#0421  –  Stop Fixing Problems - Do This Instead with George Pesansky

#0421 – Stop Fixing Problems - Do This Instead with George Pesansky

Author: Jon S. Rennie March 21, 2026 Duration: 38:10
Stop Fixing Problems! Most leaders are trained to hunt problems, fix issues, and eliminate failure. But what if that mindset is actually limiting performance? In this episode, Jon sits down with George Pesansky, author of Super Performance, to challenge the way we think about leadership, operations, and improvement. Instead of obsessing over what’s broken, George explains how the best leaders identify what’s working—and then scale it. You’ll learn: Why focusing on failure holds teams back The concept of the “Golden Hour” and how to replicate peak performance How leaders unknowingly create a culture of mediocrity Why your best people may be holding back (and how to unlock them) A better way to drive consistent, high-level results If you want to build a high-performing team, it starts with changing what you pay attention to. George Pesansky's resources: https://georgepesansky.com/ https://myblendedlearning.com/ https://amzn.to/4lJm4gU Sponsors: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Cadre of Men⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Farrow Skin Care⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Salty Sailor Coffee Company⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leader Connect⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Qualified Leadership Series⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ____ Get all of Jon Rennie's bestselling leadership books for 15% off the regular price today! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For anyone who’s ever felt that leadership advice can be too theoretical or disconnected from reality, Deep Leadership offers a grounded alternative. Host Jon S. Rennie operates from a simple, powerful belief: “Leadership is a People Business.” This isn’t about abstract concepts; it’s about the tangible, often messy work of guiding teams and organizations. Jon brings a unique perspective shaped by his time as a Cold War Submarine Officer and over two decades leading within Corporate America before founding his own manufacturing company. In each episode, he translates that extensive experience into practical, actionable insights you can apply immediately. The conversations here delve into the core of what makes leadership work-or fail-across business, culture, and society. You’ll hear from Jon and a variety of expert guests as they explore the philosophical and practical dimensions of guiding people, discussing everything from daily management challenges to broader cultural forces that shape how we work. This podcast is built on the conviction that leadership matters profoundly, and that getting it right requires depth, reflection, and a relentless focus on the human element. Tune in for thoughtful discussions that cut through the noise and get to the heart of leading well.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 424

Deep Leadership
Podcast Episodes
#0103 – Called to Serve with Marjorie K. Eastman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:26
Today I’m joined by Marjorie K. Eastman. Marjorie is a United States Army veteran who served combat tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. She is an author, speaker, and entrepreneur. She is the author of the award-winning…
#0101 – Lead like a Submarine Captain with Ryan Ramsey [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:01
Today I’m joined by Ryan Ramsey. Ryan is the former Captain of the Royal Navy submarine HMS TURBULENT. He was also the Commanding Officer of the Royal Navy’s Submarine Command Course which is the school for naval officer…
#0100 – Leadership for Everyday Life with John VanDusen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:47
Today I’m joined by John VanDusen. John is a Teacher, a Football Coach, and a Soldier. He served for 20 years in the Michigan Army National Guard with combat deployments to Iraq as a Platoon Leader, and Afghanistan as a…
#0099 – The Soul of a Company with Ralf Specht [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:58
Today I’m joined by Ralf Specht. Ralf is co-the founder Spark44, a global marketing communications company that he grew under his leadership to $100 + million in revenue and 1,200 employees. He and his fellow co-founders…
#0098 – A Lifetime of Leadership with Michael C. MacDonald [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:16
Today I’m joined by Michael C. MacDonald. Michael is former CEO and Chairman of the Board of Medifast, Inc., a nutrition and weight loss company based in Baltimore, Maryland. Prior to that, he served in senior leadership…
#0097 – High Adventure Leadership with James Elliott [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:40
Today I’m joined by James Elliott. James is a certified leadership coach and trainer, aerospace safety and quality professional, aviator, and founder of High Adventure Leadership. He is a student of leadership and has be…
#0096 – Lead Well with Ken Falke [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:53
Today I’m joined by Ken Falke. Ken spent 21 years in the US Navy as a bomb disposal specialist. After retiring from the Navy, Ken became an entrepreneur. He founded and exited two businesses then later created two non-pr…
#0095 – Applying Military Leadership Lessons [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:46
As an author and speaker, I get opportunities to be a guest on many podcasts and I really enjoy talking about leadership and leadership issues. Recently on the Armed Forces Brewing Company’s podcast and I thought it was…
#0094 – Lead the Right Way with Paul Gunn Jr [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:10
Today I’m joined by Paul Gunn Jr. Paul is the Founder and CEO of KUOG Corporation. He is also the author of a new book called Succeed the Right Way: What Every Compassionate Business Person Must Know. In this book, he he…