The Business Development Podcast

The Cost of Success: Why Walking Away Isn’t Failure with Jesse Schewchuk
After speaking on a TED stage about the cost of burnout, Jesse Schewchuk realized she needed to act on her own message. She had spent nearly a decade building Modern Muse Media, but the demands of keeping the business running were pulling her away from the work and life she wanted. When a longtime colleague posted a marketing opportunity, she approached him with a different proposal: hire her. Within a week, she had accepted an offer. The grief of letting go of her business was matched by the relief of choosing a different future.
In Episode 372 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy welcomes back award-winning producer, media strategist and founder of The Menopause Mission, Jesse Schewchuk, for an honest conversation about ambition, identity and knowing when to change direction. Jesse shares how losing her mother at 24 sent her into years of achievement as a way to avoid processing grief, why public recognition often concealed private struggles, and what led her to step into a chief marketing officer role at Capital Planning. They discuss the guilt of resting, the pressure of supporting a family through entrepreneurship, and why leaving a business does not erase what you have accomplished. Jesse also shares the personal experience behind The Menopause Mission and why she wants more women to feel heard, supported and able to speak openly.
Content note: This episode includes discussions of bereavement, burnout, mental health struggles and suicidal thoughts.
What You’ll Learn
How the need to prove yourself can shape your ambition and your definition of success.
Why rest can feel uncomfortable when your identity is tied to achievement.
How financial pressure can affect the way you connect with people and experience your work.
Why grief and relief can coexist when you leave a business you built.
What an intrapreneur role can offer entrepreneurs who want autonomy, meaningful work and fewer ownership responsibilities.
How Jesse’s menopause experience changed her priorities and inspired her advocacy.
Why choosing a different direction requires your own acceptance, even when others support the decision.

Chapters
00:00 Where is the line?
01:09 Introducing Jesse Schewchuk
05:29 Who Jesse is today
07:09 The need to prove yourself through success
08:06 Burnout and the question that changed everything
10:37 Why it is so difficult to just be
11:30 Learning to rest without guilt
13:11 Being drawn to purpose instead of driven by achievement
14:22 Losing her mother and throwing herself into work
16:17 Public recognition and private struggles
17:27 What legacy means beyond your career
19:35 When business pressure changes how you show up
21:30 Deciding to close Modern Muse Media
22:14 The conversation that became a new career opportunity
23:40 Experiencing grief and relief together
25:17 The work entrepreneurs never signed up for
25:52 Recognizing the personal cost of achievement
27:06 Making room for meaningful work
29:30 Why the right decision can still hurt
30:30 Considering a different entrepreneurial path
32:27 Why nobody else can give you permission
34:11 Finding your own answer
36:12 Being open to a different future
37:27 Entrepreneurship, employment and autonomy
39:44 Introducing The Menopause Mission
40:17 The personal experience behind the mission
44:52 Breaking the silence around women’s health
46:18 A message of support for listeners
47:39 Your business is not your identity
48:17 Connecting with Jesse
Connect with Jesse Schewchuk
Jesse is an award-winning producer, media strategist, speaker and founder of The Menopause Mission. In this conversation, she shares her transition from running Modern Muse Media to a chief marketing officer role at Capital Planning, alongside her continued work in storytelling, speaking and women’s wellness advocacy.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesse-schewchuk-4470b47/
The Menopause Mission: https://www.themenopausemission.org/
Support Foxx and Our Family
Our one year old son Foxx is currently fighting cancer. If you are able to donate or share our GoFundMe, our family would be incredibly grateful.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-shelby-kelly-during-foxxs-fight-against-cancer
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Thank you to Colin Harms and our title sponsor, Hypervac Technologies, for your steadfast support of The Business Development Podcast. We are also grateful to Hyperfab for helping us continue to bring these conversations to listeners.
Hypervac Technologies builds professional duct cleaning equipment, including duct trucks, portable vacuums and tools for contractors in the field.
https://hypervac.com/
Hyperfab provides custom fabrication and specialized solutions for industrial applications.
https://hyperfab.ca/
Join The Catalyst Club Community
The Catalyst Club brings business development leaders, entrepreneurs, executives and senior professionals together for live sessions, recorded conversations and practical support.
https://www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub
If you know someone questioning whether the business they built still supports the life they want, share this episode with them. Follow The Business Development Podcast for more honest conversations about what it takes to build and lead.
Mentioned in this episode:
Hypervac - Revolution Vacuums

A family construction company tripled its revenue in one year. Behind the growth, the owners were still carrying the business themselves. He was leading in the field. She was handling payroll, scheduling and the administrative work. They hired Laina Neudorf to help, but when they understood the work required to change how the business operated, they walked away from the engagement. They had become so busy running the business that they couldn’t make room to improve it.
In Episode 371 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy speaks with Laina Neudorf, Founder and Success Strategist at LPT Success Solutions, about navigating the messy middle of business ownership. Drawing on nearly two decades of experience across industrial construction, oil and gas, and software operations, Laina explains why more revenue, another hire or a new system may not solve the problem an owner is facing. They discuss recognizing bottlenecks, questioning familiar habits, making room for change and understanding what success looks like beyond the numbers. Kelly also shares how Foxx’s cancer diagnosis forced him to reassess his business activities, revealing that some things he thought were essential could stop while the business kept moving.
What You’ll Learn
How to recognize the messy middle, when an established business still depends too heavily on its owner.
Why understanding the root cause of a problem matters before hiring, expanding or spending more on marketing.
How a not-to-do list can help you identify activities that no longer deserve your time.
What asking “What would break if I stepped away for two weeks?” can reveal about your business.
How to introduce changes in stages, measure their impact and transfer decision responsibility to your team.
Why your next business decision should reflect both the company’s needs and the life you want to build.

Chapters
00:00 Will more growth solve your problems?
01:08 Introducing Laina Neudorf
04:10 From industrial construction to software operations
05:22 Why projects succeed and how to navigate change
07:23 Understanding problems versus symptoms
07:53 Making the leap into entrepreneurship
10:07 Family, ambition and redefining success
12:17 Kelly’s experience balancing business and Foxx’s treatment
13:50 Rethinking work-life balance
15:22 What is the messy middle?
17:18 Can you build a business and the life you want?
18:29 Burnout and the value of a not-to-do list
19:53 Questioning the habits that keep you busy
21:08 Affording help and exploring fractional support
22:43 What happens when you stop doing everything?
24:25 The two-week absence test
25:57 Why growth isn’t always the answer
26:59 A construction company’s cautionary growth story
28:36 Understanding your business before the next big decision
30:45 Making changes without disrupting everything
32:22 Recognizing the owner as the bottleneck
33:15 Sharing responsibility and deciding what to delegate
33:51 The Business Diagnostic and a 90-day plan
35:22 Getting support to implement change
36:05 Who Laina works with
36:43 Profit, pressure and knowing when to ask for help
37:40 Connecting with Laina
Connect with Laina Neudorf
Laina helps owner-operators understand their business before deciding what comes next. Through LPT Success Solutions, her Business Diagnostic examines business performance alongside the owner’s goals, helping establish priorities and a practical 90-day plan. She also offers fractional and contract support for owners who want help implementing those changes.
Website: https://launchpeaktranscend.com/
Business Diagnostic: https://go.launchpeaktranscend.com/diagnostic-info
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laina-neudorf/
Explore Laina’s three ebooks: Where the Hell Is My Profit?, Shouldn’t This Be Easier By Now? and Where Do I Go From Here?
https://go.launchpeaktranscend.com/book-trilogy-2
Support Foxx and Our Family
Our one year old son Foxx is currently fighting cancer. If you are able to donate or share our GoFundMe, our family would be incredibly grateful.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-shelby-kelly-during-foxxs-fight-against-cancer
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Thank you to Colin Harms and our title sponsor, Hypervac Technologies, for your steadfast support of The Business Development Podcast. We are also grateful to Hyperfab for helping us continue to bring these conversations to listeners.
Hypervac Technologies builds professional duct cleaning equipment, including duct trucks, portable vacuums and tools for contractors in the field.
https://hypervac.com/
Hyperfab provides custom fabrication and specialized solutions for industrial applications.
https://hyperfab.ca/
Join The Catalyst Club Community
The Catalyst Club brings business development leaders, entrepreneurs, executives and senior professionals together for live sessions, recorded conversations and practical support.
https://www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub
If you know a business owner who is busier than ever but wondering why things aren’t getting easier, share this episode with them. Follow The Business Development Podcast for more honest conversations about what it takes to build and lead.
Mentioned in this episode:
Hypervac - Revolution Vacuums

JAR Podcast Solutions gave two producers the same topic. One used AI to build a podcast from the ground up. The other drew on her own travel experiences. When the team shared the finished pieces with a small test audience of about 100 people, Jennifer Moss says 99 preferred the human story. The difference was in the experience behind the words.
In Episode 370 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy speaks with Jennifer Moss, co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of JAR Podcast Solutions, about the future of podcasting and why human connection remains at its centre. Drawing on her experience with CBC Radio, the National Film Board of Canada and teaching at UBC, Jen explores how brands can create shows people actually want to hear. They discuss choosing between audio and video, using AI without losing your voice, measuring success beyond downloads, and finding listeners through relevant podcast partnerships. Jen also explains why the best starting point is understanding who your show serves and what you want it to accomplish.
What You’ll Learn
How to choose between audio and video based on your story, audience and resources.
Why defining your podcast’s job, audience and intended result helps guide creative decisions.
How consumption rate and audience engagement can tell you more than download counts alone.
Where AI can support production and why lived experience still matters in storytelling.
How to interpret listener drop-off and improve your show without overreacting to one episode.
Why consistent publishing, cross-promotion and relevant podcast advertising matter for audience growth.

Chapters
00:00 Why a download alone doesn’t mean success
01:09 Introducing Jennifer Moss
05:33 From childhood storytelling to a career in audio
09:33 Building JAR and rethinking branded podcasts
12:05 How audio and video create different kinds of connection
14:09 YouTube, discovery and the next generation of listeners
16:57 Choosing the right format for your audience and budget
21:33 Defining what success means for your podcast
23:01 Measuring impact beyond downloads
27:25 AI tools and the value of human connection
29:49 Fact-checking and protecting your content
32:36 Keeping your own voice in the creative process
33:29 JAR’s human versus AI podcast experiment
36:52 Why the person behind the story matters
39:00 Personal stories and creative possibilities for branded podcasts
42:32 Analytics, consumption and understanding listener drop-off
46:28 Setting realistic expectations for audience growth
49:26 Cross-promotion and advertising on other podcasts
51:18 Relationships and pitching Apple’s editorial team
53:58 How JAR Podcast Solutions helps brands build shows
57:42 Reaching people who are ready to listen
58:48 Award-winning shows and creative impact
01:01:07 Connecting with Jennifer
Connect with Jennifer Moss
Jennifer helps brands and creators develop podcasts through strategy, storytelling, production and audience growth. Through JAR Podcast Solutions, she works with organizations to find the conversations they are best positioned to lead and create content that serves their listeners.
Website: https://jarpodcasts.com/
Email: jen@jarpodcasts.com
Learn more about Jen: https://jarpodcasts.com/staff/jen-moss/
Support Foxx and Our Family
Our one year old son Foxx is currently fighting cancer. If you are able to donate or share our GoFundMe, our family would be incredibly grateful.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-shelby-kelly-during-foxxs-fight-against-cancer
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Thank you to Colin Harms and our title sponsor, Hypervac Technologies, for your steadfast support of The Business Development Podcast. We are also grateful to Hyperfab for helping us continue to bring these conversations to listeners.
Hypervac Technologies builds professional duct cleaning equipment, including duct trucks, portable vacuums and tools for contractors in the field.
https://hypervac.com/
Hyperfab provides custom fabrication and specialized solutions for industrial applications.
https://hyperfab.ca/
Join The Catalyst Club Community
The Catalyst Club brings business development leaders, entrepreneurs, executives and senior professionals together for live sessions, recorded conversations and practical support.
https://www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub
If you know someone building a podcast or considering one for their business, share this episode with them. Follow The Business Development Podcast for more honest conversations about what it takes to build and lead.
Mentioned in this episode:
Hypervac - Revolution Vacuums

The day after surviving the Miracle on the Hudson, Dave Sanderson walked into his office to let his company know he was alive. His manager’s first question was, “You’re going to Michigan next week, right?” Dave had survived a plane crash. Now he was questioning the career he had built.
In Episode 369 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy speaks with Dave about surviving US Airways Flight 1549, helping fellow passengers escape, and the preparation that helped him act under extraordinary pressure. Drawing on his sales career and years working with Tony Robbins, Dave explains how to lead without a title, manage your response to uncertainty, and choose your best next step when you cannot control the outcome. He also shares how surviving the crash pushed him to reconsider his definition of success and begin finding a way out of the golden handcuffs.
What You’ll Learn
How leadership can begin with taking responsibility before anyone gives you authority.
How your focus, internal dialogue and physical state influence your response to pressure.
Why choosing the best next step can help you act when you cannot solve the whole problem.
How anticipation and resourcefulness help you support a team when circumstances change.
Why Dave measures freedom through time, money, mission and relationships.
How mentors helped Dave move from a successful sales career into speaking and entrepreneurship.

Chapters
00:00 Surviving a plane crash and returning to work
01:17 Introducing Dave Sanderson
02:52 Dave’s early life and entrepreneurial beginnings
04:17 An unexpected mentor and a promise to pass on his lessons
06:47 Working with Tony Robbins and learning through proximity
08:44 The four freedoms Dave realized he was missing
10:29 Surviving the Miracle on the Hudson
15:04 Leading without authority
17:25 Managing your state under pressure
22:01 Choosing your best next step
23:31 Why anticipation matters in leadership
26:54 Acting despite fear
29:37 Resourcefulness, decisions and improving your processes
31:46 Leaving the golden handcuffs behind
35:38 Building a speaking and coaching career
39:04 Connecting with Dave
Connect with Dave Sanderson
Dave works with leaders and organizations through speaking, coaching and advisory work focused on resilience, decision-making and leadership under pressure.
Website: https://davesandersonspeaks.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hiredavesanderson/
Explore Dave’s books, including Moments Matter and From Turmoil to Triumph, and his Moments Matter magazine:
https://davesandersonspeaks.com/books/
Support Foxx and Our Family
Our one year old son Foxx is currently fighting cancer. If you are able to donate or share our GoFundMe, our family would be incredibly grateful.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-shelby-kelly-during-foxxs-fight-against-cancer
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Thank you to Colin Harms and our title sponsor, Hypervac Technologies, for your steadfast support of The Business Development Podcast. We are also grateful to Hyperfab for helping us continue to bring these conversations to listeners.
Hypervac Technologies builds professional duct cleaning equipment, including duct trucks, portable vacuums and tools for contractors in the field.
https://hypervac.com/
Hyperfab provides custom fabrication and specialized solutions for industrial applications.
https://hyperfab.ca/
Join The Catalyst Club Community
The Catalyst Club brings business development leaders, entrepreneurs, executives and senior professionals together for live sessions, recorded conversations and practical support.
https://www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub
If Dave’s story made you think of someone facing a difficult decision, share this episode with them. Follow The Business Development Podcast for more honest conversations about what it takes to build and lead.
Mentioned in this episode:
Hypervac - Revolution Vacuums

Ten weeks after Trevor Muir became CEO of Surepoint Group, the bank swept $400,000 from the company’s account and froze its line of credit. Surepoint could not make payroll. Trevor had already turned down the job twice. Now he had to decide what to tell the people whose livelihoods depended on the company.
In Episode 368 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy speaks with Trevor about telling his team the truth, asking employees and vendors for help, and rebuilding a company around the principle of caring for people. Trevor also shares how a period of depression changed the way he led, why Surepoint’s leaders gave up part of their pay during the pandemic, and what inspired his Someday to Today initiative.
Content note: This episode includes a discussion of depression and suicidal thoughts.
Chapters
00:00 Trevor’s story and introduction
05:05 Growing up on an Alberta farm
17:27 Building Surepoint with nine friends
20:43 Why Trevor turned down the CEO role
25:29 The bank freeze and the threat to payroll
27:49 Trevor’s personal crisis and decision to seek help
34:39 Learning to care for himself, too
40:41 Rebuilding Surepoint through honesty
46:54 The pandemic puts “We Care” to the test
55:29 Surepoint’s growth after the pandemic
59:18 The meaning behind Someday to Today
1:08:38 What Trevor is doing next
Key Takeaways
Trevor took the CEO role because he felt responsible to the people who had believed in Surepoint.
When the company faced possible collapse, he told employees how serious the situation was and asked for their help.
Seeking help during a personal crisis changed Trevor’s understanding of vulnerability and leadership.
During the pandemic, Surepoint’s leaders accepted substantial pay cuts as part of a plan to support the wider team.
Trevor believes caring for people helped Surepoint rebuild its culture and grow.
Someday to Today is a reminder to make time for the people and experiences that matter while we can.

Connect with Trevor Muir
Trevor works with leaders and organizations through speaking, coaching and advisory work.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-muir-b7231356/
Support Foxx and Our Family
Our one year old son Foxx is currently fighting cancer. If you are able to donate or share our GoFundMe, our family would be incredibly grateful.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-shelby-kelly-during-foxxs-fight-against-cancer
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Thank you to Colin Harms for your steadfast support of The Business Development Podcast. We are also grateful to Hypervac Technologies and Hyperfab for helping us continue to bring these conversations to listeners.
Hypervac Technologies builds professional duct cleaning equipment, including duct trucks, portable vacuums and tools for contractors in the field.
https://hypervac.com/
Hyperfab provides custom fabrication and specialized solutions for industrial applications.
https://hyperfab.ca/
Join The Catalyst Club Community
The Catalyst Club brings business development leaders, entrepreneurs, executives and senior professionals together for live sessions, recorded conversations and practical support. Trevor is part of this community and brings the same openness to its conversations that you hear in this episode.
https://www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub
If Trevor’s story stayed with you, follow The Business Development Podcast for more conversations with leaders who speak honestly about what it takes to build and lead.
Mentioned in this episode:
Hypervac - Revolution Vacuums