Beyond Blind Blaming

A merger or acquisition may happen to you, but how you show up is still your choice.Jennifer J. Fondrevay is a former Fortune 500 C-suite executive, founder of Day1 Ready, and bestselling author of Now What? After leading teams through three multi-billion-dollar acquisitions, she now helps leaders and employees navigate the human side of mergers and business transformation.In this episode, Kevin St. Clergy and Jennifer explore why companies underestimate the emotions of change, how acquisition arrogance undermines deals, and how to know, own, and show your value through uncertainty.In this episode, Kevin and Jennifer will discuss:(00:00) Introduction(02:55) Why Jennifer focused on the human side of M&A(04:01) The emotional side companies underestimate(05:27) Why people struggle with uncertainty, not change(09:05) How acquisition arrogance shows up as blame(13:01) Integration debt and the hidden cost of misalignment(14:27) What leading with humanity looks like in practice(17:08) Why new rock stars emerge after a merger(19:54) Know, own, and show your value(22:34) Lessons from Nokia acquiring NAVTEQ(28:54) An exercise to focus effort on what you control(34:12) Role modeling pushback and inviting questionsJennifer J. Fondrevay is the founder and Chief Humanity Officer of Day1 Ready, an M&A advisory practice, and author of Now What? A Survivor’s Guide for Thriving Through Mergers & Acquisitions. A former C-suite executive who lived through three multi-billion-dollar deals, she now writes for Forbes and Harvard Business Review.Connect with Jennifer:Website: https://jenniferjfondrevay.com Resources Mentioned:Now What? A Survivor’s Guide for Thriving Through Mergers and Acquisitions by Jennifer J. Fondrevay: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734111305 The One Thing by Gary Keller: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1885167776 From Stuck to Breakthrough:Ready to break free from what’s holding you back? Join the From Stuck to Breakthrough challenge.This FREE, five-day live experience will help you uncover hidden solutions to your toughest challenges—whether it’s in your business, health, wealth, or relationships.Sign up today at blindblaming.com.

He barely graduated high school and didn’t read his first book until age 27, so how didCorey Poirier end up sharing stages with John C. Maxwell and Deepak Chopra?Corey Poirier is a multi-time TEDx speaker, entrepreneur, and Forbes columnist, and founder of bLU Talks, which helps experts get on stages and into books. A former stand-up comic and door-to-door photocopier salesman, he has interviewed thousands of the world’s top leaders.In this episode, Kevin St. Clergy and Corey explore how speaking builds trust and grows a business, why small wins beat viral moments, and how to hire, reward, and keep the right people.In this episode, Kevin and Corey will discuss:(00:00) Introduction(02:40) Corey’s unlikely origin story(04:52) Tricked into performing stand-up comedy(09:17) Seeing Tony Robbins and discovering paid speaking(12:56) Why success comes from stacking small moments(16:37) Steve Jobs and writing the media’s headline(19:07) Early business lessons, from writing checks to sales(22:55) Scaling bLU Talks and learning to delegate(27:25) Writing job ads that attract the right people(29:27) Rewarding great team members beyond the paycheck(36:11) Investing in yourself through live events and mentors(39:47) The books that changed Corey’s lifeCorey Poirier is a TEDx speaker, a bestselling author, and the founder of bLU Talks. He has shared stages with leaders like Deepak Chopra and Stephen MR Covey. Host of the top-rated ‘Conversations with PASSION’ radio show and Get Paid To Speak, Corey’s impact extends across major networks like CBS, CTV, NBC, and ABC. He's the founder of The Speaking Program and is one of the few leaders to be featured twice on Entrepreneurs on Fire. A columnist with Entrepreneur and Forbes, he has also interviewed over 4,000 of the world’s top leaders.Connect with Corey:Corey’s Website: https://thatspeakerguy.com/ Corey’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/speakercoreypoirier/ Resources Mentioned:How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie: https://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/0671027034Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill: https://www.amazon.com/Think-Grow-Rich-Landmark-Bestseller/dp/1585424331The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy: https://www.amazon.com/Compound-Effect-Darren-Hardy/dp/159315724X   How to Change by Katy Milkman: https://www.amazon.com/How-Change-Science-Getting-Where/dp/059308375X Outwitting the Devil by Napoleon Hill: https://www.amazon.com/Outwitting-Devil-Secret-Freedom-Success/dp/1454900679 The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz: https://www.amazon.com/Four-Agreements-Practical-Personal-Freedom/dp/1878424319   The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs by Carmine Gallo: https://www.amazon.com/Presentation-Secrets-Steve-Jobs-Insanely/dp/0071636080  You Can Work Your Own Miracles by Napoleon Hill: https://www.amazon.com/Work-Your-Miracles-Fawcett-Book/dp/0449911772   Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell: https://www.amazon.com/Buy-Back-Your-Time-Unstuck-ebook/dp/B09Y55GLXJ From Stuck to Breakthrough:Ready to break free from what’s holding you back? Join the From Stuck to Breakthrough challenge.This FREE, five-day live experience will help you uncover hidden solutions to your toughest challenges—whether it’s in your business, health, wealth, or relationships.Sign up today at blindblaming.com. 

If you don’t make the decision to win today, have you already decided to lose?James Whittaker is a bestselling author, executive producer of Think and Grow Rich: The Legacy, and host of the Win the Day podcast. After a decade in financial services, he left Brisbane for Boston, and now helps top companies build a winning mindset into their teams.In this episode, Kevin St. Clergy and James unpack the WIN method of wonder, intent, and nurture, from finding your winning traits to building daily routines, embracing good stress, and using a podcast to grow your business.In this episode, Kevin and James will discuss:(00:00) Introduction(02:14) From finance career to the Win the Day mission(04:21) Breaking down the WIN method(07:05) An exercise to uncover your winning traits(11:27) What motivates employees beyond a paycheck(12:47) Environment and routines that help you win(17:28) Seeking good stress and handling adversity(21:35) The question that changed James’s career path(26:52) Asking loyal clients for referrals the right way(32:03) Podcasting as a content and relationship engine(37:33) How to launch a podcast that lastsJames Whittaker is a three-time bestselling author, award-winning entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and host of the Win the Day podcast, which has over 70 million views. He is an author with The Napoleon Hill Foundation, a speaker for Success Magazine, and the Executive Producer of the multimillion-dollar film, Think and Grow Rich. James specializes in helping ambitious yet frustrated individuals gain clarity on their goals and develop effective plans to achieve them. His mission is to inspire others to adopt the ‘Win the Day’ mentality, empowering them to create meaningful change in their lives and inspire those around them.Connect with James:James’ Website: https://jameswhitt.com/ James’ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JamesWhittaker1Resources Mentioned:James’ Movie, Think and Grow Rich: The Legacy: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5278386/ James’ Book, Think and Grow Rich The Legacy: How the World's Leading Entrepreneurs, Thought Leaders, & Cultural Icons Achieve Success: https://www.amazon.com/Think-Grow-Rich-Legacy-EntrepreneursMindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck: https://www.amazon.com/Mindset-Psychology-Carol-S-DweckDay One App: https://dayoneapp.com/From Stuck to Breakthrough:Ready to break free from what’s holding you back? Join the From Stuck to Breakthrough challenge.This FREE, five-day live experience will help you uncover hidden solutions to your toughest challenges—whether it’s in your business, health, wealth, or relationships.Sign up today at blindblaming.com.

Most healthcare providers have no idea their marketing tools are putting them at serious legal risk – and the companies telling them "you're fine" are the ones with the most to lose.James Corr is Head of Partnerships at Freshpaint, a platform that bridges the gap between patient privacy and digital marketing. With over a decade in measurement and analytics consulting, James has worked across multiple verticals, including healthcare, helping practices navigate complex compliance challenges.In this episode, Kevin and James break down the hidden HIPAA risks in everyday digital marketing tools, from Google Analytics to Facebook pixels, and what private practices must do to protect themselves.In this episode, Kevin and James will discuss:(00:00) Introduction and HIPAA marketing risks overview(02:02) James's background and path to Freshpaint(04:02) Small practice myths about HIPAA compliance(05:09) How advertising pixels create legal exposure(06:36) The future of data privacy laws in the US(08:31) Why BAAs don't fully protect covered entities(11:10) Google Analytics, YouTube, and Maps risks(13:49) What private practice owners often overlook(15:39) Being barred from marketing platforms after violations(17:11) Ambulance chasers targeting healthcare websites(19:33) The four tiers of HIPAA violation penalties(25:48) Why you need a HIPAA-specialist attorneyJames Corr is Head of Partnerships at Freshpaint, a healthcare-focused data privacy platform. With over a decade of experience in measurement and analytics consulting, James has deep expertise helping healthcare organizations navigate the intersection of digital marketing and HIPAA compliance, ensuring patient data is protected without sacrificing marketing performance.Connect with James:Website: https://www.freshpaint.ioLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamescorr1/ From Stuck to Breakthrough:Ready to break free from what’s holding you back? Join the From Stuck to Breakthrough challenge.This FREE, five-day live experience will help you uncover hidden solutions to your toughest challenges—whether it’s in your business, health, wealth, or relationships.Sign up today at blindblaming.com.

Balancing long hours and multiple responsibilities often leaves audiologists and practice owners exhausted, making it difficult to enjoy both work and personal time. After facing her own struggles with unhappiness, Stephanie Harrison discovered the power of positive psychology and its proven strategies for thriving. Realizing this valuable knowledge wasn’t widely accessible, she simplified it for everyday use, aiming to help others lead healthier and happier lives. In this episode, Stephanie joins Kevin to share science-backed tools for reducing stress, finding balance, and building a more fulfilling life and practice.Stephanie Harrison is the creator of the New Happy philosophy, a well-being expert, bestselling author, and speaker. Through her company, The New Happy, she inspires millions worldwide with award-winning tools and resources for cultivating daily happiness. In this episode, Kevin and Stephanie will discuss:(00:00) Introduction (00:52) Understanding Positive Psychology(02:38) Lessons From Transitioning to Entrepreneurship(05:32) Moving Beyond Society’s Idea of Success(10:34) Taking Responsibility for Your Happiness(13:06) The Role of Self-Compassion in Achieving Happiness(16:14) Stephanie’s Four-Step Framework to Living Happily (17:21) How Happiness Prevents Burnout in Audiologists(19:44) Building Stronger Relationships Through Positivity(21:33) Addressing Workplace Negativity in Your Practice(23:52) Why People-First Marketing Wins in Audiology(25:51) How The New Happy Is Redefining Wellbeing(26:50) Unlearning Happiness Myths to Find True Fulfillment(32:24) Using Science and Creativity to Drive GrowthStephanie Harrison is the creator of the New Happy philosophy, a well-being expert, bestselling author, and speaker. Through her company, The New Happy, she inspires millions worldwide with award-winning tools and resources for cultivating daily happiness. Her book, New Happy, reveals that helping others is the key to true happiness. Stephanie shares insights on happiness, culture, and leadership and has been featured in Forbes, Oprah Daily, Harvard Business Review, and more.Connect with Stephanie:Stephanie’s Website: [email protected] Stephanie’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieleighharrison/ Resources Mentioned:Stephanie’s Book, New Happy: Getting Happiness Right in a World That's Got It Wrong: https://www.amazon.com/New-Happy-Getting-Happiness-Right/dp/0593541383From Stuck to Breakthrough:Ready to break free from what’s holding you back? Join the From Stuck to Breakthrough challenge.This FREE, five-day live experience will help you uncover hidden solutions to your toughest challenges—whether it’s in your business, health, wealth, or relationships.Sign up today at blindblaming.com.

Most leaders are blind to the real source of their team's underperformance — and it almost always traces back to them.Dawn Henning-Reeman is a UK-based coach, business consultant, and leadership development specialist with a background as an international field hockey umpire with 85 caps for England and GB. Through her company, DHR Coaching, she helps founders and senior leaders lead with greater clarity, resilience, and self-awareness.In this episode, Kevin and Dawn explore how blind blaming shows up in leadership, why wellbeing directly impacts decision-making, and what it really takes to lead with intention.In this episode:(00:00) Introduction and Dawn's background(03:00) Field hockey umpiring and high-pressure decisions(04:52) Transitioning from sport to leadership consulting(06:12) How blind blaming shows up in leadership(08:19) Distinguishing what leaders can and can't control(09:37) A unique strategy for overcoming procrastination(11:02) How fatigue and sleep affect decision-making(14:06) Why wellbeing is overlooked in high-performance environments(16:04) Self-awareness and the shift to intentional leadership(18:12) Mindset, accountability, and long-term performance(21:06) Why every leader needs a coach(22:52) How Dawn invests in her own growthDawn Henning-Reeman is a UK-based leadership coach, business consultant, and former international field hockey umpire with 85 caps for England and GB. Through her company, DHR Coaching, she delivers evidence-informed coaching focused on leadership effectiveness, wellbeing, sleep, and sustainable performance, helping leaders and organizations build healthier, higher-performing cultures.Connect with Dawn Henning-Reeman:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawnhenningreeman/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dhr_coaching/From Stuck to Breakthrough:Ready to break free from what’s holding you back? Join the From Stuck to Breakthrough challenge.This FREE, five-day live experience will help you uncover hidden solutions to your toughest challenges—whether it’s in your business, health, wealth, or relationships.Sign up today at blindblaming.com. 

What if the real reason your business isn't growing is that you are the bottleneck – and the fix isn't working harder; it's doing less?Erik Sorenson is the founder and CEO of Platinum Partners, a business growth consultancy helping owners double revenue and build businesses that run without them. A former business owner who built and sold companies including HearWorks and Sorensen Advertising, Erik is also a two-time TEDx presenter and published author.In this episode, Kevin and Erik unpack the hustle trap, blind blaming in business, and how AI agents are reshaping what it means to run a company.In this episode:(00:00) Introduction and hustle versus smart growth(02:57) Why business owners stay stuck doing more(05:02) Growing by doing less, not more(06:35) What got you here won't get you there(07:08) The tyranny of how and subconscious limits(10:26) Where blame hides when growth stalls(11:39) Solving the wrong problem perfectly(15:20) Building a full AI workforce for owners(17:22) Agentic AI versus basic AI tools(20:21) The first 90 days with AI agents(23:45) Letting go of the "do it yourself" lie(27:08) What separates owners who build freedomErik Sorenson is the founder and CEO of Platinum Partners, a business growth and coaching platform helping owners across multiple industries scale revenue and build self-running businesses. A two-time TEDx presenter and published author, Erik also builds AI agent workforces that give business owners leverage without adding headcount.Connect with Erik Sorenson:Website: https://www.platinumpartnergroup.com/ Email: [email protected] Resources Mentioned:Ready, Fire, Aim by Michael Masterson: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0470182024 From Stuck to Breakthrough:Ready to break free from what’s holding you back? Join the From Stuck to Breakthrough challenge.This FREE, five-day live experience will help you uncover hidden solutions to your toughest challenges—whether it’s in your business, health, wealth, or relationships.Sign up today at blindblaming.com.

Most entrepreneurs aren't failing because they lack talent – they're failing because they're trying to be everything to everyone.John Lee Dumas, known as JLD, is the founder and host of Entrepreneurs on Fire, an award-winning podcast with over 160 million listens and 4,400+ episodes. A former U.S. Army officer and tank commander, JLD built a multimillion-dollar business by going all in on one niche.In this episode, Kevin and JLD unpack niching down, content creation for local businesses, AI disruption, burnout recovery, and why masterminds are non-negotiable for growth.In this episode:(00:00) Introduction and JLD's background(02:30) From Army officer to entrepreneur(04:06) Finding and owning a blue ocean niche(06:19) Productivity, discipline, and focus explained(08:25) Winning tomorrow by planning today(10:06) Content creation for local private practices(12:46) Why short-form solo content beats interviews(13:32) Building long-term client relationships(15:07) Lifestyle business versus grinding 24/7(18:40) AI disruption and staying competitive(20:11) The mastermind structure that drives growth(23:36) Investing in health to beat burnoutJohn Lee Dumas is the founder and host of Entrepreneurs on Fire, an award-winning daily podcast interviewing the world's top entrepreneurs. A former U.S. Army officer, JLD launched his show in 2012 and has since grown it to over 160 million listens. He is also the author of The Common Path to Uncommon Success, published in 2021.Connect with John Lee Dumas:Website: https://www.eofire.com/Resources Mentioned:The Common Path to Uncommon Success by John Lee Dumas: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1400221099/ Atomic Habits by James Clear: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0735211299 Matt Wolfe's AI YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@mreflow From Stuck to Breakthrough:Ready to break free from what’s holding you back? Join the From Stuck to Breakthrough challenge.This FREE, five-day live experience will help you uncover hidden solutions to your toughest challenges—whether it’s in your business, health, wealth, or relationships.Sign up today at blindblaming.com. 

What if the secret to growing your audiology practice had nothing to do with marketing, and everything to do with purpose?Lisa Earlel McLeod is the author of the bestselling book Selling with Noble Purpose and founder of McLeod & More. She is a keynote speaker and sales leadership expert who has worked with organizations across healthcare, biotech, and beyond.In this episode, Kevin and Lisa unpack why purpose-driven practitioners outperform quota-focused ones, how to humanize technology, and why your team's mindset is your most powerful business tool.In this episode:(03:10) What led Lisa to write Selling with Noble Purpose(05:12) Why caring professionals make more money(06:44) The big disconnect between money and meaning(09:12) Why patient referrals are a leading indicator(11:38) Dispelling the fear around the word "sales"(13:02) The biotech rep story that sparked noble purpose(15:59) Why one patient story changes everything(20:09) Transactional vs. noble purpose organizations(24:04) How practice owners can lead with purpose(29:17) Brain science behind sharing patient stories(31:19) Humanizing technology beyond specs and numbers(36:13) How to create a Noble Sales Purpose for your practiceLisa Earle McLeod is the author of Selling with Noble Purpose and founder of McLeod & More, a sales leadership consultancy. A sought-after keynote speaker, she has helped Fortune 500 companies and healthcare organizations build purpose-driven sales cultures that outperform quota-focused competitors and deliver lasting impact for customers.Connect with Lisa Earle McLeod:Website: https://www.mcleodandmore.com  Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/8126565144 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisaearlemcleod From Stuck to Breakthrough:Ready to break free from what’s holding you back? Join the From Stuck to Breakthrough challenge.This FREE, five-day live experience will help you uncover hidden solutions to your toughest challenges—whether it’s in your business, health, wealth, or relationships.Sign up today at blindblaming.com.

The story that protects you imprisons you. What if the quiet, throwaway lines you repeat about yourself aren't descriptions – they're commands keeping you stuck?Kevin St. Clergy is a speaker, coach, and host of Beyond Blind Blaming. He recently delivered a TEDx talk at Cambridge four years in the making, and coaches practice owners and entrepreneurs to break through the hidden stories that cap their growth.In this solo episode, Kevin unpacks how protective identity stories quietly run our lives – and shares a practical three-step process to name, rewrite, and escape them.In this episode:(00:00) The story that protects you imprisons you(02:39) Identity statements masquerading as facts(03:32) Why your brain is wired to keep you stuck(04:31) Where these stories originally come from(05:15) How self-deprecating humor becomes a lock(07:01) Why identity must change before behavior can(09:34) Step one — name the story out loud(10:17) Step two — divorce the fact from the story(11:26) Step three — build and speak from your to-be list(13:01) The door that opens when the story changesKevin St. Clergy is the host of Beyond Blind Blaming podcast and author of the book "Beyond Blind Blaming." With over 50 episodes interviewing entrepreneurs and thought leaders, Kevin explores how hidden truths hold people back from breakthrough success in business, relationships, and personal growth through systematic questioning and awareness.From Stuck to Breakthrough:Ready to break free from what’s holding you back? Join the From Stuck to Breakthrough challenge.This FREE, five-day live experience will help you uncover hidden solutions to your toughest challenges—whether it’s in your business, health, wealth, or relationships.Sign up today at blindblaming.com.