Laura Hayes, owner of Ground Rules Coaching, and Sarah Robinson, senior coach and facilitator, join Scott Eckart on Future Proof to share how coaching, leadership development, and knowing your strengths can transform the way businesses grow. Drawing from their work helping leaders build stronger teams, Laura and Sarah explain why great leadership starts with trust, connection, and understanding what people do best.

Laura and Sarah explore how Ground Rules Coaching grew from a response to customer needs into a system that helps leaders transform their potential. They discuss why business owners often need help with challenges they do not see coming, how leaders can create accountability, and why trust is the foundation of every healthy team.

They reflect on their own entrepreneurial journeys, the mentors who shaped them, and the lessons they learned while building a coaching practice. Laura shares how she learned to charge for her expertise, create a repeatable process, and measure the impact of coaching. Sarah shares why she believes accessible and repeatable coaching creates lasting change for leaders and teams.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• Why leaders need to understand their strengths and the strengths of their teams
• How coaching helps businesses build trust and accountability
• Why entrepreneurs need mentors and people who challenge their thinking
• Building a leadership system that creates lasting results
• How to prepare teams for the challenges they cannot see yet

Things to listen for:
(00:00) Meet Laura Hayes and Sarah Robinson

(03:57) Finding a path into coaching and leadership development

(08:16) How Ground Rules Coaching grew from customer needs

(10:17) Why leaders need help with challenges they do not see coming

(12:02) Measuring the impact and ROI of coaching

(14:27) Why Sarah joined Ground Rules Coaching

(17:31) The mentors who shaped Laura’s entrepreneurial journey

(21:48) Why mentorship and partnership matter

(24:05) How entrepreneurs get unstuck and find clarity

(27:21) The power of asking for feedback

(30:16) Learning from failure and improving through feedback

(33:27) Discovering strengths and becoming a better leader

(37:00) The discipline of delegation and finding the right people

(39:03) Creating accountability through shared expectations

(42:26) Building confidence and sharing ideas with the world

Resources:
Laura Hayes LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-hayes-b0799269/
Sarah Robinson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-robinson-corporate-coach-training-development/
Join the Velocity Network: https://www.velocoaches.com/

Jason Humrichous, owner of Heritage Painting, joins Scott Eckart on Future Proof to share his journey from entrepreneur and visionary builder to a leader learning how to let go. Drawing from his experience growing a painting company, building teams, and redefining his role, Jason explains why the hardest person to fire is yourself and how stepping back can create room for growth.

Jason and Scott explore what it means to build a business around your unique abilities, why entrepreneurs need people who are better than them, and how strong leaders create teams that can carry the vision forward. They discuss the importance of core values, developing a culture of growth, and making difficult decisions like shrinking before expanding.

He reflects on his entrepreneurial journey from building treehouse forts as a kid to creating Heritage Painting, the lessons he learned through failure, and the influence of his father’s work ethic and leadership. Jason also shares his perspective on raising independent children, teaching the value of hard work, and helping people develop the hunger needed to grow.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• Why entrepreneurs must learn to let go in order to grow
• How surrounding yourself with smarter people accelerates leadership
• Building a company around core values and culture
• Why hard work and independence create stronger people
• The journey from visionary founder to future-focused leader

Things to listen for:
(00:00) Meet Jason Humrichous

(01:03) The unexpected connection between two visionaries

(03:40) Building forts and discovering an entrepreneurial mindset

(06:33) Why entrepreneurs need people better than themselves

(07:32) Letting go in order to grow

(13:07) Starting Bullseye Painters

(17:55) The joy of work

(20:31) Teaching kids independence and responsibility

(25:41) The evolution from painting to Heritage Painting

(37:01) Defining company values and culture

(46:56) Advice for entrepreneurs building something that lasts

Resources:
Jason Humrichous LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-humrichous-4087183a/
Join the Velocity Network: https://www.velocoaches.com/

Nick Smarrelli, lecturer in entrepreneurship and organizational leadership at Butler University, joins Scott Eckart on Future Proof to explore how letting go of fixed outcomes can reshape success, leadership, and personal growth. Drawing from his experience as a former CEO and educator, Nick shares how shifting from end goals to small, intentional actions can build momentum and clarity over time.

Nick and Scott explore why people get stuck, not from lack of ambition, but from overwhelm and uncertainty. They discuss leadership as influence rather than position, how small wins build confidence, and how simple next steps break decision paralysis. Nick also touches on mentorship, curated learning, and staying clear-headed under pressure.

He reflects on leaving his CEO role, rebuilding his identity through teaching, and separating self-worth from titles. He also shares his approach to work-life integration, parenting, and finding meaning now instead of waiting for some future milestone.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• Why the “end game” mindset limits happiness and progress
• How the “Next Two Steps” framework helps you take action under uncertainty
• Why small, repeatable actions build confidence and clarity
• Leadership as influence, not position
• How to make decisions when everything feels unclear

Things to listen for:
(00:00) Meet Nick Smarrelli
(01:43) “You don’t need a title to matter”

(02:23) Leaving the CEO role and identity shift

(04:57) Leadership by influence vs position

(09:12) Becoming a curator of ideas

(12:55) Reframing feedback and learning from others

(18:34) Teaching entrepreneurship and student founders

(23:21) Building reps through small actions

(29:18) Planning without being trapped by outcomes

(33:26) Why happiness can’t wait for the end game

(39:25) The Next Two Steps framework

Resources:
Nick Smarrelli LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smarrelli/
Join the Velocity Network: https://www.velocoaches.com/