EP15: The Conscious Handover: Embracing Change at the Top

In this deeply personal episode of The Conscious Entrepreneur podcast, host Alex Raymond welcomes his friend Chris Schwalbach, founder of AVL Growth Partners. Chris shares his journey of self-discovery and the pivotal decision to replace himself as CEO of his company, a choice that significantly impacted both his professional and personal life. Chris's story is a compelling tale of introspection, personal development, and the transformative power of self-awareness. He discusses the challenges he encountered in realizing that relinquishing his CEO role was the best path forward for his company's future. This episode provides an intimate glimpse into how this decision transcended business strategy, marking a step towards personal alignment and growth. Central to Chris's journey is the influence of community, executive coaching, and the profound impact of journaling on his growth. He speaks openly about how his relationships with peers, mentors, and coaches, and own personal development practices have deepened his self-awareness and empathy, and how these skills manifest in his life. Chris's experiences underscore the importance of self-reflection in leadership and the value of understanding one's own journey to better lead and connect with others. His narrative is a testament to the belief that true leadership is about continuous learning and evolving, benefiting not just one's business but also personal fulfillment. Listeners will be inspired by Chris's candidness and the insights he offers. This episode is notable for its depth and the moving story of a leader embracing change, self-discovery, and the ongoing journey of becoming a more conscious entrepreneur. Quotes: “I'm like, I don't know what the next level of systems is. I don't know how to discipline the process. So, you know, that was almost like putting the shareholder hat on and saying, if I were a shareholder, are you the right CEO for the next five years? And I'm like, to me, probably not. Probably not.” (11:23 | Chris Schwalbach) “I think this awareness is just the work that I've done to understand what's actually happening right now, and how can I pick my head up and see what's going on around me?” (14:25 | Chris Schwalbach) “To me, the conscious entrepreneur is the one that's focused on bringing the awareness to the present in knowing what's happening around them.” (27:12 | Chris Schwalbach) “I think it's really hard for someone with an ego to figure out what their own values are because you do have a lot of imputed values or ‘should’ values when you write your values. I think when you really do a neutral values job, then you uncover behaviors and patterns.” (34:48 | Chris Schwalbach) Links Books & Movies mentioned: "Tiny Habits" by BJ Fogg "Atomic Habits" by James Clear "The Four Agreements" by Don Miguel Ruiz "The Values Factor" by John Demartini "What the Bleep Do We Know?" Connect with Chris Schwalbach: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cschwalbach/ Connect with Alex Raymond: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/ Website: https://consciousentrepreneur.us/ HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast. Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm