Get Off The Treadmill Podcast

Most business owners believe their job is to manage people. But what if that belief is exactly what’s keeping them stuck on the treadmill? In this episode of Get Off The Treadmill, Chuck Blakeman sits down with Henry McCrory to challenge one of the most ingrained habits in business: management. Together, they unpack why managing people creates dependency instead of ownership—and how shifting to a participation-based model transforms your team from employees into engaged contributors who think, decide, and act like owners. Henry shares real-world insights on what happens when you stop trying to control outcomes and start building an environment where people are trusted, accountable, and aligned around a clear mission. This conversation brings core 3to5 Club principles to life, showing how moving away from management and toward ownership is the key to building a business that produces both time and money. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why managing people keeps you stuck on the treadmill The difference between employees and owners How to create an environment where people choose to engage Why control limits growth, and trust unlocks it The role of mission, clarity, and expectations in building ownership How participation-age thinking transforms your business If you’re tired of being the one who has to push, remind, and oversee everything, this episode will challenge your assumptions and show you a better way to lead. 🎧 Listen now and learn how to stop managing people, and start building a business of owners. ----more---- About Henry McCrory Henry McCrory is the business development lead at Creative 3 and the guy who turns conversations into clients. With years of experience in sales, partnerships, and commercial growth, he focuses on building relationships, spotting opportunities, and making sure the right deals get done. Known for being direct, likeable, and relentless about doing things properly—not just quickly—Henry works closely with brands to understand what they really need, then helps shape the offer, pitch, and plan to drive revenue. If you’ve ever wondered how great marketing becomes real business, Henry is the bridge.

Most businesses say they have a mission. But very few actually run on it. In this episode of Get Off The Treadmill, Chuck Blakeman unpacks what it really means to become a mission-centered organization and why this shift is essential if you want to build a business that runs without you. Because if the mission isn’t the boss… then you are. And that’s what keeps you stuck on the treadmill. Chuck explains how businesses operating in the Participation Age replace personality-driven leadership and top-down control with something far more powerful: a clear, lived mission that drives every decision, behavior, and outcome. This isn’t about writing a mission statement and putting it on the wall. It’s about building a business where the mission becomes the filter for everything, so your team can think, decide, and act without waiting on you. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why most mission statements fail to impact the business What it actually means to be mission-centered (not just mission-driven) How a clear mission helps you get off the treadmill Why the mission, not the owner, should be the boss How mission alignment creates clarity, consistency, and accountability The role of mission in building a Participation Age organization If you’re tired of being the bottleneck in your business and ready to build something that runs on purpose, not personality, this episode lays the foundation. 🎧 Listen now and start building a business where the mission leads and you’re no longer the one holding everything together.

What does it really mean to own a business, not just run one? In this episode of Get Off The Treadmill, Chuck Blakeman sits down with Andrew Rowland to explore the mindset and systems required to move from operator to true business owner. Andrew shares how his journey, from operations management to launching and growing his own home care company, shifted when he stopped focusing on transactions and started building a business rooted in relationships, trust, and long-term thinking. This conversation brings key 3to5 Club principles to life, showing how business owners can step off the treadmill by building systems, leveraging partnerships, and creating a company that grows beyond their daily involvement. In this episode, you’ll learn: The difference between running a business and truly owning one Why relationship-first thinking drives sustainable growth How to move from day-to-day operator to long-term owner The role of systems and partnerships in scaling your business Why chasing transactions keeps you stuck on the treadmill How to build a business that grows without constant oversight If you’re ready to stop doing everything yourself and start building a business that works for you, not because of you, this episode will give you a practical and powerful perspective shift. 🎧 Listen now and learn how to own your business and grow it with purpose. 👤 About Andrew Rowland Andrew Rowland is a Minnesota-based entrepreneur and founder in the home care industry. After building a strong career in operations management, he launched his own company in 2018 to make a meaningful impact in his community. Through strategic partnerships and a successful merger, he’s grown his business by focusing on relationships over transactions. A husband, father of four, and community-minded leader, Andrew is passionate about creating growth—for his business, his clients, and the people around him. 📌 Connect with Andrew:🌐 promisecareinc.com📧 [email protected] 📺 New here? Catch Andrew’s first episode here: Episode #58: How To Do Business Development the Right Way

“Empowerment” has become one of the most overused and misunderstood words in business. In this episode of Get Off The Treadmill, Chuck Blakeman challenges the idea that leaders can give power to people. Instead, he makes a compelling case that true ownership doesn’t come from empowerment, it comes from engagement. Because here’s the reality:You can’t empower people.You can only create an environment where they choose to engage. Chuck breaks down why traditional management models built on control, hierarchy, and permission, actually prevent people from thinking, deciding, and acting like owners. And he explains how shifting to a participation-based operating system unlocks initiative, accountability, and creativity at every level of the business. If you want a team that acts like owners instead of employees, it starts by rethinking your role as a leader and the system you’ve built around them. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why empowerment is often a disguised form of control The critical difference between empowered people and engaged people How traditional management keeps people dependent instead of responsible What it takes to create true ownership inside your business Why engagement, not authority, drives long-term performance How participation-age thinking helps you get off the treadmill If you’re tired of trying to “motivate” people and ready to build a business where people naturally take initiative, this episode will challenge your assumptions and give you a better way forward. 🎧 Listen now and discover why engagement, not empowerment, is the real key to building a business that runs without you.

In this episode of Get Off The Treadmill, Chuck Blakeman sits down with returning guest Cassie Morris to challenge one of the biggest myths in business—that you need the perfect plan before you take action. Instead, they unpack why waiting for clarity keeps you stuck on the treadmill… and how creating a bad plan can actually be the fastest way to build momentum, gain clarity, and move toward your Business Maturity Date. Cassie shares her real-world experience building multiple businesses and how embracing imperfect action helped her simplify decisions, reduce overwhelm, and focus on what actually matters. Together, they explore what it looks like to stop overthinking, start executing, and build a business that produces both time and money. Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode: ✅ Why “perfect planning” keeps business owners stuck ✅ How bad plans create clarity faster than good intentions ✅ The role of action in getting off the treadmill ✅ How to simplify decision-making in your business ✅ Why momentum—not perfection—is the real goal ✅ How to align your actions with your Business Maturity Date If you’ve been waiting for the “right” plan before making your next move, this episode will help you let go of perfection—and start building a business that actually works for you. 🎧 Listen now and take the first imperfect step forward. 👤 About Cassie Morris Cassie Morris is an entrepreneur based in Denver, CO, and the founder of Clover Communications and Strategy, where she helps business owners streamline operations and improve processes. She’s also the owner of Dilly Dally Donut Bar in Bozeman, MT—a business rooted in authenticity, community, and connection. 🔗 Connect with Cassie: 🌐 clovercommunicationsandstrategy.com 🍩 dillydallydonutbar.com 📺 New here? Catch Cassie’s first episode: Episode #56: How Lifetime Goals Shape Your Business