KickStart Your Edge: Play to Win Leadership
KickStart Your Edge is a leadership podcast focused on developing a 'Play to Win' mindset. It offers practical, relatable tactics and techniques for anyone leading themselves, others, or a business. The show emphasizes that mindset is a superpower that can make or break success. It encourages listeners to adopt a proactive, winning approach rather than settling for playing not to lose.
Episodes
Episode 614: The Air Between Us: Systems Thinking and the Spirit of Led Zeppelin
Jenn and Karen break down Led Zeppelin's magic formula: It's not just the band members—it's the invisible air that connects them when they're in sync. It's not the guitar, the drums, or the vocals alone, but the beautifully weird chemistry swirling in the space between them. (There's probably some rock-n-roll pixie dust involved too, but we won't spill all the secrets here.) Just like well perform
Episode 613: Why Being #1 Isn't Everything: Scottie Scheffler's Fulfillment Masterclass
Jenn and Karen tee up a discussion and take a swing at some deeper life lessons from Scottie Scheffler's recent Open win. From celebrating wins that last mere moments to prioritizing family and fulfillment over trophies and title. It's a reminder that it's the journey—and finding joy and meaning along the way—that really counts. Grab your golf bag (or just your earbuds) and tune in for this episod
Episode 612: Bacon, Eggs, and Leadership: Exploring Commitment Levels
When it comes to success, are you laying eggs or becoming bacon? In this thought-provoking episode, Karen and Jenn explore the crucial difference between involvement and commitment in business. Through colorful analogies of chickens, pigs, and even rats, they challenge listeners to examine where they might be settling for involvement when commitment could transform their results. Ready to stop put
Episode 611: March Madness and Life Metaphors
Ever wonder what your March Madness bracket strategy says about you? Join Jenn and Karen as they dissect their tournament picks and uncover surprising life parallels. From embracing uncertainty to finding joy in upsets, discover how your approach to filling out brackets might mirror your life philosophy. Plus, learn why Karen's rooting against all #1 seeds (despite being in last place!)
Episode 610: Change Champions: Focus on Your People
Discover how one forward-thinking organization mastered the human side of transformation. Rather than simply announcing changes and expecting adaptation, they invested in their people's success by reaching 400 employees through targeted virtual workshops. This episode showcases how prioritizing mindset and emotional support during organizational change creates a more engaged, empowered workforce r
Episode 609: Mountains, Mindset & Misplaced Confidence: Lessons Learned
From ski boots to "maybe I'm the best skier here" moments, Jenn's journey from mountain newbie to a more confident snow enthusiast teaches us four game-changing lessons. Check out this episode where we break down the four insights all based in the Play To Win mentality all while not succumbing to the magic carpet conveyor belt.
Episode 608: Know. When. Act. Three Questions That Make or Break Leaders
What separates great leaders from the rest? In this episode, discover the three game-changing questions that define leadership success: What did you know? When did you know it? What did you do about it? Karen and Jenn unpack how these simple yet powerful questions build accountability, prevent crisis escalation, and create cultures of trust. Learn why "doing nothing" might be your riskiest move ye
Episode 607: Playing to Win: The Five Questions That Give You Better Answers
Want to know the secret sauce that separates good leaders from great ones? (Spoiler alert: It's not what you think!) In this episode, we're dishing out five game-changing questions that will transform your leadership conversations from 'meh' to magnificent. Plus, we're throwing in two bonus questions that'll make you rethink everything you know about growth. Get ready to level up your question gam
Episode 606: The Savvy Leader's Guide to Office Political Intelligence
Buckle up, leadership rockstars! 🎢 Think office politics is all smoke, mirrors, and water cooler drama? Think again! In this episode, we're flipping the script on organizational politics and introducing your new secret weapon: Political Intelligence. Discover why understanding others' priorities isn't just smart—it's your ticket to the strategic big leagues. Plus, learn the three essential network
Episode 605: Unwritten Rules: The Hidden Code of Workplace Culture
Every workplace has rules—but what about the ones nobody talks about? In this episode, we dive into the unwritten rules shaping organizational culture, from late-start meetings to camera-on expectations. Are these norms helpful or harmful? Do they build trust or create confusion? And most importantly—how can leaders be more intentional about them? Tune in as we uncover the hidden forces behind wor
Episode 604: The 6-Ton Truth - Great Leaders Don't Ignore Their Elephants
Ever feel like there's a 6-ton elephant doing cartwheels in your team meetings? You're not alone! In this trunk-tastic episode, we're getting up close and personal with those big, beautiful beasts that everyone sees but no one wants to talk about. From tiny action elephants that just need a nudge, to those massive pachyderms requiring some serious heart-to-heart chats, we're sharing the secret sau
Episode 603: Are You Solving The Right Problem?
What do mirrors, hand sanitizer, and a grumpy bunch of elevator riders have in common? They're the stars of this mind-bending episode about solving the RIGHT problems! Join us for a wild ride as we unpack how one building's "slow elevator" crisis led to a brilliant plot twist. Spoiler alert: Sometimes the solution has nothing to do with what people are complaining about! Ready to level up your pro
Episode 602: How One Theme Can Transform Your Team in 2025
ONE powerful theme can transform your entire team in 2025. Yes, ONE. From turning dreaded meetings into can't-miss collaborations to making prioritization actually stick, we're sharing real stories of teams who've cracked the code. Plus, discover why the best time to start isn't January 1st (plot twist: it's right now!). Time to turn those team areas of focus into results!
Episode 601: January 10th Matters More Than January 1st: Rethinking Resolution Season
Plot twist: January 10th might be more important than January 1st! Welcome to National Quitters Day (yes, it's a real thing!), when 80% of resolutions wave the white flag. But hold onto your party hats - we're flipping the script on quitting! Join us for some fresh insights on why the "fresh start effect" might be playing tricks on you, and discover why the third Monday in January could be your ne
Episode 526: Take Accountability For Your Emotions
Today, we're diving into the fascinating world of emotional self-management and personal empowerment. Ever found yourself saying, "You make me so mad" or "You wind me up"? It's time to take a step back and explore how those phrases inadvertently hand over your personal power to others. Tune in to learn how to reclaim your emotional autonomy, manage your inner thoughts, and kickstart your leadershi
Episode 525: What Gossip Says About Your Culture
Today, we dive into a topic that's often whispered in the hallways yet rarely brought to the forefront: gossip within organizations. Join us as we unpack the dual nature of gossip and how it can either undermine or strengthen organizational culture. We discuss how informal conversations around the water cooler aren't always a bad thing and explore the potential of harnessing positive gossip to fos
Episode 524: Your Vote Is Your Voice
Voting isn't just a right; it's a responsibility that holds tremendous power. Regardless of your state's political leanings, your voice matters for every position on the ticket. We explored how voting is expressing our values and standing for what we believe in. Remember, democracy is an action—so make it count. If you're eligible and able, go out and vote, because your vote truly matters. Thanks
Episode 523: Do We Need More Debate In Organizations?
09In today's episode, we dive into the intriguing concept of 'debate' within organizations. With a real-life example from a team looking to foster more discussion, they explore the diverse reactions and definitions people have around the word "debate." Join us as we unpack why healthy debate and conflict are often necessary for teams to achieve their goals and make critical decisions. Whether you'
Episode 522: Effortless Power Vs. Powerless Effort
In this episode, we discuss Rose Zhang's "effortless power" in a golf swing, and how this principle can serve as a powerful analogy for personal and professional growth. By examining the contrast between "effortless power" and "powerless effort," we discuss how maintaining composure, being adaptable, and working smarter can lead to more fulfilling outcomes. Join us as we tee off on another engagi
Episode 521: AirPods: Your Leadership Toolkit
Today, we're diving into the cool world of your AirPods Pro to uncover some seriously game-changing leadership hacks. Learn how the settings on your AirPods Pro—transparency, adaptive, and noise cancellation—can be powerful metaphors for leadership. Learning to filter out unnecessary noise, adapt to different environments, and know when to be transparent can significantly enhance your leadership
Episode 520: The Bias on the Debate…Yours!
We all hold preconceived notions that can significantly shape our perceptions and decisions, especially in leadership roles. Through the lens of a recent presidential debate, we explore how bias manifests and its broader implications beyond politics. Does your existing bias hold you back from opportunities?
Episode 519: Can We Drop the Imposter Syndrome Label Already?
Imposter syndrome is a self-inflicted label that creates a fixed mindset and often can become an excuse. We need to stop living into limiting labels that cause us to only focus on overcoming the label versus embracing a growth mindset to get more comfortable in certain situations. Check out this episode for insights.
Episode 518: Fact Check Your Mind
Think of all the things you hear that you believe at face value. Does that go the same for the thoughts in your head? In today's episode, we dive into a thought-provoking conversation about the importance of digging deeper into the things we believe. We reflect on recent experiences with misinformation on social media and discuss the need for critical thinking and fact-checking, both in our extern
Episode 517: What If the 'What If' Concept Was the Answer?
In this episode, we dive into an intriguing concept called the "what if" concept. You can redefine your past and use it as a secret weapon for your future. By examining our beliefs, behaviors, and experiences through a new lens, we discuss how to unleash endless possibilities and break free from self-imposed limitations. What if this podcast episode was the answer you were looking for?
Episode 516: Committed To Growth Through Changing Your Golf Swing
If you want to work on being more patient and being more persistent – just change your golf swing. Karen is two months in on her new golf swing and she is committed to staying the course no matter how easy it would be to go back to her old ways.
Episode 515: Everything You Need is Inside of You
Do you think that everything you need is already inside of you? In our latest podcast episode, we talk about whether or not that statement is true. And if so, how we go about tapping into the potential and strengths that lie within us as we face various situations.
Episode 514: The Now Factor
Does constantly thinking about getting better in the future take away from the ability to improve in the present? We share a-has from the yoga mat about how to harness the power of now to improve in the moment of whatever you are doing. It all comes down to applying the mindset in the moment as opposed to waiting for another day.
Episode 513: When Playing Not to Lose Can Cost You the US Open
You could see it in his face, by the decisions he made, how he played his game after the missed putt on the 16th hole. Rory shifted from Playing to Win to Playing Not to Lose. He diverted from his plan and strayed from the calm, cool, collected, boring golf he had been playing.
Episode 512: Generational Communication: The Silence is Deafening
Are you struggling with employee engagement and communication in your organization? In this episode, we dive deep into the challenges facing modern workplaces, from the silent treatment between generations to the impact of return-to-work policies. The stats are staggering and it doesn't seem to be getting better. It's time to explore the importance of clear communication, company culture, and conn
Episode 511: Shocking! Engagement is Down, Yet Again.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know the importance of mission, purpose, vision, and values in everyday conversations. You can't motivate people by saying "we need to hit a number…" Engagement continues to take a hit in the workforce.
Episode 510: Various Types of Organizational Cultures Create Different Results
From collaborative wonderlands to innovation hotbeds, and from customer-centric paradises to results-focused utopias, we'll be exploring the vast array of cultures that shape the business landscape. It's like stepping into a kaleidoscope of possibilities, where every hue represents a unique flavor of organizational dynamism. With a description like that, how can you NOT listen?
Episode 509: Is Your Organization Living Its Purpose, Mission, and Values?
How well do you know your organization's grand vision and purpose? Are you living and breathing it, or is it gathering dust on a forgotten shelf? Are you walking your talk turning those visions into action-packed realities? So, buckle up, folks, and let's journey deep into the heart of the components of an organization's culture. It's time to ignite the fire within and paint the world with our pur
Episode 508: Understanding Culture in the Workplace: Language, Behavior, Systems, and Ways of Working
From the language we speak to the quirky behaviors we share, and even the systems we use, it all contributes to the unique flavor of an organization's culture. We'll take you on a journey through the colorful components of workplace dynamics, exploring how shared values and ways of working can shape the very essence of a company.
Episode 507: Capitalism is great, just don't be an ….
In this episode we share the best one-liner overheard at Orangetheory Fitness that highlights the need for companies to care more about the people in order to have people care more about the company. Organizations are missing the boat by not focusing on the most important secret weapon (people) to hit their goals (profit). Join us as we deconstruct it all.
Episode 506: Iowa and LSU Elite 8 Lessons on Playing to Win
Join us on this episode as we delve into the intense showdown between Iowa and LSU in the women's March Madness Elite 8 game. Leaning on her Play to Win mindset, discover how the top player, Caitlin Clark, overcame past controversies and focused on the present moment to play to win. The article referenced in this episode can be found here.
Episode 505: Your Biggest Asset Or Your Biggest Ass-ache?
Strengths are such an asset, until they aren't. Situational awareness is crucial in using your strengths effectively. Consider the context and people involved to choose the most appropriate strength for the situation. When overdone, your strength can actually get in your way. Together, we uncover the keys to effective leadership and harness the superpower of situational strengths.
Episode 504: Real Talk: How We Used CliftonStrengths™ to Win Over The Boss' Boss
Feeling like your team's brilliant ideas need to be getting the traction they deserve? This episode dives into how CliftonStrengths™ can unlock your leadership potential and elevate your team's impact. We'll share a powerful story of a leadership team using CliftonStrengths™ to identify individual and collective strengths, tailor their approach to their leader's strengths, and ultimately deliver
Episode 503: Building a First Team: The Key to Organizational Success
In this episode, we dive into the crucial concepts of one team versus first team mentality. We'll explore the staggering ripple effect of a first team mentality and how it can create a more focused and successful organization. We've worked with teams from California to Kuwait, and we've seen firsthand the power of a first-team approach. If you're ready to break down silos and build a more collabor
Episode 502: The Illusion of Knowing: "Fixed Mindset Around Growth Mindset: Can It Exist?"
Let's jump into the realm of mindset exploration: Can one be shackled by a fixed mindset when grappling with the notion of a growth mindset? Picture this: we're on a ride of recounting our escapades at a recent leadership summit, where diverse viewpoints on this very topic ignited impactful conversations. Join us as we unravel the significance of embracing a growth mindset while transcending mere
Episode 501: Unleash the Unexpected: What Happens When You Dare to Say "Yes"
Do you want more possibilities in your life? If so, embrace the mantra of "We're open." Join us as we delve into the power of "yes" and explore the secrets of highly open people (us). This episode is packed with actionable insights and inspiring stories to unlock your full potential and experience extraordinary things.
Episode 431: Four Types of Fear
Our brains naturally crave predictability and certainty, which can lead to stress and anxiety when fear comes up. There are four types of fear and once we learn to navigate the unknown and find the possibilities it brings we can stop giving excuses and start going for our goals. Time to become fearless.
Episode 430: Being Fearless. Your leadership Edge
We dove deep into the power of fearlessness and how it connects to self-awareness. Being fearless means challenging our own belief systems and being mindful of our thoughts. It's about taking action and choosing who we want to be, even when fear tries to hold us back.
Episode 429: Change: Are You Resistant?
Change happens. All. The. Time. We dive into the importance of focusing on making a difference instead of dwelling on what's not working or feeling like a victim. Mastering change in an organization is a sign of true leadership.
Episode 428: Find Your Passion
When you start to respect yourself and find your passion, the impact you make grows tenfold. Hulu's The Bear, Season 2, is filled with self-respect, passion, and really making a difference. Are you finding purpose in your work? What kind of impact could you be making? Learn a lesson from Richie. Because he's wearing suits now.
Episode 427: How Do You Define Freedom?
Last week the US celebrated Independence Day, which is all about Freedom. What's your perspective on Freedom? Some believe that more freedoms are being offered, while others feel they're being taken away. What's the difference between independence and freedom? What does freedom mean to you? How important is autonomy? Join Jenn and Karen as they ask the questions that will have you reflecting on wh
Episode 426: I Like, I Like, I Wonder.
A great exercise that helps generate your creativity and imagination is: I like… I like… I wonder…. Stop your black and white thinking and start to get curious. I wonder what might be possible. Learn all the details in this short episode.
Episode 425: Going Above and Beyond
Setting a goal isn't enough. Goals aren't about the results, they are about the experience. Are you just checking the boxes to get by or are you going above and beyond? When you step up your game, how do you influence others? It's time to go the extra mile.
Episode 424: Who's In Your Foxhole?
Small minds and weak people kill dreams. Who is in your foxhole (aka: inner circle)? How do they help you grow and stretch and keep you focused on where you say you want to go? It's time to evaluate your selection process.
Episode 423: Keep the Mental Lab Open
It only takes one second to make a decision. Time to challenge your thinking and make sure it is a dialogue instead of a monologue. Your mental game can win out over the emotional game in the moment.
Episode 422: Indulging In Emotion
If you aren't getting any traction, growth, or movement – you might want to look at what emotions are keeping you stuck. Overwhelm, confusion, and comfort are reasons why we don't get the momentum that we need. It's time to stop playing small and go after what we want in life.
Episode 421: Trust is About Two Things
When we work with teams, the teams who have a high degree of trust perform better. Work moves faster, the results are better, and people are more engaged. There are two components of trust that will have you question, which one is more important to me?
Episode 420: Taking Responsibility For Your Results
Do you like the results you have in your life? If the answer is 'yes', say thank you to yourself. If the answer is 'no', time to get it in gear. Once we start to take 100% responsibility for the results we have, it all can fall into place. We share the 'secret' for getting what you want.
Episode 419: If Last Month Was A Dessert
Rocky road ice-cream, a burnt crème brulee? If you had to describe last month as a dessert, what would it be? This metaphor can give you insight into what you need more of and what you need less of.
Episode 418: Using Our Strengths
Strength-based leadership is where ebb, flow and ease can be found. Your natural talents are the ones you should gravitate to for any situation. We got real with the SHRM NJ chapter and it's all about finding your own solutions through your strengths.
Episode 417: T-FAR™ and the Brain
Your brain is always offering up thoughts. So. Many. Thoughts. What might change if you took 30 days and paid attention to your thoughts? We give you the 5 questions to ask yourself so you can rewire your thinking and choose the thoughts that work for you. The Big Brain Experiment starts May 1st: www.kickstartyouredge.com/bbe
Episode 416: 5 Keys to Improve Your Brain
Imagine who you could be as a leader if you had the right amount of sleep, proper nutrition, exercised regularly, increased your novelty, and had a regular mindfulness practice. We think you'd be even MORE effective. Connect it with Emotional Intelligence and two words come to mind: Game Changer.
Episode 415: Finding Your Focus
What is the noise in your head that is distracting you? How are you managing attention fatigue? Zoom in and find your focus. Focus is about managing your brain and narrowing in on what's important. Check out our latest episode. The Big Brain Experiment starts May 1st: www.kickstartyouredge.com/bbe
Episode 414: Busting Your Own Bracket
It's madness. Where are you the Cinderella story in your own life? So often, people rank up, classify us, seed us, and it can either have us playing to win or playing not to lose. Where have you busted your own bracket in life? When have you shocked the world?
Episode 413: Our Manuals for Others
So many things come with a manual, an instruction book, or tips. People don't. When you have manuals on how people SHOULD behave, you are giving your power away. In fact, when frustrated based on what someone else does, you will create the exact same results for yourself. Listen up and let go of the "should".
Episode 412: Be the Leader You Wish You Had
You 100% create the experience you have in all situations. You can't control others, however, you can determine how YOU show up. Bitching, moaning and complaining about "leadership" will get you nowhere. Becoming the leader you wish you had, changes everything.
Episode 411: Looking Back to Look Ahead
It's time to use the wisdom you already have. What if you used the advice you would give your younger self as the springboard for the advice you need now to get to the next best version of yourself? It's trippy and oh-so-effective.
Episode 410: Congratulations, You Don't Know
What is brilliant about not knowing? EVERYTHING. A Play To Win mindset is all about becoming the person you need to become in order to actually know. Don't know what we are talking about, time for a listen.
Episode 409: Using Your Future for your Present
Have you stopped being future-focused? Do you let your past define who you are, determine what you are capable of, and allow you to accept the status quo? We talk about our niece's basketball game which got us to ask the question, when do people lose their milestone mentality? Time to hop to the future to help you determine who you need to be to get there.
Episode 408: Your Thoughts About Your Thoughts
Mastering a Play to Win mindset requires you to think about your thoughts. It is time to be an observer of what you think and why you are thinking it. Start to get meta with yourself, jump into observer mode and understand who you are by looking at why you think the way you think.
Episode 407: Stop Giving Away Your Power
When you start to blame external circumstances for how you feel, you are giving away 100% of your power. Your power comes from understanding that the way you feel is because of the way you think about the external circumstance. Plus, hear how Karen's Joe Friday "Just the Facts" reference was never true.
Episode 406: Results-Based Leadership
The Play to Win mindset is the process of learning to design your life from the future instead of the past. What results do you want? Decide. Then 100% commit to the actions that are required for you to achieve those results. Don't waver when the going gets tough. Double down and do it anyway. Your future self will thank you.
Episode 405: Now We Get To Choose
We live in a brain filled with recycled thoughts. It is time to let go of the thinking we were taught to think and start to decide what we want our thoughts to be. We get all our beliefs, perspectives, and worldviews from internal, external, and organizational influences. What thoughts have you stuck? What thoughts do you want to stop borrowing from others? You get to decide.
Episode 404: Change Your Brain
Every single thing that has been created by humans has been created with a thought in someone's brain first. If you don't think on purpose, you won't create anything purposeful. A thought is a sentence. You create a sentence, and then you create the results of that sentence. Imagine what is possible even with a half-managed mind.
Episode 403: What Got You to Good, Won't Get You to Great
Since the beginning of time, our brains have been wired to seek comfort, find food, connection and keep ourselves alive. In today's work, those basics are a bit easier to come by. The next evolution of ourselves needs to be purposeful. What if you were able to be motivated by the exact opposite of comfort and safety? Game on!
Episode 402: What Are You Willing to Risk?
Plot twist: To live a results-based life requires putting what you already have at risk for something bigger, something better, something faster, and something stronger. Are you willing to do it? You know, go all in on YOU. If you aren't happy about where you are now, or you aren't inspired by where you're headed, hint…your current strategy needs attention.
Episode 401: Make This A Play To Win Year
Play to Win. Game on. Design the life you want. Lead on purpose. Results-based living. It's time to step into the next best version of you. You get to decide what you want your life to be like. Start with learning the difference between playing to win and playing not to lose. This is all about mastering your mindset. Let's go, 2023.
Episode 338: Next Level Success
It is time to Master A Play to Win Mindset. As we take a pivot with our podcast, you will get the inside-out approach to KickStart Your Edge 2.0, where we focus on leading yourself so you can lead others and the business.
Episode 337: When it Comes to Success, There is No Comparison
So often we measure our success based on comparing ourselves with others. Knock it off. Success is an inside job. You get to define it. And note to self, it isn't about the end result, it is about the experience.
Episode 336: What's Your Relationship with Success?
Your mindset about success determines your relationship with it. What does success mean to you? How do you interact with success? How do success and achievement tie together? You get to create the relationship you want.
Episode 335: It Takes Confidence to Fail
The more you are willing to fail, the more confidence you have. It takes confidence to take risks. Confidence that you can handle the failure. Confidence that you can grow and go. Confidence that you are not your outcomes.
Episode 334: Failing Your Way to Success
To get to where you are capable of going there will be failure all along the way. Thank goodness! The more failure, the more we put ourselves out there. Own it, embrace it and aim for it….yes, aim for failure. The only way is through. Success is on the other side.
Episode 333: Does Quitting Mean Failing?
Just because you quit does that mean you failed? There's a saying: smart people quit. If you decide that you are done with something – you have to determine whether you like your reason. Your reason is the difference between making a decision or feeling bad about not following through
Episode 332: What does Failure Feel Like?
We aren't afraid of failing. We are afraid of what failing feels like. You create your reality by what you think about the results you produce. Once you know you can handle disappointment, discouragement, sadness, etc. you have cracked the code on achieving whatever the hell you want in life.
Episode 331: What's Your Relationship with Failure?
Your mindset about failure determines your relationship with it. What does failure mean to you? How do you interact with failure? Where do you avoid it? Where do you gravitate to it? You get to determine what you want your relationship with failure to be.
Episode 330: Break the rules
"This game is rigged. And it does not reward people who play by the rules. You either got to stand in the corner or get in the ring." Ramona, from Hustlers. What rules do you need to let go of so your game isn't rigged? Find the ones that work FOR you vs. the ones your parents, society, etc. say you should follow. It's time to get in the ring.
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