Find My Catalyst Podcast

Mike Simmons is a leadership and operations expert who helps organizations drive growth through clarity and execution. He leads initiatives through Find My Catalyst, offering services in leadership, revenue, and operations.
Tim Dyck brings deep experience in recruitment and people strategies. He is the founder of Best Culture Solutions, helping companies build great teams with purpose.

Together, Mike and Tim dive into the nuances of fractional leadership, sharing hard-won lessons, memorable metaphors, and actionable insights.

💬 Three Key Quotes

"Don’t mistake knowledge for experience. And don’t mistake experience for expertise."

"If you’re hiring a fractional leader, make sure they’ve run out of gas before—because they’ll know how to get you back on the road."

"Learning is great. But presenting yourself as an expert without experience can do more harm than good."

📌 50-Word Summary

Mike Simmons and Tim Dyck unpack the world of fractional work, using real-life analogies to explain the value of experience and the risk of surface-level knowledge. They share the difference between knowing, doing, and mastering—and how true expertise accelerates impact. A must-listen for leaders hiring with intention.

🔑 5 Key Takeaways

1. The Fuel Tank Metaphor for Expertise

• Experience is knowing how far your vehicle can go on empty.

• True experts have broken down before—and know how to recover fast.

• Awareness, experience, and expertise are not the same—and each plays a different role.

2. Beware of Shallow Expertise

• Surface-level learners can use the right words but may not deliver results.

• Using tools like ChatGPT doesn't replace real-world experience.

• Misrepresented expertise can harm organizations and delay progress.

3. Fractional Leadership is Not for Learners

• Fractional leaders must already know how to solve the problem you have.

• They're not there to “figure it out”; they’re there to execute.

• Expecting quick results means you need someone who’s already done the work.

4. Simplify to Accelerate Speed to Impact

• Complexity slows progress; simplify by removing what’s unnecessary.

• Clear next steps fuel momentum in leadership and operations.

• Fractional experts help reduce overwhelm and focus on what matters.

5. Align Role with Readiness

• Use readiness assessments before hiring fractional talent.

• Match the right expert to the right job—based on proven track record.

• Fractional success is rooted in fit, not just availability.

Learn. Think. and Act. with us every Sunday.
Our Sunday email is filled with sections dedicated to helping leaders Learn. Think. and Act. These short weekly emails will help you make a difference and accelerate speed to impact at work, with self, and within your family.
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Shira Abel is a marketing and sales expert with over 25 years of experience, having built a seven-figure agency specializing in account-based marketing (ABM). She is the creator of the Perception Formula, a framework that helps people understand trust, communication, and decision-making in business and relationships. Shira’s expertise spans startups, team dynamics, and behavioral economics, making her a powerful speaker and consultant.

Key Quotes:

1. "Trust isn’t just about intent—it’s about understanding how someone thinks."
2. "If your business relies on manipulation, it won’t last—trust builds long-term success."
3. "The golden rule isn’t enough; you need to adapt to how others think and perceive the world."

Shira Abel shares the Perception Formula, a framework built on heuristics, hormones, history, and heritage, to improve trust, sales, and team dynamics. She discusses cultural communication differences, feedback, and how perception shapes success. Whether in startups, leadership, or personal growth, understanding how people think can be your greatest catalyst.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/shiraabel/ 

5 Key Takeaways:

1. The Perception Formula: Understanding How People Think

• Perception is shaped by heuristics (mental shortcuts), hormones, history, and heritage.
• Without emotional connection, people won’t remember or trust you.
• Aligning with someone's background improves communication and decision-making.

2. The Role of Trust in Sales, Marketing, and Teams

• Trust isn’t about manipulation—it’s about delivering real value.
• High-value sales rely on relationships, not tricks.
• Cultural differences impact trust (e.g., "ask" vs. "hint" communication styles).

3. Feedback: The Key to Growth and Learning

• Feedback helps you iterate and improve faster.
• "Nice" people avoid tough conversations; "kind" people tell the truth to help others grow.
• The best teams and leaders actively seek and apply feedback.

4. Hormones and Decision-Making: The Science Behind Influence

• Dopamine drives excitement and engagement (e.g., notifications, rewards).
• Cortisol (stress hormone) blocks clear thinking—positive reinforcement is key.
• Oxytocin and serotonin create trust and belonging in teams and customer relationships.

5. Coachability: The Differentiator Between Success and Failure

• Coachability is not about instant agreement—it’s about long-term adaptation.
• The most successful people take feedback, reflect, and adjust.
• Leaders should observe who listens, applies feedback, and improves over time.

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Christina Brady is a sales leader, entrepreneur, and the CEO of Luster.ai, a company dedicated to measuring and improving sales proficiency through AI. With 18 years of experience in sales, she is passionate about fixing broken hiring and onboarding processes and enabling professionals to succeed. Christina is also the Chicago Chapter Head of Pavilion and serves on the executive team at Women in Sales.

Three Key Quotes from Christina Brady

1. “If you don’t measure proficiency, you don’t know who you’re hiring, how to up-level them, or why they struggle.”
2. “AI isn’t here to replace you—it’s here to make you better at what you do.”
3. “Founders have ‘magic’ because they know the mistakes that have been made and the risks they’re willing to take. You can’t expect a new hire to replicate that.”

In this insightful conversation, Christina Brady discusses why hiring and onboarding in sales are fundamentally broken and how AI can transform proficiency measurement. She also breaks down the “founder magic” that makes transitioning from founder-led to AE-led sales so difficult. This episode is a must-listen for leaders looking to scale effectively.

5 Key Takeaways on Finding Your Catalyst

1. The Hiring Process is Fundamentally Broken

• Companies often hire without a clear understanding of what makes a candidate successful.
• The interview process is subjective, leading to mismatches between candidates and roles.
• Relying on past success (e.g., quota attainment at another company) does not predict future success.

2. Onboarding Needs to Be Personalized and Continuous

• Most onboarding programs are generic and fail to address individual deficiencies.
• Employees are often left confused after onboarding, with no clear roadmap for success.
• The best organizations move from "onboarding" to "everboarding," offering continuous training and development.

3. Measuring Proficiency is the Key to Success

• Companies struggle because they don’t objectively measure proficiency at the skill level.
• AI tools can now map skills, identify deficiencies, and predict performance gaps before they become issues.
• Without measurement, companies rely on subjective “gut feelings,” leading to inefficiencies and lost talent.

4. AI is a Tool for Enablement, Not Replacement

• AI should be used to enhance human capability, not replace it.
• The right AI tools help sales teams avoid revenue-impacting mistakes before they happen.
• Leaders must shift their mindset from fear to experimentation when adopting AI.

5. Founder-Led Sales is a Different Game

• Founders have “magic” because they understand the product deeply and can flexibly adjust deals.
• Expecting an AE to replicate a founder’s selling process is unrealistic.
• The transition from founder-led to AE-led sales requires a structured process, proper tooling, and realistic expectations.

Final Thought

Learn. Think. and Act. with us every Sunday. Our Sunday email is filled with sections dedicated to helping leaders Learn. Think. and Act. These short weekly emails will help you make a difference and accelerate speed to impact at work, with self, and within your family.
Subscribe here: https://www.findmycatalyst.com/learn-think-act-opt-in

Jordan Benjamin is a mindset and sales expert passionate about helping people unlock their full potential. With a background in sales leadership and coaching, Jordan shares insights on resilience, professional growth, and the power of mindset. He emphasizes the importance of taking action, embracing failure, and building a strong network for success.

Three Key Quotes from Jordan Benjamin:

1. “The best ideas don’t come from grinding at your desk—they come when you create space, like taking a walk or being in the shower.”
2. “Authenticity is showing up as an imperfect human. None of us have all the answers—we’re all making it up as we go.”
3. “It’s not about winning or losing—it’s about winning or learning. Every failure is a chance to grow.”

Jordan Benjamin joins the podcast to explore the power of mindset, resilience, and authenticity in professional and personal growth. He shares actionable strategies for overcoming fear, embracing failure, and developing habits that lead to success. From taking small steps to seeking coaching, Jordan’s insights help listeners find their catalyst for lasting change.

Five Key Takeaways:

1. The Power of Nature and Taking Breaks

• Stepping away from work for a walk or time in nature can spark creativity and reduce stress.
• Short breaks can be more effective than grinding through mental blocks.
• Small moments of mindfulness, like deep breathing, can improve focus and decision-making.

2. The Mindset Shift: Growth vs. Fixed Thinking

• A growth mindset helps you see obstacles as opportunities rather than dead ends.
• Failure is not the opposite of success—it’s a part of the process.
• Reframing challenges as learning experiences builds long-term resilience.

3. The Importance of Coaching and Accountability

• A coach provides an outside perspective that helps you see blind spots.
• Real change happens between coaching sessions, through consistent action.
• Accountability helps reinforce new habits, making long-term transformation possible.

4. Authenticity as a Strength, Not a Weakness

• True leaders embrace their imperfections and encourage vulnerability in others.
• Everyone struggles with self-doubt—imposter syndrome is normal, even for top performers.
• Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

5. Taking Small, Consistent Steps Toward Change

• Massive change starts with small, manageable actions (e.g., one deep breath, one extra sales call).
• Repetition strengthens habits and rewires the brain for success.
• Making a goal easy and achievable increases the likelihood of long-term commitment.

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Find My Catalyst - Learn, Think, Act

In this episode, host Mike Simmons dives into the complexities of leadership—how to lead up to difficult leaders, work effectively across teams, and lead teams with clarity and purpose. Mike shares personal experiences, leadership philosophies, and actionable strategies to help listeners navigate leadership challenges at all levels.

Key Quotes:

1. "Leadership starts with self. If you're looking for leadership, start with a mirror."
2. "If you think different, you can do different. If you do different, you can be different."
3. "Sometimes, the hardest part of leadership is managing the assumptions we make about others."

Episode Summary (50 Words):

Leadership isn’t just about managing others—it’s about self-awareness, clear communication, and building trust. In this episode, Mike Simmons explores how to lead up to difficult leaders, collaborate across teams, and inspire those we manage. He shares tools and insights to navigate leadership challenges with confidence, clarity, and a service-oriented mindset.

5 Key Takeaways:

1. Leading Up to Leadership Challenges

• Understand your leader’s background, concerns, and goals before making assumptions.
• Improve communication by aligning with their priorities and preferred methods.
• If a leader is ineffective, decide if you can help—or if it’s time to move on.

2. Building Strong Cross-Team Relationships

• Empathy is key: understand what other teams care about and what challenges they face.
• Transparent communication fosters collaboration, even in competitive environments.
• Align team efforts with business goals to create a unified direction.

3. Leading Your Team with Clarity

• Get to know your team’s goals, communication styles, and career aspirations.
• Provide opportunities for cross-functional learning to build leadership skills.
• Lead with transparency, trust, and a willingness to adapt.

4. The Importance of Effective Communication

• Leadership is built on clear, purposeful communication.
• Miscommunication happens—what’s said, what’s heard, and what’s remembered are rarely the same.
• Tools like structured feedback loops and regular check-ins prevent misunderstandings.

5. Leadership as an Act of Service

• Leadership isn’t about control—it’s about enabling others to succeed.
• Sometimes, leaders struggle due to insecurity; build trust to help them delegate.
• If leadership doesn’t align with your values, it’s okay to step away.

Final Thoughts:

Leadership is a journey of continuous growth. Whether leading up, across, or down, it starts with self-awareness and service. This episode provides practical insights to help you lead with confidence, no matter your position.

Learn. Think. and Act. with us every Sunday. Our weekly email helps leaders accelerate their impact at work, in life, and within their families.

📩 Subscribe here: https://www.findmycatalyst.com/learn-think-act-opt-in