GA 636 | Taking Control of Your Life with Joel Steele

GA 636 | Taking Control of Your Life with Joel Steele

Author: Ron Pereira: Lean Thinker & Co-Founder of Gemba Academy June 11, 2026 Duration: 31:37
Most people trying to improve their lives are doing it without a clear picture of what they are building toward. For Joel Steele, a near-miss with prison forced him to start making different choices. His book "Life Switch" grows out of that turning point, and the framework he describes maps surprisingly well onto the tools that continuous improvement professionals use every day. In this episode you'll learn: Why progress builds momentum faster than motivation alone (0:02) The quote Joel likes (3:19) How focus shapes the direction of everything you do (4:09) What a near-death experience reveals about wasted potential (6:06) How the puzzle analogy reframes goal-setting for real life (8:58) Why believing in the process separates progress from stagnation (13:22) How failure functions as fuel rather than a stop sign (14:47) The difference between living on and merely surviving each day (18:46) How understanding your wiring unlocks the right role for you (21:27) Why fulfillment is the only scorecard that actually matters (24:13) How buying one book becomes part of a million-dollar donation (27:27) "It's simple in theory, but it's hard to execute. But when you understand that, hey, this is going to work and you believe in that process and you don't have doubt in yourself, you make so much more progress." - Joel Steele Keep Learning If Joel's point about believing in the process resonated, the School of Leadership is a natural next step for anyone who wants to build the kind of clarity and conviction that sustains continuous improvement over time. Learn More About the Gemba Academy School of Leadership. Podcast Resources Joel on LinkedIn Joel's Website Get All the Latest News from Gemba Academy Stay current on new courses, podcast episodes, and continuous improvement resources. Sign up for the Gemba Academy newsletter at gembaacademy.com/news What Do You Think? When you think about your own work in continuous improvement, do you have a clear enough picture of the finished puzzle to know where the next piece belongs?

Hosted by Ron Pereira, a lean thinker and co-founder of Gemba Academy, the Gemba Academy Podcast is a deep and practical resource for anyone looking to build a better organization. The conversations here move beyond theory, focusing on the real-world application of methodologies like Lean Six Sigma and Toyota Kata. You’ll hear from practitioners and leaders who share stories from the front lines, detailing how they tackle complex problems, foster genuine productivity, and develop effective teams. Each episode feels like a candid workshop, breaking down concepts into actionable steps you can apply immediately. This isn't about abstract ideals; it's about the tangible work of improvement, from the shop floor to the executive suite. Tune in for a learning experience that challenges conventional wisdom and provides the tools for meaningful change. The Gemba Academy Podcast turns the philosophy of continuous improvement into a clear and accessible path forward for business professionals and educators alike.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Gemba Academy Podcast: Lean Six Sigma | Toyota Kata | Productivity | Leadership
Podcast Episodes
GA 650 | Train It Before You Trust It with David Osagie-Igiehon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:13
Most continuous improvement practitioners are using AI the same way they use Google, and getting roughly the same quality of results. David Osagie-Igiehon has taken a different approach. He builds custom agents trained o…
GA 649 | Accountability Starts in the Mirror with Michael Caito [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:02
Most organizations have a strategy. Far fewer can actually execute one. Michael Caito built and sold a food delivery business decades before DoorDash existed, then spent years helping other companies close the gap betwee…
GA 648 | Discovering Lean in High School with Ted Pendergrass [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:11
Most lean practitioners spend their careers trying to change the minds of adults who have been doing things the same way for decades. Ted Pendergrass decided to start earlier. Over 20 years coordinating a career technica…
GA 647 | Making Sleep a Priority with Tim Thomas [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:20
Most organizations measure productivity, absenteeism, and safety incidents without ever asking what all three have in common. Tim Thomas, a former Australian Special Forces soldier turned sleep specialist, argues the ans…
GA 645 | Why Leadership Is Failing with Keith Wyche [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:18
Trust in leadership has been declining for decades, and Keith Wyche has the research to prove it. A 40-year veteran of AT&T, IBM, and Walmart, Keith opened up to us about a few mistakes he’s made in his career. The real…
GA 644 | Defining Propaganda with Owen Fitzpatrick [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:01
Most leaders assume that the right argument, delivered clearly, will change minds. Owen Fitzpatrick has spent 30 years studying why that assumption is wrong. A psychologist who has worked inside some of the world’s most…
GA 643 | Asking Better Questions with Kabrina Ashley [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:53
Most organizations say they want high performers, yet quietly punish them for being too valuable to lose. Kabrina Ashley, a coach and behavioral science practitioner based in Nashville, makes the case that the real barri…
GA 642 | The Future of Work with Jonathan David Lewis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:54
Something fundamental has shifted in how people relate to work, and most leaders are still operating from a story that the workforce has already left behind. Jonathan David Lewis, president of brand strategy firm McKee W…
GA 641 | What Makes a Good Teammate with Eric Reveno [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:33
Most organizations spend enormous energy developing leaders and almost none developing teammates. Stanford Associate Head Men’s Basketball Coach Eric Reveno has spent 30 years watching what actually determines whether a…