Real leadership isn’t being the smartest person in the room. It’s creating the kind of culture where people feel safe enough to say, “I don’t know.”

In this episode, Alex Raymond talks with Garry Ridge, the former CEO of WD-40 and the author of “Any Dumb-Ass Can Do It.” Garry shares how a moment of “jumping in to fix it” early in his career completely reshaped his approach to leadership. That shift, from problem-solver to coach, set the foundation for one of the most admired cultures in business, with 93% employee engagement and a company-wide commitment to learning and accountability.

Garry explains why admitting what you don’t know isn’t weakness but the beginning of trust. He unpacks the idea of “dumbassery” as a leadership superpower, and why removing fear in the workplace creates room for growth, innovation, and genuine connection. What can happen when you stop calling things failures and start treating them as learning moments? What will change when your company values are more than just words on a wall?

This episode offers ideas for leaders who want to build purpose-driven companies without losing their people, or themselves, in the process. From the power of clearly ranked values to the surprisingly effective “Maniac Pledge,” Garry provides a framework for creating a workplace where people feel safe, supported, and proud to contribute.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Introduction

03:13 Learning Moments and Redefining Failure

05:25 “I Don’t Know” as a Leadership Superpower

07:28 Psychological Safety and People-First Cultures

14:16 Purpose, Values, and the Will of the People

21:44 Purpose Beyond Product and Real Accountability

33:19 Leading with Love

Links

Connect with Garry Ridge:

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

Website: https://thelearningmoment.net/

Website Quiz: https://thelearningmoment.net/quiz/

Connect with Alex Raymond:

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

Website: https://amplifyam.com/

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Building a business with purpose will push you to grow in ways you probably didn’t expect. What happens when your ambition outpaces your timing? Or when your team starts breaking down and you realize the real issue starts with you?

In this episode, Alex Raymond talks with Brian Dally, the co-founder and CEO of Groundfloor, a fintech company that gives everyday investors access to real estate debt. Brian shares what he learned from starting too early, betting on the wrong timelines, and eventually paving the way for a market that wasn’t quite ready for him.

Brian also opens up about a turning point in his leadership when a blowout between two teams during a family ski trip forced him to confront the culture he had helped create. That moment led to a reset, not just in how the company operated, but in how he saw himself as a leader.

What do you do when your company hits a wall? How do you stay committed when the cost of building starts to feel personal? Brian reflects on his spiritual life, his leadership missteps, and the values that guide him today. He also shares the habits that keep him steady like hiking Colorado trails, practicing mindfulness, and checking in with the people who matter most.

If you’re building something ambitious, this conversation will make you think more deeply about the kind of person you’re becoming in the process.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Introduction

03:07 Early Challenges of Launching Groundfloor

05:55 The Cost of Being Early

08:10 Lessons from Republic Wireless

12:09 Personal Growth Through Leadership

14:45 Faith, Vulnerability, and Inner Work

16:48 How Company Culture Broke and Got Rebuilt

23:05 Big Goals, Ambition, and Opportunity Cost

30:59 Real-World Impact on Customers

34:02 Habits That Keep Brian Grounded

Links

Connect with Brian Dally:

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

Website: https://groundfloor.com/

Connect with Alex Raymond:

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

Website: https://amplifyam.com/

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Most entrepreneurs think they need a new growth strategy. What they actually need is a better relationship with themselves.

In this episode, the tables turn as Sarah Lockwood, the founder of HiveCast, interviews Alex Raymond about the upcoming Conscious Entrepreneur Summit, happening May 28–29 in Boulder, Colorado. Now in its fourth year, the summit offers something most business events miss entirely: a chance to work on the person behind the company.

Alex shares how the idea for the summit came from countless conversations where founders showed up to talk about strategy but ended up revealing stress, fear, and self-doubt. What if those internal struggles are actually the bottleneck in your business? And what would happen if you had space to name them, examine them, and move through them?

This year’s summit features Dr. Benjamin Hardy, the author of 10x is Easier Than 2x, leading a small-group workshop on the psychology of exponential thinking. Dr. Michael Freeman, a leading voice in entrepreneur mental health research, will speak on how entrepreneurship can become a path for deep personal growth.

Sarah and Alex also talk about what makes this event feel so different. The connections are real. The conversations go deep quickly. And the room is full of people who are serious about growth, not just in revenue, but in clarity, confidence, and capacity.

If you’re the kind of founder who wants to scale your business without losing yourself in the process, The 2025 Conscious Entrepreneur Summit might be exactly what you’ve been looking for. Get your tickets now and don’t miss your chance to join the exclusive 10x Workshop with Dr. Benjamin Hardy. Seats are limited!

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Sarah Lockwood on the Conscious Entrepreneur Community

04:45 The Origin of the Summit and Why It Matters

08:20 Personal Growth as a Business Strategy

13:00 Big Ideas from Past Speakers

15:55 Ben Hardy and 10x Thinking

24:15 Why In-Person Connection Still Wins

26:50 Founder Well-Being with Dr. Michael Freeman

29:00 JV vs Varsity Thinking for Entrepreneurs

35:20 Who the Summit Is For

Links:

Dr. Srikumar Rao on The Conscious Entrepreneur: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-conscious-entrepreneur/id1708478000?i=1000641708365

Gay Hendricks on The Conscious Entrepreneur: ​​https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-conscious-entrepreneur/id1708478000?i=1000630685954

Touched by Fire Publication: https://michaelafreemanmd.com/Research_files/Are%20Entrepreneurs%20Touched%20with%20Fire%20(pre-pub%20n)%204-17-15.pdf

The Conscious Entrepreneur Website: https://consciousentrepreneur.us/

Benjamin Hardy Website: https://www.benjaminhardy.com/

Connect with Alex Raymond:

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

Website: https://amplifyam.com/ Connect with Sarah Lockwood:

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

Website: https://hivecast.fm

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm