Why slowing down, listening better, and taking the long way still matters I sat down with Jeff Ton expecting a conversation about leadership and history. What I didn’t expect was how much we’d end up talking about attention, where we place it, how rarely we slow down, and what happens when we actually do. Jeff calls himself a “hippie coder turned CIO,” and that range alone tells you he’s lived in very different worlds. Over time, his love of leadership and fascination with Lewis and Clark merged into something more personal, eventually culminating in a book […]
Chris Burkhard, President of Placers Staffing, joins WDEL host Peter MacArthur to break down the current state of the Delaware and national job markets in early 2026. In this interview, you will learn: – Why Delaware’s unemployment rate is now above 5% and what that means for the state’s economy. – How the national job market, influenced by AI and inflation, is creating uncertainty for business leaders. – The two dominant features of the fastest-growing jobs for 2026: AI-related roles and the rise of independent consultants and founders. – Essential advice on how to tailor your resume for […]
Why looking back honestly is the best way to plan what’s next Every year, I set goals. I’ll be the first to admit I have an overcomplicated way of thinking about my year. You don’t need to do it my way. Do what works for you. The point is to choose a path that leads you toward the life you want in 2026. For me, it starts simply: grab a notebook and review the year you just lived. Let the Calendar Tell the Truth I start by going through my calendar. It’s full of reminders: who […]
What building, letting go, and choosing life taught Sam Maddula about leadership, values, and what really matters I had the opportunity to sit down with Sam Maddula, a founder whose career does not fit a clean headline. What stood out immediately wasn’t the size of the business he built, but the decisions he made along the way, and the ones he chose not to make. This conversation isn’t about hacks or hypergrowth. It’s about judgment, timing, and the quiet moments when leaders realize the path forward isn’t obvious. A Business Built in the Margins Sam started his […]
A reflection on ownership, leadership, and what actually moved the needle this year When you spend a year in conversation with leaders, professionals, and thinkers across industries, as I have through Outside Insights and Placers, you start to notice what actually sticks. Not the trends. Not the headlines. The patterns. And the clearest pattern this year was this: the people who are doing well aren’t waiting for certainty. They’re taking ownership of their mindset, their growth, and how they show up for others. That idea came up again and again, starting with how we think. […]
