What happens when buyers or sellers insist on getting their way—or else?

In this episode, Bryan Lefelhoc digs into a familiar but uncomfortable truth: when ground rules aren’t set, adults start acting like children. And in sales, that rarely ends well.

Using a simple (and very real) family story, Bryan walks through why tantrums happen in business relationships, how unclear expectations create friction, and what it looks like to be the adult in the room—especially when the other side refuses to be.

Purpose Under Pressure is brought to you in partnership with Sandler by the Ruby Group, serving sales professionals and sales organizations nationwide from their locations in Akron and Columbus, Ohio, in Capital Region, New York, and in Jacksonville, Florida

Key takeaways

-When rules aren’t defined, people default to their own

-“Me first” behavior shows up on both sides of the sales table

-Clear expectations early prevent emotional blowups later

-Defining success upfront changes how both sides behave

-You don’t have to mirror childish behavior to move things forward

-If you’re the only adult in the room, act like it

-Strong relationships are built on clarity, not concession

Helpful Links:

Sandler by the Ruby Group: https://go.sandler.com/therubygroup/

Bryan Lefelhoc, Owner, Bryan Media Strategies: https://www.bryanmediastrategies.com/

Sales is hard enough. It shouldn’t matter whether the seller is male or female. Sadly, it often does. Credibility is questioned. Assumptions are made. Meetings slip into after-hours settings, boundaries blur, and professionalism becomes something to manage instead of something to rely on. It shapes how women sell and what they’re up against every day, and that’s not right.

In this episode of Purpose Under Pressure, host Bryan Lefelhoc, founder of Bryan Media Strategies, talks with Lauren Valentine, Partner at Sandler by the Ruby Group, who is leading the organization’s expansion into New York’s Capital Region.

The conversation ranges from equal stature in sales to ageism and the unique pressures women face in revenue-generating roles. Lauren explains how preparation, upfront contracts, and disarmingly honest conversations allow sellers of both sexes to earn respect rather than demand it.

Purpose Under Pressure is brought to you in partnership with Sandler by the Ruby Group, serving sales professionals and sales organizations nationwide from their locations in Akron and Columbus, Ohio, in Capital Region, New York, and in Jacksonville, Florida

Key Takeaways:

-Equal stature is earned through preparation and can be attained by any seller in any situation.

-Trust is earned. Respect should be expected from both the seller and the buyer from the very beginning.

-If a prospect won’t meet during business hours, that’s a qualification signal that shows the buyer may not be interested in the same things that you are.

-Walking away can strengthen credibility.

-Likability is not a substitute for structure and process

-Clear boundaries protect both professionalism and purpose

-Confidence grows when sellers stop trying to be “chosen.”

-Ethical selling requires courage under pressure that demands results at all costs.

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Helpful Links:

Lauren Valentine, Partner, Sandler by the Ruby Group: https://go.sandler.com/therubygroup/

Sandler by the Ruby Group: https://go.sandler.com/therubygroup/

Bryan Lefelhoc, Owner, Bryan Media Strategies: https://www.bryanmediastrategies.com/

There are moments in life when quitting would make complete sense. When the pressure is just too much, and the purpose can’t seem to stay afloat. When the dream you were building suddenly feels impossible to carry alone. And yet, some people keep going anyway. They are called to finish what was started, no matter what it takes.

In this episode of Purpose Under Pressure, host Bryan Lefelhoc, founder of Bryan Media Strategies, talks with Brenda Lee Cutlip, president of Shelby Joes. Brenda’s husband and business partner “Shelby Joe” passed away as they were building the family business. She talks about faith, perseverance, and what it looks like to keep building, even when that means going it alone.

How did she do it? From early local partnerships to growing regional distribution and future opportunities with larger chains, she explains how trust, relationships, and patience have helped to keep their dreams alive.

Purpose Under Pressure is brought to you in partnership with Sandler by the Ruby Group, serving sales professionals and sales organizations nationwide from their locations in Akron and Columbus, Ohio, in Capital Region, New York, and in Jacksonville, Florida

Key Takeaways:

-Pressure intensifies when the circumstances become almost unbearable

-Faith can be a stabilizing force when plans fall apart

-Community support often shows up when you least expect it

-Growth doesn’t require certainty, just willingness

-Loss can reshape a dream without ending it

-Listening for peace can matter more than listening to opinions

-Small confirmations can carry you through big uncertainty

-You don’t need a safety net to take a meaningful step forward

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Helpful Links:

Brenda Lee Cutlip, President, Shelby Joes: https://shelbyjoes.com/

Sandler by the Ruby Group: https://go.sandler.com/therubygroup/

Bryan Lefelhoc, Owner, Bryan Media Strategies: https://www.bryanmediastrategies.com/

Losing a job can unravel more than a paycheck. It can quietly shake confidence, identity, and direction all at once. When work disappears, pressure fills the space it leaves behind. Certainly for the person who lost the position, but in many ways, also for the person who lost the employee.

In this episode of Purpose Under Pressure, host Bryan Lefelhoc, founder of Bryan Media Strategies, is joined by Kim Pool, a career coach with IntoUSA. With more than 20 years of experience in career development and outplacement, Kim works with individuals navigating layoffs and career transitions while also helping employers support people well during difficult exits.

We talk about what people actually experience after a job ends, like shock, doubt, anger, and fear, and why rushing into applications often backfires. We also discuss how thoughtful employers protect trust and culture by offering career support.

Purpose Under Pressure is brought to you in partnership with Sandler by the Ruby Group, serving sales professionals and sales organizations nationwide from their locations in Akron and Columbus, Ohio, in Capital Region, New York, and in Jacksonville, Florida

Key Takeaways:

-Job loss often disrupts identity before it disrupts finances

-Panic-driven job searches usually delay progress

-Clarity about values leads to better career decisions

-Confidence grows when people understand what they bring to the table

-Employers influence culture by how they handle transitions

-Career coaching helps people regain direction in addition to finding openings

-Pressure can become a reset point instead of a stopping point

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Helpful Links:

Kim Pool, Intoo USA: https://www.intoo.com/us/

Sandler by the Ruby Group: https://go.sandler.com/therubygroup/

Bryan Lefelhoc, Owner, Bryan Media Strategies: https://www.bryanmediastrategies.com/

Most business owners are focused on staying visible, staying competitive, and staying in business. What often gets overlooked is whether the digital spaces we rely on every day are actually usable for everyone who needs them. When systems aren’t built with intention, entire groups of people are quietly shut out. That’s not good for business, and it’s not fair.

In this episode of Purpose Under Pressure, host Bryan Lefelhoc, founder of Bryan Media Strategies, talks with Elizabeth Orley, founder of Elizabeth Ink, a consulting firm dedicated to making the digital world accessible for everyone.

We break down what digital accessibility actually means in practical terms and towards marketing success. We also shed some light on the growing legal landscape around accessibility, the rise in lawsuits, and why overlays and quick fixes often do more harm than good.

Building digital spaces that work for more people isn’t just good compliance or good marketing. It’s good business, done with intention. On purpose.

Purpose Under Pressure is brought to you in partnership with Sandler by the Ruby Group, serving sales professionals and sales organizations nationwide from their locations in Akron and Columbus, Ohio, in Capital Region, New York, and in Jacksonville, Florida

Key Takeaways:

-Digital accessibility affects websites, social media, video, and AI-generated content

-Accessibility improvements often improve SEO and discoverability at the same time

-Many businesses are exposed to legal risk without realizing it

-Website overlays do not solve core accessibility issues and can create new problems

-Proper headers and alt text help both screen readers and search engines

-One in four Americans lives with some form of disability

-Captions and transcripts improve engagement, and are not just meant for compliance

-Accessibility is becoming a requirement in many states

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Helpful Links:

Elizabeth Orley, Elizabeth Ink: Elizabethink.net

Sandler by the Ruby Group: https://go.sandler.com/therubygroup/

Bryan Lefelhoc, Owner, Bryan Media Strategies: https://www.bryanmediastrategies.com/

It happens to many of us. Especially if we are high performers. The job is going well. Promotions have come quickly. Responsibility keeps stacking up. And yet something feels off. Energy fades. Health starts sending signals. The work that once felt meaningful begins to feel heavy. That’s where you need to make decisions, and that’s where purpose and pressure collide.

We’re talking about careers, recruiting, and the business of both in this episode of Purpose Under Pressure. Host Bryan Lefelhoc, founder of Bryan Media Strategies, welcomes Izka González, founder of The Hiring Revolution and an international talent acquisition consultant. Izka shares how she moved from Mexico City to Cleveland, built a successful corporate recruiting career, became a Mom, and then an Entrepreneur.

She left her job when she had to leave her job. Plain and simple. She began sharing what she knew about hiring on LinkedIn, helping people understand how recruiting really works and why. And she built a business that bridges the gap between how hiring is perceived, and how it actually functions.

Her message in this episode is that most careers aren’t broken, but they do require adaptation, clarity, and a willingness to challenge limiting beliefs. And they require Purpose, Under Pressure.

Purpose Under Pressure is brought to you in partnership with Sandler by the Ruby Group, serving sales professionals and sales organizations nationwide from their locations in Akron and Columbus, Ohio, in Capital Region, New York, and in Jacksonville, Florida

Key Takeaways:

-Burnout often shows up physically before we acknowledge it mentally

-Fast career growth without boundaries can quietly become unsustainable

-Financial awareness creates options during moments of transition

-Many job-search struggles stem from mindset before strategy

-Understanding how recruiting works changes how you show up

-Personal branding is about clarity, not self-promotion

-You can’t control hiring outcomes, but you can control preparation

-AI and automation are changing work, not eliminating people

-Saying “no” can be a necessary leadership decision

-Reinvention often begins by using what you already know

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Helpful Links:

Izka Gonzalez, The Hiring Revolution: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-hiring-revolution-6934521483931127808/

Sandler by the Ruby Group: https://go.sandler.com/therubygroup/

Bryan Lefelhoc, Owner, Bryan Media Strategies: https://www.bryanmediastrategies.com/

Most people carry ideas they never act on. They picture different futures, better careers, bigger impact. But fear, comfort, and uncertainty quietly keep them stuck. Then every so often, someone decides to move anyway. No guarantees. No safety net. Just purpose. They are no different than others. They just weren’t afraid to try. And the won't give up.

Janice Jokkel, business owner, coach, keynote speaker, and founder of The Biz Hive joins host Bryan Lefelhoc, founder of Bryan Media Strategies, in this episode of the Purpose Under Pressure Podcast. Janice talks about early sales leadership at a young age, building a successful family entertainment business, and then firing herself to save it. It's a story about success, burnout, humility, and bold reinvention.

The conversation also dives into Janice’s upcoming book Built to Thrive, her mission to help business owners lead smarter and work less, and the mindset shift required to stop surviving and start building something sustainable.

Foks, if you’ve ever thought about throwing up your hands and giving up, this episode will give you something else to think about. Thrive!

Purpose Under Pressure is brought to you in partnership with Sandler by the Ruby Group, serving sales professionals and sales organizations nationwide from their locations in Akron and Columbus, Ohio, in Capital Region, New York, and in Jacksonville, Florida

Key Takeaways:

-Pivoting is required to adapt and to succeed under pressure

-Founder syndrome can quietly become the biggest limitation in a business

-Burnout often shows up before we’re willing to admit it

-Sometimes the best move a leader can make is to fire themselves

-Trusting your team is essential for real growth

-Working harder does not always mean working smarter

-Vulnerability is a leadership skill.

-Surviving and thriving are two very different business outcomes

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Helpful Links:

Janice Jokkel, The Biz Hive: https://thebiz-hive.com/

Sandler by the Ruby Group: https://go.sandler.com/therubygroup/

Bryan Lefelhoc, Owner, Bryan Media Strategies: https://www.bryanmediastrategies.com/

Many people carry ideas they never act on. They picture different futures, better careers, bigger impact. But fear, comfort, and uncertainty quietly keep them stuck. Then every so often, someone decides to move anyway. No guarantees. No safety net. Just purpose. They are no different than others. They just weren’t afraid to try.

In this episode of Purpose Under Pressure, host Bryan Lefelhoc, founder of Bryan Media Strategies, has a conversation with Steven Walbolt, President of MDG Flooring America and Kiba Studios.

Steve shares how he left corporate America to bet on himself, his family, and a struggling family business with nothing but faith, determination, and a refusal to quit.

Let this episode serve as a reminder that nothing good comes easy for an entrepreneur. And that pressure doesn’t disappear when success shows up. But more so as an encouragement that acting on your purpose is what the purpose was meant for in the first place.

Purpose Under Pressure is brought to you in partnership with Sandler by the Ruby Group, serving sales professionals and sales organizations nationwide from their locations in Akron and Columbus, Ohio, in Capital Region, New York, and in Jacksonville, Florida

Key Takeaways:

-The leap into entrepreneurship is simple. That same leap is not easy. There is a difference

Fear evolves into something different after success is achieved;

-Comfort is is never the goal of being an Entrepreneur. Success is measured in Growth

-Delegation is a leadership skill that must be learned

-Systems create freedom.

-Culture outperforms charisma

-True success is measured by people developed.

-Legacy is built through leadership.

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Helpful Links:

Steve Walbolt, President MDG Flooring America/Kiba Studios: https://www.mdgflooringamerica.com/

Sandler by the Ruby Group: https://go.sandler.com/therubygroup/

Bryan Lefelhoc, Owner, Bryan Media Strategies: https://www.bryanmediastrategies.com/