Decidedly I Decision Tips for Business Owners

What does a 500-mile trek through Spain, a rain-soaked trail in Scotland, and a solo summit in Colorado have to do with building a meaningful life or business?

In this episode, we share the unexpected lessons learned from long-distance hikes, Ironman races, and conversations on the trail — and how they mirror the journey of entrepreneurship, leadership, and self-discovery.

From the spiritual silence of the Camino de Santiago to the muddy mess of the West Highland Way, this isn’t just a story about hiking — it’s about purpose, progress, and the people who walk beside us (or don’t).

If you’ve ever felt like the finish line didn’t fulfill you… this one’s for you.

KEY TOPICS

• “Hike your own hike”: What this means for life, business, and ignoring the noise

• Why the journey is the reward — not the goal or the finish line

• What hiking in the rain teaches us about embracing discomfort

• The real reason entrepreneurs hesitate to sell their businesses

• How solitude reveals what you’re actually chasing

• The power of walking with the right people, not just anyone

• The Camino de Santiago’s secret economy, sacred history, and soul-deep meaning

• How to follow the right signs — and know when someone else’s path isn’t yours

CHAPTERS

• 00:00 Introduction

• 00:51 Hiking in Scotland: The West Highland Way

• 02:18 Hiking Etiquette and Annoyances

• 03:28 Conquering Colorado's Fourteeners

• 07:51 The Spiritual Journey of the Camino de Santiago

• 14:44 The History and Experience of the West Highland Way

• 16:54 Group Hiking Dynamics

• 20:35 The Pressure to Grow in Business

• 21:07 Redefining Success: Progress Over Growth

• 21:50 A Lesson from the Parish Priest

• 22:56 Zappos' Unique Hiring Practice

• 23:59 The Importance of Human Connection

• 27:17 The Journey is the Reward

• 33:53 Lessons from Hiking

• 38:31 Embracing Hardship

• 41:21 Final Thoughts on Hiking and Life

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Are your business decisions driven by instinct, or by strategy? How often do you actually stop to tell the difference?

Matthew Confer, the mind behind decision-making simulations used by leading companies, reveals why your gut might betray you, what most leaders get wrong under pressure, and how to sharpen your instincts for critical decisions.

KEY TOPICS

• The bold move leaders can make to avoid catastrophic mistakes before they happen.
• Why seeking consensus isn’t the best leadership strategy—and what to do instead.
• The real reason confident leaders fail under pressure.
• How keeping receipts on decisions can save your team from chaos.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro: Defeating Bad Decision-Making in Life and Business 

00:49 Changing Wedding Language: Patriarchy or Progress?

03:06 Can Simulations Make You a Better Leader?

05:32 The Dangerous Default in Team Decisions

06:50 Why Consensus Isn’t Always King

08:01 How Leaders Sabotage Innovation Without Realizing It

10:21 What Really Drives Your Team?

12:40 Adapting Management Styles: The Secret to Better Teams

15:05 Leadership Practice Without the Real-World Risk

17:26 Breaking Through Superficial Motivations

19:30 The Challenge of Scaling a Small Company Culture

21:54 Why Diverse Motivations Strengthen Teams

24:14 Spotting Failure Before It Happens

26:36 The Viral Social Media Campaign Dilemma

29:00 The Cobra Problem: When Solutions Make Things Worse

31:16 The $5 Challenge That Changed Business Strategy

33:33 The Power of Writing Down Decisions

35:53 How Poor Note-Taking Derails Teams

38:32 How Stress Wrecks Decision-Making—And How to Stop It

40:51 Why Your Most Disagreeable Employee Makes the Hard Calls

43:07 Why Failure Is the Best Leadership Teacher

45:32 Building Leadership Confidence in Safe Environments

47:51 When Bravado Backfires in Decision-Making

50:08 Are You Missing Critical Team Feedback?

52:32 What MBA Simulations Reveal About Leadership Gaps

54:51 The Secret Ingredient to Engaging Training Programs

56:53 Matthew Confer’s Decision-Making Tip for Business Owners 

58:20 Key Takeaways 

59:45 Message from the Producer

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What if the real reason your team can’t get along... is you?

In this mind-shifting episode, international best-selling author and human behavior expert Thomas Erikson (yes, the guy behind Surrounded by Idiots) joins Decidedly to decode how understanding personality types can transform your business, relationships, and leadership style.

Using the DISC model—Red, Yellow, Green, and Blue—Thomas explains why some people drive you crazy, how to stop sabotaging your own leadership, and what it really takes to build a thriving, cohesive team.

Whether you're scaling a company, leading a team, or navigating family dynamics, this conversation will help you understand yourself and others with clarity, compassion, and maybe a little humor.

KEY TOPICS

• What the DISC personality model really means—and how to identify your type

• Why you might be the one creating conflict on your team (yep, even with good intentions)

• How impatience, perfectionism, or avoidance can sabotage decision-making

• The difference between personality traits and internal motivators—and why both matter in hiring

• How to build a diverse team without sacrificing unity or performance

• Why “winning” isn’t always the goal—and what actually keeps people motivated

• What happens when family and business collide (and how Thomas makes it work)

• How self-awareness becomes your secret weapon in leadership and life

CHAPTERS

• 00:00 Intro

• 00:53 Understanding Different Motivations

• 03:55 Guest Introduction: Thomas Erickson

• 04:36 The DISC Assessment Explained

• 11:38 Self-Awareness and Leadership

• 17:56 Building Effective Teams

• 21:14 Recruitment and Internal Drivers

• 26:43 Personal Stories and Reflections

• 31:04 Balancing Competing Ideas

• 34:50 The Importance of Motivation in Business

• 36:35 Constructive Competition

• 43:21 Defining Success and Legacy

• 49:10 Aligning Family Business Goals

• 59:51 Decision Making Tips for Business Owners

• 01:02:23 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

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What if the most important medical information was hiding in plain sight?

In this eye-opening replay of Ep. 166, we sit down with Alexandra, the powerhouse behind @justtheinserts, to uncover what pharmaceutical companies and government agencies actually disclose—if you know where to look. From vaccine inserts and adverse reaction data to the legal loopholes that protect drug manufacturers, this conversation digs deep into the fine print most patients never read.

Whether you’re a parent making decisions for your kids, a business owner evaluating health policies, or just tired of being in the dark, this episode will give you tools to ask better questions and make more informed choices.

KEY TOPICS

• What a “manufacturer insert” actually is—and why you should always read it

• Why Alexandra started @justtheinserts (and how one personal experience changed everything)

• What the FDA and CDC do and don’t tell you about side effects

• The risks listed for common drugs like DTaP, Vitamin K, and RSV vaccines

• Why informed consent matters more now than ever

• How to advocate for yourself and your family in a rushed healthcare system

• The surprising connection between pharmaceutical marketing and legal immunity

• How to build the skill of decisional independence in health and business

CHAPTERS

• 00:00 Introduction 

• 06:23 Alexandra's Journey and Instagram Success

• 11:14 Understanding Medical Inserts

• 15:43 Personal Experiences with Pharmaceuticals

• 22:21 Challenges and Criticisms in Medical Research

• 31:10 Discussing the Book and Training Course

• 32:10 Informed Consent and Doctor-Patient Dynamics

• 34:32 Vaccine Shedding and Its Implications

• 37:44 Breakthrough Infections and Vaccine Efficacy

• 38:49 Shocking Discoveries in Vaccine Inserts

• 40:18 Personal Stories and Pharmaceutical Industry Insights

• 47:22 Navigating Doctor's Recommendations and Informed Consent

• 54:01 Challenges in the Medical System

• 01:01:24 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
  

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Ever feel like you're spinning your wheels, stuck in the same place despite your efforts? In this episode, hosts Shawn and Sanger delve into the practical strategies to help you break free from life's ruts and reignite your momentum. 

Drawing from their extensive experience in decision-making and personal development, they introduce the "5 Levers of Change": Systems, Goals, Habits, Relationships, and Beliefs. Through insightful discussions and real-life examples, you'll discover how to identify which lever to pull to catalyze meaningful change.

Whether you're facing stagnation in your career, personal life, or mindset, this episode offers actionable steps to help you move forward with clarity and purpose.

If you've ever asked yourself, "How do I get unstuck and make lasting changes?" — this is the episode to press play on.

KEY TOPICS

• Understanding the 5 Levers of Change: Systems, Goals, Habits, Relationships, and Beliefs

• Recognizing when and how to adjust your goals effectively

• Implementing the Double Vision Exercise to explore necessary changes

• Overcoming resistance and embracing belief transformation

• Leveraging relationships to support your growth journey

• Practical tactics for goal setting and achieving transformation

CHAPTERS

• 00:00 Introduction 

• 00:53 A Hurried Morning

• 02:15 Introduction to Plateau Jumping

• 02:58 The Five Levers of Change

• 05:08 The Importance of Relationships

• 06:23 The Missing Lever: Beliefs

• 08:10 Applying the Five Levers

• 16:50 Challenging Traditional Goals

• 25:52 Double Vision Exercise Explained

• 27:04 Visualizing the Ideal Employee

• 30:14 Identifying the Easiest Goal

• 31:25 The Myth of the Harvard Study

• 35:51 The Power of Belief and Visualization

• 39:30 Challenging Established Beliefs

• 47:17 The Importance of Visualization in Goal Setting

• 48:46 Where to Find the Book

• 49:04 Closing Remarks and Credits
  

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