In this episode of "Thriving Through" podcast, host AJ Riedel interviews Pete Cafarchio, an executive coach and consultant with over 8 years of experience following a 22-year career in tech startups. Pete discusses his journey from tech professional to founding his coaching practice and later establishing Oculus Consulting.

Throughout the interview, Pete shares valuable insights about businesses staying true to their original vision and values, highlighting how companies often flounder when they drift away from their core purpose. He explains that the biggest problems in tech companies typically stem from leadership and people issues rather than technical or business challenges.

Key topics covered include:

Pete's transition from tech executive to coach/consultant
The challenge of charging appropriately for your expertise
Managing imposter syndrome as a self-employed professional
The importance of building a community of peers for support
Pete's book "Align with Your Design" and its core message about authenticity

The interview concludes with Pete's inspirational advice for consultants, including his memorable "ABC" philosophy - "Action Brings Clarity" - encouraging professionals to take action rather than overanalyzing, and his reminder that each person brings unique value to the world.

Show notes

In this illuminating episode of "Thriving Through," host AJ Riedel interviews Pete Cafarchio, an accomplished executive coach and business consultant. With over 8.5 years of full-time coaching experience following a 22-year career in tech startups, Pete shares valuable insights on the journey from corporate executive to successful self-employed consultant. This conversation is filled with practical wisdom for consultants at any stage of their business journey.

Key Topics

Introduction & Pete's Background

- Pete's transition from tech startups to coaching/consulting

- Why leadership issues, not technology or business problems, are often the core challenge for companies

Mindset Challenges for Consultants

- Overcoming the hurdle of charging appropriately for your services

- The value of peer community and collaboration

- How to avoid isolation as a self-employed professional

People-Centered Solutions

- Approaching challenges that appear technical but are actually people issues

- Using tools like 360 assessments and strength finders effectively

- The importance of earning trust before delivering hard truths

Personal Insights from Pete's Journey

- Pete's transformative realization about leaning into his natural strengths

- The freedom that comes from accepting your limitations

- How self-awareness reduces self-centeredness and increases client impact

Final Wisdom & Advice

- Dealing with imposter syndrome: "manage it, don't try to fix it"

- The value of partnerships and staying in your zone of excellence

- "ABC - Action Brings Clarity" - Pete's formula for getting unstuck

- "You are God's gift to the world" - the importance of bringing your authentic self to your work

Notable Quotes

"True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it's thinking of yourself less." - Pete sharing one of his favorite principles

"Remember: there are people less qualified than you doing the things you want to do simply because they chose to believe in themselves." - Pete quoting Marshall Goldsmith

"ABC - Action Brings Clarity. You can overthink this. You can just be stuck analyzing over and over and never launch out. Just get out there and try stuff." - Pete Cafarchio

Featured Book

"Align with Your Design" by Pete Cafarchio - Available in paperback, hardback, audio, and Kindle formats on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DR9KFYLT/ref=sr_1_1

Connect with Pete Cafarchio

https://www.linkedin.com/in/petecafarchio/

petecoaching.com

consultoculus.com

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In this episode of the Thriving Through podcast, host AJ Riedel interviews David Balbi, an experienced AI consultant who transitioned from a 40-year career as a PGA golf professional to helping small businesses implement AI solutions.
David shares valuable insights on how AI is revolutionizing small business operations, particularly for consultants and coaches. He discusses time-saving AI applications, strategies for distinguishing valuable tools from "shiny objects," and real-world examples of how AI transformed client workflows—like creating in 15 minutes what previously took days.
The conversation covers David's journey into AI consulting, how business coaches can leverage AI to deliver better services, and advice for consultants just starting to explore AI. David emphasizes that "adapt or die" is the reality for consultants in this rapidly evolving technological landscape.
Whether you're a small business owner, consultant, or just curious about practical AI applications, this interview offers actionable advice for implementing AI to improve efficiency, profitability, and client service.

Connect with David Balbi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saasio/
Website: https://balbi.ai/

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Rick is an organizational development consultant who specializes in understanding why people support or resist change in organizations. His book "Beyond the Wall of Resistance," which he wrote 30 years ago, changed his career trajectory.

In this insightful conversation, Rick shares his expertise on managing resistance to change, how his musical background influences his consulting approach, and valuable advice for self-employed consultants.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rimaurer/

Website: https://rickmaurer.com/

Show Notes

In this insightful episode of the Thriving Through podcast, host AJ Riedel interviews Rick Maurer, an organizational development consultant with over 30 years of experience who specializes in understanding why people and organizations support or resist change.

Key Insights and Career Journey
Rick shares how his book "Beyond the Wall of Resistance," published 30 years ago, fundamentally changed his career trajectory. The book challenged conventional wisdom about organizational resistance, arguing that people resist for good reasons - they're afraid, have other plans, or see different priorities. Rick explains how his thinking evolved from focusing solely on reducing resistance to understanding the full spectrum from resistance to active support.

His approach views support and resistance as a dynamic sliding scale rather than fixed states. Over time, he's refined his model to be fundamental yet simple to understand, making it accessible to clients while remaining profound in application.

Advice for Self-Employed Consultants
Rick offers valuable advice for consultants dealing with resistance:

Two categories of resistance: One category involves the relationship between people, which is where Rick's model helps. The second involves personal fears about lacking skills, which requires different approaches.
Handling uncomfortable situations: When clients are "freaking out," Rick emphasizes staying open to what's happening in the moment, being prepared with expertise, and maintaining a calm presence while collaborating on solutions.
Music and improvisation: Rick's background as a musician deeply influences his consulting approach. He values improvisation, adapting to unexpected situations, and dancing with clients rather than forcing predetermined solutions.
Project selection criteria: One of Rick's most transformative filters is asking, "Will this assignment give me as much pleasure as playing music?" This question emerged after experiencing three lucrative but unsatisfying contracts, helping him recognize when to decline work that doesn't energize him.

On Specialization vs. Flexibility
Rick recommends that early-career consultants try various projects to discover what truly energizes them while paying attention to when it's time to say no. His recommendation changes for consultants who already know their passion - for them, specialization makes more sense earlier.

He cautions that while you might love doing something, it needs to solve problems clients are willing to pay for. Being clear about your specialty can actually create more opportunity if it resonates with market needs.

On Books, Marketing, and Building a Practice
Rick shares candid thoughts on writing books in today's market. While his book dramatically elevated his perceived expertise (he jokes that "my IQ jumped 25 points" after publishing), he questions whether books have the same impact today given how easy self-publishing has become. He suggests consultants might consider YouTube content or shorter-form materials that showcase their expertise instead.

Final Advice
Perhaps the most actionable advice Rick offers is for consultants who are just starting or feeling plateaued: intentionally talk to ideal clients without selling. He recommends information interviews where you seek to understand their challenges, keep the time request reasonable (less than an hour), and always ask, "Is there anyone else I should talk to?" He credits this approach with helping him build his network and understand client needs authentically.

The interview concludes with Rick sharing his excitement about his upcoming webinar on getting organizational changes "unstuck" - demonstrating how even after three decades, he continues to find joy and energy in his work by exploring new angles of his expertise.

Rick’s contact info

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rimaurer/

Website: https://rickmaurer.com/

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