The Leader Mentality

Hosted by Rob Clemons

Business Management Education

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Episodes

122

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

We interview leaders across industries to see what drives and inspires them. Our goal is to humanize the person/business behind the successAmong recurring topics:-What Leaders are Inspired By-Leadership in sports and marketing with NASCAR driver Bryant Barnhill-Teal Today: A spotlight on successful Coastal Carolina University faculty, students, alumni, and other affiliates

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 20, 202632 min

What If The Next Big Opportunity Is Home

Myrtle Beach is changing fast, and if you still think it’s only a hot summer beach town, you’re missing the real story. We sit down with Denielle Van Dyke, Public Relations Manager for Visit Myrtle Beach, to talk about what’s driving the area’s momentum across the Grand Strand and why the “shoulder seasons” can be the best time to experience it. From new development to local traditions, we get practical about what visitors can actually do and what locals often overlook. We dig into the engine behind the growth: destination marketing and public relations. Denielle breaks down how PR teams build relationships with national media, how those one-on-one meetings turn into earned coverage, and what makes a pitch land. We also talk major events like Carolina Country Music Fest (CCMF), the buzz around bringing in another festival, and how national recognition can put Myrtle Beach tourism in a bigger spotlight. Then we go deeper than travel tips. Denielle shares her career path from marketing to thriving in communications, what it’s like to chase opportunity in a city like Nashville and return home, and how working parent life forces you to get organized fast. We wrap with a simple marketing truth that applies to cities, brands, and careers: don’t make your “why” a mystery, make it clear and consistent. If you’re planning a trip, building a marketing career, or just curious about where Myrtle Beach is headed, this conversation gives you real context and real takeaways. Subscribe for more, share this with a friend who loves Myrtle Beach, and leave a review with your favorite local spot so we can add it to our list.

August 13, 202634 min

How A Myrtle Beach Coffee Truck Built Momentum

A lot of people say they want to “start a business someday” until they realize the hardest part is the quiet beginning, when the product is ready but the calendar is empty. We talk with Carlee Martin, founder of Kei Coffee Company in Myrtle Beach, about what it really takes to get traction in year one and why momentum usually comes from doing the uncomfortable basics over and over. If you’re thinking about entrepreneurship, a coffee truck is the perfect case study because every win and mistake shows up immediately in sales, bookings, and repeat customers. We get into how Carlee fills her schedule with farmers’ markets, school pop-ups, and festivals, and how social media marketing actually works when it’s done with personality instead of hype. She shares the behind-the-scenes reality of posting consistently, riding local word of mouth, and even showing up in person to ask for a spot when there’s no obvious application. We also talk differentiation: why a unique Kei truck brand and a “fun, real, human” vibe can be a stronger marketing asset than another polished ad. Then we go deep on the unglamorous stuff that keeps a small business alive: using scalable systems like Square POS, setting minimums for events so you don’t lose money, and pricing with a spreadsheet instead of feelings. Carlee breaks down why a $7 specialty latte isn’t just a number, it’s cost of goods, tax, fuel, insurance, time, and the difference between surviving and burning out. We wrap with the truth every owner learns fast: you don’t trade one boss for none, you trade one boss for hundreds, and you have to protect your personal life if you want the business to last. Subscribe for more real-world leadership and entrepreneurship conversations, share this with someone building their first business, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

August 6, 202647 min

What If The Scariest Jump Is The Right One

One decision can change everything, especially the decision to start over when your pride wants you to stay put. From the “busy person problem” that keeps great conversations on hold to the deeper problem of fear and indecision, we sit down with Ruthie Le May for a candid, high-energy story about leadership, continuous learning, and rebuilding when life hits hard. Ruthie shares what it’s like to be labeled a leader early, chase the “right” path, and then walk away from it anyway. We talk military structure and why it can both shape you and pigeonhole you, plus the gut-level moment when you realize a prestigious track is not your track. Then we get into corporate intensity, including her experience at PwC, the aftershocks of 9/11, the Enron collapse, and how fast a job can disappear when global events shift the ground under your feet. From there, the conversation turns to entrepreneurship, the property boom mentality, and the real-world trauma that can follow a financial crash. Ruthie explains why changing your environment can be the reset button you need, how a mentor’s nudge brought her to Myrtle Beach, and why talking things out, including therapy, can turn chaos into clarity. We also connect the dots to her media career and the skills that carry into her work today, including stepping into real estate with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Coastal Real Estate in Market Common and finally owning her brand. If you’re navigating a career pivot, a leadership transition, or a fresh start, hit play, subscribe, and share this with someone who needs a nudge. After you listen, what’s one jump you know you’ve been avoiding?

July 30, 202648 min

Is Failure The Missing Requirement For Success

A lot of people say they want to “get into the trades” or “start a business,” but almost nobody talks about the unglamorous details that decide whether you last. We sit down with Jack Blommel, owner of Surfside Window and Door, and dig into what it’s like building real credibility as a young entrepreneur in construction while still learning, hiring, training, selling, and delivering work that holds up years later. We start with the nuts and bolts of the window and door world because homeowners feel the consequences: why some large door systems sag over time, why header deflection matters, and what it means when a system is top-hung versus bottom-supported. We also talk indoor-outdoor living, porch enclosures, Myrtle Beach pollen, and the overlooked screen issues that can make an expensive door feel like a compromise. Then we zoom out to workforce development and leadership. Jack shares what he learned from structured training environments, why repetition matters, and why young people often leave the trades when they don’t get coached into real skill and real pay. We also break down a practical sales process built on expertise: ask what the homeowner wants, ask for a budget range early, and match the right product and scope without wasting anyone’s time. If you’ve been thinking about starting a business, hiring your first crew, or tightening up your sales process, this conversation will give you tactics you can use right away. Subscribe, share this with someone building their career, and leave a review with the biggest lesson you took from it.

July 23, 202632 min

You Can Make A Difference Starting Today

Someday is a comforting word until you realize you don’t get to schedule your own halftime. From Myrtle Beach, we sit down with local author Cary Rowell for a straight-talking conversation about career change, leadership, and the kind of purpose that doesn’t wait for retirement or a bigger bank account. Cary shares his own path from the building supply industry to financial services and then into writing his book, Significance Now. We unpack what it looks like to plan the next 20 years with intention, especially in the “fourth quarter” of life, and why productivity and passion don’t disappear when your main job ends. We also talk leadership as a trait, not a title, including Cary’s analytical, task-driven leadership style and how you earn buy-in by showing people the “why” behind the plan. The heart of the conversation is the difference between success and significance. Success can still feel hollow when you finally reach the goal, so we dig into a better target: serving others through your gifts. Cary breaks down how to find your calling by aligning your talents and passions, why “competence” isn’t the endgame, and how everyday people can make a massive community impact starting today. If you’re searching for purpose, considering a career pivot, or trying to lead with more meaning, this one will challenge you in the best way. Subscribe, share this with someone who’s in a transition, and leave a review with the biggest takeaway you’re applying this week.

July 16, 202644 min

How Echo Helps Veterans Escape Living Without Housing, Work, And Dignity

A single mistake can feel like a life sentence, especially when addiction, eviction, or a criminal record shuts every door in your face. From Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, we sit down with Joey Smoak, CEO of Echo (Eastern Carolina Housing Organization), to talk about what actually helps people climb back into stability and why “just get a job” is often the least informed advice we give. Joey shares his own recovery story with painful honesty, including the moment he knew he had to change, and how that experience shaped Echo’s culture of peer support and direct accountability. We get into the stigma behind the word “homelessness,” the reality of approaching landlords with tenants who have evictions or felonies, and why restoring dignity matters. Sometimes progress starts with the basics: a safe bed, chef-prepared meals, a haircut, clean presentation, and a case manager who treats you like a person instead of a problem. We also go deeper into the policy side of supportive housing: HUD and VA funding, compliance, performance data, and the national debate around Housing First versus service participation. Joey explains why a key to an apartment does not automatically solve substance use, mental health, or trauma, and how Echo tries to build a full path from crisis housing to transitional stability to permanent housing and even homeownership. If you care about veteran homelessness, addiction recovery, nonprofit leadership, or real-world solutions to the housing crisis, this conversation will challenge you in the best way. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs hope or direction, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.

May 21, 202622 min

What If Generations Are Your Advantage

Four generations are working side by side right now, and a lot of leaders are still trying to manage that reality with stereotypes and frustration. We sit down with Nick DeStefano to talk about leading across generations in a way that actually improves communication, accountability, and team performance, whether you’re managing in an office, on a jobsite, or running your own business. We start by calling out the real problem: lack of acceptance. “Boomers can’t do tech” and “millennials don’t work hard” are lazy shortcuts that keep you from seeing the person in front of you. We walk through common generation ranges (Gen Z, millennials, Gen X, baby boomers), why those labels can be helpful without becoming a box, and how cusp groups remind us that people are always more nuanced than a chart. From there we get practical about leadership in a multigenerational workplace: pull strengths from each group, put people in roles that match what they do well, and encourage cross-generation learning. We talk Gen Z’s drive for efficiency and flexibility, the value of face-to-face communication, and why purpose-driven work is not a weakness. We also connect generations to defining events (JFK, Challenger, 9-11, COVID) to build empathy for how different formative experiences shape trust, risk, and work expectations. Subscribe to the Leader Mentality Show, share this with a manager who needs it, and leave a review if it helps. What’s the toughest generational gap you’re trying to lead through right now?

May 14, 202628 min

How To Empower Your Team With Clear Guardrails

Most leaders say they want to “empower the team,” but what they really mean is “please read my mind and don’t mess this up.” We get honest about why empowerment becomes a buzzword, why it often fails, and what it looks like when it actually works in the real world. Along the way, we share a few stories that ground the conversation, from kindness and awareness to the Kentucky Derby reminder that underdogs can win when the work happens behind the scenes. Our core point is simple: empowerment is not anarchy. If you want people to make smart calls without you hovering, you have to give them guardrails. We talk about building constructs that define what is always acceptable, what is never acceptable, and where there is room for judgment. Then we take it deeper with guiding principles that make decisions easier in the moment, whether you lead a small business, manage a department, or run a growing organization that lives or dies by customer experience. We also dig into the part leaders forget: recognition and belief. Feedback matters, but people take real initiative when they know we believe in them, not just when they follow a checklist. That includes putting the right people in the right seats and letting strengths drive performance. Nick shares why the Savannah Bananas are a great model: a clear Fans First mission, strong standards, and the freedom for players to bring their unique talents to the experience. If you want a team that thinks, cares, and acts like owners, this one will give you a clear framework to start using today. Subscribe to the show, share it with a leader who needs it, and leave a review with the guardrail or guiding principle you want to strengthen next.

May 7, 202633 min

Accountability Starts When You Define The Standard

We break down what a real culture of accountability looks like and why the best organizations make expectations so clear that people can hold themselves to the standard. We share stories and practical tools to help leaders build clear values, defined behaviors, and teams that own the mission instead of blaming each other. • using top customer experience brands as culture models • treating accountability as a byproduct of shared vision and values • defining what “great” looks like in plain language • connecting every role to the mission and outcome • giving tough feedback with the goal of growth • modeling accountability by owning mistakes first as leaders • building culture fit through better hiring and onboarding • setting clear duties while still helping across the team • rejecting the “not my job” mindset as a career limiter Make sure to like us and share us on your social media of choice

April 30, 202629 min

The Backwards Shirt Test For Real Leadership

What if your title disappeared tomorrow, would your team still follow you? That question drives our conversation about leading through influence instead of leaning on authority. We talk about why “because I’m the manager” can get compliance but rarely earns commitment, and how the best leaders leave people better than they found them through consistent actions, not louder commands. We also share a personal story that turns into a leadership lesson: Nick wears a polo shirt backwards throughout April to raise awareness and acceptance for autism. It’s a reminder that you can’t always see what makes someone different, and great leadership starts with curiosity over judgment. From inclusive leadership to everyday workplace culture, we explore how small choices can create safer, kinder teams where people feel respected and understood. Then we get practical for managers, supervisors, and team leads. We break down the habits that build real influence: empathy and emotional intelligence, extending trust early, creating a common vision, and being the standard you expect from others. If you’re trying to improve employee engagement, strengthen team performance, or grow as a leader without becoming “the boss nobody wants,” you’ll leave with clear takeaways you can use immediately. If this helped you, subscribe, share it with a manager who needs it, and leave a review. What’s one thing a leader did that made you trust them more?