Sightshift With Chris Mcalister

Every leader has a part of their story they don’t tell. This is Chris’s. In this raw conversation with Daniel Juday, Chris shares the untold origin of SightShift and why now is the moment to bring his full story to the surface. If you’ve ever wondered: - What truly drives SightShift - Why identity matters so much - How faith and leadership collide - What’s the path forward …this is the episode that finally answers it.

Chris sits down with Salla Alajoki, Senior Manager at Vaisala, whose journey with Figure That Shift Out started in Finland with a podcast and grew into a decade of transformation. What began as two colleagues listening on repeat became a bold leap: traveling to Orlando to complete the full FTSO process in person But her story didn’t stop there. She became one of the first certified FTSO coaches, bringing the work back to Finland. Over the past four years, she has coached nearly 20 colleagues, helping reshape leadership culture inside a global organization, and inspiring others to get certified themselves. This is what multiplication looks like: one leader finding clarity, and carrying it forward.

What happens when a criminal defense attorney starts asking deeper questions about meaning? In this episode of the C-Suite Series, Chris sits down with Matthew R. Bark, founder of The Law Office of Matthew R. Bark P.A., to explore what it looks like to build a business with purpose inside one of the most high-pressure corners of the legal world. This conversation explores: - How a trial lawyer keeps meaning alive under pressure - The tension between growth and presence - Letting go of control without losing excellence - Why leading from identity transforms how you practice, parent, and lead

In this special 10-year anniversary series celebrating Figure That Shift Out, we’re sharing ten stories of transformation, moments when leaders figured it out not by pushing harder, but by seeing more clearly. In this episode, Jared Porpiglia shares how leadership in his world looks like running into the fire. Jared’s connection to Figure That Shift Out goes back to the beginning. Baptized in 2013 and handed an early copy of the book in 2014, he began leading small groups through the material before ever holding a title for it. But in 2018, everything changed. The sudden loss of a close cousin brought him face to face with his own limits.  

In this episode of the C-Suite Series, Chris sits down with Raymond A. Traendly, Managing Partner at TK Law (formerly CPLS, P.A.), one of Central Florida’s most experienced and community-grounded family law practices. Ray shares how his drive to grow and win nearly cost him the very thing that made his firm thrive: its people.   What began as a story about scaling success turned into an honest conversation about identity, insecurity, and the shift that happens when a leader learns to pause instead of prove.   This conversation explores: The unseen toll high performance can take on leaders and their teams Why culture starts slipping long before metrics do How to build growth that strengthens people instead of burning them out The simple but powerful mindset shift that rebuilt Ray’s firm   If you’ve ever led at a relentless pace, or realized you lost yourself in the process, this conversation will help you find calm in the chaos and lead from a secure identity.  

In this special 10-year anniversary series celebrating Figure That Shift Out, we’re sharing ten stories of transformation—moments when leaders figured it out not by pushing harder, but by seeing more clearly. In this episode, Kenworth Reeves shares how transformation doesn’t always start in crisis—sometimes it begins in comfort. By the time we met, he already had what most leaders dream of: a thriving business portfolio, a strong marriage, and a family that reflected his values. But something inside had gone quiet. The drive that once fueled him now felt like a drift.

In this special 10-year anniversary series celebrating Figure That Shift Out, we’re sharing ten stories of transformation, moments when leaders figured it out not by pushing harder, but by seeing more clearly. In this episode, Mike shares what happens when a coach realizes he needs a coach. By the time we met in 2016, Mike was already years into executive coaching. He’d found the work he was made to do and had just launched his own practice. The goal wasn’t to build an empire, it was to stay close to the work that mattered most. But there was one problem: he jumped in before he had a framework. He didn’t want formulas that told people who to be; he wanted something deep enough to meet leaders where they are and help them discover who they are. A few weeks into Figure That Shift Out, something clicked. This wasn’t another tool, it was the work itself.  

In this special 10-year anniversary series celebrating Figure That Shift Out, we’re sharing ten stories of transformation—moments when leaders figured it out not by pushing harder, but by seeing more clearly. In this episode, Ryan shares what it looks like to lead with clarity after seasons of confusion and burnout. When he stepped into this work, he was carrying old wounds and questions that haunted both his leadership and his home life—how to lead without toxicity, how to stay grounded when everyone has an opinion, how to find a center that lasts. That shift changed everything. Today, Ryan leads Brave Little Beast with steadiness, courage, and the quiet confidence that comes from knowing who you are.  

In this special 10-year anniversary series celebrating Figure That Shift Out, we’re sharing ten stories of transformation, moments when leaders figured it out not by pushing harder, but by seeing more clearly. In this episode, David shares what happens when growth outpaces identity. His company was scaling fast—revenue up, visibility high—but the pressure behind the scenes was mounting. Bigger team, bigger stakes, bigger fear of getting it wrong.

In this C-Suite Series conversation, Tim shares the night that cracked everything open—naming fear, insecurity, and the patterns that quietly shape every relationship. He calls it “the best session and the worst session” because it was raw and unfinished, but something real happened.   Over the next decade, Tim learned to treat emotional reactions as signals—“voice-recognition software for the heart.” Instead of proving or hiding, he began to read what was really going on, choose his response, and lead with quiet confidence. That confidence reshaped how he leads his teams, his company, and his family—and it spread into a culture where people feel seen, challenged, and cared for.   In this episode you’ll hear: How one raw conversation became a turning point for life and leadership Why “proving or hiding” is the trap—and how to step out of it How to use reactions as data to build a healthier culture

From a 250-square-foot office with one desk and a shared bathroom to becoming one of the top watermelon shippers in the U.S., this is the story of FreshPro and its founders, Mike and Jose. In this C-Suite Series episode, Chris sits down with two lifelong friends who built a thriving produce business from scratch, without investors, blueprints, or corporate playbooks. What started as a hustle turned into a legacy. This conversation explores: The wild early days of selling watermelons by sheer tenacity How friendship, trust, and conflict shaped their partnership Why rediscovering purpose mattered more than profit How they’re now building a culture that lasts Whether you’re leading a startup or a legacy company, this is a story about grit, growth, and learning to lead for impact, not just validation.

In this special 10-year anniversary series celebrating Figure That Shift Out, we’re sharing ten stories of transformation, moments when leaders figured it out not by pushing harder, but by seeing more clearly. In this episode, Reagan shares how the ideas of proving and hiding became a daily barometer for his leadership — those moments when he felt the urge to get big and prove his worth or shrink back and hide. Learning to notice those patterns helped him flip the lie beneath them and lead from a secure identity.

On his last day in the office, John Carter, President & COO of Nationwide Financial, shares the lessons of a 40-year career in financial services. Under his leadership, Nationwide grew by 50%, delivered record results, and set the tone for admired leadership across the industry.   This conversation explores: Building a performance culture that lasts How empathy, clarity, and focus shaped his leadership Why leaving well is as important as leading well   Named President & COO Emeritus, John leaves behind a legacy that will shape Nationwide and the financial industry for decades to come.  

At Miles-McClellan Construction, rapid growth and market uncertainty put leadership under pressure. Instead of just tightening budgets or systems, they chose to double down on culture. In this episode, Chris talks with Devin Stein (VP of HR) and Owen Wyss (CFO) about what it takes to align strategy with people, accelerate trust on an executive team, and prepare the next generation of leaders.   This conversation explores: Why leadership development pays off in performance and morale How trust and vulnerability fast-tracked executive alignment Practical shifts that helped managers lead with more clarity and meaning   Whether you’re an HR leader, a CFO, or a CEO facing growth pressures, this episode shows how culture work can unlock results faster than strategy alone.

When communication breaks down, confusion creeps in, and culture suffers. But it doesn’t have to. In Episode 4 of the Make Culture Your Edge series, Chris and Mark take a deeper look at confusion as the first “tension point” leaders must learn to navigate when building culture. This conversation explores: Why confusion isn’t a threat but a signal for better communication The three risk factors confusion creates: low engagement, burnout, and wasted energy Practical ways to respond with clarity instead of panic   Confusion is inevitable. But if you know how to respond to it, you can turn it into a pathway for a stronger culture.  

Every leader faces moments of tension: pushback in a meeting, resistance to change, conflict on the team. In Episode 3 of our Make Culture Your Edge series, Chris McAlister and Mark show why those moments aren’t threats to avoid, but rather signals that culture is being tested. This conversation explores: The three tension points that mirror faith, hope, and love How leaders often react in ways that weaken culture A different way to treat confusion, resistance, and conflict as opportunities to grow stronger Whether at work or at home, the way you lead through tension will determine whether your culture drifts or becomes your edge.

What makes a culture truly great? Not perks, slogans, or policies. In this episode, Chris and Mark explore the three enduring pillars that every healthy culture depends on. You’ll hear: Why leaders lose great talent when they ignore culture How to spot when faith, hope, or love are missing The ancient wisdom that still shapes modern leadership A simple formula for diagnosing and improving any culture Whether you’re leading a business, a team, or your own family, this simple but profound model will help you diagnose where culture is strong, where it’s at risk, and how to strengthen it.

We’re kicking off a new series tied to the launch of Make Culture Your Edge. In this first conversation, Chris McAlister and Mark Stanifer get real about the unseen forces shaping every team’s results.   You’ll hear: Why “wilderness” is where true leadership is forged The danger of confusing surface polish for real culture How the right metaphor changes everything The three questions every leader should ask about their culture   Whether you’re leading a business, a team, or a family, culture is happening. The only question: are you shaping it, or leaving it to chance?   Get your copy of the book: makecultureyouredge.com

Leadership isn’t about being the most productive or innovative. It’s about changing lives, starting with your own. In the final episode of the Lead for Impact series, Chris and Mark challenge the belief that validation is enough for leaders. They dig into stories from the corporate world, lessons from insecure leadership, and the timeless truth that impact flows from secure identity and the right motives. You’ll discover why true leaders don’t just build organizations—they transform communities. You’ll hear: - How cultures built on validation drive away real leaders - The difference between producing managers and building transformative leaders - Why secure identity is the foundation of high-performing teams - The pitfalls of relying on empathy, mindfulness, and psychological safety alone - The ancient formula for lasting impact: right action + right motive

What if “growing up” isn’t something we outgrow, but a process leaders and organizations must intentionally shape? In this episode, Chris and Mark challenge modern assumptions about adolescence, psychological safety, and leadership development. They unpack why ancient identity rituals mattered, what happens when “being” and “doing” get conflated, and how real impact is more than just making people feel safe. You’ll learn why creating space is only half the equation and why high-performance cultures demand more than comfort. You’ll hear: Why adolescence is a social invention (and what it means for your team) The hidden risks of overvaluing psychological safety How to separate “who you are” from “what you do” Why leadership means finishing the job, not just starting the conversation The real formula for impact: right motive + right action