Discover why the biggest challenges for CEOs aren’t business problems, but life problems—and how the right peer group can become their most powerful tool for clarity, accountability, and growth. In this episode, you’ll hear how listening, vulnerability, and shared experience can transform the way leaders run their firms and live their lives. In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Mark McFatridge discuss: Listening to understand vs. listening to reply Career path from banking to founding CEO peer groups How life challenges derail otherwise successful CEOs Structure and accountability of peer advisory circles Becoming a trusted advisor instead of just a technical expert Key Takeaways: Truly effective business development starts when professionals stop “selling” and focus on building real relationships grounded in listening and trust. Many CEOs don’t fail because they lack technical answers; they struggle when life issues—family, health, aging parents—collide with business responsibilities. Peer advisory groups create a rare, confidential space where leaders can be vulnerable, get honest feedback, and see blind spots they can’t see on their own. Accountability structures—like committing to specific actions and reporting back to peers—dramatically increase the likelihood that leaders actually implement decisions. The shift from technician to trusted advisor happens when you listen deeply, diagnose the real problem, and connect people with the best solution, even if it’s outside your own services. "By being in a group with other CEOs, your experiences get accelerated because you basically get to have their experiences as your own, and that just accelerates everything, whether it's on the personal side or the business side." — Mark McFatridge Check out my new show, Be That Lawyer Coaches Corner, and get the strategies I use with my clients to win more business and love your career again. Join the Be That Lawyer Community and connect with ambitious lawyers who are serious about growing their book of business, strengthening their brand, and becoming confident, consistent rainmakers. Ready to go from good to GOAT in your legal marketing game? Don’t miss PIMCON—where the brightest minds in professional services gather to share what really works. Lock in your spot now: https://www.pimcon.org/ Thank you to our sponsors! LEX Reception: https://www.lexreception.com/partners/bethatlawyer Rankings.io: https://rankings.io/ Lawyer.com: https://www.lawyer.com/ Ready to grow your law practice without selling or chasing? Book your free 30-minute strategy session now—let's make this your breakout year: https://fretzin.com/ About Mark McFatridge: Mark McFatridge is the Founder and CEO of Quade Executive Peer Group, an organization dedicated to fostering growth, accountability, and strategic peer community for CEOs and business owners. With over 25 years of professional experience, he has served as Chief Executive Officer and board member for both publicly traded and privately held companies across various industries, including extensive experience in community banking. An organizational turnaround specialist, Mark specializes in leading underperforming businesses to scale, notably guiding the exit of a private company for an 800% increase in value within three years of taking over as CEO. Drawing on his background as a former bank president and peer group member, he now leads Quade’s facilitated executive "circles," helping leaders build sustainable, values-driven organizations through strategic clarity, operational strength, and peer vulnerability. Connect with Mark McFatridge: Website: https://quadecircle.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mcfatridge/ Connect with Steve Fretzin: LinkedIn: Steve Fretzin Twitter: @stevefretzin Instagram: @fretzinsteve Facebook: Fretzin, Inc. Website: Fretzin.com Email: Steve@Fretzin.com Book: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more! YouTube: Steve Fretzin Call Steve directly at 847-602-6911 Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
Discover why the biggest challenges for CEOs aren’t business problems, but life problems—and how the right peer group can become their most powerful tool for clarity, accountability, and growth. In this episode, you’ll hear how listening, vulnerability, and shared experience can transform the way leaders run their firms and live their lives.
In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Mark McFatridge discuss:
Key Takeaways:
"By being in a group with other CEOs, your experiences get accelerated because you basically get to have their experiences as your own, and that just accelerates everything, whether it's on the personal side or the business side." — Mark McFatridge
Check out my new show, Be That Lawyer Coaches Corner, and get the strategies I use with my clients to win more business and love your career again.
Join the Be That Lawyer Community and connect with ambitious lawyers who are serious about growing their book of business, strengthening their brand, and becoming confident, consistent rainmakers.
Ready to go from good to GOAT in your legal marketing game? Don’t miss PIMCON—where the brightest minds in professional services gather to share what really works. Lock in your spot now: https://www.pimcon.org/
Thank you to our sponsors!
LEX Reception: https://www.lexreception.com/partners/bethatlawyer
Rankings.io: https://rankings.io/
Lawyer.com: https://www.lawyer.com/
Ready to grow your law practice without selling or chasing? Book your free 30-minute strategy session now—let's make this your breakout year: https://fretzin.com/
About Mark McFatridge: Mark McFatridge is the Founder and CEO of Quade Executive Peer Group, an organization dedicated to fostering growth, accountability, and strategic peer community for CEOs and business owners. With over 25 years of professional experience, he has served as Chief Executive Officer and board member for both publicly traded and privately held companies across various industries, including extensive experience in community banking. An organizational turnaround specialist, Mark specializes in leading underperforming businesses to scale, notably guiding the exit of a private company for an 800% increase in value within three years of taking over as CEO. Drawing on his background as a former bank president and peer group member, he now leads Quade’s facilitated executive "circles," helping leaders build sustainable, values-driven organizations through strategic clarity, operational strength, and peer vulnerability.
Connect with Mark McFatridge:
Website: https://quadecircle.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mcfatridge/
Connect with Steve Fretzin:
LinkedIn: Steve Fretzin
Twitter: @stevefretzin
Instagram: @fretzinsteve
Facebook: Fretzin, Inc.
Website: Fretzin.com
Email: Steve@Fretzin.com
Book: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!
YouTube: Steve Fretzin
Call Steve directly at 847-602-6911
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.