In this episode of Business Refocused, Lindsay and Carey talk with Col. (Ret.) Robert “Cujo” Teschner, former F-15 and F-22 fighter pilot and author of Debrief to Win. Cujo shares how a childhood dream of flying fighters led to a 20-year Air Force career, what happened when a colorectal cancer diagnosis forced him out of the cockpit, and how he rebuilt his purpose as an entrepreneur and leadership coach. He walks through the accountability and debrief system used in elite fighter squadrons and shows how those same tools help business leaders create high performance teams, lead through disruption, and handle feedback without blame.

Throughout the conversation, Cujo and the hosts connect these lessons directly to independent insurance agencies: finding meaning in “numbers work,” leading teams through transition, and staying grounded when your identity is tied to your role. It is a practical, story-driven playbook for any owner or leader who feels stuck, burned out, or on the edge of a big change.

What you’ll learn

• How fighter pilot debriefs translate into a simple, repeatable accountability process for your agency
• A forward focused way to talk about mistakes that improves performance instead of creating fear
• How to reframe disruption, illness, or career change so your story “gets better” instead of smaller
• Why purpose drives better results than quotas, and how to reconnect your daily work to real impact
• Practical ideas for leading your team through uncertainty, tough feedback, and major transition

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Show previously named Insurance Refocused