No Trade Secrets

Everyone sees the most visible part of a founder’s journey: the outcome. But the truth is that few understand the mindset, pressure, and discipline behind it. This podcast explores the deeper system behind business and life. The beliefs, habits, and decisions that shape growth long before the numbers appear. Through thoughtful conversations, Jarome McKenzie sits down with founders, operators, and thinkers who have built meaningful things. Together they explore the moments that shaped them, the pressure that forged their discipline, and the mindset behind their success. Jarome approaches each episode as both a builder and a student. He learns alongside the audience while weaving each guest’s insights into the frameworks he uses with founders and leaders. The result is an honest exploration of business, leadership, and intentional living. A look at how great builders think, make decisions, and design lives that

No Trade Secrets is a business podcast hosted by Jarome McKenzie, with 57 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Jarome McKenzie hosts No Trade Secrets, a business show with 57 episodes published.

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  No Trade Secrets

  Fixing Toxic Culture, Hiring for Keeps, and Leading the 95% w/ Kyle Patrick Smith - Ep. 58

  Sep 30, 202649 min

  Is HR just the principal's office for adults? Kyle Patrick Smith, a 25-year HR veteran, is here to dismantle that myth. He reveals why culture isn't about mission statements on a wall but a direct reflection of leadership’s true attitude towards its people. Kyle unpacks his tactical playbook for smarter hiring, starting with the one document most founders get wrong, and shares his powerful "95% Rule" for retaining top talent by focusing on the majority who want to do great work, not the few who don't. Unlocking the Playbook Culture is a Mirror of Leadership: Your company culture isn't defined by mission statements, but by the daily attitudes and behaviors your leadership team exhibits towards employees. True culture is a direct reflection of how leaders genuinely view and treat their people, for better or worse. Your Job Description is Your Hiring Blueprint: Stop treating job descriptions as a necessary evil. Invest significant time upfront to create a detailed blueprint of the technical skills, soft skills, and environmental factors for success—this makes the entire hiring and interview process exponentially easier and more effective. Lead for the 95%, Not the 5%: Stop building your company's rules and management style around the 5% of employees who might abuse the system. Instead, create an environment of trust and recognition designed for the 95% who genuinely want to do a great job every day. The Two Critical "Whys": As a leader, you must ensure every single employee can clearly and succinctly answer two questions: "Why does this company exist?" and "Why am I here?" If they can't, it's a sign of a critical disconnect in vision and alignment. Confirm, Don't Just Correct: It’s easy to only point out mistakes, but employees crave confirmation when they're doing things right. Actively catch people succeeding and use "confirming feedback" to reinforce positive actions, rather than only correcting negative ones. The No Trade Secret Assume the best. You know, we live in a society so often where we automatically assume the worst. Somebody does something, they must have had bad intentions... Take a day and assume the best. No matter what happens, assume the best. ️ Words to Build On "The biggest influence over company cultures is leadership... It's that leadership's view and their attitude towards their employee base." – Kyle Patrick Smith "Every person in your organization should know the why. And there's 2 whys. Why do we exist as a company? And 2, why am I here?" – Kyle Patrick Smith "The best you're going to be treated is an interview. You're either going to be treated the same or worse once you start working there." – Kyle Patrick Smith About Kyle Kyle Patrick Smith is the Founder & CEO of HRKyle Services. With 25+ years of executive HR experience across multiple industries, he helps organizations hire better talent, develop stronger leaders, and solve workforce challenges. He provides practical HR consulting, recruiting, leadership training, and career coaching. Kyle is also an author, speaker, podcast host, and educator. Links & Resources Website: HRKyle.com Email: kyle@hrkyle.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/thehrkyle YouTube: youtube.com/@hrkyle

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  No Trade Secrets

  Forging Mental Calluses, Exposing Industry Lies, and Winning the Long Game w/ Joe Wagner - Ep. 57

  Sep 28, 202649 min

  What does finishing a 30-mile Spartan Ultra race have in common with building a multi-million-dollar business? According to Joe Wagner, everything. Joe unpacks the raw, "excuseless" mindset required to push past the "inner bitch" that tells you to quit, whether you're at mile 28 or facing a devastating business setback. He shares his journey into the world of passive income through merchant services, exposing the industry's dark side and revealing how to build a truly sustainable, ethical business that puts you in the driver's seat of your own financial freedom. Unlocking the Playbook Strengthen Your "Anti-Quit" Muscle: Everyone has an "inner bitch" telling them to take the easy route. By repeatedly putting yourself in hard situations—physically or in business—you build a mental callus, strengthening your ability to tell that voice to shut up and keep going. Own Your Setbacks as Blessings: Instead of blaming external factors when things go wrong, take 100% ownership. Frame setbacks not as failures, but as events happening for you, forcing you to find a new, better path and keeping your energy focused on opportunity. Build an Income You Directly Control: True passive income isn't about relying on a downline. Joe chose merchant services because it put him in the driver's seat, allowing his direct actions to build a recurring revenue stream without depending on the performance of others. Vet Your Partners to Protect Your Future: Joe learned the hard way that not all partnerships are created equal after losing his entire book of business. Avoid companies with hidden "activity clauses" or unethical practices by partnering with transparent, ethical organizations that guarantee lifetime residuals. Success is Guaranteed if You Don't Quit: You can never guarantee a specific outcome, but you are 100% guaranteed to fail if you quit. The single most important factor for success is to continue moving forward, because your odds of winning become infinitely higher than the zero-percent chance you have if you stop. The No Trade Secret The trade secret's pretty simple: keep showing up. You just have to keep showing up in everything in life. When you stop showing up is where you are 100% guaranteed to fail, and it's a choice to quit showing up. Keep doing the work, block out the noise, and fuck the haters. ️ Words to Build On "If you're not reaching a point where your brain is questioning you... then you're not pushing. You're not pushing hard enough." – Joe Wagner "Every bit of what happens—good, bad, controllable, uncontrollable—you are 100% in a better position if you just own it." – Joe Wagner "Life's gonna smack you in the face, and you're the only one that's gonna be able to do something about it. It's just gonna come down to, are you gonna keep showing up or not?" – Joe Wagner About Joe Joe Wagner is an entrepreneur, author, and merchant services leader with 16+ years building recurring income. Founder of Merchant Service University and a Spartan Ultra finisher, Joe shares no-BS strategies for discipline, growth, and true freedom. Links & Resources Website: merchantserviceuniversity.com Link.me: link.me/iamjoewagner Instagram: instagram.com/iamjoewagner/ YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCHRJkfZ2Oo8s1m13d6q74Sg

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  No Trade Secrets

  How to Engage All 3 Brains and Master Your Second Act w/ Joya Dass - Ep. 56

  Sep 25, 202639 min

  From a 27-year career as a TV news anchor on the floor of the NYSE to leading storytelling immersions abroad, Joya Dass has mastered the art of captivating an audience. In this episode, Joya unpacks why our attention spans have plummeted to just 7 seconds and how to engage the entire brain—not just the data-driven part. She shares her framework for helping women in their "second act" turn a lifetime of wisdom into a powerful public presence, and why physically removing yourself from your daily routine is the secret to unlocking your next level of growth. Unlocking the Playbook Engage All Three Brains: To truly captivate an audience, you must engage their animal brain (stakes), emotional brain (sensory details), and prefrontal cortex (data). Simply sharing data only engages one-third of their capacity and leaves massive connection on the table. Champion the Second Act: Women aged 55-70 are being aged out of the workforce, taking invaluable institutional knowledge with them. Joya's work focuses on capturing that wisdom and teaching them the art of thought leadership to build their own consulting businesses and secure their legacy. Defeat Stage Fright with Service: Shift your mindset from "public speaking" to an "act of service." When you focus on solving your audience's most pressing problems and educating them from your experience, your own anxiety fades into the background. Clear Writing, Clear Thinking, Clear Speaking: The foundation of powerful public speaking isn't performance; it's clarity. By establishing a daily writing practice and road-testing your core stories, you build the confidence and mental sharpness to speak clearly on any stage. Leverage Enclosed Cognition: 78% of communication is nonverbal, and your wardrobe is a critical tool. Dressing in high-quality, well-tailored clothing (not necessarily branded) sends a subconscious message of success that makes people want to be a part of your journey. The No Trade Secret You've got to focus. I think without focus, you don't set anything up for success. ️ Words to Build On "When you can tell a story with high stakes, a great deal of emotion, and then back it up with numbers, you have got all 3 brains lighting up and you've got everybody in the room captivated." – Joya Dass "Clear writing leads to clear thinking leads to clear speaking." – Joya Dass "I think running a business inflicts a lot of war wounds. And I don't think that you realize how much healing needs to happen when you are away." – Joya Dass About Joya For 27 years, I was a TV news anchor. I delivered business news from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. I loved it because it was intelligent reporting. There was science, technology, and the very act of talking about business that made it interesting. In 2010, I launched a business teaching women in business how to become better public speakers. Today, I work with women in their second acts, ages 55–70, to become better public speakers through immersions abroad. The courage that says “yes” to that trip is the kind of courage I need to galvanize for storytelling on a stage. Links & Resources Website: https://joyadass.substack.com/ Email: joyarani@gmail.com

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  No Trade Secrets

  Building a Dog Paradise and Why Humans Need Training Too w/ Aaron Wurth - Ep. 55

  Sep 23, 202644 min

  What can dog training teach you about leadership? Aaron Wurth, founder of All Dogs Unleashed KC, turned his passion into a "dog paradise" by rejecting cold commercial properties and building a business on trust and intention. He reveals how a dog’s “4-second window” is a masterclass in living presently, why most aggression is just a failure of leadership, and how shifting from a reactive to a proactive mindset is the ultimate key to success—for your pet and your business. Unlocking the Playbook Engineer the First Impression: Aaron spent two years searching for the perfect property, intentionally creating a warm, welcoming "dog paradise" instead of a cold, sterile facility. This focus on the initial client experience builds immediate trust, especially when dealing with something as personal as a family pet. Operate Proactively, Not Reactively: Their training philosophy is built on preventing issues before they happen, not just reacting to them. This proactive mindset—like teaching a dog not to bolt through an open door in the first place—is a powerful model for building robust systems in any business to prevent fires instead of constantly putting them out. Establish Clear Leadership: Dogs are pack animals that need a leader; without one, they will step into that stressful role themselves, often leading to unwanted behavior. This is a direct parallel to business, where a lack of clear guidance from leadership results in chaos, forcing team members to make decisions without direction. Live in the 4-Second Window: Dogs live completely in the moment, unburdened by past mistakes or future anxieties. This is a profound lesson for entrepreneurs to stay present and focused on the task at hand, rather than being paralyzed by what’s already happened or what might come. Train the Owner, Not Just the Dog: The dog's training is only half the battle; the real, lasting success comes from educating the owner on how to maintain it. This highlights the critical importance of client education and support in any service-based business to ensure the solution you provide actually sticks. The No Trade Secret My trade secret would be, again, try every day to be better than you were yesterday. I kind of would go back to that Mamba mentality. And the thing is, is you can't change the past. You can only change the future. So, don't dwell on the past. Just try to move forward every day and try to be a better version of yourself. ️ Words to Build On "Dogs, they live in what I call a 4-second window. So whatever's in front of them within 4 seconds, that's what they're thinking about. But they're not thinking, oh my gosh, that was really stupid what I did 4 months ago." – Aaron Wurth "When dogs don't feel like someone's in charge, they, by nature, they take over. Because if they don't look up to someone, then they go, well, shit, I have to fill that spot because no one else is." – Aaron Wurth "Our training approach is what we call proactive, which is not letting the issue happen. Reactive is what do I do when a fight breaks out? Well, that's what I tell people is if you're reacting to it, that's an issue." – Aaron Wurth About Aaron Born and raised in Le Mars, Iowa—the Ice Cream Capital of the World—I grew up as the youngest of five kids, raised by a hardworking single mother who inspired my entrepreneurial drive from an early age. I spent nearly 10 years with Hy-Vee, working my way from grocery sacker to management before ultimately deciding to leave the corporate path and pursue my passion for dog training. After training with All Dogs Unleashed in Dallas, I moved to Kansas City to open the company’s third location. Today, All Dogs Unleashed has grown to 20+ locations nationwide, and I’m proud to call Kansas City home. Outside of work, my partner Devon and I share life with our five dogs—Lunah, Kratos, Theo, Scrappy, and Louie. I enjoy spending time outdoors, disc golfing, biking, hiking, exploring new restaurants, and spending time with friends and family. Links & Resources Website: alldogsunleashed.com/kansas-city/

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  No Trade Secrets

  Selling an Experience (Not Just a Cake) and The Power of Pivoting w/ Andrea Reed - Ep. 54

  Sep 21, 202635 min

  What happens when you're faced with choosing between a demanding medical career and being present for your family? Andrea Reed, founder of SweetCakes, chose to turn her passion into a luxury wedding cake business built on an unforgettable customer experience. She reveals why going "extra" is her only move, how she bravely stepped away from her booming business to put her family first, and why success is always relative. This is a masterclass in building a business that aligns with your deepest values, without compromise. Unlocking the Playbook Engineer the 'Extra' Experience: Andrea transforms cake planning from a stressful task into the "funnest part" of the wedding process. By creating a high-touch tasting consultation with custom sketches, china, and linens, she makes clients feel special and demonstrates immense value before they even book. Make Quality Your Only Move: While competitors cut costs with bulk ingredients, Andrea spends 8 hours just making buttercream. She refuses to compromise on from-scratch quality for higher profits, stating that for her, it's the only way to operate and maintain the integrity of her art. Success is Relative: At the peak of her business's success, Andrea made the tough decision to close her shop and take a corporate job to be more available for her teenage children. This move demonstrates that the definition of success can and should change to align with your life's most important priorities. Let Your 'Why' Drive Every Pivot: Andrea’s "why" has always been her family. It's what drove her to leave the medical field to start Sweet Cakes, what empowered her to pause the business when her kids needed her more, and what inspired her to jump back in full-force once they were grown. The No Trade Secret Pour your whole heart. I think that's probably mine. I just pour everything that I am into it, give it all. ️ Words to Build On "I'm not willing to compromise on the quality of the cake and the experience in order to make more. And someone else might think that that's not a smart business move, but for me, it's my only move." – Andrea Reed "Success is relative. Again, family life was suffering because Sweet Cakes was my baby and I poured everything into it." – Andrea Reed "My number one priority is that that taste is on point. It is a good cake, it's the best cake that you've had, it is not the best wedding cake you've had, it might be the best cake you've had." – Andrea Reed About Andrea Andrea Reed is the passionate owner and creative force behind SweetCakes, a luxury wedding cake studio renowned for extraordinary cakes that taste as incredible as they look. Her love for cake design began at age 10. Though she initially pursued pre-med and worked in a hospital, her passion for baking and a desire to be present for her family led her to open SweetCakes over two decades ago. Guided by her philosophy that food is "science blended with nature," Andrea combines chemistry, artistry, and exceptional ingredients. She is celebrated for blending food, fashion, and science into one-of-a-kind wedding cakes that reflect each couple's unique story. A competitor on Food Network's Halloween Wars and Sugar Dome , Andrea has built an elite reputation for breathtaking artistry and unforgettable flavor. She believes a wedding cake should do more than make a statement—it should create a delicious, lasting memory long after the last dance. Links & Resources Website: makeyourdaysweet.com Instagram: @sweetcakesbyandreareed Email: andrea@makeyourdaysweet.com

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