Shows
Leadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team AgainBuild Better Decisions Using Self-Awareness Others Ignore | Liesl Chang - E48Dusty sits down with Liesl Chang—entrepreneur, systems thinker, and founder of Comeback Goods—for a wide-ranging conversation that explores how self-awareness, curiosity, and disciplined systems thinking shape meaningful leadership. Tracing her path from studying Russian history to building logistics infrastructure at high-growth startups like Zimments and Casper, Liesl reflects on the formative moments that redirected her career, including the loss of her father and a growing refusal to settle for work that lacked purpose. Together, she and Dusty unpack the hidden operational realities of e-commerce—especially the costly, overlooked problem of returns—and how that insight led Liesl to found...
2026-02-1854 min
Leadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team AgainThe Three Building Blocks of Trust Most Leaders Miss - E47Dusty goes solo to reframe one of leadership’s most misunderstood concepts—trust—arguing that leaders get stuck because they treat trust as something to earn or demand rather than something to build deliberately. Drawing from real coaching conversations, including a revealing case study of a newly promoted CEO who was burning out by staying too involved, Dusty shows how leaders often focus on whether others trust them while failing to demonstrate trust themselves. He introduces a practical three-part trust framework—relational trust, competency-based trust, and integrity-based trust—and explains how each requires a different leadership action: investing in people as...
2026-02-1122 min
Sharpen The SpearThe Role of Self-Leadership in Closing Execution Gaps with Dusty HolcombRichard Walsh and Dusty Holcomb explore the critical role of self-leadership in effective team leadership. Dusty shares insights from his leadership journey, highlighting capability and execution gaps in organizations. They discuss how personal standards and empowering decisions can address employee turnover and improve leadership quality. Emphasizing self-awareness and humility, they connect vision, planning, and alignment with mission-driven leadership. The episode covers communication, setting clear standards, and the importance of cross-training. They also address professional relationships, productivity management, and developing future leaders, concluding with resources and an engagement guide from Dusty.
(0:00) Importance of self-leadership for effective team leadership
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2026-02-0755 min
Leadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team AgainThe Lie Ambitious Leaders Believe About Identity & Success | Maricella Herrera - E46She built her dream career, but then walked away. Dusty Holcomb sits down with Maricella Herrera—former COO and CEO of Elevate Network and host of the podcast Oh Shit, I Just Quit My Job—for an honest, deeply human conversation about identity, integrity, and the courage required to walk away from a life that no longer fits. From her early career in finance in Mexico to business school at Columbia and more than a decade helping build the world’s largest professional community for women, Maricella reflects on the mentors who shaped her, the leadership philosophy rooted in transp...
2026-02-041h 03
Leadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team AgainWhy Willpower Fails—Create Sustainable Success With the ACT Framework | Lani Jones - E45Dusty sits down once again with Dr. Lani Jones—clinical psychologist and executive coach—for a practical, no-nonsense conversation about turning good intentions into systems that actually produce lasting change. Building on their prior discussion about vision and planning, Lani introduces a clinically informed framework that begins with acknowledging your design: understanding your humanness, neurological wiring, and behavioral patterns rather than relying on sheer willpower or grit. Together, they explore why most goals fail at the execution layer, how blind spots and perfectionism quietly sabotage momentum, and why leaders must design environments, cues, and accountability structures that make success the...
2026-01-2838 min
Leadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team AgainMost Goals Fail—But Not With This One Shift in Planning | Lani Jones - E44Dusty welcomes back Dr. Lani Jones—clinical psychologist, executive coach, and expert in behavior change—for a timely and deeply reflective conversation on how leaders can intentionally design success rather than defaulting to familiar but ineffective goal-setting habits. Moving beyond the fleeting appeal of New Year’s resolutions, Lani reframes planning as an exercise in clarity, alignment, and self-leadership, emphasizing that most people fail not from lack of discipline but from skipping the deeper work of understanding what truly matters. Together, they unpack a clinically informed framework centered on the where, why, and what—arguing that sustainable progress requires slowing...
2026-01-2136 min
Leadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team AgainStop Accepting Pain as the Price of Success as a Leader | Scott Hogan - E43Dusty sits down with Scott Hogan—former collegiate baseball player, injury-prone athlete turned founder, author, and recovery-focused entrepreneur—for a conversation that reframes leadership through the lens of physical resilience, self-awareness, and long-term sustainability. After a career derailed by chronic injuries, Scott traces how his obsession with understanding pain, recovery, and human performance led him to build Salt Wrap into a seven-figure company and author Built from Broken: A Science-Based Guide to Healing Painful Joints, Preventing Injuries, and Rebuilding Your Body. Together, Scott and Dusty explore how formative adversity shapes leadership philosophy, why most business and life constraints are phys...
2026-01-141h 02Leadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team AgainBeing Nice Is Killing Your Team—Here’s What to Do Instead - E42Dusty goes solo to challenge one of leadership’s most damaging habits—the belief that being “nice” is the same as being effective—and makes the case that niceness is quietly starving teams of the truth they need to perform. Drawing from a powerful real-world example of a brilliant but overly restrained leader, personal leadership failures, and research spanning neuroscience, McKinsey, Gallup, and HBR, he exposes why most leaders aren’t actually giving feedback at all—they’re managing their own discomfort. Dusty unpacks the critical distinction between nice and kind, showing how nice protects the speaker while kind serves the team...
2026-01-0729 min
Business. Wealth. Impact.Ask for This, To Go Faster - Lead Smarter, Not Harder with Dusty Holcomb | BWI #206Episode 206 - Ask for This, To Go Faster - Lead Smarter, Not Harder with Dusty Holcomb Dusty Holcomb, a five-time Iron Man and former CEO, knows that leadership can feel isolating, especially when managing high-stakes decisions. He explains that buying into the idea that "leadership is lonely" becomes a binding constraint for growth. Dusty guides high-performing executives to break through this plateau by gaining absolute clarity, aligning their teams, and executing their strategy with precision. Key Takeaways ● Effective leadership begins with strong self-leadership, prioritizing time and mindset with intention. ● Intentional relationship cura...
2026-01-0633 min
Leadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team AgainThe Leadership Skill Horses Have Mastered That Most Humans Ignore | Amanda Dunklin - E41Dusty sits down with Amanda Dunklin—equestrian coach, entrepreneur, and operational strategist—for a conversation that redefines what it means to lead with clarity, empathy, and resilience. After decades spent training horses, coaching competitive riders, building a school from the ground up, and later advising high-growth organizations, Amanda shares the insight that reshaped her entire approach to leadership: systems matter, but people matter more. Together, she and Dusty explore why emotional intelligence is learned, how consistency becomes a superpower, and why leaders must create environments where trust, safety, and communication come before timelines and tactics. Amanda traces her unlikely jour...
2025-12-311h 06
Leadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team AgainWhy More Success Won’t Fix the Emptiness High Performing Leaders Don’t Talk About | Sean Keller - E40Dusty sits down with Sean Keller—a filmmaker-turned-leadership coach who helps high-capacity entrepreneurs realize that their real wilderness isn’t around them, it’s within them. Sean shares his unlikely journey from early creative acclaim and big-name clients to the moment everything collapsed in 2020, forcing him to confront the gap between the successful life he was building and the surrendered life he actually wanted. Together, they unpack why achievement can mask emptiness, how pruning becomes a gift, and why leaders can’t outrun the inner stories that shape their decisions. With depth, candor, and a surprising amount of hope, Sean rev...
2025-12-241h 00Leadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team AgainThis Is How Top-Performing CEOs Manage Their Time & Calendar - E39Dusty goes solo to dismantle one of leadership’s most pervasive myths—the idea that an overloaded, reactive calendar is simply the price of effectiveness. Drawing on personal lessons, client stories, and striking CEO time-use data, he reveals the deeper truth: when a leader’s schedule is chaotic, the culture follows. In this episode, Dusty introduces his three-level intentional leadership system—anchoring your year with non-negotiables, theming your days to eliminate context switching, and protecting transitions so commitments actually get done—and shows how each layer silently teaches your team what truly matters. Through a vivid case study of a CEO spen...
2025-12-2327 min
Leadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team AgainHow Great Leaders Reimagine Pressure to Excel in High-Stakes Environments | Dr. Brian Hite - E38Dusty is joined by Dr. Brian Hite—stunt performer, performance psychologist, and creator of the FACT Framework—for a conversation that reframes what it really means to thrive under pressure. With three decades spent being lit on fire, thrown from vehicles, training elite military units, and coaching high-stakes performers, Brian shares the pivotal realization that changed everything: pressure doesn’t live in the moment—it lives in the mind. Together, he and Dusty explore why failure is often the most valuable teacher, how our assumptions quietly shape our performance, and why the best leaders learn to separate the situation from the...
2025-12-171h 17
Leadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team AgainWhat Most Leaders Get Wrong About Scaling Their Business | Dustin Riechmann - E37Dusty Holcomb sits down with entrepreneur and former engineer Dustin Riechmann, whose story is a masterclass in courage, clarity, and reinvention. From watching his business collapse in 2020 to building a seven-figure enterprise through the power of podcast guesting, Dustin reveals how simplicity, not complexity, drives sustainable success. He shares the pivotal moments that reshaped his identity, the leadership lessons born from adversity, and the mindset shifts that turned setbacks into systems. This is a powerful conversation for anyone seeking to lead with authenticity, scale with purpose, and transform failure into momentum.Key Timestamps:(00:00) - Simplifying...
2025-12-1051 minLeadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team AgainWhy Doesn’t Your Team Just Do Their Damn Job? - E36Dusty goes solo to expose one of the most misunderstood frustrations in leadership—the belief that execution problems stem from lazy teams, when in reality they almost always originate upstream with the leader. Drawing from hard-earned lessons and a striking real-world example from his time at AAA, he reveals the hidden truth behind stalled initiatives: when your team isn’t delivering what you envisioned, it’s rarely an execution failure—it’s a clarity or alignment gap. In this episode, Dusty introduces his Exceptional Leadership Framework, a deceptively simple but transformative model showing that clarity plus alignment naturally produce the execut...
2025-12-0923 min
Leadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team AgainThe Rule of 3 And 10 That Breaks Every Growing Business and Leader | Nolan Bradbury - E35Dusty sits down with Nolan Bradbury, a former CPA turned financial strategist who helps leaders realize that their biggest challenge isn’t money, it’s clarity. Nolan opens up about his journey from Big Four accounting to finding purpose in helping entrepreneurs define what freedom truly means. Together, they explore how clarity transforms decision-making, why “more” doesn’t always equal success, and how simplicity, not complexity, creates lasting growth. With honesty, humor, and heart, Nolan shares powerful lessons on leadership, accountability, and the courage to listen to what really matters.Key Timestamps: (00:00) - From CPA...
2025-12-0357 min
Leadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team AgainBuild A Brand That Multiplies Your Vision Even When You’re Not In The Room | Alan McLaren - E34Dusty Holcomb sits down with Alan McLaren, CEO, entrepreneur, marketer, and self-proclaimed “Chief Squirrel Tamer.” Alan shares his 35-year leadership journey, from selling photocopiers door-to-door to leading global organizations and shaping modern leadership branding. Together, they unpack the real meaning of heart-centered leadership, how authenticity fuels influence, and why kindness and accountability are not opposites but essential partners in high performance. This conversation is a masterclass in leading with integrity, clarity, and impact, both in business and in life.Key Timestamps:(00:00) - Lessons From Sales Leadership(07:00) - Leading Yourself First(11:00) - Bala...
2025-11-261h 00Leadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team Again3 Brutal Questions Every Leader Must Face to Break Through Their Ceiling - E33Dusty goes solo to unpack one of the most pivotal turning points in a leader’s journey—the moment you realize that what got you here won’t get you where you’re meant to go next. Through raw personal stories and years of coaching senior leaders, he reveals the hidden signals of an inflection point: when the clarity in your head doesn’t translate into team execution, when every decision funnels back to you, and when you quietly sense you’ve hit the ceiling of your current capabilities. In this episode, Dusty introduces his Leadership Growth Readiness framework, a simple but...
2025-11-2518 min
FailCraftStop Reacting: Escaping the CEO Burnout Trap - Dusty HolcombAre you running your day, or is your day running you? For many leaders, the road to burnout is paved with "reaction mode."Dusty Holcomb, a former CEO and 5-time Ironman, knows this trap intimately. He shares his story of being a new company president who tried to "do it all," only to realize that his inability to let go was holding the company back. He describes the suffocating feeling of constant reaction and the pivotal mentorship that taught him true leadership isn't about being the hero—it's about serving others....
2025-11-1916 min
Leadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team AgainSales And Leadership Share This Secret—The SERVICE Framework | Brooke Greening - E32Dusty is joined by Brooke Greening—sales coach, business owner, and “Gracious Terminator”—for a conversation about transforming how we think about leadership, influence, and sales. With a master’s in counseling and two decades of sales experience, Brooke shares the pivotal story of standing up to toxic leadership and learning that confidence, results, and integrity are the foundation of real influence. Together, she and Dusty unpack how great leadership mirrors great sales: both are acts of service built on listening, trust, and clarity. Brooke introduces her SERVICE Framework—Set expectations, Establish rapport, Recognize the problem, Verbalize value, Identify objections...
2025-11-1951 min
Leadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team Again4 Words That Change How Every Leader Communicates | Molly Hunt - E31Dusty is joined by Molly Hunt—CEO of Ty Boyd, Inc. and lifelong student of connection—for a conversation about carrying forward her family’s legacy of helping people communicate with authenticity and heart. The daughter of legendary speaker Ty Boyd, Molly shares how her father’s kindness, humility, and unwavering belief that “it’s not about you” shaped both her leadership and her life. She reflects on growing up in the shadow of a celebrated communicator, finding her own voice through failure and resilience, and transforming nervous energy into purposeful presence. Together, Dusty and Molly explore what it means to lead...
2025-11-1247 minLeadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team AgainWhy Great Problem Solvers Struggle to Build Great Teams - E30Dusty goes solo to challenge one of leadership’s most common traps—the instinct to swoop in and solve every problem. Drawing from hard-earned lessons and real-world research, he reveals how rescuing team members doesn’t make them stronger—it makes them dependent. In this episode, Dusty introduces his Choice Enablement Model, a practical framework that replaces control with empowerment and transforms teams from compliant followers into confident decision-makers. Through candid stories—including the painful lesson of trying to “save” a high performer who ultimately failed—he shows how great leaders don’t create success for others; they create the conditions whe...
2025-11-1122 min
Leadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team AgainWhy Great Leaders Pivot Faster Than Everyone Else | Leo Gestetner - E29Entrepreneur and digital nomad Leo Gestetner shares his incredible journey from building his first business at age 13 to leading global ventures and redefining what balance, purpose, and adaptability mean in life and business. He opens up about learning to pivot, both professionally and personally, embracing growth, staying fit in body and mind, and finding fulfillment beyond success. Leo’s reflections on resilience, reinvention, and staying present will leave listeners ready to embrace change and chase meaning over perfection.Key Timestamps:(00:00) - First Business Beginnings(03:00) - Learning To Pivot(06:00...
2025-11-0550 min
Leadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team AgainThe 4 Critical Skills That Took This CEO 35 Years to Finally Learn | Terry Dunn - E28Dusty is joined by Terry Dunn—seasoned CEO and global business leader—for a conversation about trading the demands of the boardroom for the deeper purpose of helping leaders lead better. After 35 years building teams in more than 30 countries and steering companies through transformation and turnaround, Terry now dedicates his work to guiding executives toward clarity, composure, and results that last. He reflects on the formative lessons that shaped his calm, grounded approach to leadership—including learning to master anger as a teenager—and how that discipline evolved into his hallmark of leading with steadiness under pressure. Terry and Dusty un...
2025-10-291h 16
The Lawyer's EdgeDusty Holcomb | Connecting the Dots: How to Effectively Lead Yourself and OthersDusty Holcomb is the Founder and CEO of The Arcqus Group, an executive coaching and leadership consulting firm that helps leaders connect purpose to performance through clarity, consistency, and accountability. With a background that spans senior leadership, operations, and culture building, Dusty works with executives and their teams to unlock potential and lead with intention. Before founding The Arcqus Group, Dusty served as CEO of National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car, where he led thousands of employees across North America. He holds an MBA from Auburn University and completed the Advanced Management Program at Northwestern...
2025-10-2841 minLeadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team AgainThe 7 Rules of Engagement That Eliminate 80% Of Leadership Frustrations - E27Dusty goes solo to unpack one of the most frustrating questions in leadership—why don’t people just do what they’re supposed to do? After nearly three decades leading teams, he’s learned it’s almost never an execution problem—it’s a clarity problem. In this episode, Dusty shares his Rules of Engagement framework, a simple but powerful tool that transforms miscommunication into alignment and builds the trust every great team depends on. Through a candid story about being called out by a team member during a one-on-one meeting, he illustrates how clarity creates safety, accountability, and respect. From...
2025-10-2830 min
Leadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team AgainClinical Psychologist on Breaking the “Do-It-All” Mindset to Avoid Burnout | Dr. Lani Jones - E26Dusty is joined by Dr. Lani Jones—clinical psychologist, executive advisor, and entrepreneur—for a conversation about walking away from the security of a children’s hospital career to build a life and business on her own terms. Lani shares how burnout in the healthcare system forced her to confront the difference between loving her work and losing herself in the noise of climbing ladders and checking boxes. That turning point led her into private practice, then into coaching high-performing leaders through the same struggles of identity, balance, and purpose. She reflects on the myth of work-life balance, the power...
2025-10-2251 min
Leadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team AgainStuck in a Safe Job That Drains You? How This Entrepreneur Turned a Crazy Idea Into a 6-Figure Business | Jason VanDevere - E25Dusty is joined by Jason VanDevere—entrepreneur, author, and creator of the Goal Crazy Planner—for a conversation about trading the security of a fourth-generation family car dealership for the uncertainty of chasing a dream. Jason shares how his search for a tool to align daily habits with big-picture goals sparked the idea for his planner, eventually growing into a bestselling product, coaching programs, and his new book Dream Driven. He reflects on lessons learned from his father’s leadership, the discipline of time-blocking and boundaries, and the importance of surrounding yourself with mentors who sharpen your perspective. Along the wa...
2025-10-1553 minLeadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team AgainTwo Tough Moments Every Leader Needs to Experience - E24Dusty takes us deep into the defining “keystone moments” that shape who we are as leaders. From overcoming setbacks and defying expectations to standing firm in the face of doubt, he reveals how challenges become the very building blocks of strength, resilience, and clarity. With powerful personal stories and timeless lessons, this episode shows that leadership isn’t about being born with talent—it’s about learning, reflecting, and choosing to grow.Key Timestamps:(00:00) - Power of Keystone Moments(03:00) - Homeschooling Lessons(09:00) - Reflection and Growth Tools(10:00) - Lessons on Confron...
2025-10-1413 min
Leadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team AgainHow NBA Coach, Bill Foran, Used These Leadership Fundamentals to Build 4 Championship Teams | Bill Foran - E23Dusty is joined by Bill Foran—the NBA’s longest-tenured strength and conditioning coach—for a conversation about the lessons behind four decades of building champions with the Miami Heat. Bill shares his unlikely path from small-town PE teacher to coaching legends like Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, revealing how a love for developing athletes—not just drawing up plays—became his driving force. He reflects on the influence of mentors, the transformative leadership of Pat Riley, and the origins of the Heat’s famed “culture” rooted in accountability, fundamentals, and relentless effort. Along the way, Bill and Dusty unpack why recov...
2025-10-0853 minLeadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team AgainFive Questions That Transform Disengaged Teams Into Purpose-Driven High Performers - E22Get the 5 Keystone Questions for free: https://5keystones.com/Dusty goes solo to reveal the five keystone questions that separate transactional, clock-in teams from purpose-driven missionaries who bring their best every day. Through personal stories—including his early leadership challenges in the auto repair industry—he shows how answering these questions unlocks meaning, connection, and lasting engagement: Why are we here, where are we going, how will we get there, where do I fit in, and what’s in it for me? Far more than a framework, Dusty frames these as the cornerstone of culture, empowering teams to mak...
2025-10-0121 min
Leadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team AgainWhy Strong Marriages Create Stronger Leaders | Tony DiLorenzo - E21Dusty is joined by Tony DiLorenzo—entrepreneur, podcaster, and co-creator of the One Extraordinary Marriage Show—for a conversation about how building stronger marriages makes us better leaders. Tony shares his unexpected journey from aspiring pro cyclist to marriage coach, opening up about the struggles he and his wife Elisa faced in their own relationship and how those challenges led them to create the Six Pillars of Intimacy framework that has transformed thousands of marriages. He reflects on the power of intentionality and action—two principles that apply as much in the boardroom as they do at home—and why lead...
2025-09-2450 minLeadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team AgainOur Most Powerful Leadership Lesson May Have Been Learned in Kindergarten - E20Dusty goes solo to reveal a leadership superpower most of us learned at age four—connecting the dots. Through the story of his first leadership position, he shows how clarity of vision transforms everyday tasks from transactional work into meaningful contribution. Leaders who fail to connect the dots breed silos, waste, and disengagement, while those who do unlock energy, ownership, and purpose at every level. With a simple three-part framework—collect the right information, cast the vision clearly and consistently, and connect each person’s role to the bigger picture—Dusty makes the case that true leadership isn’t abdication...
2025-09-1715 min
Mind Over MasculinityMind Over Masculinity: Self-Leadership, Discipline & Beating Burnout (Ironman Mindset for Modern Leaders) — with Dusty HolcombOn Mind Over Masculinity, host Avik Chakraborty sits down with Dusty Holcomb—former CEO, five-time Ironman, and founder of The Arqcus Group—to break down why self-leadership is the foundation of every result you want at work and at home. Dusty lays out a no-fluff playbook: daily discipline, three must-do priorities, and honest reflection that compounds into real influence. They unpack early signals of burnout, how men can step out of the “silent echo chamber,” and why intention—not title—defines leadership. This is a clear, practical conversation built for leaders, operators, founders, and anyone who wants clarity, accountability, and impact.
2025-09-1523 min
Leadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team AgainHow a Homeless Woman Became This CEO's Greatest Leadership Teacher | Amanda Byrd - E19Dusty is joined by Amanda Byrd, sales executive turned chaplain, coach, and founder, for a conversation about how compassion and courage can reshape not only our careers but our lives. Dusty traces Amanda’s journey from a pivotal act of kindness outside an emergency room to years spent serving in hospitals and hospice care, where she learned the transformative power of presence, listening, and meeting people exactly where they are. Amanda shares how chaplaincy made her a stronger leader—teaching her to hold space for fear, regret, and vulnerability—and why journaling and reflection are essential practices for growth. She op...
2025-09-1049 minLeadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team AgainSlow is Smooth. Smooth is Fast: Model Thoughtful Leadership, Not Reactivity - E18Dusty goes solo to unpack a counterintuitive truth every leader needs to hear—sometimes the fastest way forward is to slow down. Drawing from early lessons on the shooting range, hard-won insights in Ironman training, and years of leadership experience, he reveals how rushing only traps us in reactivity, while rhythm and precision unlock lasting impact. With practical tools like the Eisenhower Matrix and habits such as creating intentional white space, installing circuit breakers, and modeling thoughtful pace for others, Dusty shows how leaders can shift from grinding harder to investing time where it matters most. This episode is a...
2025-09-0315 min
Leadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team Again8-Figure CFO on Why Chasing Perfection Leads to Failure | Jon Blair - E17Dusty is joined by Jon Blair—heavy metal guitarist turned purpose-driven entrepreneur and founding executive at Guardian Bikes—for a conversation on how clarity beats chaos in both business and life. Jon shares his unconventional journey from touring musician to scaling a startup from zero to eight figures, raising $15 million, and ultimately launching Free to Grow CFO to help D2C brands build smart, scalable finance operations. They unpack the lessons of navigating multiple “startups” at once—including business, family, and personal growth—while embracing imperfection, focusing on the few things that truly move the needle, and leading with intentionali...
2025-08-2745 minLeadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team AgainLeadership Means Being Intentional, Not Just Managing What Happens - E16Dusty goes solo to tackle one of the biggest myths in leadership—that the best moments happen in the heat of a crisis. Through a vivid story from Disney World, where a cast member turned a spilled bag of popcorn into a lifelong memory, he reveals how true impact is rarely accidental. It’s built long before the moment arrives, through intentional choices, clear priorities, and simple systems that make great decisions automatic. Dusty shares how carving out weekly white space for reflection and planning—reviewing wins, identifying distractions, and setting key outcomes—can transform reactive chaos into purposeful progress...
2025-08-2022 min
Leadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team AgainGreat Leaders Celebrate the Journey, Not Just the Scoreboard | Ross Simmonds - E15Dusty is joined by Ross Simmonds, entrepreneur, storyteller, and founder of Foundation Marketing, for a conversation about what it means to lead with intention, abundance, and authenticity. They explore how generosity—both in business and in life—can be a powerful lever for growth, and why showing up with presence matters more than ever in a world full of noise. Ross shares lessons from his journey building a global marketing agency, from unlearning small-town limits to creating space for deep work and deep relationships. He breaks down how clarity, consistency, and communication shape culture, and how seemingly small moments—voice...
2025-08-1356 minLeadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team AgainThe Burn Out Trap: Doing It All Is Doing It Wrong - E14Dusty goes solo to unpack one of the most common traps leaders fall into—confusing what they’re good at with what they’re called to. He reflects on the hard shift from doing the work to directing the work, and the uncomfortable but necessary discipline of stepping away from tasks that once defined his value. From triathlon training to lessons learned at leadership retreats, Dusty shares how reclaiming focus, guarding energy, and building simple systems can help leaders stop diluting their impact and start maximizing it. He explores the difference between activity and effectiveness, and why delegation isn’t selfis...
2025-08-0616 min
Leadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team AgainThe Most Effective Leaders Ask More and Tell Less | Eddie Geller - E13Dusty is joined by Eddie Geller, a three-time founder, CEO of SKOR, and lifelong champion of people-first leadership. Their conversations centers around how culture can be a company’s greatest asset—when it’s clearly defined, consistently measured, and courageously lived. Eddie shares hard-won lessons from his own entrepreneurial journey, including what happens when you over-index on product at the expense of people, and why managers—not just executives—hold the keys to shaping day-to-day culture. He breaks down the three pillars of a thriving workplace—cohesion, clarity, and courage—and explains how even small shifts in language and leadership hab...
2025-07-3057 minLeadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team AgainThe Power of a Quote: How One Daily Habit Changed Everything - E12Dusty goes solo to share how one quote kickstarted a daily rhythm that’s shaped his leadership for nearly 30 years. It all began on the third shift at a call center—one quote, one email, one moment of reflection. That small practice grew into a lifelong discipline of reading, thinking, and writing, and became a way to stay grounded, sharpen perspective, and serve others. He unpacks why influence—not title—is the true measure of leadership, and reflects on the wisdom of John Maxwell, Martin Luther King Jr., C.S. Lewis, and others who’ve guided his path. This episode is...
2025-07-2321 min
Leadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team AgainJoy is a Choice: It’s Not Selfish—It’s How You Show Up Best for Your Team | Raquel Braganza - E11Dusty is joined by Raquel Braganza, a transformational coach and joy strategist, for a powerful conversation on reclaiming joy as a daily, deliberate practice—especially for leaders and caregivers who often pour from an empty cup. Raquel shares moving stories from her clients, including a mother who found light in a dark season by throwing a “cat party” with her children, and executives who rediscovered joy through simple rituals like music-filled showers and warm towels. She explains how choosing joy isn’t about perfection or privilege—it’s about presence, agency, and designing a life that reflects your values. From redefin...
2025-07-1658 minLeadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team AgainThe Leadership Judo Move: Redirect Problems & Instill Ownership in Your Team - E10Dusty breaks down one of the most overlooked traps in leadership: the urge to rescue. Drawing from real-world coaching conversations and timeless wisdom from Viktor Frankl, Dusty unpacks what happens when leaders carry the emotional weight of their team's problems—and why it backfires. You’ll learn how to use powerful questions to redirect responsibility, reinforce agency, and build a culture of accountability. This isn’t just theory—it’s a practical leadership judo move you can start using today to empower your team and protect your energy.Key Takeaways:• Why solving every proble...
2025-07-0911 min
Leadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team AgainBe the Leader You Wish You Had | Chuck Hall - E9Dusty sits down with Chuck Hall, the chairman of Vitality Living and founder of Charles Hall Construction, to explore his incredible journey—from his childhood hustle of working on the docks with his dad in Rhode Island to building a company that now employs over 2,300 people across 11 states. He opens up about being fired, starting over at 32, and the lessons he learned about vision, mentorship, and living a Life by Design. Highlights include his philosophy on mentorship, facing pivotal challenges, and creating meaningful change in the lives of aging adults. Hall also talks about his passion for ensuring dignity an...
2025-07-0257 minLeadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team AgainThe Best Leadership Advice I Ever Got: Be Interested, Not Interesting - E8What if your greatest leadership superpower wasn’t your voice—but your questions? In this episode of Leadership Unlocked, Dusty unpacks the single best advice he ever received: be interested, not interesting. From a homeschool upbringing that sparked lifelong curiosity to a game-changing moment inspired by Jim Collins and Peter Drucker, Dusty shares how learning to ask the right questions transformed his leadership. He explains why curiosity builds trust, why humility fuels influence, and how flipping your "questions-to-statements" ratio can unlock untapped growth in your team. If you’ve ever felt pressure to perform or prove yourself in leadership, this e...
2025-06-2515 min
Leadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team AgainWhy Not Me? How Women Can Powerfully Advocate for Themselves at Work | Bridgett McMahan - E7Dusty welcomes Bridgett McMahan, President of BESCO, for a powerful conversation about leadership, confidence, and community. Bridgett shares the transformative impact of the book Gravitas and how it empowered her as a new leader in a male-dominated industry. She discusses the importance of assembling a trusted "Gold Team" to lead collaboratively, her leadership superpower of listening, and the loneliness that can come with executive roles. Bridgett also advocates for CASA, an organization giving vulnerable children a voice in the judicial system, and reminds us that sometimes the best thing a leader can do is simply say “yes” and try.
2025-06-1859 minLeadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team Again3 Leadership Blind Spots That Sabotage Team Performance - E6Dusty Holcomb breaks down three of the most common leadership blind spots he sees every week in coaching sessions with high-performing teams, seasoned executives, and fast-scaling founders. With clarity and conviction, he unpacks how these often-unseen patterns quietly derail execution, dilute energy, and create frustration. Drawing from real-world experience, Dusty explores the cost of vague expectations, the gap between agreement and true commitment, and the consequences of a weak accountability culture. Through practical examples and sharp insight, he shares a framework for leading with intention—clarifying the "what by when," confirming alignment, and following through with consistency. This episode is...
2025-06-1118 min
Leadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team AgainWhy Leaders Need to Worry Less and Trust More | Gene Boehm - E5Today on Leadership Unlocked, Gene Boehm, President and CEO of AAA, joins Dusty and shares the experiences, values, and lessons that shape his leadership philosophy, emphasizing clarity, empowerment, and authenticity. From childhood stories and career setbacks to learning resilience during the Enron scandal and embracing feedback, Boehm highlights the transformative power of self-awareness, mentorship, and organizational culture. He champions vision over micromanagement, exemplified by initiatives like the “I Love My Job” campaign, which fostered pride and engagement across AAA. Passionate about safety and reducing roadside fatalities, he calls for greater advocacy and coalition-building. Boehm underscores the importance of emotional conn...
2025-06-0449 minLeadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team AgainCalling Out BS & Creating Accountability on High-Trust Teams - E4In this episode of Leadership Unlocked, we explore the powerful concept of the “BS flag” — a simple, symbolic tool used to build a culture of candor, clarity, and accountability on leadership teams. Drawing inspiration from football, where a penalty flag stops play and signals a rule violation, the BS flag empowers team members to safely and respectfully call out issues in real time, including those caused by the leader. Dusty shares how this tool transformed his own leadership meetings, eliminated the "HiPPO problem" (highest paid person's opinion), and created a space where truth could be spoken without fear. He breaks...
2025-05-2812 min
Leadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team AgainVice Admiral on Navigating Complex, High-Stakes Environments as a Leader | Mike LeFever - E2Dusty and Jeremy sit down with retired Vice Admiral Mike LeFever to explore the defining moments and lessons from his distinguished career in the US Navy. Vice Admiral LeFever shares his journey, from his time at the Naval Academy to leading complex operations and joint task forces in high-stakes environments. He emphasizes the importance of resilience, adaptability, expecting the unexpected, and the necessity of evolving and reflecting as a leader. Practical insights on commander's intent, handling crises, and the role of humility in leadership are highlighted, making this episode a must-listen for anyone looking to elevate their leadership skills.
2025-05-211h 02
Leadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team AgainThe Power of Being Unapologetically You: Identity, Intuition, and Impact | Claudia Caballero - E3Dusty Holcomb speaks with Claudia Caballero, CEO of Centro Hispano, about her powerful journey from Honduras to leading a thriving nonprofit in Knoxville. Claudia shares how she grew from second-guessing her instincts as a young Latina immigrant to confidently integrating intuition, data, and self-awareness in her leadership. Drawing from her upbringing, education, and entrepreneurial experiences, she emphasizes authenticity, resilience, and the importance of investing in people, even without guarantees. With candor, she reflects on personal challenges like ADHD and codependency, the transformative power of mentorship and community, and the leadership lessons shaped by therapy, books, and lived experience. Claudia’s...
2025-05-211h 01Leadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team AgainThe Day Everything Changed: My Leadership Wake-Up Call - E1Dusty reflects on his leadership journey which began in 1998 as a third shift supervisor in a call center. At the young age of 22, he initially focused on personal career growth but had a pivotal moment when his mentor, Colonel Greg Camp, introduced him to the principles of servant leadership. Through book clubs and personal mentorship, Greg taught Dusty that true leadership is about serving and empowering others. This episode dives deep into the transformative power of servant leadership, the importance of continual learning, and how one mentor's belief and guidance can fundamentally shape and change a leader's approach and...
2025-05-2124 minLeadership Unlocked: The Operating System Every Executive Leader Needs to Delegate Effectively & Foster Accountability So You Can Stop Managing Alone and Start Leading a Team AgainLeadership Unlocked: The Stories That Shape Great LeadersWhat does it truly mean to unlock leadership?At Leadership Unlocked, we believe leadership isn't defined by titles—it's forged through stories, influence, and the unwavering commitment to serve others. Each week, we delve into candid conversations with real people who've navigated the crucibles of leadership, emerging with scars, wisdom, and a desire to uplift those around them.This isn't about generic leadership clichés. It's about purpose-driven, value-centric individuals who lead with authenticity, vulnerability, and resilience. We explore the defining moments that have shaped their paths, offering you, our...
2025-05-0703 min
The Leadership Quote-ient With Dusty HolcombSpring: A Season that Reminds Us to Embrace a Leadership Growth MindsetSpring is a season of renewal, preparation, and growth—just like leadership. In this episode, Dusty Holcomb explores how leaders must invest in growth long before they see results, cultivating relationships, building culture, and trusting the process. Just as a farmer faithfully plants seeds without immediate reward, great leaders embrace a leadership growth mindset by committing to long-term impact. Tune in to discover how patience, perseverance, and intentionality shape successful leadership.Key Takeaways:Growth takes time – Leadership is about making daily decisions that shape the future, even when the impact isn’t immediately visible.Invest with intent...
2025-03-1608 min
The Leadership Quote-ient With Dusty HolcombThe Will to Win – How to Build a Legacy That LastsEpisode Summary:What truly defines your leadership legacy—your wins, your losses, or how you show up every day? In this episode, we explore the enduring power of the will to win and why resilience, character, and intentional self-leadership far outlast any single event. Through real-world leadership examples and powerful takeaways, you’ll learn how to cultivate a mindset of excellence, ownership, and self-discipline, no matter the circumstances. Your success isn’t about luck—it’s about how you lead yourself first.Key Takeaways:Excellence is a daily choice, not a final result. The best leade...
2025-03-0907 min
The Leadership Quote-ient With Dusty HolcombDoubt is Lying to You: How to Reclaim Your Confidence and Take Bold ActionDoubt is one of the biggest obstacles to confident leadership. It whispers hesitation, fuels overthinking, and convinces you that you're not ready. But here’s the truth—doubt is lying to you. Confidence isn’t something you wait for; it’s something you build by taking bold action.In this episode, we unpack:How to overcome doubt and break free from hesitationLeadership confidence tips to stop second-guessing yourselfWhy self-doubt in leadership is normal—and how to push past itThe leadership mindset shift that turns hesitation into convictionHow to stop waiting for confidence and take action nowIf you’v...
2025-03-0208 min
The Leadership Quote-ient With Dusty HolcombThe Hidden Cost of Compromise: Will You Trade Integrity for Approval?Leadership isn’t about power or position—it’s about the choices you make when no one is watching. In this episode, we dive deep into virtue in leadership, exploring why integrity, trust, and honor are essential for leaders who want to make a lasting impact.Have you ever faced a moment where cutting a small corner felt easier than standing firm in your values? We all have. But here’s the hard truth: small compromises don’t stay small. Over time, they shape the kind of leader you become and determine whether people trust and follow you—or qui...
2025-02-2806 min
The Leadership Quote-ient With Dusty HolcombHow Leaders Find Purpose: The Key to Meaningful Work and ImpactIn this episode of The Leadership Quotient, Dusty explores the essence of leadership, emphasizing the importance of self-leadership and the pursuit of meaningful work. He discusses the tension leaders face between comfort and purpose, the significance of viewing current roles as opportunities for growth, and the necessity of taking intentional actions to build a lasting leadership legacy. Through personal anecdotes and insights, he encourages listeners to embrace challenges and make consistent choices that align with their values and aspirations.Takeaways:Before you can lead others, you must lead yourself.Loving what you do requires aligning...
2025-02-2207 min
The Leadership Quote-ient With Dusty HolcombPurpose Was Born On Christmas EveDiscover light and meaning this Christmas Eve. Reflect on purpose, inspired by the story of the wise men, and take your next step toward intentional living.
2024-12-2502 minThe Leadership Quote-ient With Dusty HolcombReflecting on the Soul: The Path to Authentic Growth and LeadershipExplore the depths of self-leadership with 'Reflecting on the Soul.' Discover how honest insights and meaningful reflection empower growth, connection, and authentic leadership.Link:Brené Brown - The Gifts of Imperfection
2024-12-2302 minThe Leadership Quote-ient With Dusty HolcombThe Power Of Rest, It's How You Unlock Your Best LifeDiscover the power of rest. Learn how renewal, like a rested field, builds resilience and fosters growth. Explore practical steps for your life.Links:Dr. Matthew Walker’s Why We Sleep
2024-12-2202 minThe Leadership Quote-ient With Dusty HolcombUnlocking Leadership Potential with Empathy and ImaginationExplore how empathy and imagination transform leadership. Tune in to discover actionable steps to build deeper connections and inspire bold innovation.Links:Dare to LeadSir Ken Robinson’s TED Talk, Do Schools Kill Creativity?
2024-12-2102 minThe Leadership Quote-ient With Dusty HolcombThe Strength You Didn’t Know You Had: Hidden Strengths Like BambooLike bamboo, you are more resilient than you believe. Discover your hidden strengths and embrace the flexibility to grow stronger under pressure.
2024-12-2002 minThe Leadership Quote-ient With Dusty HolcombThe Daily Bricks of Success: Building the Life You WantSuccess isn’t achieved in leaps; it’s built one habit at a time. In this reflective episode, we unpack the profound truth behind Robert Collier’s words: “Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.”Discover the power of daily habits as the foundation of your journey to personal and professional growth. From starting your day with gratitude to embracing consistency over perfection, you’ll learn practical steps to align your actions with your aspirations.Every day is an opportunity to grow, one intentional step closer to the life you envision...
2024-12-1904 min