Tim Stating the Obvious

What is Job Hugging with Nanci Appleman-Vassil
In this powerful episode of leadership and personal development, The Human Side of Leadership with Nanci Appleman-Vassil, discover how human connection, self-awareness, resilience, and compassionate leadership are the true game-changers for career success and personal empowerment. Nanci Appleman-Vassil, CEO of APLS Group with over 25 years of experience, shares transformative insights on career transition, overcoming fear, and navigating today’s AI impact on the workforce.
Nanci discusses practical strategies around how to recover from being laid off and how long it takes to recover from being laid off, drawing from her own experience of being laid off twice before launching her successful business. The conversation covers what to do after being fired from a job, including job outplacement services, job search outplacement, and job outplacement support that treats people with dignity. She stresses the importance of compassionate leadership during layoffs—offering real help like resume workshops and interview preparation instead of cold emails.
 
Listeners gain actionable advice on addressing low self-esteem, breaking free from “job hugging,” entrepreneurship, and building the courage to take risks. Nanci also explores her lifelong passion for human connection, the power of open-ended questions, and how self-awareness and resilience fuel both professional growth and personal fulfillment.
Whether you’re facing a career transition, seeking empowerment after job loss, or wanting to become a more effective leader at work or home, this episode delivers heartfelt wisdom on overcoming fear and leading with humanity in an AI-driven world.
Tune in to The Human Side of Leadership with Nanci Appleman-Vassil for inspiring stories, practical tools, and a refreshing focus on authentic human connection that drives real results. Perfect for anyone interested in leadership, personal development, and compassionate career guidance.
Connect with Nanci Appleman-Vassil:
Books:
Website: https://aplsgroup.com/
LinkedIn: hhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/nanciapplemanvassil/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/apls-group/
 
Connect With Tim
Website: timstatingtheobvious.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timstatingtheobvious
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHfDcITKUdniO8R3RP0lvdw
Instagram: @TimStating
TikTok: @timstatingtheobvious
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-staton-04b41a271/
SKOOL Community: https://www.skool.com/timstatingtheobvious-9537/about?ref=de9c7e65d8ba4eeabc1a8eea413c125b

In this conversation, Palm’s Up Leadership with Rich Plumery, Rich Plumery shares his journey from being a lost kid to becoming a successful leader. He discusses the importance of mentorship, the principles of servant leadership, and how to engage teams effectively. Rich emphasizes the need for humility in leadership and the significance of transferring wisdom to future leaders. He also highlights the role of parents in fostering servant leadership in their children, advocating for a collaborative and supportive approach in both professional and personal settings.
Rich Plumery bio: As the Senior Vice President of Project Delivery for AECOM, the world’s largest andmost admired architecture, engineering, and design firm, Rich leads project delivery forAECOM’s most significant and critical business—their Americas business with over50,00 projects delivered per year.
Rich Plumery is now the author of Palms Up Leadership: Developing Our FutureLeaders, which discusses how his unique experiences have shaped his new approachto servant leadership. His Enable, Engage, and Embrace approach offers methods foraddressing many of the current challenges in today’s workplace, including dealing withthe loss of wisdom due to a rapidly retiring workforce and the disruption caused byemerging AI technologies.
Rich’s journey included growing and selling multiple businesses, including a successfultactical supply company in partnership with elite members of SEAL Team Six and RedCell, as well as a sports performance coaching business that served hundreds ofprofessional athletes across the NFL, NHL, MLB, and MLS. His center accommodatedthe world-famous Greg Roskopf’s first Muscle Activation Techniques clinic.www.muscleactivation.com
Connect with Rich Plumery:
website: www.palmsupleader.com
Book: https://a.co/d/hsKlvMZ
Tim Staton hosts conversations on leadership, entrepreneurship, ethical decision-making, and practical wisdom leaders can apply every day.
Website: timstatingtheobvious.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timstatingtheobvious
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHfDcITKUdniO8R3RP0lvdw
Instagram: @TimStating
TikTok: @timstatingtheobvious
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-staton-04b41a271/
SKOOL Community: https://www.skool.com/timstatingtheobvious-9537/about?ref=de9c7e65d8ba4eeabc1a8eea413c125b

What does it take to move from entrepreneur to super angel investor, and what can leaders learn from that journey? In this episode, The Leadership Toolkit with Dave Berkus, Tim Staton sits down with Dave Berkus, a pioneering entrepreneur, tech innovator, and investor with more than 200 startup investments, to unpack the lessons he has learned building companies, backing founders, and advising leaders.
Dave shares how a teenage side business evolved into a public company, how he recognized opportunity during crisis, and how he built one of the earliest hospitality software systems, technology that helped shape modern hotel reservations and was adopted by Marriott International for decades.
The conversation explores the evolution of angel investing and the story behind the renowned Berkus Method, Dave’s practical framework for valuing early-stage startups before revenue. He explains what he looks for in founders, the red flags that signal trouble, why coachability matters, and why disciplined investing is often about making money before you ever exit.
Tim and Dave also dive into missed opportunities, including passing on Amazon, and why failures and near misses often become a leader’s greatest teachers. Dave offers candid insights on risk, diversification, internal rate of return, and why angel investing is not for the faint of heart.
The discussion also turns to leadership through Dave’s book, The Leader's Toolkit, where he shares practical wisdom on decision-making, crisis leadership, governance, and building the right advisory board. From startup strategy to boardroom negotiations, this episode is packed with lessons on leadership, investing, and thinking long term.
In this episode, we discuss:
How Dave Berkus built and exited a pioneering software company
The origins of the Berkus Method for startup valuation
What separates investable founders from risky ones
Lessons learned from missed opportunities and failed investments
Why strong boards and governance can shape a company’s future
Practical leadership principles from The Leader’s Toolkit
If you are interested in entrepreneurship, leadership, investing, or building something that lasts, this conversation delivers wisdom earned through decades of experience.
Listen in and discover why great leadership, like great investing, often comes down to judgment, relationships, and seeing opportunity before others do.

Most veterans leave service with powerful leadership skills, but many struggle to translate those lessons into a thriving civilian life—until now.  Andrew Bice, a retired Army aviation senior and dedicated wellness coach, reveals how the core lessons of military discipline, adaptation, and communication can revolutionize your health, resilience, and daily performance. In this candid conversation, Andrew shares his journey from combat veteran to advocate for mental and physical well-being. You'll discover how simple routines—like reclaiming the power of the pause and structuring your day—can dramatically reduce stress, improve health, and increase life longevity. We break down the mental iceberg: what’s hiding beneath the "I’m fine" façade, and how to start meaningful conversations that spark real change. Expect eye-opening insights into the importance of accountability, routine, and a mindset shift from "I have to" to "I get to," empowering you to take ownership of your wellness journey. Andrew offers practical, actionable strategies for busy individuals—especially veterans—who feel overwhelmed by life’s demands. You'll learn why identifying your personal "why" is key to forging lasting change, how small daily adjustments can prevent burnout, and why the habit of pausing might be your most powerful performance tool. Whether you're navigating career transitions, health challenges, or simply seeking deeper resilience, this episode provides the clear, honest guidance you need to reclaim your vitality and purpose.This is essential listening for anyone ready to unlock their full potential—using lessons learned in service to create a stronger, healthier civilian life. If you believe in continuous growth or want to better support veterans in your circle, Andrew’s insights are a game-changer. Tap into the transformational power of leadership, routine, and honest communication—because your best life begins with one informed, intentional step.
 
Connect with Andrew Bice:
Books: https://andrewdbicebooks.com/
Website: https://www.pnwdsfconsulting.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewdbice/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ghstrdr42
 
Connect With Tim
Website: timstatingtheobvious.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timstatingtheobvious
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHfDcITKUdniO8R3RP0lvdw
Instagram: @TimStating
TikTok: @timstatingtheobvious
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-staton-04b41a271/
SKOOL Community: https://www.skool.com/timstatingtheobvious-9537/about?ref=de9c7e65d8ba4eeabc1a8eea413c125b

In this insightful discussion on leadership and employee development episode, Stop Losing Your Best Employees Now, Tim Staton and Sharyn Abbott explore how growing smarter—not just working harder—drives unstoppable success for individuals, teams, and organizations. Sharyn Abbott, a seasoned speaker, author, and founder of Ultimate Business International with over 30 years of experience training entrepreneurs and Fortune 500 teams, shares proven strategies for developing executives and fostering sustainable growth.
 
Drawing from her personal journey overcoming stuttering, dyslexia, and a challenging family background marked by abuse, Sharyn learned to deeply understand human behavior. Her 20+ years in the printing industry, including sales roles with companies like Hewlett Packard and Varian, gave her a front-row seat to observe diverse management styles and their real-world impact on employee engagement.
Examples of Impersonal Leadership Styles and Their Consequences
Sharyn highlights how modern leadership has increasingly become impersonal, contrasting it with heart-centered approaches backed by Institute of HeartMath studies showing greater profitability, productivity, and employee retention. Impersonal leadership examples include a manager threatening an employee’s job over a family Thanksgiving trip or the mass layoffs during the 2008 downturn, which eroded loyalty and left workers feeling disposable—prompting many to seek more appreciative environments, such as Tesla opportunities in Texas. These impersonal leadership styles destroy trust, fuel disengagement (as seen in the Cisco example where 21 employees played Solitaire at 9:30 AM), and create high turnover.
 
Benefits of Flexible Talent Programs for Employee Engagement
To counter these issues, Sharyn strongly advocates for flexible talent programs that invest in people from day one. By matching employees to roles aligned with their unique personalities and learning styles—whether kinetic, visual, or auditory—companies can boost excitement, productivity, and long-term commitment. This tailored approach, far superior to rigid training manuals, significantly reduces turnover costs and builds a more engaged workforce.
 
Delegation and Addressing Conflict: Building and Eroding Trust
A core theme is building and eroding trust through effective delegation and addressing conflict. Ownership issues often prevent delegation, as managers claim credit for team ideas, breeding resentment and an “us vs. them” culture between departments. Sharyn recommends open-door meetings, leveraging natural team leaders, and clearly explaining the “why” behind decisions to resolve issues like mandatory overtime. Her personal philosophy—starting with 100% trust and allowing it to adjust based on actions—encourages leaders to avoid carrying past baggage into new relationships.
 
Evolving Leadership & Ethics with Sharyn Abbott’s “Growing into Leadership”
Sharyn introduces her book Growing into Leadership, which guides the transition from entrepreneurship to corporate roles while emphasizing evolving leadership & ethics. The focus is on instilling trust and respect without fear, helping managers bring others up through the ranks by recognizing individual strengths and avoiding authoritarian pitfalls.
 
Self-Care for Leaders: Essential for Sustainable Success
Finally, a critical message for busy executives is self-care for leaders. Sharyn compares it to securing your own oxygen mask first—leaders must prioritize rejuvenation through peer discussions, courses, family time, or other restorative activities to prevent burnout and maintain peak performance. For practical support, many leaders turn to the best self-care apps for busy leaders, such as Headspace or Calm for mindfulness, Forest for focused productivity, or habit trackers like Daylio and Finch to build sustainable wellness routines.
This episode delivers actionable insights on developing executives who lead with heart, ethics, and flexibility—ultimately creating loyal, high-performing teams and lasting organizational success.
Connect with Sharyn Abbott
Website: https://sharynabbott.com/press-room/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharyn-abbott-ubu/
Connect With Tim
Website: timstatingtheobvious.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timstatingtheobvious
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHfDcITKUdniO8R3RP0lvdw
Instagram: @TimStating
TikTok: @timstatingtheobvious
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-staton-04b41a271/
SKOOL Community: https://www.skool.com/timstatingtheobvious-9537/about?ref=de9c7e65d8ba4eeabc1a8eea413c125b

In this episode of Mastering Business Exit Strategies, Tim Staton sits down with Brent Eugenides to explore best software tools for business exit planning, exit planning for business owners, business exit planning services, small business exit planning, and small business exit strategy planning.
 
Brent shares his personal journey from working in his family's mortgage business to becoming a leading consultant specializing in exit planning for business owners and financial strategy in business. He explains how to start a family business succession plan, family business transition to second generation, family business transition plan, and even transition from family business to corporate, while integrating financial strategy for public managers, financial strategy for capital structure, and sustainable wealth creation.
 
Discover how to increase business valuation for a future sale, the critical role of cash flow management in business, how to improve cash flow management, cash flow management for small business, and what is cash flow management for business. Brent breaks down what is cash flow management and why strong cash flow management is essential for a successful exit.
 
Key topics include:
The Hybrid Approach to integrating business growth with personal planning objectives
Learning from real family business experiences and avoiding common pitfalls in unplanned growth
Looking beyond financial statements to understand true business value
The importance of including your team in succession planning to boost value and ensure smooth transitions
Starting early with an integrated personal and business financial plan
 
Whether you're planning a family business succession plan, preparing for a sale, or building sustainable wealth creation through better financial strategy, this conversation delivers actionable insights on business exit planning services and small business exit strategy planning.
Brent emphasizes early planning, diversifying assets, empowering employees, and using modern tools to maximize your business's worth. Don't wait until it's too late — start mastering your business exit strategies today!
 
If you're a business owner focused on exit planning for business owners, how to increase business valuation, or cash flow management for small business, hit play now and take control of your future.
 
👍 Like | 🔔 Subscribe | 💬 Comment your biggest exit planning challenge below!
 
Connect with Brent Eugenides
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brenteugenides/
Book: https://a.co/d/03lcJv0f
Website: https://www.befinancialllc.com/
Website Connect: https://meeting.levitate.ai/#/b5840f-5w5x9g/15-minute-meeting
 
Connect With Tim
Website: timstatingtheobvious.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timstatingtheobvious
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHfDcITKUdniO8R3RP0lvdw
Instagram: @TimStating
TikTok: @timstatingtheobvious
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-staton-04b41a271/
SKOOL Community: https://www.skool.com/timstatingtheobvious-9537/about?ref=de9c7e65d8ba4eeabc1a8eea413c125b

In this eye-opening conversation, Cash Flow Secrets to Financial Independence, Steve Lawson of Unbroken Investing sits down to challenge how most people think about wealth. He explains that true wealth isn’t about stacking up assets or chasing a big net worth — it’s about freedom. And the real key to that freedom? Cash flow.
Steve breaks down why so many people feel stuck even when they’re earning good money. They focus on income statements and profits, but overlook the power of actual cash flow — the money that comes in reliably, month after month, whether you’re working or not. He walks through practical examples of cash flow versus traditional income, and why a negative cash flow situation can quietly derail your finances even if things look good on paper.
The discussion dives into the difference between active income (what you trade your time for) and passive income (what eventually works for you). Steve shares how building streams of passive income through smart investing — especially in real estate, stocks, and small businesses — is what creates lasting financial independence for the vast majority of millionaires.
He outlines five clear levels of financial independence and shows how most people never move past the first or second stage. Along the way, he emphasizes the importance of mindset shifts, strategic leverage, and diversification across non-correlated assets to protect and grow your wealth.
 
Connect either Steve Lawson
Community - https://unbrokeninvesting.com/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/indylawson/
Book: https://a.co/d/03Z1acQL
 
Connect With Tim
Website: timstatingtheobvious.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timstatingtheobvious
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHfDcITKUdniO8R3RP0lvdw
Instagram: @TimStating
TikTok: @timstatingtheobvious
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-staton-04b41a271/
SKOOL Community: https://www.skool.com/timstatingtheobvious-9537/about?ref=de9c7e65d8ba4eeabc1a8eea413c125b

This episode, From Heart Disease To Heart-Centered Leadership, of Tim Stating the Obvious features an inspiring Hannah Bauer interview on Heartnomics, where she reveals how fulfilled human potential drives profits and lasting success in business and leadership.
 
Hannah shares her powerful personal story of overcoming adversity—from childhood heart disease and life-threatening challenges to pioneering medical breakthroughs—demonstrating real-world overcome adversity examples and how to overcome adversity through resilience, faith, and purpose. Her journey shows how people overcome adversity with motivation rooted in love, gratitude, and intentional action, turning obstacles into fuel for growth.
 
Drawing from servant leadership theory and servant leadership in the Bible, Hannah embodies a servant leadership style that prioritizes serving others, aligning leadership with core values of faith, hope, and operational excellence. She introduces her BEAT framework—Believe, Engage, Act, Transform—as a practical tool to overcome adversity, navigate disruption, and create meaningful change both personally and organizationally.
Listeners will gain actionable insights on:
 
Building resilience and a leadership mindset forged through hardship
The role of service and servant leadership in driving personal and professional growth
Strategies for leading through layoffs, uncertainty, and transformation with integrity
How faith and small, consistent actions compound into profound impact
Fostering human-centered, values-driven cultures that unlock team potential and boost performance
 
If you're searching for overcome adversity motivation, inspiration on how can people overcome adversity, or ways to lead with heart-driven purpose, this conversation delivers practical wisdom to help you transform challenges into opportunities and lead more effectively.
Tune in for leadership lessons that prove great results come from serving others and embracing your full human potential.
 
Connect With Hanna Bauer:
Website: www.HEARTnomics.com 
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/bauerhanna 
Instagram: @hannabauer777
Facebook: https://facebook.com/hannad.bauer
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heartnomics
 
Connect With Tim
Website: timstatingtheobvious.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timstatingtheobvious
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHfDcITKUdniO8R3RP0lvdw
Instagram: @TimStating
TikTok: @timstatingtheobvious
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-staton-04b41a271/
SKOOL Community: https://www.skool.com/timstatingtheobvious-9537/about?ref=de9c7e65d8ba4eeabc1a8eea413c125b