Leadership Lessons From a Hospital Clown – Eddy Smits

What can business leaders learn from a hospital clown? In this episode of Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder, Dave talks with Eddy Smits — TEDx speaker, coach, author, and former professional hospital clown — about the surprising leadership lessons he discovered while performing for sick and palliative children.

Eddy explains how clowning taught him timeless principles that translate directly into leadership and business success:

• Why true leadership is never about you

• How radical honesty builds trust with teams and clients

• The importance of vulnerability in creating human connection

• Breaking through excuses and fear with small, consistent steps

• Working around resistance instead of trying to force change

You’ll also hear memorable stories from Eddy's hospital work, his training of professional clowns, and his approach to overcoming common fears — including coulrophobia.

This conversation is packed with practical insights for leaders, managers, and solopreneurs who want to build trust, lead with empathy, and inspire resilience in their organizations.

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About Our Guest:

Eddy Smits, a man whose journey from performing as a professional clown for over 10,000 sick and palliative care children to becoming a sought-after speaker, coach, and author has given him an unparalleled understanding of human resilience, leadership, and the pursuit of happiness. With a straight-to-the-point approach and a knack for cutting through the noise, Eddy’s refreshing philosophy of "common sense without the nonsense" resonates deeply with audiences from all walks of life. His unique story and insights—captured in his book Model C—combine humor, heart, and hard-won wisdom to inspire genuine growth and connection.

About the Host:

Dave Bookbinder is known as an expert in business valuation and he is the person that business owners and entrepreneurs reach out to when they need to know what their most important assets are worth. Known as a collaborative adviser, Dave has served thousands of client companies of all sizes and industries. 

 

Dave is the author of two #1 best-selling books about the impact of human capital (PEOPLE!) on the valuation of a business enterprise called The NEW ROI: Return On Individuals & The NEW ROI: Going Behind The Numbers. 

 

He’s on a mission to change the conversation about how the accounting world recognizes the value of people’s contributions to a business enterprise, and to quantify what every CEO on the planet claims: “Our people are this company’s most valuable asset.”

 

Dave’s book, A Valuation Toolbox for Business Owners and Their Advisors: Things Every Business Owner Should Know, was recognized as a top new release in Business and Valuation and is designed to provide practical insights and tools to help understand what really drives business value, how to prepare for an exit, and just make better decisions.

He’s also the host of the highly rated Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder business podcast which is enjoyed in more than 100 countries.

 

🔸 Grab Dave’s Books: The New ROI: Return on Individuals  | The NEW ROI: Going Behind The Numbers  |  A Valuation Toolbox for Business Owners and Their Advisors: Things Every Business Owner Should Know

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