It's not uncommon over time to build close relationships with your co-workers. However, in a rapidly changing marketplace, how do you handle it when a trusted co-worker and even confidant, becomes your boss? YIKES! Now, the relationship is different. You used to always catch lunch on Friday, talk about the game from the weekend, and maybe even hang out after work from time to time. But now, the power dynamic has shifted and you're not quite sure to handle it when one of your peers is now in charge. It's a delicate dynamic, but with some wise advice from Pastor Q this week, we can help you navigate these waters --- whether you're the boss or the employee. At the end of the day, redrawing boundaries and finding a trusting way forward is possible!

The reality is, Millennials are no longer the “new kids on the block” in the workforce. They are the majority, and even mid-career. However, over the past decade, the conversation of Millennials in the workplace has been rife with misunderstanding. But there IS a way to turn the stereotypes on their head and find traction in today's marketplace. If Millennials go to the next level in self-awareness, they could very well be the necessary bridge between two generations (Boomers/Gen-X & Gen Z).

The branding of “dream college” is a lucrative one. Many students are sold grand ideas of campus life with vast social life, student perks, world-class dorms, football teams, and the messaging that says if you wear these colors, you are somebody. This is all propelled by a very competitive academic environment, and a social pressure that students feel to be accepted and belong. In many cases, college is the price of admission for many careers. But that doesn't mean you can't approach it with eyes wide open & make the most wise decision. Selecting the right college is key to avoiding many years of compounding interest from student loans & missed opportunities. How do you navigate this pressure and make the best call? And ultimately, is college worth it? We think so, as long as you know what's needed to launch successfully in the world.

This week's episode features special guest, Todd Hopkins. Todd Hopkins is the founder and Chief Visionary Officer of Office Pride Commercial Cleaning Services, an award-winning janitorial franchising company and one of the most respected brands in its industry. Office Pride, with headquarters in Palm Harbor, has 140+ franchise locations in 24 states and growing. Todd is an international best-selling author or co-author of four books, including his most recent Stop Using the "B" Word: Overcome Distractions by Replacing Busy with Productive. This week, we talk all about how to communicate vision, keeping calm in crisis, and living a distraction-free life full of focus, priority, and purpose. At this point, Todd is really part of the JUST LEAD team, and has remarkable career that serves as model for making a difference in the marketplace. Today, his main focus is pouring into leaders and he even speaks into our leadership interns each summer here in Tampa Bay. Make sure to pick up "Stop Using The 'B-Word'" wherever books are sold!

In all our years developing leaders, one of the biggest misconceptions is that leadership is reserved for the extroverts. You get it --- loud, boisterous, large and in-charge. And many introverts who would make PHENOMENAL leaders disqualify themselves. Some of our introvert friends have even reported being overlooked or passed up for leadership opportunities. But if you look closer, introverts actually possess valuable leadership traits that are full of potential. It's time to bust some myths about introverts. The truth is they have characteristics and distinctions that can make them incredible assets to any organization. Whether you're an introvert looking for a boost of confidence, or someone who's wondering if an introvert can get the job done --- LEAN IN!

A talented franchisee, small-business owner is asked to give a keynote at their annual company event. They’re new to public speaking, and though talented at what they do, they’re apprehensive about speaking on stage. Many new leaders find themselves in situations just like this where they are asked to speak publicly, give a keynote, speak at a conference, lead a meeting, or deliver a speech. What once was required of them was to just be good at their job – but now, they have to face the #1 surveyed fear of human beings --- Public Speaking. Is speaking simply a talent, or can it be developed? What are some of the best pro tips and strategies to grow in this area? And how do you take control of the steering wheel again when you feel the nerves coming on? PQ delivers tons of insights from his career and how he grew into the dynamic speaker he is today. Take a listen!

As one year comes to a close and another is around the corner, maybe you're looking back & seeing where you fell short. Sometimes life happens outside of our control - losing a job, health declined, or some other unexpected fallout. So how do we respond & move forward with a clean slate? Rather than beating yourself up about what's behind you, there's an opportunity the last few weeks of the year to chart the course for the best year ever. PQ talks about how he evaluates, celebrates, & reflects on the calendar year, and how to set goals and habits that translate to success in the new year.

By nature, leaders like to take action! But in most cases, their desire to take action outpaces the authority they have been given to make decisions. In other words, you may have a boss, director, team captain, parent, teacher, coach or someone else that’s in charge. How do you influence in a positive direction, LEAD UP, and make a difference even when you’re not in charge?

This week, we sat down with Steve Rassel, Assistant Director of High Performance with the Toronto Blue Jays. We recently got a tour of their world-class training facility in Tampa Bay, FL, and were blown away by their team values, culture, approach to leadership development, and the mindset they use to train professional athletes at an elite level. So even if you’re not in the outfield, but you’re in the boardroom, classroom, or any other environment — the topics we cover today translate in surprising and inspiring ways. And you know PQ is a baseball fanatic!

"Win the morning, win the day!" Maybe you've heard all the motivational quotes, and certainly there's a deep well of productivity tools, day planners, apps, and millionaire morning routines out there that all promise to make us more effective. But how do you find something that works (really works) for you? It's not as complicated as you might think! Let's get to it.

Picture this. You’re in the middle of a productive team meeting, when all of a sudden, someone at the table quits. No, not after the fact. No, not a resignation letter. No, not a private conversation. Just, “I’m OUT!...” in the middle of the meeting. Yikes! What would you do? What would you say? Though you may not have faced this abrupt of a situation, any leader that’s been in the game for a while has been blindsided by someone resigning, stepping away, or quitting. A listener writes in this week about this surprising challenge, and we walk through the best way to handle it!

The most challenging leadership conversations are usually not in the workplace, but sitting across from your teenager. Sound scary? It can be, but trust us – on the other side of a tough conversation is a rich, meaningful relationship. As parents, how do we set boundaries, define values, create atmospheres for growth, & clarify what our house will stand for? It’s time to stop avoiding the conversation we know we need to have, and JUST LEAD.

50 million people in the US will change jobs this year, nearly a 30% turnover rate in the total workforce. HR pros agree that the first 90 days (maybe even less!) is major when it comes to starting a new job. But what's the best way to approach it? How can we score critical early wins, build influence fast, and take important first steps as you establish yourself in a new role? In Episode #1 of the JUST LEAD Podcast, Mark Q answers a listener question on how to crush it right away.