No Days Off with Brian Gubernick

Ever wonder what’s fueling the ideas, decisions, and strategies I’m running with right now? In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on the exact inputs shaping my year - the books I’m rereading, the podcasts I’m hooked on, the tools I’m experimenting with, and the questions sitting on my whiteboard.

You’ll hear why I keep going back to Jesse Itzler’s Living with a SEAL, Tim Ferriss’s Tools of Titans, and Michael Lewis’s Going...

Stress isn’t going anywhere. You can’t buy it off, out-hustle it, or schedule it away. But here’s the truth: while some people break under stress, others sharpen. Same pressure, different outcome.

Back in the late 1970s, psychologist Suzanne Kobasa studied why, and she discovered it wasn’t genetics, IQ, or luck. It was mindset. She called it hardiness, a way of viewing stress as fuel instead of fire. And it came down to three attit...

We’ve all heard the phrase: how you do anything is how you do everything. It’s been tossed around in locker rooms, boardrooms, and leadership meetings so often that it risks becoming just another motivational bumper sticker. But this principle runs deeper than most people realize, it’s a blueprint for identity.

In this episode, Brian breaks down the true meaning behind the phrase, tracing its roots from the Stoics to Navy SEALs to ...

Most people think peak performance means shutting emotions down. Wrong move. You don’t need to eliminate emotions, you need to regulate them. 

In this episode, Brian Gubernick breaks down a three-step framework from Dr. Becky Kennedy (popularized on Shane Parrish’s Knowledge Project) that puts you back in control under pressure.

The AVP model: Acknowledge, Validate, Permit, isn’t soft. It’s a control system for your nervous system....

Am I on the right wealth path? That’s the question I get from entrepreneurs, investors, and high performers all the time. The truth is, no one can answer that for you in a single conversation. But what I can give you is a framework.

In this episode, I walk you through a nine-question wealth quiz that will instantly show you where you stand. It’s not theory, it’s a scoreboard you can use today. Do you know your net worth? Are you sa...

Most businesses fight to outspend, outsmart, or outmaneuver the competition. But the real, untouchable edge? Outcaring them. 

In this episode, Brian Gubernick breaks down why genuine care isn’t soft, it’s the most disruptive strategy in today’s AI-driven, transaction-obsessed world.

You’ll hear six tactical ways to show your clients, team, and community that they matter more than the bottom line. From being shockingly responsive to...

Radical transparency isn’t for the faint of heart. Most leaders hoard information, soften feedback, and protect egos. Ray Dalio flipped that script at Bridgewater Associates, building one of the world’s largest hedge funds on a culture where nothing is hidden, every meeting is recorded, and the best idea wins, regardless of title.

In this episode, Brian breaks down the philosophy behind radical transparency, why it works, and how y...

Most leaders only play half the game. They’re either all structure and systems, or all charisma and quick chats. But real leadership requires both. 

In this episode, Brian breaks down the balance between formal leadership that keeps the business sharp, and informal leadership that builds trust in the margins. 

You’ll hear practical examples, legendary leaders who nailed the mix, and a challenge to apply both styles this week so you...

Brian Gubernick shares a powerful question that could transform the way you approach your business: If you only had 5 hours per week to work on your business, what would you focus on?

Brian walks through a structured framework to answer this question, helping you identify your core value drivers, audit your time, and uncover your zone of genius. Learn how to apply the 80/20 rule to focus on the activities that drive the most impact...

Ray Dalio calls it the midlife squeeze -- that high-pressure season where everything collides at once. Kids still need you, parents may be aging, your business is demanding more than ever, and your energy isn’t what it used to be. For entrepreneurs, the squeeze is magnified because there’s no clocking out. 

In this episode, Brian unpacks how to recognize this season, manage it with intention, and turn it into a catalyst for growth....

We’ve all heard it: nice guys finish last. But Adam Grant’s research proves otherwise. The truth? The biggest winners and the biggest losers share the same trait: they’re givers. The difference lies in how they give. 

In this episode, Brian breaks down the paradox of generosity, the danger of selfless giving, and the discipline of strategic generosity. 

You’ll learn how to play the long game, give from strength, and protect yoursel...

Most leaders think the mission ends when the event wraps or the project ships. Wrong. The mission isn’t complete until you debrief. 

In this episode, Brian Gubernick breaks down why skipping the debrief is the fastest way to repeat mistakes, miss lessons, and lose momentum. 

Drawing from Jocko Willink’s SEAL team process, Brian shows how dissecting wins and losses creates clarity, accountability, and systems you can actually replic...

Nothing is ever truly “in the bag.” That’s the trap high performers fall into: the assumption that past success guarantees future wins. 

In this episode, Brian Gubernick unpacks why complacency kills momentum, from the tortoise and the hare to Team USA’s shocking 2004 Olympic collapse to giants like Blockbuster and Kodak losing everything by resting on their laurels.

Brian shares how this lesson applies directly to entrepreneurs: d...

Five stars don’t come from competence alone. The truth? People don’t rave about the product, they rave about how they were treated. 

In this episode, Brian Gubernick breaks down the hidden driver of top reviews: experience. It’s not the transaction, it’s the touch points. The difference between a four-star and a five-star review is the responsiveness, empathy, and connection your clients feel.

Brian shares how to audit your testimo...

Client churn doesn’t usually show up as a flashing red warning light. It’s quiet, subtle, and often invisible until it’s already eroded your growth. In this episode, Brian Gubernick unpacks why retention is the real growth engine for any business and why obsessing over new client acquisition while ignoring churn is like filling a leaky bucket.

You’ll learn three tactical levers you can deploy immediately: Post-sale engagement that ...

Most people try to be generalists. They stay wide, spread thin, and wonder why they’re stuck in the middle of the pack. But the real edge, the multiplier of credibility, opportunity, and income, comes from going narrow.

In this episode, Brian Gubernick breaks down the five steps to becoming the expert in any subject. From choosing your lane, to going all-in on study and application, to building a reputation that sticks, you’ll lear...

In business and life, decisions don’t come from the same place for everyone. Some of us lead with logic. Others lead with values. Thinkers weigh the data and poke holes in reasoning. Feelers focus on people, harmony, and impact. Neither is better, but if you don’t recognize the difference, you’ll miss deals, lose influence, and frustrate your team.

In this episode, Brian Gubernick breaks down the key traits of thinkers and feelers,...

Comfort isn’t soft. It’s a competitive edge.

Cotality’s latest data shows that when choosing who to work with, buyers value comfort more than loyalty or convenience. Translation: people don’t come back because you’re the cheapest or the easiest, they come back because they trust you and feel at ease in the process.

In this episode, Brian breaks down five lessons for operationalizing comfort in your business: why it drives repeat cu...

Endurance isn’t just about crossing finish lines, it’s about how you respond when the voice in your head tells you to quit. 

In this episode, Brian takes lessons from his years of endurance racing and unpacks how they directly translate to business and entrepreneurship. 

From building a contingency plan for the moment you want to tap out, to mastering your self-talk, to narrowing your focus and remembering why you started, these ar...