the Learn-It-All™ podcast

Reading books doesn’t make you a better leader—applying them does. In this solo episode, Learnit CEO and bestselling author Damon Lembi shares five books that have fundamentally shaped how he leads, makes decisions, and builds high-performing teams. But this isn’t a generic reading list. Damon reveals exactly what he took from each book—and how he’s put those lessons to work. If you're looking to lead with more intention, clarity, and impact, start here.In this episode, you’ll learn: The 3 big leadership lessons Damon took from Lincoln Why introverts often make the best leaders A decision-making framework every exec should master How to shift your org from hierarchy to teamship Why you can’t afford to ignore AI (and how to start) How to get real ROI from your reading habit What “learning without doing is treason” really means Why biographies beat business books (most of the time)  Timestamps: 00:00 – The most powerful leadership tool: reading (with intention)  01:10 – Book #1: Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin  01:40 – Embracing diverse viewpoints and emotional control  03:00 – Lincoln’s “hot letter” method: emotional intelligence in action  04:00 – From criticized novice to strategic mastermind: Lincoln’s growth  05:00 – Book #2: Quiet by Susan Cain  05:45 – Why introverts lead best by listening, not commanding  06:45 – Advice for introverts—or leaders who manage them  07:30 – Book #3: Decisive by Chip & Dan Heath  08:15 – The WRAP framework: smarter decisions, less regret  09:00 – How Damon used it to rethink a CFO hire  10:00 – The 10/10/10 rule for cooling emotional decisions  10:45 – The trap of confirmation bias—and how to escape it  11:15 – Bonus: Damon’s book Good Decisions = Success  11:45 – Book #4: Never Lead Alone by Keith Ferrazzi  12:30 – Teamship vs. traditional leadership  13:10 – Why open candor beats conflict avoidance  13:45 – A roadmap for building trust, feedback, and collaboration  14:30 – Book #5: AI-Driven Leader by Jeff Woods  15:15 – Why AI is a mindset shift—not just a tool  15:45 – Damon’s example: building a comp plan using AI  16:30 – The 4-part prompt framework for high-impact AI results  17:00 – Bonus Book: The Learn-It-All Leader by Damon Lembi  17:30 – Being vs. Doing: Two halves of the leadership equation  18:00 – Final thought: Apply what you read—or it doesn’t count Resources & Mentions: Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin: Amazon Quiet by Susan Cain: Amazon Decisive by Chip & Dan Heath: Amazon Never Lead Alone by Keith Ferrazzi: AmazonAI-Driven Leader by Goeff Woods: AmazonGood Decisions = Success by Damon Lembi & Kandis Porter: AmazonThe Learn-It-All Leader by Damon Lembi: AmazonLearn-It-All Podcast interview with Geeff Woods: Listen on SpotifyConnect With Us: Uplevel yourself and your team at Learnit.com Email us: [email protected] Follow Damon on LinkedIn Follow Damon on Instagram 

You can’t solve 21st-century problems with 20th-century mindsets—and today’s guest is on a mission to change that. In this episode, Damon sits down with Erin Lewellen, CEO of Tilting Futures, to unpack how immersive, global learning experiences are transforming the next generation of leaders. From building self-awareness to teaching systems thinking and reducing bias, Erin shares how her team is reshaping leadership education—and what every company can learn from their model. Whether you lead a team, a classroom, or a company, this conversation will challenge how you think about growth, feedback, and the power of perspective. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why self-awareness isn’t innate—it’s a muscle The “look in the mirror” rule every leader should follow How Tilting Futures develops young leaders from 100+ countries Why discomfort and difference drive transformational growth The #1 interview strategy to find self-reflective employees How to build a feedback culture rooted in trust, not fear The hidden cost of “meetings after the meeting” What most orgs get wrong about defining values How leaders can model curiosity and restraint in meetings Why you need to stop saying “they” and start saying “we”  Timestamps: 00:00 – Can you teach self-awareness—or is it innate?  01:45 – “Look in the mirror”: Erin’s foundational leadership habit  03:30 – What Tilting Futures is and how it works  05:35 – Why ages 17–22 are the sweet spot for impact  07:10 – Teaching empathy through global immersion and collaboration  08:50 – Travel as a tool for leadership and adaptability  11:30 – Erin’s Cape Town story: Context, humility, and lifelong change  14:45 – Leading meetings with curiosity and silence  15:55 – What changes in student mindset after 4 months  18:00 – The research: Reduced bias, more agency, stronger leadership  20:40 – How global cohorts shift perspective and prejudice  22:45 – Systems thinking and asset-based problem solving  25:30 – Behind the scenes: Building Tilting Futures’ internal culture  28:00 – “There is no ‘they’, only ‘we’”: One of their core principles  30:30 – How Erin interviews for curiosity and growth mindset  34:15 – Why soft skills are the hardest—and most critical—to teach  35:45 – Encouraging disagreement to find the best idea  38:00 – Practicing emotional honesty in meetings  40:30 – Ditching “the meeting after the meeting”  42:00 – Aligning staff and student values: One unified culture  44:25 – Keeping values alive in every meeting  46:45 – How this generation of students is different  49:30 – The Zimbabwean biomedical engineer who redefined her mission  52:00 – Erin’s why: Helping young leaders unlock their impact  54:00 – Scholarships, access, and how to get involved  About Erin Lewellen: Erin Lewellen is the CEO of Tilting Futures, a nonprofit redefining global education through immersive leadership experiences. With operations in Cape Town and Malaysia, Tilting Futures equips young adults from over 100 countries with the skills, networks, and self-awareness needed to solve complex global challenges. A former high school basketball coach and champion of inclusive leadership, Erin brings a systems-level perspective to everything from education reform to organizational culture. She’s also a Forbes contributor and advocate for integrating “soft” (human) skills into every stage of leadership.  Resources & Mentions: Tilting Futures website Erin Lewellen on LinkedIn Forbes article: The Soft Skills That Can’t Be Replaced By AI Apply to Take Action Lab Connect With Us: Uplevel yourself and your team at Learnit.com Email us: [email protected] Follow Damon on LinkedIn Follow Damon on Instagram 

Why does stress feel so normal in the workplace? Why does our mind default to the worst case scenario? And what’s the cost of this being our normal day to day life? In this episode, Damon sits down with Derek Sloan, who’s a licensed therapist, executive coach, and founder of Abridge Leadership to explore why so many professionals silently battle negativity and self-doubt, and what leaders can do to break the cycle. Whether you're navigating organizational change, dealing with anxious thoughts, or trying to model vulnerability in a remote workplace, this episode offers practical tools backed by psychology and made for the real world. In this episode you’ll learn: What The 80% Rule is—and how it can transform how you lead The hidden cost of “normalized” workplace stress Why vulnerability is a leadership superpower (when done right) The difference between confidence and self-efficacy How to spot fear-based thinking on your team Practical ways leaders can create clarity, safety, and connection And so much more! Timestamps: 00:21 – Why our brains default to negativity (60,000 thoughts, 80% negative)  01:53 – The thought-emotion-behavior chain: how negativity spreads  03:42 – What happens when dysfunction is normalized at work  05:45 – Breaking down The 80% Rule (3 surprising stats)  09:00 – Addressing real pain vs. future-focused fear  10:25 – The traps leaders fall into under stress  12:23 – A case study: when a promotion becomes a source of burnout  16:05 – What leaders can do during times of uncertainty  18:45 – The power of focusing on controllables  19:24 – 3 controllables: showing up as your best, staying hopeful, being transparent  22:30 – Why vulnerability matters more than ever  25:15 – Healthy vs. unhealthy vulnerability: where leaders get it wrong  29:09 – Understanding fear: how our brains exaggerate the future  33:27 – Self-efficacy vs. confidence—and why both matter  36:05 – How to give better feedback (that actually develops talent)  39:14 – Recognizing negativity loops in your team  41:39 – Why listening—not fixing—is your leadership edge  44:00 – The post-COVID shift: employees expect to be cared for  45:32 – Can remote work ever match in-person connection?  48:21 – Why loneliness is a hidden workplace epidemic  50:15 – Final takeaway: Take inventory. Where are you now—and how long have you been there?  About the Guest: Derek Sloan is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP), and National Certified Counselor (NCC), He has experience in providing mental health and behavioral health services to individuals, couples, and groups. He founded and continues to operate a private practice in Kentucky. Derek is also a Certified Executive Coach and has a passion for leadership development. This has been a lifelong pursuit through his graduate degree in organizational leadership, building businesses, and leadership coaching/consulting. He works with executive leaders in top-level and industry-leading organizations, helping them enhance their emotional intelligence, communication skills, and decision-making abilities. His mission is to help organizations achieve their goals by prioritizing both leadership and mental health. Resources & Mentions: Follow Derek on LinkedIn Visit Derek's Leadership company Abridge Leadership Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl Derek’s Podcast: Mental Stillness Damon's appearance on Mental Stillness: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/38-special-guest-damon-lembi/id1717076433?i=1000703632140Connect with Us: Uplevel yourself and your team with our trainings: www.learnit.com Email us: [email protected] Follow Damon on LinkedIn and Instagram 

The 5 Truths Every New Leader Needs to Hear Becoming a leader isn’t just a promotion—it’s a complete identity shift. You’re no longer just executing the work. You’re coaching others to do it well. And that requires a new mindset, a new skillset, and a new set of daily habits. In this solo episode, Learnit CEO Damon Lembi breaks down the 5 truths he wishes every first-time leader knew. Whether you’re fresh in the role or mentoring someone who is, this episode is your tactical, no-fluff guide to making the leap from top performer to people-first leader. In this episode, you’ll learn: - Why leadership is about coaching, not doing - The #1 mindset shift you must make in week one - How to build trust by giving others autonomy (and space to fail) - Why the best leaders are great listeners—first - How to model the habits you want your team to follow - The key conversation to have with your boss (today) - What to do when your company won’t invest in your development - Why mistakes are inevitable—and what to do when you make one - How to lead without pretending to have it all figured out Timestamps: 00:00 – The biggest professional shift: from player to coach 01:00 – Truth #1: You win through your people, not by doing it all 01:45 – Why delegation is really about building trust 02:00 – The mindset shift: you're building a team of heroes, not being the hero 02:30 – Truth #2: Don’t rush in—start by listening and learning 03:20 – Why curiosity builds credibility and connection 03:50 – Truth #3: Model the behavior you want from your team 04:30 – Leadership is a constant stage—how are you showing up? 04:45 – Truth #4: Own your success—don’t wait for others to invest in you 05:15 – How Damon recommends new leaders start growing (even on their own) 06:00 – The $14 tool that every new leader should use 06:30 – Truth #5: You will make mistakes—so learn fast and lead through it 07:10 – The hard lesson Damon learned about avoiding tough conversations 08:00 – The recap: 5 truths every new leader needs to thrive 08:30 – Final thought: Great leaders aren’t born or made—they’re always in the making Resources & Mentions: Damon’s book: https://www.learnit.com/learn-it-all-leader-book-by-damon-lembi Learnit’s Delegation Greenlights E-Book: https://www.learnit.com/resources/delegation-greenlights-guide Learnit’s Delegate to Scale Your Impact Course: https://www.learnit.com/courses/delegate-to-scale-your-impact Learnit Article on New Manager Training Skills: https://www.learnit.com/blog/new-manager-training-skills The Learn-It-All Podcast with Chris Dyer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBUHOPtR6Yk Learnit Live Event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjLFoCepWOw Connect With Us: Uplevel yourself and your team at Learnit.com Email us: [email protected] Follow Damon on LinkedIn Follow Damon on Instagram

The modern workplace runs on meetings. But too often, those meetings become time sinks instead of value drivers. People scramble to take notes, miss critical insights, and leave unclear on what to do next. Meanwhile, leaders drown in back-to-back calls with no bandwidth to spot patterns or coach teams effectively. And yet... what if meetings weren’t the problem, but the raw material for your company’s next big leap? In today’s episode, Damon is joined by Richard White, CEO and founder of Fathom breaks down his best lessons as a 3x founder and how he’s building the future of work. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why retention—not revenue—should be your first startup focus How Richard built a viral product without a sales team for 12+ months The underestimated power of onboarding and customer support How to create a freemium product that actually drives word of mouth Why AI will soon give every employee a “highlight reel” of what matters most The truth about building in the AI era: it’s not about features—it’s about output quality  Timestamps: 00:00 – Richard’s early builder mindset and why he couldn’t be an employee  01:22 – Why articulating the “why” is a founder’s core job  02:07 – Finding his tribe in the first batch of Y Combinator  04:25 – How confidence and founder networks shaped his journey  05:44 – The trap of over-relying on advice vs. trusting your instincts  07:51 – Why Richard calls UserVoice his “founder finishing school”  08:38 – Lessons in cross-functional leadership and scrappy execution  11:05 – Advice for technical founders who undervalue sales  12:33 – The insight that sparked Fathom: meetings are broken  14:44 – How he hired a “sales team” with nothing to sell  15:05 – Why he delayed monetization and focused on retention first  17:57 – Building customer feedback loops into the product  19:32 – From 1,000 users to viral growth via the Zoom Marketplace  21:50 – The psychology behind freemium and referability  24:42 – Why onboarding was a 9-month engineering priority  26:47 – Balancing new features with polishing the UX  28:58 – The contrarian view: meetings aren’t bad—meeting waste is  29:22 – How Fathom reduces meeting bloat and improves async sharing  31:36 – Using Fathom to streamline the hiring process  33:39 – What’s next: AI that watches every meeting and summarizes insights  36:05 – Generating case studies and internal docs from conversation data  36:52 – Cross-org AI search and the power of complete data sets  37:59 – What separates great AI products: obsessive quality control  39:51 – The future belongs to teams that can turn conversations into knowledge  Resources Mentioned: Fathom Connect with Richard White on LinkedIn UserVoice  About the Guest: Richard White is the founder and CEO of Fathom, a free AI-powered meeting assistant that helps teams skip note-taking and unlock insights from every call. He’s a three-time founder, early YC alum, and product-obsessed builder who believes meetings are the new knowledge base—if we capture them right. Connect With Us: Level up your sales team at Learnit.com Email us: [email protected] Follow Damon on LinkedIn 

Leadership isn’t just about vision. Instead it’s about showing up in the everyday moments if you want to shape great teams, cultures, and results. There’s myth that some people are “born leaders” but in today’s episode, leadership expert Dr. Scott Allen shares why leadership is learned, practiced, and most importantly, deeply personal. In this episode you will learn: Why the idea of “natural-born leaders” is outdated The science behind charisma (and how to develop it) What leadership styles have in common with golf clubs The difference between authority and influence—and why influence wins Why “thinking partners” are essential for every leader How to combine knowledge, skill, mentorship, and experience for true growth Timestamps: 00:14 – Are leaders born or made?  01:49 – What science says about charisma and learnable leadership  03:48 – How problem-solving, negotiation, and communication can be developed  06:00 – Leadership styles and the “golf club” metaphor  08:42 – Making leadership training stick: from hacks to habits  09:43 – Why self-awareness is foundational to great leadership  12:08 – Character, curiosity, and the power of learning  13:02 – Can self-awareness be taught?  15:36 – Curiosity as a leadership superpower  17:02 – Coaches who deflect blame vs. leaders who take ownership  18:12 – Empathy, ego, and the limits of expertise in leadership  20:26 – Why catchers make great managers  21:43 – Influence: the real heart of leadership  24:07 – Trust as the currency of leadership  25:48 – Influence tactics: from logic to coalitions  28:18 – Timing and persuasion in leadership conversations  30:01 – Why knowledge alone isn’t enough—real-world learning is essential  33:22 – The five domains of leadership learning  35:27 – Creating learning organizations with psychological safety  37:54 – The role of thinking partners in leadership development  41:04 – How to find (and build) your bench of thinking partners  46:57 – Why one partner won’t solve everything—and that’s the point  49:01 – “Who you are is how you lead” – Scott’s favorite leadership quote  50:39 – Final thoughts on responsibility, reflection, and showing up for others  About the Guest: Dr. Scott J. Allen is an award-winning educator, keynote speaker, and leadership expert. With over 17 years as a professor and more than 60 peer-reviewed publications, Scott brings academic rigor, humor, and real-world insight to every engagement. He's co-authored several books on leadership and hosts Practical Wisdom for Leaders—a podcast ranked in the top 2.5% globally. He also publishes a weekly newsletter for busy practitioners, highlighting four leadership articles. Scott energizes audiences at marquee organizations such as Toyota Motor North America, Cleveland Clinic, NASA-Glenn, Nestlé, Progressive, Whiting Turner, Sam's Club, the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, and Progressive through his dynamic keynotes, workshops, and retreats. Whether on stage or in the boardroom, Scott’s expertise in leader development, the future of work, and executive communication empowers leaders to drive meaningful, lasting change.  Resources & Mentions: Connect with Scott on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-j-allen/  Visit Scott's Website: www.scottjallen.net Listen to his Podcast: https://www.scottjallen.net/podcast  HBR Article: Leadership That Gets Results by Daniel Goleman: https://hbr.org/2000/03/leadership-that-gets-results  Influence by Robert Cialdini: https://a.co/d/hl0KHmq  Pre-Suasion by Robert Cialdini: https://a.co/d/hl0KHmq  Gallup’s workplace engagement stats: https://www.gallup.com/workplace/654911/employee-engagement-sinks-year-low.aspx#:~:text=In%20the%20latest%20reading%2C%20from,than%202020's%20high%20of%2036%25 Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg: https://a.co/d/81197UZ  Atomic Habits by James Clear: https://a.co/d/81197UZ  Connect With Us: Learn more about our leadership and team development trainings: www.learnit.com Email us: [email protected] Follow Damon on LinkedIn and Instagram 

Damon Lembi never set out to become a podcaster. But 2 years, 160+ episodes, and thousands of conversations later, he can say this with confidence: podcasting has been the single most transformative tool in his professional growth. In this solo episode, Damon breaks down the 8 ways podcasting has made him a better leader, communicator, and human being and why every professional should seriously consider stepping behind the mic. In this episode, you’ll learn: - Why podcasting is the ultimate communication gym - How storytelling on-air can make you more persuasive off-air - What podcasting does for your confidence and clarity - The hidden networking power that comes with each episode - Why podcasting forces you to become a better listener and improviser - How hosting a show accelerates your learning and thought leadership - The simple way to turn one podcast guest spot into 10 pieces of content - Why your personal brand matters (even if you don’t think it does) Timestamps: 00:00 – Damon’s confession: The one unexpected thing that changed his career 00:35 – #1: How podcasting sharpened his communication 01:10 – #2: Why repetition made him a better storyteller 01:50 – #3: Overcoming fear and building confidence through reps 02:30 – #4: 10x network growth—and the power of asking 03:00 – #5: How the mic made him a better listener at work and at home 03:45 – #6: Learning to improvise and build trust fast 04:20 – #7: The accelerated learning effect (and why it feels like free coaching) 05:15 – #8: How podcasting helped him build a real, visible personal brand 06:10 – Guesting vs. hosting: Where to start and what tools to use 06:50 – Why you don’t need followers—just courage 07:10 – A final reflection: Podcasting made me better. It can do the same for you. Resources & Mentions: Episode with Marques Ogden: https://youtu.be/dqsRJhGIeFI?si=98MKdtArx30guTBEEpisode with Stephen M.R. Covey: https://youtu.be/iP6cnAqNwIc?si=pl6lCTHKgM9v-sn5Episode with Doug Conant: https://youtu.be/418p49ClihY?si=YuLozGLm4VsFXM1BEpisode with Dr. Jessica Kriegel: https://youtu.be/TUJ-8zUolI4?si=UNYpf_LwQ5pzi2NiEpisode with Matt Dixon: https://youtu.be/0LpEfvxsOYs?si=mAEJwxIREFnmeg3gPodMatch: Tool to book guest spots: https://www.podmatch.com/Opus Clip to make podcast clips: https://www.opus.pro/Pat Flynn’s Guide: How to Start a Podcast in 2025: https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/Connect With Us: Level up your sales team at Learnit.comEmail us: [email protected] Follow Damon on LinkedIn Follow Damon on Instagram

The traditional way of selling in B2B businesses no longer works. Win rates are at an all-time low. Sales reps are burning out faster than ever. Quotas are missed quarter after quarter. And so what are teams trying? To just do more. More calls. More demos.  But the solution isn’t more. First, you have to break the cycle you are stuck in. In today’s episode, Damon is joined by Dave Brock. He’s a legendary sales advisor, executive coach, and author of The Sales Manager Survival Guide. He's here to break down what’s wrong with the way we train sales teams today, and how modern leaders can build cultures that actually drive performance. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why most sales teams are stuck and what it really takes to break the cycle How business acumen and curiosity outperform slide decks and sales pitches The real reason tenure is shrinking in sales and what to do about it How to coach your team effectively  What Dave is building with AI and why it might be the future of learning Timestamps: 00:00 – What’s going wrong in sales today?  02:10 – Why win rates are declining and panic is missing  05:27 – Are people losing their drive to achieve?  07:34 – COVID’s effect on employee disconnection  08:49 – Culture, belonging, and why people leave  10:32 – What great leaders do differently  12:22 – The math doesn’t work: ramp time vs. tenure  15:56 – How short-term thinking hurts everyone  16:36 – Why most sales cycles end in no decision  18:59 – The key to building trust: problem-first conversations  21:23 – The pitch is dead—long live collaboration  23:39 – Why salespeople lack business acumen  24:42 – The real role of subject matter experts  26:20 – The $500k SDR: a credibility case study  29:23 – Where to find your next great SDR  31:15 – Brand damage from bad conversations  33:56 – One-size-fits-all coaching doesn't work  34:55 – What frontline managers get wrong  36:58 – Directive vs. non-directive coaching  38:56 – Coaching inside every conversation  42:32 – Using improv to teach collaborative coaching  44:59 – Coaching in “cracks of time”  45:54 – What’s changed since The Sales Manager Survival Guide  47:52 – Preview of Dave’s next book: Sales Executive Survival Guide  49:05 – Using AI as a debate partner, not a crutch  51:25 – Learning faster through collaborative AI tools  53:59 – Dave’s master prompt strategy for ChatGPT and Claude  54:18 – What keeps Dave curious after decades of success  56:35 – What extreme sports and Wu-Tang taught him about innovation  59:28 – Why mentoring high schoolers keeps him sharp Resources Mentioned: Partners in EXCELLENCE Blog Follow Dave Brock on LinkedIn Sales Manager Survival Guide by Dave Brock AI Driven Leader by Jeff Woods About the Guest: Dave Brock is the author of Sales Manager Survival Guide. He leads Partners in EXCELLENCE, which helps sales leaders rethink coaching, culture, and customer engagement. Dave’s recent work includes AI-powered sales learning tools based on curiosity, problem solving, and trust-building. Connect With Us: Level up your sales team at Learnit.com Email us: [email protected] Follow Damon on LinkedIn Follow Damon on Instagram 

If you want to be a successful leader in today’s fast paced world, stop focusing on just hitting your targets in business. Instead, you need to focus on understanding your team, so that they can help you achieve more than you could on your own. But how do you do that? In today’s episode, Damon is joined by Kerry Rockers, an executive coach, HR veteran, and passionate advocate for helping leaders build more human-centered workplaces. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why great coaching isn’t about fixing people, but about helping them hear their inner voice again How to navigate career pivots with clarity and confidence The difference between leading and managing—and why it matters now more than ever Why HR is more strategic than it’s ever been Simple shifts to help your team find meaning in their work Timestamps:  00:20 – The true goal of coaching: helping people remember what they already know  02:14 – Coaching the ambitious vs. the stuck: what’s different?  03:34 – What makes someone “coachable”?  04:26 – Kerry’s journey from HR executive to full-time coach  06:47 – How HR has evolved in the past 20 years  07:50 – Making the leap to entrepreneurship (even if it’s unexpected)  09:26 – How to approach a career pivot with intention  12:19 – Why experimenting and networking is key to a successful transition  13:58 – Tools for gaining clarity on what you want next  15:44 – How to learn in a way that works for you  16:40 – Why more people are searching for meaning in work  18:07 – How Kerry helps clients discover their values  19:52 – The calendar and checkbook audit: aligning time and values  20:20 – How managers can help their team feel more connected to their work  22:21 – Listening for values in everyday conversations  23:52 – One simple way to become a better listener  24:52 – A powerful 1:1 question Kerry uses to surface meaning  26:36 – What to do if you’re not good at receiving feedback  28:03 – The trust cost of canceling 1:1s  30:02 – What a “stay interview” is and why every manager should use it  33:12 – How to keep top talent even when change isn’t possible  33:44 – One mindset shift middle managers need to build trust  35:50 – The story of the leader who helped Kerry make a pivotal leap  39:23 – Tools for increasing self-awareness (and why it matters)  42:08 – Can self-awareness be taught?  43:18 – How StrengthsFinder helped one client reframe chaos into purpose  45:46 – How to work better with different strengths on your team  47:07 – Final thoughts on intentionality, curiosity, and leadership About the Guest: Kerry Rockers is a certified executive coach and former global HR executive with over two decades of experience. Kerry has consulted and coached leaders across multiple business lines and functions (Technology, Digital Channels, Wholesale Banking, Corporate Support teams etc.) with significant experience working internationally.  Her business acumen and broad experience working with teams and leaders during times of change help her quickly understand her coaching client's challenges.   Resources Mentioned: Kerry Rockers' Website Connect with Kerry on LinkedIn CliftonStrengths Assessment Connect With Us: Uplevel yourself and your team with our trainings: www.learnit.com Email us: [email protected] Follow Damon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damonlembi/ Follow Damon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damonlembi/ 

In this solo episode, Learnit CEO and bestselling author Damon Lembi shares 12 powerful truths he’s learned over the years that he wishes someone had told him in his 20s. From managing money and making bold career moves, to saying no, navigating failure, and redefining your identity, Damon gets real about the missteps and wake-up calls that shaped who he is today. In this episode, you’ll learn: - Why time—not money—is your most valuable asset - How to stop making decisions you’ll regret - A 5-part plan to take control of your finances (without needing to be a CPA) - What most people get wrong about failure - How to know when it’s time to quit the job, relationship, or habit - Why your job title isn’t your identity—and what matters more - A mindset shift that makes confidence inevitable - The secret to avoiding burnout (especially if you're a top performer) - How living abroad can completely change the way you lead Timestamps: 00:35 – #1: Time is the only asset you can’t get back 02:00 – Why you need to be intentional about your relationships 03:00 – Are you overworking or failing to delegate? 04:00 – #2: Money management tips Damon wishes he learned earlier 06:00 – #3: Stop making emotional decisions—use “purposeful awfulizing” 07:30 – #4: Get comfortable with failure (and why not trying is the real risk) 08:10 – #5: Don’t stay stuck—recognize the sunk cost fallacy 09:00 – #6: Life isn’t linear—adaptability is the superpower 10:30 – #7: Take action—confidence comes from reps, not perfection 11:45 – #8: Learn to say no—and avoid the “VIP curse” 13:00 – #9: Don’t avoid tough conversations (especially as a leader) 14:30 – #10: Your identity isn’t what you do—it’s who you are 15:40 – #11: You’ll regret the chances you didn’t take 16:50 – #12: Travel, live abroad, and widen your worldview 17:55 – Damon’s challenge to listeners: Pick one, apply it this week About Damon Lembi: Damon Lembi is a 2x bestselling author, the host of The Learn-It-All Podcast, and CEO of Learnit – a live learning platform that has upskilled over 2 million people. Drawing from his prior baseball career, Damon brings an athlete’s perspective to leadership. Through his journey, he has gained invaluable insights into what helps organizations grow, how great leaders learn, and why learn-it-all companies outpace their competitors every time. Resources & Mentions: Damon’s book: The Learn-It-All Leader: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZXKR784?ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_4NRSE6WY9TWPASVJZ2H2Gary Ridge’s book: Any Dumb Ass Can Do It: https://a.co/d/hTV9gD0Erin Lewellen and Tilting Futures: https://www.tiltingfutures.org: https://tiltingfutures.org Connect With Us: Uplevel yourself and your team with our trainings: www.learnit.com Email us: [email protected] Follow Damon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damonlembi/ Follow Damon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damonlembi/

Have you ever wondered what it takes to succeed in a high-stakes business? It’s not a simple life. There’s things to gain, but also things to lose. Today’s episode is an incredible cautionary tale for those of you who are building your way to success. In today’s episode, Damon is joined by Butch Meily, former PR strategist to Reginald Lewis, a leveraged buyout dealmaker, and now humanitarian—to discuss his powerful memoir From Manila to Wall Street. In this episode you’ll learn Why proximity to power can be both a blessing and a burden The personal cost of chasing high-level success What business titan Reginald Lewis taught Butch about leadership, identity, and pressure How Butch transitioned from PR executive to global humanitarian Why “ordinary lives” often lead to the deepest happiness And so much more. Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro to Butch Meily 00:29 – The cost of attaching yourself to powerful people 01:30 – Why Butch finally wrote his memoir 02:36 – Who the book is for and how it's structured 03:50 – Butch’s first meeting with Reginald Lewis 05:17 – Reg’s early PR battle and the New York Times story 07:10 – Getting screamed at in a Bentley: Butch’s first ride with Reg 08:49 – The emotional toll of working under constant pressure 10:35 – Life regrets and the wisdom of Barbara Bush 12:10 – Can you have both success and happiness? 14:02 – Leveraged Buyouts 101 + the Beatrice takeover story 18:55 – Where Reg’s courage really came from 20:10 – Reg’s mantra: Keep going no matter what 22:18 – The role of luck and hard work 23:27 – Why America is still the land of opportunity 25:03 – Butch’s “candy cane” vision of America vs. Reg’s experience as a Black man 27:14 – The pressure of being “not a Black success—but an American success” 29:21 – The Hamptons mansion fire: real-life suspense 34:12 – Reg passes away, then Butch’s father dies days later 37:39 – Butch is fired—then brought back by an unexpected new CEO 40:12 – How Loyda Lewis led with grace, faith, and fierce business savvy 42:34 – Would Reg like the book? And why Butch wrote it now 44:36 – Butch’s new life: humanitarian work and startup mentorship 46:01 – Final lesson: why “ordinary” is extraordinary  Resources Mentioned: From Manila to Wall Street by Butch Meily Butch Meily LinkedInButch Meily’s Website Reginald F. Lewis Museum  About the Guest: Butch is the author of the memoir, From Manila to Wall Street – An Immigrant’s Journey With America’s First Black Tycoon. Butch’s current job is President of the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF), a private sector disaster management organization that includes the major business groups in the country.  He helped found PDRF, turning it into a global role model for private sector involvement in calamities. The organization operates the world’s first national private sector Emergency Operations Center. Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT), his parent company, received the 2016 Prince of Wales Business in Community UPS International Disaster Relief Prize for its work in organizing PDRF after Typhoon Ketsana in 2009 and mobilizing it during Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013. Butch has worked in conflict situations in the southern Philippines including a terrorist siege in 2013 and an ISIS-inspired rebellion in 2017. Butch wears several hats. He heads IdeaSpace Foundation, a technology accelerator for early-stage startups, and QBO Innovation Hub, a public private partnership launched to mentor startups. Until December 2020, he served as president of Pacific Global One, an aviation firm affiliated with PLDT. Previously, Butch was First Vice President and Special Assistant to the chairman of PLDT and president of PLDT Smart Foundation.  Prior to joining PLDT, he served as Vice President, Communications for TLC Beatrice International, a food company in New York and Paris and the main subject of his book.  He has worked with several New York public relations firms and a financial startup there. Butch graduated from the Ateneo de Manila University and earned an MA in Journalism and Communications from the University of Florida (UF), becoming the first honors graduate of the program. He returned to UF as a Freedom Forum Distinguished Professor and received a Distinguished Alumnus award and was named to the school’s Hall of Fame. He started but did not finish his MBA at Northwestern University. He has taken writing classes at Grub Street and at New York University’s Continuing Education Program, a long time ago. In 1997, he established a permanent scholarship in his father Joe Meily’s name, at the Ateneo. That same year, he made a small donation to the College of Journalism and Communications at the University of Florida. Connect With Us: Uplevel yo

Mentorship isn’t a box to check or a corporate initiative to roll out. It’s a deeply human exchange that only works when it’s honest, unforced, and rooted in trust.  In today's episode, Damon is joined by Award-winning Researcher, Author and Founder of The Mentor Project, Dr. Deborah Heiser, who is here to challenge everything we think we know about what it means to be a mentor.  In this episode you’ll learn:  The essential ingredients that make mentorship actually work Why most formal mentorship programs fall short Why vulnerability is the often-missing key to meaningful connection How to reframe mentorship if you feel too busy or not “qualified” to be one  Timestamps: 00:01 – Intro to Deborah Heiser and her book The Mentorship Edge 00:17 – The story of Vinny and Fred: how a casual conversation changed a life 05:01 – Deborah’s definition of mentorship through a psychologist’s lens 06:55 – Why mentorship needs trust, intrinsic motivation, and connection 08:30 – What most companies get wrong about mentorship 09:32 – Deborah’s career pivot: From studying depression to studying joy 11:56 – How her nursing home research helped change federal policy on depression 14:33 – The difference between generativity, generosity, and reciprocity 16:11 – Everyday examples of being generative without realizing it 18:35 – Why formal workplace mentorships often backfire 22:07 – A space shuttle story: how lateral mentorship helped save an astronaut 24:39 – What is lateral mentorship, and why it matters 33:31 – The story of the “two Steves” (Jobs & Wozniak) and unsung mentorship 37:00 – How to find mentees: look to your left and your right 38:20 – Why advice only works when it’s built on trust 39:43 – Where to learn more about Deborah’s work  About Deborah: Deborah Heiser, Ph.D., is an applied developmental psychologist, author, and thought leader in mentorship and personal growth. She is the founder and CEO of The Mentor Project, a global nonprofit connecting experts like Nobel laureates and astronauts with mentees to foster innovation and leadership. Her latest book, The Mentorship Edge, launched on November 13, explores the transformative power of mentorship in creating meaningful connections and empowering individuals to thrive at any stage of life. With her work featured in Psychology Today and other leading outlets.  Resources Mentioned: Follow Deborah on LinkedIn Visit Deborah’s website The Mentorship Edge by Deborah Heiser Learn more about Deborah’s The Mentor Project  Deborah’s articles on Psychology Today Erik Erikson’s theory of generativity STS-114 NASA mission Connect with Us: Uplevel yourself and your team with our trainings: www.learnit.com Email us: [email protected] Follow Damon on LinkedIn and Instagram 

What happens when life throws something at you that you didn’t see coming? In this personal solo episode, Damon opens up about a life-altering diagnosis that challenged his vision—both physically and metaphorically.  Whether you're navigating personal challenges or professional setbacks, this episode offers a roadmap to move forward with resilience, community, and purpose. In this episode, you’ll learn: The surprising diagnosis that reshaped Damon’s outlook on leadership and life How to reject the victim mindset and replace it with gratitude The role of community and connection in overcoming struggle How constraints can actually sharpen your leadership and focus What it means to lead by example—especially when life gets hard  Timestamps 00:00 – Damon introduces a personal story about unexpected adversity  00:48 – Early signs something was off—on the tennis and basketball court  01:30 – A trip to the optometrist turns serious  01:55 – Diagnosis: PRPH2, a rare degenerative eye disease  02:35 – Processing the fear, uncertainty, and future ahead  03:00 – The 5-step playbook for facing adversity  03:20 – Step 1: Acceptance—“There is no cure, but I can move forward”  03:50 – Step 2: Refuse the victim mentality—"Why not me?"  04:40 – Step 3: Faith—in family, skills, and what you can control  05:10 – Step 4: Community—why you don’t have to go through it alone  05:55 – Foundation Fighting Blindness and the power of peer groups  06:30 – Step 5: Lead by example—turning constraints into strengths  07:05 – Lessons for his kids and why vulnerability builds strength  07:50 – The final takeaway: adversity is inevitable, but it doesn’t define you  08:10 – Connect with Damon to share or seek support  Resources Mentioned: Foundation Fighting Blindness Connect With Us Uplevel yourself and your team with our trainings: www.learnit.com Email us: [email protected] Follow Damon on LinkedIn 

If you treat LinkedIn like Facebook or Instagram, you are never going to succeed.Most people copy what works on other platforms. They chase likes and shares, and end up with zero traction. But what if the secret to LinkedIn wasn’t more content, but better conversation?In today’s episode, Damon is joined by Richard Bliss, LinkedIn and social selling strategist, bestselling author of DigitalFirst Leadership, and trainer to top sales teams and executives.In this episode, you will learn:Why LinkedIn’s algorithm punishes likes and rewards conversationsThe surprising reason video underperforms—and what to post insteadHow to get your posts in front of key prospects and decision-makersA team-based content strategy that drives real engagementThe five-day comment challenge to boost your visibility by 300%How to use Sales Navigator to find warm leads (not spam strangers)Timestamps: 00:01 – Introduction to Richard Bliss 01:00 – Why LinkedIn isn’t like Instagram or X 06:00 – The algorithm’s secret: comments > likes 09:00 – How to add links without killing your reach 11:00 – Why preview images reduce post engagement 13:00 – Text vs. video: what works best on personal pages 18:00 – The 3 myths execs believe about LinkedIn 20:00 – How CEOs can lead in just 10 minutes a day 27:00 – Why commenting beats cold outreach 30:00 – The pre-conference strategy that boosted real-world sales 35:00 – Where new reps should start on LinkedIn 36:00 – Richard’s 5-day challenge for 300% more profile views 39:00 – Purpose-driven content and prospecting 41:00 – The “Hero Post” framework for team-wide visibility 48:00 – How to use Sales Navigator to uncover warm leads fastResources Mentioned in This Episode:Richard Bliss LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bliss/Digital-First Leadership by Richard Bliss Richard Bliss’ Website  2024 LinkedIn Algorithm Report by Richard van der BlomAbout the Guest:Richard Bliss is a LinkedIn expert, social selling strategist and trainer, and author of Digital-First Leadership.  He is the founder and president of BlissPoint, a social media consulting company that helps improve executives' online communications and sales teams' social selling behaviors.Connect With Us:Uplevel your team’s learning: www.learnit.com  Contact us: [email protected] Follow Damon on LinkedIn and Instagram

There’s often a gap between what school teaches and what real life demands. Jason Weiss found that to be true for becoming a lawyer. Now, after 25 years in the legal world, he shares the practical, hard-earned lessons that apply to anyone trying to succeed in a high-pressure, people-driven profession. Whether you’re a lawyer, leader, or someone simply figuring out how to show up fully in your work, this episode is a masterclass in resilience, communication, and redefining success on your own terms. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why “the practice of law” never really ends How to recover from losses and develop thicker skin What not to do when giving or receiving professional advice How to pick clients (and when to walk away) Why communication and follow-up might be your most valuable assets The surprising ways AI and legal tech can (and can’t) help When to rethink your entire career and how to do it responsibly Timestamps: 00:16 – Jason’s post-law school “welcome to reality” moment 01:38 – First win in court and the difference real-world law makes 02:57 – Why law is a “practice” (and not an exact science) 03:58 – How a judge’s mood can influence your case 04:20 – Jason’s book: The Sht They Never Taught You in Law School* 05:54 – Universal skills: follow-up, integrity, and knowing your values 08:52 – Law school theory vs. real-world advocacy 11:25 – What happens when you lose and have to face the client 13:46 – Learning who not to work with as a lawyer (and business owner) 15:59 – The $60K mistake Jason made with a client—and what he learned 19:06 – Common misconceptions non-lawyers have about lawyers 21:25 – The power of saying “I don’t know”—and circling back 24:43 – Clients today expect instant clarity: managing modern expectations 25:55 – Thick skin, self-care, and knowing when not to take it personally 28:06 – Continuous learning, CLEs, and the role of AI in law 30:49 – Batman’s utility belt: how Jason views AI as a legal tool 33:43 – Worst professional advice Jason ever received 36:29 – Honesty, mistakes, and always having a plan of action 37:07 – Advice for those considering law school 38:35 – Why some lawyers are miserable—and how coaching can help 42:26 – What coaching is (and isn’t) supposed to do 44:23 – Finding motivation 25 years into the legal grind 45:35 – Why showing up is more powerful than talent 47:02 – You don’t have to respond instantly—just communicate well 47:46 – What Jason has doubled down on since writing his book 49:24 – Final advice for aspiring or struggling lawyers 50:14 – Where to find Jason online About Jason: Jason S. Weiss is a litigator who handles all aspects of business and commercial litigation. He has dealt with matters involving breach of contract, tortious interference with business relationships, title, property, non-compete clauses, commercial and residential landlord tenant matters, elder abuse, partnership disputes, trade secrets, RICO claims, fraud, real estate litigation, consumer protection, American’s with Disabilities litigation, tenant/landlord matters, medical marijuana litigation, personal injury and other various business related lawsuits. He was recently appointed as a Board Member of Benefits Specialist Inc. and voted President of Leadership Coral Springs Class of 2011. Jason is also a former adjunct professor of Sports Law at Nova Southeastern School of Law, a former adjunct professor of the graduate level course Sports Law at St. Thomas University and a former judge for the Broward County Teen Court Program. Jason has extensive sports and entertainment law experience, including representing professional football, baseball, and soccer players, personal management companies, rappers, bands, radio personalities, mixed martial arts fighters, chefs, agents, boxers, actors, writers and models. Jason has also negotiated, drafted and litigated recorded music and video deals, distribution agreements, publishing agreements, production agreements, employment contracts and endorsement deals for athletes, entertainers, musicians, chefs and agents. He serves as a legal advisor to professional athletes, performers and entertainers in all aspects of their professional and personal activities. Jason has been selected by Super Lawyer magazine as a Rising Star in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Resources & Mentions: - Jason’s Book: The Sh*t They Never Taught You in Law School : https://www.amazon.com/hit-They-Never-Taught-School/dp/1955242887 - Follow Jason on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jason-s-weiss - Follow Jason on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/askjasonweiss/ Connect With Us: Uplevel your team’s learning: www.learnit.com Contact us: [email protected] Follow Damon on LinkedIn and Instagram

Have you ever stayed too long at a job, on a project, or even a relationship just because you already put so much into it? That’s the “Sunk Cost” fallacy at work. And it can quietly sabotage smart leaders, strong companies, and promising futures. In this solo episode, Damon unpacks how this psychological trap nearly cost his company half a million dollars and what finally gave him the clarity and courage to walk away. In this episode, you’ll learn: What the sunk cost fallacy really is (and how it shows up at work and in life) The project that taught Damon a $500K lesson Why walking away from the project freed Learnit to build something better How to overcome ego, pride, and emotional attachment A 5-step framework to help you know when to pull the plug The surprising office building decision that proved Damon had learned the lesson Timestamps: 00:00 – What is the sunk cost fallacy (and how it traps us) 01:00 – The $500K LMS mistake: why Damon didn’t walk away—until he had to 02:30 – Making the call: pulling the plug and letting the COO go 03:00 – Why it freed up time, money, and momentum to rebuild smarter 03:30 – Step 1: Name it—call the project or decision what it really is 03:45 – Step 2: Stop throwing good after bad 04:00 – Step 3: Put your pride in check and ditch the ego 04:20 – Step 4: Create a “go or no-go” line for any project 04:40 – Step 5: Pressure test with your team—would you start over again? 05:00 – Reframe your thinking: what do you gain by pivoting? 05:30 – Real estate edition: the office building they never moved into 06:15 – Final takeaway: tough decisions are the sign of a wise leader About Damon Lembi: Damon Lembi is a 2x bestselling author, the host of The Learn-It-All Podcast, and CEO of Learnit – a live learning platform that has upskilled over 2 million people. Drawing from his prior baseball career, Damon brings an athlete’s perspective to leadership. Through his journey, he has gained invaluable insights into what helps organizations grow, how great leaders learn, and why learn-it-all companies outpace their competitors every time. Resources & Mentions: Uplevel yourself and your team with our trainings: www.learnit.com Email us: [email protected] Follow Damon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damonlembi/ Follow Damon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damonlembi/

70% of college seniors with student debt say looming repayments will impact their career plans.The average graduate and oftentimes, their parents will endure 17 to 20 years of loan payments in efforts to become free from student debt. Our emerging workforce will comprise 75% of the workforce by 2025 making student debt a majority issue. Student debt isn’t just a financial burden, but it’s one of the biggest barriers to wealth creation in the modern workforce.In this episode, we’re joined by Laurel Taylor, founder and CEO of Candidly, to explore how addressing student debt is no longer optional. Laurel shares how her personal journey with debt led to a mission that’s already wiped out nearly $2 billion in liability and opened new pathways to first-time wealth.In This Episode You’ll Learn:Why student debt is now a business issue, not just a personal oneHow shame around debt stops employees from engaging in benefitsThe ROI companies are seeing when they address financial stressHow Candidly helps employers reduce turnover by up to 76%Laurel’s philosophy on risk, resilience, and the real cost of prideWhat it means to lead during wartime—and how her team stays agileHow AI is powering the next phase of financial wellnessTimestamps:00:00 – Laurel’s personal student debt story 01:28 – Why she founded Candidly 03:24 – The shame around student debt—and how it affects families 05:33 – Why debt is a workplace issue and not just a personal one 06:54 – What employers are missing in their benefits stack 07:46 – The staggering ROI of Candidly’s solution for employers 09:44 – Tax-free employer contributions and new retirement match rules 11:57 – How the sales cycle for Candidly evolved from 2016 to today 13:32 – Distribution through major financial services firms 15:01 – Laurel’s story of quitting Dell after one day 17:53 – “I have nothing to lose but my pride”: Laurel’s mindset shift 19:52 – How loss shaped Laurel’s perspective and mission 23:07 – Her framework for overcoming fear and taking risks 27:16 – Leading through chaos: student loan reform and AI adoption 29:40 – The real-time complexity of student loan programs 31:10 – Wartime CEO: how her team thrives through rapid change 32:36 – A three-week offsite to prototype AI-powered personalization 34:41 – Candidly’s next wave: AI + wealth creation at scale 36:47 – How to run a purposeful, high-impact team retreat 39:04 – Why ignoring student debt is no longer an option for CEOs 41:51 – Student debt and the retirement gap 42:56 – Candidly’s mission for the next decade: from debt to wealthAbout Laurel:Laurel Taylor is the CEO and Founder of Candidly. Laurel previously led a global business unit at Google and holds her MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with an undergraduate degree from Texas State University.  Laurel has experienced, first hand, the impact of missing out on two decades of compounding interest on wealth while paying down debt, between she and her highly educated mother. Thus, her path and purpose to solve the student debt, savings, and retirement savings crisis was born. As the market-leader, Candidly has generated over $1.2B of student debt impact as a workplace benefit, serving thousands of employers with an average population of 22,500 employees, distributed by the largest financial services companies in the world.Resources & Mentions:Learn more about Candidly: https://getcandidly.comConnect with Laurel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ltmit/ Secure 2.0 Act info: https://www.usbank.com/retirement-planning/financial-perspectives/saving-for-retirement-secure-act.html#:~:text=The%20SECURE%202.0%20Act%20mandates,basis%20to%20a%20Roth%20accountConnect With Us:Uplevel yourself and your team with our trainings: www.learnit.com Email us: [email protected] Follow Damon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damonlembi/ Follow Damon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damonlembi/

What happens when your lifelong career ends overnight? Most people panic. Steve Delsohn got to work. After 16 years at ESPN, multiple journalism awards, and a career-defining body of investigative work, Steve found himself laid off, just one day after winning two prestigious honors. In this episode, Steve opens up about the emotional and professional toll of being let go, how he transitioned into the world of PR without sacrificing his values, and why saying “no” to big opportunities is sometimes the most powerful move you can make. Whether you're facing a layoff, rethinking your next move, or trying to lead with more integrity, this conversation is a masterclass in reinvention, resilience, and doing meaningful work. In this episode, you’ll learn: How Steve went from journalism to building a purpose-driven PR firm The secret to pitching powerful stories that get noticed How to ask better questions (for interviews or leadership) What sports journalism taught him about truth, ethics, and standing firm Why networking is your greatest career asset His best advice for anyone transitioning careers Timestamps: 00:20 – Winning two awards… then getting laid off the next day  03:40 – The identity crisis after leaving ESPN  05:04 – Grieving the loss of a career you loved  07:45 – Ageism, niche jobs, and what really blocked new opportunities  09:39 – The almost-job at a PR firm repping Harvey Weinstein  11:42 – Launching Delsohn Strategies  12:19 – The ethical line Steve refuses to cross in business  14:22 – Why he turned down work with Daniel Snyder  16:01 – Where Steve’s values came from—and why he won’t compromise  18:06 – The biggest transferable skill from journalism to PR  20:55 – How Steve builds trust with high-profile clients  22:43 – The art of asking the right question  24:11 – What interviewers and leaders can learn from Joe Paterno  27:42 – Steve’s first book deal with John Matuszak  28:50 – The wild inside stories of Emmitt Smith and Jerry Jones  31:15 – Co-authoring a book about Sam Kinison  32:34 – How Steve prepared for investigative stories on giants like Penn State and UNC  36:18 – Stories of institutional betrayal and survivor justice  39:18 – Social media, journalism, and the danger of speed over truth  41:07 – Did he ever regret a published story?  42:05 – The Joe Paterno text message Steve caught on camera  47:14 – Advice for having difficult conversations  48:51 – Who Steve will and won’t work with at his PR firm  50:43 – Purpose, values, and building a client roster you’re proud of  51:02 – The underestimated power of networking  54:02 – Is he happier now than at ESPN?  About Steve: During his 30-plus years in journalism and communications, Steve Delsohn has built a national reputation as a network television reporter, nonfiction author, documentary producer, and strategic communications consultant.  Steve worked 16 years as an investigative reporter for ESPN TV’s Outside the Lines, the news magazine show which examines substantial issues in the sports world.  In 2013 he won a Peabody Award for a story on the concussion crisis in the NFL.  In 2009 he earned an EMMY nomination for a story on Joe Paterno’s morally-decaying Penn State football program.  He did other high-profile investigations of improper medical care in high school football; the dangers of 15-seat passenger vans which transport small-college athletes;  the academic fraud scandal at the University of North Carolina; corruption in the youth football helmet industry;  a college football coach who sold meth on the side;  and a female teenage athlete sexually assaulted while competing against boys during a high school water polo game. Steve has written 12 nonfiction books, including The Fire Inside, an oral history of American firefighters which inspired a History Channel documentary (Into the Fire) and was used as source material for the fictional film Ladder 49.   He has also written or co-written books on John Wayne, Bobby Knight, Sam Kinison, Emmitt Smith, Jim Brown, Notre Dame football, the 1985 Chicago Bears, the Los Angeles Dodgers and USC football.  He has co-produced one documentary on college basketball (Guru of Go) for ESPN’s esteemed 30 for 30 series, and the aforementioned documentary on firefighters for History Channel. Steve is a native of Chicago now living just outside Los Angeles.  His passions are reading, fitness, movies, politics...and above all his wife and three children. Resources & Mentions: Steve Delsohn’s PR Firm: https://www.delsohn.com/  Follow Steve on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/delsohnstrategies/  Cruisin’ with the Tooz by Steve Delsohn and John Matuszak: https://a.co/d/iBShV4M Jim Bro

When host Damon Lembi quit drinking, it had nothing to do with hitting rock bottom. Instead, it had everything to do with the future he wanted to create. In this episode, you’ll learn:Why Damon gave up alcohol (without hitting a dramatic low)The moment he realized he wasn’t showing up as the person he wanted to beA 5-step framework for making lasting change in your lifeHow to handle discomfort in social situations after a big changeWhat life felt like two weeks, two months, and nine years after quittingHow letting go of one habit helped Damon become a sharper leader, father, and authorTimestamps:00:00 – Damon’s personal story: why he quit drinking without a rock-bottom moment01:00 – The role alcohol played in his personal, professional, and social life02:00 – The turning point: noticing the impact on his health, energy, and finances03:00 – Reflecting on family: longevity, legacy, and leadership04:00 – Step 1: Get curious—books, conversations, and quiet exploration04:50 – Step 2: Journal—getting fears and hopes onto the page05:30 – Step 3: Tell someone—why accountability changed everything06:00 – Step 4: Commit—picking a date and making it real06:45 – Early challenges: awkward parties, AA meetings, and finding his own path07:50 – Step 5: Lean into discomfort—navigating social pressure and anxiety08:45 – What changed: sleep, clarity, confidence, and sharper decision-making09:30 – Why alcohol used to be a coping mechanism—and how Damon replaced it10:00 – The long-term impact on his career, health, and creativity10:45 – A final challenge for listeners: what’s holding you back?Connect With Us:Uplevel yourself and your team with our trainings: www.learnit.com Email us: [email protected] Follow Damon on LinkedIn and Instagram 

Business-to-business commerce is broken. Today’s customers find themselves overwhelmed by too many options, too much information, and too many obstacles. The result is often an inability to execute any but the safest of purchase decisions, frequently resulting in no decision at all.  Today’s guest is Brent Adamson, he’s a world-renowned researcher, author, presenter, trainer, and advisor to B2B commercial executives around the world. He’s here to argue that the real key to B2B sales success is to focus on boosting customers’ confidence in themselves and their ability to make large-scale, collective decisions on behalf of their company rather than sticking with how traditional sales have worked. In this episode, you will learn: Why sales success hinges on buyer self-confidence, not seller expertise How “frame making” helps reduce decision friction in complex buying groups What to do when content marketing becomes part of the customer’s confusion How emotional calibration can humanize your pitch and build trust faster How to coach customers through their own internal process using a simple audit Timestamps: 00:16 – The surprising origins of The Challenger Sale  01:30 – Why segmentation research gave way to selling insights  02:51 – The seller crushing quota in the middle of a recession  05:07 – How Neil Rackham predicted Challenger’s longevity  06:21 – Pushback: “Relationships still matter!”  08:12 – From product to solution to insight as the competitive edge  10:18 – Why leading with “you’re selling wrong” fails  11:20 – Framing the shift: Selling must evolve because buying has  12:46 – The rise of buyer indecision in a world drowning in content  15:06 – “Smartness arms race” and the downfall of content overload  16:05 – 20-person buying groups that don’t know how to decide  17:38 – Why decision fatigue is killing commerce  20:30 – The real opportunity: Making buyers confident in themselves  21:55 – Coach vs. expert: The power of preserving buyer agency  24:35 – How younger or newer sellers can still bring massive value  25:58 – Use this phrase to add instant credibility as a new seller  26:09 – Playing the role of connector, not expert  29:08 – Personalizing outreach through social proof and curation  30:05 – Adding subtle emotional language to increase engagement  33:41 – The Frame Making model: Establish, Engage, Execute  36:11 – “It turns out that…” audit: Avoiding surprise buyer stalls  38:26 – Build a customer-facing “sequence of events” map  40:15 – Expedient’s frame making mindset: Win by helping customers decide faster  42:26 – “If we’re going to lose, let’s lose early”  44:00 – The most powerful thing a customer can feel after a sales call  45:56 – Teaching empathy through language and emotional calibration  49:45 – Hypothesis-led empathy: How to learn what customers feel  51:18 – The overlooked ROI of solving for what customers feel Resources Mentioned: Buy The Frame Making Sale: https://www.amazon.com/Framemaking-Sale-Boosting-Customer-Confidence/dp/1541705823/ HBR article on the Sense Making for Sales: https://hbr.org/2022/01/sensemaking-for-salesFollow Brent on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brentadamson/ Watch Brent’s Frame Making Sale YouTube series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HKcZiOSrso  Connect with Us: Uplevel yourself and your team with our trainings: www.learnit.com Email us: [email protected] Follow Damon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damonlembi/ Follow Damon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damonlembi/ 

“73% of customers say experience is a key factor in their purchasing decisions just behind price and product quality,” according to a report from PwC. Customer experience is no longer just a support function of your business... it’s a leadership strategy. In this episode, we’re joined by Van Battle, a seasoned customer experience leader who has first hand experience on how it can improve a company’s success based on his career working with brands like Jamba Juice, Urban Remedy, and The Sharper Image.  In this episode you will learn: The real difference between customer service and customer experience How to turn your support team into your company’s most strategic asset Why empathy is a leadership skill How “minor league” development programs can retain top talent What most companies get wrong when using AI in customer experience How to empower reps to resolve issues without escalating every time What leaders must do to instill a culture of ownership Timestamps: 00:16 – Leading through stewardship: what it looks like  01:09 – Lessons from the restaurant world: empathy starts on the frontlines  03:26 – The invisible value of busboys and call center reps  05:18 – Why Van sends reps into stores and orders their own products  06:58 – Customer service vs. customer experience  08:46 – Anticipating issues before they happen  10:23 – Turning reps into “insight engines”  12:32 – Avoiding burnout: how to distribute workload fairly  13:40 – Baseball, development, and team balance  14:57 – The “minor league program” for career growth  17:11 – Upskilling with Learnit: real examples that worked  19:03 – Creating a culture of learning and mobility  20:04 – Training teams to own the resolution  22:45 – Building confidence through empowerment  23:39 – When the customer isn’t right—and how to respond  25:22 – Tracking patterns to prevent abuse  26:52 – Balancing trust between customer and employee  29:36 – How to turn customer data into internal action  32:01 – Getting specific: “friendly” means what exactly?  33:18 – How customer expectations have evolved  35:52 – Humanizing digital experiences in a tech-first world  37:49 – What Southwest’s shift says about customer loyalty  39:14 – What AI should never replace  41:04 – Will AI replace frontline workers?  42:47 – Van’s biggest leadership lesson about customer experience  Resources & Mentions: Follow Van on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vancbattlejr/  Urban Remedy: https://urbanremedy.com/  Jamba Juice: https://www.jamba.com/  Connect With Us: Website: www.learnit.com Email: [email protected] Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for show updates 

We’ve all paid the price of believing in someone who let us down. But what if that “cost” isn’t a failure, but it’s a necessary for greater connection, creativity, and leadership? It's a mindset shift for leaders who want to build stronger teams, healthier relationships, and resilient organizations.  If you’ve ever been burned by someone at work or in life, this one’s for you. In this episode, you’ll learn: What the “Trust Tax” is and why you should choose to pay it The four-part framework to lead with trust (without getting walked on) How trust impacts culture, growth, and emotional energy Simple mindset shifts to reframe betrayal into progress Real-world ways to lead with belief in work, parenting, and friendship Timestamps: 00:00 – Why trust gets broken—and why Damon still believes in it  01:10 – The story of betrayal that inspired the Trust Tax concept  02:40 – “I just paid for my own betrayal” — the personal and professional fallout  03:20 – What is the Trust Tax?  03:56 – Why leading from control doesn’t work  04:30 – Trust builds stronger teams, belonging, and creativity  05:05 – The 4-step Trust Tax Playbook begins  05:10 – Step 1: Trust First – Why Damon chooses to lead with trust by default  05:48 – Step 2: Trust Smart – Awareness without cynicism  06:28 – Step 3: Reframe the Cost – Learning from letdowns without shutting down  07:10 – Step 4: Lead by Identity – Becoming someone who trusts and grows  08:00 – Real-life ways to apply this in parenting, leadership, and friendship  08:50 – Emotional regulation: labeling feelings to reduce their intensity  09:30 – Reframing betrayal as a leadership learning moment  10:15 – Final Challenge: Choose to trust someone this week, even if it’s risky About Damon Lembi:   Damon Lembi is a 2x bestselling author, the host of The Learn-It-All Podcast, and CEO of Learnit – a live learning platform that has upskilled over 2 million people. Drawing from his prior baseball career, Damon brings an athlete’s perspective to leadership. Through his journey, he has gained invaluable insights into what helps organizations grow, how great leaders learn, and why learn-it-all companies outpace their competitors every time.   Connect With Us: Upskill yourself or your team: www.learnit.com Email us: [email protected] Follow Damon on LinkedIn for more leadership insights 

Sales is not just about closing deals. Leadership and sales are, at their core, both about helping people achieve what they didn’t think was possible. But in order to effectively help people, you need to master the skill of sales. In this episode, we’re joined by Mark Hunter, renowned sales strategist, speaker and author known as The Sales Hunter, to explore the timeless overlap between selling and leading.  In this episode you will learn: Why trust is the foundation of every sale (and how to build it) How discovery calls are being misused (and what to do instead) The connection between value, risk, and decision-making Tips for prospecting in the AI era The three most important assets every sales professional should protect How great leaders show up for their people  Timestamps: 00:16 – Sales and leadership: Eisenhower's D-Day message 01:50 – The real purpose of the discovery call 03:57 – Authenticity over slide decks 04:52 – Will AI replace salespeople? 06:28 – Risk, value, and the importance of trust 07:38 – How trust combats indecision 09:15 – Mapping customer problems upstream and downstream 10:41 – Selling with insight into your customer’s customer 11:33 – Using AI to personalize sales outreach 13:41 – Tips for expanding access to stakeholders 16:10 – Happy talkers vs. true decision makers 18:04 – The role of social media and personal brand equity in sales 19:24 – Why every rep needs a personal brand 21:24 – How to build content discipline in B2B sales 22:24 – Great leadership traits in sales managers 24:44 – Leading with integrity and taking ownership 28:06 – The leadership lesson that shaped Mark’s career 31:56 – Supporting reps during tough quarters 33:00 – Time: your most valuable asset 33:46 – Mark’s 3 most important career assets: time, mind, and network 35:16 – Diversifying your network like an investment portfolio 37:29 – Can virtual onboarding work for sales reps? 39:44 – Simple KPIs: Mark’s “5 conversations” rule 41:10 – Why sales is a lifestyle, not a job 42:47 – The importance of continuous learning 44:25 – Charlie Munger’s mindset on lifelong learning 44:37 – Final takeaway: why you owe it to prospects to reach out Resources & Mentions: The Sales Hunter Website: https://www.thesaleshunter.com/  The Sales Hunter Podcast: https://thesaleshunter.com/podcast/  Sales Logic Podcast: https://www.saleslogicpodcast.com/  Follow Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markhunter  Connect With Us: Uplevel yourself and your team with our trainings: www.learnit.com    Email us: [email protected]   Follow Damon on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates! 

Success is an extremely misunderstood word. If you lack the self-awareness of why you do what you do, it won’t matter how much money you are making on paper. This lack of awareness can prevent you from performing at your best, but that’s what we’re here to solve today. Today’s guest is JM Ryerson. He’s a serial entrepreneur, performance coach, author and the founder of Let’s Go Win, a company dedicated to helping high performers live their best lives both personally and professionally. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: How to reshape your view on success and failure When to let go of a goal without seeing it as quitting What every first-time leader needs to hear about imposter syndrome How to define and embed powerful core values at work and at home And so much more Timestamps:  00:26 – JM’s limiting belief around money and how he rewrote it  03:16 – Costly mistakes and the power of self-awareness  05:05 – Learning from failures and helping others avoid “dummy tax”  06:06 – Letting go of expectations and five-year plans  07:34 – When it’s okay to pivot or quit a goal  09:16 – Losing sports identity and discovering personal growth  11:18 – JM’s journey from Enterprise to entrepreneurship  12:58 – Writing Let’s Go Win inspired by his kids  14:25 – The true philosophy behind “winning”  16:32 – Sports, parenting, and teaching kids resilience  20:51 – Parallels between parenting and leading teams  22:56 – Defining and living your company’s core values  27:18 – The three essential leadership traits JM lives by  29:15 – Radical transparency and where JM draws the line  31:09 – Vulnerability vs. weakness in leadership  33:26 – Advice for first-time leaders on being authentic  35:20 – Overcoming imposter syndrome by shifting focus  37:16 – Why putting people first drives business growth  38:45 – JM’s “Perfect Morning Routine” (33 minutes to change your day)  40:17 – How to build consistency with daily habits  42:13 – Creating your own luck through mindset and awareness  44:37 – JM’s legacy: presence, love, and showing up for his family  46:17 – Final advice: “Take care of YOU first” Resources Mentioned: JM’s book “Let’s Go Win”  JM’s Website: https://www.letsgowin.com JM on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letsgowin365  JM on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jm-ryerson/ Let’s Go Win Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-go-win-podcast/id1517669567  Wim Hof (Breathwork Guide) - https://www.wimhofmethod.com/  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tybOi4hjZFQ Atomic Habits by James Clear - https://www.amazon.com/dp/0735211299  The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg - https://www.amazon.com/dp/081298160X  How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie - https://www.amazon.com/dp/0671027034  Principles by Ray Dalio - https://www.amazon.com/dp/1501124021  Contact Us: Uplevel yourself and your team with our trainings: www.learnit.com    Email us: [email protected]   Follow Damon on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates! 

The secret to making your team more engaged, more productive and far less likely to leave? Intentional and focused 1 on 1 meetings. Today’s guest learned this lesson the hard way.  Brendan Rogers is a leadership coach who used to believe that great teams were built through occasional team meetings and annual performance reviews. But when the world went remote during the pandemic? He was surprised to realize that without consistent, structured one-on-one conversations, leaders lose control, performance drops, and teams fall apart. If you’re a leader who wants to elevate your team’s performance without micromanaging, this episode is packed with actionable insights.In This Episode, You’ll Learn:Why one-on-one meetings are the foundation of high-performing teamsThe three essential questions every leader should ask in weekly check-insHow canceling one-on-ones destroys trust and moraleThe right way to give and receive feedback to foster growthHow to run effective team meetings that drive action instead of wasting timeTimestamps:00:01 – Introduction to Brendan Rogers 00:25 – Why leaders must invest deliberate time in their employees 02:40 – The moment Brendan realized one-on-one meetings change everything 05:48 – How COVID forced leaders to rethink employee engagement 06:22 – The myth that structure kills creativity (it actually fuels it) 09:06 – Brendan’s three-step framework for effective one-on-ones 12:30 – Should feedback happen in one-on-one meetings or separately? 16:13 – The damaging effect of constantly canceling one-on-one meetings 19:21 – How leaders can get better at giving and receiving feedback 22:14 – Why modeling how you receive feedback matters as a leader 26:44 – The simple act of following up on feedback to build trust 31:33 – A small but powerful piece of feedback that changed Brendan’s career 34:05 – The number one roadblock stopping leaders from scaling their teams 36:39 – How to get better at saying no as a leader 39:51 – How to increase performance in a team setting beyond one-on-ones 43:45 – Why great leaders aren’t born—they’re designed 46:57 – Final advice: There’s always a better way to leadResources Mentioned in This Episode:Brendan Rogers’ website: LeaderByDesign.auLeader by Design Podcast: https://podcast.leaderbydesign.au/ Follow Brendan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bjrogers01/ Cultural Leadership Podcast: https://podcast.thecultureofleadership.com/ Gallup Study on One-on-One Meetings: https://news.gallup.com/businessjournal/174197/managers-focus-performance-engagement.aspxThe Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni: https://a.co/d/5a5Q8UG Podcast Contact Information:Uplevel yourself and your team with our trainings: www.learnit.com    Email us: [email protected]   Follow Damon on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates! 

In a world that’s accelerating towards AI & automation, what sets us apart isn’t speed or scale, it’s creativity.  The biggest myth we’re here to dispel is that creativity is only for artists. That’s a lie. In today’s episode, we’re joined by MaryLou Kayser, who has spent the last 30 years as a coach, speaker and thought leader around the power of creativity. What You’ll Learn in This Episode Why creativity is not just “artists” How to build up your creativity through daily practices How to practically step out of your comfort zone How to use AI ethically and powerfully as a creative partner The “playing your position” framework that helps you improve your life Timestamps & Topics 00:01 – Introduction to MaryLou Kayser  00:24 – Debunking the myth “I’m not creative”  02:03 – Why creativity is what makes us human  05:24 – MaryLou’s “Holy Hour” morning practice  07:47 – Building trust in yourself through routine  09:09 – The evolution of self-trust over time  11:03 – Owning your mistakes as a form of authenticity  12:26 – Comfort zones, courage, and small experiments  14:56 – 30-day writing exercise to rewire your brain  19:06 – AI as fire: dangerous if misused, transformative if harnessed  22:55 – Addressing writer fear around AI  25:09 – How to compare AI-generated work to your own  27:16 – Using AI as a co-writer, not a ghostwriter  30:18 – Story: Helping her nephew write with his own voice using AI  32:13 – Learning to ask AI better questions  33:43 – Is AI a tool or a thought partner?  36:18 – What is personal agency and why it’s eroding  38:50 – A personal story: what MaryLou gave away  41:15 – The meaning behind “Play Your Position”  44:23 – 11 years of podcasting: how it shaped her growth  47:44 – Defining legacy and what truly matters  50:45 – Final thoughts: Believe in yourself, you matter Resources Mentioned Website: maryloukayser.com Play Your Position Podcast – Listen Here MaryLou on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlkayser/ ChatGPT by OpenAI – https://chat.openai.com Claude by Anthropic – https://claude.ai Gemini by Google – https://deepmind.google/technologies/gemini  Podcast Contact Information: Website: www.learnit.com    Email: [email protected]   Follow Damon on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates. 

Research shows that high-performing sales teams drive up to 80% of a company’s revenue (Harvard Business Review). Yet most teams are flying blind and relying on outdated sales plans, inconsistent outreach, and a lack of new leads for their business. pipelines. In this episode, we’re joined by author and leading expert in B2B sales coaching, Mark Cox. Whether you're new to sales or a seasoned sales leader, Mark offers invaluable insights and practical tools to help you master the art of selling in today's world.  In this episode, you’ll learn: Why great salespeople are made, not born The four (plus one) elements of a high-impact sales playbook Why discovery is the most underrated stage in sales How to avoid the “cycle of doom” in demand gen When to reassess your value prop and how to find your competitive edge Why promoting your top seller might kill your team if you’re not careful Timestamps: 00:01 – Intro to Mark Cox  00:15 – Are salespeople born or made? (Hint: It’s a skill)  01:21 – Reigniting a love for learning through an Executive MBA  03:35 – Why senior leaders often stop learning  05:29 – What inspired Learn to Love Selling  06:58 – Who the book is for  07:34 – Why most sales plans gather dust  08:55 – The 4 Core Elements of a Sales Playbook  12:23 – The “fifth” element: Awareness campaigns  13:44 – What makes a value prop terrible (and how to fix it)  15:29 – How often should you reassess your value prop?  18:09 – What makes In the Funnel different?  20:02 – Ask your clients for your differentiation  22:48 – Client interviews as a learning tool  24:58 – Demand Gen: The “X-Factor” skill in B2B sales  27:58 – Ranking modern demand gen tools: phone, email, LinkedIn  31:54 – The “hat trick” approach to outreach  34:12 – Working conferences like a pro  38:26 – Discovery meetings: the most important sales phase  43:36 – Why discovery never ends  45:44 – Helping sales reps kill zombie deals  49:23 – The 3 key stakeholders of a sales leader  51:49 – Coaching vs. Telling: What great leaders do differently  54:54 – Avoiding the “hero” trap as a new manager  58:49 – Should you promote your top rep to sales manager?  01:01:59 – What makes a great sales leader  01:04:20 – Closing thoughts & where to find Mark Resources Mentioned: Book: Learn to Love Selling by Mark Cox Website: In the Funnel LinkedIn: Connect with Mark Cox Book: Mindset by Carol Dweck Book: Social Selling by Tim Hughes Book: Multipliers by Liz Wiseman Book: The Speed of Trust by Stephen M.R. Covey  Connect with the Show: Email: [email protected] Website: learnit.com Follow Us: LinkedIn & Instagram 

Most leaders follow the rules. Hitting their targets, meeting expectations, and settling into a rhythm. But uncommon leaders refuse to stay comfortable. Leadership has very little to do with your title or authority. Instead it’s about creating influence, discipline, and the willingness to step outside of your comfort zone if you truly want to be a better leader. In today’s episode, we’re joined by John Gallagher, an executive coach, performance consultant, and trusted advisor to some of the world’s most prestigious organizations. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why intentional leadership is the key to long-term impactThe three-step framework to inspire real change in yourself and othersHow to raise the average of the people you surround yourself withWhy discipline matters more than motivationThe 47-minute rule for peak productivity and focusHow to balance faith and leadership without preachingTimestamps:00:01 – Introduction to John Gallagher and his leadership philosophy 01:01 – The greatest story ever told: How leaders make an impact 03:13 – What makes leadership uncommon? 05:07 – The dangers of thinking you have it all figured out 06:27 – Raising the average: Why your environment dictates your success 08:14 – Getting out of your comfort zone to level up as a leader 11:16 – How to hold yourself accountable and maintain discipline 14:18 – Why some leaders struggle to change—and how to overcome it 19:51 – The three-step framework for inspiring lasting change 22:40 – Why most people struggle with consistency 24:53 – The power of discipline and daily habits 26:39 – How to improve your sleep for better performance 30:51 – Practical advice for avoiding distractions and time-wasting 33:16 – The myth of multitasking and how to reclaim your time 37:27 – The 47-minute rule: A game-changer for productivity 40:19 – Why treating every team member the same way is a mistake 42:01 – The role of AI in leadership (and why soft skills matter more than ever) 44:20 – How faith influences John’s leadership approach 48:57 – How to ensure your name gets written on the listResources Mentioned:John Gallagher’s website: CoachJohnGallagher.comThe Uncommon Leader Podcast – Listen hereBook Recommendation: The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team – Amazon LinkJohn Gallagher on LinkedIn – Follow HereContact John for Coaching – Schedule a CallPodcast Contact Information:Website: www.learnit.com   Email: [email protected]  Follow Damon on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates. 

11 Skills AI Will Never Replace: Skill #11 Learning Agility Welcome to The Learn-It-All Podcast’s 11 Skills AI Will Never Replace-- our 11-part special series exploring the essential human skills that AI cannot replicate. With the start of the new year, we’re all facing unprecedented technological disruption and workplace transformation. To help you thrive in this new landscape, we’ve leveraged a study from MuchSkills that analyzed data from 28,000 professionals to identify the capabilities that will make you irreplaceable in an AI-enhanced workplace.     Each week, we’ll take a deep dive into one critical skill, providing you with actionable strategies, expert insights, and Learnit’s proprietary frameworks to future-proof your career. This series isn't just about adapting to change – it's about mastering the unique human abilities that will define leadership success in the age of AI.     Learning Agility Makes Your Career Future-Proof Are you and your team ready to thrive in a world where AI accelerates everything but can't replace the most essential human skills?    In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, the ability to continuously adapt, learn, and grow has never been more crucial for success. But how can you cultivate this skill in yourself and your organization?   In this final episode of the 11 Skills AI Will Never Replace series, host Damon Lembi is joined again by Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins, Learnit's top-ranked facilitator and leadership expert, to explore learning agility - potentially the most important skill for today's professionals. They share personal experiences, practical strategies, and insights on how individuals and organizations can develop a culture that prioritizes continuous learning. From scheduling dedicated learning time to embracing failure as a growth opportunity, this conversation offers actionable advice for leaders looking to create resilient, adaptable teams ready to navigate constant change. This Episode Covers: Why cutting learning and development budgets during tough economic times puts organizations at severe risk. How to identify candidates with learning agility during interviews  Why scheduling dedicated learning time is non-negotiable  The importance of "the power of yet" in developing a growth mindset  Episode Highlights:  00:01 – What Is Learning Agility and Why It Matters – How adapting quickly and continuously learning helps individuals and businesses stay relevant. 06:25 – The Personal Payoff of Lifelong Learning – Mickey shares how embracing learning agility shaped her career path. 12:18 – The Risks of the “Know-It-All” Mindset – Why fixed thinking and resisting change are career-limiting behaviors. 19:45 – Three Action Steps to Build Learning Agility – Sponge up knowledge, adopt a growth mindset, and learn with and from others. 28:30 – Creating a Learning Culture at Work – How leaders can build organizations that support curiosity, experimentation, and collaboration. 33:50 – Interview Tips to Identify Learn-It-Alls – The best questions leaders can ask to hire growth-minded, coachable people. 46:06 – Final Thoughts and a Gift for Listeners – Damon and Mickey offer listeners a chance to take a LearnIt class for free.   About Damon Lembi:   Damon Lembi is a 2x bestselling author, the host of The Learn-It-All Podcast, and CEO of Learnit – a live learning platform that has upskilled over 2 million people. Drawing from his prior baseball career, Damon brings an athlete’s perspective to leadership. Through his journey, he has gained invaluable insights into what helps organizations grow, how great leaders learn, and why learn-it-all companies outpace their competitors every time.      About Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins   Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins is a dynamic leadership development expert who serves as a Leadership and Professional Development Facilitator at Learnit. With a PhD in Leadership in Higher Education from Northcentral University focusing on middle manager self-efficacy, her expertise spans performance management, program development, and equity initiatives, while her high-energy approach has proven effective in leading teams across educational institutions and technology companies.     Resources Referenced: MuchSkills   The Learn-It-All Leader: Mindset, Traits, and Tools by Damon Lembi  The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph by Ryan Holiday  The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell   Podcast Contact Information Website: www.learnit.com Email: [email protected] Follow us on Lin

Being a successful leader for your company in a world full of disruption means building more than your technical skills.  Yes, you must deliver results, but to run a successful business, you need people. And people today want leaders who can and will work to see beyond themselves and only the bottom line. In today's episode, we’re joined by Joe Davis. He’s the former Managing Director and Senior Partner at Boston Consulting Group, which is one of the pioneers in business strategy, and he’s now a speaker and the author of the book The Generous Leader: 7 Ways to Give of Yourself for Everyone’s Gain. In this conversation, you will learn: What it means to be a generous leader Why being vulnerable with your staff is crucial to growing your team The difference between command-and-control to people-centered leadership And everything else that Joe considers crucial for effective leadership based on his many years in leadership Episode Highlights:00:07 – Leadership Today: Not Complicated, Just Different – How technology, social media, and blurred work-life boundaries have changed leadership expectations. 02:04 – Generous Leadership Defined – Giving of oneself to help others grow and thrive, beyond just being nice. 03:22 – From Command-and-Control to People-Centered Leadership – Moving from authority to inspiring and unlocking human potential. 07:54 – The Power of Vulnerability in Leadership – How admitting uncertainty strengthens trust and collaboration. 12:08 – Transparency vs. Full Transparency – Knowing when full transparency may not be wise. 21:23 – The Importance of Listening – A pivotal moment on the value of letting others fully express their thoughts. 23:42 – CEO Whisperers: How Top Consultants Win Trust – Gaining trust by understanding what CEOs don’t yet know. 36:13 – Small Acts, Big Impact: United Airlines Captain’s Story – Scott Kirby’s personal check-in with Black pilots after George Floyd’s murder. 19:44 – Humanizing Leadership – Recognizing employees as people first to create loyalty and engagement. 41:58 – The Power of Recognition – How a simple thank-you note transforms workplace culture. Resources Referenced: Joe Davis’ book - https://www.amazon.com/Generous-Leader-Ways-Yourself-Everyones/dp/1523006617 Joe Davis’ website - https://www.joedavis.com/ Boston Consulting Group (BCG) - https://www.bcg.com/  Arne Sorenson's COVID-19 Message - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgAMdCV9fxc Podcast Contact: Website: www.learnit.com  Email: [email protected]  Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates. 

According to Gallup's State of the Global Workplace Report… Only 30% of employees feel truly engaged in their work, and the consequences are massive with higher turnover, lower productivity, and a workforce that feels disconnected from purpose.  The reality? Disengagement is a leadership crisis. It’s time to fix it.Today we’re joined by Jean Accius, CEO of Creating Healthier Communities and thought leader in workplace well-being and leadership innovation. In This Episode, You’ll Learn:Why psychological safety is critical for workplace successThe connection between trust, engagement, and productivityHow to align personal purpose with an organization’s missionThe role of mentorship across different generations in the workplaceHow workplaces impact mental and physical well-beingThe life expectancy gap by zip code and its implications for societyWhy leaders need to challenge assumptions and embrace diversity of thoughtTimestamps:00:01 – Introduction to Jean Accius 00:08 – The importance of psychological safety in the workplace 02:37 – The alarming decline in employee engagement and why it matters 05:19 – Why purpose-driven organizations outperform their competitors 06:33 – The power of a listening tour and how it transformed CHC 08:33 – Implementing Shadow Days to build cross-functional collaboration 10:32 – The impact of The Million Dollar Idea Fund 12:02 – How Jean overcame a risk-averse culture to drive innovation 15:25 – Why diversity of thought is essential for leadership teams 19:37 – Mentorship across generations & the importance of community 24:37 – How to attract and retain older workers in a changing workforce 27:13 – The hidden impact of workplace policies on mental health 30:19 – The business case for corporate well-being initiatives 33:06 – Life expectancy gaps and how zip codes determine health outcomes 38:49 – Why interdependence, not independence, is the key to progress 42:31 – Final thoughts: The importance of challenging assumptions & lifelong learningResources Mentioned:The Speed of Trust by Stephen Covey – https://a.co/d/1rfRJon The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Franklin Covey – https://a.co/d/70e71A5 Gallup Employee Engagement Study – https://www.gallup.com/workplace/654911/employee-engagement-sinks-year-low.aspx CHC Impact Website – www.chcimpact.orgBreak With a Purpose Initiative – https://www.understood.org/en/articles/evidence-based-behavior-strategy-brain-breaks Podcast Contact Information Website: www.learnit.com   Email: [email protected]  Follow Damon on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates. 

11 Skills AI Will Never Replace: Skill #10 Delegation Welcome to The Learn-It-All Podcast’s 11 Skills AI Will Never Replace-- our 11-part special series exploring the essential human skills that AI cannot replicate. With the start of the new year, we’re all facing unprecedented technological disruption and workplace transformation. To help you thrive in this new landscape, we’ve leveraged a study from MuchSkills that analyzed data from 28,000 professionals to identify the capabilities that will make you irreplaceable in an AI-enhanced workplace.   Each week, we’ll take a deep dive into one critical skill, providing you with actionable strategies, expert insights, and Learnit’s proprietary frameworks to future-proof your career. This series isn't just about adapting to change – it's about mastering the unique human abilities that will define leadership success in the age of AI.     Delegation Future-Proofs Your Leadership Are you sabotaging your team's growth and creating organizational bottlenecks by failing to delegate effectively?  Many leaders struggle with delegation, either hoarding work or micromanaging their teams. This episode of The Learn-It-All Podcast tackles one of leadership's most challenging skills. In this episode, host Damon Lembi and leadership expert Mickey Fitch-Collins explore the critical skill of delegation for modern leaders framing it not merely as offloading work but as a strategic development tool. The conversation unpacks common delegation pitfalls, introduces a practical three-part framework, and shares personal stories of delegation failures and lessons learned. This Episode Covers: Why reframing delegation as "development" transforms it from a burden into a strategic growth opportunity  The Learnit "Delegation Greenlights" framework Why micromanagement creates bottlenecks that prevent organizations from scaling How to be crystal clear about expectations, timelines, and the "why" behind delegated tasks Strategies to avoid overloading your high performers with too many delegated tasks  Episode Highlights:  00:01 – Why Delegation is Critical for Leadership Success – How leaders who fail to delegate create bottlenecks and limit team growth. 06:25 – The Delegation Greenlights Framework – A step-by-step approach to deciding what, when, and how to delegate. 12:18 – How to Avoid Micromanaging – Why hovering over delegated tasks destroys trust and slows down teams. 19:45 – Overloading High Performers – How over-delegation to top performers leads to burnout and disengagement. 28:30 – How to Communicate Delegation Clearly – Why being crystal clear on expectations, goals, and deadlines prevents confusion. 33:50 – Saying No Professionally – How employees can push back on delegation while maintaining credibility and collaboration. 46:06 – Key Takeaways for Effective Delegation – Actionable strategies to delegate with confidence and improve leadership impact.   About Damon Lembi:   Damon Lembi is a 2x bestselling author, the host of The Learn-It-All Podcast, and CEO of Learnit – a live learning platform that has upskilled over 2 million people. Drawing from his prior baseball career, Damon brings an athlete’s perspective to leadership. Through his journey, he has gained invaluable insights into what helps organizations grow, how great leaders learn, and why learn-it-all companies outpace their competitors every time.      About Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins   Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins is a dynamic leadership development expert who serves as a Leadership and Professional Development Facilitator at Learnit. With a PhD in Leadership in Higher Education from Northcentral University focusing on middle manager self-efficacy, her expertise spans performance management, program development, and equity initiatives, while her high-energy approach has proven effective in leading teams across educational institutions and technology companies.     Resources Referenced: MuchSkills   The Learn-It-All Leader: Mindset, Traits, and Tools by Damon Lembi  The Learn-It All Podcast episode with Jim Szlacta on reframing delegation as development The Learn-It All Podcast episode with Chris Dyer ("Mr. Culture") on delegation enabling scaling  Free to Focus: A Total Productivity System to Achieve More by Doing Less by Michael Hyatt  Ethan Evans' five-step "Magic Loop" framework  Learnit’s Delegate to Scale Your Impact Workshop (free code offered to first 25 listeners who message Damon or Mickey on LinkedIn)   Podcast Contact Information Website: www.learnit.com Email: [email protected] Fol

Giving and receiving feedback is one of the most critical yet difficult skills in leadership. Many leaders avoid giving honest feedback, and even more struggle to receive it without defensiveness. But what if feedback didn’t have to feel so uncomfortable?In today’s episode, we’re joined by Joe Hirsch, a communication expert, speaker, and author of The Feedback Fix. Joe introduces his Feed Forward approach—transforming feedback from a dreaded conversation into a tool for growth. He shares strategies on how to foster a feedback culture, filter out bad feedback, and turn tough conversations into learning moments.In this episode, you will learn:Why leaders struggle with giving and receiving feedbackHow to shift feedback conversations from blame to partnership The science behind why feedback triggers defensivenessHow to ask for better feedback and become a feedback magnetThe Feed Forward approach to make feedback feel empowering, not punishingTimestamps:00:01 – Introduction to Joe Hirsch 01:07 – Why Feedback is Hard (But Necessary) 03:56 – Becoming a Feedback Magnet 05:39 – Joe’s Personal Story: Why Feedback Became His Life’s Work 09:25 – What is Feed Forward? 11:44 – How to Deliver Feedback Without Causing Defensiveness 16:13 – What to Do When People Resist Feedback 18:12 – Creating a Feedback Culture in Teams 20:07 – How to Normalize Feedback in the Workplace 24:12 – The Neuroscience of Learning from Mistakes 28:24 – How to Filter Good vs. Bad Feedback 32:21 – The Danger of Asking Too Many People for Feedback 35:31 – What to Do When Feedback Hurts 39:48 – How to Apply Feedback Effectively 41:25 – The Role of AI in FeedbackResources Mentioned in This Episode:The Feedback Fix by Joe Hirsch – Amazon Link Joe Hirsch’s Website – https://www.joehirsch.me Marshall Goldsmith (Author of What Got You Here Won’t Get You There) – Website Amy Edmondson on Intelligent Failure – Harvard Business ReviewThe Fearless Organization by Amy Edmondson – Amazon LinkPodcast Contact Information:Website: www.learnit.com  Email: [email protected]  Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates. 

Power Games: How Leaders Navigate the Workplace Dynamics of Power Are power games undermining your leadership and sabotaging your team's performance? In this thought-provoking episode of The Learn-It-All Podcast, host Damon Lembi interviews leadership expert Zoë Routh about her forthcoming book Power Games and the complex dynamics of power in the workplace. According to Zoë 's research, power games exist in 100% of workplaces, and even well-intentioned leaders can fall prey to their destructive behaviors. Throughout their conversation, Damon and Zoë  explore how leaders can recognize the warning signs of unhealthy power dynamics, implement strategies to foster healthy team environments, and shift from "hero leadership" to collaborative approaches that distribute power more effectively. This Episode Covers: Why people are uncomfortable with the word "power" but eagerly seek "influence,"  How power can be "a torch to light the way, not a sword to cut people down" The four spheres of power that leaders must understand to master their own power usage The five shadow archetypes of leadership (tyrant, manipulator, bully, fanatic, gambler) and how these destructive patterns emerge Why transparency is one of the most powerful tools for preventing tyranny and manipulation in organizations The five components of high-performing teams (purpose, performance, structure, strength, and safety) that can minimize power games Practical strategies for approaching leaders who are beginning to display tyrant-like behaviors  Episode Highlights: 00:01 – Why Leaders Struggle with Power – How power is often seen as negative, but when used correctly, it fosters trust and collaboration. 06:25 – What Are Power Games? – Zoe defines toxic workplace behaviors like manipulation, credit-stealing, and backstabbing. 12:18 – The Five Shadow Archetypes of Leadership – Why even great leaders can unintentionally fall into toxic behaviors. 19:45 – How to Identify and Disrupt Power Games – The subtle signs of dysfunction and how leaders can audit their teams. 28:30 – Why Transparency Prevents Power Struggles – How openness in decision-making discourages manipulation and abuse of power. 33:50 – Avoiding the ‘Yes-Person’ Problem – Why leaders must create a culture where people feel safe challenging authority. 42:06 – The Future of Leadership is Collaboration – How shifting from ‘hero leadership’ to collective leadership minimizes power struggles.  About Zoë  Routh Zoë Routh is a leadership futurist and award-winning author who helps executives navigate uncertain horizons with clarity and confidence. Her book People Stuff won Australian Business Book of the Year in 2020, and her forthcoming Power Games explores workplace power dynamics based on her 30+ years of leadership expertise. As host of "The Future of Leadership Podcast," she shares big ideas on the future of leadership with global audiences. Zoë's approach combines strategic foresight with practical frameworks for CEOs and leadership teams in multiple industries. Her unique background includes wilderness expedition leadership and corporate advisory, giving her distinctive insights into high-performing teams. A cancer survivor and adventurist, Zoë brings both wisdom and real-world experience to her work helping leaders create collaborative, transparent organizational cultures.  Resources Referenced:  Zoë  Routh's websiteZoë Routh on LinkedIn The Future of Leadership Podcast Free Shadow Archetypes Counter Moves handout for podcast listeners People Stuff - Beyond Personality Problems, An Advanced Handbook for Leadership by Zoë Routh  Power Games - A Leader’s Guide to Office Politics and Drama-Free Collaboration by Zoë Routh  Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present by Ruth Ben-Ghiat  The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli (Author) Podcast Contact Information Website: www.learnit.com Email: [email protected] Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates. 

11 Skills AI Will Never Replace: Skill #9 Collaboration Welcome to The Learn-It-All Podcast’s 11 Skills AI Will Never Replace-- our 11-part special series exploring the essential human skills that AI cannot replicate. With the start of the new year, we’re all facing unprecedented technological disruption and workplace transformation. To help you thrive in this new landscape, we’ve leveraged a study from MuchSkills that analyzed data from 28,000 professionals to identify the capabilities that will make you irreplaceable in an AI-enhanced workplace.     Each week, we’ll take a deep dive into one critical skill, providing you with actionable strategies, expert insights, and Learnit’s proprietary frameworks to future-proof your career. This series isn't just about adapting to change – it's about mastering the unique human abilities that will define leadership success in the age of AI.     The Power of Effective Collaboration Are toxic high performers quietly destroying your team's productivity and morale? According to research highlighted in this episode, teams that collaborate effectively are five times more likely to be high performing - but what happens when conflicting work styles and difficult personalities get in the way?   In this episode, host Damon Lembi and leadership expert Mickey Fitch-Collins examine collaboration as an essential skill in today's hybrid workplace. They explore practical frameworks for understanding different work styles, fostering productive collaboration, and handling challenging team dynamics. With 79% of Gen Z and millennials preferring workplaces that foster teamwork, mastering these collaboration skills has never been more important for retaining talent and driving organizational success.   This Episode Covers: The MOVE framework for understanding team collaboration styles Practical strategies for pairing team members with different styles on small projects  How to transform a dysfunctional team by giving members a common language  The distinction between authentic self-expression and behavior that undermines team culture and collaboration   Episode Highlights: 00:01 – Why Collaboration is Critical in Today’s Workplace – How teams that collaborate effectively outperform those that work in silos. 06:25 – The MOVE Framework for Team Collaboration – A simple, actionable model to improve communication and teamwork. 12:18 – How to Align Different Work Styles – Why understanding team dynamics reduces conflict and increases efficiency. 19:45 – The Cost of Poor Collaboration – How lack of trust and communication leads to inefficiency, frustration, and disengagement. 28:30 – Why Toxic High-Performers Hurt Organizations – The long-term impact of tolerating toxic behaviors, even from top performers. 33:50 – Building Trust and Respect on Teams – How leaders can foster collaboration by creating a safe, open environment. 46:06 – Key Takeaways for Improving Collaboration – Practical steps to immediately strengthen teamwork and engagement.  About Damon Lembi:   Damon Lembi is a 2x bestselling author, the host of The Learn-It-All Podcast, and CEO of Learnit – a live learning platform that has upskilled over 2 million people. Drawing from his prior baseball career, Damon brings an athlete’s perspective to leadership. Through his journey, he has gained invaluable insights into what helps organizations grow, how great leaders learn, and why learn-it-all companies outpace their competitors every time.      About Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins   Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins is a dynamic leadership development expert who serves as a Leadership and Professional Development Facilitator at Learnit. With a PhD in Leadership in Higher Education from Northcentral University focusing on middle manager self-efficacy, her expertise spans performance management, program development, and equity initiatives, while her high-energy approach has proven effective in leading teams across educational institutions and technology companies.     Resources Referenced: MuchSkills   The Learn-It-All Leader: Mindset, Traits, and Tools by Damon Lembi  Working Genius Assessment by Patrick Lencioni - A tool for identifying team members' working styles and preferences Supercharge Collaboration with Team Styles - Learnit's most popular workshop, featuring the MOVE framework Learnit's MOVE framework ebook  Podcast Contact Information Website: www.learnit.com Email: [email protected] Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates. 

Any Dumbass Leader Can Create an Exceptional Culture Are your team members running out the door excited to come to work? If not, why? Garry Ridge, former CEO and Chairman Emeritus of WD-40, joins Damon Lembi on The Learn-It-All Podcast to discuss how leaders can build high-trust, high-performance cultures where people feel valued and can learn, grow, and thrive. Drawing from his 25 years leading WD-40 and his new book Any Dumbass Can Do It, Garry shares how WD-40 achieved remarkable business results through people-first leadership. Under his guidance, the company expanded globally, grew market cap from $300 million to $3.5 billion, and maintained employee engagement above 90% - all while establishing a culture where 98% of employees loved telling others they worked there.   This Episode Covers: How reframing "failure" as "learning moments" became a cornerstone of WD-40's culture How leaders often protect their comfort zones at the expense of other people's development, limiting growth opportunities for their teams and organizations The power of purpose beyond your product  Why the "Maniac Pledge" at WD-40 eliminated finger-pointing by establishing clear ownership. The importance of embracing "dumbassery" as your superpower.   Episode Highlights:  00:01 – Garry’s Leadership Journey at WD-40 – How he grew WD-40 into a global company with a thriving culture. 06:25 – The Four Pillars of a Friction-Free Culture – A framework for creating a high-trust, high-performance work environment. 12:18 – The Power of Learning Moments – Why reframing failures as learning opportunities builds innovation and engagement. 19:45 – Why Leaders Must Be Brave – How avoiding tough conversations protects a leader’s comfort zone at the expense of team growth. 28:30 – How Culture Becomes a Competitive Advantage – Why organizations with high engagement outperform those that ignore workplace culture. 33:50 – Balancing Remote and In-Person Work – How to bring employees back together meaningfully without eroding trust. 46:06 – Final Takeaways: Building a People-First Culture – How leaders can foster belonging, accountability, and long-term success.  About Garry: Garry Ridge is the Chairman Emeritus of WD-40 Company, where he served as CEO for 25 years, building a renowned culture of learning and empowerment. He teaches in the University of San Diego's Master of Science in Executive Leadership program, sharing his expertise on corporate culture principles. Ridge has co-authored Helping People Win at Work with Ken Blanchard and recently published Any Dumb Ass Can Do It (2025). Calling himself "The Culture Coach" and more recently "The Dean of Dumbassery,” Gary runs his consulting business "The Learning Moment" where he coaches CEOs and helps leaders create environments where employees make meaningful contributions, learn continuously, and go home happy.   Resources Referenced: Garry Ridge on LinkedIn The Learning Moment - Garry's websiteDumbass QuizAny Dumb-Ass Can Do It: Learning Moments from an Everyday CEO of a Multi-Billion-Dollar Company by Garry Ridge  Helping People Win at Work: A Business Philosophy Called "Don't Mark My Paper, Help Me Get an A" by Garry Ridge and Ken Blanchard  What Got You Here Won't Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith  To Be Honest: Lead with the Power of Truth, Justice and Purpose by Ron A. Carucci  Podcast Contact Information Website: www.learnit.com Email: [email protected] Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates. 

Stop Hemorrhaging Top Talent: A Leader's Guide to Modern Employee Retention Are you tired of watching your best employees walk out the door despite competitive pay and benefits? What if retention actually begins before an employee's first day?  In this enlightening episode of The Learn-It-All Podcast, host Damon Lembi explores groundbreaking strategies for attracting and retaining top talent with Mike Harbour, author of Quit Losing Talent. Drawing from his extensive experience as both a headhunter and leadership consultant, Mike shares how traditional onboarding approaches are failing in today's workplace and introduces his STAY framework for creating a culture where employees want to, well, stay. He challenges conventional wisdom about hiring experienced staff and reveals why even top performers can be toxic to your organization's long-term success.  This Episode Covers: Why sending a handwritten welcome note to new hires before their start date can dramatically improve retention The costly mistake of skipping proper onboarding for experienced new hires, even when they have industry expertise How focusing on skills over values in interviews leads to poor hiring decisions and higher turnover Why investing in employee development isn't just about job skills - personal growth opportunities like financial planning classes can significantly boost retention Why keeping a toxic top performer can actually cost more than losing their production The importance of addressing generational "micro-bullying" that drives younger talent away A systematic 90-day activation process that replaces traditional onboarding and ensures new hire success Episode Highlights: 00:01 – Why Retention Starts Before Day One – How leaders must rethink hiring and onboarding to create lasting engagement. 06:25 – Mastering the Welcome Process – Why a simple handwritten note or phone call before the first day can dramatically impact retention. 12:18 – Sharpening Job Ads to Attract Top Talent – How companies must go beyond listing skills and emphasize mission, values, and growth opportunities. 19:45 – The STAY Framework for Employee Activation – A structured 90-day plan to help new hires feel connected, valued, and set up for success. 28:30 – Why Investing in Employee Development Improves Retention – How offering personal and professional growth opportunities keeps employees engaged. 33:50 – Handling Toxic Top Performers – Why keeping a high-producing but toxic employee can destroy company culture. 46:06 – How Leaders Can Build a Culture That People Want to Stay In – Practical steps for creating an environment where employees feel valued and empowered.  About Mike: Mike Harbour is a leadership development expert and former U.S. Army officer who has helped transform talent retention and leadership practices at organizations across America. As founder and Chief Action Officer of Harbour Resources, he leverages over three decades of experience in healthcare operations, executive search, and leadership development to solve critical retention challenges. A founding partner on the John C. Maxwell Team where he serves on the President's Advisory Council, Harbour has interviewed thousands of leaders and successfully placed hundreds in key positions. His podcast, The Lead Up, has produced over 400 episodes of leadership content, and his book Quit Losing Talent provides a systematic framework for modern hiring and retention.  Resources Referenced: Mike Harbour on LinkedIn Harbour Resources Quit Losing Talent: Expanded Edition: Twenty Leadership Tactics to Win, Keep, & Inspire Great Employees  by Mike Harbour The Lead Up Podcast  The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change by Stephen R. Covey  John Maxwell (mentioned as a mentor) Zig Ziglar (quoted)  Podcast Contact Information Website: www.learnit.com Email: [email protected] Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates. 

11 Skills AI Will Never Replace: Skill #8  Coaching Welcome to The Learn-It-All Podcast’s 11 Skills AI Will Never Replace-- our 11-part special series exploring the essential human skills that AI cannot replicate. With the start of the new year, we’re all facing unprecedented technological disruption and workplace transformation. To help you thrive in this new landscape, we’ve leveraged a study from MuchSkills that analyzed data from 28,000 professionals to identify the capabilities that will make you irreplaceable in an AI-enhanced workplace.     Each week, dive deep into one critical skill, providing you with actionable strategies, expert insights, and Learnit’s proprietary frameworks to future-proof your career. This series isn't just about adapting to change – it's about mastering the unique human abilities that will define leadership success in the age of AI.     The Art of Coaching: Unlock Your Team's Full Potential Are you struggling with underperforming team members despite their obvious talent? What if the key isn't more directives, but a fundamental shift in how you lead? In this episode of The Learn-It-All Podcast, host Damon Lembi speaks with Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins, Learnit's top-ranked facilitator and leadership expert, about transforming ordinary management into impactful coaching. Their conversation reveals how coaching differs from traditional command-and-control leadership and provides a practical five-step framework for non-directive coaching. Through real examples and actionable advice, Mickey shares how coaching can elevate team performance, increase employee satisfaction, and drive retention—turning regular teams into "unstoppable" ones. This episode offers business leaders a clear roadmap to transition from simply managing outcomes to unlocking their team's true potential. This Episode Covers: The crucial difference between managing and coaching How shifting from directive management to coaching questions completely transformed an underperforming team member The five-step non-directive coaching model with "magic questions" that puts employees in the driver's seat Why to coach strengths rather than weaknesses "Chameleon leadership"   Episode Highlights:  00:01 – Why Coaching is Critical in Today’s Workplace – How coaching helps leaders move from managing people to unlocking their full potential. 06:25 – The Cost of Not Coaching – Why command-and-control leadership leads to disengagement and turnover. 12:18 – The Five-Step Non-Directive Coaching Model – A structured approach to asking better questions and guiding problem-solving. 19:45 – The Magic Questions of Coaching – How "What’s on your mind?" and "What’s the real challenge?" create deeper conversations. 28:30 – Coaching vs. Mentoring – Understanding the key differences and when to apply each leadership style. 33:50 – Why Strengths-Based Coaching Works Best – How focusing on what people do well leads to better performance and engagement. 46:06 – Final Takeaways & Next Steps – How leaders can immediately apply coaching techniques to their teams.  About Damon Lembi:   Damon Lembi is a 2x bestselling author, the host of The Learn-It-All Podcast, and CEO of Learnit – a live learning platform that has upskilled over 2 million people. Drawing from his prior baseball career, Damon brings an athlete’s perspective to leadership. Through his journey, he has gained invaluable insights into what helps organizations grow, how great leaders learn, and why learn-it-all companies outpace their competitors every time.      About Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins   Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins is a dynamic leadership development expert who serves as a Leadership and Professional Development Facilitator at Learnit. With a PhD in Leadership in Higher Education from Northcentral University focusing on middle manager self-efficacy, her expertise spans performance management, program development, and equity initiatives, while her high-energy approach has proven effective in leading teams across educational institutions and technology companies.     Resources Referenced: MuchSkills   The Learn-It-All Leader: Mindset, Traits, and Tools by Damon Lembi   Learnit's Coach Your Team workshop New Sales. Simplified.: The Essential Handbook for Prospecting and New Business Development by Mike Weinberg  The Learn It All Podcast episode featuring Ethan Evans discussing "chameleon leadership" The Learn It All Podcast episode featuring Stephen M.Covey on trust Podcast Contact Information Website: www.learnit.com Email: [email protected] F

Why High Performers Often Fail as Leaders (And What to Do About It) Are your top individual contributors struggling in leadership roles? According to David Kitchen, founder of Edge Leadership Academy, there's a crucial reason: leadership requires a completely different skillset than individual excellence.  On this episode of The Learn-It-All Podcast, David Kitchen shares insights from his journey from Division I basketball coach to leadership development expert. In conversation with host Damon Lembi, David explains why high performers often struggle when promoted to leadership positions, outlines his framework for developing leadership skills, and reveals the four hard truths every aspiring leader needs to face.  This Episode Covers: Why promoting top performers to leadership roles often backfires and how to avoid this common mistake The four hard truths of leadership, including why it's lonely at the top and why leaders must chase love instead of likes The five C's of leadership: Character, Consistency, Commitment, Creativity, and Communication A practical three-step framework for learning agility: What, So What, Now What How to conduct regular leadership self-audits using specific questions that reveal blind spots Why the gap between stated culture and experienced culture drives away top talent  Episode Highlight:  00:01 – The Leadership Wake-Up Call – How a conversation with an athlete sparked David’s mission to build better leaders. 06:25 – The Four Hard Truths of Leadership – Why leadership is lonely, 24/7, uncertain, and never about you. 12:18 – Why High Performers Struggle as Leaders – How technical excellence doesn’t always translate into leadership success. 19:45 – The Five C’s of Leadership – The five qualities that separate great leaders from the rest. 28:30 – Self-Awareness & Leadership Audits – How to audit your own leadership skills and create a culture of honest feedback. 33:50 – The Importance of Learning Agility – Why leaders must adapt, evolve, and never stop learning. 46:06 – Why Retention is the #1 Business Challenge Today – How leaders can improve engagement, culture, and reduce turnover.  About David: David Kitchen is the founder and CEO of Edge Leadership Academy, where he leverages his unique background in Division 1 athletics and psychology to transform organizational leadership. Notable for becoming the youngest NCAA head coach at age 24, Kitchen transitioned from collegiate basketball coaching to pioneering innovative leadership development programs.  He holds a Master's in Sport Psychology and is currently pursuing a PhD in Psychology. Kitchen is a three-time author, including the best-selling "The Pyramid: A System for Building Tomorrow's Leaders Today," and hosts a globally top-ranked podcast. His methodology focuses on practical execution and measurable results, serving both athletic and corporate clients. Kitchen's approach was shaped by identifying a critical gap between leadership expectations and actual leadership training in high-performance environments.  Resources Referenced: Edge Leadership Academy Built Not Born Podcast Finish Friday newsletter Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves  David on LinkedIn Dr. Paul Ekman Podcast Contact Information Website: www.learnit.com Email: [email protected] Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates. 

The Hidden Cost of Prioritizing Business Over Health: A Leader's Wake-Up Call Are you sacrificing your health on the altar of business success? What if the relentless pursuit of profit is actually undermining your ability to achieve your goals? In this compelling episode of The Learn-It-All Podcast, host Damon Lembi engages in a candid conversation with Mark Samuel, a serial entrepreneur and wellness advocate with over 65,000 LinkedIn followers. Their discussion examines the critical intersection of physical health, mental wellbeing, and business success. Drawing from his extensive experience in the health and wellness industry and his own personal journey, Samuel shares raw insights about mental health struggles, the importance of discipline over motivation, and how prioritizing health became the foundation of his business success. This Episode Covers: Why health must be the #1 priority before family and work - and how this seemingly selfish choice actually enables everything else The critical difference between motivation and discipline in achieving fitness goals and business success How vulnerability and authenticity in leadership, particularly around mental health challenges, can build stronger connections and opportunities The profound impact of daily physical activity and nutrition on mental health and decision-making capabilities Why entrepreneurial success often requires giving up the need to be in complete control The value of building meaningful relationships through consistent, authentic content creation on LinkedIn How becoming a parent can transform your perspective on business and success The importance of patience in scaling businesses, particularly in the consumer products space Episode Highlights: 00:01 – Why Health Should Be Every Leader’s Top Priority – Mark explains why physical and mental well-being must come before work and everything else. 06:25 – Discipline vs. Motivation in Fitness and Life – Why motivation is fleeting and how discipline drives real, lasting change. 12:18 – The Connection Between Fitness, Nutrition, and Mental Health – Mark shares how his workout and nutrition habits helped him manage anxiety and depression. 19:45 – Self-Awareness and Accountability in Leadership – The importance of taking responsibility for your decisions and learning from mistakes. 28:30 – The Power of Personal Branding and Authenticity – Why building relationships and showing up consistently matters in today’s professional world. 33:50 – How Mark Uses LinkedIn to Build Meaningful Connections – The strategy behind his daily content and engagement. 37:24 – How Fatherhood Changed His Perspective on Life and Success – Mark reflects on how becoming a dad gave him clarity and purpose.  About Mark: Mark Samuel is a seasoned entrepreneur and executive who has successfully founded, scaled, and exited multiple companies in the health and wellness sector. As President and Board Member of Unbun Foods and Growth Executive at Siddhi Capital, he brings over two decades of expertise in building and growing consumer brands. Previously, Mark founded IWON Organics, a successful better-for-you snack company that was later licensed. Known for his authentic leadership style and dedication to health-focused innovation, he has built a highly engaged following of 65,000+ on LinkedIn through daily content creation. His expertise spans creative branding, strategic business planning, and operational management, with a particular focus on bringing healthier food options to market. A committed advocate for both physical and mental wellness in leadership, Mark combines his passion for health with sophisticated business acumen to drive growth in the wellness sector.  Resources Referenced: Mark on LinkedIn City Capital Advisors Unbun Foods Podcast Contact Information Website: www.learnit.com Email: [email protected] Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates. 

11 Skills AI Will Never Replace: Skill #7 Feedback Welcome to The Learn-It-All Podcast’s 11 Skills AI Will Never Replace-- our 11-part special series exploring the essential human skills that AI cannot replicate. With the start of the new year, we’re all facing unprecedented technological disruption and workplace transformation. To help you thrive in this new landscape, we’ve leveraged a study from MuchSkills that analyzed data from 28,000 professionals to identify the capabilities that will make you irreplaceable in an AI-enhanced workplace.   Each week, dive deep into one critical skill, providing you with actionable strategies, expert insights, and Learnit’s proprietary frameworks to future-proof your career. This series isn't just about adapting to change – it's about mastering the unique human abilities that will define leadership success in the age of AI.   The Art of Feedback: How Leaders Can Transform Performance Through Better Conversations Are your feedback conversations falling flat? Many leaders struggle to deliver feedback that drives real behavior change and improves performance. This episode reveals a proven framework for giving feedback that people will actually hear and act on.  On this episode of The Learn-It-All Podcast, Damon Lembi and guest Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins explore the critical skill of giving and receiving feedback effectively. Drawing from their extensive leadership experience, they break down the psychology behind feedback conversations and share practical techniques for making feedback more impactful, including how to avoid common pitfalls like the outdated "feedback sandwich" approach.  This Episode Covers: Why framing feedback conversations properly is crucial for reducing defensiveness and increasing receptivity The importance of focusing on observable behaviors and specific examples rather than opinions or hearsay How connecting feedback to organizational goals helps remove the perception of personal attacks Why public praise isn't always effective and can backfire even with positive feedback A simple three-step framework (Frame, Observe, Results) for structuring feedback conversations How leaders can create psychological safety by modeling vulnerability when receiving feedback The critical difference between giving feedback on job-related behaviors versus personal preferences Episode Highlights:00:01 – Why Feedback is Essential for Growth – Understanding why feedback matters and the different types of feedback in personal and professional settings.05:55 – How to Give Effective Feedback – Introducing the FOR Model (Framing, Observations, Results) as a simple, structured approach.12:31 – The Right and Wrong Way to Give Feedback – Why context matters, how to frame feedback properly, and what happens when feedback is mishandled.19:45 – Overcoming Defensiveness When Receiving Feedback – Mickey shares a personal story about the challenge of receiving unexpected feedback.28:30 – The Feedback Sandwich Problem – Why the traditional positive-negative-positive approach is outdated and often counterproductive.32:38 – Giving Feedback in Private vs. Public – Why leaders should be mindful about how and where they provide feedback to avoid creating mistrust.46:06 – Building a Culture of Continuous Feedback – How organizations can encourage open dialogue and feedback at all levels to drive performance. About Damon Lembi:  Damon Lembi is a 2x bestselling author, the host of The Learn-It-All Podcast, and CEO of Learnit – a live learning platform that has upskilled over 2 million people. Drawing from his prior baseball career, Damon brings an athlete’s perspective to leadership. Through his journey, he has gained invaluable insights into what helps organizations grow, how great leaders learn, and why learn-it-all companies outpace their competitors every time.    About Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins  Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins is a dynamic leadership development expert who serves as a Leadership and Professional Development Facilitator at Learnit. With a PhD in Leadership in Higher Education from Northcentral University focusing on middle manager self-efficacy, her expertise spans performance management, program development, and equity initiatives, while her high-energy approach has proven effective in leading teams across educational institutions and technology companies.   Resources Referenced: MuchSkills  The Learn-It-All Leader: Mindset, Traits, and Tools by Damon Lembi  Pre-Suasion: A Revolutionary Way to Influence and Persuade by Robert Cialdini Ph.D.  Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know by Adam Grant  Tom Willis on the Learn-It-All Podcast  Podcast Contact Information&

From Command & Control to Systems Thinking: A New Approach to Leadership Effectiveness Are you tired of trying to change your team's mindset or "fix" people's attitudes? What if there was a more practical approach to creating lasting change in your organization? In this episode of The Learn-It-All Podcast, Trevor Timbeck, co-author of "The Power of Systems," shares how shifting from psychological interpretations to systems thinking can transform leadership effectiveness. Drawing from his journey from computer science to leadership coaching, Trevor explains why focusing on concrete actions and systems rather than mindsets leads to better results.  This Episode Covers: Why attempting to change people's mindsets often fails and what to do instead How traditional "command and control" leadership actually demands obedience rather than inspiring change The power of shifting from having answers to asking better questions as a leader Why systems aren't just mechanical processes but can be organic and adaptive How to create lasting organizational change without relying on willpower or self-discipline The importance of building supporting systems rather than trying to maintain habits through force Why there's nothing wrong with you or your team - it's about finding better systems  Episode Highlights:  00:01 – The Shift from Psychology to Systems Thinking – Why most self-improvement advice focuses on the individual rather than the systems around them. 05:02 – Trevor’s Leadership Journey – How moving from computer science to sales to coaching changed his entire perspective on leadership. 12:31 – The Power of Asking Questions – Why great leaders don’t need to have all the answers—just the right questions. 19:45 – Breaking Free from the ‘Need to Be Right’ – How systems thinking helped Trevor improve his marriage, leadership, and approach to problem-solving. 28:30 – How Systems Create Lasting Change – Why focusing on small, practical system changes works better than trying to change mindsets or habits directly. 32:38 – Overcoming Barriers to Change – Why people struggle with sustaining new habits and how to design systems that support long-term success. 46:06 – Applying Systems Thinking in Leadership – How leaders can foster accountability, adaptability, and problem-solving in their teams.  About Trevor:  Trevor Timbeck is a leadership coach and author who combines technical expertise with transformational leadership principles. After earning an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University, he built a diverse corporate career spanning IT, marketing, and sales at companies including TD Bank, 3M, BlackBerry, and Sun Microsystems. As SVP of Sales, he managed $40M in revenue before transitioning to Chief Talent Officer after experiencing the impact of professional coaching. He co-authored The Power of Systems with Steve Chandler and holds a Professional Certified Coach designation from the International Coaching Federation. Trevor specializes in helping leaders shift from command-and-control approaches to systems-based leadership, leveraging his unique blend of technical innovation (including a patent for mobile content distribution) and emotional intelligence.  Resources Referenced: The Power of Systems: How to Create a Life That Works by Trevor Timbeck and Steve Chandler Trevor’s Website Trevor on LinkedIn Coaching Salespeople into Sales Champions: A Tactical Playbook for Managers and Executives by Keith Rosen The work of Humberto Maturana (referenced regarding objectivity and demanding obedience) Bob Newhart's "Stop It" therapy skit  Podcast Contact Information Website: www.learnit.com Email: [email protected] Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates. 

Building a True Learning Culture: Moving Beyond Lip Service to Real Impact  Is your organization struggling to maintain a genuine learning culture despite claiming to value employee development? Many companies say they prioritize learning, but few successfully embed it into their DNA. In this episode of The Learn-It-All Podcast, Dr. Angela Stopper, Chief Learning Officer at UC Berkeley, shares how she transformed Berkeley's approach to learning and development, including implementing an innovative 80-hour professional development policy and reimagining performance evaluations to foster genuine growth and engagement. This Episode Covers: How Berkeley implemented and tracked an 80-hour annual professional development policy, achieving 50% staff participation Why traditional annual performance reviews often fail and how Berkeley shifted to a three-conversation model that yielded 88% employee satisfaction The business case for learning culture: reducing turnover costs, improving retention, and enhancing workplace satisfaction Practical ways to democratize coaching through peer relationships and communities of practice How to gain buy-in from resistant managers by using data and inclusive pilot programs The critical connection between workplace happiness and organizational success Breaking down silos between leadership and frontline workers to create equitable learning opportunities  Episode Highlights: 00:01 – Defining a Learning Culture – Why true learning organizations embed growth into everyday work rather than treating it as an afterthought. 05:55 – The 80-Hour Learning Policy at UC Berkeley – How this policy was developed, what it includes, and why it has been so successful. 12:31 – Overcoming Barriers to Learning – How to address managers who hesitate to allow their teams to engage in professional development. 19:45 – How Surveys Improve Learning Cultures – Why Berkeley tracks key data on employee engagement and how survey results have led to major improvements. 28:30 – Scaling Learning Across Organizations – How UC campuses collaborate to expand training access without reinventing the wheel. 32:38 – Rethinking Performance Evaluations – Moving from outdated annual reviews to frequent, meaningful feedback conversations. 46:06 – The Role of Coachability in Leadership – Why leaders must be open to feedback and how organizations can foster peer coaching at every level.  About Dr. Angela: Dr. Angela Stopper is Chief Learning Officer at UC Berkeley, where she leads enterprise-wide learning and development initiatives. A pioneering force in higher education administration, she spearheaded Berkeley's groundbreaking 80-hour professional development policy and transformed its performance evaluation system. Previously, she served as Director of Program Innovations at UC Davis Graduate School of Management, overseeing executive education and leadership development programs. Her expertise spans global talent development, organizational change, and educational innovation. Dr. Stopper holds a Ph.D. in Workforce Education and Development from Penn State University, where she maintains an appointment as Adjunct Assistant Professor. Her research focuses on global talent development, organizational assessment, and closing workforce capability gaps in enterprise organizations.  Resources Referenced: Angela on LinkedIn UC Berkeley Greater Good Science Center Peer Coaching Made Simple: How to Do the 6 Things That Matter Most When Helping Someone Improve a Skill by Meredith M. Bell  Zenger Folkman's research on coachability UC Berkeley's Next Opportunity at Work (NOW) Conference Better Up coaching platform Podcast Contact Information Website: www.learnit.com Email: [email protected] Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates. 

11 Skills AI Will Never Replace: Skill #6 Problem-Solving Welcome to The Learn-It-All Podcast’s 11 Skills AI Will Never Replace-- our 11-part special series exploring the essential human skills that AI cannot replicate. With the start of the new year, we’re all facing unprecedented technological disruption and workplace transformation. To help you thrive in this new landscape, we’ve leveraged a study from MuchSkills that analyzed data from 28,000 professionals to identify the capabilities that will make you irreplaceable in an AI-enhanced workplace.  Each week, dive deep into one critical skill, providing you with actionable strategies, expert insights, and Learnit’s proprietary frameworks to future-proof your career. This series isn't just about adapting to change – it's about mastering the unique human abilities that will define leadership success in the age of AI.   Problem-Solving in a Fast-Paced World: Breaking Free from Old Solutions Is your team still applying yesterday's solutions to today's unprecedented challenges? In a McKinsey study, 75% of leaders reported their teams struggle with independent thinking and problem-solving.  This Learn-It-All Podcast episode features Learnit CEO Damon Lembi and Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins, LearnIt's top-ranked facilitator and leadership expert, discussing creative problem-solving strategies. Mickey introduces a practical framework called the "Five P's" that helps leaders and teams break free from conventional thinking patterns and develop innovative solutions that work in today's rapidly evolving business landscape.  This Episode Covers: The Five P's framework for reframing problems: Perspectives (how others view it), Pertinent info (relevant context), Position (relationship to the problem), Positive exceptions (when it's not a problem), and Playing favorites (avoiding default solutions) Why teams often jump to solutions before properly defining the problem, leading to misaligned efforts and ineffective outcomes How "rolestorming" - problem-solving from different perspectives by taking on various roles - unlocks creative solutions The value of pre-mortems and post-mortems in increasing problem-solving success rates Using divergent thinking (exploring multiple possibilities) and convergent thinking (narrowing to practical solutions) to develop better outcomes  Episode Highlights  00:01 – Why Problem-Solving Matters – How problem-solving impacts business success and why most teams struggle with it. 05:55 – The Five P’s Framework for Reframing Problems – A step-by-step approach to identifying and solving the right problem. 12:31 – Common Barriers to Problem-Solving – How fear of failure, risk aversion, and lack of accountability hold teams back. 19:45 – How Creativity Fuels Problem-Solving – The importance of thinking big and small, and how asking the right questions leads to innovative solutions. 28:30 – Lessons from COVID and Business Adaptation – Real-world examples of creative problem-solving and possibility spotting. 32:38 – How Leaders Can Foster a Problem-Solving Culture – Why psychological safety and open-ended questionsare key to better decision-making. 46:06 – Practical Tools for Problem-Solving – The power of pre-mortems, post-mortems, and role-storming to improve solutions.  About Damon Lembi:  Damon Lembi is a 2x bestselling author, the host of The Learn-It-All Podcast, and CEO of Learnit – a live learning platform that has upskilled over 2 million people. Drawing from his prior baseball career, Damon brings an athlete’s perspective to leadership. Through his journey, he has gained invaluable insights into what helps organizations grow, how great leaders learn, and why learn-it-all companies outpace their competitors every time.    About Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins  Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins is a dynamic leadership development expert who serves as a Leadership and Professional Development Facilitator at Learnit. With a PhD in Leadership in Higher Education from Northcentral University focusing on middle manager self-efficacy, her expertise spans performance management, program development, and equity initiatives, while her high-energy approach has proven effective in leading teams across educational institutions and technology companies.   Resources Referenced: MuchSkills  The Learn-It-All Leader: Mindset, Traits, and Tools by Damon Lembi  Learnit’s Solve Problems Creatively workshop (Next offered April 11, 2025 07:00 AM – 09:00 AM PT) McKinsey study on leadership and problem-solving Upstream: The Quest to Solve Problems Before They Happen by Dan Heath  Podcast Contact Information Website: www.learnit.com Email: [email protected]

Breaking Free from the Leadership Trap: Moving from Burnout to Flow Are you caught in the endless cycle of hustle culture, wondering if there's a better way to lead? Many successful leaders find themselves trapped in outdated command-and-control systems that breed burnout and diminish effectiveness. But what if leadership could flow more naturally? In this enlightening episode of The Learn-It-All Podcast, host Damon Pistulka speaks with Bodhi Aldridge, a leadership coach with over 20 years of experience working with executives globally. Aldridge shares profound insights on transforming leadership through the balance of masculine and feminine energies, the power of presence, and the shift from hustle to flow. Drawing from his work with countless leaders worldwide, he reveals practical strategies for breaking free from traditional leadership paradigms while maintaining high performance. This Episode Covers: Why "busyness is laziness" and how leaders can shift from a culture of hustle to a state of flow The two fundamental keys to leadership: connection and direction, and why most team dissatisfaction stems from failures in these areas How the traditional organizational pyramid structure, designed for warfare, may be holding back modern businesses The four pillars of future male leadership: connection, collaboration, compassion, and curiosity The critical difference between masculine/feminine energies versus traits, and how understanding this distinction can transform organizational dynamics Why 70% of organizational communication is spent correcting miscommunication, and how presence can solve this The importance of reflection in leadership development and why even 5 minutes of daily quiet time can create significant change Episode Highlights: (00:00) Introduction to Bodhi Aldridge – Damon introduces Bodhi, highlighting his work in emotional intelligence and mindful leadership. (02:30) The Foundations of Emotional Intelligence – Bodhi explains how EQ serves as the cornerstone of effective leadership. (05:45) Mindfulness in Leadership – Bodhi discusses why being present is critical for leaders to connect authentically with their teams. (09:00) The Power of Vulnerability – Bodhi shares how embracing vulnerability fosters trust and drives team performance. (12:33) Balancing Ambition and Authenticity – Bodhi reflects on how leaders can remain ambitious without losing sight of their values and purpose. (17:00) Lessons from Coaching Leaders – Bodhi provides actionable advice for leaders based on his experiences coaching executives and teams. (21:30) Creating a Connected Culture – Bodhi emphasizes the importance of intentional communication and empathy in building stronger teams. (33:18) Final Thoughts on Mindful Leadership – Damon and Bodhi wrap up with a call to action for leaders to prioritize emotional intelligence and authenticity.  About Bodhi:  A former attorney turned global leadership coach; Bodhi Aldridge has spent over two decades transforming how leaders navigate the modern business landscape. After 20 years practicing law, he shifted to leadership development, working with executives and organizations worldwide to bridge the gap between commercial success and personal fulfillment. Aldridge specializes in helping leaders, particularly men, move beyond traditional command-and-control models to embrace a more balanced approach incorporating both masculine and feminine energies. A best-selling co-author of Visionary Male Leaders, he runs the "From Distraction to Presence" program and hosts the True Freedom podcast. His unique methodology combines pragmatic business acumen with deep insight into presence and authentic leadership, making him a trusted advisor to business leaders and entrepreneurs seeking sustainable success without sacrificing personal growth. Through his coaching practice, mastermind programs, and consulting work, Aldridge helps leaders find what he calls "true freedom" - the ability to achieve commercial success while maintaining personal fulfillment and authentic leadership presence.   Resources Referenced:  Bodhi Aldridge on LinkedIn www.bodhialdridge.com  From Distraction to Presence Visionary Male Leaders by Sarah Bellorini co-authors: Obi Abuchi, Dimi Cholakov, Andrew Priestley, Simon Hodges, Robert Kirby, Tassos J Stavropoulos, Phil Bartlett, Bodhi Aldridge, Rick Charlton, Leon Aarts, Jacob Aldridge, Curtis Harren, Jaime Galviz, Dan Isaak, Alan Wick True Freedom Podcast  B Corp Movement  Stephen M. R. Covey  Joe Dispenza’s work on mind-body training  Podcast Contact Information: Website: www.learnit.com Email: [email protected] Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates. 

Building Adaptable Organizations: The Key to Surviving Rapid Change Is your organization struggling to keep up with the accelerating pace of change? Consider this: The average lifespan of a company has shrunk from 75 years to just 6. Without constant reinvention, your business might not exist in three years. In this episode of The Learn-It-All Podcast, change leadership expert Debora McLaughlin explores how organizations can build the critical capability of "changeability" - the mindset, energy, and capacity to not only lead change but to imagine opportunities within obstacles. Drawing from her extensive experience in corporate technology, psychology, and executive coaching, McLaughlin shares practical insights on how leaders can assess and develop adaptability at the individual, team, and organizational levels.   This Episode Covers: The three pillars of changeability: change leadership, adaptability (which can now be measured across 15 dimensions), and agility Why understanding your leadership style (head, heart, or hands) is crucial for effectively communicating change to different personality types How psychological safety and learning environments are essential for building adaptability The distinction between "play to protect" and "play to win" mindsets, and why organizations need both The importance of asking clarifying questions rather than just telling people what to do when implementing change How environmental factors like stress levels and team support significantly impact an organization's ability to change Why resilience should focus on "leaping forward" rather than just "bouncing back" The critical skill of "unlearning" - letting go of previously successful approaches to embrace new ways of working  Episode Highlights: (00:00) Introduction to Debora McLaughlin – Damon introduces Debora, highlighting her expertise in leadership, adaptability, and coaching. (01:15) What Is Changeability? – Debora explains the concept of changeability and how it empowers leaders to create their future. (05:30) The Three-Legged Stool – Debora introduces her framework: change leadership, adaptability, and agility, and how they support organizational success. (09:00) Understanding Leadership Styles – Debora shares how knowing whether you lead with your head, heart, or hands can transform communication and collaboration. (12:33) Adaptability as a Superpower – Debora emphasizes why adaptability is the most sought-after skill and how it impacts individuals, teams, and organizations. (17:00) Building Psychological Safety – Debora discusses the importance of creating environments where teams feel safe to learn, fail, and innovate. (21:30) Turning Resistance into Opportunity – Debora shares strategies for helping teams and individuals overcome resistance to change. (33:18) The Power of Unlearning – Debora highlights why unlearning outdated habits is just as important as acquiring new skills. (42:00) Final Thoughts on Changeability – Damon, Darren, and Debora wrap up with actionable insights for leading and thriving in a VUCA world. About Debora: Debora McLaughlin is the CEO of The Renegade Leader Coaching and Consulting Group and author of multiple books including the recently released Changeability. With over two decades of experience spanning Fortune 100 technology implementation, licensed psychology practice, and executive coaching, McLaughlin brings a unique combination of business acumen and behavioral expertise to organizational change. Her work focuses on measuring and building adaptability in leaders and teams, with documented success in improving customer satisfaction, employee retention, and digital transformation initiatives. A pioneer in quantifying organizational adaptability, McLaughlin's approach has delivered measurable ROI for clients, including a 162% return on investment in one strategic partnership project. Her insights have been featured in Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and The Wall Street Journal.   Resources Referenced: Debora McLaughlin on LinkedIn Changeability: How to Navigate Change with Clarity, Confidence & Certainty by Debora J McLaughlin  The Renegade Leader: 9 Success Strategies Driven Leaders Use to Ignite People, Performance & Profits  by Debora J McLaughlin  Do You Play to Win—or to Not Lose? Harvard Business Review article about complexity of mindset in play-to-protect versus play-to-win approaches   Podcast Contact Information: Website: www.learnit.com Email: [email protected] Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates. 

11 Skills AI Will Never Replace: Skill #5 Critical Thinking Welcome to The Learn-It-All Podcast’s 11 Skills AI Will Never Replace-- our 11-part special series exploring the essential human skills that AI cannot replicate. With the start of the new year, we’re all facing unprecedented technological disruption and workplace transformation. To help you thrive in this new landscape, we’ve leveraged a study from MuchSkills that analyzed data from 28,000 professionals to identify the capabilities that will make you irreplaceable in an AI-enhanced workplace.  Each week, dive deep into one critical skill, providing you with actionable strategies, expert insights, and Learnit’s proprietary frameworks to future-proof your career. This series isn't just about adapting to change – it's about mastering the unique human abilities that will define leadership success in the age of AI.   Critical Thinking: Your Competitive Edge in the AI Era Are your teams making 35,000 daily decisions based on cognitive biases instead of clear analysis? In today's AI-driven workplace, the ability to think critically isn't just valuable—it's irreplaceable. Yet most organizations continue to rush through decisions without a framework for objective analysis. In this episode of The Learn-It-All Podcast, host Damon Lembi speaks with Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins, learnIt's top-ranked facilitator and leadership expert, about mastering critical thinking. Through real-world examples and practical frameworks, they explore how leaders can foster environments where teams move beyond cognitive biases to make better decisions. Mickey shares the CARE framework (Correlation vs. Causation, Alternative Explanations, Reliable Sources, Evidence) and explains why slowing down to think critically leads to faster, better results in the long run. This Episode Covers: How one university dramatically increased enrollment by using critical thinking to discover that mental health and financial insecurity—not academic issues—were the real drivers of student attrition Why the organizational pressure for speed often leads to dangerous cognitive shortcuts, and how intentionally slowing down actually accelerates better decision-making The CARE framework for evaluating information and claims in an age of information overload How leaders can model critical thinking by actively seeking opposing viewpoints and creating psychological safety for team members to challenge assumptions Ways to use AI as a thought partner to challenge your thinking and identify potential blind spots in decision-making The crucial connection between psychological safety and critical thinking—teams need to feel safe questioning the "bandwagon effect" How the "Five Whys" technique from Toyota can quickly uncover root causes and deeper understanding  Episode Highlights:  00:00 – The Rising Importance of Critical Thinking – Why 93 percent of employers prioritize critical thinking over degrees and how AI makes this skill even more vital. 04:58 – The CARE Framework for Critical Thinking – A structured approach to evaluating information and avoiding common decision-making pitfalls. 09:04 – Real-World Application: Solving the Wrong Problem – A case study on how critical thinking helped uncover the true reasons behind student attrition. 14:00 – Cognitive Biases That Sabotage Decision-Making – Why confirmation bias, the bandwagon effect, and resulting lead to poor choices. 19:45 – Fostering Critical Thinking in Organizations – How leaders can create a culture that encourages better thinking and problem-solving. 24:00 – Practical Takeaways from the Think Critically Workshop – Why the Five Whys method is a game-changer for uncovering root causes. 26:45 – Using AI as a Thought Partner for Better Decision-Making – How generative AI can challenge assumptions and help leaders think more critically.  About Damon Lembi:  Damon Lembi is a 2x bestselling author, the host of The Learn-It-All Podcast, and CEO of Learnit – a live learning platform that has upskilled over 2 million people. Drawing from his prior baseball career, Damon brings an athlete’s perspective to leadership. Through his journey, he has gained invaluable insights into what helps organizations grow, how great leaders learn, and why learn-it-all companies outpace their competitors every time.    About Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins  Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins is a dynamic leadership development expert who serves as a Leadership and Professional Development Facilitator at Learnit. With a PhD in Leadership in Higher Education from Northcentral University focusing on middle manager self-efficacy, her expertise spans performance management, program development, and equity initiatives, while her high-energy approac

Culture Matters: Building an Operating System for Organizational Success Is your company culture something that "just happens," or are you intentionally shaping it? Many leaders know culture is crucial but struggle to actively build it. In this episode of The Learn-It-All Podcast, host Damon Lembi interviews Jenni Catron, author of Culture Matters, about creating systematic approaches to developing organizational culture. Drawing from her experience in corporate, nonprofit, and entrepreneurial environments, Jenni shares practical insights on building what she calls an "operating system" for culture—moving beyond perks and platitudes to create lasting behavioral change. This Episode Covers: Why leaders often treat culture as an afterthought despite knowing its importance The five-phase framework for intentionally building culture: assess, define, build, equip, and commit How exit processes significantly impact organizational trust and culture Why mid-level managers are increasingly critical to shaping culture and employee experience The importance of clearly defining competing values and decision-making processes How one director transformed her team's culture through consistent, simple practices Why communication and feedback are foundational leadership skills for culture-building  Episode Highlights: 00:01 – Why Culture is Often an Afterthought – Jenni explains why leaders fail to prioritize culture and how it directly impacts business success. 03:29 – Jenni’s Leadership Journey – From the record industry to nonprofit leadership, Jenni shares how her experiences shaped her understanding of culture. 09:04 – The Five-Phase Framework for Shaping Culture – Jenni breaks down the key steps leaders must take to create an intentional culture. 14:04 – Why Employee Exits Matter – The way leaders handle departures affects trust, morale, and the company’s long-term culture. 21:31 – The Hardest Part: Defining Culture – Why leaders struggle with clarity and how to effectively articulate and implement cultural values. 27:28 – Culture and Decision-Making – How a strong culture shapes decision-making, organizational structure, and leadership effectiveness. 37:36 – A Leadership Transformation Story – How one middle manager reshaped her team’s culture through intentional leadership development. About Jenni: Jenni Catron is a leadership expert and CEO of The 4Sight Group, where she consults with organizations on leadership development and organizational health. Her career spans over 20 years across multiple sectors, beginning as Artist Development Director at EMI Music before transitioning to executive leadership roles at Cross Point Church and Menlo Church, where she led significant growth and multi-site expansion initiatives. As an author, Catron has published notable works including Clout: Discover and Unleash Your God-Given Influence, The 4 Dimensions of Extraordinary Leadership and the upcoming Culture Matters (published 2.11 2025). Recognized by Outreach Magazine as one of thirty emerging influencers reshaping church leadership, she speaks at conferences nationwide on leadership development and organizational strategy. Her expertise bridges both ministry and marketplace sectors, focusing on developing healthy leaders and thriving organizational cultures.  Resources Referenced: Jenni’s Website Jenni on LinkedIn Culture Matters: A Framework for Helping Your Team Grow, Thrive, and Be Unstoppable by Jenni Catron The Four Dimensions of Extraordinary Leadership: The Power of Leading from Your Heart, Soul, Mind, and Strength by Jenni Catron Clout: Discover and Unleash Your God-Given Influence by Jenni Catron The Lead Culture Podcast The Culture Solution: A Practical Guide to Building a Dynamic Culture so People Love Coming to Work and Accomplishing Great Things Together by Matthew Kelly  EMI  Leadership Development Program  Podcast Contact Information Website: www.learnit.com Email: [email protected] Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates. 

What if getting sued by a billion-dollar competitor was the best thing that could happen to your business? When Bennett Maxwell was hit with a lawsuit from cookie giant Crumbl, he didn't hide or play defense he turned it into rocket fuel for growth. In this fascinating conversation, Maxwell reveals how he turned a serious legal threat into a marketing opportunity that helped his cookie franchise company, Dirty Dough, explode from 60 to 290 locations in just six months. But this episode goes far beyond cookies and lawsuits. Maxwell shares profound insights about professional communication, time valuation, advisory board building, and maintaining perspective while scaling rapidly. His journey from door-to-door sales to running a fast-growing franchise empire while staying focused on mental health and what truly matters offers valuable lessons for any business leader navigating growth and adversity.This Episode Covers: How knocking on 10,000 doors taught Maxwell invaluable lessons about professional communication that he still uses to raise capital and close deals His contrarian approach to getting high-profile advisors (including a $31B IPO veteran) by selling the vision and leveraging referrals Why he believes every interaction is a sale and how to get better at identifying and solving problems through thoughtful questions The counterintuitive advice from his advisor about taking investment money early to reduce stress, even if it means giving up equity A systematic approach to calculating your hourly value to make better decisions about time allocation and outsourcing His experience transitioning from solo entrepreneurship to building company culture at scale Hard-won wisdom about balancing aggressive business growth with mental health and family priorities  Episode Highlights: (00:00) Introduction to Bennett Maxwell – Damon introduces Bennett and his background in sales and entrepreneurship. (02:00) Lessons from Knocking on Doors – Bennett shares how door-to-door sales shaped his communication skills and resilience. (05:30) Valuing Time and Outsourcing – Bennett explains the importance of knowing your worth and focusing on high-impact activities. (09:00) Founding Dirty Dough – Bennett recounts his journey from investing in a single cookie store to building a scalable franchise model. (12:33) Building an Advisory Board – Bennett discusses how he recruited experts to guide Dirty Dough’s growth. (17:00) Turning Lawsuits into Opportunities – Bennett reflects on how humor and transparency turned a legal battle into a marketing advantage. (21:30) Mental Health and Business – Bennett shares his journey of prioritizing mental health and finding balance as an entrepreneur. (33:18) Future of Dirty Dough – Bennett outlines the brand’s growth plans, including new product lines and innovations.(42:00) Final Thoughts on Success – Bennett emphasizes the importance of setting authentic life goals and aligning actions with values.  About Bennett: Bennett Maxwell is a serial entrepreneur who catapulted Dirty Dough Cookies from a single store to over 450 franchise locations  in just two years before successfully selling the company to Craveworthy Brands. His entrepreneurial track record includes building and scaling businesses across multiple sectors, including pest control, satellite TV, security systems, and solar energy. Now serving as Director of Franchise Development at Craveworthy Brands, Bennett continues to shape the franchise industry while also hosting "Deeper Than the Dough," a podcast focused on entrepreneurship and mental health.     Resources Referenced: BennettMaxwell.com Bennett Maxwell on LinkedIn Deeper Than the Dough Podcast Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative by Austin Kleon Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! by Robert T. Kiyosaki Dirty Dough Cookies Craveworthy Brands  Podcast Contact Information: Website: www.learnit.com Email: [email protected] Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates. 

Welcome to The Learn-It-All Podcast’s 11 Skills AI Will Never Replace-- our 11-part special series exploring the essential human skills that AI cannot replicate. With the start of the new year, we’re all facing unprecedented technological disruption and workplace transformation. To help you thrive in this new landscape, we’ve leveraged a study from MuchSkills that analyzed data from 28,000 professionals to identify the capabilities that will make you irreplaceable in an AI-enhanced workplace.  Each week, dive deep into one critical skill, providing you with actionable strategies, expert insights, and Learnit’s proprietary frameworks to future-proof your career. This series isn't just about adapting to change – it's about mastering the unique human abilities that will define leadership success in the age of AI.  Building Trust in the AI Era Is your organization struggling with employee burnout, productivity, and engagement? Research shows these challenges can be solved by focusing on one fundamental element: trust. But in an era of increasing skepticism and AI-driven change, how do leaders build genuine trust? In this episode of The Learn-It-All Podcast’s 11 Skills AI Will Never Replace series, hosts Damon Lembi and Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins discuss the science and practice of building trust in modern organizations. Through personal stories and research-backed insights, they explore how trust serves as a competitive advantage and why it's more crucial than ever in an AI-accelerated workplace.   This Episode Covers: The three pillars of trust in the workplace: empathy, competence, and authenticity - with empathy serving as the foundation How high-trust environments lead to 75% less stress, 40% less burnout, 50% higher productivity, and 13% fewer sick days The "trust bank account" concept and why making regular deposits through consistent, dependable behavior is essential Practical strategies for saying "no" professionally while maintaining trust and managing workload Why advocating for team members is one of the most powerful ways leaders can demonstrate trust How customer loyalty and brand engagement significantly increase when employees work in high-trust environments The importance of being authentic and showing up as a "whole person" rather than just a title or role  Episode Highlights 00:00 – Introduction: Why Trust Matters – Damon and Mickey introduce the importance of trust and why it is a critical skill for career success. 02:00 – Defining Trust in the Workplace – A breakdown of trust as predictability, dependability, and integrity. 03:30 – A Personal Story of Trust Gone Wrong – Mickey shares a real-life leadership misstep that resulted in a trust breakdown and what she did to fix it. 06:00 – The Three Pillars of Trust – Empathy, competence, and authenticity: the foundation of trust in professional relationships. 10:00 – Practical Ways to Build Trust Out Loud – How to demonstrate trust through dependability, follow-through, and advocacy. 12:00 – The Science of High-Trust Workplaces – Research-backed statistics on how trust reduces stress, boosts productivity, and enhances engagement. 18:00 – Saying No Professionally to Maintain Trust – Why high performers need to set boundaries and how leaders can avoid overburdening top talent. 20:00 – How High-Trust Organizations Outperform Competitors – The business case for trust, from employee retention to customer loyalty. 23:00 – Final Takeaways & Next Steps – Key behavior changes for developing trust and where to learn more.  About Damon Lembi:  Damon Lembi is a 2x bestselling author, the host of The Learn-It-All Podcast, and CEO of Learnit – a live learning platform that has upskilled over 2 million people. Drawing from his prior baseball career, Damon brings an athlete’s perspective to leadership. Through his journey, he has gained invaluable insights into what helps organizations grow, how great leaders learn, and why learn-it-all companies outpace their competitors every time.    About Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins  Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins is a dynamic leadership development expert who serves as a Leadership and Professional Development Facilitator at Learnit. With a PhD in Leadership in Higher Education from Northcentral University focusing on middle manager self-efficacy, her expertise spans performance management, program development, and equity initiatives, while her high-energy approach has proven effective in leading teams across educational institutions and technology companies.     Resources Referenced:  MuchSkills  The Learn-It-All Leader: Mindset, Traits, and Tools by Damon Lembi  Paul Zak's research on trust and workplace performance The Trust Tax (article by Damon Lembi) Ethan Evans episode on The Learn-It-All Podc