What if the habits that made you successful are now holding you back? I sit down with Darrell Vesterfelt to unpack 10 signs you may be the bottleneck in your own growth, from struggling to delegate and feeling guilty about rest to having a packed calendar while your most important work remains unfinished.

We dig into what’s underneath these patterns, including fear, identity, and the systems we create around ourselves. We also talk about recovery, creating space for meaningful work, and why getting better results may have less to do with working harder and more to do with changing how you work.

Topics We Cover in This Episode:

• The 10 signs you may be the bottleneck

• Why success can eventually become a constraint

• What's really behind resistance to delegation

• Why recovery matters for high performers

• What your calendar may be telling you

• How to make room for your most important work

• Why small experiments can create meaningful change

• When the system you're using needs to change

If you're working harder but not getting the results you want, this conversation will give you a new way to look at what's getting in the way. Tune in and see which patterns might be showing up in your own work.

Resources Mentioned:

Connect with Darrell: https://darrellvesterfelt.com/

Follow Darrell on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dvest/
Connect with Darrell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrellvesterfelt

100s of Infographics: https://bunnell-idea-group-inc.kit.com/a9d68c6c15

Sign up for Bunnell Idea Group's free AI Business Development tool, GrowBIG AI: growbig.ai

Sign up for Mo's weekly newsletter: GrowBigPlaybook.com

Free Give to Grow Training and Downloadable Materials: Givetogrow.info

Give to Grow Amazon Order Link: https://a.co/d/ec8DTzc

Follow Mo's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mobunnell/

What if selling got easier when you stopped trying so hard to sell? In this episode, I’m joined by Rob Snyder, creator of the PULL framework, to explore a different approach to business development. Instead of pushing products and services toward clients, we talk about creating the conditions where people naturally pull your solution toward them. Rob breaks down the four pieces of PULL and explains why a client having a problem does not necessarily mean they have a reason to buy.

We also talk about how to listen for what clients are actually trying to accomplish, why customer feedback does not always predict buying behavior, and how Rob uses the framework with real businesses and his own AI offering. We even apply the PULL framework to one of my own potential offers. If you’re trying to grow your business without constantly feeling like you have to convince people to buy, this conversation offers a completely different way to think about sales.

Topics We Cover in This Episode:

• Why having a problem doesn’t always create a reason to buy

• The four conditions that create PULL

• What you may be missing when prospects agree but don’t buy

• How to listen for what clients are actually trying to accomplish

• Why customer feedback can be misleading

• How to be proactive without becoming pushy

• Why Rob recommends selling an offer before fully building it

• The question that can reveal what someone would actually pay to solve

Tune in to rethink the way you approach sales, business development, and creating demand for what you offer.

Resources Mentioned:

Connect with Rob on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rsnyder1/

Check Out Rob's Website: robsnyder.org

100s of Infographics: https://bunnell-idea-group-inc.kit.com/a9d68c6c15

Sign up for Bunnell Idea Group's free AI Business Development tool, GrowBIG AI: growbig.ai

Sign up for Mo's weekly newsletter: GrowBigPlaybook.com

Free Give to Grow Training and Downloadable Materials: Givetogrow.info

Give to Grow Amazon Order Link: https://a.co/d/ec8DTzc

Follow Mo's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mobunnell/

What if procrastination is costing you business? In this episode, I sit down with Jon Acuff to unpack why smart, capable professionals procrastinate on the things that actually grow their businesses, especially follow-up, relationship building, and business development. We talk about the four traps that keep us stuck, why procrastination isn't just about getting started, and how even quitting can become something we put off.

Jon also shares practical strategies for getting out of your own way, including his "CEO of follow-up" mindset, the power of the Golden Hour, and why shifting from selling to serving can completely change how you approach relationships. We also dig into knowing what to stop doing, choosing the right platforms for your business, and building relationships that lead to long-term revenue.

Topics We Cover in This Episode:

• Why your biggest competition might actually be yourself

• The hidden ways procrastination shows up in business

• Why follow-up gets harder after rejection

• How to use your "Golden Hour"

• When quitting is actually the right move

• Why serving can make selling easier

• How to focus on the platforms that actually matter

• What it takes to turn relationships into revenue

If you've ever known exactly what you should be doing but still found yourself putting it off, this episode is for you. Tune in and find out what's really getting in your way.

Resources Mentioned:

Jon's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonacuff/

Jon's Website: jonacuff.com

Stage and Page workshop: jonacuff.com/stage

100s of Infographics: https://bunnell-idea-group-inc.kit.com/a9d68c6c15

Sign up for Bunnell Idea Group's free AI Business Development tool, GrowBIG AI: growbig.ai

Sign up for Mo's weekly newsletter: GrowBigPlaybook.com

Free Give to Grow Training and Downloadable Materials: Givetogrow.info

Give to Grow Amazon Order Link: https://a.co/d/ec8DTzc

Follow Mo's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mobunnell/

What if the expertise you’ve spent decades building could become the engine for more predictable revenue, stronger positioning, and better-fit clients? In this episode, I sit down with Amanda Northcutt, founder and CEO of Level Up Creators, to unpack why so many experts struggle with inconsistent lead flow even when they are exceptional at what they do.

We talk about the “expert trap,” why being great at the work is not enough to consistently win the work you actually want, and how personal branding, a clearly defined methodology, and a deep understanding of your ideal client can change the way people see and choose you. Amanda also shares how to extract the expertise that has become second nature, turn it into a repeatable methodology, and use AI to help uncover and codify what may otherwise be difficult to articulate.

Topics We Cover in This Episode:

• Why being exceptionally good at your work can actually make it harder to explain what you do

• The missing piece between expertise and predictable, recurring revenue

• How to uncover the methodology hiding inside your own experience

• Why your personal brand may matter more to the buying decision than your company name

• What a product ladder can look like, even when you think you only have one service to sell

• How to make it easier for the right prospects to say yes

• Why the language your clients use may be more valuable than the language you use to describe your work

• How AI can help turn years of expertise and conversations into usable intellectual property

If you’re an expert, consultant, professional services provider, or business leader who wants to become easier to find, easier to understand, and easier to hire, this is a conversation you don’t want to skip.

Resources Mentioned:

Connect with Amanda: https://welevelupcreators.com/
100s of Infographics: https://bunnell-idea-group-inc.kit.com/a9d68c6c15

Sign up for Bunnell Idea Group's free AI Business Development tool, GrowBIG AI: growbig.ai

Sign up for Mo's weekly newsletter: GrowBigPlaybook.com

Free Give to Grow Training and Downloadable Materials: Givetogrow.info

Give to Grow Amazon Order Link: https://a.co/d/ec8DTzc

Follow Mo's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mobunnell/

I’m excited to sit down with Kristy Ellmer, a senior leader at Boston Consulting Group and co-author of How Change Really Works, to talk about what it actually takes to lead meaningful change inside organizations. Rather than relying on intuition or management trends, Kristy explains how years of research in behavioral science, neuroscience, and real-world transformations led to seven practical principles for increasing the odds of success. We explore why so many change efforts stall, why getting genuine agreement matters more than quick consensus, and how leaders can create the conditions for lasting progress instead of temporary compliance.

Our conversation also moves beyond strategy into the human side of transformation. We discuss why people are more likely to embrace change when they have ownership in shaping it, how leaders can encourage productive disagreement without slowing momentum, and why stories often inspire action more effectively than metrics alone. Whether you're leading a company, managing a team, or guiding clients through change, these ideas offer practical ways to think differently about how people commit to new directions and sustain them over time.

Topics We Cover in This Episode:

• Why "false alignment" creates more problems than open disagreement

• How to know when your team is truly aligned before moving forward

• A simple exercise that exposes hidden assumptions in leadership meetings

• What the "IKEA Effect" teaches us about ownership and commitment

• Why involving more people doesn't always slow a transformation down

• How stories and symbols can motivate people in ways data alone cannot

• The role of healthy debate in building stronger decisions and better execution

• Why successful change is often about designing the process, not just setting the goal

If you're responsible for leading change or influencing others through uncertainty, I think you'll find this conversation incredibly helpful.

Resources Mentioned:

Purchase How Change Really Works: https://a.co/d/08tqzPRZ

Connect with Kristy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristy-r-ellmer-b25b7a23/

Connect with Kristy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristy_ellmer/

Sign up for Bunnell Idea Group's free AI Business Development tool, GrowBIG AI: growbig.ai

Sign up for Mo's weekly newsletter: GrowBigPlaybook.com

Free Give to Grow Training and Downloadable Materials: Givetogrow.info

Give to Grow Amazon Order Link: https://a.co/d/ec8DTzc

Follow Mo's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mobunnell/

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Robert Cialdini, one of the world's foremost researchers on influence and the bestselling author of Influence, to discuss what actually builds trust in relationship-driven business development. Rather than focusing on persuasion tactics, we explore the small, practical behaviors that help experts create stronger client relationships over time—from expressing genuine affinity and finding authentic points of connection to using language that reinforces partnership instead of distance.

We also talk about why human connection often matters more than demonstrating expertise alone. Dr. Cialdini shares research-backed examples on asking for advice instead of opinions, making communication feel more personal, framing conversations around shared goals, and even how admitting a past mistake can strengthen credibility.

Topics We Cover in This Episode:

• Why the principles of liking and unity are foundational to lasting client relationships

• A simple language shift that turns critics into collaborators

• How to find authentic common ground without forcing rapport

• Why humanizing your communication can be more persuasive than emphasizing credentials

• What Warren Buffett's shareholder letters teach about building trust

• How acknowledging a past mistake can make future recommendations more credible

• When framing outcomes as potential losses can be more motivating than highlighting gains

• Practical ways to make emails, conversations, and client interactions feel more personal

If you're looking for practical ways to strengthen trust, communicate more effectively, and build relationships that last, I think you'll find plenty to take away from this conversation.

Resources Mentioned:

Cialdini Free Assessment — cialdini.com

Book: Influence by Robert Cialdini — https://a.co/d/05dd7GPv

Robert Cialdini's other books — https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B000AP9KKG/

Sign up for Bunnell Idea Group's free AI Business Development tool, GrowBIG AI: growbig.ai

Sign up for Mo's weekly newsletter: GrowBigPlaybook.com

Free Give to Grow Training and Downloadable Materials: Givetogrow.info

Give to Grow Amazon Order Link: https://a.co/d/ec8DTzc

Follow Mo's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mobunnell/

In this episode, I sit down with former Navy SEAL, leadership expert, and bestselling author Rich Diviney to explore what it really means to perform well in uncertain environments. Drawing from the ideas in his book Masters of Uncertainty, Rich explains why chasing peak performance can actually be the wrong goal for most people and why learning to perform optimally in unpredictable situations matters far more.

We discuss how uncertainty affects decision-making, motivation, relationships, and business development, and how small shifts in focus can help us make progress even when outcomes feel unclear.

If you're leading a business, growing relationships, managing a team, or simply trying to navigate a challenging season, this conversation offers practical ways to stay focused and effective when certainty is nowhere to be found.

Topics We Cover in This Episode:

• Why optimal performance is often more useful than peak performance

• How uncertainty creates stress and what your brain is looking for in difficult situations

• The Duration, Pathway, Outcome (DPO) framework and how it can reduce overwhelm

• Why breaking goals into smaller horizons can improve motivation and follow-through

• How fear, uncertainty, and anxiety interact and what helps reduce their impact

• What attributes reveal about how people show up under pressure

• How high-performing teams adapt leadership responsibilities in real time

• Why trust depends on more than competence and consistency alone

If you're looking for practical ways to navigate uncertainty with more confidence, clarity, and resilience, this episode is for you.

Resources Mentioned:

Listen to Secrets to Thriving Under Pressure with Author and Retired Navy SEAL, Rich Diviney: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/secrets-to-thriving-under-pressure-with-author-and/id1504330338?i=1000683901565

Connect with Rich: https://learn.theattributes.com/mastering-uncertainty

Sign up for Bunnell Idea Group's free AI Business Development tool, GrowBIG AI: growbig.ai

Sign up for Mo's weekly newsletter: GrowBigPlaybook.com

Free Give to Grow Training and Downloadable Materials: Givetogrow.info

Give to Grow Amazon Order Link: https://a.co/d/ec8DTzc

Follow Mo's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mobunnell/

In this episode, I sit down with Melody Wilding to talk about a skill that has become increasingly important in today's matrixed organizations: managing up. But not in the traditional sense of simply keeping your boss informed. We explore what it really means to build influence with decision-makers, stakeholders, and leaders whose priorities, communication styles, and levels of involvement may be very different from your day-to-day contacts. Whether you're navigating internal relationships or working with complex clients, Melody shares practical frameworks for creating alignment, building trust, and increasing your impact without feeling political or inauthentic.

We also discuss how to identify the people who truly influence outcomes, make the most of limited access to senior leaders, and communicate your value in ways that resonate with decision-makers.

Topics We Cover in This Episode:

• Why "managing up" means much more than managing your relationship with a direct supervisor

• How to identify the stakeholders who have the greatest influence over key decisions

• A simple power-mapping framework for navigating complex organizations

• Better questions to ask when trying to understand what decision-makers truly care about

• How to communicate updates in ways that highlight business impact instead of activity

• The role curiosity plays in creating meaningful networking opportunities

• Why involving others in the process often creates stronger buy-in than presenting a polished solution

• How to use brief interactions with senior leaders to build stronger long-term relationships

If you enjoy conversations about influence, business development, leadership, and relationship-building, I think you'll find a lot to consider in this discussion. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss future episodes, and if you found this conversation valuable, please share it with a colleague or friend who would enjoy it as well.

Resources Mentioned:

Connect with Melody: https://melodywilding.com/

Get Melody's free training, 5 Steps to Speak Like a Senior Leader, here: https://melodywilding.com/training

Sign up for Bunnell Idea Group's free AI Business Development tool, GrowBIG AI: growbig.ai

Sign up for Mo's weekly newsletter: GrowBigPlaybook.com

Free Give to Grow Training and Downloadable Materials: Givetogrow.info

Give to Grow Amazon Order Link: https://a.co/d/ec8DTzc

Follow Mo's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mobunnell/