Dusty goes solo to challenge the belief that every available moment should be filled with productive work, arguing that in an age when AI can operate endlessly, leaders must intentionally create the stopping points that technology no longer provides. Drawing from a 10-day horseback trip through the Northern Canadian Rockies, he shares how an unexpected period of disconnection forced him to confront his own compulsion to keep producing, even when he had deliberately stepped away. What began as an opportunity to solve difficult problems became a powerful reminder that clarity often emerges when leaders stop actively pursuing it. Through research on sleep deprivation, creative breakthroughs, and the value of solitude, Dusty explains how unstructured time restores cognitive capacity, allows difficult problems to become clearer, and helps leaders notice the people and opportunities directly in front of them. He challenges listeners to protect a full day—or even a single hour—without an agenda, technology, or deliverables, creating space for reflection and presence. The central lesson is that rest isn't a reward for productive work; it's a prerequisite for the judgment and clarity that make great leadership possible.

Key Timestamps:

(00:00) - The Time We Get Back

(04:41) - Off the Grid

(10:10) - Clarity Comes First

(13:10) - Solitude Isn't Lonely

(14:28) - Give Yourself Protected Time

(16:09) - It Will Be Uncomfortable

(18:01) - Final Takeaway

Key Topics Discussed:

Leadership Unlocked, Leadership Insights, Dusty Holcomb, Servant Leadership Principles, Self-Leadership Strategies, Growth Mindset in Leadership, Integrity and Leadership, Leadership Development Resources, Effective Leadership Habits, Empowering Leadership Techniques, Senior Executive Insights, Leadership Quotes and Reflections, Leadership Podcast, Executive Coaching, CEO Podcast, Business Leadership, Leadership Growth, Leadership Journey, Stories From Leaders, Leadership Tools, High-Performing Teams, Leadership Mindset, Decision Making, Personal Growth, Leadership Coaching, Organizational Leadership

Modern Problems. Ancient Wisdom:

Ancient Intelligence explores the timeless principles that can help leaders better understand themselves, our world, and how we lead in the era of AI: https://ancientintelligencebook.com/

More of Leadership Unlocked:

Check out our leadership development resources at https://arcqusgroup.com/

Contact me at dusty@arcqusgroup.com

• (00:00) - You Can't Produce Your Way to Clarity
• (00:41) - The Time We Get Back
• (04:41) - Off the Grid
• (10:10) - Clarity Comes First
• (13:10) - Solitude Isn't Lonely
• (14:28) - Give Yourself Protected Time
• (16:09) - It Will Be Uncomfortable
• (18:01) - Final Takeaway

Dusty sits down with Mike Reilly, the longtime voice of Ironman, for an inspiring conversation about perseverance, recognition, and what it means to help others find their finish line. After calling nearly half a million athletes across the finish line at 215 Ironman races around the world, Mike shares the unexpected origin of the iconic words “You are an Ironman” and explains why he treated every finish as a one-on-one conversation rather than another name in a crowd. Together, he and Dusty explore how that same mindset translates to leadership, where authentic recognition, deep listening, and making the moment about someone else can have an impact that lasts for decades. Drawing from Mike’s book Finding Your Finish Line, they unpack the importance of taking responsibility for how you respond to life, continuing to move forward through adversity, and viewing a finish line not as an ending but as the foundation for whatever comes next. Mike also reflects on discovering endurance sports, learning to champion others, staying mentally, physically, spiritually, and emotionally engaged, and continuing to pursue new finish lines through family, relationships, writing, and speaking. Ultimately, the conversation reframes leadership as an opportunity to stand at the finish lines of other people’s journeys, recognise what they have accomplished, and give them the encouragement to keep moving forward.

Key Timestamps:

(01:18) – You Are an Ironman

(09:42) – One-on-One Leadership

(14:08) – Finding Your Finish Line

(23:14) – Starting at the Finish Line

(25:45) – Mike’s Origin Story

(31:22) – Lifting People Up

(35:51) – Mike’s Next Finish Line

(38:47) – Goal vs. Finish Line

(41:57) – Rapid-Fire Questions

Key Topics Discussed:

Leadership Unlocked, Leadership Insights, Dusty Holcomb, Servant Leadership Principles, Self-Leadership Strategies, Growth Mindset in Leadership, Integrity and Leadership, Leadership Development Resources, Effective Leadership Habits, Empowering Leadership Techniques, Senior Executive Insights, Leadership Quotes and Reflections, Leadership Podcast, Executive Coaching, CEO Podcast, Business Leadership, Leadership Growth, Leadership Journey, Stories From Leaders, Leadership Tools, High-Performing Teams, Leadership Mindset, Decision Making, Personal Growth, Leadership Coaching, Organizational Leadership

Mentions:

Website: https://mikereilly.net/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike71reilly/

Mentions:

https://mikereilly.net/book

https://www.active.com/

https://www.challengedathletes.org/

Finding Your Finish Line by Mike Reilly

The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter

Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

Modern Problems. Ancient Wisdom:

Ancient Intelligence explores the timeless principles that can help leaders better understand themselves, our world, and how we lead in the era of AI: https://ancientintelligencebook.com/

More of Leadership Unlocked:

Check out our leadership development resources at https://arcqusgroup.com/

Contact me at dusty@arcqusgroup.com

• (00:00) - 81 - Mike Reilly
• (01:18) - You Are an Ironman
• (09:41) - One on One Leadership
• (14:08) - Finding Your Finish Line
• (23:14) - Starting at the Finish Line
• (31:25) - Lifting People Up
• (35:54) - Mike's Next Finish Line
• (38:50) - Goal vs Finish Line
• (41:58) - Rapid Fire Questions

Dusty sits down with Forrest for a practical conversation about scaling founder-led businesses, developing leaders, and building the systems that allow owners to finally get out of the middle of everything. Drawing from more than 25 years in operations and his experience with EOS, Forrest explains his “techability chart” framework for mapping an organisation’s technology stack, eliminating unnecessary duplication, identifying security risks, and uncovering opportunities for better integration and automation. He also reflects on the early mentor who deliberately gave him room to make mistakes, shaping his belief that leaders should create clear decision-making guardrails rather than demanding perfection. From there, Forrest explores the power of net weaving, why founders often become bottlenecks in the businesses they created, and how designing roles around the company’s future rather than its past can unlock the next stage of growth. Along the way, he shares lessons on coaching, delegation, planning, and why 80% can often be good enough when the outcome matters more than doing something exactly your way. Ultimately, the conversation is a reminder that scalable leadership comes from creating clarity, investing in people, and building systems that allow others to make decisions, grow, and succeed without everything flowing through the founder.

Key Timestamps:

(00:47) – What Is a Techability Chart?

(07:34) – How Forrest Got Started

(09:57) – Allowing People to Make Mistakes

(16:32) – Solution Selling

(19:09) – NetWeaving

(25:13) – Taking Time to Think

(28:35) – Challenges Faced by Founders

(35:38) – Mentorship and Coaching

(38:50) – Rapid-Fire Questions

Key Topics Discussed:

Leadership Unlocked, Leadership Insights, Dusty Holcomb, Servant Leadership Principles, Self-Leadership Strategies, Growth Mindset in Leadership, Integrity and Leadership, Leadership Development Resources, Effective Leadership Habits, Empowering Leadership Techniques, Senior Executive Insights, Leadership Quotes and Reflections, Leadership Podcast, Executive Coaching, CEO Podcast, Business Leadership, Leadership Growth, Leadership Journey, Stories From Leaders, Leadership Tools, High-Performing Teams, Leadership Mindset, Decision Making, Personal Growth, Leadership Coaching, Organizational Leadership

Mentions:

Website: https://fractionatorhq.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/forrestkderr/

Mentions:

Who's Your Mike?: A No-Bullshit Guide to the People You'll Meet on Your Entrepreneurial Journey by Kurt Wilkin

The Science of Scaling: Grow Your Business Bigger and Faster Than You Think Possible by Dr. Benjamin Hardy & Blake Erickson

Modern Problems. Ancient Wisdom:

Ancient Intelligence explores the timeless principles that can help leaders better understand themselves, our world, and how we lead in the era of AI: https://ancientintelligencebook.com/

More of Leadership Unlocked:

Check out our leadership development resources at https://arcqusgroup.com/

Contact me at dusty@arcqusgroup.com

• (00:00) - 76 - Forrest Derr
• (01:00) - What is a Techability Chart?
• (07:34) - How Forrest Got Started
• (09:55) - Allowing People to Make Mistakes
• (16:29) - Solution Selling
• (19:07) - Netweaving
• (25:07) - Taking Time to Think
• (28:30) - Challenges Faced by Founders
• (35:32) - Mentorship & Coaching
• (38:43) - Rapid-Fire Questions