Leadership and Business Growth

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.

Leaders! 🙌

Last year, we hosted a Discovery Day at HQ for a prospective Fit Body franchise partner. 

Smart guy. Former military. Sharp operator. He’d been following Bedros and me for a while—and was serious about building something big.

We started the day with a workout at BK Strength, and midway through the warm-up, he pulled me aside.

“Bryce, I just want to say—I respect the way you take care of your body. You show up how you expect others to. That tells me everything I need to know.”

That hit me.

Not because of the compliment—but because of what it confirmed.

Leadership isn’t about what you say. It’s not the title on your email signature. It’s about the proof people see in how you operate daily.

In that moment, before we ever talked business, vision, or investment—he made a decision.

He could follow me.

Why?

Because I was already leading someone else.

Myself.

And that’s your takeaway today:

You’re not qualified to lead others until you can consistently lead yourself.

That means your health. Your time. Your words. Your discipline.

People don’t follow advice—they follow example.

If you’re asking your team to be better, show them what better looks like. If you want clients to trust you, show them someone worth trusting.

Lead yourself first.

And everything else falls in line.

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! 🙌

This past weekend, I had the privilege of leading our first-ever HQ led client event in Dallas, Texas. 

We called it I AM—a personal development summit designed to help women take back the pen from social expectations and write their own story.

From a business perspective, it was a way to engage our clients, further align our system, and bring on new owners to grow the brand.

Over 55 incredible women from across our Fit Body locations showed up from across the country. It was part personal growth, part networking, and 100% transformational. 

Our HQ team and speakers rocked the house!!

Watching it unfold reminded me of our very first Fit Body World Conference in 2012. 

Back then, we had 40 people, a small hotel room, and a few speakers. Compared to what the World Conference has become today, it was just a seed. But it was a start.

And that’s the lesson: Leaders Lead.

Leaders don’t wait for the perfect conditions. They don’t wait until it feels safe. They step forward—often first, often uncomfortable—because their people need a path.

That’s what our team, presenters, and clients did in Dallas. They created a historic moment in franchise history, not because it was easy, but because it mattered.

Your job as a leader isn’t to have every answer or guarantee every outcome. Your job is to move first and lay the foundation. To show your team, your clients, and your community what’s possible.

So here’s your challenge this week: where are you waiting for “someday” instead of leading today?

Because if you want growth in your team, in your business, and in your own life… remember this: leaders lead.

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! 🙌

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.