Bryce Henson

Hey Leader! 🙌

Every Monday evening, I have a standing call with my sponsor, Nate. 

He’s been sober since 2007, stoic, grounded, and full of the kind of wisdom you don’t get from books.

Last week on our call, I shared some frustrations about business, life, and the relentless weight of vision.

Nate didn’t flinch. He leaned back, calm as ever, and said,

“Bryce, you’re trying to sprint through a season that requires steady hands. Right now, you need to slow down. Your focus is to chop the wood, carry the water.”

At first, I didn’t get it.

Here I am, leading an international brand, casting vision, thinking strategy. 

Chop wood? Carry water?

It felt small, off mission, almost insulting.

But as we unpacked the conversation, it landed.

Nate wasn’t minimizing the mission. 

He was reminding me of my role.

Because leadership isn’t built in hype or headlines. It’s built in the mundane, repeating the core things with discipline and intention.

These are the basics. 

For me, that’s casting vision, communicating clearly, and driving accountability.

That’s my version of chop wood and carry water.

Yours might look different. 

It depends on your role, skillset, and growth edge.

But here’s the message:

If you’re stressed, overwhelmed, or spinning your wheels, chances are you’ve drifted from your core. You’re reacting to outcomes instead of mastering your inputs.

And as a leader, your power lies in consistency with the basics, not the complexity.

So this week’s challenge:

Stop chasing what’s flashy.

Get back to what’s fundamental.

Chop wood.

Carry water.

Because when the core is strong, everything else follows.

Bryce Henson
CEO, Fit Body

The 5 Immutable Rules of Leadership

1. Take Extreme Ownership: Everything is your responsibility—even when it’s not your fault.
2. Put Your Oxygen Mask On First: Lead yourself before leading others.
3. Wield Influence Through Moral Authority: People follow who you are, not what you say.
4. It’s Not About You—Never Was, Never Will Be: Elevate others, build legacy.
5. Turn Adversity Into Advantage: Pain is your power—use it.

Hey Leader! 🙌

This past Thursday, I attended a Navy SEAL Foundation dinner, an electric night of patriotism, sacrifice, and strength.

But what struck me most wasn’t the ceremony or even the SEALs…

It was the keynote speaker.

Palmer Luckey.

At first glance, he looked out of place. Disheveled. Young. Like he might’ve wandered in off the street.

But within 60 seconds of speaking, he had the room frozen.

Why?

Because Palmer is a 33-year-old billionaire tech genius and the founder of Oculus VR. Now he’s building next-gen defense systems to protect our freedom.

But it wasn’t his wealth or résumé that impressed me.

It was his focus.

He said something that stuck with me like a steel trap:

“It wouldn’t matter how much money I make. I just do what I love. This just so happens to pay well.”

That’s it.

That’s the leadership lesson.

He leads from passion—not pressure.

And because he’s obsessed with the mission, the money followed.

Now don’t get it twisted—I want to build wealth. I’m a capitalist through and through.

But Palmer reminded me that purpose is the fuel. Money is the byproduct.

The true leaders—the game-changers—fall in love with the work. They chase mastery. They live for the process.

And as a result?

They win. Big.

So here’s the coaching: If you’re stuck, grinding, burned out…

Stop asking, “How do I make more?”

Start asking, “What would I do even if I never got paid?”

Then build from there.

That’s the kind of leadership that scales.

To passion. To process. To purpose.

Bryce Henson
CEO, Fit Body

The 5 Immutable Rules of Leadership

1. Take Extreme Ownership: Everything is your responsibility—even when it’s not your fault.
2. Put Your Oxygen Mask On First: Lead yourself before leading others.
3. Wield Influence Through Moral Authority: People follow who you are, not what you say.
4. It’s Not About You—Never Was, Never Will Be: Elevate others, build legacy.
5. Turn Adversity Into Advantage: Pain is your power—use it.

Hey Leader! 🙌

Let me remind you of two core truths:

1. Repetition is the mother of skill and learning.
2. When you teach, you learn the most.

Last week, those weren’t just ideas. They were the pre-training mindset message to our Fit Body Mastermind, led by Sarah Manning—Head Coach for Sarah Dumont and a 14-year Fit Body vet. 

Sarah didn’t just show up—she stepped up.

• She delivered a world-class recap training
• She used storytelling to bring the lessons to life
• She demonstrated how leadership is passed down by living it herself

The result?

She exceeded expectations and raised the bar for what leadership looks like in action for the group.

Here’s the big lesson:

Leadership happens when you say yes before you feel ready.
Sarah said yes. She owned the opportunity. And she became better because of it.

When you step up to lead—whether it’s a training, a tough conversation, or taking initiative inside your business—you don’t just impact others.

You grow the most.

So if you’re waiting for the perfect moment to lead, don’t.

Follow Sarah’s lead. Step up.

That’s how leaders are made.

Bryce Henson
CEO, Fit Body

The 5 Immutable Rules of Leadership

1. Take Extreme Ownership: Everything is your responsibility—even when it’s not your fault.
2. Put Your Oxygen Mask On First: Lead yourself before leading others.
3. Wield Influence Through Moral Authority: People follow who you are, not what you say.
4. It’s Not About You—Never Was, Never Will Be: Elevate others, build legacy.
5. Turn Adversity Into Advantage: Pain is your power—use it.

Leaders! 🙌

Last week, I walked the grounds of Auschwitz for the second time.

Not because I wanted to… but because I needed to.

I was in Poland for a family wedding (more on that soon), and something in my spirit said, “Go again.”

Why?

Because real leadership requires studying human nature—not just the highlight reel, but the horror.

Auschwitz is where Viktor Frankl—author of Man’s Search for Meaning—was imprisoned while his family was murdered. And yet, from that pit of darkness, he found light.

This quote hits home:

“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” – Viktor E. Frankl

You can’t always choose your conditions—but you can always choose your response.

That’s the essence of leadership. That’s the heartbeat of turning adversity into your advantage.

The worst parts of history offer the clearest mirror. At Auschwitz, I was reminded: comfort is not promised, and freedom is not guaranteed.

But choosing your mindset? That’s the one freedom no one can steal.

So here’s your mindset mission this week:

When your plans get wrecked…
When your team drops the ball…
When life punches you in the gut…

Pause. 

Then choose.

Choose your mindset.
Choose your response.
Choose your way.

Because real leaders don’t just face adversity—they lead through it.

Bryce Henson
CEO, Fit Body

The 5 Immutable Rules of Leadership

1. Take Extreme Ownership: Everything is your responsibility—even when it’s not your fault.
2. Put Your Oxygen Mask On First: Lead yourself before leading others.
3. Wield Influence Through Moral Authority: People follow who you are, not what you say.
4. It’s Not About You—Never Was, Never Will Be: Elevate others, build legacy.
5. Turn Adversity Into Advantage: Pain is your power—use it.

Leaders! 🙌

This week, I shared a Monday Mindset message titled “The Power of Guidance (And Why I Almost Missed It).” Today, I want to double down on that insight—this time, through a leadership lens.

Because here’s the truth: leaders aren’t exempt from getting stuck. 

In fact, the higher you climb, the easier it is to isolate yourself from the guidance you actually need. I learned this the hard way.

Back in July, after a string of frustrating business dynamics outside my control, I realized I’d drifted from the fundamentals. I was holding the line externally—but internally? I was out of rhythm.

In my case, that meant reconnecting with the 12-step process that helped shape who I am. I hadn’t abandoned it—I just wasn’t actively working it. So I showed up to a meeting I didn’t want to go to.

And that’s when I met Nate.

18 years sober. 68 years young. A leader in every sense. 

His wisdom hit me like a 2×4 between the eyes: I needed to recommit. Rework the steps. Reconnect with spiritual discipline and accountability.

We’ve been working together since. And the transformation in my clarity, leadership, and presence has been profound.

The leadership takeaway?

Even seasoned CEOs need coaches. We all need someone to speak truth, challenge our blind spots, and hold us to a higher standard. Your business won’t outgrow your personal alignment—and real leadership starts inside.

Cultivate curiosity. Seek guidance. Embrace feedback. Get in proximity to someone 10 steps ahead.

That’s how leaders scale themselves before they scale their organizations.

Lead forward,

Bryce Henson
CEO & Visionary 

The 5 Immutable Rules of Leadership

1. Take Extreme Ownership: Everything is your responsibility—even when it’s not your fault.
2. Put Your Oxygen Mask On First: Lead yourself before leading others.
3. Wield Influence Through Moral Authority: People follow who you are, not what you say.
4. It’s Not About You—Never Was, Never Will Be: Elevate others, build legacy.
5. Turn Adversity Into Advantage: Pain is your power—use it.