Go to Your Balcony: The Leadership Cheat Code That'll Save Your Business

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We're not talking about funnels, ads, or SEO today. Jeremy's diving into one of the most important habits any business owner can build—how to "go to your balcony." This mental framework has saved him from losing employees, making ego-based decisions, and wrecking relationships in five-minute emotional storms. Learn the mindset, language, and systems behind this leadership superpower.

📌 Episode Topics

• What "Go to Your Balcony" Means: A simple framework from Getting to Yes that helps you pause, gain perspective, and respond instead of react.
• How Jeremy Used It: From snapping about dumbbells to building systems that empowered his team.
• The Cost of Bad Reactions: Why emotional decisions cost you A-players, clients, and culture.
• Five Steps to Master the Balcony Move: A repeatable structure to handle pressure moments with clarity.

🧭 What "Go to Your Balcony" Means

When your pulse spikes and your brain's about to fire off a Slack message you'll regret—pause. Go to your balcony. It's a leadership move that means stepping off the emotional "dance floor" and up to a mental balcony where you can see the whole picture—patterns, dynamics, and your next best move.

This concept comes from Getting to Yes, and it's a framework Jeremy credits for helping him lead dozens of employees and scale two successful companies.

💥 Real Talk: The Dumbbell Story

Early in Jeremy's first clinic, Ripple, he'd lose his mind when dumbbells weren't racked perfectly. But it wasn't about dumbbells—it was about control. He was burned out, working 80-hour weeks, and expecting employees to read his mind.

Once he started "going to the balcony," he realized it wasn't about laziness—it was about unclear systems. So he worked with his team to build a clear closing checklist. Ownership and morale went up immediately.

💬 How to Use It in Real Life

• Name It: Say it out loud—"I'm triggered." It helps your brain move from emotion to logic.
• Time-Box the Pause: "Thanks for bringing that up. Let me think about it." Then step away for 10 minutes—or a day if needed.
• Change Your State: Walk, grab coffee, breathe—get perspective before responding.
• Ask Balcony Questions:
  • What's the real problem?
  • What outcome do we want in 90 days?
  • What's the smallest first step forward?
  • If this was someone else's company, what would I advise them to do?
• Respond with Structure: Replace vibes with frameworks. Create SOPs, playbooks, or review cycles that eliminate ambiguity.

📈 From Chaos to Clarity

Once Jeremy built systems around pay raises, reviews, and expectations, employees stopped ambushing him with surprise asks. They trusted him more, flagged problems earlier, and the company culture thrived.

He calls this "anti-regret math." Every pause buys you options. Options create better decisions. Better decisions compound.

⚙️ Leadership Systems That Work

• ✅ Quarterly and yearly reviews with clear metrics.
• ✅ Transparent compensation bands and growth paths.
• ✅ Playbooks and checklists built with your team, not for them.
• ✅ Consistent communication cadences that replace emotional check-ins.

💡 Why It Matters

Bad reactions are expensive. You can lose a top employee, a loyal client, or derail a strategy with one emotional decision. Going to your balcony keeps you in control and helps your team trust your leadership.

In Jeremy's words: "Never let your first reaction be your final decision."

🎯 Try It This Week

Next time your heart rate spikes, say the line: "Thanks for bringing that up. Let me think about it." Step back, think for 10 minutes, and return with a thoughtful plan. Watch how people respond.

📣 Share This Episode

If this episode hit home, share it with a fellow clinic owner who needs it. Great leadership doesn't just grow businesses—it compounds freedom, culture, and impact.

📱 Follow for More

Follow @_jeremydupont for proven clinic growth and leadership strategies.

Go to your balcony. Think first. Lead better.