Stay Hungry

80% of AI Projects Are Failing. Here's Why | Ryan Drumheller

Most companies are racing to adopt AI without fixing the basics first. In this episode, Matthew sits down with Ryan Drumheller, founder of Stellar Horn Group and Fractional CIO, to break down why less than 20% of AI projects are actually succeeding and what businesses are getting catastrophically wrong. Ryan shares 20+ years of IT experience including a $764 million acquisition where he uncovered hundreds of thousands of security vulnerabilities, a real horror story of an AI bot retraining itself and deleting an entire company's data, and the leadership philosophy that made his teams stick with him through the hardest projects. They cover AI governance, why "set it and forget it" automation backfires, the rise of fractional executive leadership, and the real reason corporate giants are falling from #1 to #6 after cutting their teams for AI. If you're a founder, business leader, or anyone trying to make sense of the AI hype, this conversation will reset how you think about it. KEY TAKEAWAYS * Less than 20% of AI projects succeed because companies skip the human planning phase and treat AI like set-and-forget automation. * Bad data in means bad results out. Ryan calls it the "mud water" problem and it's why most AI rollouts fail. * Every business adopting AI needs a governance committee, a clear human owner per initiative, and contracts that protect trade secrets from being used to train competitors' models. * The fractional executive model gives small and mid-size companies access to C-level expertise without the C-level price tag. * Real IT leadership means putting people first, quietly building a Plan B when you know the official plan will fail, and remembering that "a little good every day adds up to a lot of good in time." ABOUT THE GUEST Ryan Drumheller is the founder of Stellar Horn Group and a Fractional CIO with over 20 years of IT leadership experience. He has led mergers and acquisitions, technology transformations, and team-building initiatives at companies across industries, with a focus on helping businesses adopt AI the right way. He hosts the Decline Invite Podcast and is finishing his first book on leadership and the IT industry, set to release later this year. CONNECT * LinkedIn: Ryan Drumheller * Website: https://stellarhorn.com * Podcast: The Decline Invite Podcast

Why Hiding Your Secrets is Blocking Your True Potential | Wesley Farnsworth

Most people think freedom from a 20-year addiction comes from sheer willpower. Wesley Farnsworth says it comes from the moment you stop trying to do it alone. In this episode, Matthew sits down with author, speaker, and Unmasked podcast host Wesley Farnsworth to talk about growing up a pastor's kid, the secret he carried for two decades, and the single meeting that broke the chains overnight. They get into community and accountability as the missing piece most people skip, why "I'm done" is the most dangerous thought in recovery, how to hold onto hope when you find yourself back at ground zero, and three practical habits that grew his faith. Wesley also breaks down the North Star framework from his book The Blueprint of Becoming and shares what Christ-like leadership actually looks like in the workplace — open doors, real trust, and treating people like humans, not headcount. Key takeaways * Community and accountability aren't optional — they're scriptural, and they're how chains actually break. * You're never "done" in recovery. The moment you think you've got it is the moment you're closest to a relapse. * When you fall back to ground zero, don't quit — examine what went wrong and reroute the path next time. * Three habits that build faith: change the music you listen to, get into the Word, and treat prayer like a real two-way conversation. * God has to be your North Star. When jobs, relationships, or interests take that spot, your life veers off course. * Lead with an open door. Trust your team, ask for their input before making changes, and you'll get 110% back. * You are not defined by what you've done, what's been done to you, or what others say about you — only by who God says you are. Connect * wesleyfarnsworth.com/start [https://wesleyfarnsworth.com/start] * Unmasked Podcast * Book: The Blueprint of Becoming — https://amzn.to/4nBJMwk [https://amzn.to/4nBJMwk] As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

What If Everything You Know About Lead Generation Is Wrong? | Wes Towers

Most trades and construction brands are leaving money on the table with a sloppy online presence. In this episode, Matthew sits down with Wes Towers, founder of Uplift360 and a 20+ year marketing veteran who specializes in helping trades, builders, and construction brands grow through smarter digital strategy. They break down why the old sales funnel is dead and what to build instead, when to use SEO vs paid ads vs referrals, how to qualify leads before they hit your inbox, and why the safest "shortcut" in SEO is the one that gets you blacklisted by Google. Wes also shares why he runs all the sales himself, how to position against bigger competitors through niching, and what marketing looks like in the AI era when trust and human connection matter more than ever. If you run a trades business, lead a marketing team, or are trying to build something from your garage, this one is packed with practical moves you can use today. ---------------------------------------- KEY TAKEAWAYS * Income follows value — find where the need is greatest and bring more value than anyone else can. * The sales funnel is dead. Think in cycles: clients become referral partners, not endpoints. * Want more leads? Remove form fields. Want better leads? Add them. Move the dials based on what you need. * Overpromising in SEO leads to black hat shortcuts, which leads to Google penalties that can take a year to recover from. * Get yourself in rooms where you don't qualify. That's where the growth happens. ---------------------------------------- CHAPTERS * 00:00 - Introduction * 00:54 - Starting out in graphic design before websites were a thing * 02:36 - Why niching into construction was accidental but powerful * 03:49 - The risk-reward of starting your own company * 05:29 - Building the business around the lifestyle you want * 07:33 - Why construction brands mess up their online presence * 10:47 - SEO vs paid ads vs tenders: choosing the right channel * 13:33 - Why the sales funnel is dead and the cycle model wins * 17:11 - The form field trick to control lead quality and volume * 20:47 - Why Wes runs all the sales himself (and the black hat SEO trap) * 23:59 - Stacking your value offer for quick wins * 25:29 - How often Google crawls your site (and why size matters) * 26:04 - Niching to beat bigger competitors * 28:38 - Top SEO tips: content, information gain, and avoiding AI slop * 32:34 - How Uplift360 works with founders vs marketing teams * 35:04 - Patterns Wes sees across construction and industrial brands * 38:13 - The future of marketing: tech is devaluing, human insight is rising * 40:29 - If he started over today, would he go to university? * 41:45 - The power of getting into rooms where you don't qualify * 45:41 - Final takeaway: now is the time for the creative entrepreneur * 47:29 - Where to connect with Wes ---------------------------------------- ABOUT THE GUEST Wes Towers is the founder of Uplift360, a marketing agency specializing in trades, builders, and construction brands. With over 20 years of experience starting back in the early days of websites in the year 2000, Wes has built his agency around helping practical, hands-on founders translate their craft into compelling online presence. Uplift360 works with clients around the world, from founder-led businesses to in-house marketing teams at larger firms. ---------------------------------------- CONNECT https://uplift360.com.au [https://uplift360.com.au]

What an Air Disaster Taught Me About Extreme Leadership | Jay Jacobson

Most leaders confuse a title with influence. In this episode, Matthew sits down with Jay Jacobson, a funeral director with over 45 years of experience, to explore what real leadership looks like when the stakes are at their highest. Jay shares hard-won lessons from caring for grieving families, working the United Flight 232 air disaster, and testifying before the U.S. Senate at age 31 after 36 hours without sleep. He unpacks the difference between being a boss and being a leader, why integrity has to be practiced long before a crisis hits, and how reading a room has become the new essential skill in a screen-saturated world. If you lead people, serve clients, or want to build a life that's remembered for the right reasons, this conversation will reframe how you show up. Key Takeaways • Leaders are followed because of vision and care, not because of a title or job description. • Integrity is built in small daily decisions, not summoned in a crisis. • Write down your mission, values, and non-negotiables so you know exactly where the line is. • Be fully present. "Be where your feet are" is the greatest gift you can give the people around you. • People skills, especially reading a room, are the new competitive advantage in a world of unlimited information. • Don't wait for retirement to live. Make memories now, because tomorrow isn't promised. • Play the long game. Serve people so well today that they remember you 20 years from now. About the Guest Jay Jacobson is a veteran funeral director with over 45 years of experience guiding families through some of the most difficult moments of their lives. He has worked major crisis events including the United Flight 232 air disaster, testified before the U.S. Senate on behalf of the funeral service industry, and spent decades mentoring younger funeral directors. He is the author of Lead by Legendary Example, a leadership book built around real stories from his career, paired with a 10-week course for developing leaders inside any organization. Connect with Jay • Website: Jacobsonprostaff.com [https://Jacobsonprostaff.com] • Cookies: Jayscookies.net [https://Jayscookies.net] • LinkedIn: Jay Jacobson [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayjacobson] • Book: Lead by Legendary Example [https://amzn.to/4uGCc60] As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

He Practiced ONE Speech 1,000 Times… Here’s Why | Derek Lott

Most people think great speakers are born, not built. In this episode, Matt sits down with Derek Lott — a Toastmasters World Championship top-8 finisher out of 30,000 speakers — to break down what it actually takes to reach elite levels on the stage. Derek shares how coaches, reps, and radical vulnerability transformed his speaking, why presence always beats polish, and how the same principles that made him a world-class speaker also shaped his leadership philosophy as a senior executive. Whether you're terrified to speak or already competing, this one will challenge how you think about mastery. Key Takeaways • Presence and authenticity will always outperform polish and precision with an audience. • Great speakers aren't born — they're built through reps, coaches, and a willingness to be vulnerable. • Your public speaking needs a platform to stand on. Find the message only you can deliver. • The thing you're avoiding most could be the very thing that unlocks your breakthrough. • As a leader, grade effort — not just results. The rest is your job to fix. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:42 - What it felt like to compete at the World Championship stage 01:49 - Why every great performer needs a coach (Jordan, Brady, and beyond) 03:34 - How to practice a speech until it becomes part of you 05:43 - Why the story matters more than the jokes or the structure 08:04 - Advice for brand new speakers just starting out 09:36 - Why Derek still shows up to practice even after winning 11:22 - The moment Derek learned vulnerability was the missing ingredient 14:11 - From senior VP to the stage: balancing corporate leadership with authenticity 17:43 - How to tell if someone is in the wrong role (and what to do about it) 22:21 - How to have difficult conversations without burning bridges 23:48 - Why most people aren't living inspired lives — and what to do instead 27:47 - Where Derek's mindset and positivity actually come from 31:22 - How Derek wrote his latest book in 30 days using inspiration, not perspiration 35:07 - How writing and speaking connect when you think in ideas, not sentences 37:47 - Derek's vision for his legacy and the future of his platform 41:19 - Why your season is your season — it's never too late 43:00 - The one message Derek most wants the audience to hear 44:07 - Where to find Derek online About the Guest Derek Lott is a two-time author, keynote speaker, and Toastmasters World Championship finalist who placed in the top 8 out of over 30,000 competitors. With a career built on corporate turnarounds and organizational transformation at the senior executive level, Derek now helps speakers, leaders, and professionals find the platform their voice was built to stand on. He is the author of Say It Well and A Speaker's Journey to the World Stage. Connect • Instagram: @dereklott [https://www.instagram.com/dereklott] • LinkedIn: Derek Lott [https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek-lott-0b925b4/] • Book: Say It Well: Creating and Tailoring Value-Driven Communication [https://amzn.to/4tunlKP] As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.