Blue Collar Leadership

In today’s hyper-connected world, your social media presence isn’t just personal anymore; it’s often the first impression a hiring manager gets before they even open your resume. What you post, like, or comment on can quietly signal your professionalism, judgment, and emotional maturity (or the lack thereof). A single ill-timed rant, a subtle dig at your boss, or an old spring-break photo that nev...

Mack Story unpacks the subtle yet powerful ways distrust creeps into relationships, both personal and professional, often without us realizing it. By sharing practical strategies, Mack equips listeners to recognize and counteract distrust, fostering stronger, more resilient connections with their teams and loved ones. Mack explains how seemingly minor actions—like forgetting to say thank you, igno...

Mack Story explores the essential art of building rapport as the gateway to trust in blue-collar leadership. This episode equips listeners with actionable strategies to connect authentically, strengthen teams, and lead with influence rooted in care. Drawing from Christian Simpson's insight, "When building rapport, we are conveying to others, 'I’m like you, so it’s okay for you to like...

Mack Story dives into the critical role of trust as the foundation of influence in leadership. This episode offers actionable insights for leaders to cultivate trust, enhance their influence, and build stronger teams. Drawing from his experiences and insights from thought leaders like Stephen M. R. Covey and John C. Maxwell, Mack emphasizes that trust is built on a solid foundation of intent and c...

In this interview, Mike Chiles discusses: Being on the MAP: Making it Happen, Allowing it to Happen, & Preventing it from Happening His takeaways from The 5 Types of Leaders online video course How your actions reveal your values His focus on becoming a better father and husband Taking responsibility as a leader at work and at home Continuous improvement of self and processes His personal grow...

In this interview, Greg Crumpton discusses: Working at Service Logic which has made over 100 acquisitions Selling his company (#8) to Service Logic where he now works as Vice-President That “Leaders are readers!” Blocking out time to learn The hardest thing for some people is saying “No” The importance of mentoring and guiding young people His book deepKnowledge: Do More; Be More; Succeed More His...

Ever caught yourself pushing your team harder for your own deadlines without considering what’s in it for them? This episode draws from Mack Story's insights in "Defining Influence" to highlight the power of intent in blue-collar leadership, distinguishing low-impact manipulation from high-impact motivation. Perfect for mechanics, welders, or any hands-on foreman, Mack will break dow...

In this episode, Mack Story dives into the core of what makes a great leader in the trades and the impact of the intent behind your actions and words. Drawing from his insights in "Defining Influence," he explore how your inner character shapes your influence with co-workers. Whether you're a foreman directing a construction team or a mechanic leading those working under the hood, un...

Explore how negative self-talk erodes hope and often leads to life-altering despair. Then, consider how modeling unshakeable character allows you to increase your influence. Learn to borrow belief from others and cultivate habits that reflect integrity which will allow you to turn personal struggles into powerful examples of resilience. Looking for resources? You'll find them at BlueCollarLead...

In this no-nonsense episode, Mack Story gets real about the mental grind that powers your daily hustle—because if you knew exactly what to do, you'd already be running the show instead of punching the clock. Mack draws from his blue-collar roots in small-town Tallassee, Alabama (pop. under 6,000), and breaks down the Choice Formula: Thought + Emotion + Action = Choice. Thoughts harden into hab...

You were born a leader! Your awareness of self, others, and your environment has been increasing since your birth. Your influence increased the most in your early years. For many people, it seems to slow down dramatically as they reach adulthood. How much influence do you have with others at this moment? Your influence today is based on the choices you made in the past. Your influence in the futur...

Join Mack and Ria Story as they dive into a compelling LinkedIn post that sparked Mack’s curiosity. The story centers on a frustrated equipment operator who boldly marched into their boss’s office, demanding a raise and threatening to walk out if their demands weren’t met. In this episode, Mack and Ria unpack the operator’s frustration, explore how the boss responded, and discuss what could have b...

Dive into this episode and discover what type of leader YOU are and learn what kind of leader you report to. You’ll learn what type of leader is most effective. And, you'll learn how character and competency impact each type of leader. Want to dive deeper? Don't miss our FREE 2-hour course at The5TypesOfLeaders.com which comes with an 8 page downloadable Participant's Guide. Once complete, you'll...

Are your front-line leaders struggling to lead effectively? You’re not alone. In this powerful episode, we dive deep into a common frustration voiced by top leaders, HR professionals, and Learning & Development experts: “I need help getting front-line leaders to lead!” Inspired by Gino Wickman’s insight—“Most leaders spend their time overwhelmed, tired, and buried in the day-to-day, unable to...

Breaking Free: The Journey from Blaming Others to Owning His Story In this interview, Jamel Wofford discusses: His personal development journey The struggles he had as a teen Overcoming himself as an adult Getting support from others Choosing to responsibility over victimhood His professional journey Jamel lives in Indianapolis, IN and has become a lifetime student of personal growth and leadershi...

(Part 31 of 31) Ch. 30: Keep Climbing The Ladder of Influence: 5 Steps for Climbing to the Next Level and Beyond by Ria Story provides a powerful, yet simple, framework to help you realize the practical steps you can take to increase your influence with the people around you: family, friends, co-workers, your boss, team members, community members, children, spouses, and maybe even ex-spouses too!

(Part 30 of 31) Ch. 29: Mountain Moments The Ladder of Influence: 5 Steps for Climbing to the Next Level and Beyond by Ria Story provides a powerful, yet simple, framework to help you realize the practical steps you can take to increase your influence with the people around you: family, friends, co-workers, your boss, team members, community members, children, spouses, and maybe even ex-spouses to...

(Part 29 of 31) Ch. 28: Mastering the Fifth Step The Ladder of Influence: 5 Steps for Climbing to the Next Level and Beyond by Ria Story provides a powerful, yet simple, framework to help you realize the practical steps you can take to increase your influence with the people around you: family, friends, co-workers, your boss, team members, community members, children, spouses, and maybe even ex-sp...

(Part 28 of 31) Ch. 27: The Fifth Step at Work The Ladder of Influence: 5 Steps for Climbing to the Next Level and Beyond by Ria Story provides a powerful, yet simple, framework to help you realize the practical steps you can take to increase your influence with the people around you: family, friends, co-workers, your boss, team members, community members, children, spouses, and maybe even ex-spou...

(Part 27 of 31) Ch. 26: The Fifth Step at Home The Ladder of Influence: 5 Steps for Climbing to the Next Level and Beyond by Ria Story provides a powerful, yet simple, framework to help you realize the practical steps you can take to increase your influence with the people around you: family, friends, co-workers, your boss, team members, community members, children, spouses, and maybe even ex-spou...

(Part 26 of 31) Ch. 25: Climbing to the Fifth Step The Ladder of Influence: 5 Steps for Climbing to the Next Level and Beyond by Ria Story provides a powerful, yet simple, framework to help you realize the practical steps you can take to increase your influence with the people around you: family, friends, co-workers, your boss, team members, community members, children, spouses, and maybe even ex-...

(Part 25 of 31) Ch. 24: Fifth Step: Influence Based on Contribution of Service Over Time The Ladder of Influence: 5 Steps for Climbing to the Next Level and Beyond by Ria Story provides a powerful, yet simple, framework to help you realize the practical steps you can take to increase your influence with the people around you: family, friends, co-workers, your boss, team members, community members,...

(Part 24 of 31) Ch. 23: Mastering the Fourth Step The Ladder of Influence: 5 Steps for Climbing to the Next Level and Beyond by Ria Story provides a powerful, yet simple, framework to help you realize the practical steps you can take to increase your influence with the people around you: family, friends, co-workers, your boss, team members, community members, children, spouses, and maybe even ex-s...

(Part 23 of 31) Ch. 22: The Fourth Step at Work The Ladder of Influence: 5 Steps for Climbing to the Next Level and Beyond by Ria Story provides a powerful, yet simple, framework to help you realize the practical steps you can take to increase your influence with the people around you: family, friends, co-workers, your boss, team members, community members, children, spouses, and maybe even ex-spo...

(Part 22 of 31) Ch. 21: The Fourth Step at Home The Ladder of Influence: 5 Steps for Climbing to the Next Level and Beyond by Ria Story provides a powerful, yet simple, framework to help you realize the practical steps you can take to increase your influence with the people around you: family, friends, co-workers, your boss, team members, community members, children, spouses, and maybe even ex-spo...