Dave Garrison joins Travis on this episode of the Travis Makes Money Podcast. Dave is a renowned leadership strategist with over 25 years of experience as a CEO, strategic advisor, and independent board member for both public and private companies, including Ameritrade. He is the co-founder of Garrison Growth, a firm dedicated to helping organizations—from startups to major corporations—unlock the full potential of their teams. Dave recently authored The Buy-In Advantage, a book focused on inspiring employees to care deeply and perform at their best. His unique blend of high-level strategic insight and hands-on leadership experience makes him a compelling voice on building successful, people-driven businesses.

On this episode we talk about:

Dave’s first money-making experience as a newspaper delivery boy and the lessons it taught him about persistence and cash flow.

The value of early, high-volume, people-facing jobs in developing communication and life skills.

How parenting styles and financial education at home shape children’s future relationship with money.

Dave’s unconventional career path, including his decision to take a sales job after earning an MBA from Harvard, and what he learned from both experiences.

The mindset shift from “having the answers” to “asking the right questions” as a leader, and why this is crucial for organizational buy-in and growth.

How generational differences (especially Gen Z) and post-pandemic shifts are changing what employees want from work—and what leaders must do to adapt.

Practical frameworks from The Buy-In Advantage for drama-free problem solving and building collective genius within teams.

Top 3 Takeaways

The best leaders don’t just give answers—they ask better questions to develop decision-making muscles in their teams, fostering buy-in and long-term growth.

True organizational success comes from aligning people’s work with a sense of purpose and shared values, not just focusing on the bottom line.

Creating a culture where everyone’s input is valued leads to smarter decisions and greater results than any one leader could achieve alone.

Notable Quotes

“Managers tell and leaders listen. One of the myths of leadership is thinking we have the answer, when in fact our job is to prepare people for change by helping them think.”

“All of us are smarter than any of us. That’s how you get the best thinking—by including everyone in the process.”

“If time and money were unlimited, what would your ideal life look like? My joy—and my success—comes from helping others achieve results they didn’t think were possible.”

Connect with Dave Garrison:

https://garrisongrowth.com/

Book: The Buy-In Advantage (available wherever books are sold)

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