Trail Talk (Blog)
A Blog For Business Owners and Leaders
It’s on the trails where the true conversations about leadership, life and strategy come out.
Join the talk on the trails with Jonathan (Jono) Brake.
Is the Open Door Policy Actually Killing Your Productivity?
The Open Door Myth: Why "Always Available" Might Be Your Biggest Mistake Collaboration is great, but at what cost to your leadership? This week, I’m tackling a big one: the idea that an “open...
“I Just Lead By Example” — Why That Phrase Might Be Holding You Back
First, Ask Yourself: What Example Are You Actually Setting? That's the real question. Because "leading by example" is noble in theory, but in practice it often just means doing more. More tasks,...
Delegation Is Not Dumping: The Leadership Mistake That’s Quietly Holding Your Business Back
Let's be honest — how many times have you handed something off to a team member and called it "delegation"? If you're running a business anywhere between $2 million and $50 million, there's a good...
Setting a Plan Is Not Enough — Here’s What Actually Gets You Results
Let me ask you something. How many times have you sat down at the start of the year, written out your goals, felt that buzz of momentum — and then found yourself in December wondering what happened?...
Failure IS an Option: Why Business Leaders Need to Rethink This Apollo 13 Myth
Hey there, Ever caught yourself saying "failure is not an option" to your team? Maybe during a product launch, a critical client presentation, or when the stakes felt impossibly high? I get it. It...
Don’t Just Plan the New Year — Celebrate What Got You Here
A new year has arrived — and if you're anything like most leaders, you've already got a list. Goals. Targets. Strategies. The notebook is open, the whiteboard is fresh, and the energy is high. But...
Monday Myth Check: Your DISC Style Isn’t Fixed
The Myth: Once you discover your DISC behavioral style—whether you're a D, I, S, or C—that's who you are forever. People don't change. The Reality: While you do have natural tendencies and...
DISC Is Not Your Identity: Why This Matters for Leaders
Ever taken a personality assessment and thought, "Wow, that's so me!"? It's validating, right? But here's where things get tricky—especially with tools like DISC. DISC is a powerful behavioral...
Unlock Your Leadership Potential with DISC
Understanding yourself and your team is the foundation of exceptional leadership. That's why I'm excited to introduce our new online DISC workshop—a powerful tool for building self-awareness and...
Monday Myth Check: Don’t Hunker Down When Times Get Uncertain
When business slows down or uncertainty creeps in, our instinct is often to panic. We start cutting costs, scrambling for new clients, and abandoning our proven strategies. But here's the myth I...