RootsUp Podcast

#255 - How To Build a 6-Figure Coaching Business With No Sales Calls (from Purple Circle's Career Coaching Secrets)

1️⃣ Work with Steve inside Business Builder, DM “GROW20” 👉 https://www.instagram.com/coach_business_builde 2️⃣ How he grows his coaching business with one core video 👉 https://youtu.be/5Q7CQs_2Mco?si=FbcbC7VSwQoNk6PB 3️⃣ Join the Business Builder Insights Club 👉 https://greenhousecoaching.kit.com/business_builder_insights_club Steve sat down with Pedro on the Career Coaching Secrets podcast to share: – How he went from burned out in corporate to building Greenhouse – The real reason traditional funnels stop working in 2026 – His hybrid model for scalable coaching without losing quality – Exactly how he prices + packages offers (and what he'd do differently now) – Why “no sales calls” is the future of coaching...and how to make it work If you're a coach, entrepreneur, or career switcher looking to build something that lasts...this episode's for you.

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#254 - Chief of Staff Insights for Thriving in a Complex Role with Katie Rohn

Oct 200:46:59Tap to summarize

Former Google Chief of Staff and Greenhouse coach Katie Rohn joins Steve Perkins, Sundie Marquardt, and Chris Payne to unpack what it really means to serve as a Chief of Staff. Katie shares how to define the role, earn trust, and manage the four key relationships that make the position so influential. A practical listen for current Chiefs of Staff and the leaders who rely on them. Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction to Chief of Staff Role (7:04) Understanding the Chief of Staff (18:10) Navigating Relationships as a Chief of Staff (25:56) The Four Relationships Framework (39:17) Personal Growth Through the Chief of Staff Role Follow the Greenhouse Chiefs of Staff program page on LinkedIn for insights and resources on excelling in the role! While you're there, send us a DM💬 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/chiefs-of-staff-by-greenhouse-coaching Then, book a call with Katie to learn more about her Chief of Staff 1:1 coaching program: 👉 https://calendar.app.google/W9n2tJvXJ7tSf4mS8

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#253 - Business Building Insights to Grow Your Coaching Business

Sep 2301:02:06Tap to summarize

Thinking about launching a coaching business or taking yours to the next level? In this candid conversation, Steve Perkins shares what it really takes to build a thriving coaching practice. With Gabe Smith, Chris Payne, and Sundie Marquardt, the team explores the three core shifts every coach needs (nailing your niche, creating a path to clients, and setting up simple systems) while unpacking common struggles, mindset traps, and lessons learned from years of experience. (0:00) Intro (3:06) Steve’s passion and path to Business Builder (8:39) Mindsets for freedom and stability (21:00) Having a repeatable process & system (25:51) Core shifts and silent business killers (59:03) Final takeaways and next steps Follow Steve on Instagram for daily tips on how to grow a profitable coaching business! https://www.instagram.com/coach_business_builder/ Then what? DM him the word GROW20 on Instagram for information on working with him. Watch the Business Builder video guide: https://youtu.be/sfy7bEjGIfY Join the Business Builder Insights Club email list: https://greenhousecoaching.kit.com/business_builder_insights_club

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#252 - Active Listening, Parenting Adult Kids, and Empathetic Leadership

Jul 200:33:28Tap to summarize

Join host Steve Perkins and Greenhouse Team members Sundie Marquardt and Gabe Smith for a raw, relatable dive into active listening on the Roots Up Podcast. With humor, heart, and practical wisdom, this episode explores how to listen without pushing your own agenda. This applies to parenting adult kids, interacting with colleagues, our relationships, and so much more. Expect actionable takeaways to grow as a leader and human, rooted in Greenhouse’s mission to help you grow the life you want. Key Discussion Points: How active listening sets aside agendas to fully hear others, fostering deeper connections. Why unsolicited advice to adult children often backfires, and listening respects their autonomy. How body language and curiosity signal genuine presence, while zoning out creates disconnect. Why balancing your need to be understood with others’ need to be heard requires intentional deference. How acting like a listener, like pinching your leg to stay quiet, can shift underlying beliefs. How society’s obsession with efficiency prioritizes problem-solving over relational connection. Why prioritizing relationships motivates empathetic leadership, even in tough moments. Action Items for Listeners: Practice Silence: In your next conversation, pinch your leg or pause to resist interjecting; ask, “How can I help?” to stay listener-focused. Use Mirroring: Reflect back what you hear with, “What I’m hearing is… Did I get that right?” to ensure others feel understood. Check Assumptions: Before advising, ask yourself, “Am I assuming I know their path?” Let their perspective lead. Team Listening Exercise: Start a meeting with, “How are we showing up today?” to practice collective listening and build trust. Resources Mentioned: ⁠Grow the life you want with Greenhouse Coaching⁠ Parenting Coach: Kim Muench (⁠Becoming Me While Raising You: A Mother's Journey to Her Self⁠) Episode Quotes: “Listening actively with no intent—letting go of your agenda—is hard but changes everything.” – Sundie “People aren’t problems to be solved; they’re humans to be seen.” – Gabe “Sometimes behavior shifts before beliefs, and that’s okay—it’s how growth happens.” – Sundie Timestamps: (0:00) Intro (1:53) Cursing Stories (6:58) The Challenge of Active Listening (8:42) Listening as a Learned Skill (10:06) Body Language and Curiosity (12:33) Navigating Competing Needs (15:51) Parenting Perspectives (17:35) Growth Moments in Listening (21:15) Applying Listening to Leadership (24:29) Behavior vs. Beliefs (27:20) Motivations for Deep Listening Connect with Greenhouse: Subscribe on Spotify/Apple/YouTube or your favorite platform. ⁠Take the RootsUp Quiz to find your next steps⁠. ⁠Explore Free Resources from Greenhouse Coaching⁠. Share your listening journey with #RootsUpPodcast. Take Sundie’s challenge: In your next conversation, pause and ask, “How can I help?” instead of advising. Try mirroring with, “What I’m hearing is…” to make someone feel seen.

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#251 - Mindset, Awareness and the Path to Growth

Jun 1800:32:12Tap to summarize

Join host Steve Perkins and Greenhouse Team members Gabe Smith and Chris Payne for a transformative dive into mindset on the Roots Up Podcast. Cutting through the buzzword noise, this episode explores how thoughts, emotions, and awareness shape leadership and personal growth. With humorous hiking anecdotes and raw insights, the trio unpacks the brain’s role in processing emotions, the shift from victimhood to agency, and practical tools to foster mindfulness. Steve challenges shallow positivity, Gabe advocates slowing down, and Chris offers strategies for navigating workplace challenges, empowering listeners to take control of their mindset and growth journey. Key Discussion Points: Mindset’s Physiological Roots: The brain processes sensory input through emotions before logic, shaping how leaders perceive and respond to challenges. Emotional Vocabulary Gap: Many lack language for emotions, leading to suppressed feelings or relational disconnect; tools like the Feelings Wheel bridge this gap. Thoughts to Beliefs Cycle: Daily thoughts form beliefs that drive behavior, making awareness of thought patterns critical for growth. Victim vs. Agency Mindset: A victim mindset blames external factors, draining energy, while an agency mindset embraces choice, fueling creativity and action. Energy and Mindset: High-energy states (playful, joyful) arise from agency; low-energy states (shame, fear) stem from feeling powerless. Beyond Growth vs. Scarcity: Workplace “growth mindset” narratives often oversimplify; true growth requires radical honesty and mindfulness, not forced optimism. Practical Mindset Shifts: Journaling, rituals (e.g., changing clothes to transition), and candid workplace conversations help leaders reclaim agency. Action Items: Self-Audit: Pause during daily transitions (e.g., morning routine, between meetings) to journal: How am I feeling? What thoughts are recurring? Use the Feelings Wheel for clarity. Team Check-In: Start a team meeting with, “How are we showing up today?” Use the Feelings Wheel or cards to foster emotional awareness. Find Agency: In tough situations, ask, “Where do I have choice?” Identify one step, like a candid conversation or renegotiating a role. Build Rituals: Create a small ritual (e.g., changing clothes after work) to trigger a mindset shift during transitions. Resources Mentioned: Greenhouse Coaching: Discover holistic coaching at Greenhouse Coaching. Feelings Wheel: Build emotional vocabulary at Feelings Wheel. Quotes: “Mindset is about reality—naming what’s true in the moment, not just seeing the positive.” “Adults make agreements. If the agreement isn’t working, renegotiate it.” Timestamps: (00:00:00) Intro (00:01:03) Hiking Stories (00:02:49) Why Does Mindset Matter (00:05:37) How Feelings Play Into Mindset (00:09:26) How Aware Are We of Thought Themes (00:10:15) The 2 General Mindsets (00:15:09) Growth vs. Scarcity Mindset (00:16:17) How to Shift Mindsets (00:23:45) Do We Always Have Agency? (00:29:02) Steve’s Takeaway Take Steve’s challenge: Pause during a daily transition to audit your mindset—how are you feeling, and what’s driving your thoughts? Use the Feelings Wheel to name emotions, and try a team check-in to spark connection. Share your experience with us!

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#250 - Influence, Posture, and How Leaders Shape Their Impact

Jun 400:36:05Tap to summarize

Join Steve, Gabe, and Greenhouse Coach Erik Borggren, for a dynamic discussion on leadership postures in this episode. This fresh perspective goes beyond traditional leadership styles, focusing on how you show up—your presence, energy, and influence in any environment. From a spirited ode to Chicago’s vibrant culture to a deep dive into intentional leadership, the trio explores how postures like curiosity, generosity, and vulnerability shape team dynamics and workplace culture. Erik shares insights on embodying values authentically, while Steve wrestles with the concept of influence, and Gabe ties it to the holistic nature of leadership. Listeners are invited to reflect on their own postures and try a team exercise to boost trust and collaboration. Key Discussion Points Chicago’s Hidden Gem Status: Erik and Steve celebrate Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods, creative energy, and world-class food scene—from Michelin-star dining to iconic hot dogs. Defining Leadership Postures: Erik introduces postures as the how behind actions, emphasizing that culture is shaped by both what you do and how you do it. Embodied Leadership: As whole beings—mind, body, and soul—leaders bring their full selves to work, with postures like decisiveness or vulnerability reflecting their values. Reframing Influence: Steve questions whether influence equals manipulation; Erik redefines it as the natural way we shape spaces through authentic presence. Why Postures Matter: Your posture impacts your own leadership experience and your team’s engagement, fostering connection and a thriving culture. Shifting Postures: Erik suggests reflecting on what’s not working, envisioning desired postures, and drawing inspiration from past leaders. Benevolent vs. Malevolent Postures: Feigned curiosity breeds distrust, while genuine, attentive postures create positive, authentic environments. Team Application: Steve proposes a team exercise to discuss default and aspirational postures, enhancing trust, vulnerability, and collaboration. Resources Mentioned Greenhouse Coaching: Explore holistic coaching at Greenhouse Coaching. Seven Leadership Postures: Decisive, Generous, Curious, Teachable, Vulnerable, Caring, Authentic Episode Highlights “Culture is what people say about their workplace to their friends at dinner.” – Guest from Work Vibes “You’re already influencing the space—be intentional about how.” – Erik “Postures are how you direct your power and influence as a leader.” – Gabe Timestamps (0:00) Intro (1:02) Celebrating Chicago’s Unique Vibe (4:08) Introducing Leadership Postures (5:33) Erik’s Journey to Postures (7:27) Leadership as Whole-Person Presence (10:21) Experiencing Work Through Postures (12:35) Why Your Posture Matters (14:15) How to Shift Your Posture (17:57) Wrestling with “Influence” (24:08) The Role of Postures in Leadership (27:21) Benevolent vs. Malevolent Postures (31:58) Steve’s Key Takeaway Connect with Greenhouse Subscribe to RootsUp on your favorite podcast platform. Follow Greenhouse Coaching for leadership insights. Share your thoughts on leadership postures using #RootsUpPodcast. Take Steve’s challenge: Gather your team to discuss default and desired leadership postures. See how it transforms your collaboration and share your experience at with us!

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#249 - Why Organizations Struggle with Clarity (and How to Change That)

May 21, 202500:31:25Tap to summarize

In this episode, Steve, Sundie, and Gabe dive into the topic of organizational clarity—something that every leader struggles with at some point. Whether it’s defining goals, aligning teams, or just knowing where to focus, the lack of clarity can cause major problems like dysfunction, disengagement, and a sense of being stuck. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by a lack of clarity at work, you’re not alone. It may seem daunting, but the first step is simple—ask for help and name your reality. Join the Greenhouse team as they break down practical ways to find clarity, get unstuck, and move toward a more focused and intentional path forward. (0:00) Intro(4:18) Why Clarity Is Hard to Achieve(8:48) The Problem with Distraction(10:45) How Personality Affects Clarity(13:29) How Lack of Clarity Affects Teams(17:42) How to Maintain Clarity Over Time(20:50) How to Get Unstuck as a Leader(24:21) How to Find Clarity in Crisis(28:46) Key Takeaways on Clarity

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#248 - Finding Your Unique Voice, Growing as Leaders & What We've Been Up To

May 21, 202500:46:22Tap to summarize

We're Back! In this fun and laid-back episode, Steve, Sundie, Chris, and Joe come together to kick off a new chapter for the Roots Up podcast. They share stories about finding your voice in podcasting, public speaking, and even everyday interactions. From casual coffee shop conversations to navigating professional growth, the team reflects on why discovering your authentic voice can take time and why it’s worth the effort. The Greenhouse team also gives a behind-the-scenes look at their evolving brand, how they’re refining their message, and what it takes to stay true to yourself while pursuing growth. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, creative, or leader, this episode offers relatable stories and practical insights on embracing authenticity and finding your voice. (0:00) Intro and Team Banter(4:18) Why Finding Your Voice Takes Time(8:48) How Letting Go of the Outcome Leads to Authenticity(10:45) Why Being Real Connects with People(13:29) Balancing Structure and Flexibility in Creative Work(17:42) The Challenge of Being Intentional(20:50) Why Growing as a Leader Feels Hard(24:21) Finding Balance Between Work and Personal Life(28:46) Key Takeaways on Authenticity and Growth

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#247 - Relationship Meetup (from PFN's Addicted to Betterment)

May 14, 202500:51:01Tap to summarize

Ever feel like you’re showing up strong at work… but missing the mark at home? You’re a thoughtful leader, a high performer, a clear communicator...until it comes to your closest relationships. You might need a Relationship Meetup. In this episode, I sat down with David from Addicted to Betterment to talk about what it looks like to lead well at home - and why that’s often harder than anything at work. We walk through: Why relationships need structure too The Relationship Meetup framework (and how to use it) How to start hard conversations with clarity and curiosity, not defensiveness This one’s for anyone who’s tired of giving their best everywhere but home, and is ready to change that. More resources to help you connect with the people who matter most: ⁠⁠Free Relationship Meetup Video Guide + Mini Course Take the RootsUp Quiz⁠ Connect with me on LinkedIn

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#246 - Generalist is a Skill (from PFN's Addicted to Betterment)

Apr 9, 202500:34:45Tap to summarize

Ever feel like you’re good at a lot of things... but still not sure where you fit?You’re capable, versatile (even a top performer)...but something’s missing.You might be a generalist.I sat down with David on Addicted to Betterment to talk about why generalists often feel overlooked, and how to get clear on: Your mindset (why you’re not broken—just wired differently) Your value (and how to talk about it) Your next steps (without trying to squeeze into someone else’s box) It's time to finally feel seen for the skills you actually bring.More resources to help you own your generalist strengths: Free Generalist Is A Skill Video Guide + Mini Course Take the RootsUp Quiz Connect with me on LinkedIn Listen to more RootsUp episodes

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All episodes

#255 - How To Build a 6-Figure Coaching Business With No Sales Calls (from Purple Circle's Career Coaching Secrets)

#254 - Chief of Staff Insights for Thriving in a Complex Role with Katie Rohn

#253 - Business Building Insights to Grow Your Coaching Business

#252 - Active Listening, Parenting Adult Kids, and Empathetic Leadership

#251 - Mindset, Awareness and the Path to Growth

#250 - Influence, Posture, and How Leaders Shape Their Impact

#249 - Why Organizations Struggle with Clarity (and How to Change That)

#248 - Finding Your Unique Voice, Growing as Leaders & What We've Been Up To

#247 - Relationship Meetup (from PFN's Addicted to Betterment)

#246 - Generalist is a Skill (from PFN's Addicted to Betterment)