218: The Dean of Dumbassery - Garry Ridge

The Leadership Enigma

The Dean of Dumbassery Returns to The Leadership Enigma In this energising episode, Garry Ridge, former Chairman & CEO of WD-40 (yep, that iconic blue and yellow can with a red top), returns to the Leadership Enigma – flying in from the West Coast to London just for this chat! 🔥 Garry shares powerful lessons from his new book “Any Dumb Ass Can Do It”, drawn from 25 years of scar tissue, leadership insights, and culture-first wisdom. As he says, “We sell memories, not just oil in a can.” 🧠 Key Takeaways: 💥 "Your product is not your purpose.” Garry unpacks how purpose, people and culture drive long-term success. 📈 “Will of the people x strategy = output.” It’s not just about what you do, but who’s behind it that matters most. 🎓 From VIP to PIP (previously important person): Garry’s new mission is to pay it forward as the self-proclaimed Dean of Dumbassery – teaching, sharing, and helping leaders step up. ❤️ “Happy people make happy families, happy communities, and a happy world.” Garry reminds us that leadership is personal. It’s about creating meaningful impact. 🧠 “If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.” At WD-40, leaders became coaches, not managers – and everyone was trusted to grow. 🪶 “Life is a gift, don’t send it back unwrapped.” A rallying cry for leaders to embrace learning, take risks, and disrupt themselves. 🛠 Culture = (Values + Behaviour) x Consistency WD-40’s secret? A strong values hierarchy – guiding decision-making, reducing churn, and building trust. 🚫 Bye-bye finger-pointing: Enter the Maniac Pledge – an accountability manifesto that fuels empowerment across teams. 🤖 Beware of “Alec – the Soul Sucking CEO” Garry’s pocket puppet helps expose the fear-based leadership we all need to leave behind. 📊 70% of employees feel disengaged. Garry says it’s time to flip the script – because leaders are responsible for creating cultures where people belong, matter, and have autonomy. 🧠 Learning moments are the game changers. Remember, WD-40 got its name after failing 39 times. 🌀 “Don’t make finite decisions in uncertain times – fly loose.” Post-pandemic leadership needs agility, empathy, and clarity of purpose. 💬 Garry’s challenge to all leaders: “My people are so excited to go to ______ today because we are going to ______ today.” Fill in the blanks. What kind of workplace are you creating? 📚 Any Dumb Ass Can Do It is more than a title – it’s a call for humility, courage, and curiosity in leadership. Garry’s wisdom hits deep, and this episode is packed with practical, heartfelt, and hilarious truths for any leader looking to level up. 👉 Hit play. Get inspired. And remember: Profit is simply the applause for delighting your customers. Get the book from Amazon www.thelearningmoment.net/ The Dumb Ass Quiz: www.thelearningmoment.net/quiz/