In this episode, I sit down with Melody Wilding to talk about a skill that has become increasingly important in today's matrixed organizations: managing up. But not in the traditional sense of simply keeping your boss informed. We explore what it really means to build influence with decision-makers, stakeholders, and leaders whose priorities, communication styles, and levels of involvement may be very different from your day-to-day contacts. Whether you're navigating internal relationships or working with complex clients, Melody shares practical frameworks for creating alignment, building trust, and increasing your impact without feeling political or inauthentic.

We also discuss how to identify the people who truly influence outcomes, make the most of limited access to senior leaders, and communicate your value in ways that resonate with decision-makers.

Topics We Cover in This Episode:

• Why "managing up" means much more than managing your relationship with a direct supervisor

• How to identify the stakeholders who have the greatest influence over key decisions

• A simple power-mapping framework for navigating complex organizations

• Better questions to ask when trying to understand what decision-makers truly care about

• How to communicate updates in ways that highlight business impact instead of activity

• The role curiosity plays in creating meaningful networking opportunities

• Why involving others in the process often creates stronger buy-in than presenting a polished solution

• How to use brief interactions with senior leaders to build stronger long-term relationships

If you enjoy conversations about influence, business development, leadership, and relationship-building, I think you'll find a lot to consider in this discussion. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss future episodes, and if you found this conversation valuable, please share it with a colleague or friend who would enjoy it as well.

Resources Mentioned:

Connect with Melody: https://melodywilding.com/

Get Melody's free training, 5 Steps to Speak Like a Senior Leader, here: https://melodywilding.com/training

Sign up for Bunnell Idea Group's free AI Business Development tool, GrowBIG AI: growbig.ai

Sign up for Mo's weekly newsletter: GrowBigPlaybook.com

Free Give to Grow Training and Downloadable Materials: Givetogrow.info

Give to Grow Amazon Order Link: https://a.co/d/ec8DTzc

Follow Mo's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mobunnell/

In this conversation, I sit down with Steve Kamb to explore what it really means to keep moving forward when things don't go according to plan. We talk about why success in business development, leadership, fitness, and creative work often has less to do with having the perfect strategy and more to do with developing the ability to adjust, learn, and make another attempt. Steve shares lessons from stand-up comedy, golf, entrepreneurship, and his own experiences building businesses and writing his latest book, How to Try Again, offering a practical framework for navigating setbacks without getting stuck in them.

A major theme throughout our conversation is the tension between outcome-focused thinking and process-focused action. We discuss Steve's PACT framework, the role of self-compassion after disappointment, why experimentation lowers the stakes of trying something new, and how high performers recover from setbacks more quickly by learning rather than dwelling. Whether you're pursuing new clients, launching a project, building relationships, or simply trying to make progress in an uncertain situation, this episode offers a thoughtful perspective on resilience, adaptation, and the long game of meaningful growth.

Topics We Cover in This Episode:

• Why comedians, entrepreneurs, and business developers all rely on repetition more than perfection

• How the concept of "pre-accepting any outcome" can reduce anxiety and improve performance

• The difference between persistence and continuing to push in the wrong direction

• What Steve's PACT framework teaches about responding to setbacks constructively

• Why treating challenges as experiments can make change feel more approachable

• How curiosity can be more useful than self-criticism when evaluating past failures

• What separates people who recover quickly from disappointment from those who stay stuck

• Why genuine generosity and relationship-building often outperform transactional networking approaches

If you've ever found yourself wondering what to do after a missed opportunity, a failed initiative, or a result that didn't match your expectations, I think you'll find this conversation both practical and encouraging. Tune in, subscribe so you never miss an episode, and share it with someone who could benefit from a fresh perspective on learning, adapting, and trying again.

Resources Mentioned:

Steve's Website: stevekamb.com

Order Steve's Book: https://stevekamb.com/howtotryagain/

https://www.nerdfitness.com/

Sign up for Bunnell Idea Group's free AI Business Development tool, GrowBIG AI: growbig.ai

Sign up for Mo's weekly newsletter: GrowBigPlaybook.com

Free Give to Grow Training and Downloadable Materials: Givetogrow.info

Give to Grow Amazon Order Link: https://a.co/d/ec8DTzc

Follow Mo's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mobunnell/

In this episode, I sit down with entrepreneur and Kit founder Nathan Barry to unpack the real relationship between money, impact, leverage, and fulfillment. We talk openly about wealth in a way most people never do, especially in professional services and high performing careers where conversations about money can still feel taboo. Nathan shares why he believes money is simply a tool, how value creation leads to wealth, and why building an audience may be one of the greatest leverage opportunities available today.

We also dive deep into Nathan's upcoming book Ladders of Wealth and the framework behind it. He breaks down the four "ladders" people climb as they move from trading time for money to creating scalable products and equity driven wealth. Along the way, we explore the hidden skills behind making money, the importance of leverage and compounding, and how leaders can create systems that multiply impact over time. Nathan gets candid about his own financial journey, what motivates him now that he's achieved significant wealth, and how he's thinking about raising kids around work, ownership, and generational wealth. This conversation is packed with mindset shifts that completely change how you think about business, success, and the life you're building.

Topics We Cover in This Episode:

• Why Nathan believes money actually can buy happiness when used intentionally

• The hidden "micro skills" behind learning how to make money

• The four ladders people climb on the path to wealth creation

• How leverage quietly changes everything in business and life

• Why the highest earners often focus more on winning work than doing work

• The surprising role compounding plays in careers, relationships, and business growth

• How to think differently about equity, ownership, and long term wealth

• The mindset shift that helps leaders continue growing even after achieving success

If you want more conversations like this around growth, leadership, business development, and building a meaningful career, make sure you subscribe, leave a review, and share the show with your network. These conversations are designed to help you think bigger, create more impact, and build a life that compounds in every direction.

Resources Mentioned:

Get into Nathan's World: NathanBarry.com

You Only Need This To Become Rich (Millionaire Explains) | 119: https://nathanbarry.com/you-only-need-this-to-become-rich-millionaire-explains-119/

Kit: https://kit.com/

Sign up for Bunnell Idea Group's free AI Business Development tool, GrowBIG AI: growbig.ai

Sign up for Mo's weekly newsletter: GrowBigPlaybook.com

Free Give to Grow Training and Downloadable Materials: Givetogrow.info

Give to Grow Amazon Order Link: https://a.co/d/ec8DTzc

Follow Mo's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mobunnell/