Leadership Lessons & The Reality Check Every Entrepreneur Needs

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.

In This Episode:

Leadership That Actually Works:



James shares the Walmart leadership philosophy that made a meat department worker tear up—and why speaking first matters more than your title

The Entrepreneur’s Reality Check:



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)

Corporate Culture Gone Right (and Wrong):



From toxic hierarchies to innovation from the bottom up—how the People Greeter program started with an hourly associate in Louisiana

Never Stop Learning:



Book recommendations including “Emotional Intelligence 2.0” and “The Art of Learning,” plus why your brain at 25 is just the beginning

The Mark Twain Effect:



That moment when you realize your parents actually knew what they were talking about

Key Takeaways:



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

Featured Guests:



James Guhl - Regional Director, Arkansas Small Business Technology & Development Center (ASBTDC)
Sarah Teagle - Teagle Consulting
Josh McMillian - I-40 Shooting Range, Pottsville, AR

Resources Mentioned:



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”

Connect:



This is a Level Up Russellville production. Building businesses, growing leaders, and keeping it real in the River Valley.



Connect With Us:



📧 Email: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
📞 Phone: 479-397-4600
🌐 Website: rvtownsquare.com



Mentioned in This Episode:
Jeremy & Nicole King
Owners, Olive Branch
Conway, Arkansas