Albuquerque Business Podcast

Are you a leader seeking a truly transformative approach to leadership? In today's complex world, traditional leadership models often fall short, leaving many leaders feeling disconnected and seeking deeper impact. On this groundbreaking episode of The Self Aware Leader Podcast, host Jason Rigby speaks with Charley Johnson, a TEDx speaker, founder of Chief Consciousness Officer Training, and a visionary in conscious leadership. Charley Johnson, a former high-powered business president, shares his profound journey from conventional success to a strategic exploration of consciousness in leadership. This episode is a must-listen for any leader ready to evolve beyond the status quo. Charley unpacks how embracing core principles like clarity in leadership, neutrality, and presence can lead to a seismic shift from ego-driven actions to essence-driven impact. Discover why the role of a Chief Consciousness Officer is not "woo-woo," but a tactical necessity for modern organizations. Key Learnings for Leaders: The Lea

Unlock your organization's full potential by discovering who the real drivers of success are. Veteran leadership consultant Dr. Luis Luarca sits down with Jason Rigby on The Self Aware Leader Podcast to reveal a truth many leaders miss: the power lies within your employees. Drawing from 25 years of experience, Dr. Luarca explains how shifting from control to empowerment leads to radical improvements in processes, innovation, and employee engagement. Hear compelling stories and gain practical strategies for leading with self-awareness, avoiding ego traps, and leveraging the invaluable insights of your team. If you want to build a resilient, innovative, and high-performing organization, this conversation on employee empowerment and humble leadership is a must-listen. Subscribe and listen to the full episode today! Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Learn more in Dr. Luis Luarca's book, "Do Employees Really Like Working Here?": https://www.amazon.com/Employees-Really-Like-Working-Here/dp/1678746614/ Visit D

Are you tired of toxic leadership undermining your team's potential? Is a lack of credibility and authentic connection causing a leadership crisis in your workplace? In this powerful episode of The Self Aware Leader Podcast, host Jason Rigby interviews acclaimed leadership expert William Davis, who brings 38 years of experience transforming struggling teams into powerhouses. William reveals the core reasons behind today's toxic leadership challenges and provides actionable insights on how to build high-trust, high-performing teams. Learn about the critical difference between management and true ethical leadership, the importance of servant leadership, and how to cultivate essential leadership skills. Discover practical strategies for restoring trust, fostering genuine relationships, and leading with unwavering integrity. William shares lessons from his extensive career, offering a clear path for leaders ready to make a positive impact. If you're looking to improve team management and create a thriving workpla

n this episode of the Self-Aware Leader Podcast, host Jason Rigby sits down with Jones Loflin, author of Focus as a Bee, to uncover leadership strategies that transform chaos into clarity. Through Sydney’s bee-inspired journey, Loflin shares his 3P approach—powerful ideas, practical solutions, and personal touch—offering leaders actionable tools to prioritize, recharge, and celebrate wins. Learn how to shift from busyness to intentional focus, adopt a gardener’s growth mindset, and lead thriving teams with consistency and adaptability. Perfect for leaders seeking clarity and sustainable growth in a fast-paced world. Detailed Overview Jason Rigby hosts Jones Loflin, a globally recognized speaker with experience at FedEx and the U.S. military, to explore leadership through the lens of Loflin’s new book, Focus as a Bee. Using the narrative of Sydney and her friend Alicia, Loflin introduces the "hexagon of permissions"—a honeycomb-inspired framework with six steps to sharpen focus. Key insights include giving you

In a world obsessed with metrics, image, and crowd approval, Jason Rigby delivers a powerful call to arms for leaders to return to themselves. Drawing on the radical philosophy of Soren Kierkegaard, this episode explores the timeless leadership truth: lead from the inside out—or don’t lead at all. Kierkegaard’s belief that “the crowd is untruth” challenges today’s culture of consensus and invites us to take the hard road of individual responsibility. Jason weaves Kierkegaard’s concept of the “leap of faith” into modern leadership, making it clear that authentic leadership requires bold, often uncomfortable action without guarantees. He exposes the silent epidemic of leadership despair—not burnout, but existential misalignment. Through the archetype of the “knight of faith,” leaders are invited to walk calmly yet burn with divine purpose. This episode is a wake-up call for anyone who’s scaled success but lost themselves in the process. Timestamps: [00:44] – The Mirror Test: Are you becoming who you truly ar

Too often, leaders fall into the trap of confusing motion with progress—especially in marketing. Jason Rigby challenges listeners to stop treating marketing as a checklist and start leading it as a strategic system. Drawing on his experience as a CMO and entrepreneur, Jason frames inconsistent branding, scattered campaigns, and poor lead quality not as marketing problems—but as leadership gaps. This episode offers a reflective yet practical roadmap for leaders ready to build unity across their marketing efforts. Jason explores the psychology of brand consistency, the importance of defining a clear vision, and the leadership habits that bring coherence to chaos. Learn how to reverse engineer your customer journey, enforce brand guidelines, and create a frictionless path for engagement. If you're tired of wasting time and money on disjointed efforts, this is your call to self-aware action. Keywords: emotional intelligence, leadership strategy, marketing ROI, brand consistency, servant leadership Timestamps 0

Episode Summary: Ever worked under a boss who blames, micromanages, or disappears in a crisis? You’re not alone—and you’re not powerless. In this episode of The Self Aware Leader, host Jason Rigby talks with corporate veteran and author Eric Charran to break down 9 types of toxic bosses and the real-life leadership tools you can use to rise above them. Drawing from decades in Fortune 500 boardrooms—including at Microsoft—Eric shares actionable strategies to help you manage up, protect your energy, and lead with humility—even when the leadership above you is dysfunctional.

In today's fast-paced world, seconds can mean the difference between a closed deal and a lost opportunity. In this powerful episode, Jason Rigby reveals the 5-Minute Rule—a proven leadership and sales strategy that 21x's your chances of converting leads into real appointments and sales. Whether you’re a sales leader, business owner, entrepreneur, or self-aware executive, mastering speed-to-lead response is non-negotiable for explosive growth. Discover why every second matters, how delayed response silently kills your sales, and how to build a high-performance team culture driven by speed, presence, and trust. Learn tactical frameworks for tracking lead KPIs, leveraging automation without losing the human touch, and cultivating leadership habits that dominate today's distracted, competitive marketplace. If you're serious about dominating sales, maximizing appointments, and leading with high self-awareness in your business, this is your wake-up call. The market rewards speed. The question is: are you fast enoug

Is your leadership aligned with your data practices? In this episode, Jason Rigby unpacks the 23andMe privacy disaster—and what it reveals about digital accountability. Learn how ethical data choices define modern leadership and why now is the time to act. Keywords: data ethics, leadership, data privacy, self-aware leader, digital trust

Unlock the transformative power of AI in leadership with this riveting episode of the Self Aware Leader podcast, hosted by Jason Rigby. Joined by Troy Plota, founder of Plotaverse—the world’s first all-AI social platform for creators—this conversation is a masterclass in high-agency leadership and resilience. From a 17-year-old “surf rat” photographer kicked out of his Florida home to a tech pioneer featured in GQ and Times Square, Troy’s journey embodies the self-aware leader’s ethos: own your path, serve others, and turn setbacks into systems that uplift. After Apple’s betrayal with his Plotograph app—a $6M giveaway followed by a lowball offer—Troy built Plotaverse to empower artists with customizable profiles, pixel-shifting patents, and equitable monetization, challenging Instagram’s 7.5% creator payouts. He shares how AI amplifies creativity, debunking myths that it “cheapens” art, and envisions a future of democratized filmmaking and dynamic digital art. Leaders will learn actionable strategies to embra

Introverts, this one’s for you!

As high-agency leaders, we juggle relentless demands on our time and energy. The most successful among us don’t rely on chance—they design strategic daily routines that compound into extraordinary productivity, creativity, and emotional clarity. In this episode, Jason Rigby shares 15 leverage-building habits tailored for busy, self-aware professionals. These aren’t luxuries—they’re high-impact rituals that drive long-term success, backed by science and personal experience. From mindful morning coffee to podcast-powered walks, these routines fit into packed schedules and elevate performance. Whether you’re a CEO, entrepreneur, or team leader, this episode will inspire you to engineer your days with intention and lead with greater focus, resilience, and well-being. Key Takeaways: Small, consistent habits create outsized results in leadership and life. Routines like morning meditation, handwritten to-do lists, and tech-free starts amplify focus and creativity. Practical tips to integrate these habits witho

In 1951, Joseph Moses Juran published the Quality Control Handbook, a groundbreaking work that redefined how organizations approach quality. As a Romanian-American engineer and management consultant, Juran brought a fresh perspective to a world recovering from war and industrial upheaval. His handbook wasn’t just a technical manual—it was a call to action for leaders to prioritize quality as a strategic cornerstone. Over 70 years later, its principles remain a goldmine for today’s leaders striving for operational excellence, customer loyalty, and sustainable growth. This blog dives into the key takeaways from Juran’s 1951 masterpiece, offering actionable lessons for modern leadership, with a nod to its historical impact. The Heart of Juran’s Vision: Quality as a Leadership Priority At its core, the Quality Control Handbook challenged the notion that quality was solely the domain of inspectors or technicians. Juran argued that quality starts at the top—with leaders who set the tone, define the vision, and rall

Are you tired of workplaces that leave employees burned out and disengaged? In this transformative episode, host Jason Rigby sits down with Dr. Rob Lion, a renowned workplace culture expert, strategist, and professor at Idaho State University, to explore a bold idea: workplaces can—and should—energize employees rather than drain them. Dr. Lion introduces his revolutionary human-centered leadership framework, challenging outdated "command-and-control" models with a fresh approach rooted in vulnerability, well-being, and trust. Whether you're an emerging leader or a C-suite veteran, this episode delivers actionable strategies to rethink leadership, boost team performance, and create a workplace that fuels the human spirit. Get ready to ditch burnout culture and unlock the secrets to sustainable, inspiring leadership!

Are you wondering how bold leadership decisions—like Trump’s recent tariff policies—shape global economies and your own approach to risk? In this Episode, Jason Rigby dives into Trump’s tariff strategy, announced on April 2, 2025, through the lens of The Art of the Deal. This episode unpacks how principles like thinking big, leveraging negotiations, and embracing risk-taking offer actionable leadership insights—whether you’re navigating a boardroom or your personal growth journey. Discover how self-awareness can help you cut through polarizing debates and apply these strategies to your life. Episode Overview Jason Rigby takes a neutral, leadership-focused stance to explore Trump’s tariff policies—a 10% baseline tariff on all imports and up to 54% reciprocal tariffs on nations like China with large U.S. trade deficits. Rather than debating politics, he connects these moves to Donald Trump’s 1987 book, The Art of the Deal (co-authored with Tony Schwartz), revealing how its core principles—thinking big, using le

Buckle up, leaders—this isn’t your typical fluff-filled corporate pep talk. In this raw, no-nonsense episode, Jason from Self Aware Leader cuts through the noise and calls out the harsh truth: most leaders are faking it, their teams are surviving them, and the chaos of 2025 demands real resilience. If you’re ready to stop being a liability and start leading like a badass, this is your wake-up call. Jason lays out 4 Laws of Leadership Resilience with actionable steps to fix your leadership game and ignite your team. Here’s what you’ll get:

Feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unfulfilled in 2025? You’re not alone. Despite living in an era of unparalleled abundance and convenience, something feels off for many of us. This isn’t another motivational fluff episode—this is a raw, unfiltered wake-up call that might just change your life. In this episode, Jason Rigby reveals 5 hard truths about why you’re struggling and what you can do to take back control of your life:

Discernment vs. Judgment: The Leadership Divide Judgment is a sneaky trap for leaders. It masquerades as confidence, decisiveness, and authority. But let’s be real: judgment doesn’t build teams, it breaks them. It doesn’t solve problems, it compounds them. And it doesn’t make you a better leader—it keeps you stuck. If you’re a leader, especially in middle management, you’ve probably found yourself caught between the weight of expectations from above and the demands of your team below. When things get messy, judgment becomes the default. But judgment isn’t leadership. Discernment is. And there’s a critical difference between the two. Judgment: A Reactive Mindset Judgment stems from fear, insecurity, and unresolved inner conflict. It’s a knee-jerk reaction that labels people and situations as “good” or “bad,” “right” or “wrong.” Judgment says: “My boss is impossible.” “This team member is lazy.” “This plan is doomed to fail.” When you lead with judgment, you alienate your team and limit your ability to