Dirt Talk by BuildWitt
Episode: Randy Gravitt w/ Lead Every Day – DT 406
Date: January 8, 2026
Host: Aaron Witt (A)
Guest: Randy Gravitt (B), Leadership Coach, Speaker, and Author
Episode Overview
This episode features a dynamic conversation between host Aaron Witt and leadership expert Randy Gravitt. The discussion centers around practical, transformative leadership in the construction and infrastructure industries, with a strong emphasis on personal development, leading within families, and developing organizations that thrive long-term. Randy shares insights from his journey—including teaching, ministry, and working with companies and sports teams—while highlighting themes from his books Lead Every Day and Winning Begins at Home. The episode is packed with actionable advice for leaders at every level, memorable stories, and wisdom on the intersection of personal growth, self-leadership, and organizational health.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Randy’s Unconventional Leadership Journey
- Early leadership was shaped by sports and teaching ninth graders without formal qualifications.
- Transitioned from teaching to coaching, and then to leading in ministry—first in family ministry, then as executive pastor.
- Ministry experience involved organizing a fast-growing church and managing a team of 50+ on multiple campuses.
- Launched a wider leadership development mission in 2014, working across sectors, including professional sports.
- Noted the importance of mentorship, citing figures like John Maxwell, and prioritized continuous learning.
Memorable Quote
"I always knew if you got a good leader, things are really good. And if you don't have a good leader, it's not good."
—Randy Gravitt (02:09)
2. Lessons from the Classroom: Scope and Sequence in Leadership
- Teaching ninth-grade biology without a background taught the necessity of structured, sequential development—applicable to leadership growth.
- Many organizations practice "random acts of development" without a real progression plan.
- Developed a leadership "operating system" (with Mark Miller), emphasizing the need for sequence and process.
Memorable Quote
"You can't just have random acts of education going on... you have to have a sequential way to do training and development."
—Randy Gravitt (08:01)
Timestamp: [05:04–10:06]
3. Leadership as a Skill, Not a Trait
- Both emphasize that leadership is learned and refined—comparable to developing any skill, like shooting free throws.
- Discussed the misconception that leaders are born, not made; growth requires intentionality and persistence.
Memorable Exchange
"I didn't even conceptualize it as a skill. I thought, you're either a leader or you're not. And that's so far from reality. It's like playing basketball. Don't expect to be able to shoot free throws if you've never practiced."
—Aaron Witt (11:11)
"It's cumulative over time, too. You just keep putting it in a bank, growing every day."
—Randy Gravitt (11:35)
4. Personal Growth Fuels Organizational Success
- Leadership growth is foundational: “If you want your company to grow by 10%, then you better personally grow by 10%.”
- The leader’s personal development determines the organization’s ceiling.
Memorable Quote
"Your company never will outgrow the leadership. It just won't happen."
—Randy Gravitt (12:27)
Timestamp: [11:53–13:00]
5. Impact of Ministry & Service-driven Leadership
- Leadership in ministry taught Randy about impact, serving others, and the ripple effect of value-driven work.
- The crossover between serving in ministry and building high-functioning teams in organizations.
Memorable Quote
"I want to try as best I can to use some of my work or most of my work to try to make a difference and have impact."
—Randy Gravitt (14:23)
6. Foundational Leadership Principles
- Uses Jesus as an example of enduring, principle-centered leadership.
- Principles like "love your neighbor as yourself" are timeless and universal in application.
- Importance of building a strong foundation—leaders need to take care of themselves (body, mind, soul) before they can lead others well.
Timestamp: [21:04–26:40]
7. From “Company” to “Individual”: The Power of Self-Leadership
- Industry and societal change hinge on individuals improving themselves, not relying solely on organizational initiatives.
- It starts with introspection: “Where are you?” in your personal and professional growth.
Memorable Quote
"It's not about what we do as companies. It's what each individual here does. It's just us."
—Aaron Witt (24:59)
8. Winning Begins at Home: Influence Beyond the Workplace
- The book “Winning Begins at Home” was born from seeing leaders thrive at work but struggle outside of it.
- Two fundamentals for family and personal life:
- Love First: Prioritizing relationships and genuine presence.
- Live Last: Embracing sacrifice and servant leadership (e.g., “racing to the back of the line” for your family).
Notable Story
- Randy’s father teaching him how to bunt in baseball: a lesson in sacrifice that applies to family and leadership.
Memorable Quote
"If you win at work and you lose at home, I think you still lose."
—Randy Gravitt (32:25)
Timestamp: [32:04–39:59]
9. Transparency & the Stigma Around Family Struggles
- Noted that leaders often hide or neglect personal/family challenges.
- Advocates for having honest conversations about personal growth and relationships within companies.
- Shared the relay race analogy: “The races are typically not won by the fastest runner. They're won by the cleanest exchanges.”
10. Integration of Work & Life
- Workplaces that ignore employees' personal well-being limit engagement and long-term performance.
- True care—beyond compliance and safety slogans—brings a competitive advantage and supports retention.
Memorable Quote
"People don't leave organizations. They leave leaders."
—Randy Gravitt (48:55)
Timestamp: [47:55–49:54]
11. The Importance of Structured Self-Reflection
- Both describe the practice of writing daily as a way to reflect, analyze, and refine leadership and thought.
- "Evaluated experience" is more valuable than just “more experience.”
- Schedule alone time (think weeks, regular reflection) to allow clarity and original thinking.
Memorable Quotes
"It's forced reflection. And I think people, you can go day to day … without that mechanism to really grade yourself."
—Aaron Witt (88:03)
"When you have that time, it just lets the river water of your life just settle and there becomes more clarity."
—Randy Gravitt (89:04)
12. Leadership Development in Organizations
- Provided a practical framework (with Mark Miller) for leadership—three essential disciplines:
- Become a better leader
- Improve team performance
- Strengthen the organization
- Stressed the critical order: personal growth → team development → organizational performance.
Metaphor
“That’s like the gymnast who says, I just want to do the dismount … if we don’t understand the importance of leadership and alignment … we will never reach our potential.”
—Randy Gravitt (69:13)
13. Growth and Delegation: Knowing When to Lead, When to Let Go
- Shared a story about a plumber who “emptied his truck” to lead the business rather than do every job himself.
- Warned that you cannot “hire away” your leadership problems—engagement from the top is essential.
Memorable Quote
"If all I'm doing is doing work and nobody's leading now, we're going to be struggling at some point."
—Randy Gravitt (77:15)
14. Practical Advice for Leaders
- Read a lot ("How can you not read? ... How do you lead a company?”)
- Modern access to learning is unprecedented—use it!
- Don’t wait for a mentor—own your own growth through curiosity and a plan.
- Seek models a little further down the road in whatever area you want to grow.
15. Common Leadership Pitfalls
- Rookie mistake: thinking a single training or consultant will “fix” culture or leadership issues.
- Sustainable change requires ongoing internal champions and leadership at every level.
Notable Quotes & Timestamps
- "You practice your way to high performance."
—Randy Gravitt (86:09) - "Your capacity to grow determines your capacity to lead."
—Randy Gravitt (99:01) - "I can't change the world, so to speak, but I can change my world."
—Randy Gravitt (100:25)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Randy’s leadership background and path: 00:10–04:51
- Structure in leadership development: 05:04–10:06
- Leadership as a skill: 10:06–13:00
- Ministry, calling, and service orientation: 13:09–17:31
- Transition from individual to organizational growth: 24:34–26:40
- Winning Begins at Home—family and relationships: 32:04–41:09
- On writing, reflection, and personal growth: 88:03–91:21
- Tactical leadership advice: 79:34–82:05
- Integration of work and personal life: 47:55–49:54
Closing Remarks
Randy wraps up with encouragement for leaders to focus on their own growth, emphasizing that “developing nations are made out of developing leaders.” He points listeners to resources at LeadEveryDay.com and underscores the mission to help individuals and organizations succeed not only in work, but at home and in life.
Resources Mentioned
- LeadEveryDay.com
- “Winning Begins at Home” (book)
- “Lead Every Day” (book, with Mark Miller)
Final Thought:
"When a leader gets better, the people around that leader benefit."
—Randy Gravitt (100:44)
This episode delivers a compelling, actionable blueprint for leaders at every stage—uniting personal growth, foundational values, and practical tools for building better organizations and stronger families.