Why Great Strategy Still Fails in Execution

Rethinking a Major Business Expense

Employee benefits continue to rank among the largest business expenses, yet many employers still find themselves asking the same questions every renewal season. In this episode, Butch Zemar, Founder of Elite Benefits of America, shares how more than two decades in the industry have shaped his perspective on rising healthcare costs, employer challenges, and the evolving landscape of employee benefits. Drawing from his experience as a business owner, Butch shares the leadership mindset that has guided his company, from adapting to change and building effective systems to staying focused on long term results. It is a practical conversation about one of the biggest expenses businesses face and why the way leaders approach it can have a lasting impact on their organization. Midway Business Podcast is powered by Elite Benefits of America, helping employers protect resources, empower people, and drive results through smarter employee benefits strategies. Learn more at elitebenefits.net.

What Eight Years Behind Home Plate Taught a CEO

Every business owner wants better results, but few stop long enough to ask whether the real advantage comes from smarter decisions instead of working harder. In this conversation, Jack Oujo, Financial Advisor, Author of “Too Smart to Be an Umpire”, and Founder of Oujo Wealth Strategies, shares how lessons learned under pressure on the baseball field shaped a career leading nearly a billion dollars in assets under management. Sometimes the biggest challenge in business is realizing your calendar has been making executive decisions without your permission. From leadership and culture to client experience, hiring, planning, and preparing for uncertainty, this episode explores what separates businesses that continue to grow from those constantly reacting. If you lead a company and believe better judgment creates better outcomes, this conversation delivers practical perspectives that every executive can appreciate without pretending business success comes from luck. Midway Business Podcast is powered by Elite Benefits of America, helping employers protect resources, empower people, and drive results through smarter employee benefits strategies. Learn more at elitebenefits.net. To learn more about Jack Oujo, visit oujowealth.com or connect with him on LinkedIn.

The Hard Truth About Scaling a Business Faster

This episode challenges one of the biggest myths in business that there is a faster, easier path to success. Through stories from running a 50 mile ultramarathon and building a growing company, the conversation explores why so many leaders spend years chasing shortcuts that quietly cost them more time, money, and opportunity. Sometimes the biggest obstacle to growth is not the market. It is the person signing the checks. Whether you lead 5 employees or 5,000, this discussion uncovers why companies repeat the same patterns, why consultants often see problems owners cannot, and why doing the right work beats doing more work. Your business may not need another quick fix. . . it may just need a leader willing to stop arguing with the mirror. Midway Business Podcast is powered by Elite Benefits of America, helping employers protect resources, empower people, and drive results through smarter employee benefits strategies. Learn more at elitebenefits.net.

Lead Better, Think Smarter, Grow Faster

Tori DaCosta, Founder of Journey Stone LLC and author of  “No Name Bastard: How Our Lives Teach Us What We Can Control, Manage, and Influence”, joins Midway Business Podcast for a conversation that every business leader eventually needs to have. Growth is not always limited by strategy or market conditions. Sometimes the biggest obstacle is sitting in the corner office. The good news is your toughest employee might also be your easiest one to coach. This episode explores why leadership starts long before the boardroom, how today's business environment is reshaping the way leaders connect with their teams, and why the businesses that continue to grow are often led by people willing to grow first. If you are looking to strengthen culture, improve decision making, and prepare your organization for what comes next, this conversation offers a fresh perspective that belongs on every executive's playlist. Midway Business Podcast is powered by Elite Benefits of America, helping employers protect resources, empower people, and drive results through smarter employee benefits strategies. Learn more at elitebenefits.net. To learn more about Tori DaCosta, visit journeystone.com or connect with her on LinkedIn.

Growing Your Business Starts With Letting Go

Every leader says they need more time, yet somehow the calendar keeps winning. This episode explores why growth often stalls long before revenue does, and why the real bottleneck may not be your workload at all. If your desk has become the company headquarters for every decision, this conversation might feel surprisingly familiar. Guest Rachel Davila, Founder of Extra Hands Virtual Assistance, shares why successful delegation is about far more than handing off tasks. She explains how the right support system can help leaders think bigger, build smarter operations, and create room for the work that actually moves the business forward. Sometimes the biggest promotion a CEO can give themselves is removing their name from their own to do list. To contact Rachael Davila with Extra Hands! Virtual Assistance: rachael@extrahandsva.com [rachael@extrahandsva.com] or extrahandsva.com Midway Business Podcast is powered by Elite Benefits of America, helping employers protect resources, empower people, and drive results through smarter employee benefits strategies. Learn more at elitebenefits.net.