Sept. 21, 2026
Peg Buehrle and Michelle Calcasola | 09212026
Guest: Peg Buehrle and Michelle Calcasola of Action Coach Columbus
Host: Randy Chaffee
Producer / Director / Co-Host: Wes Wyatt
đź“Ś Episode Overview & Intro Chat
- Show Intro & Banter:
- Randy and Wes kick off their third consecutive recording session ("rack and stack"), switching gears from building product manufacturers to business and leadership coaching.
- Randy jokes about regional rivalries (Ohio State "O-H-I-O" vs. Western Michigan) and mentions that he and Michelle are tuning in from Florida ahead of an upcoming Action Coach conference, while Peg joins from Columbus, Ohio.
- Welcoming Peg Buehrle & Michelle Calcasola:
- Randy highlights his long-standing respect for Pete and Peg Buehrle, having seen them speak numerous times across industry trade associations.
- This episode marks Randy's first time meeting and interviewing coach Michelle Calcasola.
🏢 About Action Coach Columbus & Michelle's "Recovering Client" Story
- Who They Are & Who They Serve:
- Operating as a specialized franchise out of Columbus, Ohio, for over 20 years, Action Coach Columbus works with clients nationwide, with a strong 15-year focus in the construction and building trades industry.
- The 3 Triggers to Hire a Coach:
- Rapid Growth: Companies scaling so quickly they are outgrowing their systems, leadership, and operational capacity.
- Succession & Exit Planning: Business owners looking 5 to 10 years ahead to prepare their company for sale or retirement.
- Acceleration: Already successful businesses looking to reach the next level faster.
- Michelle's Journey from Client to Top Coach:
- Michelle's family owned a small-animal veterinary practice in Columbus. While her father was a skilled clinician, managing day-to-day operations and preparing for eventual retirement was a struggle.
- After hiring Peg and Pete, Michelle worked alongside Peg for nearly four years to streamline systems, develop talent, and position the practice for a highly successful sale.
- When the practice sold, Peg told Michelle her natural next step was coaching. Michelle has now been with the firm for 12 years and is recognized as one of the top Action Coaches globally.
đź’ˇ Coaching vs. Traditional Consulting
- The Problem with Consulting:
- Traditional consultants charge large upfront fees, observe for a few days, and deliver an overwhelming, 100-point binder of recommendations that usually ends up shoved in a drawer.
- The Action Coach Model:
- True Partnership: Coaches embed directly with leadership and team members, sharing the operational stress and walking alongside owners through the trenches.
- Month-to-Month Retainer: Instead of locking clients into restrictive long-term contracts, Action Coach works month-to-month—earning their keep based on continuous execution, accountability, and tangible return on investment.
- Focus on Profit Over Revenue: Peg emphasizes shifting owners away from top-line vanity metrics to bottom-line profitability (e.g., taking margins from 10% to 15%) and preventing out-of-control, undisciplined expansion that destroys cash flow.
đź‘Ą Culture, Team Buy-In, & Controlled Growth
- The "Whole-Team" Coaching Approach:
- Coaching cannot happen in an executive silo. Peg and Michelle conduct 360-degree reviews and interview employees directly to uncover the operational truths that owners are often "nose-blind" to.
- Explaining the "Why": Growth initiatives fail when employees think it only benefits ownership. Leaders must clearly communicate how growth leads to wage increases, career advancement, and stability.
- The Danger of Toxic or Complacent Employees:
- Peg shares a case study of taking a client from $500K to $1.5M by replacing underperforming, bad-attitude personnel with the right leadership team (new GM, lead designer, production manager).
- Michelle notes that team members who refuse ongoing training and development shouldn't be kept long-term; a toxic or stagnant attitude spreads quickly and hurts morale, customer service, and profitability.
🎓 The 12-Week Management Masterclass
- Program Overview:
- Designed because most individuals are promoted to management without any formal training in leadership, communication, or team execution.
- Incorporates training concepts from Action Coach Worldwide Founder/CEO Brad Sugars, paired with live interactive group coaching.
- Structure & Logistics:
- Format: 12 consecutive weeks via Zoom, 1.5 hours per week.
- Cohort Size: Strictly limited to 15 participants to ensure high interactivity, open discussions, and camera-on accountability.
- Accountability: Each session assigns immediate action items that participants must implement within their business and report on the following week.
- Cost & Schedule: Priced at $1,800 per seat. Cohorts launch regularly (upcoming sessions starting in late September, late October, and January). Registration is available directly at their website.
🎙️ Closing & Should-Ask Question (SAQ)
- The SAQ (Should-Ask Question):
- Question Michelle wishes prospective clients would ask: "What is going to surprise me about working with a coach?"
- Michelle's Answer: Clients are consistently surprised by how quickly their coach transitions from an outside advisor to an indispensable member of the executive team. They are also surprised by the blind spots uncovered—discovering that issues they assumed were purely "culture" problems often trace back to financial systems, quoting habits, or management gaps.
- Peg's Addition (The Action Coach Community):
- Clients don't just gain a coach; they join an active peer network of over 65 businesses that regularly meet, collaborate, share best practices, and refer work to one another.
đź’ˇ Key Takeaway
"You don't know what you don't know. Real business freedom comes from having a dedicated coach who will hold up the mirror, prioritize profit over vanity revenue, help you build a winning team culture, and provide the objective accountability needed to scale."
Peg Buehrle:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/pegbuehrle/
Michelle Calcasola:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-calcasola-0857264a/
Action Coach Columbus:
https://actioncoachcolumbus.com/
Randy Chaffee:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/randychaffee/
https://www.facebook.com/therandychaffee
Source One Marketing:
https://www.sourceonemarketingllc.com
Building Wins:
Wes Wyatt: