Together at the Top

Dr. Thomas Hopkins, founder of Hopkins MD and former KCRA 3 medical correspondent, joins Nick today. Together, they explore purpose-driven leadership (Ikigai), active listening, and the independent business of healthcare. Dr. Hopkins also shares how to build a lasting practice by prioritizing empathy and culture.

He explains how to solve complex problems by thinking like a diagnostician: pausing, listening, and using "augmented intelligence." The conversation also covers retaining top talent through intrinsic motivation, managing stress, and the difference between confidence and self-trust. They close by discussing how to balance a demanding career with family life.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 - Introduction

03:23 - Find Your Purpose and Build a Meaningful Career

08:15 - How Purpose-Driven Living Fuels Success

12:01 - Build Stronger Leadership Skills Through Active Listening

15:38 - Combine AI and Emotional Intelligence for Better Decisions

18:32 - How Entrepreneurship and Mentorship Drive Business Growth

24:02 - Build Self-Trust and Learn From Business Mistakes

27:01 - Build a Strong Brand and Protect Your Reputation

30:33 - How to Hire, Engage, and Retain Top Talent

35:25 - Improve Team Performance Through Feedback and Employee Wellness

40:56 - Manage Workplace Stress and Prevent Leadership Burnout

44:10 - Build Resilience and Healthy Habits for Long-Term Success

49:57 - How Family Support and a Growth Mindset Fuel Success

58:39 - How Work-Life Balance and Wellness Support Leadership

01:00:36 - Set Boundaries and Prioritize What Matters Most

01:03:48 - Why Self-Trust Matters More Than Confidence

01:06:20 - Lead With Kindness, Humility, and Emotional Intelligence

01:09:03 - How Gratitude and Continuous Growth Build Better Leaders

Key Takeaways:

"I wanted to be a physician because I wanted to do more for people than they could do for themselves."

"To be a good diagnostician, to diagnose what's going on in people's lives or to diagnose where wellness needs to be accelerated, you just have to use your augmented intelligence and the basis of that is you just have to listen."

"It's not just hiring a person, it's how are you going to actively engage them... I think that's the kind of secret sauce of that retention is really that connecting with them, showing empathy."

"I want to find out what the ‘no' is... and then now I get to the ‘yes’, because that way it ends up being that ‘yes’ is a win-win for me and a win-win for them."

Links:

Nick Warner Consulting: https://www.nickwarnerconsulting.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nick-warner-consulting/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nickwarnerconsulting

X: https://x.com/NickWarnerCoach

Together at the Top @ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/together-at-the-top/id1606943728

Dr. Thomas Hopkins: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-hopkins-43628b33/

Hopkins MD: https://www.hopkinsmd.com/

Nick brings Rocklin Police Chief Rustin Banks into this "Nick Notes" session to break down the mechanics of leadership across both private consulting and public service. Their conversation centers on a social contract where titles disappear and honesty takes over, with a leader's composure acting as the primary anchor for team culture.

Nick deconstructs his "Rule of Six" and challenges the tired management line of "bring me solutions, not problems," while Rustin explains how 360-degree criticism prevents blind spots and keeps a leader's voice relevant. Both reject superficial team-building (escape rooms and the like) in favor of personal discipline and clean ends to the workday. The takeaway is simple: real authority comes from staying steady and wearing down the chaos with consistency.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 - Introduction

03:25 - Invest in Leadership Coaching and Professional Growth

08:02 - Build High-Performing Leadership Teams

13:53 - Stop Sending Your Best People Away Without Support

15:32 - Rethink Team Building for Better Communication

18:42 - Balance Teamwork, Accountability, and Healthy Conflict

27:23 - Develop Emerging Leaders with Clear Expectations

33:12 - Why Consistency Defines Great Leadership

36:20 - Create Structure, Composure, and Strong Daily Habits

40:27 - Learn from Young Talent and Embrace New Ideas

44:14 - Use Strategic Networking to Accelerate Leadership Growth

Key Takeaways:

"Once a decision is made, it’s our decision and we own it as a group, even if it was controversial and you didn't win."

"As long as the dialog is there and you're getting feedback, you can pick and choose what to implement."

"Telling a team 'don't bring me problems, bring me solutions' is useless at the top. It stops your best people from bringing you their hardest problems."

"If an organization has personality conflicts, an escape room won’t help. Relationships are what matter."

"Consistently showing up for your team is hard. It’s not complex, but it’s hard because we’re all human."

"I want clean ends to days, weeks, months, and quarters. Haphazard management leaves an organization frazzled."

"Character is what counts. I want the instructor, the partner, and the person looking for voids to fill and step up."

Links:

Nick Warner Consulting: https://www.nickwarnerconsulting.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nick-warner-consulting/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nickwarnerconsulting

X: https://x.com/NickWarnerCoach

Together at the Top @ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/together-at-the-top/id1606943728

Police Chief Rustin Banks: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rustin-banks-747aa8108/

Nick sits down with Jim Les, head coach of UC Davis men’s basketball. With seven seasons in the NBA and 25 years as a collegiate head coach, Coach Les brings deep insights into high-stakes management. Nick and Jim explore effective leadership, relentless work ethic, and the value of mentorship in sports and corporate settings. Listeners will learn to cultivate sustainable success by prioritizing trust, clear communication, and professional excellence.

The conversation covers elite team building, detailing how to recruit and retain top talent competitively. Jim explains how adapting your coaching style and building deep relationships serves as the ultimate anchor against turnover. They also highlight essential leadership behaviors like extreme accountability, vulnerability, and admitting mistakes. Finally, they discuss balancing a demanding career with family life, including Jim's experience coaching his son to a Division I championship. This is a truly fascinating discussion for business leaders and sports enthusiasts alike - one which clearly demonstrates that true success requires personal growth and mutual respect.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 - Introduction

03:31 - Why Urgency Creates Great Leaders

08:15 - Turn Adversity Into Long-Term Success

09:44 - Build Trust Before You Lead

19:06 - Coach the Person, Not Just the Performance

24:27 - Never Stop Growing as a Leader

27:03 - Develop Leaders Beyond the Game

30:11 - How Great Cultures Retain Top Talent

38:26 - Lead With Honesty and Accountability

47:48 - Balance Leadership, Family, and Success

59:53 - Win With Gratitude and an Underdog Mindset

Key Takeaways:

"If you're not where you want to be in your life, personally or professionally, you’ve got to edit your life. What are the things that are preventing you from getting to those areas?"

“In order to grow, you’ve got to go through adversity... and your limits have to be constrained in order to take steps forward."

"I can deliver a good message, but if I don't live that message on a daily basis, the kids are going to pick up on that."

"If a young man's not playing well or playing up to his potential, rather than point the finger at him, I tell our staff, we’ve got to point it at us."

"If you run your organization or you run your team or run your program to try and retain, you're going to lose people. You have to be who you are."

"I saw people that didn't respect the game, didn't work at it... and, man, the game humbled them."

"There have been a lot of times I've walked in after the game and I said, 'You know what? That was a horrible play I drew up.'... I think it's important for us to own that in front of them."

Links:

Nick Warner Consulting: https://www.nickwarnerconsulting.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nick-warner-consulting/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nickwarnerconsulting

X: https://x.com/NickWarnerCoach

Together at the Top @ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/together-at-the-top/id1606943728

Jim Les @ UC Davis: https://ucdavisaggies.com/staff-directory/jim-les/29

Captain Kyle Koukol, co-host of the From the Flight Deck podcast, joins Nick to dive into the topic of bridging the gap between aviation leadership and entrepreneurship. Discussing high-altitude discipline and his mission at his company, Dial a Pilot, Kyle demonstrates how humanizing the cockpit helps flyers overcome anxiety.

This episode also provides an insider’s look at the grit needed to lead in both the sky and in business. Together, Kyle and Nick explore "shared mental models" and the necessity of "upstream feedback" as Kyle explains why leaders must invite correction to ensure safety and accountability. They discuss delegating to experts to avoid becoming a managerial bottleneck. Finally, Kyle shares his strategy for decompressing to balance a high-stakes career with a restorative home life and offers a roadmap for high-performance teams.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 - Introduction

02:23 - Building a Career as an Airline Captain

05:25 - Balancing Leadership, Marriage, and Life at Home

11:22 - What Airline Pilots Love About the Job

14:42 - Managing Stress and High-Stakes Decisions

21:36 - Leading Older, More Experienced Team Members

24:22 - The Power of Debriefs and Continuous Improvement

29:37 - Solving the Fear of Flying Crisis

36:53 - Turning a Passion Project Into a Startup

42:25 - Building High-Performance Teams

46:38 - Leadership Lessons From Aviation

51:48 - Scaling Dial A Pilot and Impacting Millions

Key Takeaways:

"I really, really appreciate when people can give that upstream feedback, because I need to have that accountability."

"The most important time for me to really receive good quality feedback is when I am the one making the call."

"My first six months as captain, I really had to change the way that I would make those announcements... under-promising and over-delivering."

"I am an airline pilot, we do calls with nervous flyers... and we will talk to you for as long as you want about flying."

"A news agency... has to hit on negative emotions. Fear, anxiety, anger, all of those are just absolutely ripe in aviation."

"I very much try to take the perspective that I know the least in the room."

"I naturally surround myself with the people that are bought-in. If somebody is not passionately bought-in, I just won't work with them."

"Surrounding yourself with the right people is just so incredibly important."

Links:

Nick Warner Consulting: https://www.nickwarnerconsulting.com/

Kyle Koukol: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylekoukol/

Dial a Pilot: https://www.dialapilot.com/

From the Flight Deck: https://www.dialapilot.com/podcast-episodes/podcast

California lobbyist, former state and local government leader, and Aspen Rodel fellow Kristin Olsen-Cate joins Nick on the podcast to share what it looks like to lead with civility in an era of toxic politics. From moderating the recent Central Valley gubernatorial debate to building a bipartisan dialogue program through California Rodel, Kristin offers a window into a career spent at the center of the biggest issues, and the convictions that have kept her grounded along the way.

Together, Nick and Kristin explore what she calls the "exhausted majority" and her belief that real change happens not at the Capitol, but at dinner tables and in neighborhoods. They discuss her path from the Modesto Planning Commission to the State Assembly to the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors, the realities women still face in leadership, and the "don't tread on me" moment that taught her how to reshape perception. The conversation also covers stress, family, and her 2026 word, rest, alongside her enduring belief that "clear is kind" and that hard work paired with grace can still move mountains.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 - Introduction

02:32 - Moderating a Bipartisan Gubernatorial Debate in the Central Valley

06:35 - The Exhausted Majority and Choosing Rest as Her 2026 Word

10:37 - From Capital Fellows to a Career in California Public Policy

14:03 - Returning to Modesto, Planning Commission, and the City Council Run

17:00 - Outworking the Field to Win a State Assembly Seat

22:40 - Women in Leadership and the Power of Being Asked

25:23 - Never Let Them See You Sweat and Reshaping First Impressions

30:03 - Clear is Kind: Civility, Smiles, and Choosing Joy

32:20 - Trust, Relationships, and What Makes a Great Lobbyist

36:39 - California Rodel and Transformational Change One Conversation at a Time

49:14 - Team Building, Stress Management, and Failing Forward

Key Takeaways:

"We don't need to be people's greatest critics. We need to be their greatest encouragers."

"Clear is kind. We can treat each other with kindness and with respect while at the same time being adamant about our policy positions."

"Walk through the doors that open and don't get too disappointed over the doors that close, and you might be surprised what's right in front of you."

"Relationships are primary. Everything else is derivative."

"True transformational change in a society and in people's lives happens one conversation at a time, one dinner table at a time, one neighborhood at a time."

"Goals are just a wish without a plan."

"Never apologize for your kids."

"Failures are fingertips on the way to achievements."

"We need to lead through politics and have friendships that are more important than political disagreements."

"Choose joy. You can always find a reason to smile and make somebody else's day better."

Links:

Nick Warner Consulting: https://www.nickwarnerconsulting.com/

Kristin Olsen-Cate: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-olsen-cate-41b2446

California Strategies: https://calstrat.com/

Nick welcomes Pete Rogers, CEO of Java City, to share his story of revitalizing a legacy brand and so much more in a conversation that goes far beyond business strategy. Together, they explore the intersection of leadership, personal consciousness, and practical stress management, as they dig into the principles of neuroscience and intentional mindset shifts that can positively affect a company's culture and one's own professional life.

Pete details Java City's history, including its transition into a family-led and future employee-owned (ESOP) company. He and Nick go on to explore the unique dynamics of running a family business, highlighting the need to separate personal and professional roles. The conversation really centers on actionable wellness strategies, with Pete sharing a guided breathing exercise for managing stress. This is one episode which definitely offers valuable insights for leaders focused on building a resilient, healthy culture and improving their own mindset.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 - Introduction

02:35 - Pete Rogers’ Path to Leading the Java City Coffee Turnaround

06:12 - Rebuilding a Legacy Coffee Brand After COVID Disruption

09:15 - Putting the Right People in the Right Roles as a CEO

11:09 - Running a Family Business Without Hierarchy Conflicts

14:23 - Teaching Neuroscience and Communication Inside Company Culture

18:22 - The Increasing Presence of Stress in Our Lives

20:42 - Pete’s Gift to Listeners

21:46 - The Science Behind Stress and Stress Management

30:39 - Why CEOs Should Teach Mindset and Emotional Intelligence at Work

33:55 - Shifting From “I Have to Work” to “I Get to Work” Thinking

38:36 - Why Personal Responsibility and Choice Drive Career Change

41:04 - Building an Employee-Owned Company With an ESOP Model

44:05 - Rewiring Stress Responses With Daily Leadership Habits

48:30 - Why Authentic Leaders Build Stronger Teams and Culture

Key Takeaways:

"In our society, we often feel stuck. But realizing life is a choice is empowering. If you don't like it, change it."

"I value people and relationships above all else. Next is winning sustainability and healthy culture."

"Stress costs U.S. corporations $322 billion a year. Awareness and tools can change that."

"Focus your attention on your heart. Breathe in for four seconds, out for five. In 90 seconds, you can change your state."

"We live in three letters: B, C, D. Birth, Choice, Death. All we have is choice."

"You get to work or you gotta work? Your mindset shapes your reality."

"Teaching neuroscience to employees fosters growth. We discuss concepts to solve real challenges."

"Humility is a dividing line between good and great. Authentic leaders admit mistakes and change."

Links:

Nick Warner Consulting: https://www.nickwarnerconsulting.com/

Java City: https: javacity.com

The Courage to Be Disliked: https://www.amazon.ca/Courage-Be-Disliked-Phenomenon-Happiness/dp/1982107022

The Biology of Belief: https://www.amazon.ca/Biology-Belief-Unleashing-Consciousness-Miracles/dp/1401923127

Continuing his new ‘Emerging Leaders Series’, Nick welcomes entrepreneur and true emerging leader Torrey Sims back to the podcast to offer an update on her experiences as a business president and owner. Having spent nearly two years leading WMH Media after purchasing the 30-year-old company, Torrey shares what she has learned about self-trust, resilience, and leading with purpose and class. Her reflections offer a clear look at the realities of modern leadership.

Torrey explains why she starts with trust but has learned to meet people where they are, and talks about not letting the reality of others change who you are at your core. The discussion goes on to cover the loneliness that can come with entrepreneurship, the need to be your own biggest cheerleader, and Torrey’s belief that what is wrong will eventually expose itself, saving you from needing to be the ‘justice police’. She also opens up about how personal loss has reshaped her view of time, health, and what it means to leave a proud legacy.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 - Introduction

02:20 - Meet People Where They Are and Stay Resilient

09:43 - Build a Strong Personal Brand Through Purpose and Class

12:41 - Let Problems Expose Themselves and Drop “Justice Police” Energy

19:13 - Build Confidence by Showing Up and Doing Hard Things

26:22 - Define Real Support and Build a High-Trust Inner Circle

31:17 - Buy and Modernize a Legacy Business the Right Way

40:26 - Protect Sleep and Health to Sustain CEO Performance

47:35 - Use Curiosity to Build Strong Relationships and Trust

55:28 - Expand Into New Markets Through Strategic Networking

01:00:01 - Scale the Company With Key Hires and Bold New Initiatives

01:08:35 - Know Yourself Before Making Big Moves in Leadership

Key Takeaways:

"I don't want everybody to like me just because I'm in charge. I want them to respect and value the product."

"Not everyone does the right thing, but don't let that reality change you."

"Lead with purpose and class, no matter what is thrown your way."

"What is wrong will eventually expose itself with or without your energy."

"I have never trusted myself more than I do today."

"If it was easy, everybody would do it. It's not easy."

"You are your brand. How you carry yourself and the circles you're in all come together."

"Meet people where they're at. You don't know what they're going through."

"Winning creates confidence, but stepping outside of your comfort zone is key too."

"Hard work is hard, but it's also the most rewarding."

Links:

Nick Warner Consulting: https://www.nickwarnerconsulting.com/

Torrey Sims: https://www.linkedin.com/in/torrey-sims/

WMH Media: https://wmhmedia.com/

Former MLB and Stanford pitcher and number two pick in the 2006 draft, Greg Reynolds, joins Nick on the podcast today. Having pitched for the Colorado Rockies and Cincinnati Reds, Greg left baseball after suffering a career ending injury, only to start a new career in public service as a firefighter in Marin County, California. In his conversation with Nick, he details this transition from professional sports to the fire service and so much more.

Together, they discuss the high pressure of the Major Leagues, and Greg describes his shift from a star athlete to a rookie firefighter. He also shares stories about playing in Japan and the injury that ended his baseball career. The two go on to compare the camaraderie of a sports locker room with life in a fire station, concluding that humility and hard work define success more than past achievements.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 – Greg Reynolds and His Major League Background

01:42 – Discovering Talent and Staying Grounded Through Family

03:48 – Stanford Development and Growing Through High Standards

05:46 – Being Humbled Early and Adapting to Higher Competition

09:40 – Transition to Professional Baseball and Business Realities

12:48 – Setbacks, Injuries, and Building Mental Resilience

17:48 – Reaching the Majors and Handling Pressure and Expectations

21:49 – Playing in Japan and Expanding Life Perspective

25:47 – Career-Altering Home Invasion and Forced Transition

32:47 – Family, Parenting, and Redefining Life Purpose

36:14 – Becoming a Firefighter and Rediscovering Camaraderie

40:58 – Leadership, Learning, and Passing Knowledge Forward

42:37 – Family Motivation and Pursuing Purpose in Midlife

Key Takeaways:

"Helping others is a duty. Whether as a firefighter or a person, impart wisdom and lessons learned."

"In professional sports, belief in yourself is key. Success comes when you truly feel you belong."

"College sports taught me time management and adaptability. Both are crucial for growth."

"In the minors, it's not about winning but developing skills. Repetition is the key to success."

"In professional sports, it's a business. Everyone's fighting for their job, and you must produce."

"Injuries taught me resilience. No time to feel sorry, just focus on recovery and moving forward."

"Family is my ultimate motivation. Being a good role model and providing for them is paramount."

"In firefighting, it's about camaraderie and helping others. It's like being on a team again."

"Financial literacy is crucial. Trustworthy mentors can guide you in managing wealth wisely."

"Humility and vulnerability go hand in hand. Learn from mistakes and keep pushing forward."

Links:

Nick Warner Consulting: https://www.nickwarnerconsulting.com/

Greg Reynolds: https://www.mlb.com/player/greg-reynolds-453353

Welcome back to a new "Nick Notes" edition of Together at the Top. Building on the previous installment, Nick again sits down with producer Riley Byrne to distill key lessons from his ongoing work with leaders. This episode moves beyond raw experience to emphasize an important principle: we don't learn from experience, we learn from reflecting on our experience. Nick shares fresh themes and powerful anecdotes, offering a detailed look into the art of sustainable leadership.

In this conversation, Nick explores the transition from individual talent to robust business systems, captured in the phrase, "You rise to your talent, but you settle to your systems." He underscores why "team chemistry" has proven to be a significant differentiator for successful organizations and breaks down the impacts of modeling good leadership behavior—from the value of timeliness to the importance of procedural justice. The discussion also ventures into personal evolution, examining how to adapt your executive presence as you climb the corporate ladder and how to re-engineer the social contracts in both your professional and personal life to support your growth.

Episode Highlights:

• Moving from talent to sustainability by building systems ("Rise to your talent, settle to your systems").
• Why team chemistry, free of drama and drag, is fundamental to success.
• The importance of modeling good leadership behavior through timeliness and procedural justice.
• The concept of "cruising altitude" and how to strategically use that time to professionalize your brand.
• Using "hustle" not just to work hard, but to intelligently bridge your experience gap.
• The necessity of re-evaluating and refreshing the "social contract" with your boss and at home.
• How to consciously evolve your executive presence—from how you dress to the company you keep—as you advance in your career.
• Understanding the difference between a "mistake of the mind" and a "mistake of the heart."
• The effect of your professional vibe and how it attracts your tribe.

Key Takeaways:

• "We don't learn from our experience. We learn from reflecting on our experience."
• "I'm not impressed by your hard work... It's about smart work, it's about efficient work. It's about saying no to the right things so you can say yes to the right things."
• "You rise to your talent and you settle to your systems."
• "If you make a mistake of the mind, I'll have your back. If you make a mistake of the heart, I will have your ass."
• "Your vibe attracts your tribe."
• "Anyone who says they don't have 30 minutes [for themselves] is full of shit."
• "Advance the professionalization of your brand by creating systems that support the business without you. Because with you, it's only a practice. If we can spread it out over other people and create systems, then it's a real business."

Links:

• Nick Warner Consulting: https://www.nickwarnerconsulting.com/
• How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie: https://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/0671027034/
• Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't by Jim Collins: https://www.jimcollins.com/books.html
• Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don't by Simon Sinek: https://www.amazon.com/Leaders-Eat-Last-Together-Others/dp/1591845327/

In today’s episode of Together at the Top, Nick welcomes the newly appointed Sheriff of Solano County, Brad DeWall, for an insightful conversation about contemporary leadership. Sheriff DeWall shares his unique journey, having risen through the ranks from an extra-help correctional officer to the highest position in the agency. Together, they delve into the excitement and nervousness that accompanies such a significant promotion, exploring the weight of expectation from both the team and the community. This discussion covers the core tenets of effective leadership in a large public safety organization, from establishing a clear vision to the practical steps required to make that vision a reality.

The conversation goes beyond theory, as Sheriff DeWall details his people-first approach to management and organizational change. He explains why turning a vision into tangible results - or "traction" - is impossible without first building a foundation of solid relationships at every level, from internal teams to the County Administrator's office and labor unions. He and Nick also tackle the critical topics of stress management and mental wellness in law enforcement, the importance of breaking down internal silos to create a unified team, and how to cultivate a healthy, supportive culture. An enlightening study in modern leadership, this episode is filled with practical advice for any professional looking to make a meaningful impact.

Episode Highlights:

• How to navigate the transition into a top executive leadership role.
• The importance of turning vision into action - getting "traction."
• Why strong relationships are the most critical tool for implementing change and achieving goals.
• Sheriff DeWall’s three pillars of a successful leader: credibility, relationships, and vision.
• Strategies for building effective partnerships with county government, labor unions, and the community.
• The importance of addressing stress and trauma to create a healthier work environment in high-stakes professions.
• How to break down internal silos and foster a unified, "one team" culture within an organization.
• The unique value of an empowered executive assistant who can provide "real talk" and unfiltered feedback.

Chapter Markers:

[00:14] Meet the New Sheriff

[02:25] Why the New Sheriff is "Super Nervous"

[03:44] "Vision Without Traction is Hallucination"

[06:10] From Entry-Level to The Top Job: A First in History

[12:00] The First Things He Wants to Change

[15:05] The 3 Traits Every Leader MUST Have

[20:12] Building Trust, Even When You Disagree

[23:20] The Tricky Politics of Police Budgets

[29:17] The Trauma Cops Don't Talk About

[34:01] Why Is It So Hard to Hire Cops Today?

[35:52] The "Us vs. Them" Divide Inside the Agency

[39:38] His Secret Weapon: The Executive Assistant

[42:53] Rapid Fire: Bad Leaders, Best Advice & Biggest Fears

[46:21] His Vision for the Future

Key Takeaways:

"Vision without traction is just a hallucination."

"I am the first sheriff to ever have started as an extra help correctional officer."

"If you can find what you love, it just changes the game."

"If you don't have the relationships, you will never be a leader. No one will follow you."

"We may not agree, but I want you to understand where I'm at."

"Don't ever let a good crisis go to waste."

"I feel like I am good at connecting with people. But most of all through that, I'm good at listening and hearing people... I just care. I really care."

"I'm most excited about being able to move forward programs that I've been wanting to do for years."

Links:

Nick Warner Consulting: https://www.nickwarnerconsulting.com/

Sheriff Brad DeWall: https://www.solanocounty.gov/government/sheriff-coroner/sheriff-coroner-brad-dewall

Traction by Gino Wickman: https://www.ginowickman.com/books