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We bring Brooklyn Jones back as our first on-camera guest and unpack why the word strategy makes smart people groan, then map the real issue to trust and plain-English leadership. We also draft the worst meeting formats and leave with practical scripts for getting strategic work done without triggering the eye roll. • Brooklyn’s life updates and graduating back into entrepreneurship  • The top “worst meetings” draft and why they drain teams  • Strategy as medicine and why people resist it  • Trust and shame as the hidden blockers behind “execution problems”  • Goals versus strategy and why jargon breaks buy-in  • Problem-first thinking and simple strategy models that stick  • Tactics for reducing pushback: don’t say “strategy,” repeat complaints verbatim, start small, lead with subtraction  • Cascading strategy by audience and communicating up and down the org Check out Brooklyn's links here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brooklynsmithveteran  Business websites  https://www.strategycapable.com/ https://www.bespokemovingconcierge.com/ Just join our Discord. It’s super easy.  Like, share. Support the show Click/Tap HERE for everything Corporate Strategy Elevator Music by Julian Avila Promoted by MrSnooze Don't forget ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ it helps!

We roll from a chaotic vibe check into a pile of “I just can’t” workplace moments that perfectly explain why the week feels brutal. Then we get practical about using AI to stay afloat and about handling toxic coworkers you depend on without sacrificing your time, energy, or reputation.  • our top “I just can’t” triggers at work  • why stress shows up in sleep, migraines, and burnout  • using Claude to save time and push through stuck tasks  • keeping a human in the loop to prevent AI mistakes and rework  • the cross team dependency problem when you need “Jermaine”  • malicious compliance as a tactic for toxic process lovers  • building strict process, SLAs, and meetings to force resolution  • handling the occasional “Sandra” by avoiding or reframing the interaction  • why your energy belongs with your team and real stakeholders  • side quests on NyQuil, mushroom gummies, the Apple foldable, and product quality  you can do so by going to our Patreon.  Support the show Click/Tap HERE for everything Corporate Strategy Elevator Music by Julian Avila Promoted by MrSnooze Don't forget ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ it helps!

We trade stories about the coworkers who make progress feel impossible, from perfection-first gatekeepers to senior dependencies who weaponize silence. We walk through practical ways to escalate without drama, protect delivery, and recognize when leadership is the real problem.  • breaking down why some weeks feel like nonstop Wednesday  • defining levels of “can’t stand working with them” from annoying to unbearable  • sharing an MVP vs perfection conflict that nearly turns physical  • explaining why leadership often protects toxic high performers  • escalating with facts, notes, and low-emotion framing  • using managers as “heavy guns” to force decisions  • handling adjacent-team dependencies who outrank your chain  • spotting culture red flags that signal it is time to leave  CalicoCutPants.com  please share it with your friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, especially the toxic ones  Support the show Click/Tap HERE for everything Corporate Strategy Elevator Music by Julian Avila Promoted by MrSnooze Don't forget ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ it helps!

We draft our way through the most relatable corporate annoyances, from out of office messages that help to video calls that should have never happened. Along the way, we rant about work travel, office microwaves, and the small tech failures that can derail a meeting in seconds. • Patreon plug for storytelling and presentation skills using the Hero’s Journey and the Amazon method  • Why business travel lingers in your brain and why flying feels uniquely miserable  • The case that incentives and regulatory capture keep travel and other systems worse than they need to be  • Nostalgia marketing, Pepsi Man, and why weird ideas can win attention fast  • Top three out of office messages and what makes them actually useful  • The most ridiculous and uncomfortable things seen on video calls  • What should never go in the office microwave and why the smell never dies  • Meeting interruptions that wreck focus like dogs, forced updates, and Microsoft Authenticator  • Practical meeting survival tips like two devices, cloud decks, and sharing a window not a screen  • Work laptop hygiene, personal data boundaries, and why tabs and notifications betray you  Please share this with your friends, family, neighbor, and co-workers.  You can also join our Patreon.  So join our Discord. Support the show Click/Tap HERE for everything Corporate Strategy Elevator Music by Julian Avila Promoted by MrSnooze Don't forget ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ it helps!

We challenge the way workplaces use “collaboration” and argue that most of it is just independent work with a shared deadline. We map out what real collaboration looks like, why it’s rare, and how to avoid meetings that waste time and strip teams of autonomy.  • production issues, missing audio, and why last week only lives as shorts  • a mini crusade against LinkedIn AI slop and the idea of reporting 10 posts a day  • the cheese ball obsession and why it somehow becomes a lifestyle  • “collaboration” versus task handoffs, plus the group project origin story  • doers, detractors, and the middle, and how to assign work without getting burned  • where collaboration actually happens, especially in code reviews, marketing reviews, and Scrum refinement  • the sev one mega call anti pattern where one person does the work and everyone else watches  • a practical filter for better sessions: right people, clear output, real decision power  join our Patreon for a dollar or ten dollars a month  You can also join our Discord  the least you can do is share this with your friends  Support the show Click/Tap HERE for everything Corporate Strategy Elevator Music by Julian Avila Promoted by MrSnooze Don't forget ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ it helps!

We go from our love of surprise twists to a brutally practical question: how we deliver the right level of detail at work when leaders give vague asks and unclear formats. We share the tactics we use to get fast feedback, avoid wasted effort, and navigate the executive layer without losing our minds.  • why surprises and subverted expectations work in stories and advertising  • how trust breaks when companies reverse public promises  • the real problem with ambiguous asks for decks, emails, and RCA summaries  • asking individual contributors directly for the details that matter  • giving executives three options so they feel ownership  • building extra research into appendix slides without presenting it upfront  • using quick Slack or Teams check-ins to avoid weeks of rework  • managing the perception of success versus chasing perfect outcomes  Hey, if you liked what you heard and you don't have a dollar to give, share this podcast with your friends.  Invite them to the Discord to continue the conversation and continue to listen.  Support the show Click/Tap HERE for everything Corporate Strategy Elevator Music by Julian Avila Promoted by MrSnooze Don't forget ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ it helps!

We start with some intentionally ridiculous market talk, then get honest about how corporate meetings can reward confidence over clarity. We break down what to do when leadership makes decisions in a vacuum, and how we protect our teams while still surviving the politics.  • spotting “corporate nonsense” language and why quiet people often add more value  • using AI for real work, including document review systems and Jira automation lessons  • defining vacuum decisions through impact and breakage, who gets hurt and who doesn’t  • staying positive without becoming the future scapegoat, asking questions as CYA  • choosing tactics based on who made the call, peers versus executives  • disagreeing and committing while building safeguards like feature flags and rollback plans  • middle management as the shield, protecting ICs from overload and bad optics  • when to plan an exit, and where ethical lines change the escalation playbook  Join our Discord by checking the show notes or the description. Join our Patreon today. Share with your friends too.  Support the show Click/Tap HERE for everything Corporate Strategy Elevator Music by Julian Avila Promoted by MrSnooze Don't forget ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ it helps!

We test a new recording setup, nerd out on an electronics repair game, then use it as a springboard to talk about right to repair and why fixing things feels harder in the US than it should. We also run a career retrospective on our biggest pivots, what we might have done differently, and why fulfillment often beats the “safe” path.  • trying a new podcasting platform and accepting the risk of a messy test  • a Tokyo repair shop game that captures the joy of tinkering without the wait  • why parts access and repair markets shape consumer behavior and e-waste  • reflecting on career forks without spiraling into dwelling  • engineering versus sales engineering and how culture fit changes everything  • leaning into soft skills, systems thinking, and product management  • choosing challenge over comfort and what that reveals about motivation  • leaving the corporate ladder to build something tangible and small-team focused  • age perception inside big companies and how it can cap promotions  • the Bitcoin mining story we still regret  Hey, and uh, if you like the nothing that we do, you could support the show… if you're not a member of our Patreon, you can join it by clicking the link… And if you're not into lights, we're gonna have to join our Discord… We're on YouTube, we're on Instagram, we're on all the podcast platforms… buy a baby onesie. Support the show Click/Tap HERE for everything Corporate Strategy Elevator Music by Julian Avila Promoted by MrSnooze Don't forget ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ it helps!

We catch up live from a newly sound-treated studio and somehow end up deep in toe injuries, travel gear, and why Crocs might be the real comfort hack. Then we pivot into corporate hot takes on email habits and productivity, including why living in your inbox keeps you reactive and why “busy” is not the same as effective. • joking about LaCroix as a “fountain of youth” and settling into the live setup  • adjusting to a soundproof room and the oddly echo-free feeling  • post-vacation check-in with IBS, broken toes, hiking pain, and black toenails  • why Crocs feel wrong but work great for travel  • the strange logic of shoe theft and the idea of Corporate Strategy Croc charms  • setting up listener questions and returning to corporate hot takes  • email is not a to-do list, checking it a few times daily, and keeping work in Jira  • why fast email replies do not equal promotion and how to avoid constant firefighting  • being busy vs being productive, plus the “effort vs accomplishment” lesson  Support the show Click/Tap HERE for everything Corporate Strategy Elevator Music by Julian Avila Promoted by MrSnooze Don't forget ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ it helps!

We trade vacation stories and a surprisingly business-relevant take on Moby Dick, then pivot into the career trap of becoming the workplace firefighter. We unpack how the Five Whys, smarter follow-ups, and simple systems help us protect our time, avoid burnout, and grow into more strategic roles without losing credibility.  • why being the go-to fixer feels rewarding then becomes a trap  • using the Five Whys to find root causes instead of treating symptoms  • when to execute immediately and when to push for context  • turning tactical delivery into strategic influence with follow-up conversations  • a practical way to think about tactical vs strategic time ratios  • empowering teams to reduce hand-holding and escape the weeds  • building processes, then optimizing, then automating with AI workflows  • recognizing “everything is urgent” as an unidentified problem  Hey, if you like what you heard and uh you want to be a friend to us, we love friends and we’d love it if you shared this podcast with your friends, your family, your neighbors, and your coworkers. We have a Patreon and for a dollar or $10 a month, you can support us either smallly or bigly. If you want even further tips, join our Discord and we’ll help you out.  Support the show Click/Tap HERE for everything Corporate Strategy Elevator Music by Julian Avila Promoted by MrSnooze Don't forget ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ it helps!

AI job loss is real in some corners and wildly exaggerated in others, so we sort the headlines from what companies can actually implement without breaking everything. We map the roles most exposed to automation, why the AI service model may hit an ROI wall, and how to protect your career by owning the tool instead of ignoring it.  • AI anxiety shows up everywhere now, even outside tech  • Net job growth vs hidden disruption across industries and age groups  • Ghost job postings and why job numbers can mask real pain  • Roles most at risk: clerical, admin, routine processing, junior software tasks  • Customer support automation promises vs the “human touch” reality  • Creative work pressure and the ethics of theft-based training data  • Why enterprise AI often needs a human babysitter  • Token costs, poor ROI, and why “AI slop” spreads inside companies  • The bubble risk: unprofitable labs, expensive licenses, and a pendulum swing  • Service models, subscriptions, and the growing fight over digital ownership  • Practical moves: upskill, pitch smart internal use cases, build relationships  • Local impact: data centers, utilities, and why communities are pushing back  Please, if this episode was meaningful to you in some way, shape, or form, leave a comment in the video. Check out our Discord, check out our Instagram, check out our link tree. Check out our Patreon if you want to support the show. Like, share, subscribe. Support the show Click/Tap HERE for everything Corporate Strategy Elevator Music by Julian Avila Promoted by MrSnooze Don't forget ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ it helps!

We go from CAPTCHA conspiracies and AI slop on LinkedIn to the deeper problem of algorithm-driven feeds that ignore human boundaries and fry our attention. Then we get practical and a little spicy about corporate promotions, career leverage, and why you have to say what you want out loud if you expect anyone to help you get there.  • CAPTCHA as hidden training data and what modern image prompts imply  • Why LinkedIn feels worse after AI and why scrolling is not neutral  • Community-based feeds versus algorithm-driven feeds and why boundaries matter  • Heat exhaustion recap, hydration basics, and why electrolytes matter  • Air conditioning reality, maintenance plans, and what “they don’t make them like they used to” gets right  • The mismatch between personal sustainability guilt and corporate-scale impact  • Promotion mechanics: approval chains, HR rubrics, budget cycles, and doing the next-level job  • Asking for a promotion directly and making career intent explicit  • Manager mindset: helping people grow even if it means leaving, recommendations, boomerang careers  • Hard truths: you’re replaceable, most coworkers aren’t smarter, and seniority is mostly context  • Timing advice: why pushing for a promotion too early can backfire  • Creating a role by owning a real gap and earning the title through demand  If you have more, jump into our Discord by clicking the link down in the description.  If you like the show, if you made it this far, then you just got free content. Congratulations. If you pay for that content, you’d be helping us make more free content.  The least you can do is take this video or this podcast, wherever you listen or watch, and share it with one friend. Support the show Click/Tap HERE for everything Corporate Strategy Elevator Music by Julian Avila Promoted by MrSnooze Don't forget ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ it helps!

We mess up our production setup, vent about being hard to find on YouTube, then pivot into a surprisingly practical conversation about building real connection on remote teams. A ridiculous food debate becomes our blueprint for icebreakers that boost engagement without crossing personal boundaries.  • losing the OBS profile and rebuilding the show setup from scratch  • struggles with discoverability on YouTube and experimenting with shorts on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube  • a real heat exhaustion scare and what dehydration can feel like  • electrolytes, salt, and the pickle juice “shot” as a recovery trick  • why remote work culture needs intentional moments for connection  • “Is A Hot Dog A Sandwich?” as an icebreaker that reveals thinking styles  • what makes an icebreaker good, inclusive, and low pressure  • red flags to avoid, including judgmental prompts and controversy bait  • the Discord AI image challenge and how fast AI is improving  If you want to help with the costs, you can check out our Patreon. It’s in the doobly-doo below.  If you can’t donate to the Patreon to help us do the things we’re doing right now, you could follow us on Instagram if you have an account, and we would appreciate the heck out of you.  If you want infinite icebreakers that will never end, you can join our Discord.  Please share the pod. Please be kind and go say hello to a neighbor in your neighborhood.  Support the show Click/Tap HERE for everything Corporate Strategy Elevator Music by Julian Avila Promoted by MrSnooze Don't forget ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ it helps!

Corporate work is less about having the perfect skill set and more about staying curious while you translate people’s wants into real outcomes. We argue that nobody has it all figured out, so the winners are the ones who keep trying, measuring, and adapting without taking every “no” personally.  • roasting our own names and why “be nice” matters  • noticing how big brands still feel like they are improvising  • learning leaders’ communication preferences and tailoring your output  • keeping an open mind and questioning your assumptions  • separating process from outcomes when teams argue agile vs waterfall  • embracing change to avoid stagnation at work  • spotting cookie-cutter leadership that ignores culture and context  • building resilience when ideas get rejected and iterating anyway  • pitching improvements with a clear why, data, and a metric  • encouraging low-risk experiments as a leader and delegating ownership  • treating the job search like build-measure-learn experiments  Make sure you subscribe to our YouTube channel, but don't just subscribe and hit the notification because subscription means nothing. Notification means something now, I guess. So do it.  If you want to be part of the conversation, and not just like this conversation, we actually have an ongoing conversation that never ends. You can do it on our Discord. Uh, you can do so by going to the link in your show notes. Click on that link tree. You can see our Discord in there.  Please help us out, sign up for our Patreon, give us a dollar or two a month, and we would appreciate you forever.  Please share this podcast with other people. If you can't give us money, give the podcast to others because it really does help, whether it's on YouTube or on the podcast platform of your choice.  Support the show Click/Tap HERE for everything Corporate Strategy Elevator Music by Julian Avila Promoted by MrSnooze Don't forget ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ it helps!

We go from questionable health oversharing to a serious playbook for surviving mergers and acquisitions without getting blindsided. We break down why companies buy other companies, how that decision affects your job, and what we’d do right away to protect our careers.  • colon cancer screening and why health stigma keeps people from getting checked  • why M&A creates fear through uncertainty and loss of control  • the two big acquisition motives: technology or customers and how that changes outcomes  • red flags for hostile acquisitions and why updating your resume can’t wait  • who tends to be safest after a deal: knowledge holders, key sales relationships, niche expertise  • why “be likable” is a real retention strategy and how to add value without overstepping  • researching the acquiring company’s history and the CEO’s patterns before you trust promises  • turning an acquisition into a strong resume story and testing your market value  • retention contracts, bonus hooks, and why a lawyer review can save you later  join our Discord. You can do that by clicking the link in the show notes. Also, in that link, there's access to our Patreon. Please share this with your friends.  Support the show Click/Tap HERE for everything Corporate Strategy Elevator Music by Julian Avila Promoted by MrSnooze Don't forget ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ it helps!