The Blog
Long-form essays, field notes, and frameworks from the FIRMSconsulting team — published weekly.
All posts
Published weekly-
From Ditch Digger to 9-Figure CEO: Building a Business That Runs Without You
In this episode, I speak with Ken Rusk, nine-figure CEO and bestselling author of Blue Collar Cash, on building and scaling a successful business. Key insights: – True growth comes from empowering entrepreneurial employees and building autonomous teams aligned with the company’s mission and motivated to perform. – Rusk’s approach emphasizes the alignment of personal…
-
Microsoft Director JoAnn Garbin on How to Empower Anyone to Innovate
What if the key to driving real innovation isn’t genius, but orchestration? Innovation is often seen as the domain of visionaries or tech geniuses. But in this episode, JoAnn Garbin, former Director of Innovation at Microsoft Cloud and co-author of The Insider’s Guide to Innovation @ Microsoft, shows that true innovation is a craft: one…
-
Hrund Gunnsteinsdóttir on Rethinking Leadership Through Intuition and Inner Clarity
What if the leadership edge you’re looking for doesn’t come from working harder, but listening deeper? We talk often about productivity, performance, and pushing through. But few conversations explore the quieter forces shaping our best decisions, like intuition. In this episode, I speak with Hrund Gunnsteinsdóttir, a director, writer, systems thinker, and an award-winning sustainability…
-
Anesthesiologist and Reality TV Star on How to Stop Chasing Perfection and Embrace Connection
Dr. Tiffany Moon isn’t just breaking stereotypes — she’s rewriting the script. In this episode, Dr. Tiffany Moon — board-certified anesthesiologist, founder of Aromasthesia, and former cast member of Bravo’s Real Housewives — opens up about what it really takes to balance ambition, motherhood, entrepreneurship, and public scrutiny. From immigrating to the U.S. at age…
-
Experiencing The American Dream with Mark Matson
What if the financial advice you trust is actually hurting your future? Mark Matson believes it is — and he has the data to prove it. In this episode, I sit down with Mark Matson, founder of Matson Money and a pioneer in the evidence-based investing movement. With over $9 billion in assets under management,…
-
“I get no joy in consulting anymore.”
“I get no joy in consulting anymore. I don’t know if this is what I should do.” That’s not a casual thought. It’s not something you say when everything is running smoothly. It’s the quiet sentence that only surfaces when something deep inside feels really off. And that’s exactly what came through from a client…
-
First African American Astronaut on Lessons from His Missions and Embracing Infinite Possibilities
Welcome to Strategy Skills episode 547, an interview with Bernard Harris, an astronaut, physician, venture capitalist, philanthropist, and author of Embracing Infinite Possibilities: Letting Go of Fear to Find Your Highest Potential. In this episode, Bernard Harris, the first African American astronaut to walk in space, shares his experiences and describes the thrill of launching…
-
[New Insider Program] Why am I not happy?
What Feels Tolerable at First Eventually Becomes Intolerable. …Sooner or Later, You Have to Act. I want to highlight the beginning of the release of a new 14-part program “Why am I not happy? How can I be happy?” available to Insiders and Legacy members. The first 2 episodes can be accessed here. Also, only during the next 4…
-
Renowned Experts Christian van Nieuwerburgh and Robert Biswas-Diener on Radical Listening
Welcome to Strategy Skills episode 546, an interview with the authors of Radical Listening: The Art of True Connection, Prof. Christian van Nieuwerburgh and Dr. Robert Biswas-Diener. Most conversations barely scratch the surface, because true connection isn’t just about hearing words, it’s about listening with purpose and presence. In this episode, Prof. Christian van Nieuwerburgh…
-
Eric Cole on How Cybersecurity Can Make or Break Your Business
Welcome to Strategy Skills episode 545, an interview with the author of Cyber Crisis: Protecting Your Business from Real Threats in the Virtual World, Dr. Eric Cole. What do cybersecurity and entrepreneurship have in common? According to Dr. Eric Cole, a former CIA hacker turned tech entrepreneur and cybersecurity expert, they all require pattern recognition, disciplined thinking,…
-
Kevin Evers on the Strategic Genius of Taylor Swift
Welcome to Strategy Skills episode 544, an interview with the author of There’s Nothing Like This: The Strategic Genius of Taylor Swift, Kevin Evers. In this episode, Kevin shares insights from his new book on Taylor Swift, noting her strategic decision-making and marketing tactics that led her to where she is today. He stresses the…
-
Elizabeth Husserl on Understanding Embodied Wealth
Welcome to Strategy Skills episode 543, an interview with the author of The Power of Enough: Finding Joy in Your Relationship with Money, Elizabeth Husserl. Many people chase wealth as a number but the truth is, true wealth is more than money in the bank. In this episode, Elizabeth challenges common assumptions about financial success…