What if the key to unlocking innovation and leadership performance is as simple as movement?
In this compelling episode of Transformational Thinkers with Sara Sheehan, Sara welcomes Joel Heath, entrepreneur, innovator, and CEO of FluidStance, a company focused on creating products that bring movement into the workplace.
Joel shares his transformative journey from concept to company, illustrating how his innovative leadership is reshaping our understanding of workplace culture and education. As we explore the challenges many face in static environments, Joel candidly reflects on his experiences as a father witnessing his son’s transition from a playful preschool to a rigid kindergarten. This pivotal moment ignited his passion for creating products that promote movement and enhance creativity. Joel set out to design solutions that restore dynamic movement in modern workspaces. The result was FluidStance, a brand built on the belief that physical movement fuels cognitive performance, emotional engagement, and innovative thinking.
He highlights the critical role of innovation in fostering environments that empower employees, emphasizing how physical activity can lead to greater productivity and a thriving workplace culture. One of the most powerful frameworks he discusses is the 70-20-10 innovation model, which allocates resources across three strategic areas.
- Seventy percent should focus on the core business that drives revenue today.
- Twenty percent should support adjacent innovations that expand existing offerings.
- Ten percent should fund transformational ideas that shape the long-term future.
Throughout our conversation, we touch on essential themes such as the delicate balance between innovation and operational stability, the importance of teamwork, and the cultivation of a culture that embraces both performance and play. Joel’s insights into leadership excellence and transformational leadership provide valuable lessons for executives and aspiring leaders alike, offering a roadmap for navigating the complexities of organizational growth and business transformation.
We also delve into the challenges of over-innovation and the necessity of emotional intelligence in leadership. Joel’s perspective on maintaining a dynamic balance in life and business serves as a clarion call for all leaders striving for real-world change. He shares actionable strategies for enhancing communication in leadership and optimizing talent, ensuring that organizations not only adapt but thrive in extraordinary times.
This episode is a treasure trove of insights for anyone interested in change management, employee empowerment, and the transformative power of creativity in the workplace. Joel emphasizes the value of what he calls the one percent rule, intentionally safeguarding a small portion of time dedicated to reflection, exploration, and renewal. This protected time often leads to breakthrough ideas and deeper clarity for leaders. Join us as we uncover the innovative leadership strategies that can help you and your organization master change management and achieve audacious goals.
This episode offers a powerful perspective for leaders embracing innovation, driving meaningful change, and facilitating business growth in a rapidly evolving business landscape.
If you are ready to rethink how leadership, creativity, and performance intersect, this episode will challenge you to move forward in new ways. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn from one of the brightest business executives in the world.
Key Moments:
00:00:01 – Welcome to Transformational Thinkers
Sara Sheehan welcomes Joel Heath, Founder and CEO of FluidStance, to discuss leadership, innovation, and the power of movement in business.
00:00:25 – The Belief That Sparked FluidStance
Joel shares the personal insight that inspired FluidStance: the realization that modern work culture suppresses natural movement and creativity.
00:02:23 – Movement Unlocks Better Thinking
Joel reflects on how chairlift meetings while running his agency in Vail revealed how physical movement can dramatically improve problem-solving and collaboration.
00:03:50 – The Danger of Living Behind Screens
A childhood quote from Joel’s mother sparks a conversation about how screen culture limits perspective and why leaders must stay connected to the real world.
00:04:33 – Entrepreneur or Artist? A Leadership Identity Shift
Joel explains how he discovered that his true leadership identity was closer to an artist than a traditional entrepreneur.
00:06:56 – Balancing Creativity With Operational Discipline
Joel discusses the importance of surrounding creative founders with strong operators who can ground innovation with process and execution.
00:07:55 – Why Performance, Purpose, and Possibility Matter
Joel shares how an athletic mindset helped him translate competitive discipline into the world of business leadership.
00:09:08 – The Growth Story of FluidStance
Joel explains the early days of launching FluidStance through crowdfunding and the lessons learned from scaling a mission-driven company.
00:11:32 – The Hardest “No” in Innovation
Joel describes the moment he realized his company was overinvesting in new ideas and neglecting core products.
00:14:31 – The 70–20–10 Innovation Framework
Joel introduces the innovation portfolio model that balances core operations, adjacent opportunities, and long-term transformational ideas.
00:17:31 – The Risk of Standing Still in Business
Using the Blockbuster and Netflix example, Joel explains why companies must invest in future innovation even when current models appear safe.
00:19:35 – Designing Workplaces That Encourage Movement
Joel shares how leaders can build cultures that encourage both physical movement and intellectual exploration.
00:23:11 – The Leadership Power of Play
Joel explains why play, creativity, and experiential learning can dramatically improve collaboration and innovation in organizations.
00:27:13 – Protecting Your Most Important 1 Percent
Joel introduces his “1 percent rule,” the small portion of time that fuels creativity, connection, and breakthrough thinking.
00:36:03 – Leadership Lessons for the Next Generation
Joel reflects on the importance of grit, emotional intelligence, and adaptability in developing future leaders.
About Joel Heath:
Joel Heath is a consumer brand and product architect, front-end innovator, and CEO. He develops insight-led strategies that shape category-defining products, reposition brands, and drive growth with purpose. He is the Founder and CEO of FluidStance, and he also advises companies in the biotech and outdoor categories. FluidStance is reimagining the workplace by bringing movement, energy, and well-being into static environments. Joel is also taking on select fractional and board roles where he can contribute to brand, product, and growth strategy within his leadership role.
Previously, he helped lead the turnaround of Teva as part of the Deckers Brands (NASDAQ: DECK) leadership team. His first successful exit was an experiential brand agency in Vail, Colorado, where they created campaigns for Volkswagen, Native Eyewear, Payday Candy Bars, and Sports Illustrated. Joel conceived of and created the GoPro Mountain Games, the largest outdoor adventure event in the world, broadcast on NBC and CBS. In addition to athletic events, the GoPro Mountain Games include a mountain photography competition, adventure film school, film festival, interactive exhibition, live music, and mountain lifestyle parties.
Joel works as a strategic advisor, helping organizations clarify their why, develop disruptive product concepts, and build authentic connections with their audiences. His leadership spans startups, global brands, and purpose-driven organizations, with a focus on long-term value creation.
Beyond business, he is a founding board member of First Descents, a nonprofit that delivers life-changing outdoor experiences for young adults surviving cancer and other serious health challenges.
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Resources discussed in this episode:
- The 70-20-10 Innovation Framework
- “Grit” by Angela Duckworth
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Contact Joel Heath | FluidStance:
- Website: FluidStance.com
- Joel Heath on LinkedIn
Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:
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