What happens when someone gets fired from both L'Oréal and Ernst & Young, then goes on to advise billion-dollar brands like Porsche? In this episode, Cam and Otis sit down with Alex M H Smith, strategy consultant and author of the bestselling "No Bullsh*t Strategy," who's made a career out of cutting through corporate fluff to help businesses find the clear, simple moves that actually work.

"Nobody knew what the hell I was doing because nobody understood strategy," Alex jokes about his time as a Chief Strategy Officer. But that lack of understanding is exactly the problem he's spent his career solving. From discussing why most businesses confuse strategy with "what are we going to do next" to revealing the difference between Blue Ocean Strategy and traditional strategic planning, this conversation explores what it really means to find your unique competitive advantage.

What makes this episode particularly valuable is Alex's candid discussion about the education gap in strategic thinking. He explains why there was no competitive pitch situation in his entire consulting career—because almost nobody else was doing real strategy work at the small business level. Whether you're a founder trying to escape me-too competition, a leader struggling to articulate your strategic direction, or simply someone who's read all the buzzwords but wants to understand what strategy actually means, Alex's plain-spoken approach provides a roadmap for replacing timid, complicated plans with bold, energizing directions.

More About Alex:
Alex M H Smith is a strategy consultant and author of the bestselling No Bullsh*t Strategy, known for cutting through the corporate fluff and helping businesses find the clear, simple moves that actually work. As founder of Basic Arts, Alex works with founders and CEOs to identify the unique value only their business can deliver—and turn it into a competitive advantage that customers can’t ignore.

His plain-spoken approach has attracted a global audience on LinkedIn and YouTube, where he shares practical, often provocative perspectives on escaping the noise of me-too competition. Whether advising billion-dollar brands like Porsche or fast-moving startups, Alex focuses on replacing timid, complicated strategic plans with bold, energizing directions that make sense from the boardroom to the front line.

Chapter Times and Titles:

Introduction: The Disastrous Start to a Strategy Career [00:00 - 04:28]
Welcome and meet Alex M H Smith
Fired from L'Oréal and Ernst & Young
The non-deliberate path to strategy consulting
Following (and failing at) corporate footsteps

From Advertising to Strategy Consulting [04:28 - 13:51]
Account planning and the strategic side of advertising
Starting a consultancy in 2006
The education gap: why nobody was looking for strategy help
"Nobody knew what the hell I was doing"

The Strategy Knowledge Problem [13:51 - 22:30]
Camden's question: buzzwords vs. real understanding
Blue Ocean Strategy vs. traditional strategic planning
Why most people think strategy is "what are we going to do next"
The flabby definitions that miss the point

No Competitive Pitches: Being the Only One [22:30 - 32:15]
Why Alex never had a competitive pitch situation
The plus side: blowing people's minds with real strategy
The challenge: a massive education job required
Pure play strategy consultants vs. small business reality

Finding Your Unique Value [32:15 - 40:12]
What only your business can deliver
Turning unique value into competitive advantage
Why customers can't ignore clear differentiation
The beauty of being Chief Strategy Officer: doing whatever you want

From Basic Arts to Global Audience [40:12 - 48:00]
Building a following on LinkedIn and YouTube
Practical, provocative perspectives on competition
Working with billion-dolla

How does someone juggle running a business, teaching at two universities, and working full-time as a Director of Enterprise Applications? In this episode, Cam and Otis sit down with Dr. Tresia Eaves—Air Force veteran, author, adjunct professor, and founder of Variant Enterprises—to explore her remarkable journey from military service to becoming a recognized leader in technology consulting and project management.

"You are only limited by yourself and the limitations you put on yourself," Dr. Eaves explains, sharing how she's managed to build a successful consulting business while teaching the next generation of business leaders and leading IT initiatives at Texas A&M University, Kingsville. From discussing her transition from military software development to civilian project management, to revealing her upcoming work on "The Platinum Rule" (treating others as THEY want to be treated, not as you want to be treated), this conversation offers valuable insights for anyone navigating multiple professional roles.

What makes this episode particularly valuable is Dr. Eaves' practical approach to time management, her emphasis on building supportive teams, and her commitment to giving back through education. Whether you're a veteran transitioning to civilian work, an entrepreneur balancing multiple ventures, or a leader interested in project management excellence, Dr. Eaves' story provides a roadmap for achieving success without putting limitations on yourself.

More About Tresia:
Dr. Tresia Eaves has over 30 years of technology consulting and information technology leadership experience. She is also an author, instructor, public speaker, adjunct professor, and proud veteran of the US Air Force. She established her company, Variant Enterprises, LLC, in 2011 and has her Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned and HUBZone Small Business certifications through SBA.gov. She also has her Texas VetHUB certification. She currently serves as the Director of Enterprise Applications for Texas A&M University, Kingsville. She recently worked as a subcontractor for the US Forest Service as a Senior Program Manager in the Office of the Chief Technology Officer (2023- 2025). She earned her doctorate in Information Science from the University of North Texas. She also has a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Baylor University and a master’s in organizational Behavior from the University of Oklahoma. Dr. Eaves is a published author with her book, “Above and Beyond: The Secrets of Outstanding Project Leadership,” published in 2014 by IIL, and has published multiple other articles in professional and academic journals. Her latest effort is focused on educating professionals on “The Platinum Rule,” and a book is planned for 2027. She resides in Rockport, Texas, with her family.

Chapter Times and Titles:

Introduction: The Multi-Hyphenate Leader [00:00 - 05:00]
Welcome and meet Dr. Tresia Eaves
Air Force veteran, author, professor, and business owner
Setting the stage: How does she do it all?

"I'm a Project Manager at Heart" [05:00 - 13:30]
Managing schedule, family, and multiple professional roles
Teaching classes since 2021
The advantage of experience and preparation
Founding Variant Enterprises in 2011

From Air Force to Civilian Project Management [13:30 - 22:45]
Military background in software development and testing
The transition challenge: translating military experience
Learning that "all this software development stuff is called project management."
Getting certified and launching a consulting career

"You Are Only Limited by Yourself" [22:45 - 32:00]
Breaking through self-imposed limitations
The importance of supportive teams
Working with Texas A&M University, Kingsville
The EBV (Entrepreneurial Bootcamp for Veterans) program at Texas A&M College Station

The Platinum Rule: A New Approach to Leadership [32:0

What drives someone to leave a successful 15-year law enforcement career to tackle one of the most challenging problems facing first responders? In this episode, Cam and Otis sit down with Joe Smarro, a decorated Marine Corps combat veteran, former San Antonio Police officer, and founder of SolutionPoint+, who's on a mission to eradicate suicide among first responders.

"Misery was the catalyst," Joe explains candidly about his transition from police work to entrepreneurship. As one of the original members of the SAPD Mental Health Unit—featured in the Emmy award-winning documentary "Ernie & Joe: Crisis Cops"—Joe shares powerful insights about trauma, PTSD, and the surprising overlap between the symptoms of post-traumatic stress and entrepreneurship.

From discussing how "all behavior is communication" to revealing why he turned to business the way others turn to alcohol, this conversation explores the intersection of mental health, leadership, and purpose-driven work. Joe's approach to de-escalating mental health crises and his framework for understanding human behavior offer valuable lessons for anyone leading teams or navigating their own challenges.

Whether you're a first responder, an entrepreneur dealing with the obsessive nature of building a business, or a leader seeking to better understand the people you serve, Joe's journey from battlefield to advocate provides a roadmap for turning trauma into meaningful impact.

More About Joe:
Joe is a decorated combat veteran from the United States Marine Corps. He honorably served in both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. After completing his enlistment, he moved to South Texas, where he joined the San Antonio Police Department (2005). Joe was one of the original members of the SAPD Mental Health Unit and helped grow that unit into a nationally recognized best-practices policing program. Joe served on the SAPD MHU for 11 years.

In 2018, he gave a TEDx San Antonio talk titled: I See You. He has been highlighted in numerous media outlets and documentaries. Most notably, he is one of the main subjects in the Emmy award-winning documentary: Ernie & Joe: Crisis Cops. Joe is an alum of the Entrepreneurial Bootcamp for Veterans (EBV) at Texas A&M (2016). Once he completed his certification, he founded SolutionPoint+ in 2017 & is the current CEO.

Joe voluntarily left the San Antonio Police Department in 2020 to focus on making changes within the behavioral health and criminal justice systems around the country. His big, hairy, audacious goal is to eradicate suicide among all first responders, starting in law enforcement. When Joe is not speaking, training, consulting, or working on his next book, he will most likely be found on a golf course.


Chapter Times and Titles:

Introduction: The Hard Ground and Harder Problems [00:00 - 04:19]
Welcome and the ranch soil saga
Meet Joe Smarro: Marine, cop, entrepreneur
Setting the stage for a conversation about trauma and purpose

"Misery Was the Catalyst" [04:19 - 12:30]
Why Joe left law enforcement after 15 years
The transition from being part of a team to going solo
Finding purpose beyond the uniform

All Behavior Is Communication [12:30 - 24:45]
The foundational principle of Joe's work
Understanding what people are really saying through their actions
De-escalating mental health crises with empathy

The SAPD Mental Health Unit Story [24:45 - 32:17]
Building a nationally recognized best-practices program
Lessons from "Ernie & Joe: Crisis Cops"
The TEDx talk: "I See You."

PTSD and Entrepreneurship: The Unexpected Overlap [32:17 - 43:05]
Symptoms of PTSD vs. symptoms of entrepreneurship
Bob Parsons' story: turning to business instead of alcohol
The obsessive nature of building something meaningful
Why avoidance and thrill-seeking show up in both