Dusty Holcomb's Linkedin Analytics

How much of your time is spent cleaning up… …versus getting clear upfront? There’s a (paraphrased) Lincoln quote that always sticks with me: “Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I’ll spend the first five sharpening the axe.” Clarity is the axe. But too often, especially in fast-paced environments, we default to assumptions: “They’re a pro—they’ll figure it out.” “They should know what to do.” “They’ve done this before.” And then we spend hours untangling confusion, redoing work, and patching misalignment. Before you delegate, pause. Ask yourself: Why does this matter? What outcome do I expect? By when? When you nail those three, you can empower your team to figure out the how. That’s not micromanagement, that’s good leadership. And when it’s handed off? Ask: “Are we clear?” “Anything I missed?” “What would you do differently?” Because the best leaders aren’t afraid to be challenged. They invite clarity before chaos.

Sometimes being buried... is beautiful. Check out the photo and you’ll see my son, Hyer, grinning, completely buried in sand. No worries. No expectations. No chores. Just joy. Just presence. And it makes me pause. Because in the adult world, we say: “I’m buried in work.” “I’m buried in obligations.” “I’m buried in stress.” But what if being buried isn’t the problem? What if the thing we’re buried in... is what matters most? Lately, I’ve said “I’m buried” more times than I can count. But when I zoom out, I’m buried in purpose. I’m buried in people I love. I’m buried in a calling that fills me, even when it drains me. Just like Hyer under the sand, I’m smiling. Because the right kind of buried doesn’t weigh you down. It holds you up. So here’s the question I’ve been asking myself (and maybe you should too): What’s burying you? And is it worth it? #LeadershipDevelopment #WorkLifeIntegration #MindfulLeadership #PurposeDrivenLeadership #LessonsFromHyer

How much of your leadership time is spent cleaning up confusion… instead of creating clarity up front? It reminds me of that quote often attributed to Lincoln: “Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I’ll spend the first five sharpening the axe.” We’ve all been there. You assume the team “gets it.” You think, “They’re professionals, they’ll figure it out.” But how often does that assumption lead to confusion, rework, or missed expectations? Clarity at the beginning prevents chaos at the end. Here’s the shift that’s helped me: Before I hand anything off, I pause and ask myself 3 simple questions: Why is this important? What does success look like? When does it need to be done? That’s it. Then I delegate the how. Because when you empower someone to solve the how, they take ownership. They bring ideas. They lean in. And here’s the part most leaders miss: I ask for confirmation, not just “are you good?” But really asking: → “What questions do you have?” → “What am I missing?” That last one “what am I missing?” has become one of my favorite leadership questions. It opens the door for collaboration. It invites perspective. It builds buy-in before there’s ever confusion to clean up. Because great leadership isn’t about making the right call every time. It’s about creating the right conditions for the best outcomes, again and again. So here’s your clarity audit: How much time did you spend this week fixing things that could’ve been avoided with 3 minutes of up-front clarity? The answer might surprise you.

A client recently told me they were rolling out a new project management tool, hoping it would solve their team’s misalignment and inefficiencies. It’s a familiar story. We think the new platform, the better dashboard, the next “system” will be the silver bullet. But here’s the truth: ✨ Technology is not the solution. Clarity is. I’ve made this mistake myself, relying on tools to fix what only intentional leadership can. The hard work isn’t signing a contract for a new app. The hard work is defining what matters. Communicating it clearly. Distilling goals into specific, measurable priorities. No tool can do that for you. And if you skip that step? You’re not streamlining, you're just adding noise. You don’t need better tools. You need more clarity. Because clarity is what enables progress, alignment, and execution. If you’re leading a team and feeling stuck, ask yourself: Do we need a new tool? Or do we need to finally get clear?

Leadership comes with its own kind of weight. Sometimes it’s burnout. Sometimes it’s decision fatigue. Other times… it’s realizing you are the bottleneck. What’s been the hardest part of leadership for you lately? Vote below 👇 I’m genuinely curious. I’ve had some powerful conversations on the podcast recently with leaders who’ve walked through all of this, and your responses are helping shape future episodes. Link to the show in the comments. Appreciate all the support, it means more than you know.

Leadership, Karate, and knowing when to leave the new toy at home. This week, Hyer started learning how to use Kama in his karate class. He was focused, excited, and proud to show me what he’d learned. A day later, he was heading to a friend’s house just around the corner. I noticed something shiny tucked into his belt as he walked through the living room. His Kama. He was equipped. Confident. Ready to show off his new skills. Of course, I stopped him. Not because it wasn’t safe, I think his friend’s parents would’ve understood. But because it just wasn’t the right time or place. And that moment stuck with me. Because I do this too. I get excited about something new, a strategy, a system, a tool, and I want to bring it into every conversation, every meeting, every room. And in my work with leaders, I see the same pattern play out. We fall in love with the “new thing.” We carry it around, waiting for the next opportunity to use it. But leadership isn’t about using everything we know, all the time. It’s about knowing what belongs, and when. Hyer reminded me of that. New tools are great. But discernment is what turns them into value. Thanks, buddy. Tag a leader who knows when to leave the shiny thing at home. #LessonsFromHyer #Leadership #StrategicFocus #ClarityOverChaos #SelfLeadership #ArcqusGroup #KarateWisdom

Why I Built the Vision to Victory Mastermind A few years ago, I found myself asking a hard question: “If I’m supposed to be at the top of my game… why do I feel stuck, isolated, and unsure of my next move?” It wasn’t about knowledge. It wasn’t about skill. It was about leadership gravity. The higher you climb, the fewer people can challenge you, support you, and walk with you through the real battles. You’re supposed to have all the answers. You're supposed to keep carrying the weight. But here’s the truth: The best leaders never climb alone, they build circles that sharpen them, strengthen them, and hold them accountable to their vision. That's why I built the Vision to Victory Mastermind. It’s not a course. It’s not another Zoom lecture series. It’s not a generic networking group. It’s a hand-curated cohort of leaders who are serious about one thing: Installing a personal Leadership Operating System™ that takes them from ideas to impact. Together, we: Define a clear personal and professional vision. Build a structured operating system to make it real. Install the accountability, community, and support to execute, every single week. It’s the program I wish I had years ago when I felt stuck at the top. If you’re tired of white-knuckling your growth alone, this is for you. 👉 Applications are open for the founding cohort. (Serious leaders only. No tourists.) You don't have to lead alone. You just have to take the first step.

What unlocks great leadership? Not titles. Not textbooks. Real stories. Influence earned the hard way. That’s the heart of Leadership Unlocked—and the trailer is live. Swipe through this quick preview, then listen to the trailer. First 3 episodes drop May 21. Link to trailer in the first comment.

In 1979, a sightseeing flight from New Zealand to Antarctica went tragically off course. Just a few degrees off from the intended route, but enough to place the aircraft directly in front of a mountain. All 280 passengers lost their lives. The pilots were following the right course... They just weren’t where they thought they were. Leadership misalignment works the same way. We don’t usually crash into mountains. But we do crash timelines, budgets, morale, and momentum… All because of small misalignments left unchecked. Projects get approved without alignment. Priorities shift without communication. People spend hours (or weeks) working on the wrong thing. All because no one paused to ask: “Are we actually on course?” Here’s the hard truth: Most organizations don’t suffer from a lack of effort. They suffer from a lack of check-ins. Are we still headed where we think we are? Do we agree on what matters most? Does everyone know why we’re doing what we’re doing? If not, it’s like flying through cloud cover and hoping there’s no mountain underneath. Misalignment is sneaky. It doesn’t hit all at once, it compounds slowly over time. And by the time you realize it, you’ve veered off course. Don’t wait for impact. Check in early. Check in often. Because clarity isn’t just a leadership advantage, it’s your flight plan.

Clarity isn’t sexy. It’s not the exciting part of leadership. It’s not the new initiative, the shiny tool, or the dopamine hit of a fresh idea. But it is what keeps your team from redoing the same project three times. I was recently reflecting on a conversation with retired Admiral Michael LeFever. He talked about the importance of understanding the mission, what’s known in the military as the commander's intent. You have to know what “done” looks like. Because ambiguity? That’s no one’s friend. And here’s the uncomfortable truth: Repetition isn’t fun. Saying no to new things doesn’t win you applause. Staying the course doesn’t always feel like progress. But chasing shiny objects and drifting from the goal? That’s how morale dies and momentum breaks down. As leaders, it’s our job to codify the mission. To define the outcome. To install the vision so people know what they’re aiming for, and how they’ll know when they’ve hit it. Clear expectations save time, protect energy, and build trust. It might not be flashy. But it’s everything.

Some rooms change everything. This June, I’m opening one. The Arcqus Vision to Victory Mastermind™ is for senior leaders who are tired of leading on instinct and ready to install a leadership operating system that drives clarity, alignment, and results that actually last. It’s not a course. It’s not a content drop. It’s a system you install. It’s a cohort you sharpen with. It’s the space you’ve needed—but rarely find. If you’ve built something meaningful but know you’re carrying too much... If you’ve felt the drag between your vision and the results you know you're capable of... If you know there’s a higher level of leadership in you— This is the room you step into. 12 seats. Several are already moving quietly behind the scenes. If you move, move now. If you want a conversation, DM me or drop "V2V" in the comments. No pressure. No noise. Just clarity, margin, and momentum, built together. Founders move fast. Leaders decide quickly. Let’s go. —dusty

He got what he wanted… and still felt disappointed. Hyer turned 8 this week. We painted the school’s birthday rock exactly how he asked, his favorite color, his favorite sport, and his newly earned green belt. But when he saw it, his face changed. “It doesn’t have a blue belt.” Because he just earned his blue belt last week... That moment hit me, and reminded me of something we all do as leaders, parents, and professionals. Take 90 seconds and watch this. It might shift the way you see your next milestone. #LessonsFromHyer #LeadershipLessons #PersonalGrowth #ParentingAndLeadership #MindsetMatters

Your team can’t read your mind. Neither can your calendar. We’ve all been there, good intentions, clear vision in our head… but no time blocked to actually execute it. No articulation of the why, the what, or the when. That’s where clarity breaks down. When you assume people just “get it,” you risk misalignment, missed deadlines, and mounting frustration on both sides. Assumptions don’t create clarity. Communication does. If you want your team to move with confidence, give them something solid to move toward. Clarity isn’t just a leadership skill, it’s a leadership responsibility.

If your team can’t answer these five questions… You don’t have alignment. You have chaos. 1. Why are we here? (Purpose) 2. Where are we going? (Vision) 3. How will we get there? (Plan) 4. Where do I fit in? (Role clarity) 5. What’s in it for me? (Motivation + ownership) That’s it. If these aren’t clear, you’ll keep waking up to: A team that waits instead of moves Constant fires that steal your margin Endless strategy with no traction Your best people quietly checking out And when you can’t answer these for yourself? You aren’t leading. You are reacting. That’s why I built Vision to Victory - A 12-week Mastermind to help high-performing leaders install a Leadership Operating System™ that codifies these answers and drives results. ✅ Clarity you can act on ✅ A team that owns the outcome ✅ A rhythm that eliminates drift ✅ Real traction—without burning out You don’t need more tactics. You need a system. And it starts with answering these five questions. If you’re carrying the weight and ready for a different way forward: 🟫 12 seats. Half gone. Save your seat now, link in the comments.

Leadership lessons from an eighty-year-old battleship (and an almost 8-year-old boy) Last week, I toured the USS North Carolina with my family. My son Hyer, who will proudly claim to anyone who will listen that he's “almost eight,” was climbing through the ship, sharing “facts” with the kind of confidence only an almost 8-year-old can muster. He had a level of certainty that made me smile (and sometimes wonder where he learned it all). As we explored, what struck me wasn't just the ship’s history; it was a leadership lesson unfolding in real time: Hyer was confidently teaching what he thought he knew, but he was making most of it up on the spot because he wanted and needed to show how much he knew. It made me wonder: how often do we, as leaders, show up the same way? How often do we speak with certainty when, in reality, we’re making it up as we go? Real leadership isn't about having all the answers. It's about humility. Curiosity. The willingness to admit when we don't know the answer, and the courage to keep learning. My son taught me something powerful that day: - Are we leading from a place of genuine knowledge and experience? - Or are we leading to protect our egos? Leadership growth starts with awareness. And sometimes, the best teachers are the ones climbing over battleship turrets, fearless and full of wonder. Grateful for the lessons, both past and present. Sometimes the best lessons come from the most unexpected teachers. If this resonates, drop a 👇 in the comments and tell me: What’s a leadership lesson you learned from an unlikely source? Let’s trade stories. #Leadership #SelfLeadership #GrowthMindset #ExecutiveCoaching #ArcqusGroup #StoryBrand #ContinuousLearning #LessonsFromHyer

Leadership Unlocked launches next week. This podcast isn’t about titles. It’s about influence. And real influence is earned through experience, through moments that test us, shape us, and sometimes break us. Over the last few months, I’ve had the privilege of sitting down with leaders from all walks of life. What connects them isn’t a resume or a role. It’s their ability to capture the essence of leadership through how they show up, how they serve, and how they create influence. These are leadership lessons from people who’ve lived them. Not theories. Not frameworks. Stories. In Leadership Unlocked, you’ll hear: ✔️ Defining moments that shaped real leaders ✔️ The hard lessons and the tools they unlocked along the way ✔️ Practical insights you can bring into your own leadership journey This show is for leaders who are still growing. Still stretching. Still reaching for something more. The first episodes drop next week and I couldn’t be more excited to share these conversations with you. I’ll put a link to the show in the comments: Because leadership isn't a destination, it's a journey of service, influence, learning, and growth. You can subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube again link will be in the comments!

What unlocks great leadership? It’s not titles. Not theories. Not curated highlight reels. It’s the hard moments, the stories behind the stories. The fire-tested lessons. The influence earned in the trenches. That’s what Leadership Unlocked is all about. And the trailer is finally live. In just 3 minutes, you’ll hear what we’ve been building: Authentic conversations with leaders who’ve lived it, learned it, and came back to serve others. Take a listen. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Link to all the players in the first comment. And mark your calendar—Episodes 1–3 drop on May 21. #LeadershipUnlocked #LeadershipDevelopment #ExecutiveLeadership #SelfLeadership #ArcqusGroup

Leadership Unlocked is officially live. 🎙️ I’ve had a lot of people ask me: “Why a podcast?” “Why now?” The truth is, I’ve always believed stories matter. But more importantly, the people behind them do too. When I was leading large teams, my favorite moments weren’t in the boardrooms or strategy sessions. They were in town halls. Skip-levels. Those unfiltered, real conversations that pulled back the curtain on leadership. That’s what this podcast is all about. Not theory. Not fluff. Real conversations with leaders who are doing the hard work, quietly and courageously. It’s my way of sitting on the front row, taking notes, just like I always have. And I’m honored to invite you to pull up a seat beside me. 🎧 Leadership Unlocked is now streaming. Episodes 1, 2, and 3 are all on your favorite platforms. I'm incredibly grateful to Michael LeFever, Jeremy Shute, & Claudia Caballero, MBA, for stepping into this journey with me! They drop some serious knowledge and wisdom in these episodes!   Find the link in the comments. We’re just getting started. #LeadershipUnlocked #Leadership #ExecutiveLeadership #ServantLeadership #GrowthMindset

Big news, and an even bigger opportunity for the right leaders. This summer, I’m launching something I’ve spent a lifetime preparing for: The Arcqus Vision to Victory Mastermind™. It’s not just another leadership course. It’s built on three pillars: A leadership operating system that actually works (not theory) The time and space to install it (not just consume content) A cohort to build it with (because you shouldn’t lead alone) This is a small, high-trust group for senior leaders ready to stop leading on instinct—and start scaling clarity, alignment, and results. If you've built something meaningful… but know you're carrying too much… If you feel the drag between vision and execution… If you know there's another level in you (and your team)… This room was built for you. Only 12 seats. Several have already been claimed behind the scenes. The right leaders don’t wait. If you want details, DM me or drop "V2V" in the comments. I'll reach out personally. Founders move fast. Leaders decide quickly. Let's go. dusty