How do we as business leaders not be discouraged by hard times and instead see the good that can result from them?

In episode 242 of At The Table, Patrick Lencioni welcomes legendary financial expert and leadership voice Dave Ramsey for an unfiltered conversation about hard times. As Pat mentions in the intro, this is not your average interview. They discuss the current economic and cultural moment, explore the importance of values-based leadership, and call out the failures of transactional mindsets. This episode challenges leaders to hold the line on integrity, even—and especially—when things get tough.

Topics explored in this episode:

(2:46) The Ubiquity of Adversity

* Leaders should expect to face new forms of adversity as they grow their business.

* Adversity can distort one's perception, making challenges seem more overwhelming than they are.

(8:24) The Genesis of a Calling

* How Dave’s bankruptcy led him to discover his calling in helping others manage their finances.

* Helping others through hardship can transform personal struggles into a meaningful career.

(17:24) Developing Resilience

* How previous challenges can build resilience and provide perspective on current difficulties.

* Leaders must work through challenges rather than avoid them.

(22:50) Navigating the Stages of Business

* Dave outlines the five stages of business growth: treadmill, pathfinder, trailblazer, peak performer, and legacy.

* Each stage presents unique challenges and requires different strategies for success and progression.

(31:09) Continuous Learning

* Effective leaders are lifelong learners who integrate insights from various sources and generously credit others.

Thanks to Dave Ramsey for being on the show!

Learn more about Dave and his company Ramsey Solutions: https://www.ramseysolutions.com/

Follow Dave on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramsey-dave/

Get Dave’s books mentioned in this episode:

* Build a Business You Love: Mastering the Five Stages of Business: https://store.ramseysolutions.com/business-and-career/books/build-a-business-you-love-by-dave-ramsey/

* EntreLeadership: 20 Years of Practical Business Wisdom from the Trenches: https://store.ramseysolutions.com/business-and-career/books/entreleadership/

This episode of At The Table with Patrick Lencioni is brought to you by The Table Group: https://www.tablegroup.com. We teach leaders how to make work more effective and less dysfunctional. We also help their employees be more fulfilled and less miserable.

At The Table is a podcast that lives at the connection between work life, leadership, organizational health, and culture. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts (https://apple.co/4hJKKSL), Spotify (https://spoti.fi/4l1aop0), and YouTube (https://bit.ly/At-The-Table-YouTube).

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What happens when the external validation of your success conflicts with your internal values and purpose?

In episode 241 of At The Table, Pat Lencioni and Cody Thompson explore the hidden dangers of traditional success metrics. They also discuss how businesses and individuals can lose their way when they chase recognition that doesn’t align with their original purpose.

Topics explored in this episode:

(0:40) The Michelin Star Story

* How a small restaurant in Italy gave up its Michelin star to stay true to its identity.

(4:51) Aligning Success With Intentions

* Why companies lose their way when they follow external expectations.

* The importance of anchoring decisions to the question: "Why do we exist?"

(8:46) Success and Personal Growth

* Arthur Brooks' wisdom about valuing the process over outcomes.

* How personal definitions of success change over time, especially in creative fields.

(13:02) The Cost of Chasing the Wrong Goals

* How woundedness can drive people to seek approval through achievements.

* Reflections on athletes and leaders who chose integrity over external trophies.

* Why true success means being proud of who you're becoming, not just what you achieve.

(17:53) Staying Grounded Amid Temptation

* Lessons from early Table Group decisions to resist the IPO craze.

* The ultimate call to stick to your "why" for lasting fulfillment.

Books mentioned in this episode:

* Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara.

* The Advantage: Why Organizational Health Trumps Everything Else In Business by Patrick Lencioni.

* From Strength to Strength by Arthur Brooks.

This episode of At The Table with Patrick Lencioni is brought to you by The Table Group: https://www.tablegroup.com. We teach leaders how to make work more effective and less dysfunctional. We also help their employees be more fulfilled and less miserable.

At The Table is a podcast that lives at the connection between work life, leadership, organizational health, and culture. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts (https://apple.co/4hJKKSL), Spotify (https://spoti.fi/4l1aop0), and YouTube (https://bit.ly/At-The-Table-YouTube).

Follow Pat Lencioni on https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-lencioni-orghealth and http://www.youtube.com/@PatrickLencioniOfficial.

Connect with Cody Thompson https://www.linkedin.com/in/cody-thompson-a5918850.

Be sure to check out our other podcast, The Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencioni, on Apple Podcasts (https://apple.co/4iNz6Yn), Spotify (https://spoti.fi/4iGGm8u), and YouTube (https://bit.ly/Working-Genius-YouTube).

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Why is it so difficult to reform government inefficiencies? And what can organizations and households learn from eliminating waste in large, public institutions?

In episode #240 of At The Table, Pat and Cody explore the concept of government efficiency through the lens of organizational health. Drawing comparisons between the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the federal government, and dysfunctional teams, they highlight the painful necessity of accountability and cutting waste.

Topics explored in this episode:

(01:04) Reframing DOGE

* The goal is to explore waste and accountability without partisan heat, looking instead at structure and culture.

(6:09) Government vs. Private Sector

* The federal government is not set up to be a team like private sector organizations.

(10:47) The Storage Unit Analogy

* Cody shares a story of trying to help a hoarder consolidate two storage units, which becomes a metaphor for government systems that resist change.

(15:24) Accountability

* Leadership requires doing what is right, even when it’s unpopular or emotionally difficult.

(20:44) Mistakes Will Happen

* Even a well-intentioned cleanup will result in some regrettable losses.

* Without a willingness to risk minor mistakes, the entire system remains unsustainable.

(25:31) DOGE in Your Organization

* The hosts discuss applying DOGE at the Table Group.

* Even healthy organizations benefit from periodically eliminating waste.

This episode of At The Table with Patrick Lencioni is brought to you by The Table Group. We teach leaders how to make work more effective and less dysfunctional. We also help their employees be more fulfilled and less miserable.

At The Table is a podcast that lives at the connection between work life, leadership, organizational health, and culture. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

Follow Pat Lencioni on LinkedIn and YouTube.

Connect with Cody Thompson on LinkedIn.

Be sure to check out our other podcast, The Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencioni, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

Let us know your feedback via podcast@tablegroup.com.

This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/