Keep Showing Up: Resilience, Growth, and Lessons That Matter for 2026

Dec 8, 2025

Brad Bialy reflects on a tumultuous year in staffing, highlighting the need for resilience amidst threats like AI and turnover. He emphasizes that happiness stems from refined systems rather than fleeting milestones. Competing with giants like Amazon, he notes that candidates expect swift, transparent experiences. Personalization in marketing is crucial for re-engagement, while curiosity proves vital in building lasting relationships. Finally, the importance of aligning service with brand promises is underlined for authentic connections.

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INSIGHT

Perfect Storm Hitting Staffing

The staffing industry faces a multi-front perfect storm of threats from automation to changing buying preferences.
Brad Bialy warns firms must adapt now because the industry will not return to its prior state.

INSIGHT

You're Being Compared To Tech Giants

Candidates and clients compare staffing firms to Amazon, DoorDash, and Spotify, not other agencies.
Brad urges firms to add speed, transparency, and curation to match everyday tech expectations.

ANECDOTE

Marathon Taught Happiness Is The Process

Brad recounts training for and finishing his first Buffalo Marathon and feeling incomplete the next day.
The lesson: happiness comes from systems and the process, not just achieving the milestone.

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In this episode of Lunch with Haley, Brad Bialy sits down to reflect on the biggest lessons, mindset shifts, and industry insights he gained from a transformative year in staffing, recruiting, leadership, and personal growth.

About the Guest

Brad Bialy is a senior marketing strategist at Haley Marketing and the host of both Take the Stage and InSights. With seven years of podcasting and thousands of conversations with staffing leaders, he brings a rare blend of industry expertise, curiosity, and real-world experience.

Key Takeaways

“The storm isn’t coming — it’s already here.”
“Systems create repeatable wins.”
“Happiness lives in the process, not the milestone.”
“Curiosity builds relationships; pressure breaks them.”
“Your service must live up to your story.”

Timestamps

[00:27] Warming up the room and the question that sparks reflection
[02:14] Why 2025 was a “hell of a year” for staffing
[05:13] Inside the threats creating a perfect storm for staffing
[13:23] Competing with Amazon, DoorDash, and Spotify
[18:44] The happiness trap and the marathon moment
[24:58] Topical authority and why content density wins
[28:41] Systems over goals: the Uber ride epiphany
[31:37] Why you’re not reaching prospects nearly enough
[36:29] Personalized automation and the GNC postcard lesson
[38:31] Stop selling like the ’80s
[41:09] Stay curious: winning the relationship, not the deal
[55:21] The Gen Z wake-up call and the danger of declining satisfaction

About the Host

Brad Bialy is a trusted voice and highly sought-after speaker in the staffing and recruiting industry, known for helping firms grow through integrated marketing, sales, and recruiting strategies. With over 13 years at Haley Marketing and a proven track record guiding hundreds of firms, Brad brings deep expertise and a fresh, actionable perspective to every engagement. He’s the host of Take the Stage and InSights, two of the staffing industry’s leading podcasts with more than 200,000 downloads.