Leading is Serving Episodes

In our latest episode, look at the vital role of identifying our personal 'why' and its impact on our personal and entrepreneurial choices. We look at discovering the relationship between our hobbies and professions as well as finding balance between our passions and profits. We also consider the value of feedback and introduce you to an innovative method, '25 in 25,' to pinpoint your core purpose. Listen in as we underline the importance of staying aligned with our ‘why’ even in the middle of d...

In today's podcast, our hosts, Chris and Jason, explore the art of dealing with the unexpected curveballs in business and life. They discuss the importance of staying steadfast and visionary amidst challenges, drawing parallels with their experiences as busy parents during summer. The conversation steers toward the cultural shift caused by COVID and how it has impacted businesses. They share personal anecdotes and valuable lessons gained through trials on their journey as entrepreneurs, emphasiz...

In this vital episode of "Know Yourself to Lead Yourself," we dive deep into the power of understanding ourselves for better leadership and business growth. Discover strategies to overcome the curveballs of life, harness your tendencies for positive outcomes, and crack the code for managing stress, procrastination, and risk-taking. In a rapidly evolving world, honing self-awareness equips you to be an effective, compassionate leader who inspires others on their growth journey. Topics discussed:...

Not many of us enjoy leading through change. It's part of the journey as a leader to either respond to change guiding our teams and organization or to anticipate and orchestrate change. Change is one of those true tests of leadership. So where do we start? How to we even begin to process the next steps and anticipate any resistance we might encounter. We jump back into the archives today to episodes 20 and 21 where we talk about the process of change and overcoming resistance. Tune in to find so...

Ever wondered what it takes to be a great leader? Today, Chris and Jason finish up the series on 4 types of leaders: Liberating, Protecting, Dominating, and Abdicating leaders. We explore how the Liberating Leader is the most effective one, as they support and challenge their team to achieve success. On the other end of the spectrum, an Abdicating Leader creates disengagement in their team and can lead to high turnover rates. Chris and Jason discuss how effective communication is essential for l...

Are you a leader who struggles with balancing expectations, deadlines, and relationships? Check out this episode of Leading is Serving, where we dive into the four types of leaders - specifically the Dominating leader. Dominating leaders crush their deadlines and expectations, but can fall short when it comes to building a culture of trust and celebrating achievements. We explore different leadership tendencies, from nurturers and connectors to pioneers and guardians. We discuss how too much of...

Today, we introduce a mini-series on the four types of leaders. The four types are abdicating, liberating, protective, and dominating, with this episode focusing on the protective leader. We discuss how protective leaders are supportive and relational, but may struggle with communicating expectations, deadlines, and challenges. We also mention how important finding the balance between support and challenge is for leaders. The next episode will focus on the dominating leader and how finding the b...

Today, hosts Chris Wood and Jason Kempf discuss the crucial but challenging transition from working in a business to working on it. They candidly point out the difficulties of embracing this shift and highlight how this journey is often growing slowly rather than just arriving instantly. They delve deeper into important topics such as communication, self-awareness, delegation, and leading oneself before leading others. The hosts also stress the importance of taking baby steps towards personal gr...

If you're looking for inspiration, motivation, and a fresh perspective on leadership and service, then you don't want to miss this episode. In this podcast, you'll hear from Jeremy Pell, the fire chief of White River Township, as he shares his personal story of finding purpose through a life of service. From his humble beginnings as a volunteer firefighter to his current role as fire chief, Pell has learned valuable lessons about leadership, mentorship, and the power of community. In this episod...

Hey there leaders! Feeling a little overwhelmed trying to juggle the ins-and-outs of your biz? Ever feel bombarded by advice from gurus, books, and coaches? Chris and Jason got you covered with a discussion on how to navigate it all. Tune in to our latest episode where we talk about our own experiences and explore changing our mindsets in order to build a thriving business. They dive into what it means to be a strategic hustler, lay the groundwork for success, and choose the right people for y...

Feeling stuck in your career and not sure where to go from here? Then this episode of the Leading is Serving Podcast is perfect for you! Join Jason and Chris as they chat with Dave Maurer, a successful businessman who's discovered his true passion. Dave shares his story of moving to Indianapolis, going to college, and how following his passion and faith over the years has led him through aviation, insurance, Franklin College, and the local Chamber of Commerce. In this episode, he talks about the...

Welcome to this week's episode of Leading As Serving. In today's conversation, Jason & Chris centered on a popular phrase that's often tossed around as a mantra for success: 'Fake it till you make it'. While we've used the phrase before, we realize that it could be misapplied and potentially harmful in some situations. The conversation is centered on the advice that sounds good on the surface but may not be appropriate in reality. Don't miss critical aspects such as the strong code of ethics, k...

Today on the Leading is Serving podcast, you'll hear from Aimee Kandrac, the CEO of What Friends Do, a business that she started in 2007/08 to help a loved one with brain cancer. Aimee takes you on her journey of building her company, providing caregiving services outside of hospital walls, integrating Amazon wishlists, and expanding globally. Learn about the ups and downs of starting a business and hurdling through obtaining venture funding. Aimee also talks about her latest project, the Kitche...

Today, Cris and Jason talked through the hard to embrace aspect of word-of-mouth marketing. How do we affect the results there? We can’t control what others say about our brand, but we sure can influence it through our teams. Tune in to find out more about how we can build our teams and coach them toward greater word of mouth results. Find out more on our website: leadingisserving.com Leading is Serving podcast is hosted by: Chris Wood & Jason Kempf If you have any questions, suggested topic...

Jason and Chris talk with Melahni Ake who is a fellow podcaster, leadership coach, and motivational speaker. She shares her journey to follow her calling, and the role her faith played in guiding her to founding Everyday Leaders. Melahni also discusses the power of showing up for others and encourages people to forget about their own agenda and serve others instead. Join Melahni as she shares her insights and experiences to help people achieve their potential. You can find her at www.everydaylea...

We (Jason & Chris) have grown so much over the past couple of years being a part of peer-to-peer mentoring groups. We meet twice a month with like minded professionals and entrepreneurs to discuss the ins, outs, ups, and downs of business leadership. The Uncommons is launching a network of groups this Spring to help you experience the same encouragement and camaraderie in your leadership journey. Go to www.uncommonsnetwork.com to sign up today! Memberships start at an introductory price of $50/m...

Today, Chris and Jason talk with Erin Smith of Spotlight Strategies and Rock The Block. We talk about her journey from starting her business in her dining room to merging with a good friend, and growing the premier promotional products solution on the south-side of Indianapolis. She’s also the cofounder of one of Greenwood/center grove’s biggest spring events called Rock the Block. Runners from all over come to complete a 5K, while representing and raising funds for nonprofits here in the area. ...

We’ve asked the question of what is like to be on the other side of you. You know, what’s it like to experience your own leadership? So, we take it a step further and ask you to put yourself in the shoes of the people you serve. What are the core values that you try to emulate through your work and do people actually experience your work in the way you desire? It’s a hard look, but well work the effort to evaluate just where we’re at. Find out more on our website: leadingisserving.com Leading...

Today, Chris and Jason reflect on the journey of leadership. We’d like to belive that growth is just a steady motion upward. But the reality is often so much different (and actually like real life). The journey is more like a roller coaster with all kinds of unexpected thrills, fears, twists, and turns. To see our growth, we have to back up and look at the bigger picture where we see our highs getting higher and our lows not being quite as low as before. It’s easy to hate on the lows. But having...

Jason & Chris talk about how the disruption of the past few years has really uncovered the true health of our teams. How do we build teams that will be resilient in the face of disruption? Where do we need to start in order to get our teams aligned, executing, and growing their capacity? Find out more on our website: leadingisserving.com Leading is Serving podcast is hosted by: Chris Wood & Jason Kempf If you have any questions, suggested topics, potential interviews, or just want to know mo...

Chris and Jason review the frustrations we feel in business and talk about how all of those frustrations at the end of the day reveal weaknesses in leadership that we should be paying attention to. We’re pretty sure that every problem is somehow rooted in leadership. We don’t need more leaders, we need more great leaders who are willing to navigate these issues. Find out more on our website: leadingisserving.com Leading is Serving podcast is hosted by: Chris Wood & Jason Kempf If you have an...

Jason & Chris talk today about what it’s like to bring 360 degree leadership even to those above you or on the same level as you. We explore what influence looks like and how we are moving away from authority structures in leadership. Find out more on our website: leadingisserving.com Leading is Serving podcast is hosted by: Chris Wood & Jason Kempf If you have any questions, suggested topics, potential interviews, or just want to know more, contact us at on our website! Music is Disarray b...

Jason & Chris talk today about the many expectations put on us as leaders. We discuss what those might look like and how we can begin to recognize and reset expectations that cause tension in our lives. Find out more on our website: leadingisserving.com Leading is Serving podcast is hosted by: Chris Wood & Jason Kempf If you have any questions, suggested topics, potential interviews, or just want to know more, contact us at on our website! Music is Disarray by Bobo Renthlei on Soundstripe

Chris & Jason talk about how easy it is to compare our journey to others and feel like we just don’t measure up. How do we stop getting on this merry go round that keeps us from moving forward? Join us as we talk about resetting our mindset to better understand our progress. Find out more on our website: leadingisserving.com Find out more on our website: leadingisserving.com Leading is Serving podcast is hosted by: Chris Wood & Jason Kempf If you have any questions, suggested topics, poten...