EP 111: Honest Conversations, Compassionate Leadership, and Real Accountability with Marc Lesser

Traditional leadership models tend to choose between kindness and clarity. Zen teacher and executive coach Marc Lesser argues that’s a false dichotomy.   In this episode, Sarah sits down with Marc to unpack the concept of compassionate accountability — or in Marc’s preferred language, alignment with caring. It’s the core of modern Entrepreneurship and Business leadership: setting clear expectations while staying deeply connected to the humans you work with. Instead of defaulting to micromanagement or passivity, leaders can choose high standards and high trust at the same time, the key to building high performing teams without sacrificing wellbeing.   Marc shares why psychological safety isn’t just a cultural ideal, it’s a metric that correlates directly with business performance. Referencing Google’s Project Aristotle, he explains how teams perform better when leaders normalize mistakes, invite real feedback, and resist the urge to appear infallible. A strong team culture isn’t born from rigid systems or motivational slogans, it comes from leaders modeling vulnerability and follow-through. If you’ve ever wondered how to hold people accountable with compassion, this episode is your roadmap.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Marc Lesser & Compassionate Accountability 02:51 What Compassionate Accountability Looks Like in Leadership 07:19 Misconceptions About Accountability and Compassion 13:14 Vulnerability as a Leadership Strategy 15:02 Google’s Psychological Safety Study & Business Impact 20:01 Emotional Intelligence and Business Performance 24:51 Turning Breakdowns Into Breakthroughs 29:21 How to Hold People Accountable With Compassion 32:05 Leadership Lessons From the Zen Monastery Kitchen 34:06 Prioritizing Joy and Humanity in High-Performing Teams 36:21 Daily Habits to Build Clarity and Trust   Connect with Marc Lesser: Visit Marc’s website   Connect with Sarah Lockwood: Visit HiveCast Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn   Connect with The Conscious Entrepreneur: The Conscious Entrepreneur website  Follow The Conscious Entrepreneur on LinkedIn Follow The Conscious Entrepreneur on Instagram  Subscribe to The Conscious Entrepreneur on YouTube   HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast. Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Entrepreneurship demands resilience, but too many founders rely on pressure and self-criticism as their fuel. Mike Robbins joins Sarah Lockwood to unpack why most business leaders treat self-worth as a scoreboard metric, praising achievement while ignoring wellbeing. He draws a clear line between recognition (results-based approval) and appreciation (inherent value), making the case that positive self-talk is foundational to sustainable leadership.   Mike shares how losing his professional baseball career forced him to confront a brutal truth: he had spent years chasing success without ever appreciating himself along the way. His philosophy of self-compassion isn’t about lowering standards, it’s about upgrading your mindset from harsh critic to effective coach. Entrepreneurs don’t need more pressure; they need healthier internal leadership.   The discussion then turns to feedback, another place where leaders misinterpret signals. Instead of defaulting to defense or shame, Mike suggests receiving feedback with curiosity rather than judgment. That small shift turns critique into growth material instead of evidence of failure.   This conversation reframes business success as an inner game as much as an external one. When wellbeing and performance are treated as allies rather than opposites, leaders become both more effective and more human.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Why Entrepreneurs Struggle with Self-Talk 01:14 The Leadership Mindset Shift 05:41 Mike Robbins’ Baseball Story and the Cost of Self-Judgment 09:34 How to Build Self-Compassion Without Losing Your Edge 14:07 Receiving Feedback Without Crumbling or Getting Defensive 18:37 How to Ask for Better Feedback (and Actually Grow from It) 22:05 Balancing High Performance with Humanity in Leadership 24:10 Evolving as Entrepreneurs Beyond Grit Alone   Links Connect with Mike Robbins: Connect with Mike on LinkedIn Visit Mike Robbin’s Website   Connect with Sarah Lockwood: Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn Visit HiveCast   Connect with The Conscious Entrepreneur: The Conscious Entrepreneur  Follow The Conscious Entrepreneur on LinkedIn Follow The Conscious Entrepreneur on Instagram  Subscribe to The Conscious Entrepreneur on YouTube   HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.   Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Born on whitewater, built in an ammo can, Lavabox is Josh Thurmond’s proof that instinct and grit can power a bootstrapped business that gives back and keeps rivers wild.   What does it take to move from a design patent invention built in your garage to a product company trusted by tens of thousands? How do entrepreneurs balance protecting profits with opportunities for scale? And why might wellbeing and values be just as important as growth when inventing a new product and leading a business?   Josh shares how his background as a river guide shaped his entrepreneurship—reading the rapids, trusting instincts, and steering through uncertainty with purpose. He explains why he turned down multi-million-dollar deals, chose to stay 100% independent, and built Lavabox around authenticity, customer input, and community impact.   This episode offers a candid look at the entrepreneurship of product companies, what it really takes to bootstrap from idea to invention while protecting both your business and your wellbeing.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Josh Thurmond and LavaBox 03:16 The Birth of a Design Patent Invention 06:19 Patent Challenges and Market Strategy 10:25 Turning Down Multi-Million Dollar Deals 14:10 Bootstrapping and Financing a Product Company 19:00 Building a Lifestyle Brand and Company Culture 26:11 Giving Back Through Protect Our Rivers 27:46 Resilience and Advice for Entrepreneurs   Links Connect with Josh Thurmond: Connect with Josh on LinkedIn Visit LavaBox Portable Campfire Connect with Sarah Lockwood: Visit HiveCast Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn   Connect with The Conscious Entrepreneur: The Conscious Entrepreneur  Follow The Conscious Entrepreneur on LinkedIn Follow The Conscious Entrepreneur on Instagram  Subscribe to The Conscious Entrepreneur on YouTube   HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.   Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Employee recognition might sound obvious, but why do so many leaders miss it in practice? Dr. Bob Nelson joins Sarah Lockwood to explains why low-cost recognition ideas often matter more than paychecks or perks when it comes to real employee motivation.    How do you create loyalty from day one with a new hire? What’s the difference between a generic end-of-year award and genuine recognition that lands in the moment? And how can asking employees for their ideas spark both engagement and business growth?   Dr. Nelson brings decades of research and real-world examples to these questions, offering workplace culture tips that work whether you’re leading a small team or a global workforce. He shows that recognition doesn’t have to be expensive, but it does have to feel thoughtful and consistent if you want it to change company culture.   This episode reminds us that company culture is built in the small choices leaders make each day to notice, acknowledge, and value the people doing the work.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Why Employee Recognition Matters   01:52 Common Misconceptions About Recognition   04:07 Onboarding Tips That Build Loyalty   05:52 How Employees Want to Be Recognized   07:45 Low-Cost Recognition Ideas That Work   09:07 Involving Employees in Decision-Making   10:02 Real Examples of Employee Ideas Driving Growth   14:06 The Role of Leadership in Company Culture   16:10 Recognition for Remote and Global Teams   21:28 Continuous Development and Retention     Connect with Dr. Bob Nelson: Visit Dr. Bob Nelson’s Website   Connect with Sarah Lockwood: Visit HiveCast Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn   Connect with The Conscious Entrepreneur: The Conscious Entrepreneur  Follow The Conscious Entrepreneur on LinkedIn Follow The Conscious Entrepreneur on Instagram  Subscribe to The Conscious Entrepreneur on YouTube   HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast. Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Alex Raymond, founder of Amplify and creator of the Conscious Entrepreneur Summit, returns to share what’s happened since he set a bold goal on stage: turning Amplify into a $3M business in two years. Inspired by Dr. Benjamin Hardy’s “10x Is Easier Than 2x” and “The Science of Scaling,” Alex explains how “pathways thinking” has shifted his focus from incremental tasks to operating as if the goal is already achieved.   One of the biggest shifts? Writing his first book, “The Growth Department.” Alex opens up about the discipline, support, and courage it takes to codify his ideas into something meaningful, rather than just another business book. He also shares how building a mastermind after the summit has created accountability, momentum, and a community committed to thinking bigger together.   This conversation raises questions every founder faces: Are you running your business from a place of scarcity or scale? What would change if you truly operated from your goal, not just toward it?   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Introduction and Big Goals 01:25 Pathways Thinking and 10X Growth 02:40 Writing The Growth Department 04:27 Book Timeline and Value Creation 09:58 Delegation and Building Scalable Structures 12:56 Mastermind Group and Accountability 14:53 Using AI as a Thinking Partner 16:28 Community, Momentum, and Entrepreneur Wellbeing 20:50 Lessons from Podcasting and Entrepreneurship   Connect with Alex Raymond: Visit AMplify Connect with Alex on LinkedIn   Connect with Sarah Lockwood: Visit HiveCast Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn   Connect with The Conscious Entrepreneur: The Conscious Entrepreneur  Follow The Conscious Entrepreneur on LinkedIn Follow The Conscious Entrepreneur on Instagram  Subscribe to The Conscious Entrepreneur on YouTube   HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast. Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Sue Heilbronner, serial entrepreneur and conscious leadership executive coach, believes the strongest businesses are built when sales feel less like chasing and more like alignment. Joining Sarah Lockwood in this episode, she introduces the idea of “passionate ambivalence,” a values-based sales mindset that pairs genuine enthusiasm for your work with the ability to detach from any single outcome.   How do you recognize when a client is the right fit? Sue points to conscious client qualification as the key. By asking clear, sometimes disqualifying questions, you invite the kind of honesty that builds trust from the very start. She also shares her perspective on pricing strategy, reminding entrepreneurs that protecting your time and holding your value are essential parts of sustainable growth.   This episode invites you to reflect on your own sales mindset. Are you creating relationships rooted in clarity and confidence, or relying on pressure and persuasion? What would shift if you treated sales as a mutual process instead of a one-sided pitch?   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Radical Mindset Shift in Sales 02:07 Passionate Ambivalence Explained 04:15 Contrarian Sales Mindset vs. Traditional Selling 06:04 Never Ask for the Sale: Practical Examples 10:12 Startup Fundraising and Playing Small 15:08 Pricing Strategy and Early Sales Lessons 19:22 Fit Calls and Client Qualification 27:08 Overcoming Limiting Beliefs in Sales   Connect with Sue Heilbronner: Hey Sue Connect with Sue on LinkedIn    Connect with Sarah Lockwood: HiveCast Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn   Connect with The Conscious Entrepreneur: The Conscious Entrepreneur  Follow The Conscious Entrepreneur on LinkedIn Follow The Conscious Entrepreneur on Instagram  Subscribe to The Conscious Entrepreneur on YouTube   HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast. Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Philanthropy can change the way we think about business when it’s treated as part of the culture rather than an afterthought. How does a company grow stronger when it gives back to the community that supports it? And how can service outside of work shape the kind of leader someone becomes?   Sarah Lockwood talks with Brianna Borin, Chief Operating Officer of Snooze A.M. Eatery, about the lessons she has learned from nearly two decades of weaving community impact into her work. Brianna shares how Snooze’s early days of volunteering at the Denver Rescue Mission set the tone for a company-wide approach that now includes programs like the Changemaker initiative and long-term partnerships with organizations such as Urban Peak. She also reflects on her own leadership development through board service, youth mentorship, and global volunteer experiences that have deepened her sense of personal satisfaction and purpose.   Listeners can learn more about supporting youth experiencing homelessness through Urban Peak’s Urban Nights Kicks & Culture Sneaker Ball at urbanpeak.org/urban-nights. Brianna also recommends Tommy Spaulding’s books, The Heart-Led Leader and The Gift of Influence, which have shaped her vision of philanthropy and leadership. Her story and these resources show how integrating service into business not only builds stronger communities but also creates deeper fulfillment for leaders and their teams.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Philanthropy and Service as a Business Value 02:03 Brianna Borin’s Journey with Snooze A.M. Eatery 06:57 Community Impact Through Grassroots Service 08:50 Partnering with Urban Peak to Support Youth 12:44 The Changemaker Program and Local Giving 18:36 Leadership Development Through Philanthropy 28:45 Lessons from the Global Youth Leadership Academy 34:03 Time, Treasures, and Talent as a Service Framework   Connect with Brianna Borin: Snooze A.M. Eatery Connect with Brianna on LinkedIn   Connect with Sarah Lockwood: HiveCast Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn   Connect with The Conscious Entrepreneur: The Conscious Entrepreneur  Follow The Conscious Entrepreneur on LinkedIn Follow The Conscious Entrepreneur on Instagram  Subscribe to The Conscious Entrepreneur on YouTube   HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast. Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

True fulfillment as an entrepreneur often begins the moment you step outside yourself and give back.   Sarah Lockwood shares a personal reflection on her uncle, Ralph Junker, who quietly gave blood every two weeks for nearly twenty years. It was never mentioned at his funeral or in his obituary, yet it may have been the most defining part of his legacy. What does it mean when the most meaningful acts of service in a life are the ones done quietly, without recognition? And how might those same choices shape who we become as leaders?   This episode invites you to look at philanthropy not as a grand gesture but as a steady practice that creates life satisfaction, perspective, and connection. Inward work like meditation and journaling has its place, but service pulls us into the lives of others and reminds us that leadership is rooted in humanity.   Sarah offers a challenge worth sitting with: what if giving back became a rhythm in your life and your business? It doesn’t have to start big. Maybe it’s a volunteer day, matching donations for your team, or simply stepping in when someone in your community needs help. However it looks, those choices ripple outward, shaping stronger leaders, more grounded teams, and a legacy that speaks louder than words.   Connect with Sarah Lockwood: HiveCast Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn   Connect with The Conscious Entrepreneur: The Conscious Entrepreneur  Follow The Conscious Entrepreneur on LinkedIn Follow The Conscious Entrepreneur on Instagram  Subscribe to The Conscious Entrepreneur on YouTube   HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.   Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Layoffs, furloughs, and rehiring after downsizing are decisions that press on both the head and the heart.   Sarah Lockwood talks with Peggy Shell, the CEO of Creative Alignments, about the reality of leading a team through moments when survival means making choices no leader wants to make. Peggy shares how her company moved from furloughs to layoffs during an economic downturn and what it took to carry the weight of those decisions while still protecting the future of the business. How do you take care of the people who stay after you’ve had to let others go? How much truth should you share when your team is already anxious?   Peggy explains how transparency and steady communication built trust, even in the midst of layoffs, and why she chose approaches like covering health insurance, offering transition periods, and helping people find new roles. She also reflects on the uneasy process of hiring again after downsizing and the challenge of moving forward with confidence when past decisions still weigh heavy.   This episode encourages entrepreneurs to look closely at how layoffs, furloughs, and rehiring after downsizing affect more than just headcount. These moments test the culture of a company, the trust between leaders and their teams, and the resilience of a business when pressure hits. Peggy’s story shows how the choices a leader makes in these situations leave a lasting mark on both the people and the direction of the business.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Introduction and Initial Layoffs 02:16 Fear of Rehiring and Economic Uncertainty 05:31 Conscious Leadership and Transparency in Layoffs 08:01 Furloughs vs. Layoffs 10:09 Handling Layoffs with Compassion and Support 11:14 Retaining A Players and Addressing Survivor Guilt 14:17 Lessons Learned and Building a Stronger Business 16:21 Innovation and Reimagining Company Culture 17:12 Final Takeaways for Leaders Connect with Peggy Shell: Creative Alignments Connect with Peggy on LinkedIn    Connect with Sarah Lockwood: HiveCast Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn Connect with The Conscious Entrepreneur: The Conscious Entrepreneur  Follow The Conscious Entrepreneur on LinkedIn  Follow The Conscious Entrepreneur on Instagram    HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast. Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Annual reviews are broken, and leadership coach Mike Goldman, author of “The Strength of Talent” has a different way to think about performance management that puts people growth at the heart of profit growth.    Joining Sarah Lockwood in this episode, Mike questions why so many organizations still rely on outdated HR metrics and rigid systems like annual reviews or quarterly reviews when so few leaders believe they make a real impact. He introduces the idea of “talent density,” a measure of the gap between high and low performers, and explains why it’s a sharper way to understand organizational health. He walks through his five-step framework that calls for clear expectations, honest assessments done as a team, real leadership accountability, and a balance between productivity and culture fit.    How often do we keep a top producer who quietly undermines the culture? Where is “good enough” quietly slowing the roles that drive a company forward? Mike shares strategies leaders can start using right away, even without company-wide adoption, and explains why a slow, thoughtful rollout builds trust and lasting results. This episode challenges the way performance management is typically done and offers a grounded approach to helping both people and the business grow stronger.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Talent Density Explained 01:51 People Growth Drives Profit 03:55 Assessing Performance Beyond Annual Reviews 06:25 Leadership Accountability for People Growth 08:01 Broken Performance Management System 09:17 Quarterly Talent Assessment Meeting (QTAM) 11:14 Talent Density Indicator (TDI) Overview 14:40 Culture Fit as a Performance Metric 18:45 Roles Where Good Enough Fails 23:06 Applying the System as a Middle Manager 29:01 Change Management and Rollout Strategy   Connect with Mike Goldman: Website Book: “The Strength of Talent”  LinkedIn   Connect with Sarah Lockwood: Website LinkedIn Connect with The Conscious Entrepreneur: Website  LinkedIn  Instagram  YouTube   HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast. Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm