Dusty Holcomb's Linkedin Analytics

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.

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.

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.

You’re the one everyone counts on, but who do you have? Leadership shouldn’t feel like surviving. You’re smart. Capable. Respected. But it still feels like you’re carrying more than you should. You’re showing up… but the cost is bleeding into your clarity, your sleep, your relationships. Not because you’re not good at what you do, but because real leadership requires more than instinct and grit. It requires a system. A rhythm. And a room of peers who really get it. That’s why we built Vision to Victory. Not for beginners. Not for ego. But for seasoned leaders who want to increase their impact and influence, without burning out. Inside, we install your Leadership Operating System™: ✅ Anchor your leadership in self-awareness ✅ Align mission, values, and execution ✅ Build accountability without micromanagement ✅ Lead with clarity and scale with confidence This isn’t content, it’s infrastructure, and it isn’t for everyone; it’s for those who already own the outcomes and want to elevate them. We launch on June 10, and there are only a few seats left. Founder pricing expires forever when the group is full. If this resonates with you, DM me. Let’s see if this is your next right move. #VisionToVictory #LeadershipOperatingSystem #ExecutiveLeadership #SelfLeadership #HighPerformanceLeadership #LeadWithPurpose #ScaleWithClarity

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

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?

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

This one line hit me hard: “Most of the things we worry about just won’t happen.” Gene Boehm, CEO of AAA National, said it mid-conversation—and it’s been stuck in my head ever since. We waste so much energy trying to control what we can’t. Gene’s approach? Let go of what won’t happen… so you can lead what actually matters. The full episode just dropped on Leadership Unlocked. The first comment has the link. This one’s worth your time. #LeadershipUnlocked #RealLeadership #ExecutiveWisdom #LeadWithClarity #AAA #ILoveMyJob

Honored. Humbled. Fired up. Last week we dropped a masterclass in high-impact leadership with retired Vice Admiral Michael LeFever, and I’m still buzzing. Talking with a leader of his caliber, who wears decades of service with zero ego, was a privilege. I’ve already replayed the episode three times and keep pulling out new insights. 🎥 60-second clip below tackles “The Myth of the Hero Leader.” 🔗 Full episode links (Apple | Spotify) are waiting in the comments. Why hit play? Here are three of my favorite takeaways. 1 - Self-care isn’t selfish: “If you’re going to take care of people, you’d better take care of yourself first.” Mike’s daily workout was non-negotiable—even in a war zone. 2. - Know the end game before the first move: From earthquake relief in Pakistan to C-suite strategy, he always asked, "What’s our end game?” Clear outcomes drive smarter decisions. 3 - Leadership = constant learning: Mike kept a notebook—and a beginner’s mindset—from carrier decks to Himalayan villages. Gurus take notes; so should we all If you lead through uncertainty, this conversation is rocket fuel. Listen, steal a tool, and let me know which lesson hits hardest. #LeadershipUnlocked #Leadership #ExecutiveLeadership #GrowthMindset #ServantLeadership

Most teams don’t go off course in one dramatic moment. They drift, one unchecked assumption, one misalignment at a time. And just like a flight that’s 2° off course… You don’t notice it at first. But over time, that gap compounds, and suddenly, you’re miles from where you intended to go. Leadership isn't about micromanaging every move. It’s about building a culture of clarity, course correction, and check-ins before the wheels come off. ✅ Are we clear on where we’re going? ✅ Are we still headed there together? ✅ Does everyone know how their work connects to the mission? A few degrees of difference now can save you from a mountain later. (Full story in the video 🎥

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.

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!

You’re doing everything right... So why does it still feel this hard? You’ve got the track record. You’ve got the team. But somewhere between the meetings, the decisions, and the pressure… …it starts to wear on you. This is exactly what we unpack inside Vision to Victory: How smart, capable leaders get stuck, and what it really takes to lead with clarity again. 🎥 Watch this short clip to see if you’ve felt it too. (And if you have… you’re not alone.) 👇 Video below. Let’s talk if it hits home. We only have 4 seats left, enrollment closes Friday.

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

Throw the BS Flag - Yes, Every Team Needs One (60-sec clip below) Football refs halt the play the instant a rule is broken. Most leadership teams? They keep running the wrong play. The leader allows mediocrity to creep onto the field. New 13-min solo episode of Leadership Unlocked just released ↓ 🚩 How the HiPPO (Highest-Paid Person’s Opinion) buries better ideas 🚩 The 4 traits of a BS-free culture — Safe · Expected · Equal · Cultural 🚩 What happened when I handed my execs real yellow flags (yes, at me too) 🎧 Quick listen link in first comment. Try this: Bring a symbolic BS flag to your next meeting. Use it on yourself first. Then tell me what happens—drop a note below. If the episode helps, hit “Follow” on your favorite podcast app so you never miss new episodes and tools for your journey. #LeadershipUnlocked #Leadership #TeamCulture #ServantLeadership #GrowthMindset

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.

Celebrate the moment, not just the medal. Last week, my son Hyer wrapped up his Cub Scout year as a Wolf. There was a ceremony. There were cheers. There was a blurry photo from 10 rows back. And now? A bag of forgotten belt loops in the backseat. But in that moment, it meant everything. He stood tall. He felt proud. He was seen. And it hit me... We spend so much time chasing the next milestone, we forget to feel the one we just earned. Hyer worked hard. He showed up. He grew. And for one fleeting second, he celebrated. As leaders, we need more of that. ✅ Celebrate the effort, not just the outcome ✅ Be present when pride and joy show up ✅ Let go of the “next” long enough to honor the “now” The belt loops won’t last. But the lesson does. Take the picture. Save the moment. Let it shape how you lead. Special thanks to my friend Raquel for helping me see the tiniest moments of joy that are all around us. #Leadership #Parenting #BePresent #GrowthMindset #Transformation #LessonsFromHyer

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

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

The most powerful leadership habit? (Not what you think, and most leaders ignore it.) This week on 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗨𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱, I sat down with Gene Boehm, President & CEO of AAA National. We unpacked what it really means to lead with purpose, humility, and clarity. Gene doesn’t chase attention; he builds trust. He doesn’t posture, he serves. In this conversation, he opens up about the mindset and rituals that help him lead through complexity with calmness and conviction. Here’s what we cover: - Why vision beats micromanagement, every time - How a single t-shirt sparked a cultural shift at AAA - The simple rituals that keep Gene grounded - Why “thank you” is more than good manners, it’s powerful leadership - And what a skateboard taught him about worry, parenting, and perspective If you're leading a team or want to lead better, this one will hit home. Link to the full episode in the first comment. #LeadershipUnlocked #ExecutiveLeadership #PurposeDrivenLeadership #Gratitude #Clarity #Culture #LeadershipPodcast #AAA #ILoveMyJob