Host Joshua McNary chat with Michelle Owens, certified EOS implementer, business coach, facilitator, and founding partner of Slingshot25. Michelle brings decades of hands-on leadership experience, a passion for development, and a reputation for asking tough questions with care. She helps entrepreneurial teams get unstuck and achieve real traction using the EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) framework.

Joshua and Michelle dive into what it takes to lead with clarity and why structure can fuel creativity instead of stifling it. You'll hear practical strategies for aligning your team, building sustainable accountability, and tackling the people challenges that every growing business faces. Michelle shares her journey—from corporate leadership to unlocking growth for small businesses—along with actionable tips for embracing intentional frameworks, facing hard conversations head-on, and creating organizations that thrive.

Whether you're hitting a ceiling as you scale, searching for more discipline in your execution, or ready for meaningful change, this conversation will inspire you to take the next step with intention. Listen for real-world stories, insightful advice, and a roadmap for leading your business toward lasting impact.

• Michelle's LinkedIn
• Slingshot25
• Michelle's email: michelle.owens@eosworldwide.com

In this episode of Intentional Change, Shawn FitzGerald sits down with Vada Grantham, CEO of Revelations Research Solutions, to explore the power of asking better questions and listening to customers with intention.

Vada shares how market research goes far beyond surveys—it’s about uncovering insights that reveal why people buy, what truly matters to them, and how businesses can avoid costly mistakes. From blind spots caused by emotion to websites that silently drive customers away, Vada explains how research helps business owners see clearly, adapt quickly, and make smarter decisions.

You’ll discover:

• Why assumptions can quietly sabotage great ideas
• How better questions uncover human behavior
• The surprising ROI of research for both startups and large firms
• What your website might really be saying to customers
• How to balance gut instincts with data-driven clarity

If you’ve ever wondered how to uncover what customers are really thinking, this episode is for you.

What if the greatest opportunity for your business is already within reach—but hidden in plain sight? In this episode of Intentional Change, Shawn FitzGerald digs deep with Mitchell Kearns, Technology & Commercialization Director at Iowa’s SBDC. Together, they discuss how the Iowa Small Business Development Center (SBDC) supports entrepreneurs as they turn big ideas into market-ready businesses, secure funding through SBIR/STTR grants, and avoid the costly trap of skipping customer discovery. From early-stage planning to succession strategies and rural innovation, Mitchell shares the practical steps that separate successful business builders from those who stall out. Whether you’re starting up, scaling, or planning your exit, this conversation is your roadmap to intentional growth.