Every once in a while you record an episode and you know, before you even hit stop, that it's a top-tenner. This is that one.

Chris and I sat down with Dan Casey and Griffin Brand - a football coach turned historian and an Army Ranger, to talk about their book Bring Your Own Pencil, the leadership playbook of the legendary Bill Walsh. But this isn't a football episode. It's a masterclass for anyone leading a crew or building a business in the trades - roofing, HVAC, restoration, you name it. How to hold a standard without becoming a tyrant. How Walsh turned betrayal into the greatest coaching tree in NFL history. Imposter syndrome, self-belief before the evidence shows up, and why you should never quit a hit show. Grab a notebook - and bring your own pencil.

Owning a business in the trades can be the loneliest job there is. Head, Heart, & Boots exists to change that, because the best leaders don't go it alone, and neither should you.

-Brandon

Why You Should Listen

[10:19] The Hacksaw Reynolds story behind the title — one sentence that set the standard for a dynasty
[18:31] Holding standards without a toxic, maniacal culture (their answer punched me right in the face)
[21:49] Bill Walsh's origin story is failure — and what he built from it
[43:20] The four most powerful words a leader can say
[54:53] Lightning round: the books and daily habits every leader should steal