Do you ever wonder what truly separates successful business owners from the pack? What hidden habits, tough pivots, and real-life lessons matter in the long run?

In this energizing episode, Chris Thomson sits down with Ted Duncan, an accomplished real estate leader and Student Works Management Program alum, whose career took him everywhere from high-stakes sailing in Muskoka to leading top-performing teams and even chasing his acting dreams in New York.

Together, they reveal proven systems, the discipline myth most young leaders get wrong, and what it really takes to create success worth loving plus the unexpected tools Ted still uses from his earliest entrepreneurship days.

If you’re hungry to skip regret, build real impact, and become the kind of leader people rave about, listen right now. Don’t wait for perfect. You’ll miss secrets you can’t find anywhere else.

Timestamped Highlights

[00:00:21] – From motorboat newspapers to sailboats: Ted’s unexpected origin story
[00:01:09] – Getting up at 4:30 AM… is this how ambition feels before business?
[00:02:04] – A “not-salesy” mentor sparks Ted’s real entrepreneurial leap
[00:03:12] – The sales technique that transformed Ted’s life (use it in any field)
[00:05:44] – What most young operators miss about systems and how it costs you
[00:09:53] – “Wish I’d done it again”—Why experience multiplies results
[00:14:15] – From real estate to acting in NYC: surprising career pivots, customer skills
[00:18:07] – Why acting wasn’t just a wild detour, but a key self-discovery
[00:24:49] – The honest truth: why failure usually points in the mirror
[00:29:36] – How Ted built lasting habits, resilience, and real rewards

About the Guest

Ted Duncan is a top-performing real estate agent in Washington D.C., celebrated for leading high-volume, high-impact teams and guiding clients through life-changing home purchases. A longtime Student Works Management Program alum, Ted’s journey spans business launches, district management, entrepreneurship, and seven years as a working actor in New York, making him a powerful mentor for ambitious young leaders.

🔗 Website

Resources & Links Mentioned

Atomic Habits by James Clear
Net Promoter Score (Bain & Company)
Rick Eastwood (entrepreneur, Student Works alum)
Chris Coutinho (CEO, Paystar Logistics)
Dan Sullivan, Strategic Coach
Neil Bradley (Student Works founder)

Important Links

Connect with Chris: Website | LinkedIn
Learn more about the Student Works Management Program
Apply to be an Owner / Operator in the Management Program
Looking for a fun job this summer? Summer Job Opportunities
Hear more Alumni Success Stories

The Leaders of Tomorrow Podcast is an original production by Chris Thomson. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.