Lead Better, Think Smarter, Grow Faster

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 For more information about Midway Business Podcast, please contact us at 708-593-5331, butch@elitebenefits.net.

Success Begins Where Most People Give Up

Every business runs into obstacles. The difference is that some leaders see resistance as a stop sign while others treat it like another item on Monday's agenda. From sales and entrepreneurship to leadership and even dealing with insurance claims, this conversation explores why so many people settle for just enough while others keep pushing until they find a way through. If your company has ever lowered the bar because the challenge felt too BIG, this episode will make you think twice. Sometimes the biggest competitor is not another company. It is the voice in your head saying, "Good enough." Because businesses rarely lose overnight. They lose one small excuse at a time. For more information about Midway Business Podcast, please contact us at 708-593-5331, butch@elitebenefits.net.

Leading With Purpose When Pressure Is Rising

This episode of the Midway Business Podcast features Keith Lewis, Founder of VeraSpark and author of, “Sparking Your Inner Leader.” Drawing from an unusual journey that includes time as both Willie the Wildcat and Benny the Bull, Keith shares leadership insights shaped by decades of coaching executives, teams, and organizations. The conversation explores how leaders influence culture, navigate change, and why self awareness may be more important than many leaders realize. For executives trying to lead through economic uncertainty, AI disruption, talent challenges, and growing performance pressure, this discussion offers a fresh perspective. It raises an interesting question: are leaders spending too much time reacting to problems and not enough time shaping what they actually want to create? Because despite all the new technology, market shifts, and leadership books, most organizations still discover that the hardest person to lead is often the one staring back from the mirror. To contact Keith Lewis with VeraSpark: 512-784-2288 or keith@veraspark.com [keith@veraspark.com]. For more information about Midway Business Podcast, please contact us at 708-593-5331, butch@elitebenefits.net.

Are You Winning the Wrong Game?

Most leaders spend years chasing growth, hitting targets, and building successful companies, only to realize they are winning the game but not necessarily enjoying it. In this episode, Thomas Edwards Jr., Business and Life Coach and author of The One Up Effect: Gamify Your Life to Win and Have Fun Playing, explores what business leaders can learn from gaming, performance psychology, and human behavior to create stronger cultures, better engagement, and more meaningful success. The conversation dives into leadership, trust, workplace culture, and why some organizations level up while others keep getting stuck on the same stage year after year. For executives navigating growth, change, and employee motivation, this episode offers a different way to think about business, fulfillment, and building a company where people are excited to keep playing the game. To contact Thomas Edwards Jr. with The 1up Effect:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/thethomasedwardsjr/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/thethomasedwardsjr/] or thomasejr@gmail.com [thomasejr@gmail.com] For more information about Midway Business Podcast, please contact us at 708-593-5331, butch@elitebenefits.net [butch@elitebenefits.net].