S02:E15
What does 34 years at Walmart teach you about real leadership? How do you help dreamers turn their ideas into viable businesses? In this roundtable episode, we sit down with James Guhl (ASBTDC Regional Director), Sarah Teagle (Teagle Consulting), and Josh McMillian (I-40 Shooting Range) to explore the intersection of leadership, entrepreneurship, and continuous learning.
James shares the Walmart leadership philosophy that made a meat department worker tear up—and why speaking first matters more than your title
Why warm fuzzies don’t pay the bills, and how the ASBTDC helps turn passion into profitable business plans (hint: maybe rock climbing hangboards aren’t the best idea for Russellville)
From toxic hierarchies to innovation from the bottom up—how the People Greeter program started with an hourly associate in Louisiana
Book recommendations including “Emotional Intelligence 2.0” and “The Art of Learning,” plus why your brain at 25 is just the beginning
That moment when you realize your parents actually knew what they were talking about
Address behaviors, not people—the leadership lesson that changes everything
A business plan isn’t just for banks—it forces you to crystallize whether your idea actually works
Emotional intelligence at 21 beats technical skills without self-awareness
Your brain is a muscle—challenge it with new languages, piano lessons, or crossword puzzles
James Guhl - Regional Director, Arkansas Small Business Technology & Development Center (ASBTDC) Sarah Teagle - Teagle Consulting Josh McMillian - I-40 Shooting Range, Pottsville, AR
ASBTDC (Arkansas Small Business Technology & Development Center) - FREE business consulting services funded by government grants and Arkansas Tech University
Book: “Emotional Intelligence 2.0”
Book: “The Art of Learning” by Josh Waitzkin
Movie: “Searching for Bobby Fischer”
This is a Level Up Russellville production. Building businesses, growing leaders, and keeping it real in the River Valley.