Scott Mesh explains how strong leadership starts with listening, solving the right problem, and building a culture where A players feel valued. He shares why appreciation, peer recognition, and treating remote or offshore teammates like full team members are essential for retention. He also introduces Opportunity Focus: a practical way to reframe problems as opportunities, surface blind spots, and improve through deliberate feedback.

Key Takeaways

• Effectiveness comes before efficiency. If you are solving the wrong problem, speed will only make the mistake faster.
• Set clear culture goals. Scott credits Los Niños Services becoming a great company to deliberately setting the goal of improving recruiting and retention.
• People stay when they feel appreciated. Make public recognition and honest peer appreciation part of your weekly rhythm, not a once-a-year gesture.
• Remote and offshore teams should be integrated, not separated. Scott's rule is simple: treat everyone like one team.
• Opportunity Focus reframes challenges as opportunities, which changes motivation and action.
• The most important growth question is: "What can I do better next time?" Ask it often and invite direct feedback.

About the Guest

Scott Mesh is an award-winning CEO and leadership coach making a real impact on early childhood education and organizational development. Scott founded Los Niños Services, which provides specialized education and support to young children in New York City. He also helps leaders unlock their potential through the Opportunity Focus methodology, guiding them to recognize and capitalize on both internal and external opportunities. As a psychologist-turned-executive, Scott brings a unique perspective to modern leadership challenges, including scaling teams, building resilient cultures post-pandemic, and navigating the complexities of both onshore and offshore talent.

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More About Scott Mesh

Connect with Scott on LinkedIn.

Check Out scottmesh.com

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Rob Levin breaks down key findings from SmarterX's 2026 State of AI for Business report and translates them into a practical roadmap for founders and SMB leaders. The big message: AI is no longer optional, and the companies that start building skills, workflows, and a culture of experimentation now will outpace those that wait.

Key takeaways

• Most employees believe AI will eliminate more jobs than it creates, but only 20% are worried about their own role, a sign that awareness is lagging behind reality.
• Most teams struggle with four common barriers: not enough training, lack of awareness, no time to implement it, and fear or mistrust of something new.
• The best starting point is the leader: learn AI, build workflows, and focus humans on judgment-heavy work while AI handles repeatable tasks.
• Training, recognition, and team show-and-tell sessions can help build confidence and momentum across the organization.

Timestamps

[01:57] Employee beliefs about AI job loss vs. personal job security

[02:37] Why AI layoffs in the news are mostly noise for SMBs right now

[06:59] Where to start: the leader adopts AI first, then builds workflows and strategy

[09:02] Training the team, making time for learning, and recognizing AI wins

[10:52] Why founders must set the tone and create a culture that embraces change

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Bottom line
AI adoption is not just a technology decision; it is a leadership and culture decision. Start with your own workflows, invest in team training, and create a company rhythm that rewards learning and experimentation.

Related Substack posts

• How WBN Is Becoming an AI-First Company
• Don't Have an Assistant? You are One

More About Rob Levin & WorkBetterNow

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Most business owners are too busy working IN their business to ever work ON it. After 30 years running Frieda's Specialty Produce, Karen Caplan knows exactly what that costs. She now coaches CEOs and leaders of companies from $10M to $200M in revenue. In this episode, Karen breaks down the three patterns keeping business owners stuck, why really wanting a shift is non-negotiable, and the four coaching questions that redefine the annual performance review forever.

About the Guest

Karen Caplan spent 30 years as CEO of Frieda's Specialty Produce, a family business whose story, including how kiwi fruit and over 200 exotic produce items made their way to American tables, is the subject of the documentary Fear No Fruit. Since selling the company, she has founded an executive coaching and consulting practice, helping CEOs and company leaders navigate the challenges of scaling. For over 15 years, she has also been sharing her thinking on business and leadership through her blog "What's on Karen's Plate".

Episode Highlight

"You have to really want it. Whether it's making a to-do list, a checklist, or deadlines for what needs to get done. You have to really want it and have the discipline to stay focused on whatever the goal is."

Actionable Insights

• Working in your business is the number one growth killer: Karen identifies the single biggest impediment to growth as owners staying buried in day-to-day operations instead of carving out time for vision, strategy, and planning. An outside perspective cuts through that blind spot fast. Most CEOs don't have someone holding them accountable unless they're part of a public company or have investors. That gap is where growth dies. [01:59]
• The pain has to get real before change happens: Karen's own wake-up moment came when her CPA told her she was 'basically spending her inheritance' to keep the business afloat. That shock was the catalyst. Comfort is a trap, and waiting for pain to peak is not a strategy. Having someone on the outside hold up the mirror is. [06:53]
• Replace annual reviews with four coaching questions: What's working well right now? Where are you feeling stuck or frustrated? What support do you need from me? What are you learning? Karen's framework transforms managers from judges to coaches. Consistency and genuine interest in the answers are what build team performance, and it has to happen biweekly, not annually. [16:15]

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More About Karen Caplan

Connect with Karen on LinkedIn.

Check Out Karen Caplan

More About Rob Levin & WorkBetterNow

Like this show? Click on over and subscribe to our YouTube channel!
Follow Rob Levin on Substack.
Out now! The New Talent Playbook: The Ultimate Guide to Building Your Dream Team 📕 Available on Amazon or visit thenewtalentplaybook.com and get the free scorecard.