G&P LLC

Lead a team that buys, sells, invests in, and grows small businesses.

Founder

Leadership GS

Helping individuals, teams, and organizations thrive:
+Keynote speaker on leadership, business, entrepreneurship, and personal growth (DM to learn more).
+Newsletter author: Join 140,000+ members receiving free leadership and personal growth tips by email and social every week.

Keynote Speaker and Writer

Jefferson County, Colorado

Led 115 employees as we dramatically overhauled a frontline government agency that serves 600,000 people, winning four national innovation awards, being featured on 60 Minutes, CNN, and dozens of other programs, and achieving 95%+ customer satisfaction.

Clerk and Recorder (Elected Official)

McKinsey & Company

Trusted advisor to Fortune 500 companies and large governments as they made critical strategic and operational decisions.

Management Consultant

The White House 

Served on President Obama's legal team during the defense of the Affordable Care Act and the DACA and DAPA immigration Executive Orders; the legalization of same-sex marriage; and dozens of high profile cabinet and judicial appointments.

Office of White House Counsel

G&P CEO | Ex-McKinsey, Harvard Law, Elected Official | Firefighter | ✅Follow for leadership and lifestyle lessons

Day job: Buying, selling, investing in, and growing small businesses. 
Side hustle: Helping YOU and your organization thrive.

In my full-time job as Founder of G&P LLC, I lead a team that acquires, manages, and grows businesses.

Outside of that work, I share leadership lessons with hundreds of thousands of people through my newsletter and social media. And deliver keynote speeches and intimate presentations on leadership to organizations across the world.

And I'd love to help you!
1) For free access to all of my leadership infographics, as well as a weekly newsletter with actionable tips on leadership and lifestyle: https://www.leadershipgs.com/
2) To book me as a speaker for your organization, simply send a DM.
3) For one-on-one coaching to level-up your leadership: https://calendly.com/george-leadershipgs/60-minute-coaching-session

And for more on my background, read on...

Now: 
+Founder and CEO at G&P LLC - acquiring, managing, and growing small businesses
+Writer and speaker for leaders and organizations across the globe

Previously: 
+McKinsey consultant: advised top Fortune 500 business leaders on critical decisions
+Harvard Law School, Magna Cum Laude: focused on business AND public policy 
+Elected official: led large agency, winning four national innovation awards, 40 under 40, and getting featured on 60 Minutes, CNN, and dozens of other programs

Throughout:
+Firefighter, responding to 911 calls on everything from structure fires to car crashes, cardiac arrests, and mountain rescues; rookie firefighter of the year 2017

11 things you should NOT say in job interviews,

And what you SHOULD say instead:

Interviews are difficult!

You might get just 15 minutes to:
↳Demonstrate your strengths
↳Share your enthusiasm
↳And describe why it's a good fit

Don't make things even harder for yourself by sending the wrong message.

This sheet will help you avoid bad answers,

And knock your interview out of the park:

1) Don't say: "I don't have any questions right now"
↳Why: You're missing a big opportunity to show you're prepared and curious
↳Say: "What will success look like in the first 3 months?"

2) Don't say: "I'd take any job right now"
↳Why: You don't appear genuinely interested in this role - you seem desperate
↳Say: "I'm excited about how this position aligns with my strengths in X"

3) Don't say: "My last boss was awful"
↳Why: It's unwise to put down a past boss to your next boss
↳Say: "I learned a lot in my previous role about X and Y, and now I'm excited for a new opportunity"

4) Don't say: "I'm not too familiar with your company"
↳Why: It makes you seem unprepared, uninterested, and unwilling to do research
↳Say: "I was reading about your organization, and I loved seeing X - could you tell me more about that?"

5) Don't say: "How much will I make here?"
↳Why: It's a fair thing to ask about, just don't do it in a way that makes you seem only focused on pay
↳Say: "I'm excited about this role - could you tell me more about compensation so I can ensure it fits my expectations?"

6) Don't say: "I don't really have any weaknesses"
↳Why: Everyone has weaknesses - this answer lacks self-awareness
↳Say: "I've been working hard to get better at X, and after taking Y steps, I've improved considerably"

7) Don't say: "I'm not a great communicator"
↳Why: While naming weaknesses is important, you shouldn't do it without giving a plan
↳Say: "Communication is something I'm working on - I'm using X tool and taking Y course to improve"

8) Don't say: "I know I might not be qualified, but..."
↳Why: You shouldn't work against yourself
↳Say: "I'm excited to use my experience to dive right in, and I'm confident I'll learn and grow quickly"

9) Don't say: "My previous company fired me"
↳Why: It might be unfair, but getting fired has a stigma
↳Say: "My last job ended unexpectedly, but I've used the time to strengthen my skills in X, and I'm eager to put them to use again"

10) Don't say: "I don't like 5-year plans or career goals"
↳Why: No matter how much you hate the question, employers want to see a hunger to learn and grow
↳Say: "Short-term, I want to thrive in this role; long-term, I hope to grow in X areas"

11) Don't say: "When will I get promoted?"
↳Why: In contrast to the last question, blatant ambition also isn't ideal
↳Say: "What do typical career paths look like here, and how do you support employees in their growth?"


Any other phrases you'd add?

Good luck!

---

♻️ Repost to help someone in your network.

And follow me George Stern for more interview content.

George Stern

Entrepreneur, author, coach. Ex-McKinsey, Harvard Law, elected official. Volunteer firefighter. ✅Follow for daily tips to thrive at work AND in life.

what not to say in job interviews - and what to say instead

Enough already with urgency culture. 

It isn't helping - it's massively hurting:

When we act like everything is urgent,
Nothing gets the time or attention it deserves.

❌ Quality drops.
❌ Morale tanks. 
❌ And burnout rises. 

Constant urgency isn't a sign of an exciting organization moving fast.

It's a sign of a leaderless organization that can't prioritize.

And that poor planning shouldn't become your emergency.
Again and again and again.

If you find yourself facing frequent false urgency,

Try these 10 phrases:

1) "I'd love to help, but I can't right now."
↳Sets a clear boundary without a harsh no.

2) "What's the firm deadline here?"
↳Forces clarity and often reveals flexibility.

3) "Let's triage this - what's most critical?"
↳Moves the conversation from panic to prioritization.

4) "I want to make sure we do this well, not just fast."
↳Highlights quality over hustle.

5) "What's the impact if this gets done tomorrow instead?"
↳Creates space by exposing false urgency.

6) "Who or what is driving the urgency here?"
↳Encourages accountability and avoids knee-jerk chaos.

7) "Can this happen after what I'm currently working on?"
↳Reinforces your existing priorities.

8) "I'm already at capacity. Will you help me reprioritize?"
↳Puts the responsibility for trade-offs back on them.

9) "Please let me check my bandwidth and get back to you shortly."
↳Buys you time to respond intentionally, not reactively.

10) "This feels like we failed to plan. How can we avoid that next time?"
↳Addresses the root cause, not just the symptoms.


Frequent urgency is usually a reflection of a failure:
↳Failure to plan
↳Failure to prioritize
↳Failure to create systems
↳Failure to stay focused

Don't let yourself bounce from emergency to emergency. 

Take the time to correct the failure,
And stay focused on what matters most.

Because when everything's urgent, everything suffers.

Including you.

Agree?

---

♻️ Repost to help your network end the urgency madness. 

And follow me George Stern for more content like this.

don't let someone else's poor planning become your emergency. When everything's urgent, everything suffers

12 signs of a toxic culture - 

Spot them before it's too late: 

People are quick to blame themselves when they're in a toxic organization,

Or to take steps to appease it:

↳ I should just work harder
↳ I should just sacrifice a bit more
↳ I should just wait until things get better

But toxic cultures rarely change. 

And the sad truth is: they can dramatically change the people in them... for the worse.  

Is your job toxic? 

Use this guide to identify the signs:

1) Unfair Expectations
↳ Deadlines are always changing and urgent
↳ You're over-capacity, with an unreasonable workload and limited resources

2) Micromanagement
↳ You lack autonomy, needing approval for every minor decision or action 
↳ Your manager is constantly looking over your shoulder 

3) Lack of Recognition
↳ Leaders routinely steal credit for others' accomplishments
↳ No one notices your hard work, and you feel unseen

4) Absence of Balance
↳ You're always on - nights, weekends, or even when out on vacation
↳ Leaders never take time off and generally discourage it 

5) No Transparency
↳ A select few make decisions without input or proper communication 
↳ You can't even get information you need to do your job

6) Frequent Turnover
↳ Retention is low, with top talent exiting often
↳ Managers constantly change, causing instability and uncertainty

7) Limited Growth
↳ Learning and development are discouraged because of a lack of time or resources
↳ You can't see a clear path for career growth

8) Hostility
↳ Bullying, gossip, and cliques are widespread and allowed
↳ Leaders sweep serious issues under the rug

9) Favoritism
↳ Certain employees receive special treatment
↳ Performance evaluations and promotions aren't merit-based

10) Lack of Consistency
↳ Priorities change frequently and without warning or reason
↳ Leaders aren't aligned and send different messages

11) Punitive Approach
↳ Managers overreact to minor mistakes, punishing them harshly
↳ Fear runs rampant, discouraging learning

12) Poor Compensation
↳ Salary and benefits are inadequate and inconsistent
↳ Raises rarely happen and aren't tied to merit


A job doesn't have to be like this. 

There ARE good cultures. 

Prioritize your health and career,
And look for somewhere that values you. 

Somewhere that treats its people well. 

Agree?

---

♻️ Repost to help others identify the signs early. 

And follow me George Stern for more content like this.

Signs of a toxic job - spot them before it's too late

Everyone's asking if AI will replace them.

But that's the wrong question.

The real opportunity isn't figuring out how to stay valuable in the face of AI. 

It's figuring out how to use AI to be more valuable than ever.

Picture two sales people.

Both are:
✅ Personable
✅ Good at building trust and relationships
✅ Strong closers 

One spends more than half of his time: 
❌ Sourcing leads
❌ Sending repetitive cold emails
❌ Following up manually
❌ Answering questions
❌ Scheduling appointments...

And the other does none of that. 

Because his AI agent does all of it 24/7,
And he focuses only on connecting and closing.

The second one isn't going to be out of a job because he's using AI,
He's going to be the best salesman in his industry because of it.

➡️ Pro Tip: Check out Jeeva AI to put an AI sales rep to work for you.

Whatever your strengths,
Stop worrying about AI taking your job,
And start thinking about how to harness it to be the best at your job.

This sheet breaks down how you can use your skills,
And the power of AI,
To free up more time and increase your value.

The combination will make you unstoppable. 

What are you waiting for?

---

♻️ Repost to help others start using AI to elevate their careers.

And check out Jeeva.ai to start transforming your sales today: https://jeeva.ai

#JeevaPartner

Use AI to boost your career - your soft skills + AI support = unstoppable

12 signs you have strong emotional intelligence.

1. You pause before reacting
Example: You feel the impulse to fire off a snarky reply, but you draft it, wait 10 minutes, and delete it.

2. You don't need to be right
Example: You step back mid-debate and say, without ego, "You changed my mind - let's go with your idea."

3. You stay calm under pressure
Example: Your boss drops a surprise deadline, and instead of panicking you quickly create a plan.

4. You make people feel heard
Example: You ask, "Can you say more about that?" instead of jumping to insert your opinion.

5. You notice emotional shifts
Example: You ask a friend or co-worker, "You seemed off earlier - is everything okay?"

6. You own your mistakes
Example: You start a meeting by saying, "That delay was on me - here's what I'll do differently."

7. You handle feedback with grace
Example: You say "Thanks for the feedback" without getting defensive, even when it stings.

8. You apologize without excuses
Example: "I'm sorry I let you down - I'll fix it," instead of "I was just really busy."

9. You celebrate others' wins
Example: You call out a colleague's contribution in a meeting even if it overshadows your own.

10. You stay kind in hard moments
Example: You respond to a rude comment with professionalism, not defensiveness or sarcasm.

11. You set boundaries respectfully
Example: You say no to a social invite with warmth - "I'd love to, just not this time."

12. You support without fixing
Example: A friend vents and you ask, "Do you want advice or just someone to listen?"


Emotional intelligence isn't soft. 

It's a superpower.

And like any skill, you can build it - one moment at a time.

Which of these do you want to work on most?

---

♻️ Repost to help your network strengthen their EQ. 

And follow me George Stern for more growth content.

12 signs you have high emotional intelligence - a guide by George Stern

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