Lean into Lead with Trevor Muir

You still remember that feeling when you knew you weren’t just built for a 9‑to‑5. That gut pull. That restlessness. That was where this conversation actually starts—right there in the tension between stability and bigger ambition. Entrepreneurship, business advice, and motivation don’t start with polished plans. They start with hard choices, curiosity, and the drive for financial freedom. Then it becomes real. Nick Willard grew up in the trades at age 13 and spent 30+ years building real‑world skill in electrical and instrumentation work before he ever thought about founding his own company. Today, he runs Versys Group, a technical services business built on team strength, strategic leadership, and a commitment to meaningful impact that extends far beyond profit. Together with host Trevor Muir, they dive into entrepreneur mindset, founder stories, and CEO interview insights—covering the choice to leave security, the trials of leadership, the culture that actually makes businesses work, and startup advice, leadership skills, and business strategy for building a life around what matters most without burning out. Nick Willard is the founder and CEO of Versys Group, a Calgary‑based industrial commissioning and technical services company delivering electrical, instrumentation, and mechanical solutions with ISO‑aligned quality systems across North America. Before leading Versys, Nick spent three decades in the energy sector, progressing from trades apprenticeship into leadership with deep field experience and a focus on building people‑first teams. Chapters: 0:00 – The feeling you know you’re meant for more than the usual path 3:30 – Why franchising like Booster Juice was a shortcut to business lessons 7:15 – Handling staff turnover and tough decisions at 21 11:00 – How leadership culture shapes teams that win 15:02 – Creating flexibility as a CEO so you can actually live life 19:40 – Turning personal challenges into community impact 25:10 – Why setting big goals is table stakes for growth Connect with Nick Willard: Website: https://www.versysgroup.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-willard-69419930 Connect with Trevor Muir: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-muir About The Lean Into Lead Podcast: Where real people share real leadership lessons for real life and real businesses. Conversations built for people who want to lead with clarity, strength, and heart. Powered by NXC Podcast Network #thenxcpodcastnetwork #leanintolead #businessadvice #entrepreneurmindset #successstories #ceointerview #leadershipskills

In this episode of Lean Into Lead, Trevor Muir sits down with Kelly Paisley, CEO of The I.T. Company, for a raw conversation on what it really means to lead with heart while running a business. If you're looking for business advice on building culture over chasing profits, letting go of control, and showing up as a human being for your team, this episode delivers the unfiltered truth from someone who hit rock bottom and rebuilt himself into the leader his son could look up to. Kelly Paisley is the CEO and Managing Partner of The I.T. Company Ltd., Airdrie, Alberta's largest IT provider celebrating over 15 years in business. Kelly co-founded the company with Andrew Bennett after the two worked together as an internal corporate IT team before starting an internet cafe and gaming center. What began as IT support "for beer and dinner" for friends starting businesses grew into a full managed services company serving engineering, legal, accounting, oil and gas, and logistics industries. Kelly is a mentor for the City of Airdrie's SMARTstart entrepreneur program, a self-taught technician since before the internet existed, and a dad who spends time with his son boxing, playing baseball, reading, and attending comic book conventions. His leadership philosophy: "I'm not growing a business. I'm building a culture." Trevor Muir is a leadership coach, keynote speaker, and author helping leaders turn their "someday into today." He is Director of Global Business Development with Surepoint Group, founder of the Surepoint Someday to Today initiative, and author of "Addiction to Poetry." Through the Lean Into Lead podcast, Trevor creates space for raw conversations about vulnerability, authenticity, and heart-centered leadership. Chapters: 0:00 - Why Entrepreneurs Have a Problem With Authority 3:00 - From Internet Cafe to IT Company 7:00 - The Responsibility of People Depending on You 10:00 - Leading Through Divorce and Personal Trauma 15:00 - Radical Acceptance: Everything Is Exactly as It Should Be 20:00 - Building Culture Over Growing Business 24:00 - Why You Should Let Your Staff Fail 27:00 - The Hiring Lesson: You're Also in Charge of Firing 30:00 - Last Words: Always Make the Right Choice Connect with Kelly Paisley: 🔗 Company: The I.T. Company (theitco.ca) 🔗 LinkedIn: Kelly Paisley Connect with Trevor Muir: 🔗 Website: trevormuir.ca 🔗 Book: "Addiction to Poetry" About Lean Into Lead: Raw conversations, real leadership, real responsibility. Lean Into Lead explores heart-centered leadership and the courage it takes to show up authentically for your team, your family, and yourself. ⚡ Powered by NXC Podcast Network #thenxcpodcastnetwork #leanintolead #leadership

You think you are chasing success. But sometimes you are actually outrunning yourself. Entrepreneurship looks powerful on the outside, but inside it can quietly drain you if your identity is tied to the role instead of the person. This business podcast conversation is about that tension. About ambition, burnout, and what real motivation actually costs. Gem Dentith fainted on a commuter train while pregnant, working inside the UK Home Office. That collapse forced a full reset. Today, Gem Dentith is a CEO, executive coach, and author of Undressed, leading Gem Dentith Global and working with startup founders, senior leaders, and government executives across the UK and internationally. With 15+ years in change and transformation roles, including program and portfolio leadership inside the UK government, she has coached high-growth tech startups and C-suite leaders on leadership skills, entrepreneur mindset, and nervous system regulation. Her work blends neuroscience, executive coaching, and business strategy to help leaders build success stories and build toward financial freedom without burning out. This conversation covers entrepreneurship, business advice, founder stories, and the inner mechanics that shape leadership. From startup advice and scaling a business to identity and resilience, this is a CEO interview that gets personal. Chapters 0:00 - The Train Collapse That Changed Everything 3:30 - Why Traditional Jobs Never Fit 9:50 - Burnout While Pregnant 16:08 - Studying Neuroscience to Rebuild 20:15 - Coaching Startup Founders and CEOs 26:57 - Leadership Identity and Rooted Confidence Connect with Gem Dentith: Instagram: @iamgemdentith LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemdentith Connect with Trevor Muir: Website: https://www.trevormuir.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trevormuir LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevormuir Leaning Into Lead is a business podcast focused on real leadership, real responsibility, and honest conversations about entrepreneurship, business strategy, and the entrepreneur mindset. Hosted by Trevor Muir. Powered by NXC Podcast Network #thenxcpodcastnetwork #leanintolead #entrepreneurship #executivecoaching #financialfreedom #burnoutrecovery #leadershipdevelopment #womeninbusiness

You think you have it all figured out—the career, the business, the paycheck, the security. But sometimes success can blind you to what really matters. This conversation dives into that mirror moment when you don’t recognize the person staring back. Entrepreneurship, financial freedom, and building the right mindset look great from the outside, but without clarity of purpose and leadership, they can leave you feeling hollow. Patrick Callaghan co‑founded and scaled a multimillion‑dollar construction company after leaving a secure corporate job, gaining firsthand experience in startup advice, business strategy, and scaling a business. Leading the company took a toll on his personal life, showing the importance of burnout recovery and strong leadership skills. Today, as a certified Life Mastery Consultant, executive coach, and speaker, Patrick helps leaders and founders navigate identity crises, redefine success, and cultivate an entrepreneur mindset rooted in motivation, purpose, and intentional action. This is a CEO interview that gets honest about rock‑bottom moments, identity loss, and what it takes to rebuild yourself while maintaining real leadership and accountability. Expect business advice, startup mindset reflections, executive coaching insights, and founder stories that are rare on other business podcasts. Chapters: 0:00 - Transform Your Life After Hitting Rock Bottom 3:15 - Escape Corporate and Launch Your Business 9:45 - Survive Cash Flow Crises Like a CEO 14:30 - Lead Effectively While Protecting Your Team 19:00 - Overcome Personal Burnout & Breakdown 23:15 - Redefine Success and Reclaim Your Identity Connect with Patrick Callaghan: Website: https://patrickcallaghan.ca Instagram: (not publicly listed as official) LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/patrick-callaghan-a557b4319 Connect with Trevor Muir: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevormuir About The Lean Into Lead Podcast: Where raw leadership conversations meet real life. Hosted by Trevor Muir, this business podcast focuses on the challenges leaders face when scaling a business, redefining success, and building an intentional life. Powered by NXC Podcast Network Hashtags: #thenxcpodcastnetwork #leanintolead #entrepreneurship #businesspodcast #founderstories #ceointerview

Mason Brussee is 22, married, and just walked away from university to start a marketing company. His family grilled him. Friends told him he was making a mistake. His wife said go for it, but you better make some money. So he did. Mason Brussee is the founder of Unique Marketing, a company built on one idea: predictability is the product. He spent two years in university studying sports business, worked at Disney World in Florida, played hockey from age 4, and at some point decided he was done doing what everyone told him to do. Now he's figuring out sales, AI implementation, and how to build something from scratch while most people his age are still picking a major. Chapters: 0:27 - The Moment He Knew He Was Done 4:53 - The Book That Changed Everything 9:39 - What His Wife Actually Said 12:01 - Sales Is Harder Than He Thought 16:29 - AI Will Make More Millionaires Than the Internet 23:52 - What He Would Tell His Younger Siblings Learn more about how the Versys Group can help you on your next project here: https://www.versysgroup.com/ Connect with Mason Brussee: Website: uniquemarketingco.ca Instagram: @maborussee Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/masonbrussee/ Connect with Trevor Muir: Website: trevormuir.ca Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-muir-b7231356/ About Lean Into Lead: Raw conversations on leadership, responsibility, and what it actually takes to lead yourself before you lead anyone else. Powered by NXC Podcast Network #thenxcpodcastnetwork #leanintolead #entrepreneurship

⏱️ Timestamp Chapters: 00:00 - Intro: Most Owners Don't Own a Business—They Own a Job They Can't Quit 01:03 - From Big Six Accounting to Buying 15 Businesses 05:11 - First Business: Traded My Lexus for a Pickup Truck 09:51 - Why Keeping the Real Estate Was the Smartest "Accidental" Decision 14:53 - What to Look For: The 10-Year Rule That Never Fails 19:37 - The Stats Don't Lie: 90% Success Buying vs 75% Failure Starting 21:04 - The One That Failed: When Ego & Emotion Cost Everything 24:14 - Why You Must Hire an Outside CPA (Even If You Are One) 26:34 - How I Saved Someone from a $1.5M Bankruptcy in 15 Minutes 31:05 - One Thing for Sellers & One Thing for Buyers 📋 In this entrepreneur podcast, host Trevor Muir sits down with Paul Lajoie, CPA and serial entrepreneur who's bought, scaled, and exited over 15 businesses—from flooring to oil and gas, sandblasting to trash hauling. This CEO interview delivers brutally honest real talk about why most business owners are trapped in jobs they can't quit, the shocking statistics (90% success rate acquiring existing businesses vs 75% failure rate starting from scratch), and the life-changing moment he fell in love with a company and ignored every red flag. Paul shares inspiring success story lessons on trading his Lexus for pickup truck #5, why the "10-year rule" predicts business survival better than anything else, and how removing ego and emotion from acquisitions is the difference between bankruptcy and building wealth. Learn entrepreneur advice on why accounting classes are non-negotiable (even if you're a doctor or ditch digger), how he analyzed a trash hauling company in 15 minutes and discovered it was making $250K not $500K (saving the buyer from disaster), and why hiring an outside CPA is critical even when you ARE a CPA. Get business tips on building systems that allow you to exit, understanding that if a company survived 10 years it'll survive another 10, and recognizing the 30 hats you must wear as an owner (but you're only good at 10—so hire for the rest). This mindset for success conversation proves that business expert wisdom comes from 1,500 underwritten deals, multiple failures, and understanding that the most successful startup came from $150K seed money and now profits $1.8M annually—but the risk is real. 🔗 Connect with Paul Lejoie: Website: bizbuypro.com Get the book: https://www.amazon.com/Exit-Plan-Escaping-9-Profitable/dp/B0FFWSJD5F Free Webinars: https://bizbuypro.com/deal-review/ 🔗 Connect with Trevor Muir - Lean Into Lead: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trevor.muir.585 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-muir-b7231356/ ℹ️ About Lean Into Lead: Join Trevor Muir for heart-centered conversations with entrepreneurs and business leaders who've stepped on rakes, learned hard lessons, and come out successful on the other side. Get entrepreneur advice, business tips, and inspiring success stories from experts who understand that true freedom comes from building businesses that run without you—not jobs you can't quit. ⚡ Powered by NXC Podcast Network

⏱️ Timestamp Chapters: 00:00 - Intro: When Was the Last Time What You Wore Changed How You Showed Up? 01:07 - The Breaking Point: "If I Don't Go, My Soul Will Die" 04:53 - Writing "I Don't Do Vanilla": The Healing Power of Sharing Your Story 06:08 - Why a Kettlebell Coach Created a Fragrance Line (And It Makes Perfect Sense) 13:58 - "It's Okay If You Can't Look in the Mirror and Say 'I Love You'" 18:06 - Mindset + Movement: Why You Need Both to Truly Transform 26:23 - Your Word to Yourself: The One Thing You Can't Compromise 28:30 - The Intention Behind Intention: Coming Home to Who You're Meant to Be 📋 In this entrepreneur podcast, host Trevor Muir sits down with Jodi Barrett, kettlebell training specialist, best-selling author of I Don't Do Vanilla, and creator of Intention by Jay perfume. This CEO interview delivers raw, vulnerable real talk about the moment she realized staying would cost more than leaving—packing up her entire life with three kids, publishing her memoir, and moving across the country because "if I don't go, my soul will die." Jodi shares inspiring success story lessons on building a fragrance brand that's not about smelling good for approval—it's about showing up with presence, power, and falling in love with yourself again. Learn entrepreneur advice on why mindset and movement must be married (not separated), how a stuffed bunny during divorce became the inspiration for a perfume line about energy and security, and why your word to yourself is the foundation of transformation. Get business tips on starting where you are (not where you think you should be), understanding that 12 minutes is better than zero, and recognizing that blending in costs you something far greater than standing out ever will. This mindset for success conversation proves that business expert wisdom comes from honoring all versions of yourself—past, present, and future—and understanding that true leadership means coming home to you first. Jodi reveals secrets to success in her KB Stronger training platform and the life-changing power of pausing, breathing, and anchoring yourself before stepping into any room. 🎥 Watch More From This Episode: 🔗 Connect with Jodi Barrett: Website: kbstronger.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kbstronger Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kbstronger_/ 🔗 Connect with Trevor Muir - Lean Into Lead: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trevor.muir.585 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-muir-b7231356/ #EntrepreneurPodcast2026 #CEOInterview #BusinessAdvice #EntrepreneurAdvice #MindsetForSuccess #InspiringSuccessStory #BusinessExpert #PersonalGrowth #EntrepreneurMotivation #SelfLove #LifeChanging #womensempowerment ℹ️ About Lean Into Lead: Join Trevor Muir for heart-centered conversations with entrepreneurs and leaders who choose courage over comfort, presence over perfection, and showing up on purpose over blending in. Get entrepreneur advice, business tips, and inspiring success stories from experts who understand that true impact starts with coming home to yourself first. ⚡ Powered by NXC Podcast Network

⏱️ Timestamp Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 01:25 - Why Entrepreneurship: The Natural Born Leader Who Didn't Know It Yet 08:14 - Vulnerability Isn't Being a Blubbering Idiot (What It Really Means) 16:27 - 50 Years of Not Feeling Enough: The Truth Behind Success 21:36 - Who You Are Is How You Lead: Why This Changes Everything 28:24 - Leading Your Family: The Legacy Most People Never Think About 35:00 - The Pebble in the Ocean: Your Impact Is Bigger Than You Know 41:35 - Most Important Life Advice: Be True to Yourself 📋 In this entrepreneur podcast, host Trevor Muir sits down with Corliss Rassyle, best-selling author, inspirational speaker, and founder of the Called to Lead Certification Program and Lead Conference Canada. This CEO interview delivers raw, vulnerable real talk about spending 50 years not feeling good enough despite outward success—and the journey to discovering that true leadership starts from within. Corliss shares inspiring success story lessons on why entrepreneurship is the best personal growth program available, how "who you are is how you lead" transformed her understanding of influence, and the life-changing question every entrepreneur must ask: "What do I need right now?" Learn entrepreneur advice on building identity that matches your vision, understanding that vulnerability means awareness (not weakness), and why your impact ripples far beyond what you can see—like a pebble creating tsunamis across oceans. Get business tips on leading from the inside out, stopping the search for external validation, and recognizing that whether you're selling candles or leading companies, your real work is changing lives. This mindset for success conversation proves that business expert wisdom comes from embracing both triumphs and failures, owning your full story, and understanding that every person you meet takes part of you with them. Corliss reveals secrets to success in the Called to Lead Certification Program, designed to help people grow from the inside out—because you cannot effectively lead, coach, or mentor others unless you've done the inner work yourself. 🔗 Connect with Corliss Rassyle: Website: corliss.ca LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corliss-rassyle-63107a77/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/corlissco Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corlissco 🔗 Connect with Trevor Muir - Lean Into Lead: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trevor.muir.585 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-muir-b7231356/ #EntrepreneurPodcast2026 #CEOInterview #BusinessAdvice #EntrepreneurAdvice #Leadership #MindsetForSuccess #InspiringSuccessStory #BusinessExpert #PersonalGrowth #EntrepreneurMotivation #LifeChanging #businesssuccess ℹ️ About Lean Into Lead: Join Trevor Muir for heart-centered conversations with entrepreneurs and leaders who choose courage over comfort, embrace vulnerability as strength, and understand that true leadership begins within. Get entrepreneur advice, business tips, and inspiring success stories from experts who've done the inner work to create outer impact. This is about humanity, authenticity, and the audacity to go after what matters. ⚡ Powered by NXC Podcast Network

⏱️ Timestamp Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 01:25 - Why This: From Personal Addiction to Building Red Road Recovery 07:25 - The Universe Honors Doing the Right Thing 13:12 - The Bathroom Floor Moment: Pleading to Anything That Would Listen 18:07 - What the Red Road Means: Walking a Life of Purpose 20:09 - Six-Month Waitlist with ZERO Marketing (The Problem & The Solution) 23:00 - Why Secondary Care Matters: The Missing Link in Recovery 30:13 - Manifestation, Energy & Creating Your Reality 34:32 - Most Meaningful Life Wisdom: You Are Not Alone 📋 In this entrepreneur podcast, host Trevor Muir sits down with Scott Tremblett, founder of Red Road Recovery, for the most vulnerable, heart-centered conversation about addiction, purpose, and building a business that saves lives. This CEO interview delivers an inspiring success story—from four failed treatment attempts and drinking 40 ounces of vodka daily to creating a recovery network with 110 beds across British Columbia. Scott shares raw, unfiltered entrepreneur advice on hitting rock bottom, the moment everything changed, and why he feels like he's on "borrowed time" to do this work. Learn the secrets to success from a business expert who built Red Road Recovery by blending evidence-based therapy, Indigenous cultural programming, and 12-step recovery—creating a six-month waitlist with zero marketing campaigns purely through word of mouth. Get business tips on manifestation, removing barriers to help people, scaling with purpose, and why the opposite of addiction isn't sobriety—it's connection. This life-changing conversation proves that heart-centered leadership means being an open book about mental health, personal struggles, and understanding that your greatest pain can become your greatest purpose. Scott's journey from atheist on his knees pleading to die to recovery CEO expanding nationwide shows that when you focus on "how can we help more people," the universe opens the right doors. 🔗 Connect with Scott Tremblett & Red Road Recovery:Website: redroadrecovery.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RedRoadRecoveryTreatment Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redroadrecovery/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@redroadrecovery🔗 Connect with Trevor Muir - Lean Into Lead: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trevor.muir.585 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-muir-b7231356/ #entrepreneurpodcast #ceointerview #addictionrecovery #mentalhealth #businessadvice #successstory #entrepreneurmotivation #personalgrowth #lifechanging #businessexpert #mindsetforsuccess #EntrepreneurAdvice ℹ️ About Lean Into Lead: Join Trevor Muir for heart-centered conversations with entrepreneurs and leaders who choose courage over comfort, vulnerability over perfection, and true impact over applause. Get entrepreneur advice, inspiring success stories, and real talk about mental health, addiction recovery, and building businesses with purpose. This is about humanity, empathy, and the audacity to go after what matters. ⚡ Powered by NXC Podcast Network

⏱️ Timestamp Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 01:33 - Leaving the Great Job: When Comfort Isn't Enough 06:08 - The Fulfillment Factor: Why Success Felt Empty 12:11 - Anxiety & Mental Health: The Breaking Point 18:10 - Mindset Shifts That Changed Everything 26:01 - What Is a Custom Barbecue Trailer? (You Won't Believe This) 34:27 - The Future of Gordyville Customs: Legacy & Family 37:41 - Most Important Life Advice: Your Name Is Everything 📋 In this entrepreneur podcast, host Trevor Muir sits down with Randy Gordy, founder of Gordyville Customs, for real talk about leaving a successful career to chase fulfillment. This CEO interview delivers an inspiring success story—from anxiety-filled nights and feeling empty despite professional achievement to building a thriving business creating custom crew trucks and viral barbecue trailers. Randy shares entrepreneur advice on the "3-truck rule" that gave him permission to quit his comfortable office job, why he jumped in with no safety net, and how mindset shifts transformed his life and business. Learn the secrets to success from a business expert who went from managing stress in corporate roles to building custom fabrication masterpieces that earned 250,000 views in one week. Get business tips on manifestation, removing negativity, understanding when fulfillment matters more than paychecks, and why being good to people is the foundation of legacy building. This life-changing conversation proves that heart-centered leadership starts with being honest about anxiety, mental health, and knowing when comfort zones are holding you back from your purpose. Randy's journey from blue-collar crew truck operator to award-winning custom fabricator shows that entrepreneurial success isn't just about profit—it's about happiness, family, and creating something meaningful that lasts generations. 🔗 Connect with Randy Gordy: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GordeyVilleCustoms Website: https://www.gordeyvillecustoms.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gordeyville_customs?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== 🔗 Connect with Trevor Muir - Lean Into Lead: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trevor.muir.585 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-muir-b7231356/ #EntrepreneurPodcast2026 #ceointerview #businessadvice #entrepreneuradvice #mindsetforsuccess #successstory tory #businessexpert #entrepreneurmotivation #personalgrowth #mentalhealth #businesssuccess #lifechanging ℹ️ About Lean Into Lead: Join Trevor Muir for heart-centered conversations with entrepreneurs and business leaders who choose courage over comfort, risk over routine, and true impact over applause. Get entrepreneur advice, business tips, and inspiring success stories from leaders who embrace vulnerability, lead with empathy, and build businesses with purpose. This is about audacity, humanity, and going after what matters. ⚡ Powered by NXC Podcast Network