The Premier Standard

Ever hit send, felt good about the message, and then watched confusion spread anyway? You’re not alone. Bo Davis sits down with Rasheeda Clark, President of Flynn Planet Fitness, to get practical about what it means to be a Skilled Communicator: use fewer words, choose them with care, and make sure they land.

Rasheeda reflects on stepping into a new role and how humility and vulnerability help leaders learn faster. She shares why clear priorities help teams focus, how to balance responsiveness with protecting your time, and why planning and calendar discipline make it easier to show up for people. We also talk about choosing the right channel—text, call, Teams, or email—and why forwarding a message with “FYI” can pass the problem along instead of helping solve it.

The tables turn when Rasheeda starts asking Bo questions—reminding that strong communication is a conversation, not a performance. You’ll also hear a better way to check for understanding than “Does that make sense?” and Rasheeda’s 80/20 rule for listening more intentionally.

Try it in one conversation: listen 80 percent of the time, speak 20 percent, and ask, “What are you taking away from this?” Then listen.

If this episode helps you lead with more clarity, share it with a teammate, subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next, and leave a review with one communication habit you’re working on.

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Getting your butt kicked can teach you more than getting praised, but only if you’re willing to embrace the pain and learn from it.

In this episode of The Premier Standard, Bo Davis sits down with Aaron Kirkman, President of Flynn Arby’s, to kick off the Flynn Competency series with Consistent Achiever.

Aaron breaks down what consistent performance actually looks like when the business gets messy: disciplined execution, honest self-assessment, resilience, preparation, and the willingness to hold a high standard even when it would be easier to look away.

We talk about lessons Aaron learned in restaurant kitchens, why mise en place still shapes how he thinks about leadership, the warning signs that show up before performance slips, and how strong operators avoid getting trapped by excuses, scorecards, or “paralysis by analysis.”

Aaron also shares the story behind the nickname “Soul Crusher,” what it taught him about radical candor and declaring intent, and why calibration has to come before accountability.

Most importantly, this conversation is a reminder that Consistent Achievers don’t avoid setbacks. They learn from them.

Your challenge this week: Send us an email and let us know, "What’s one setback, tough piece of feedback, or disappointing result you need to stop fighting and start learning from?"

Embrace the pain. Define reality. Make the adjustment. And keep moving.

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Own It! can sound like a simple slogan until you’re the one staring at a broken oven, a performance gap, or a team that needs direction fast.

Bo Davis sits down with Lauren Leahy, Chief Transformation Officer at Flynn Group, to talk about what real ownership looks like in leadership and why it’s not the same thing as doing everything yourself. If you’ve ever felt the pull to be the fixer, the hero, or the person who has to carry it all, this conversation may challenge how you think about ownership.

Lauren shares the unexpected path that brought her to Flynn, including once sitting on the other side of the negotiating table from Flynn before eventually joining the company herself, and the leadership lessons that came with stepping into unfamiliar territory.

From there, we dig into Flynn’s Own It! mindset and one of the biggest tensions leaders face: how do you build an ownership culture without creating a hero culture?

Lauren breaks down role clarity, smart delegation, “highest and best use,” and why support functions should enable operators instead of distracting them. She also gets candid about imposter syndrome, stepping into roles before you feel completely ready, and why the strongest leaders elevate the people around them instead of rescuing them.

Because real ownership isn’t about becoming indispensable.

It’s about making the team stronger because you were there.

Subscribe and turn on automatic downloads so you don’t miss an episode. After you listen, ask yourself:

Who can you elevate this week?

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If you’ve ever watched your company grow and wondered, “Are we getting better, or just getting bigger?” you’ll feel this conversation immediately.

Ron Bellamy, President and COO of Flynn Group, joins Bo to unpack what “Premier” actually looks like in the real world of franchise operations, restaurant leadership, and day-to-day execution across thousands of locations.

Ron explains why Flynn is willing to be transparent about its culture and operating approach. The “secret sauce” isn’t hidden knowledge...it’s the discipline to execute consistently at scale.

We talk through Ron’s path from consulting and private equity into restaurant operations, along with some uncomfortable leadership lessons, including a brutal 360 review and the infamous 160-slide PowerPoint that taught him how differently restaurant operators need information delivered.

From there, we dig into the Premier Card, Flynn’s North Star, to discuss our mission to be the Premier franchise operator in the world, and the values that keep performance and people connected. Ron shares how Care Genuinely for People can collide with accountability, what Play Like a Champion looks like on an ordinary Tuesday, and how Win as One helps break down silos across brands.

We close with the real risk of growth: losing authenticity and culture slowly, then all at once, and what ownership looks like when leaders see misalignment early.

Subscribe and turn on automatic downloads so you don’t miss an episode. After you listen, email us ([email protected]) and let us know:

Where do you have the opportunity to raise the standard?

Email Us: [email protected]

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Welcome to The Premier Standard.

In this short introductory episode, host Bo Davis shares what the podcast is all about, why real leadership stories matter, and what listeners can expect throughout Season One.

You’ll get a preview of upcoming guests and topics, meet recurring segments like Bo Don’t Know and Flynn Around & Find Out, and learn how you can join the conversation.

Real leaders. Real stories. Raising the standard, one conversation at a time.

Email Us: [email protected]

Flynn Employees Only: The Premier Standard SharePoint Site