Most leaders chase strength, dominance, and control but Eddie Wilson argues the leaders who build what lasts develop something rarer: strength under control. In Episode 47, Eddie breaks down the difference between leading yourself, leading followers, and becoming a leader of leaders. He challenges you to measure your leadership against the traits found at the highest level. Eddie uses examples like Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan to show how ego can drive success but also make an empire fragile, then introduces the three surprising traits with practical habits to cultivate them that set elite leaders apart.

TIMESTAMPS:

• 00:00 — Strength under control and measuring yourself against elite leadership traits
• 00:42 — Why the strongest leaders trade dominance for awareness and inner freedom
• 02:23 — The core questions: strong enough to bend? build without ego?
• 02:50 — Ego can create conquest, but not lasting empires (Alexander + Genghis)
• 04:46 — The 3 levels: lead yourself → lead followers → lead leaders
• 06:08 — Trait #1: Wonder 
• 09:06 — Wonder draws people in; “I’m discovering, not just directing”
• 09:30 — Trait #2: Humility
• 10:04 — The Sherpa lesson: confident enough to help others win
• 12:29 — How to spot ego: can you say “I was wrong”? can you apologize?
• 14:12 — Trait #3: Openness to be wrong 
• 16:08 — Practices: keep wonder alive, ask for feedback, “what am I missing?”

20:15 — Weekly challenge: lead without proving anything

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Eddie breaks down why people miss defining moments in business and life, and why it’s rarely a lack of “chance,” it’s a lack of readiness. He shares a childhood story about preparing for the responsibility of a dog before getting one, then connects it to the biblical story of the Promised Land and the danger of fear driven thinking. You’ll also learn the four reasons people miss their moment, and Eddie closes with a clear weekly challenge so you won’t miss yours.

TIMESTAMPS:

• 00:00 — The truth most people won’t tell you: opportunity won’t make you ready
• 01:22 — Don’t binge these episodes: listen weekly and apply
• 02:48 — Why people miss their moment: you weren’t prepared
• 03:34 — The dog story: “Act as if you already have it”
• 06:28 — Moses + the Promised Land: fear meets opportunity
• 08:51 — “Fear delays your destiny… and sometimes disqualifies you”
• 10:42 — Reason #1: Have you prepared
• 13:01 — Reason #2: You fear what’s ahead 
• 16:00 — Reason #3: Who are you surrounding yourself with
• 19:00 — Reason #4: The moment moved on
• 21:34 — The weekly challenge: build while you wait + train fear response
• 24:10 — “You’re not waiting on clarity… you’re avoiding responsibility”

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This episode is a powerful year in review and a behind the scenes look at Impact Others and Project Dakota. Eddie shares the story of launching a new “house of refuge” and feeding center in Colombia, why he’s been drawn to protecting children who can’t protect themselves, and the personal origin behind Project Dakota, named in honor of his brother. Eddie then takes you to India, where he helped deliver Christmas gifts to hundreds of children who had never received a gift in their entire life, and describes the moment that wrecked him in the best way; orphans singing “Silent Night.” To close, Eddie gives three end of year principles to carry into your planning that will help build a life that creates real fulfillment through impact.

TIMESTAMPS:

• 00:00 – Year in review and why this episode matters: Impact Others
• 00:31 – Colombia: launching a new feeding center & house of refuge
• 02:16 – “Why orphans?” and the personal reason Eddie didn’t fully name before
• 03:46 – Eddie’s childhood loss and his brother Dakota’s story
• 06:55 – The question that sparked it: honoring Dakota + why Christmas
• 08:22 – Project Dakota is born: giving Christmas morning to orphans
• 09:29 – 17,000+ orphans touched plus toy drives across the U.S.
• 10:52 – India trip: what Eddie saw in Madurai
• 14:16 – Giving gifts to children who’d never received one
• 15:38 – The “Silent Night” moment 
• 17:57 – Eddie’s challenge: what are you doing that actually matters?
• 18:19 – The 3 principles
• 21:52 – The 3 impact targets
• 23:02 – Closing

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What if real leadership isn’t about holding power tighter but knowing when to give it back? In this episode Eddie Wilson unpacks the story of Cincinnatus, the Roman farmer who was pulled from his field, given absolute power as dictator, saved Rome in just 15 days and then walked away to go back to his plow. Eddie uses this ancient story to challenge modern leaders, founders, and parents who never “asked” to lead but now have people watching them, along with breaking three core leadership truths. From business owners stuck at the $5M ceiling because they won’t relinquish control, to parents learning when to let their kids fail and grow, to politicians who “die in the spotlight” because they hold power too long, this episode will force you to ask: Am I building something that shines without me, or something that only works as long as I’m in the room?

TIME STAMPS:

• 00:00 – Leadership isn’t ego, it’s letting go
• 00:37 – Who is Cincinnatus? The farmer turned Roman dictator
• 01:32 – When leadership finds you 
• 02:44 – For leaders who never asked to lead but answered the call
• 04:21 – Accepting the role: abandoning what was, embracing what is
• 05:37 – In one day: from farmer’s clothes to dictator’s robe
• 07:41 – Overnight march, citizen soldiers, and outmaneuvering the enemy
• 09:39 – Victory in 15 days and Cincinnatus walks away from power
• 11:34 – Lesson #1: Power is a tool, not a throne
• 14:00 – Lesson #2: True leaders know when to step up and step away
• 15:42 – Why most small businesses never get past $5M
• 16:16 – Letting go as a parent: leading sons at different stages
• 17:51 – Lesson #3: Discipline over dominance restraint is greatness
• 19:56 – Give your followers the credit, not yourself
• 21:09 – Are you building a business that can thrive without you?
• 22:03 – Don’t just build for power; build for peace
• 22:47 – When leaders hold power too long: politics, ego, and dying in the spotlight
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• 25:09 – Final challenge: use power as a tool, then let it go

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Most founders don’t have a business problem, they have a decision problem. In this hard-hitting episode, Eddie Wilson reframes “violence” not as physical aggression, but as surgical intensity: the courage to cut people, systems, and revenue that are quietly killing your empire. Using a story from the Continental Congress, memories of his father’s quiet strength, and real world examples from his own companies, while breaking down three “violent” decisions every empire builder must make. You’ll learn why delay is often just fear in disguise, why your gut as a solid operator is rarely wrong, how to think in terms of protecting your future instead of punishing the past, and why “profit that costs purpose is way too expensive.” Eddie closes with three piercing questions to audit your life, business, and relationships so you can finally make the cuts you already know you need to make.

TIMESTAMPS:

• 00:00 – Franklin vs. Adams & the danger of endless diplomacy
• 02:03 – Empires require clear, courageous, sometimes ruthless decisions
• 03:01 – Eddie’s dad’s quiet strength
• 06:27 – Defining “violence” in business: not fists, but focus and surgical intensity
• 08:09 – Why most founders avoid “violent” decisions: indecision, loyalty, and “not burning bridges”
• 10:03 – Trusting your gut vs. over-rationalizing what people have already shown you
• 10:45 – Violent Decision #1: The courage to cut
• 16:15 – You’re not punishing the past; you’re protecting your future
• 17:19 – Who in your organization is no longer qualified to carry what’s next?
• 17:48 – Violent Decision #2: Burn what’s comfortable but broken
• 19:28 – Violent Decision #3: Kill the wrong revenue
• 21:40 – “Profit that costs purpose is way too expensive”
• 22:02 – What “violence” actually looks like
• 25:11 – Empire builders don’t swing wildly; they strike strategically and on time
• 26:06 – Three questions: What are you tolerating out of fear, what are you delaying, and what “violence” does your empire need today? 

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Most founders aren’t failing, they’re just sitting in the wrong seat. In this episode, Eddie breaks down the three seats in every business Owner, Operator, CEO, and shows you how blurred lines create bottlenecks, burnout, and stalled growth. You’ll learn what each seat actually owns, how to transition from Operator to CEO without the business collapsing, why systems are better than sweat, and the exact one week challenge to audit your calendar, color code your tasks, and offload what keeps you stuck. If you want scale, rest, and real freedom, this is your roadmap.

TIMESTAMPS:

• 00:00 – Why most founders are stuck: wrong seat, blurred lines.
• 02:36 – Clarity brings freedom: define Owner, Operator, CEO.
• 03:47 – The Owner seat: equity, decision rights, profit participation.
• 07:03 – The Operator seat: in the weeds, approvals, bottlenecks.
• 11:17 – The CEO seat: strategy, culture, leading leaders systems, not sweat.
• 13:11 – Think in quarters and years, not hours and days.
• 14:21 – Review data over drama; build rhythm and plan the exit.
• 16:26 – Step 1: identify all seats you’re sitting in now.
• 17:05 – Phase 1 Operator season: necessary, but temporary.
• 18:49 – Transition to CEO: delegate, lead by metrics, replace yourself.
• 22:14 – Why visionaries must reach CEO: scale, sell, rest.
• 24:33 – The one week challenge: audit calendar, color code, offload.
• 27:13 – Decide to shift now; empires aren’t built by do it alls.
• 27:58 – Final line: “Design everything to get done without you.” 

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In this high impact episode, Eddie opens the “lost files” of The Titan Doctrine and shows you how to remove the wrong leaders and elevate the right ones using an ancient battlefield lesson from Gideon’s 300. You’ll learn the three non-negotiable filters for leadership; Vision Loyalty, Mental Toughness, and Situational Awareness, and exactly how to apply them to your org today: prune your leadership team regularly, elevate by behavior not tenure, and protect the inner circle like your blueprint depends on it. If your team is talented but inconsistent, this framework will help you build trust at the top, align to a bigger vision, and stop fear based, reactive leadership before it spreads.

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TIMESTAMPS:

• 00:00 – “Lost files” of The Titan Doctrine & ancient wisdom lens for leadership.
• 02:25 – Gideon’s battlefield: from 32,000 to 300 through fear & awareness tests.
• 05:19 – Filter #1: Fear Test
• 07:24 – Filter #2: Water Test
• 09:19 – Synthesis: God kept the focused & the disciplined.
• 10:06 – Vision Loyalty: mission over personality.
• 13:12 – Mental Toughness: calm under pressure, no fear-based decisions.
• 15:13 – Situational Awareness: eyes up, anticipate what’s next.
• 19:27 – Application #1: Prune your leadership team annually.
• 20:18 – Application #2: Elevate by behavior, not tenure.
• 21:22 – Application #3: Protect the inner circle.
• 23:28 – Three self audit questions for your inner circle.
• 28:14 – Closing truths.

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An historic opportunity is here: 2–3 million Baby Boomer owners are exiting their companies, and most aren’t prepared to sell. Eddie brings in veteran dealmaker Matt Uhler (800+ transactions; owner in ~20 companies) to teach you exactly how to spot, finance, and operate a business that gives you freedom, not another job. You’ll learn what to look for, what to avoid, how to fund deals, the first 90 day moves, and a counterintuitive win-win negotiation approach sellers actually embrace. Real stories make this a practical masterclass for first-time buyers and seasoned operators alike.

TIMESTAMPS:

• 00:00 – Why this episode is different + guest intro
• 01:20 – The Baby Boomer exit wave: 2–3M owners leaving businesses
• 04:05 – What percentage of listed businesses actually sell & why
• 06:13 – Owners treat businesses like jobs vs assets
• 07:18 – Buyer’s filter: look for a recipe + positive financial trend
• 09:11 – Plane losing altitude analogy: why amateurs crash turnarounds
• 11:39 – Eddie’s “scale to the moon” vs Matt’s Main Street base-hit strategy
• 13:23 – First time buyers: start smaller; mind the five pillars
• 16:20 – 2020 Pandemic case study: stress, communication cadence, core competencies
• 20:26 – Funding deals: SBA, income producing debt, keep liquidity
• 22:48 – Don’t go solo: representation, comps, and avoiding listing traps
• 26:11 – KPIs & first diligence pass: can it pay for itself and you?
• 28:18 – Add-backs that aren’t bankable = deal killers
• 30:17 – First 90 days: third party accounting, protect the recipe
• 34:22 – How to correct operators without breaking the relationship
• 36:35 – Coaching his son’s buy: distressed appearance, fair multiple, inventory
• 38:32 – Negotiation masterclass: don’t corner sellers; preserve goodwill
• 43:34 – Cautions: stay in your core competency; test returns backwards
• 45:46 – Worst deal walked away from: people > numbers
• 49:08 – Three things to check: financials, customer proof, owner integrity
• 49:53 – What is a “business empire” now? Freedom, diversification, impact

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Are you building a business, or a prison? In this vulnerable, practical episode, Eddie unpacks the Founder Identity Crisis: how pouring yourself into your company creates an identity exchange that can warp decisions, stunt growth, and make healthy exits impossible. He shares the three warning signs your identity is tied to the business and a clear, repeatable framework to break free: create emotional separation by treating the business as an asset, journal wins & failures as data (not identity), clarify your calling vs. your company, and build systems so you’re not mission critical. With candid stories, Eddie shows how to lead as the architect, not the empire, and why your calling is bigger than any company you’ll ever build.

TIMESTAMPS:

• 00:00 – Welcome & topic: the Founder Identity Crisis
• 00:48 – The identity exchange: pour into the business, it gives you identity
• 01:51 – Why detaching identity leads to better decisions
• 02:17 – Becoming the business, then struggling to exit
• 03:16 – 2019 exits & post-exit depression: “life-changing money… but empty”
• 05:24 – Sign #1: Emotions track your P&L (your worth ≠ income)
• 06:51 – Sign #2: You can’t picture the business without you; delegation fear, sabotage
• 08:03 – Sign #3: You don’t know who you are outside the role
• 09:30 – Step 1: Create emotional separation—treat it as an asset
• 10:20 – “Asset leader” language & stewardship mindset
• 11:36 – Journal wins, and journal your failures as data, not identity 
• 13:10 – Step 2: Clarify calling vs company 
• 15:07 – Calling > brand: purpose bigger than logo, site, or P&L
• 16:48 – Step 3: Build systems so you’re not mission-critical
• 17:33 – “Grow by vision, not constant involvement”
• 18:20 – Howard Schultz/Starbucks: founder identity vs scaling well
• 21:29 – Eddie’s temptation to return & choosing “no” to protect calling
• 22:37 – You’re the architect, not the empire; your calling is higher
• 23:22 – Legacy > business: raising his sons, serving through Impact Others
• 24:33 – Final charge: find identity in who you are, not what you build

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Foundations beat tactics. In this powerful episode, Eddie Wilson unpacks Proverbs 4:23, “Guard your heart” and shows why your inputs (media, music, conversations, relationships, beliefs) inevitably become your outputs (words, decisions, results). From defining the “heart” as your thoughts, desires, and will, to a practical, 5-step Daily Heart Check, Eddie equips leaders to replace negativity with truth, protect emotions without going numb, and set boundaries that lift everyone around them. He also shares moving stories about forgiveness, perspective, and gratitude that demonstrate how guarding your heart transforms your life, leadership, and legacy.

TIMESTAMPS:

• 00:00 – Foundations vs tactics: why anchors matter
• 00:39 – Worldview & order: the architect behind creation
• 03:39 – Scripture as foundation: timeless truths for everyone
• 04:23 – Proverbs 4:23 explained: “Guard your heart”
• 05:16 – What “heart” means: thoughts, desires, will
• 06:34 – Reverse engineering your results: fix inputs, not just actions
• 07:35 – Scripture cross-check (Luke): overflow of the heart → life
• 09:23 – Leadership ripple: your input → their outcome
• 10:46 – Guarding ≠ walls: the heart as a garden
• 12:27 – “Hurt people hurt people”: why inputs drive reactions
• 14:07 – Step 1: Guard your inputs (think on true/honest/just)
• 17:12 – Step 2: Anchor in capital-T Truth (Scripture/constitution)
• 19:41 – Step 3: Monitor thoughts; replace lies with truth
• 21:28 – Step 4: Set relational boundaries (influence ≠ access)
• 23:07 – Step 5: Protect emotions—be a person of action, not reaction
• 24:25 – Stay spiritually alert: battle the right enemy
• 25:07 – Daily Heart Check: the 5-part routine
• 26:29 – Gratitude reset story: perspective that heals
• 29:23 – Relational filter & prayer/meditation release
• 30:22 – Closing: guard inputs → experience abundant life

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