Shelly Rood: Others Over Self

10/14/2026

We're thankful for those who run into the fire, and for those who train them on how to do it safely. We met Louis Kurtz , Owner, ARFF Specialists & 139 Fire LLC, during Exercise Northern Strike 14 at Camp Grayling, Michigan. An incredibly unique business model, Louis specializes in providing high-quality, hands-on Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) training across the US.

10/12/2026

The voice that says you haven’t done enough usually started with someone else. On Hardcore and At Ease, host Shelly Rood talks with founder Carylyne Chan about how to answer that voice. Carylyne built Murmur, an AI voice companion for women, and every character in it has strong boundaries so it never spirals with you. Her own practice starts with one sentence. When anxiety speeds up, she tells herself, “I’m here to gather inspiration.” Then she says the direct thing out loud, again and again, until it stops feeling like a risk.

Hear the full conversation on Hardcore and At Ease EP69, then see what Carylyne built: https://www.murmur.gg/

Which voice in your head is overdue for a new standard?

Murmur is First-Person Voice — fictional characters speaking to you by name, for whatever you're going through, the way only they would say it.

10/12/2026

What do Reed Hastings, Sheryl Sandberg and Brian Chesky all have in common? Something deep within each of them just "wasn't right," and each person stepped back from career life in order to realign with values. Claiming your personal values isn't optional if you're seeking sustainable success.

clip from Hardcore and At Ease - powered by Others Over Self®, episode 11
👀https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbwdY5eMeQlCbUmUIAmiiedzPazjuPBxG
🎙️https://hardcore-and-at-ease.captivate.fm/listen

10/10/2026

🔥 Are you the only one who actually cares about excellence?
If you're exhausted from trying to convince people who will never understand why you take action before you have it all figured out... this one's for you. Here's the truth nobody talks about:
You're not impatient. You're not a perfectionist. You're not "too much."
You represent a completely different CATEGORY of leader.

While others are planning → You're testing While others are discussing → You're building
While others are researching → You're course-correcting
And that gap? It's not your problem to fix.

Thomas Paine knew this in 1776: "The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country."
You don't win with summer soldiers. You win with people who show up in winter.

This article breaks down:
✅ Why most people will never understand your approach (and that's okay)
✅ The 3-step system to spot other hardcore doers
✅ How to move from exhausting coordination to exponential collaboration
✅ The W-2 vs Schedule C leadership difference that changes everything

Stop burning out on the wrong people. Start building with your actual people.
👇 Read the full strategy here: https://othersoverself.com/business/how-top-performers-find-their-people-without-burning-out/

Tag someone who needs to read this. They'll thank you later.

Thomas Paine warned us about relying on "summer soldiers," yet in business, we do it all the time. Win with collaboration over coordination.

10/09/2026

do not exist for you and you alone – they always involve other people.
If you set a boundary, it becomes your responsibility to educate others on this expectation.
How often do you feel offended, or wronged, by the people around you? Check out the full article, Setting New Boundaries: You Need t...

10/08/2026

You’re brilliant. You analyze everything. You weigh all options before making decisions. So why do your smartest choices sometimes leave everyone frustrated—including you?
If you’re tired of making technically sound decisions that somehow make everything worse, you’re experiencing what thousands of ambitious leaders face daily. The problem isn’t your intelligence—it’s that you’re making decisions from your head instead of your heart.

Read the full article -

Leadership Training and Team Performance Coaching for Ambitious People *Stop The Frustration *Raise The Bar *Go Further Together

10/07/2026

Testing drones with Michigan businesses at Exercise 14 at Camp Grayling - props to Macomb County Chamber for arranging "Industry Day" and inspiring local businesses to grow through unique collaboration opportunities.

10/05/2026

The more you build, the harder it is to see your own work clearly. That is not a discipline problem. It has a name — the curse of knowledge — and it is quietly costing builders customers every day.

In Episode 44 of Hardcore and At Ease, Shelly Rood brings in a customer experience expert to walk through her offer as a complete stranger. What that expert found in one hour changed three things at once — the keynote architecture, the content navigation, and the book outline.

The lesson she came back with applies to anyone who has ever poured themselves into something and wondered why the right people are not finding their way in.

This episode includes a three-question audit you can run on your own offer this week. No outside expert required.

Listen to Episode 44 at https://othersoverself.com/hardcore-and-at-ease/

10/03/2026

At every level of leadership, you'll hear reasons why something can't be done. The question is, will you let that stop you?

We had the privilege of connecting with Brigadier General Daniel J. Kramer II, U.S. Michigan National Guard, at the Selfridge Industry Series – Infrastructure Day in April 2026. His words had us reaching for a pen, knowing the weight of what's ahead.

"There's always a reason why 'you can't' at the highest level... push through anyway."

This wasn't just an inspiring morning. It was a front-row seat to a generational moment. The U.S. Air Force is investing approximately $1 billion into Selfridge Air National Guard Base to support incoming F-15EX Eagle II and KC-46 Pegasus aircraft missions. That means runway extensions, new construction, engineering, environmental services, and more, right here in Macomb County.

Our region has always answered the call. The Arsenal of Democracy isn't just history; it's happening now.

10/02/2026

“Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves even when we risk disappointing others.” - Brene Brown

Setting New Boundaries: You Need to Know Why, How, Reviewed by Diana Laskey , Licensed Master Social Worker. Read the article: https://othersoverself.com/lifestyle/setting-boundaries/