The farm. I grew up as a farmhand in Ithaca, Nebraska—population 100. I started working at nine years old. By the time I left for college, I’d spent a decade learning that you can’t cheat the harvest, pain is part of the job, and the work has to get done whether you feel like it or not. I was fourteen the first time I had to castrate boars. Nobody was going to do it for me. That lesson never left: sometimes you have to do things afraid. The forensic psychology unit. In graduate school at Washington State University, I trained under Dr. Thomas Brigham—co-author of the Handbook of Applied Behavior Analysis—in a human behavior lab focused on real-world problems. I then served in a Clinical Psych II role at Eastern State Hospital in Medical Lake, Washington, a forensic setting where I conducted psychological evaluations of individuals charged with the most serious criminal offenses. Sixteen months assessing human behavior at its most extreme taught me how to cut through defenses, identify what’s really driving someone’s decisions, and see what they can’t see in themselves.

May 27, 202656 min

5 Reasons Non-Food Franchising is Your Best Path to Wealth

Forget McDonald’s and Chick-Fi-A Non-Food Franchising May be a Better Bet When most people think of starting a business, their minds immediately go to fast food. We’ve been conditioned to associate “franchising” with burgers, fries, and massive overhead. But in his game-changing book, “Non-food franchising: The Better Path to Business Ownership,” Jon Ostenson explains why you might want to leave the grease traps behind. This isn’t just about picking a different industry; it’s about a fundamental shift in how you build wealth. Non-food franchising offers a gateway to high-margin, essential-service businesses that provide the stability the food industry often lacks. There is a profound emotional cost to staying in a corporate job that no longer serves you. We all crave a sense of agency over our own lives, and non-food franchising is designed to provide exactly that. Jon explores how these businesses—ranging from home services to specialized health care—allow “corporate refugees” to stop trading hours for dollars. It’s about building a legacy that supports your family and your freedom, using a proven system that doesn’t require you to be the one performing the labor. If you’ve ever felt like your potential is being capped by a ceiling someone else built, this conversation will be your sledgehammer. During our live deep dive, we’ll look at why the most successful investors are flocking to non-food franchising. These businesses are often “recession-resistant” because they provide services people need rather than just things they want. We will break down the semi-absentee model, showing you how to scale a portfolio of businesses while keeping your day job or enjoying your retirement. By focusing on non-food franchising, you minimize the complexity of high-turnover staff and perishable inventory, focusing instead on the “boring” businesses that produce exciting, consistent cash flow. You cannot afford to miss this high-impact session on A New Direction with Coach Jay. Join us live this Wednesday, May 27th at 5pm Eastern as we interview Jon Ostenson and pull back the curtain on the lucrative world of non-food franchising. Whether you’re looking to diversify your investments or completely pivot your career, this episode will give you the roadmap to move forward with confidence. Tune in and discover why your next big move doesn’t have to involve a drive-thru window. Jon Ostenson‘s book, “Non-Food Franchising: The Better Path to Business Ownership” is one of those powerful books in a short read. The fact is I learned more about non-food franchising in this 75-page book than I had learned in my lifetime. In fact, the book was so good, it has got me thinking about investing in to a non-food franchising opportunity. What I found so great about the book is that it is an honest, simple look at why non-food franchising is such a great opportunity. He looks at the pros and cons of comparing to food franchises. He also compares to the challenges of starting your own business or perhaps purchasing someone else’s business. Now don’t think that what Jon Ostenson is saying is all butterflies and roses when it comes to franchising. Because he is not. He points out there is a risk. And he also points out something else. It is not for everyone. The fact is you could be “TOO entrepreneurial” for a non-food franchise, because you like to tweak and do things your own way. That’s where you need to put your ego aside, accepting some humility comes in. The book talks about the subject of how to get money, different avenues to get started, and a step-by-step process he uses. He also discusses the documents that are reviewed and specific areas to pay very close attention to. Glad I read it twice! To get your copy of “Non-Food Franchising” click here. Please thank our sponsors of A New Direction by going to their social media pages liking them and following them. “You tune in to A New Direction to grow your business and your mindset. But you can’t move forward if you’re worried about what’s lurking in your inbox. That’s where Data443 Cyren comes in. It’s the industry standard for real-time email security and URL filtering. They stop phishing and malware before they strike, so you can focus on your success, not your safety. Don’t let a cyberattack derail your journey. Go to Data443.com today and secure your future.“ Linda Craft Team, Realtors for more than 40 years they have been helping people all over the world take the stress out of real estate. And they would love to help you! When Linda started the business she built it by reputation and one relationship at a time and that is a foundation that continues to be built today. They truly understand that when you think about your home it is more than bricks and mortar, you made memories there and you want someone who cares about those as much as possible as you do. When you are ready to sell or buy your home, start with the relationship builders and home transition experts. Start with Linda Craft Team, Realtors… www.LindaCraft.com ABOUT YOUR HOST Meet Jay Izso Executive Performance Coach | Host of A New Direction Every week on A New Direction, I sit down with CEOs, founders, and the researchers behind the science of leadership performance. The conversations go deep. We talk about the decisions that built companies, the mistakes that nearly destroyed them, and the personal breakthroughs that changed everything. But here’s what most people don’t know about me: the show is an extension of the work I do every day with executives behind closed doors. Who I Am I’m an Executive Performance Coach. I work with CEOs and founders of $5M-$50M companies who have hit a wall they can’t explain. The marketing looks fine. The team is capable. The market is there. But the business won’t move. The problem, almost every time, is the person running it. I find the personal behavioral patterns that are driving the business dysfunction. Then I help the CEO disrupt those patterns so the company can grow. That’s it. No motivational platitudes. No vision boards. Diagnostics, intervention, results. Where This Comes From My approach comes from two places most coaches never set foot in. The farm. I grew up as a farmhand in Ithaca, Nebraska—population 100. I started working at nine years old. By the time I left for college, I’d spent a decade learning that you can’t cheat the harvest, pain is part of the job, and the work has to get done whether you feel like it or not. I was fourteen the first time I had to castrate boars. Nobody was going to do it for me. That lesson never left: sometimes you have to do things afraid. The forensic psychology unit. In graduate school at Washington State University, I trained under Dr. Thomas Brigham—co-author of the Handbook of Applied Behavior Analysis—in a human behavior lab focused on real-world problems. I then served in a Clinical Psych II role at Eastern State Hospital in Medical Lake, Washington, a forensic setting where I conducted psychological evaluations of individuals charged with the most serious criminal offenses. Sixteen months assessing human behavior at its most extreme taught me how to cut through defenses, identify what’s really driving someone’s decisions, and see what they can’t see in themselves.

May 20, 202656 min

5 Ways Boundaries Ignite Breakthrough Innovation

Innovation Comes from “Inside” the box, NOT “outside” of the box This week on A New Direction with Coach Jay, we are stepping into a conversation that may challenge almost everything we have been told about innovation. We have heard the phrase “think outside the box” so many times it has almost become business wallpaper. But Sheri Jacobs, author of The Unexpected Power of Boundaries: Rethinking the Rules, Risks, and Real Drivers of Innovation, asks a much deeper question: what if the real secret to breakthrough thinking is not escaping the box, but finally understanding where the box ends? Here is what makes this conversation so powerful: most leaders say they want innovation, but many teams are quietly paralyzed by unclear expectations, fear of failure, mixed messages, and the pressure to “be creative” without knowing what is safe to try. Sheri flips that idea on its head. Boundaries are not walls that keep people small. When used wisely, they become guardrails that give people courage, clarity, innovation and permission to take smarter risks. And let’s be honest, in business, leadership, and life, confusion rarely creates confidence. Sheri brings a fascinating mix of research, leadership experience, storytelling, and real-world strategy to the table. From the way teams’ experiment, to how leaders define risk, to why some of the best ideas come from unexpected people and unexpected places, this conversation is about creating the conditions where bold ideas can actually survive long enough to become meaningful innovation. It is not theory for the sake of theory. It is practical, human, and immediately relevant for anyone trying to lead through change without burning out their people or losing their purpose. So, whether you are a business owner, executive, coach, entrepreneur, team leader, or someone who knows your organization needs a fresh spark, this episode is for you. Sheri Jacobs will help us rethink what boundaries really are, why they matter, and how the right constraints can move us from hesitation to experimentation, from chaos to clarity, and from stuck to something truly new. Join me, Coach Jay and Sheri Jacobs for A New Direction as we discover why the limits we resist may be the very thing that helps us grow and create innovation. Sheri Jacobs‘ book, “The Unexpected Power of Boundaries: Rethinking the Rules, Risks, and Real Drivers of Innovation” is an absolute mind twister that will change the way you think about boundaries and innovation. We all know have been told or have worked on projects where we were encouraging to “think outside of the box”. Sounds good in theory, but the irony is our innovation, and creative ideas don’t happen outside the box, they happen from the inside. I know, mind blowing right? But think about it. When we don’t know where the boundaries are, we start to wallow in so many choices and ideas that we end up doing nothing. It’s what we psychologists refer to as “the paradox of choice”. And studies have shown when we do not have clear boundaries…we more often than not fail. Sheri Jacob not only explains this very clearly by using real world examples and her own research and experience, but then she gives us practical actionable steps as leaders to create a culture where people become more innovative. And what she presents is powerful. It starts with a switch of mindset. Then she reminds us that we can do anything, but we can’t do everything, we do need some boundaries. We have rethink our “risk capacity”, not our “risk tolerance” which is emotional, but we have to have a logical structural handle on our capacity for risk. We need to have a culture of curiosity and Sheri helps us develop that. And ultimately, we have to just keep swinging. The book is a winner! I get why it is so popular. I strongly recommend this book. You can get your copy by clicking here! Please thank our sponsors of A New Direction by going to their social media pages liking them and following them. Talk about innovation! “You tune in to A New Direction to grow your business and your mindset. But you can’t move forward if you’re worried about what’s lurking in your inbox. That’s where Data443 Cyren comes in. It’s the industry standard for real-time email security and URL filtering. They stop phishing and malware before they strike, so you can focus on your success, not your safety. Don’t let a cyberattack derail your journey. Go to Data443.com today and secure your future.“ Linda Craft Team, REALTORS for more than 40 years they have been helping people all over the world make a life transition and take the stress out of real estate. They built their business one relationship at a time and continue and that is still the way they work with you. They recognize your home is more than bricks and mortar, but that is truly built on your memories. If you are tired of AI bots who try to pose as real estate professionals, and want to talk to real human being, then you want to call Linda Craft Team, REALTORS. When you are ready to sell or buy your home, start with the relationship builders and home transition experts. Start with Linda Craft Team, REALTORS… www.LindaCraft.com Stop Performing. Start Dominating You Were Built to BE a Champion! You already know what average looks like. You’ve watched it sit in meetings, nod along, and clock out at five. You’ve seen it settle for “good enough” and call it a career. And something inside you — maybe it’s quiet, maybe it’s screaming — refuses to accept that as your ceiling. That’s not ambition. That’s your signal. The distance between where you are and where you know you’re capable of being isn’t talent. It isn’t luck. It’s the space between knowing what to do and actually executing at the level your potential demands. And that gap? It doesn’t close on its own. The Truth Nobody Tells High Performers Here’s what the leadership books leave out: the strategies that got you here won’t get you there. The habits, the mindset, the way you manage your energy and your influence — all of it needs to evolve. Not because you’re broken. Because you’re ready for more. Every elite athlete has a coach. Every world-class CEO has an advisor in their corner. Not because they’re weak — because they understand that the highest performers on the planet don’t go it alone. What Changes When You Stop Going It Alone Working with an executive performance coach isn’t about fixing problems. It’s about unlocking the version of you that operates with total clarity, relentless focus, and the kind of presence that shifts the energy in every room you walk into. Imagine making decisions faster — and with more confidence. Leading teams that don’t just follow you, but run through walls for you. Waking up on Monday with the same fire you feel on Friday night when you’re planning your next move. That’s not fantasy. That’s what happens when you get serious about your performance. Your Move You’ve read this far for a reason. That reason matters. Don’t let this be another article you agree with and forget by tomorrow. Take the first step right now: Book a free discovery call — Let’s talk about where you are, where you want to be, and what’s standing in the way. Visit www.jayizso.com to schedule your session. Send me a direct message — Not ready for a call? No problem. Reach out at jay@thecoachjay.com and tell me what’s on your mind. Every conversation starts somewhere. The only thing standing between you and your next level is the decision to stop waiting. Make it today. Jay Izso is an Executive Performance Coach who works with driven professionals ready to break through to their next level of leadership, influence, and impact. Learn more at www.jayizso.com.

May 13, 202657 min

7 Unwritten Rules of Leadership to Get Promoted Fast

Want to Get Promoted? You Probably Don’t Know What You Don’t Know… We just wrapped up an incredible episode of A New Direction with Craig A. Fleming, author of The Unwritten Rules of Leadership, and the insights were a major wake-up call for anyone looking to get promoted. If you missed the live conversation, we dived deep into the “hidden curriculum” of the corporate world—those unspoken do’s and don’ts that determine who stays in middle management and who gets promoted to the C-suite. The consensus was clear: hitting your KPIs is just the entry fee; understanding the social and political mechanics of your organization is what actually gets you promoted. A standout moment in the interview was Craig’s breakdown of why high-performers often fail to get promoted because they fall into the “Technical Trap.” Many high-achievers believe that becoming the ultimate expert in their current role is the fastest way to move up, but the opposite is often true. Craig explained that if you make yourself too indispensable as a “doer,” you become “un-promotable” because leadership can’t afford to lose your technical output. To be promoted, you have to transition your identity from a specialist to a strategist, demonstrating that you have the Executive Presence to lead others rather than just doing the work yourself. We also discussed why Political Savvy is a non-negotiable skill if you want to get promoted. It isn’t about “playing games”; it’s about building relational equity and finding a sponsor. While a mentor talks to you, a sponsor is someone who talks about you in rooms you haven’t entered yet. Craig shared that many talented individuals fail to get promoted simply because they lack an advocate at the decision-making table. By mapping out the power dynamics of your company and building a network of supporters, you ensure that your name is at the top of the list when it is time for someone to be promoted. If you are tired of watching others move up while you feel stuck, this recap is your roadmap to finally being promoted. We covered 7 specific shifts, from mastering “The Brief” to managing your “Leadership Shadow.” Don’t let another year go by wondering why you haven’t been promoted to the level your hard work deserves. Watch the full replay of A New Direction with Coach Jay and Craig A. Fleming to master these unwritten rules and take the final step to get promoted into the leadership role you’ve been aiming for. Craig Flemings book, “Unwritten Rules Of Leadership: How Executives Decide Who To Trust, Mentor, Promote, and Remember” is a no nonsense, gets right to the point book. There is no fluff. No stories. Just a practical guide to, “if you want to get promoted here is what to do, and here is what not to do.” Quite honestly I found it refreshing. No wading through some here is the principle of the story. Not some fairy tale that is suppose to make me feel better about my life, just the direct approach of, “if you want this, here is what you must do.” There are 25 chapters, each chapter has the same outline. Here is the title, here is why it is important. What are the costs and benefits to you on the topic. Here is what you need to do. Here are the distortions that will stall your career. Here is the Application that you need to do on a daily basis in your personal life, your execution, communication etc. I found this book to be so appealing. Find the area. Why is it important. Have the discipline to do what it says…and execute it daily. Simple. Straight forward. Practical. We need more books like this with less stories and more application. Get you copy of Unwritten Rules of Leadership by clicking here. Our sponsors are so important to the success of A New Direction. Please use their services, or recommend their services to others. Their dedication to the show helps us help more people around the world! Data443: Cyren Cyren Threat Intelligence: Your Business’s Cyber Early-Warning System What is it? Think of Cyren as a global neighborhood watch for the internet. Every single day, it scans billions of emails, websites, and files looking for the newest scams, viruses, and hackers. How does it help your business? Cyren automatically creates a constantly updated “most wanted” list of bad links, spam, and hackers. It feeds this list directly into the security tools your company already uses (like your firewall or antivirus software). This empowers your existing security systems to instantly recognize and block new dangers without you or your IT team having to lift a finger. Why it matters: Stops threats at the door: It blocks malicious emails, scam links, and viruses before they even reach your employees’ inboxes or computers. Always up-to-date: The internet moves fast, but Cyren updates in real-time so you are protected against attacks that were just invented today. Trusted by the experts: Massive internet service providers and global tech companies rely on Cyren to protect hundreds of millions of people worldwide. You get the exact same enterprise-grade protection they use. The Bottom Line: Cyren acts as the brain behind your business’s cybersecurity, automatically finding and blocking threats so you can stop worrying about hackers and focus on running your business. Linda Craft Team, REALTORS®, for more than 40 years they have been helping people all over the world protect their dreams and make new ones. Let’s be honest, most of us soon forget how much we paid for our home, or how much we sold our home for…but we all hold on to the memories that were made in that home. The powerful emotions that were in that home. The gatherings, the people, the joys and even some sorrows, because at the end of the day all our memories are what makes the home…a home. The memories and the emotions of those memories. The Linda Craft Team continue the tradition of being the “memory makers” by giving the home you are ready to sell the marketing and attention it deserves, and the start to the new memories you will create when you purchase your next home. When you are ready for your memory head on over to www.LindaCraft.com Stop Performing. Start Dominating You weren’t built to play it safe. You already know what average looks like. You’ve watched it sit in meetings, nod along, and clock out at five. You’ve seen it settle for “good enough” and call it a career. And something inside you — maybe it’s quiet, maybe it’s screaming — refuses to accept that as your ceiling. That’s not ambition. That’s your signal. The distance between where you are and where you know you’re capable of being isn’t talent. It isn’t luck. It’s the space between knowing what to do and actually executing at the level your potential demands. And that gap? It doesn’t close on its own. The Truth Nobody Tells High Performers Here’s what the leadership books leave out: the strategies that got you here won’t get you there. The habits, the mindset, the way you manage your energy and your influence — all of it needs to evolve. Not because you’re broken. Because you’re ready for more. Every elite athlete has a coach. Every world-class CEO has an advisor in their corner. Not because they’re weak — because they understand that the highest performers on the planet don’t go it alone. What Changes When You Stop Going It Alone Working with an executive performance coach isn’t about fixing problems. It’s about unlocking the version of you that operates with total clarity, relentless focus, and the kind of presence that shifts the energy in every room you walk into. Imagine making decisions faster — and with more confidence. Leading teams that don’t just follow you, but run through walls for you. Waking up on Monday with the same fire you feel on Friday night when you’re planning your next move. That’s not fantasy. That’s what happens when you get serious about your performance. Your Move You’ve read this far for a reason. That reason matters. Don’t let this be another article you agree with and forget by tomorrow. Take the first step right now: Book a free discovery call — Let’s talk about where you are, where you want to be, and what’s standing in the way. Visit www.jayizso.com to schedule your session. Send me a direct message — Not ready for a call? No problem. Reach out at jay@thecoachjay.com and tell me what’s on your mind. Every conversation starts somewhere. The only thing standing between you and your next level is the decision to stop waiting. Make it today. Jay Izso is an Executive Performance Coach who works with driven professionals ready to break through to their next level of leadership, influence, and impact. Learn more at www.jayizso.com.

May 7, 202658 min

8 Session Process to Lead with Greatness

Nobody Taught You to Lead — Steve Riddle Knows Why That Matters What happens when a high-performing employee gets promoted into leadership with no playbook, no mentor, and no preparation? According to leadership coach Steve Riddle, this is not the exception — it is the rule. On this week’s episode of A New Direction Live, I sat down with Steve to discuss his book Falling Into Leadership: How Leaders Emerge, Grow and Lead With Purpose, a coaching-driven narrative that pulls back the curtain on the messy, uncertain, deeply human experience of becoming a leader for the first time. Steve Riddle brings over 30 years of leadership experience and more than 16 years of professional coaching through his firm CoachStation in Australia. His corporate career included senior roles at GE Capital and Toyota Finance Australia before he dedicated himself full-time to developing leaders. Co-written with his mother Kath Riddle, the book follows a fictional leader named Sally through eight coaching sessions that mirror real conversations Steve has had with hundreds of professionals navigating the gap between technical skill and people leadership. What makes this book different from the typical leadership manual is its honesty. Steve doesn’t pretend that confidence comes with the title or that authority earns trust. Instead, he addresses the self-doubt, the emotional weight of decisions that affect other people’s lives, and the loneliness that new leaders rarely talk about. Each chapter ends with practical “Reflect & Act” exercises, making it a book you work through rather than simply read. During our conversation, Steve shared that the leaders who grow fastest are the ones willing to admit they don’t have all the answers — and that vulnerability is not weakness, it’s the starting point of real influence. f you have ever been promoted into a role you didn’t feel ready for, or if you lead a team today and still wonder whether you’re doing it right, this interview will resonate. Steve Riddle‘s message is both simple and profound: leadership is not a destination you arrive at, it is something you fall into — and what matters most is what you do after the fall. Catch the full conversation on A New Direction, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and wherever you listen. Steve Riddle’s book, “Falling Into Leadership: How Leaders Emerge, Grow and Lead With Purpose” is a play by play guide into coaching a new leader. In his and Kath Riddle’s approach we are introduced to a new emerging leader in Sally who is open and willing to change as a leader, but is uncertain of the steps. In 8 session Steve Riddle walks us through his process of coaching. Steve Riddle has a very organized approach that starts with focusing on the leader’s own self-awareness. His big push is if that self-awareness is only the beginning, but without it, you will never get to the next steps of growth. His methodology of using questions to push the client are both refreshing and eye opening for all of us. Behind the curtain he takes through the importance of emotional intelligence, communication, adaptability, resilience, and what true accountability looks like. He emphasizes the importance of the leaders role of empowering, inspiring, and influencing those the leader leads, and helps us recognize that as a leader our responsibility is to leave a legacy of leaders in our employees. Packed with tons of insights and thought provoking questions, the book, in my opinion is using the case of Sally to take a closer look at ourself. Some of our dysfunctional mindsets, becoming more self-aware and becoming the leader we had always hoped we would become. Get your copy by clicking “Falling Into Leadership“. Please thank our sponsors of A New Direction by going to their social media pages liking them and following them. “You tune in to A New Direction to grow your business and your mindset. But you can’t move forward if you’re worried about what’s lurking in your inbox. That’s where Data443 Cyren comes in. It’s the industry standard for real-time email security and URL filtering. They stop phishing and malware before they strike, so you can focus on your success, not your safety. Don’t let a cyberattack derail your journey. Go to Data443.com today and secure your future.“ Linda Craft Team, Realtors they are the memory makers and they have the knowledge how to help you in any market your home in any market. Linda started her business in 1985 when interest rates were as high as 16-18%. So, there is not a climate where can any buyer or seller find or sell their home. Sure there other realtors may have experience. But Linda Craft Team have the experience of great success for their clients. When you’re ready to sell or by, head on over to Linda Craft Team…www.LindaCraft.com Stop Performing. Start Dominating   You weren’t built to play it safe. You already know what average looks like. You’ve watched it sit in meetings, nod along, and clock out at five. You’ve seen it settle for “good enough” and call it a career. And something inside you — maybe it’s quiet, maybe it’s screaming — refuses to accept that as your ceiling. That’s not ambition. That’s your signal. The distance between where you are and where you know you’re capable of being isn’t talent. It isn’t luck. It’s the space between knowing what to do and actually executing at the level your potential demands. And that gap? It doesn’t close on its own. The Truth Nobody Tells High Performers Here’s what the leadership books leave out: the strategies that got you here won’t get you there. The habits, the mindset, the way you manage your energy and your influence — all of it needs to evolve. Not because you’re broken. Because you’re ready for more. Every elite athlete has a coach. Every world-class CEO has an advisor in their corner. Not because they’re weak — because they understand that the highest performers on the planet don’t go it alone. What Changes When You Stop Going It Alone Working with an executive performance coach isn’t about fixing problems. It’s about unlocking the version of you that operates with total clarity, relentless focus, and the kind of presence that shifts the energy in every room you walk into. Imagine making decisions faster — and with more confidence. Leading teams that don’t just follow you, but run through walls for you. Waking up on Monday with the same fire you feel on Friday night when you’re planning your next move. That’s not fantasy. That’s what happens when you get serious about your performance. Your Move You’ve read this far for a reason. That reason matters. Don’t let this be another article you agree with and forget by tomorrow. Take the first step right now: Book a free discovery call — Let’s talk about where you are, where you want to be, and what’s standing in the way. Visit www.jayizso.com to schedule your session. Send me a direct message — Not ready for a call? No problem. Reach out at jay@thecoachjay.com and tell me what’s on your mind. Every conversation starts somewhere. The only thing standing between you and your next level is the decision to stop waiting. Make it today. Jay Izso is an Executive Performance Coach who works with driven professionals ready to break through to their next level of leadership, influence, and impact. Learn more at www.jayizso.com.

April 30, 202657 min

Is Your Mission Finished?

If You’re Alive You Still Have a Mission Many people reach a point in life where they feel they have hit a ceiling. You’ve worked hard, checked the boxes, and achieved your goals, yet there is a nagging sense that the excitement has faded. David McNally, in his profound book If You’re Alive Your Mission on Earth Isn’t Finished, argues that this isn’t the end of the road, but a call to a higher purpose. If you are still here, it is because there is a unique contribution only you can make, regardless of your age or current professional status. McNally’s philosophy challenges the traditional notion of “slowing down.” He suggests that while we might retire from a specific job, we never truly retire from our human mission. The secret to lasting fulfillment lies in shifting your focus from accumulation to contribution. It is about recognizing that your accumulated wisdom and unique talents are valuable assets that the world still needs. By viewing your life as a continuous series of missions, you move beyond the ego and into a space of meaningful service. Resilience plays a starring role in this journey toward a new chapter. We often view setbacks as signs that we should stop, but McNally reframes these challenges as essential training. Every obstacle you have overcome has equipped you with a specific set of tools to help others navigate their own paths. By looking back at your experiences through this lens, you can find the fuel necessary to launch into a more significant mission rather than simply fading into the background of your own life. I am incredibly excited to explore these themes in depth during my upcoming interview with David on my show, A New Direction. We will be discussing how to rediscover your drive and ensure your “best days” are always ahead of you. Join us for a conversation that promises to reignite your fire and clarify your path forward. Your mission isn’t over—it is likely just getting started. David McNally’s book, “If You’re Alive: Your Mission on Earth Isn’t Finished” is one of the most eye opening books when it comes to understanding your life’s journey into aging and finding your mission and purpose. For many of us of all ages we just don’t know what we want to do with our lives. We don’t have a mission or a purpose, and this can cause us to just exist and not truly thrive. If You’re Alive encourages us to rethink about ourselves. Take a deeper dive into curiosity. And understand that regardless of our stage of life our mind is our greatest asset. While our bodies over time may not be able to accomplish the same things, our ability to exercise our mind and grow and get stronger mentally will never stop if we are willing to push the limits. David, takes us through some fundamental mindshifts such as resolving our past. How? Through forgiveness. And he cautions us that this is not easy, but necessary. Sure you may have been hurt, but by holding on to the past pain others are still hurting us. And the number one person we need to forgive is ourselves. The biggest takeaway I think in this book is discovering our purpose. It’s findinig what you are interested in and passionate about. What you enjoy doing. What comes easy to you. And what hidden talents that you don’t think about as talents. At the end of the day it is about making a contribution to the world. Fabulous book, Get your copy of If You’re Alive: Your Mission on Earth Isn’t Finished by lclicking here! Please thank our sponsors of A New Direction by going to their social media pages liking them and following them. “You tune in to A New Direction to grow your business and your mindset. But you can’t move forward if you’re worried about what’s lurking in your inbox. That’s where Data443 Cyren comes in. It’s the industry standard for real-time email security and URL filtering. They stop phishing and malware before they strike, so you can focus on your success, not your safety. Don’t let a cyberattack derail your journey. Go to Data443.com today and secure your future.“ Linda Craft Team, Realtors, for more than 39 years the choice of thousands when it comes to real estate. And regardless of where you live you can meet with them virtually. They have been on the cutting edge of technology helping people around the world finding the very best professionals to help sell or buy a new home. Their clients call their customer service “legendary”. Maybe it’s their ability to negotiate on your behalf? Or Maybe it’s because they are relentless to find you the right home? Perhaps it’s because they know what it takes to get the most money from your home for sell? You can find out why by going to www.LindaCraft.com Stop Performing. Start Dominating You weren’t built to play it safe. You already know what average looks like. You’ve watched it sit in meetings, nod along, and clock out at five. You’ve seen it settle for “good enough” and call it a career. And something inside you — maybe it’s quiet, maybe it’s screaming — refuses to accept that as your ceiling. That’s not ambition. That’s your signal. The distance between where you are and where you know you’re capable of being isn’t talent. It isn’t luck. It’s the space between knowing what to do and actually executing at the level your potential demands. And that gap? It doesn’t close on its own. The Truth Nobody Tells High Performers Here’s what the leadership books leave out: the strategies that got you here won’t get you there. The habits, the mindset, the way you manage your energy and your influence — all of it needs to evolve. Not because you’re broken. Because you’re ready for more. Every elite athlete has a coach. Every world-class CEO has an advisor in their corner. Not because they’re weak — because they understand that the highest performers on the planet don’t go it alone. What Changes When You Stop Going It Alone Working with an executive performance coach isn’t about fixing problems. It’s about unlocking the version of you that operates with total clarity, relentless focus, and the kind of presence that shifts the energy in every room you walk into. Imagine making decisions faster — and with more confidence. Leading teams that don’t just follow you, but run through walls for you. Waking up on Monday with the same fire you feel on Friday night when you’re planning your next move. That’s not fantasy. That’s what happens when you get serious about your performance. Your Move You’ve read this far for a reason. That reason matters. Don’t let this be another article you agree with and forget by tomorrow. Take the first step right now: 📞 Book a free discovery call — Let’s talk about where you are, where you want to be, and what’s standing in the way. Visit www.jayizso.com to schedule your session. ✉️ Send me a direct message — Not ready for a call? No problem. Reach out at jay@thecoachjay.com and tell me what’s on your mind. Every conversation starts somewhere. The only thing standing between you and your next level is the decision to stop waiting. Make it today. Jay Izso is an Executive Performance Coach who works with driven professionals ready to break through to their next level of leadership, influence, and impact. Learn more at www.jayizso.com.

April 9, 20261 hr 0 min

85% of Goals Fail. Demolish Your Comfort Zones

Are You Truly Aware of the Comfort Zones that are Killing Your Success? Are you living under the illusion that you know what you want, when you’re actually just chasing what you’re supposed to want? Research shows that a staggering 85% of people don’t believe their current goals will lead to any significant accomplishments. In this episode on A New Direction, Art Turock, author of Demolish Your Comfort Zones, returns to help you break that cycle. We’re exposing the “ready-made” goals that keep you trapped in mediocrity and showing you how to pursue the heartfelt, uncomfortable objectives that actually move the needle. We are diving deep into Art’s “6 Freedom Practices to demolish your comfort zones” to help you shift from mere interest to a “No Matter What” commitment. You’ll learn why most people’s version of freedom is actually “fool’s gold” and how true freedom comes from having no choice but to take the actions required for greatness. We will discuss how to silence the “guy on the couch”—that internal victim voice that begs you to stay comfortable—and how to identify the “colossal deceptions” you use to justify missed results. This isn’t just about theory; it’s about tactical execution. We’ll break down how to use “Extreme Accountability” and “Deliberate Practice” to shatter performance plateaus. Art will share the “Red Flag Drill” to stop blame contagion in its tracks and explain how to turn your workplace or home into a hub for “Accountability Contagion.” If you’ve ever felt like you’re hitting a ceiling, it’s likely because you are stuck in your comfort zones, and haven’t yet learned how to turn failure into the fertilizer you need for elite-level growth. Don’t let another 90 days slip by in a state of “unconscious competence” or safety. Join us to ignite your heroic abilities and Demolish Your Comfort Zones, or catch the podcast later to learn the 21 questions that will redefine your identity and your future. Your next level of performance ignites at your next level of truth—it’s time to play big, demolish your comfort zones, and finally discover what your absolute best effort actually looks like. Please thank our sponsors of A New Direction by going to their social media pages liking them and following them. “You tune in to A New Direction to grow your business and your mindset. But you can’t move forward if you’re worried about what’s lurking in your inbox. That’s where Data443 Cyren comes in. It’s the industry standard for real-time email security and URL filtering. They stop phishing and malware before they strike, so you can focus on your success, not your safety. Don’t let a cyberattack derail your journey. Go to Data443.com today and secure your future.“ We all know that buying or selling a home isn’t just a transaction—it’s a major life transition. Whether you’re buying your first place, making room for a new baby, or downsizing for retirement, it can be incredibly stressful. That is why you need the Linda Craft Team, REALTORS. For over 40 years, Linda has been helping people in our community navigate these big life changes. Her team doesn’t just sell houses; they take the stress out of the process so you can focus on your future. Don’t go it alone. Let 40 years of experience work for you. Visit LindaCraft.com. The Missing Piece to Your Success As a business leader or founder, you often carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. You have the vision, the drive, and the strategy, yet sometimes it feels like you are hitting an invisible ceiling. The truth is, the biggest barrier to your company’s growth isn’t usually the market or the economy—it is human behavior. As a Behavioral Strategist, I help you decode the psychological patterns that are silently sabotaging your culture, your execution, and your personal leadership. I don’t just tell you what to change; I help you understand why those behaviors exist so you can finally break through the noise and lead with absolute clarity and confidence. Your potential is limitless, but only if you are willing to look at the human element of your business through a new lens. Stop letting behavioral blind spots dictate your future and start making decisions that align your people with your purpose. If you are ready to stop spinning your wheels and start moving in a new, more profitable direction, let’s have a conversation that will change the way you lead forever. Visit me today at www.jayizso.com or reach out directly to start your transformation at Jay@TheCoachJay.com.

April 1, 202659 min

AI Changed the Sales Game – Here’s How You Win It

AI is not the Enemy…It is Your Ally This week on A New Direction, I’ll be talking with Tim Burrell, author of The AI Negotiator, and this is a conversation that hits right at the heart of where sales is headed. Because let’s be honest—sales has never just been about techniques, scripts, or slick presentations. It has always been about people. It has always been about trust, timing, understanding emotion, and knowing how to connect in a way that makes someone feel seen, heard, and confident enough to move forward. Now AI has entered the room, and the question is no longer whether it will change sales. The question is whether we will use it to become sharper and more human—or lazier and more forgettable. What makes Tim Burrell’s message so compelling is that The AI Negotiator is not really about replacing the salesperson. It is about equipping the salesperson. It is about using AI to think better, prepare better, and communicate with more precision before the conversation ever begins. But here is the truth that makes this so powerful: no matter how smart the technology becomes, people still buy from people they trust. They still respond to authenticity. They still say yes because of emotion and justify it with reason. That is why this conversation matters. Because if AI can help us become more prepared without stripping away our humanity, then it can become one of the greatest tools a salesperson has ever had. During this show, we are going to get into the real tension that every sales professional, entrepreneur, and leader is facing right now. Can AI help you anticipate objections, refine your message, and navigate high-stakes conversations more effectively? Absolutely. But can it also tempt you to sound generic, detached, and just polished enough to lose the very thing that makes people trust you? Absolutely. That is where wisdom comes in. That is where discernment comes in. And that is where the best salespeople are going to separate themselves from the rest—not by using AI to sound smarter, but by using it to become more intentional, more aware, and more effective in the way they serve people. If you are in sales, leadership, business development, or any role where influence matters, this is going to be a conversation worth leaning into. Because this is bigger than technology. This is about the future of persuasion, the psychology of decision-making, and the challenge of staying deeply human in a world increasingly driven by machines. Join us for what promises to be a fascinating and timely conversation with Tim Burrell on The AI Negotiator. This one is not just about closing deals. It is about understanding people, adapting wisely, and learning how to win without losing what makes you powerful in the first place. Tim Burrell’s book, “The AI Negotiator: Dominate Real Estate Deals With The Power Of Artificial Intelligence” is a fantastic exploration how AI can be an ally to you, and not the adversary. As Tim points out, being successful in sales is being human. Especially in the real estate industry, where people have made a large financial and emotional purchase. Tim introduces to many AI platforms beyond the big 3 we all know so well. Many of these platforms can do everything from analyzing, texts, and conversations, and be able to fairly reliably identify personalities, the motivation for the buyer (or seller), what their fears and concerns may be, and so much more! What I found so terrific about this book is that at the end of the day as great as AI is, it really cannot replace the human connection. While AI can give us deeper information it still cannot have a soul to soul connection. It really cannot give us “empathy”. It may say the right words, but it cannot truly know what another’s feelings may be. I love the balance of this book. It encourages AI usage. Doesn’t disparage it. Treats AI as a partner. But even with all the advances, and as much as it will advance. Sales negotiations are about communicating effectively, creating a collaborative experience where both buyer and seller can create a win-win. Humanity wins in the end! Get your copy of The AI Negotiator by clicking here! We are so grateful for our sponsors here on A New Direction. Please reach out to them! “In a digital world, your inbox is the front line. Is yours defended? Data443 Cyren provides next-generation anti-phishing and threat detection that works instantly in the cloud. It’s the invisible shield that keeps your business running smoothly while blocking the chaos outside. Protect what you’ve built. Head over to Data443.com and get protected today.” Linda Craft Team, Realtors –www.LindaCraft.com Linda Craft & Team Facebook Page – Click Here No matter where you are at in the world for more than 39 years Linda Craft Team, Realtors have been helping people sell and buy their homes. Completely locally owned and operated and independent. They know how to take the stress out of your life transition of buying and selling a home. Head on over to LindaCraft.com The Missing Piece to Your Success As a business leader or founder, you often carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. You have the vision, the drive, and the strategy, yet sometimes it feels like you are hitting an invisible ceiling. The truth is, the biggest barrier to your company’s growth isn’t usually the market or the economy—it is human behavior. As a Behavioral Strategist, I help you decode the psychological patterns that are silently sabotaging your culture, your execution, and your personal leadership. I don’t just tell you what to change; I help you understand why those behaviors exist so you can finally break through the noise and lead with absolute clarity and confidence. Your potential is limitless, but only if you are willing to look at the human element of your business through a new lens. Stop letting behavioral blind spots dictate your future and start making decisions that align your people with your purpose. If you are ready to stop spinning your wheels and start moving in a new, more profitable direction, let’s have a conversation that will change the way you lead forever. Visit me today at www.jayizso.com or reach out directly to start your transformation at Jay@TheCoachJay.com.

March 26, 202657 min

Stop Networking More – Start Networking Smarter

Stop Networking More — Start Networking Smarter What if the secret to growing your business wasn’t more connections — but *fewer*? This week on *A New Direction with Coach Jay Izso*, I sit down with David Ackert, Co-Founder and CEO of PipelinePlus and one of the most respected business development minds in the professional services world. Over the past two decades, Ackert has pioneered revenue acceleration programs for hundreds of professional services firms worldwide, and he’s bringing all of that hard-won wisdom to the show. When it comes to business development, professionals often struggle — not from a lack of opportunities, but from not knowing where to focus their attention. And it all starts with their networking. David’s Amazon bestselling book, *The Short List*, tackles that exact problem head-on. With countless LinkedIn connections and cluttered CRM databases, the real question becomes: “What is the best use of my time?” David’s answer is elegant, powerful, and completely counterintuitive to how most people think about networking. *The Short List* delivers a clear, actionable networking guide to identifying the people you need to prioritize and the techniques you can use to nurture those relationships into career catalysts — with a step-by-step plan and easy-to-use exercises for both newcomers and seasoned rainmakers alike. At the heart of the method is a very specific, curated list of people you want to stay in contact with — grouped into deliberate buckets and rated by factors like chemistry and potential for genuine collaboration. This isn’t just networking theory — it’s a proven networking system. *The Short List* is a Gold Winner of the 2025 Nonfiction Book Award, and David has lectured at USC’s Marshall School of Business, Carnegie Mellon, and UCLA School of Law. But beyond the accolades, this is a man whose life’s work is about the power of investing deeply in the right people — professionally *and* personally. Don’t miss this conversation. Learn how and who exactly deserves a spot on *your* short list. David Ackert’s book, “The Short List: How to Drive Business Development by Focusing on the People Who Matter Most” is the most practical applicable networking book I have ever read! The Short List is filled with great research, and diamonds of how to network. It is not just a networking book, it is a book that will help you network with the right people that you can collaborate with that will ultimately become a win-win for both of you. The exercises in this book are fantastic. Each exercise, will help you reevaluate your networking, build a better network, a more efficient network, maintain the network, and sets you up for success at any level. A word of CAUTION. This book requires you to truly rethink not only how you are networking, but who you are networking with. It’s going to definitely require not only a change of your mindset, but your behavior and actions. If you believe that networking should be strictly transactional think again. As David Ackert explains it is about developing real relationships with the right people. Then truly investing in those relationships not to simply help you, but that you can help each other. Fantastic book! Highly recommend. Get your copy of The Short List by clicking here. We are so grateful for the financial support of the sponsors of A New Direction. Please go to their websites and thank them. Even going to their social media pages and giving them a LIKE would be awesome! One click. That’s all it takes for ransomware or phishing to shut your business down. Stop the threat at the source with Data443 Cyren. Powered by the world’s most robust threat intelligence network, Cyren detects and blocks attacks in real-time—protecting your data, your employees, and your reputation. Stop hoping you’re safe, and start knowing you’re safe. Visit Data443.com right now to see the solution in action.“ Linda Craft Team, REALTORS, their clients say that their customer service is “legendary” and the reason for that is because for more than 40 years they build and maintain personal relationships with their clients. Why? Because buying and selling of a house is a great deal more than a business transaction, it is a life altering experience. That’s because we don’t just live in a home, some of our most significant memories will be made in that home. The Linda Craft Team are dedicated to taking care of your memory maker as if it were their own. Whether you are about to purchase a new home, or sell your current home, start with the relationship legends. Start with Linda Craft Team, Realtors – www.LindaCraft.com The Missing Piece to Your Success As a business leader or founder, you often carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. You have the vision, the drive, and the strategy, yet sometimes it feels like you are hitting an invisible ceiling. The truth is, the biggest barrier to your company’s growth isn’t usually the market or the economy—it is human behavior. As a Behavioral Strategist, I help you decode the psychological patterns that are silently sabotaging your culture, your execution, and your personal leadership. I don’t just tell you what to change; I help you understand why those behaviors exist so you can finally break through the noise and lead with absolute clarity and confidence. Your potential is limitless, but only if you are willing to look at the human element of your business through a new lens. 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