Leadership and Business Growth

Leaders! 🙌

The past two weeks were extra special.

My mom, Donna—aka Mother Dove—visited from Michigan. We shared great dinners, laughed with friends, and had deep, late-night conversations that reminded me of something powerful:

Leadership is influence.

Nothing more, nothing less.

And influence doesn’t come from titles or transactions.

It comes from proximity.

Whether it’s your team, your clients, or your family—the people you want to impact must feel your presence. Influence is built in quiet moments, shared stories, and unhurried time together.

Over those two weeks, I didn’t just reconnect with my mom—I was reminded that leadership starts with being close.

Not just physically, but emotionally.

In a world obsessed with hacks and shortcuts, this is your reminder:

If you want to influence someone, be willing to be with them.

Share space.

Create moments.

Lead with presence.

Make it a POWERFUL week,

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.

Leaders! 🙌

Last week, Barrett and I hosted a powerful Fit Body mastermind call with our friend and retired Navy SEAL, Randy Hetrick—also the founder of TRX.

He dropped a truth bomb that hit home:

“You can’t make them care—you have to persuade them to care.”

That one sentence summarizes the challenge—and the privilege—of leadership.

In the SEALs, rank isn’t what earns respect.

It’s the steady compass you hold when everyone else is spinning.

It’s your commitment to park your ego, listen deeply, and aggregate the best ideas—not just your own. Because here’s the uncomfortable truth in business and life:

No one will ever care about your business as much as you do.

That’s the price of leadership.

But here’s the payoff…

When you lead with authenticity—not a fake facade, but raw, real emotion…

When you lead with integrity and accountability—even when it hurts…

When you create a leadership culture where ownership is the standard, not the exception…

You don’t just climb a mountain—you inspire others to summit with you. 

Because Leadership Isn’t Rank. 

It’s Responsibility.

Make it a POWERFUL week,

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.

Leaders! 🙌

Over the past few weeks, we’ve broken down the 4-step system of effective leadership.

Today, we land the plane with a concept that built the world’s greatest military and is mission-critical for your business:

Decentralized Command.

Jocko and the military call it that. 

I call it Situational Authority—and it’s a game-changer.

Here’s the truth:

Organized planning matters… but life isn’t lived in a boardroom. 

It’s lived in the field.

And in the real world—where things move fast and facts change even faster—your front-line leaders MUST have the power to decide and act.

That’s why Situational Authority wins. It empowers leaders closest to the action to solve real-time problems without waiting for orders.

Think about it—when SEAL teams are clearing a building, they don’t stop to call headquarters every 30 seconds. 

That would get people killed.

Business may not be war, but it’s certainly a battle for attention, retention, and results.

So here’s your move:

• Equip your team with clear intent.
• Train them relentlessly.
• Then get out of the way and let them lead.

This kind of autonomy not only speeds decision-making—it builds trust, unlocks innovation, and scales leadership.

Remember: Control stifles. Command empowers.

And if you want to build an unstoppable culture, your leaders need to own their lanes and move with confidence.

Situational Authority isn’t risky.

Micromanagement is.

Let ‘em lead.

Make it a POWERFUL week,

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.

Leaders! 🙌

If everything is a priority, nothing is.

Last week, we covered Jocko Willink’s second leadership law: Keep it Simple. This week, we unpack the third law—Prioritize and Execute.

I reinforced this with Jocko’s world-famous “GOOD” video. No matter the adversity, a strong leader reframes it and says: Good. Let’s go.

But reframing isn’t enough.

Once chaos hits—and it will—you must be able to sift through the noise and decide what matters most.

That’s why in our EOS leadership system, we don’t try to fix everything every quarter. We choose 3-5 Rocks. 

Why? Because Rocks move the business. Pebbles are nice-to-haves. Sand is noise.

Steven Covey illustrated this brilliantly: If you fill a jar with sand first, the rocks won’t fit. But if you place the rocks in first, everything else settles around them.

Your time. Your team’s energy. Your budget.

It’s the same jar—but only when the main thing stays the main thing do you move the mission forward.

So here’s your takeaway:

Leadership isn’t about managing chaos. It’s about controlling it.

Set the rocks.

Clarify the targets.

Then execute relentlessly.

That’s Jocko’s third law.

Prioritize.
Execute.
Repeat.

Do this, and you don’t just lead—you win.

Bryce Henson
CEO & Visionary

P.S. Next week, we’ll wrap the series with Jocko’s final leadership principle—and it might just be the hardest one to master.

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! 🙌

I recently shared Jocko Willink’s viral video “GOOD”—a mindset shift that finds strength in setbacks.

Today, we dive into step 2 of his 4 Laws of Combat Leadership: Simple.

Sounds easy. But as any business owner knows—especially in franchising—it’s anything but.

Business is complicated.

Running an international fitness brand across two countries? Add a few layers.

Then throw in the franchising model?

That’s a different beast entirely.

You’re not just marketing or coaching—you’re navigating federal regulations, state-by-state compliance, and franchisee operations… on top of delivering results to clients.

It’s a pressure cooker for confusion if your leadership lacks clarity.

I learned this the hard way in 2020.

When COVID hit, it wasn’t just a national shutdown.

It was 40 different shutdowns—each state with its own restrictions, timelines, and protocols. One week, we were open in Florida. Closed in Michigan. Masked in Illinois. Unclear in Arizona.

And Canada?

Shut down for a year.

It was chaos.

And in the middle of that, I discovered something I now treat as gospel:

Complexity kills execution.

That’s why the best leaders simplify.

When plans are overly detailed, when communication is convoluted, teams freeze. Confusion breeds hesitation, and hesitation destroys momentum.

Your job as a leader?

Boil it down.

Get clear.

Then communicate with simplicity.

Not because your team isn’t smart—but because pressure creates fog. And clarity cuts through it.

Here’s today’s takeaway:

Simple scales. Complex fails. 💪

Make simplicity your standard. Your team will move faster. Your business will grow smoother. 

And you’ll be the kind of leader people trust when things get tough. 💪

Team! 🙌

Last week, I shared Jocko Willink’s “GOOD” video—a masterclass in reframing adversity.

This week, we dive into the first principle of his 4-part leadership framework: Cover and Move.

In the SEAL Teams, “Cover and Move” is a tactical maneuver—one unit suppresses while the other advances. But in our world, it’s the heartbeat of elite teamwork.

Here at HQ, that means we operate as one squad. 

Not Marketing vs. Operations. 

Not Sales vs. Support. 

Just one mission, moving in one direction: to grow Fit Body and serve our owners at the highest level.

I learned this lesson young—as captain of my soccer team. 

Truth? 

I was the least talented player on the field. 

But I knew people. I knew who to pass to under pressure. 

I knew how to rally the group. I knew that our win wasn’t about the best player—it was about playing as one unit.

That’s the mindset I bring into HQ leadership today—and it’s what I ask from each of you.

If a teammate drops the ball, don’t point fingers—cover them. If you’re winning in your lane, don’t coast—move forward and bring the squad with you.

Teamwork isn’t a nice-to-have—it’s our advantage. Because at HQ, when we move as one, we’re unstoppable.

Let’s continue leading by example—and remember: we live and die as a team.

Family! 🙌

At this year’s Fit Body World Conference, our keynote Shawn Stevenson dropped a truth bomb:

Relationships are ROI. 💡

And one of the most powerful forms? Virtual mentors.

One of mine has been retired Navy SEAL Commander Jocko Willink.

While we met in person twice in 2019, Jocko’s been mentoring me for four years—through books, podcasts, and especially his iconic YouTube video: “GOOD.”

If you haven’t seen it, look it up. It’s 2 minutes of absolute fire. 🔥

Here’s the punchline:

Didn’t get the promotion? GOOD. More time to prepare.

Lost a client? GOOD. Room for a better one.

Team drama? GOOD. Time to grow as a leader.

This is tactical optimism at its finest.

Not sugarcoating the hard stuff—but using it to sharpen your leadership blade. ⚔️

And it aligns perfectly with my core philosophy:

Turn Adversity Into Advantage. 💪

So here’s your Mindset Coaching for the Leadership Lesson of the Week:

Next time something breaks, backfires, or blows up…

Say “GOOD.”

Then step up and lead.

Because leadership isn’t forged in comfort.

It’s shaped in chaos.

Make it a GREAT week!

-Bryce Henson

CEO, Fit Body

PS – Click HERE to watch Jocko’s “GOOD” video. Then turn adversity into advantage—starting today.

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.

This past weekend, I flew to Arizona for a high-level speaking conference with my friend, who’s like a sister, Erin King  — who you’ll hear keynote this weekend at the Fit Body World Conference in Atlanta.

It was recommended by my coach Mike Ganino, who’s helped me level up my storytelling and stagecraft over the last year.

And let me tell you—total game changer.

I learned how to structure a talk that lands, how to open with fire, and how to close with impact. Tactics, tools, and reps I didn’t know I was missing.

Here’s the kicker…

Until last year?

I had zero formal public speaking training.

Everything I’d done was grit, trial-and-error, and feedback from trusted peers. Which worked—until it didn’t.

And that’s the leadership lesson:

Growth always requires discomfort.

Always.

If you’re not regularly putting yourself in uncomfortable, unfamiliar environments—then you’re not leading. You’re repeating.

This weekend reminded me:

The gap between good and great is often just the willingness to look awkward in pursuit of mastery.

So whether it’s public speaking, team building, or scaling your business…

• Get in the room.
• Get uncomfortable.
• Get coaching.
• Then get better.

Leadership isn’t just about showing up confident.

It’s about having the guts to show up as a beginner when the mission demands it.

That’s what real leaders do.

To your growth,

-Bryce Henson

CEO, Fit Body

Let’s cut through the noise:

Growth = Change. And change? It’s uncomfortable.

Most avoid it. Leaders embrace it.

Let’s talk fitness.

Muscle doesn’t grow without resistance. 

You push, pull, strain, and yes—hurt. That discomfort? It’s not punishment. It’s proof you’re building strength.

Same with leadership.

Growth in business requires tension. Changing culture, reworking systems, giving tough feedback—it’s all friction. 

It’s also fuel.

Want a better team? A stronger business? A bigger impact?

Then lean into the discomfort. 

Because the reps you resist—the awkward conversation, the risky decision, the vulnerable admission—are exactly what build leadership muscle.

Comfort is a liar. It convinces you to stay stuck.

But if you’re reading this, you didn’t sign up for stuck. You signed up to lead.

So here’s the play:

• Find the friction.
• Lean into it.
• Trust the process.

Because nothing meaningful grows without pressure.

Make it a strong week,

-Bryce Henson

The 5 Rules of Leadership:

1. Take Extreme Ownership
2. Put Your Oxygen Mask On First
3. Wield Influence Through Morale Authority
4. It’s Not About You, Never Has Been Nor Will Be
5. Turn Adversity Into Advantage

This past week, I re-engaged with something deeply personal—working the 12 Steps with a new sponsor. 

And I started with Step 1:

“We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.”

Now, don’t get it twisted. Step 1 isn’t about giving up.

It’s about giving in—to truth.

It’s the recognition that willpower, grit, and hustle—while powerful—can’t solve every problem. Especially when the problem is you.

That’s a lesson leaders tend to resist. 

We’re wired to take charge. Fix things. Muscle through. 

But there’s a darker side to that wiring: control.

And when you cling too tightly, you don’t just grip the wheel—you white-knuckle your way into burnout, poor decisions, and a disconnected team.

Step 1 taught me this: Surrender isn’t weakness—it’s the starting point of strength.

Great leadership requires humility.

It requires saying, “This isn’t working.”

It requires space for feedback, honest inventory, and realignment.

So this week, I’m challenging you to take inventory.

• What’s become unmanageable in your life or business?
• Where are you muscling through when you should be stepping back?
• What would it look like to surrender the illusion of control—so you can finally lead with clarity, curiosity, and compassion?

Leaders go first. And sometimes, the first step is stepping aside from ego.

There’s power in powerlessness—if you’re brave enough to admit it.