The Freedom Experience with Jean Moncrieff
Build a business that thrives without you and discover the freedom you dreamt of creating as an entrepreneur.
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#58 How to Use AI for Strategic Leadership (Not Just Tasks) with Geoff Woods
<p><strong>AI isn’t just a tool — it’s a leadership skill. And if you’re still treating it like a fancy assistant, you’re already falling behind.</strong></p> <p>Geoff Woods is the founder of AI Leadership and author of <em>The AI-Driven Leader</em>, the #1 bestselling book on strategic AI for executives. As former Chief Growth Officer of Jindal Steel & Power, Geoff helped grow the company’s market cap from $750M to $12B in four years — not by outsourcing AI, but by rethinking how leaders lead.</p> <p>In this episode, Geoff breaks down why AI isn’t about tech — it’s about mindset. He shares a powerful daily habit that’s helping CEOs think bigger, lead smarter, and unlock new levels of strategic clarity. From creating an AI-powered “board of advisors” to reshaping how leadership teams think about growth, Geoff lays out a practical playbook for becoming an AI-driven leader.</p> <p><strong>We talk about:</strong><br> 🔹 Why most leaders are using AI wrong — and how to shift<br> 🔹 The CRIT framework for writing smarter, more strategic prompts<br> 🔹 How to use AI as your thought partner, not just a task-doer<br> 🔹 The mindset shift from 10x to 250x growth<br> 🔹 Why leaders can’t delegate AI — and what happens if they try<br> 🔹 How to create your own AI board (and why Geoff put Steve Jobs on his)<br> 🔹 Why AI is a liberator, not just a disruptor<br> 🔹 The five human skills that matter more than ever in the age of AI</p> <p><strong>Whether you’re running a billion-dollar company or just starting to explore AI, this conversation will challenge how you think about leadership, growth, and your future.</strong></p> <p><strong>Quotes from the Episode:</strong><br> 💬 "You are the thought leader. AI is your thought partner."<br> 💬 "Most CEOs aren’t asking the wrong questions — they’re not asking any at all."<br> 💬 "Don’t delegate the future of your company to IT. Lead it yourself."<br> 💬 "What if the thing that’s holding you back isn’t the tech — it’s how you think?"</p> <p><strong>Actionable Takeaways:</strong><br> ✅ Use the CRIT framework: Context, Role, Interview, Task<br> ✅ Write one AI prompt every day — even just on a sticky note<br> ✅ Stop focusing on 80% tasks and start thinking strategically<br> ✅ Surround yourself with thinkers who challenge your vision<br> ✅ Remember: the leader, not the tool, creates the competitive advantage</p> <p><strong>Resources from this episode:</strong><br> → Connect with Geoff: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoff-woods-8534774" rel="nofollow">https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoff-woods-8534774</a><br> → Learn more about AI Leadership: <a href="https://www.aileadership.com" rel="nofollow">https://www.aileadership.com</a><br> → Get the book <em>The AI-Driven Leader</em>: <a href="https://www.aileadership.com/book" rel="nofollow">https://www.aileadership.com/book</a></p> <p><strong>Like what you heard?</strong><br> Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and leave a review. It helps more leaders build for freedom, not just scale.</p> <p>🎧 For more conversations on leadership, AI, and building companies that last, visit <a href="https://www.jeanmoncrieff.com" rel="nofollow">www.jeanmoncrieff.com</a></p>EP 57: How to Win Trust (Even When You Mess Up) with Kevin B. Jennings
<p>Kevin B. Jennings is a business coach, speaker, and personal brand strategist who helps creatives and leaders turn their ideas into impact. As the CEO of Junction 32, he’s worked with influential voices like Oprah Winfrey, Tony Robbins, Dave Ramsey, and more — helping them build trust, serve better, and scale smarter.</p> <p>In this episode, Kevin breaks down how trust, reputation, and personal branding all stem from one thing: how you show up for people, day after day. From the way we repair mistakes to the moments we empower our teams, trust is the foundation of growth, especially in uncertain times.</p> <p>We talk about:</p> <ul> <li>Why marketing is an act of service, not persuasion</li> <li>The difference between a personal brand and a platform</li> <li>How “bids” — small signals of connection — are the true currency of trust</li> <li>What leaders can do when trust breaks down</li> <li>Why consistency and clarity matter more than being perfect</li> <li>How empowering employees builds faster trust with customers</li> <li>What to focus on during times of uncertainty</li> <li>Kevin’s powerful definition of freedom — and why it’s tied to impact</li> </ul> <p>Whether you're leading a team, growing your business, or refining your reputation, this conversation will challenge how you think about branding, marketing, and what it really means to build trust.</p> <p><strong>Quotes from the Episode:</strong></p> <ul> <li>"Perfection's not the goal. Trust is."</li> <li>"People buy your reputation before they buy your product."</li> <li>"A brand is just a reputation that scales."</li> <li><span> </span>"Empower your team to meet the bids — that’s where trust lives."</li> <li><span> </span>"Freedom is using your gifts to make the world better."</li> </ul> <p><strong>Actionable Takeaways:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Shift your view of marketing from selling to serving</li> <li>Build your personal brand by earning trust, not attention</li> <li>Watch for “bids” — those small signals that matter most to customers and teams</li> <li>When things go wrong, don’t panic — repair with care</li> <li>Double down on what works instead of chasing new trends</li> <li>Lead with credibility, clarity, and courage during uncertainty</li> <li>Empower your team to act without waiting for approval</li> </ul> <p><strong>Resources from this episode:</strong><br>→ Learn more about Kevin:<span> </span><a href="https://www.kevinbjennings.com/" rel="nofollow">https://www.kevinbjennings.com</a><br>→ Connect with Kevin on LinkedIn:<span> </span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinbjennings" rel="nofollow">https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinbjennings</a><br>→ Explore the Small Giants Community:<span> </span><a href="https://www.smallgiants.org/" rel="nofollow">https://www.smallgiants.org</a></p>#57: Building a Company You Actually Want to Work For with Carl Erickson
<p>Freedom isn’t just about money — it’s about how you build the place you spend half your life. Most founders miss what true ownership can unlock until they’re already stuck.</p> <p>Carl Erickson started Atomic Object after a failed startup imploded. He turned it into one of the most admired software consultancies out there by making employees owners from day one. Over twenty years, Carl pushed extreme programming, radical pairing, and direct ownership, building a company designed to last a century.</p> <p>In this episode, Carl breaks down how Extreme Programming rewired their culture, why he rejected ESOPs for a more direct model, and how “Give a Shit” and “Own It” became more than just slogans — they transformed employees into real owners.</p> <p>We talk about:<br> 🔹 Why extreme programming transformed more than just software quality<br> 🔹 How pairing goes beyond developers — even Atomic’s co-CEOs are a pair<br> 🔹 The hidden cost of ignoring culture in fast-growing companies<br> 🔹 How Carl created a direct employee ownership plan that builds wealth for non-founders<br> 🔹 Why hiring for cultural fit is essential — and how Atomic avoided “cowboys” and prima donnas<br> 🔹 What it takes to protect a 100-year vision in the face of outside offers<br> 🔹 How freedom after exit means choosing how you spend your days with purpose</p> <p>Whether you’re building a consultancy, scaling a startup, or planning your own exit, this conversation is a masterclass in creating a culture and ownership structure that outlasts you.</p> <p>Quotes from the Episode:<br> 💬 "Extreme programming isn’t just coding faster — it’s building trust, quality, and culture."<br> 💬 "Give a shit. Own it. Those are the two most important things we look for in people."<br> 💬 "Companies become reflections of their founders — for better or worse."<br> 💬 "Freedom is flexibility: the ability to do what you care about, without worrying about money."</p> <p>Actionable Takeaways:<br> ✅ Don’t wait to codify your values — they’re already there in how your team behaves<br> ✅ Consider direct ownership plans if you want employees to truly act like owners<br> ✅ Focus on strategic principles like “Great, Not Big” instead of arbitrary growth targets<br> ✅ Build your company’s culture intentionally — it’s easier than fixing it later<br> ✅ Remember: growth should be a byproduct of excellence, not the goal itself</p> <p>Resources from this episode:<br> → Connect with Carl: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-erickson-8a3a5/" rel="nofollow">https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-erickson</a><br> → Learn about Atomic Object: <a href="https://atomicobject.com" rel="nofollow">https://atomicobject.com</a><br> → Carl’s blog “Great Not Big”: <a href="https://greatnotbig.com" rel="nofollow">https://greatnotbig.com</a></p> <p>Like what you heard?<br> Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and leave a review. It helps more founders build freedom-first companies.</p> <p>🎧 For more conversations on culture, ownership, and building companies that last, visit <a href="http://www.jeanmoncrieff.com" rel="nofollow">www.jeanmoncrieff.com</a>.</p> <p> </p>#56: Thieves of Purpose: What’s Really Holding You Back with Davin Salvagno
<p><strong>Purpose isn’t a destination — it’s how you show up. And most leaders are looking for it in all the wrong places.</strong></p> <p>Davin Salvagno is a bestselling author, speaker, and executive coach known for helping leaders reconnect with why they started — and who they’re becoming. He’s the co-founder of <a href="https://www.thepurposesummit.com/" rel="nofollow"><em>The Purpose Summit</em> </a>and author of <a href="https://a.co/d/7phSiM8" rel="nofollow">Thieves of Purpose: Overcoming the 12 Mindsets Robbing You of Your Potential</a>, a powerful guide to identifying what’s stealing your motivation.</p> <p>In this episode, Davin shares how leaders can rediscover purpose in both life and business — and why reconnecting with your “why” starts with your “who.”</p> <p>We talk about:<br> 🔹 Why purpose is <em>plural</em> and <em>momentary</em>, not one big life goal<br> 🔹 The difference between purpose and motivation<br> 🔹 Why comparison, envy, and distraction rob us of fulfillment<br> 🔹 How to reframe purpose to match the needs around you<br> 🔹 What CEOs can do to reignite purpose in their teams<br> 🔹 Why doubling down on purpose is the smartest move in a crisis</p> <p>Whether you’re feeling stuck, scaling your company, or leading through uncertainty, this conversation is a reminder that purpose isn’t something to find — it’s something to live.</p> <p><strong>Quotes from the Episode:</strong><br> 💬 "Your purpose didn’t disappear. You just lost your why."<br> 💬 "Purpose is who you are. Your why is what gets you moving."<br> 💬 "Comparison invites envy. Gratitude brings you back to joy."<br> 💬 "Ask your people why they chose to work for you — the answers will reignite everything."<br> 💬 "Purpose is simple to pursue, but hard to sustain."</p> <p><strong>Actionable Takeaways:</strong><br> ✅ Stop chasing job titles — focus on your gifts and the needs around you<br> ✅ Reflect on who inspired you to start (that’s your <em>who</em>)<br> ✅ Replace comparison with gratitude to recover lost motivation<br> ✅ Reconnect your team with why they joined, not just what they do<br> ✅ In a crisis, lead with purpose, not fear</p> <p><strong>Resources from this episode:</strong><br> → Connect with Davin:<span> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/salvagno/" rel="nofollow">https://www.linkedin.com/in/salvagno/</a></span><br> → Get the book <em>Thieves of Purpose</em>: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Thieves-Purpose-Overcoming-Mindsets-Potential/dp/1684816785" rel="nofollow">https://www.amazon.com/Thieves-Purpose-Overcoming-Mindsets-Potential/</a><br> → Learn more about <em>The Purpose Summit</em>: <a href="https://www.thepurposesummit.com" rel="nofollow">https://www.thepurposesummit.com</a></p> <p><strong>Like what you heard?</strong><br> Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and leave a review. It helps more business owners build freedom-first companies.</p> <p>🎧 For more conversations on purpose, people, and building companies that last, visit <a href="https://www.jeanmoncrieff.com" rel="nofollow">www.jeanmoncrieff.com</a>.</p>