The Original Startup, What America's Founders Teach About Building a Business | Dr. Traci & Michael

The Original Startup, What America's Founders Teach About Building a Business | Dr. Traci & Michael

What if the greatest startup in history wasn't a tech company, but an entire nation? As America approaches its 250th anniversary, Dr. Traci welcomes Michael for a fascinating conversation that connects the founding of the United States with the realities of building a modern business. Together, they explore how the Founding Fathers faced uncertainty, built without a blueprint, challenged conventional thinking, and created systems that have endured for centuries. This episode isn't about politics. It's about leadership. From creating a compelling vision before taking action to understanding why process matters more than quick wins, Dr. Traci and Michael unpack timeless leadership lessons that every entrepreneur, executive, manager, and business owner can apply today. Whether you're launching a company, leading a growing team, or navigating the challenges of scaling, this conversation will challenge you to think differently about leadership, purpose, systems, and long-term success. In this episode, you’ll discover: * Why the founding of America mirrors launching a startup from scratch. * What today's entrepreneurs can learn from leaders who built without a blueprint. * Why successful leaders establish purpose before focusing on tactics. * How vision creates alignment inside organizations. * Why business growth naturally happens through cycles and plateaus. * The importance of systems and process when scaling a company. * Why every leader needs to define what they will no longer tolerate. * How continuous learning shapes stronger leadership. * The hidden value of studying history as a leadership tool. * Why lasting organizations are built intentionally, not accidentally. We talk about: 00:00 Why America's founding was the original startup 02:00 What life looked like in 1776 and why change became inevitable 05:00 Building something without permission or a blueprint 08:00 Freedom, service, and defining the real mission 11:00 Why vision comes before tactics in leadership 15:00 Positioning your business around purpose instead of problems 19:00 Leadership, patience, and building better standards 22:00 Business growth, systems, and navigating scaling plateaus 27:00 Success leaves clues, why history matters for modern leaders 30:00 Continuous learning, leadership skills, and building something that lasts Resources: * Traci is offering one free month inside one of her three membership communities for listeners of this episode. To claim it, schedule a free 20-minute call using the link in the show notes and include one takeaway from this conversation when you book. This is not a sales call. It is simply to make sure you land in the right group for where you are right now: https://drtraci.erbusinessconsulting.com/book-a-discovery-call [https://drtraci.erbusinessconsulting.com/book-a-discovery-call]    * Battle-Tested Leadership Action Plan: https://drtraci.erbusinessconsulting.com/battle-tested-leadership-action-plan [https://drtraci.erbusinessconsulting.com/battle-tested-leadership-action-plan] Connect with me * Leadership Call: https://www.erbusinessconsulting.com/coaching/ [https://www.erbusinessconsulting.com/coaching/] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-traci-55410868/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-traci-55410868/] * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrTraciER/ [https://www.facebook.com/DrTraciER/] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drtraci_battletested/ [https://www.instagram.com/drtraci_battletested/] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gotyoursixpodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/gotyoursixpodcast/]   * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@erbusinessconsulting [https://www.youtube.com/@erbusinessconsulting] * Website: https://www.erbusinessconsulting.com/ [https://www.erbusinessconsulting.com/] * Email: info@erbusinessconsulting.com [info@erbusinessconsulting.com] #Leadership #LeadershipDevelopment #LeadershipStrategy #BusinessLeadership #Entrepreneurship #StartupLeadership #LeadershipMindset #BusinessGrowth #BusinessStrategy #StrategicLeadership #LeadershipSkills #BusinessSystems #SystemsThinking #ExecutiveLeadership #Management #LeadershipPodcast #EntrepreneurMindset #History #SmallBusiness #GotYourSix

History Already Solved This Problem, Here's What Leaders Keep Missing | Dr. Traci

Most leaders spend their time solving problems they can see. The best leaders solve the problems that created them. In this solo episode of Got Your SiX, Dr. Traci challenges one of the biggest mistakes leaders make in business, government, and everyday life, treating symptoms instead of uncovering root causes. Drawing from military leadership, Spartan strategy, organizational psychology, and years of executive coaching, she explains why reactive leadership creates temporary relief while strategic leadership creates lasting results. Using real leadership examples from employee turnover, communication breakdowns, declining performance, and operational failures, Dr. Traci demonstrates how great leaders learn to investigate before they react. Instead of chasing surface level issues, they build systems, ask better questions, and create organizations that are prepared long before problems appear. If you want to become a stronger executive, business owner, manager, military leader, or simply someone responsible for leading people well, this episode will change how you approach every challenge moving forward. In this episode, you’ll discover: * Why most leadership problems are actually symptoms of deeper operational issues. * The difference between reactive leadership and strategic leadership, and why history proves one consistently outperforms the other. * What Spartan leadership systems can teach modern businesses about preparation, accountability, and execution. * Why military planning focuses on prevention instead of reaction, and how leaders can apply the same mindset. * How poor communication, turnover, declining revenue, and weak execution often point to root causes leaders fail to investigate. * Why emotions matter in leadership, but should never replace evidence, systems, and strategic decision making. * Practical questions every leader should ask before attempting to solve any organizational problem. We talk about: 00:00 Why leaders keep solving the wrong problems 01:10 Surface problems versus root causes 02:05 What Spartan leadership teaches modern organizations 03:30 Why systems create consistent results 04:10 Military planning and proactive leadership 05:15 The questions experienced leaders always ask 06:00 Why turnover, communication issues, and poor performance often hide deeper problems 07:00 Feelings versus evidence in leadership decision making 08:00 Why organizations must prioritize systems over reactions 09:00 The leadership questions that uncover root causes 10:30 How to become a strategic leader instead of a reactive operator Resources: * Traci is offering one free month inside one of her three membership communities for listeners of this episode. To claim it, schedule a free 20-minute call using the link in the show notes and include one takeaway from this conversation when you book. This is not a sales call. It is simply to make sure you land in the right group for where you are right now: https://drtraci.erbusinessconsulting.com/book-a-discovery-call [https://drtraci.erbusinessconsulting.com/book-a-discovery-call]    * Battle-Tested Leadership Action Plan: https://drtraci.erbusinessconsulting.com/battle-tested-leadership-action-plan [https://drtraci.erbusinessconsulting.com/battle-tested-leadership-action-plan] Connect with me * Leadership Call: https://www.erbusinessconsulting.com/coaching/ [https://www.erbusinessconsulting.com/coaching/] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-traci-55410868/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-traci-55410868/] * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrTraciER/ [https://www.facebook.com/DrTraciER/] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drtraci_battletested/ [https://www.instagram.com/drtraci_battletested/] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gotyoursixpodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/gotyoursixpodcast/]   * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@erbusinessconsulting [https://www.youtube.com/@erbusinessconsulting] * Website: https://www.erbusinessconsulting.com/ [https://www.erbusinessconsulting.com/] * Email: info@erbusinessconsulting.com [info@erbusinessconsulting.com] #Leadership #StrategicLeadership #RootCauseLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #BusinessLeadership #MilitaryLeadership #ExecutiveLeadership #OrganizationalLeadership #LeadershipMindset #OperationalExcellence #BusinessStrategy #SystemsThinking #DecisionMaking #LeadershipCoach #ExecutiveCoach #ProblemSolving #OrganizationalCulture #Management #LeadershipPodcast #GotYourSix

What No One Tells You About Leading as a Dad | Dr. Traci

Fatherhood and leadership lessons don't come from a boardroom, they come from dinner tables, sideline bleachers, and hard conversations in the car on the way to school.  If you have ever wondered whether being a dad is actually shaping the way you lead at work, the answer is yes, and this conversation will show you exactly how.  In this Father's Day special, Dr. Traci, host of Got Your Six and decorated military veteran, gathers four men from very different seasons of fatherhood: Paul Kohn, Brian Kato, Willacy Knowles (engineer and single dad), and Michael Rayburn. Together they share the real moments when fatherhood stopped feeling like an idea and started feeling like a responsibility, how lessons in patience, presence, and empathy have made them better leaders, and what they each hope their kids will remember most.  This is a rare, vulnerable, and deeply honest conversation about what it means to show up when the people watching you call you Dad. In this episode, you’ll discover: * Why fatherhood is the greatest leadership development program you will ever go through, and the specific skills it teaches that no job title can replicate.  * How being present for your kids, not just providing for them, is the distinction that defines a father's legacy.  * What single dads and co-parenting fathers navigate that rarely gets acknowledged, and how they balanced career demands with showing up every time it counted.  * Why children absorb what you model far more than what you say, and how every one of these four fathers learned that lesson the hard way.  * How each dad transferred skills from fatherhood into professional leadership, from an airline captain managing an entire crew to an engineer mentoring younger colleagues.  * The honest truth about why dads don't get enough credit, and why Dr. Traci believes that needs to change. We talk about: 00:00 Why leadership begins with responsibility and purpose 01:00 The word that inspired this unexpected episode: sacrifice 02:00 A surprising parent-teacher conference during COVID 03:00 The playground comment that alarmed school administrators 04:00 Why no one asked the most important question 05:00 Military service, deployment, and teaching children about sacrifice 07:00 What leaders can learn from this misunderstanding 08:00 Why communication must come before assumptions 09:00 The many faces of sacrifice in leadership 10:00 When sacrifice quietly becomes your identity 11:00 The danger of always being the dependable one 12:00 Removing titles and roles to rediscover who you are 13:00 Purpose-driven sacrifice versus self-erasure 14:00 The leadership questions every high performer should ask themselves 15:00 Why sacrifice should serve your purpose, not define your identity Resources: * Traci is offering one free month inside one of her three membership communities for listeners of this episode. To claim it, schedule a free 20-minute call using the link in the show notes and include one takeaway from this conversation when you book. This is not a sales call. It is simply to make sure you land in the right group for where you are right now: https://drtraci.erbusinessconsulting.com/book-a-discovery-call [https://drtraci.erbusinessconsulting.com/book-a-discovery-call]    * Battle-Tested Leadership Action Plan: https://drtraci.erbusinessconsulting.com/battle-tested-leadership-action-plan [https://drtraci.erbusinessconsulting.com/battle-tested-leadership-action-plan] Connect with me * Leadership Call: https://www.erbusinessconsulting.com/coaching/ [https://www.erbusinessconsulting.com/coaching/] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-traci-55410868/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-traci-55410868/] * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrTraciER/ [https://www.facebook.com/DrTraciER/] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drtraci_battletested/ [https://www.instagram.com/drtraci_battletested/] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gotyoursixpodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/gotyoursixpodcast/]   * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@erbusinessconsulting [https://www.youtube.com/@erbusinessconsulting] * Website: https://www.erbusinessconsulting.com/ [https://www.erbusinessconsulting.com/] * https://drtraci.erbusinessconsulting.com/battle-tested-leadership-action-plan [https://drtraci.erbusinessconsulting.com/battle-tested-leadership-action-plan] #Fatherhood #FatherhoodAndLeadership #DadLeadership #GotYourSix #DrTraci #SingleDad #MilitaryDad #BeingAPresentFather #FathersDaySpecial #FatherhoodMindset #LeadershipDevelopment #DadLife #ParentingAndLeadership #ShowingUp #FathersLegacy #LeadersLounge #FatherhoodPodcast #Entrepreneur #Leadership #VeteranDad

Are You Leading or Losing Yourself? The Truth About Sacrifice and Purpose

What happens when sacrifice stops being something you do and becomes who you are? In this powerful solo episode of Got Your SiX, Dr. Traci shares an unexpected story involving her granddaughter, a playground misunderstanding, and a word that sparked an important leadership lesson: sacrifice. What began as a routine parent-teacher conference quickly revealed something much deeper about communication, assumptions, leadership, and the stories we tell ourselves about responsibility. Drawing from her experiences as a military leader, business owner, mother, and grandmother, Dr. Traci explores how sacrifice can serve a meaningful purpose, but also become dangerous when it turns into an identity. Many leaders pride themselves on being the dependable one, the fixer, the person everyone can count on. But what happens when constantly serving others causes you to lose sight of yourself? This episode challenges leaders to examine the difference between purposeful sacrifice and self-erasure. It explores why communication matters more than assumptions, how leaders often treat symptoms instead of causes, and why understanding the "why" behind behavior can transform the way we lead. If you've ever felt the pressure to carry everything, solve every problem, or put yourself last in the name of leadership, this conversation offers a powerful reminder that leadership is not about disappearing for others. It is about serving with purpose while still protecting who you are. In this episode, you’ll discover: * Why sacrifice is one of the most misunderstood concepts in leadership * The leadership lesson hidden inside a simple playground conversation * How assumptions create misunderstandings in teams, families, and organizations * Why communication should always come before reaction * The difference between sacrifice as a choice and sacrifice as an identity * How leaders unknowingly lose themselves through constant responsibility * The hidden dangers of becoming the fixer, helper, or dependable one * Why many high performers tie their worth to what they give away * How military leadership shaped Dr. Traci's perspective on service and purpose * The difference between sacrifice, stewardship, and self-erasure * How to recognize when leadership has become unhealthy * Why purpose-driven sacrifice builds character while purposeless sacrifice creates burnout * Questions every leader should ask themselves about identity and fulfillment * How to lead others without losing yourself in the process We talk about: 00:00 Why leadership begins with responsibility and purpose 01:00 The word that inspired this unexpected episode: sacrifice 02:00 A surprising parent-teacher conference during COVID 03:00 The playground comment that alarmed school administrators 04:00 Why no one asked the most important question 05:00 Military service, deployment, and teaching children about sacrifice 07:00 What leaders can learn from this misunderstanding 08:00 Why communication must come before assumptions 09:00 The many faces of sacrifice in leadership 10:00 When sacrifice quietly becomes your identity 11:00 The danger of always being the dependable one 12:00 Removing titles and roles to rediscover who you are 13:00 Purpose-driven sacrifice versus self-erasure 14:00 The leadership questions every high performer should ask themselves 15:00 Why sacrifice should serve your purpose, not define your identity Resources: * Traci is offering one free month inside one of her three membership communities for listeners of this episode. To claim it, schedule a free 20-minute call using the link in the show notes and include one takeaway from this conversation when you book. This is not a sales call. It is simply to make sure you land in the right group for where you are right now: https://drtraci.erbusinessconsulting.com/book-a-discovery-call [https://drtraci.erbusinessconsulting.com/book-a-discovery-call]    * Battle-Tested Leadership Action Plan: https://drtraci.erbusinessconsulting.com/battle-tested-leadership-action-plan [https://drtraci.erbusinessconsulting.com/battle-tested-leadership-action-plan] Connect with me * Leadership Call: https://www.erbusinessconsulting.com/coaching/ [https://www.erbusinessconsulting.com/coaching/] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-traci-55410868/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-traci-55410868/] * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrTraciER/ [https://www.facebook.com/DrTraciER/] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drtraci_battletested/ [https://www.instagram.com/drtraci_battletested/] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gotyoursixpodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/gotyoursixpodcast/]   * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@erbusinessconsulting [https://www.youtube.com/@erbusinessconsulting] * Website: https://www.erbusinessconsulting.com/ [https://www.erbusinessconsulting.com/] * https://drtraci.erbusinessconsulting.com/battle-tested-leadership-action-plan [https://drtraci.erbusinessconsulting.com/battle-tested-leadership-action-plan] #SelfLeadership #WomenInLeadership #EmotionalIntelligence

Why High-Achieving Women Feel Burned Out (And How to Get Out of Survival Mode) | Jenna Wahl

Before you can lead a team, a business, or a family, you have to learn how to lead yourself. In this episode of Got Your SiX, Dr. Traci sits down with entrepreneur, wife, mother, and self leadership coach Jenna Wahl to explore one of the most overlooked leadership skills of all: learning how to reconnect with yourself before burnout, overwhelm, and survival mode take over. Jenna works with career-driven women who appear successful on the outside but often feel disconnected from themselves on the inside. Together, she and Dr. Traci unpack the hidden pressure of balancing entrepreneurship, motherhood, marriage, personal growth, and identity in a world filled with endless expectations and constant noise. This conversation dives into the realities many women silently carry. The pressure to do it all. The guilt that comes from slowing down. The endless stream of advice telling you who you should be and how you should live. Jenna shares how she learned to stop chasing everyone else's expectations, quiet the noise, regulate her nervous system, prioritize what truly matters, and build a life that feels aligned instead of exhausting. If you've ever felt burned out, overwhelmed, overstimulated, or unsure of who you are beneath all the roles you carry, this conversation will remind you that leadership begins with the relationship you have with yourself. In this episode, you’ll discover: * Why self leadership is the foundation of effective leadership * How high-achieving women unknowingly live in survival mode * The hidden connection between burnout, resentment, and overwhelm * Why entrepreneurship and motherhood don't have to compete with each other * How identity shapes the way we lead, parent, and show up in life * Why consuming more information isn't always the answer * The difference between learning and implementation * How social media noise contributes to burnout and self-doubt * The importance of creating space for self-care without guilt * Practical ways to regulate your nervous system and create more harmony at home * Why clarity and prioritization matter more than productivity hacks * How small daily habits create lasting transformation We talk about: 00:00 Leadership begins with how you lead yourself 03:00 Meet Jenna Wahl and her mission to help women reconnect with themselves 04:30 Motherhood, entrepreneurship, and navigating competing identities 06:00 What "having it all" actually means 08:00 Why so many women stop taking care of themselves 09:30 Survival mode, burnout, and resentment at home 11:00 The identities and personas we create to fit expectations 14:00 Why authenticity matters more than perfection 16:00 Rebuilding routines that support your goals and your family 18:00 Self-care, nervous system regulation, and releasing guilt 20:00 The danger of information overload and constant consumption 24:00 Why consuming more can keep you stuck 25:00 The surprising sourdough lesson about confidence and growth 28:00 How to remove noise and trust yourself again 30:00 Burnout, overwhelm, and the power of slowing down 33:00 Jenna's new program for helping women leave survival mode behind 35:00 Presence, gratitude, and noticing the small things 37:00 Why expectations often keep us from growing 41:00 The clarity framework that changed Jenna's life 44:00 Leadership starts with your habits, thoughts, and daily choices Resources: * Traci is offering one free month inside one of her three membership communities for listeners of this episode. To claim it, schedule a free 20-minute call using the link in the show notes and include one takeaway from this conversation when you book. This is not a sales call. It is simply to make sure you land in the right group for where you are right now: https://drtraci.erbusinessconsulting.com/book-a-discovery-call [https://drtraci.erbusinessconsulting.com/book-a-discovery-call] Connect with Jenna  * Website: https://jennawahl.com/ [https://jennawahl.com/] * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamjennawahl [https://www.tiktok.com/@iamjennawahl] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamjennawahl/ [https://www.instagram.com/iamjennawahl/] * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theregulatedmom [https://www.youtube.com/@theregulatedmom] * Jenna’s programs [https://stan.store/iamjennawahl?fbclid=IwRlRTSASUIsJleHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEekFC_QRWCA53gePXObWbpe2qsuoZbe3xnKIiipmLUlryi0fmjqs26vHzOIik_aem_XunSZSD9gCXyxRU0XXvEYA] Connect with me * Leadership Call: https://www.erbusinessconsulting.com/coaching/ [https://www.erbusinessconsulting.com/coaching/] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-traci-55410868/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-traci-55410868/] * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrTraciER/ [https://www.facebook.com/DrTraciER/] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drtraci_battletested/ [https://www.instagram.com/drtraci_battletested/] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gotyoursixpodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/gotyoursixpodcast/]   * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@erbusinessconsulting [https://www.youtube.com/@erbusinessconsulting] * Website: https://www.erbusinessconsulting.com/ [https://www.erbusinessconsulting.com/] * https://drtraci.erbusinessconsulting.com/battle-tested-leadership-action-plan [https://drtraci.erbusinessconsulting.com/battle-tested-leadership-action-plan] #SelfLeadership #WomenInLeadership #BurnoutRecovery