The Plant Yourself Podcast

The Perks of Being a Dumb-Ass: Garry Ridge on PYP 622


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Garry Ridge is the former CEO of WD-40 and the co-author of Any Dumb-Ass Can Do It, a book about building high-performance cultures through servant leadership, emotional safety, and consistent values. In this conversation, Garry shares not just what he learned during his 25+ years at WD-40, but how he lived it—and how other leaders can too.

We talked about what it means to lead with a heart of gold and a backbone of steel, how culture can't be microwaved (spoiler: it's a crockpot), and why being a "dumbass" is actually a leadership superpower.

Garry tells stories about turning fear into learning, eliminating the word "manager," and why clarity around values—especially in a hierarchy—gives everyone the confidence to make the right decision, no matter their title.

We also explore:

  • Why psychological safety isn't fluff, it's foundational
  • How “the soul-sucking CEO” lives in all of us, and what to do about that
  • What happened when Garry went back to school as a CEO
  • How WD-40 went global using three simple marketing questions
  • Why organizations should replace “failure” with “learning moments”
  • The real-world power of love and belonging at work
  • The “Maniac Pledge” and how it eliminates finger-pointing
  • How even during COVID, WD-40’s engagement scores stayed sky-high

This episode is a warm bath of wisdom, humor, and hope for anyone who wants to lead—at work or in life—with integrity, humility, and heart.

Links
  • Garry Ridge's website: thelearningmoment.net
  • Take the Dumbass Proficiency Quiz here
  • Connect with Garry on LinkedIn
  • Join the School of Dumb-Assery on LinkedIn
  • Garry’s book: Any Dumb-Ass Can Do It

...more
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The Plant Yourself PodcastBy Dr Howie Jacobson

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