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As my friend Simon Sinek says, “Be the Idiot”—or in my case, “be the dumbass.”

It might sound counterintuitive, but one of the most powerful leadership lessons I’ve learned is that you don’t need to have all the answers.

The moment you step into a room thinking you’re the smartest person there, you’ve already stopped growing.

True leadership isn’t about proving how much you know—it’s about fostering a culture where curiosity and collaboration drive innovation. When you let go of the need to be the expert in everything, you make space for fresh thinking and breakthrough ideas. The best leaders ask the right questions, empower their teams, and cultivate a culture of continuous learning.

Here’s how to put this idea into action: Be Curious, Not Commanding: In conversations and meetings, ask more questions than you answer. Lead with curiosity, and watch how your team rises to the challenge with fresh insights and ideas. Shine a Light on Others: Recognize and celebrate the expertise of your team members. When you highlight their strengths, you build confidence and encourage collaboration. Learn Every Day: Admit what you don’t know and embrace learning moments—big or small. When leaders model humility, it creates a culture of psychological safety where others feel empowered to learn and grow. Great leaders don’t just create the right environment—they actively uplift and empower their teams to succeed.
As my friend Simon Sinek says, “Be the Idiot”—or in my case, “be the dumbass.”   It might sound counterintuitive, but one of the most powerful leadership lessons I’ve learned is that you don’t need to have all the answers.   The moment you step into a room thinking you’re the smartest person there, you’ve already stopped growing.   True leadership isn’t about proving how much you know—it’s about fostering a culture where curiosity and collaboration drive innovation.   When you let go of the need to be the expert in everything, you make space for fresh thinking and breakthrough ideas. The best leaders ask the right questions, empower their teams, and cultivate a culture of continuous learning. Here’s how to put this idea into action: Be Curious, Not Commanding: In conversations and meetings, ask more questions than you answer. Lead with curiosity, and watch how your team rises to the challenge with fresh insights and ideas. Shine a Light on Others: Recognize and celebrate the expertise of your team members. When you highlight their strengths, you build confidence and encourage collaboration. Learn Every Day: Admit what you don’t know and embrace learning moments—big or small. When leaders model humility, it creates a culture of psychological safety where others feel empowered to learn and grow. Great leaders don’t just create the right environment—they actively uplift and empower their teams to succeed. A special shoutout to Simon Sinek for championing the power of curiosity and humility in leadership—your message to “be the idiot” aligns perfectly with creating space for others to shine.   Thank you, Simon, for your support and thoughtful testimonial—it means the world! Rectangle: Rounded Corners: Preorder Now on Amazon
ONE MONTH AWAY! March 11, 2025 Preorder Any Dumb-Ass Can Do It Now 📘
We’re just about a month away from the release of “Any Dumb-Ass Can Do It: Learning Moments from an Everyday CEO of a Multi-Billion-Dollar Company”—and it’s your chance to transform the way you lead!   Can you create a successful company culture where people joyfully do meaningful work they believe in, within a tribe of supportive, positive, enthusiastic colleagues? Yes—it all starts with you!   From the former CEO of WD-40 Company, this guide will show you how to make this vision a reality—and how to become a true leader along the way.  
Pre-Order Now on Amazon:
Any Dumb-Ass Can Do It: Learning Moments from an Everyday CEO of a Multi-Billion-Dollar Company: Ridge, Garry, Finney, Martha: 9781637746295: Amazon.com: Books

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