The Thoughtful Entrepreneur

• 2348 - Staying Connected and Inspired in Challenging Times with Allie Jones

  From Burnout to Alignment: How Leaders Can Thrive with Human-Centered Marketing and the Working Genius FrameworkIn this episode, host Josh Elledge speaks with Allie Jones, Founder of Allie Jones Consulting, to explore her journey from burnout as a third-grade teacher to becoming a marketing strategist and business alignment coach. Allie shares why human-centered marketing matters more than ever in an AI-driven world and explains how leaders can reclaim clarity, joy, and effectiveness by aligning their work with their natural strengths. Their conversation highlights the transformative power of the Working Genius framework and offers actionable steps for reducing overwhelm, improving team dynamics, and leading with intention.How Human Connection and Working Genius Create Aligned, Effective LeadershipAllie explains that as AI-generated content floods the marketplace, authenticity has become a leader’s greatest competitive advantage. She emphasizes that marketing built on real stories, genuine connection, and thoughtful communication consistently outperforms generic, automated messaging. Networking, podcasting, and relationship-building remain essential because people still make decisions based on trust—not templates.The conversation then shifts to intentional alignment, a core theme in Allie’s work with leaders and entrepreneurs. She notes that many high-level professionals feel stretched thin, overwhelmed, or disconnected from their purpose because they’re saying “yes” to too many misaligned commitments. By identifying personal values, clarifying strengths, and practicing strategic boundaries, leaders can design workdays that create momentum rather than drain energy.Allie also breaks down the Working Genius framework, describing it as “20% personality test and 80% productivity tool.” When leaders understand which types of work energize them and which consistently frustrate them, they can restructure tasks, delegate effectively, and build teams that complement their genius zones. The result is less burnout, better collaboration, and more joyful, sustainable productivity.About Allie JonesAllie Jones is a marketing strategist, alignment coach, and founder of Allie Jones Consulting. She specializes in helping leaders and businesses embrace human-centered marketing, clarify their brand, and design work that reflects their strengths. Allie is also a certified Working Genius facilitator and offers workshops, consulting programs, and leadership resources. Connect with her on LinkedIn.About Allie Jones ConsultingAllie Jones Consulting provides strategic marketing, leadership alignment coaching, and Working Genius facilitation for entrepreneurs and organizations. Through a blend of clarity-focused strategy and human-centered communication, Allie helps clients build thriving, aligned businesses rooted in authenticity. Learn more at alliejonesconsulting.com.Links Mentioned in This EpisodeAllie Jones Consulting WebsiteAllie Jones on LinkedIn ProfileKey Episode HighlightsHuman-centered marketing is more impactful than AI-generated, generic contentLeaders are overwhelmed because they lack alignment, not capabilityThe Working Genius framework helps identify energizing vs. draining...

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• 2347 - Why Your Brand Might Be the Only Thing Standing Between You and World Domination with Visible Logic, Inc.'s Emily Brackett

  Branding as a Verb: Actionable Insights from Emily BrackettIn this episode, host Josh Elledge speaks with Emily Brackett, Founder of Visible Logic, Inc. and the creator of Branding Compass, to explore why branding is far more than a logo or color palette. Emily explains how branding is an active, ongoing process that shapes how people perceive your business—through both tangible design elements and intangible emotional connections. Their conversation breaks down the common mistakes founders make, the rising role of AI in branding, and the foundational strategic work that separates memorable brands from mediocre ones.Why Branding Is an Ongoing, Strategic DisciplineEmily emphasizes that branding is a verb—an active, continual effort to shape how your business shows up in the world. Rather than treating branding as a one-time design task, she encourages founders to think of it as ongoing brand management: regularly reviewing messaging, auditing visuals, and ensuring every touchpoint aligns with the identity you want to project. This mindset shift helps companies avoid stagnation and ensures their brand evolves alongside their business goals and audience needs.She also highlights a major pitfall among startups: jumping straight into logo design or website building without first defining brand strategy. Emily explains that foundational clarity—your brand traits, ideal client, differentiators, and emotional tone—provides the direction needed for compelling visuals and effective marketing. Without this groundwork, companies end up with generic identities that fail to resonate, leading to wasted money and lackluster market response.Finally, Emily discusses the growing influence of AI in branding. While AI can accelerate content creation and ideation, she warns that it cannot replace strategic thinking. When businesses skip foundational brand work and rely solely on AI tools, they simply produce generic content faster. Instead, Emily recommends using AI as a supplement—leveraging it for brainstorming, inspiration, and iteration, but grounding all outputs in a clearly defined brand strategy.About Emily BrackettEmily Brackett is the Founder of Visible Logic, Inc., a branding and design agency specializing in helping businesses clarify their identity and communicate it consistently across all marketing materials. She is also the creator of Branding Compass, a DIY branding tool that guides entrepreneurs through foundational brand strategy. Connect with her on LinkedIn.About Visible Logic, Inc.Visible Logic helps startups, tech-enabled companies, and growing businesses build strong, strategic brands through design, messaging, and brand clarity tools. From visual identity development to website design and brand architecture, Visible Logic ensures companies present themselves with confidence and cohesion. Learn more at Visible Logic.Links Mentioned in This EpisodeEmily Brackett on LinkedInVisible Logic, Inc. WebsiteKey Episode HighlightsBranding is an active, ongoing process—not a one-time design projectFoundational strategy prevents generic, forgettable brand identitiesAI accelerates content creation but cannot replace brand clarityStrong brand architecture becomes essential as companies growWeekly...

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• 2346 - Strategies for Sustainable High Performance in Business Leadership with Stagnation Intelligence Agency's Todd Hagopian

  Harnessing the Hypomanic Advantage: Leadership Insights from Todd HagopianIn this episode, host Josh Elledge speaks with Todd Hagopian, Executive Director of the Stagnation Intelligence Agency and author of The Unfair Advantage: Weaponizing the Hypomanic Toolbox. Todd shares his remarkable journey—from spending 15 years undiagnosed with bipolar disorder to engineering a systematic way to harness the productive power of hypomania without the chaos. This conversation explores how neurodiverse traits can be transformed into high-performance leadership tools, offering powerful strategies for productivity, innovation, prioritization, and sustainable success.How Neurodiverse Leadership Becomes a Strategic SuperpowerTodd Hagopian explains how the high energy, creativity, and intensity associated with hypomania can be intentionally structured into repeatable systems. Instead of treating hypomanic tendencies as weaknesses, he shows how leaders can channel them into strengths through tools such as grandiose goal-setting, which pushes individuals and teams to stretch beyond conventional limits. He emphasizes that ambition—when properly focused—creates momentum, inspires others, and unlocks levels of performance that incremental planning simply cannot achieve.Another major insight Todd shares is the 80/20 Matrix, a ruthless prioritization method that identifies the 4% of activities generating 64% of results. By doubling down on the most profitable customer-product combinations and eliminating or outsourcing low-value work, leaders remove complexity—the biggest enemy of profitability. This same philosophy underpins the Carolyn Method, where results are amplified not through more activity, but through sharper focus on the vital few actions that truly move the needle.Todd also discusses orthodoxy smashing, the practice of systematically challenging industry assumptions to uncover breakthrough opportunities. Paired with essential personal practices such as sleep discipline, medication management (when relevant), and eliminating alcohol, Todd shows that sustainable leadership requires both innovation and self-care. His message is clear: anyone—neurodiverse or not—can apply these systems to multiply productivity, improve decision-making, and build resilient success.About Todd HagopianTodd Hagopian is the Executive Director of the Stagnation Intelligence Agency, a leadership strategist, and the author of The Unfair Advantage: Weaponizing the Hypomanic Toolbox. He helps leaders harness structured productivity systems to maximize performance, prioritize effectively, and innovate with intention. Connect with Todd on LinkedIn or explore his work at Stagnation Assassin.About Stagnation AssassinStagnation Assassin (toddhagopian.com) provides leadership development frameworks based on Todd’s hypomanic toolbox methodology. Through consulting, training, and productivity systems, Todd helps organizations simplify operations, enhance strategic focus, and unlock breakthrough innovation. His programs support neurodiverse and neurotypical leaders alike in building sustainable, high-performance habits.Links Mentioned in This EpisodeTodd Hagopian LinkedIn ProfileStagnation Assassin

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• 2345 - Blending Critical and Creative Thinking to Build a Powerful Artistic Strategy with Mandarin Associates' Charlie Curson

  How Strategic Thinking Transforms Leadership: Insights from Charlie CursonIn this episode, host Josh Elledge speaks with Charlie Curson, strategist, leadership coach, author, and Founder & Director of Mandarin Associates. Their conversation explores the deeper meaning of strategic thinking—beyond planning—and reveals how leaders can elevate their impact through self-awareness, open-mindedness, creativity, and influence. This blog distills Charlie’s most valuable insights, showing professionals how to approach leadership with greater clarity, adaptability, and long-term strategic focus.Building a Stronger Strategic Mindset for Modern LeadershipCharlie Curson explains that strategy is fundamentally different from planning—planning is about predictability and control, while strategy is about making courageous, future-focused choices. He emphasizes that real strategy begins with self-awareness, helping leaders understand their own biases, beliefs, and behaviors so they can make decisions from a place of clarity rather than fear or habit. Without this foundation, even the smartest plans fail to address the real levers that drive performance and growth within organizations.Charlie also shares how open-mindedness and critical thinking shape effective strategy. Leaders must actively challenge assumptions, invite diverse perspectives, and create environments where constructive disagreement can surface the best ideas. Creativity plays an equally vital role—too often, “strategy” becomes a recycled version of last year’s plan, but true strategic thinking requires imagining new possibilities, exploring different futures, and generating innovative pathways to achieve meaningful outcomes.Finally, Charlie highlights the importance of communication and influence in scaling the impact of strategy. Even the strongest strategic insights collapse without team alignment and buy-in. By co-creating strategy with their teams, communicating with clarity, and fostering open dialogue, leaders can translate ideas into action. He encourages leaders to embrace uncertainty, experiment early, and treat every new initiative as a learning opportunity—allowing strategy to evolve dynamically as the business landscape shifts.About Charlie CursonCharlie Curson is a strategist, leadership coach, speaker, and author of Be More Strategic: 12 Essential Practices to Build the Life and Career You Want. He is the Founder and Director of Mandarin Associates, where he helps organizations develop strategic thinking capabilities, improve leadership effectiveness, and foster high-performing cultures. Connect with Charlie on LinkedIn.About Mandarin AssociatesMandarin Associates provides strategic consulting, coaching, leadership development, and facilitation services for global organizations. Their work centers on helping teams think more strategically, improve communication, and create purposeful, aligned results across all levels of leadership.Links Mentioned in This EpisodeCharlie Curson on LinkedIn ProfileMandarin Associates WebsiteKey Episode HighlightsStrategy is about choices, not control or comfortSelf-awareness is the foundation of strategic leadershipOpen-mindedness and diverse perspectives improve decision-makingCreativity enables leaders to imagine new futures and opportunitiesCommunication and influence determine...

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• 2344 - The Seven Essential Practices to Overcome Insecurity in Midlife with The Insecurity Project's Jaemin Frazer

  Overcoming Insecurity in Midlife with Jaemin FrazerIn this episode of The Thoughtful Entrepreneur, host Josh Elledge interviews Jaemin Frazer—Founder of The Insecurity Project, author of Unhindered, and host of the Unhindered Podcast. Jaemin shares why insecurity often peaks in midlife, how early childhood beliefs silently shape adult behavior, and what ambitious professionals can do to break free from self-doubt. His insights offer a practical and compassionate roadmap for anyone ready to confront insecurity and step into a more confident, purposeful version of themselves.How Insecurity Shapes Midlife and How to Overcome ItJaemin explains that insecurity is universal, rooted in beliefs formed before age seven, and often goes unnoticed until midlife when energy diminishes and the “push through it” strategy stops working. In this season of life, many high achievers discover that the same insecurity that once fueled their ambition is now causing anxiety, exhaustion, strained relationships, and a sense of emotional unraveling. He emphasizes that insecurity is not a flaw, but a solvable problem—one that requires awareness, objectivity, and a structured process for dismantling limiting beliefs.He describes insecurity as “rocket fuel”: powerful enough to drive early success, but ultimately toxic if relied on for too long. Through Jaemin’s seven-practice framework, individuals learn to deconstruct these beliefs, examine the stories they tell themselves, and replace insecurity-driven motivation with clarity and intrinsic purpose. This transformation allows midlifers to shift from proving themselves to actually becoming themselves—living with more peace, energy, and authenticity.Jaemin also highlights the importance of vulnerability and finding the right support. Not all helpers are equipped to guide someone through insecurity, and he stresses the value of working with a coach or therapist who provides objectivity, structure, and accountability. He invites listeners to access his book Unhindered, his long-running podcast, and his one-on-one coaching programs to continue their journey toward becoming truly “unhindered.”About Jaemin FrazerJaemin Frazer is the Founder of The Insecurity Project, an internationally recognized coach, author, and speaker known for his expertise in helping high performers overcome insecurity. Through his book Unhindered, his 300+ episode podcast, and his structured coaching methodology, Jaemin guides individuals through deep personal transformation and lasting emotional freedom. Connect with him on LinkedIn: Jaemin FrazerAbout The Insecurity ProjectThe Insecurity Project (jaeminfrazer.com) provides coaching, tools, and educational resources designed to help individuals overcome insecurity and live with greater confidence, purpose, and emotional clarity. Through books, podcasts, speaking engagements, and immersive coaching programs, Jaemin helps midlifers break free from long-standing limiting beliefs and step into their highest potential.Links Mentioned in This EpisodeJaemin Frazer LinkedIn ProfileThe Insecurity Project WebsiteKey Episode HighlightsWhy insecurity is universal and rooted in early childhoodHow insecurity becomes more visible and disruptive in midlifeThe concept of insecurity as “rocket fuel” for high achieversJaemin’s structured seven-practice framework for overcoming insecurityThe importance of objectivity...

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