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Small business owners carry a relentless load. The workday does not end when the doors close, and the pressure to keep pushing can quietly pull leaders away from what matters most: real relationships, good judgment, and the ability to lead with clarity. 

In this episode, host Corey Harlock sits down with Jeff Burningham, an entrepreneur and investor who has started, run, or invested in more than 15 companies in tech and real estate, and the author of The Last Book Written by a Human. Jeff shares why being present and aware is not a nice-to-have habit. He frames it as a practical leadership discipline, especially in a world where intelligent tools are everywhere.

What you’ll learn

- Why presence is a leadership practice, not a personality trait, and how small business owners can build it through simple daily habits.

- How “human being” leadership differs from “human doing” leadership, and why wisdom and embodied experience matter as intelligence becomes more commoditized.

- How to balance results with relationships, and why the quality of connection with employees, vendors, and customers becomes the ultimate long-term advantage.

Jeff and Corey dig into the real tension every owner feels: the need to deliver results without letting the pace become unsustainable. Jeff explains how easy it is to lose the basics when the business demands everything, and why the basics are still the basics for a reason. 

From sitting in silence for a few minutes a day, to moving the body, to getting back into nature, Jeff argues that these simple practices help leaders hear themselves, regulate stress, and make better decisions. The conversation also touches on what Jeff learned from his run for governor in Utah during COVID, and how pressure can push leaders toward choices they later regret. The takeaway is clear: presence protects people, culture, and judgment, and it keeps business owners from sacrificing what they actually built the business for.

Connect with the Experts
Get The Last Book Written By a Human: https://a.co/d/cz4BsHH
Learn More About Jeff: jeffburningham.com
Connect with Jeff: @JeffBurningham (Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook)
Connect with Corey Harlock on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreyharlock/
Learn more about KeyHire Solutions: https://www.keyhire.solutions

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