Podcast Summary: The Entrepreneur DNA

Episode: How to Lead With Authenticity, Build Legacy & Thrive Through Chaos | Guest: Stan Gibson

Host: Justin Colby | Date: November 20, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of The Entrepreneur DNA features Stan Gibson—bestselling author, nationally recognized speaker, and mastermind facilitator—on leading with authenticity, building a personal and professional legacy, and thriving during chaotic times. Host Justin Colby and Stan dive deep into lessons learned in sports and business, how systems and self-awareness drive success, and why authentic leadership is more critical now than ever. The discussion is rich with personal stories, actionable frameworks, and compelling advice for entrepreneurs facing setbacks or striving for more.

Key Topics & Insights

1. Stan Gibson's Background and the Power of Authentic Leadership

(00:56–03:08)

• Stan shares his journey from preferred walk-on at Eastern Illinois University to being part of a football team that went from a disastrous 1-10 season to national champions in only one year.
• The coach, Darryl Mudra ("Dr. Victory"), led with radical authenticity and strategic delegation:
  • "He says, I know nothing about football, guys… I'm going to be coaching from the press box because I can see better up there, but I really don't do much game day coaching." (03:41, Stan Gibson)
• The turnaround was driven by:
  • Bringing in talented but young coaches (e.g., Mike Shanahan)
  • Involving players as on-field coaches
  • Placing people in the right roles and trusting them
  • Recognizing that prior failures were often systemic, not due to individuals’ lack of talent

2. Systems Over Individuals: Lessons for Business and Life

(10:01–11:28)

• Justin echoes the sports analogy into entrepreneurship:
  • "It doesn’t matter your skill level. If you’re in the right system… you can be literally the last pick of the draft and get paid $250 million in year three." (10:03, Justin Colby)
• Stan agrees, highlighting that success and failure hinge on systems, trust, and fit, not just raw ability.

3. The Resilience Lab Mastermind: Four Pillars for Growth

(11:28–19:27)
Stan’s mastermind program is structured around four central tenets:

1. Trust, Authenticity, and Emotional Intelligence
   • Emotional intelligence now outweighs technical intelligence due to AI’s rise.
   • Uses multilayered assessments (Clifton Strengthsfinder, Genius Process) to pinpoint individual and team strengths and their "kryptonite."
2. Well-being (Self-care and Neuroscience-backed Routines)
   • Self-care is vital; leaders often erroneously put themselves last.
   • Systems and routines (especially evening routines) conserve willpower and better prepare for tomorrow:
     • "We make over 35,000 decisions a day as adults… By six o’clock in the evening… we’re finding the Cheetos." (15:45, Stan Gibson)
   • Stan offers listeners free tools for building these habits at leadwithstand.com.
3. Leveraging AI for Good
   • AI can augment coaching, self-reflection, and business processes—use it ethically.
4. Legacy Building
   • Many executives fear they haven't left a meaningful legacy; Stan helps leaders identify and start shaping legacy early.

4. Clarity Through Chaos: How to Navigate Turbulence

(19:27–25:31)
Justin references Jordan Peterson’s work on balancing chaos and control, asking Stan for his perspective:

• Stan: "Never shy away from chaos, because… that’s where growth happens… You can never see it while you’re in it, but you look back a year later…. What did I learn?"
• The key: self-regulation, self-awareness, and identity transformation. It’s about unlocking limiting beliefs and consciously re-defining who you are so you can navigate both chaos and clarity.

5. The Power of Masterminds and Collective Experience

(25:31–29:16)

• Both agree that mastermind groups multiply individual experience, creating a network for advice, resource sharing, and emotional support.
• Justin shares how pride and ego can prevent leaders from asking for help, even after 20+ years in business:
  • "Instead, my pride and ego held me back… people have to realize at every level, the challenges can be bigger." (28:37, Justin Colby)
• Authenticity and transparency from leaders create a ripple effect, giving others permission to do the same.

6. Self-Awareness Tools: Assessment Methods for Leaders

(34:30–37:56)
Stan’s favorite assessments:

• Clifton Strengthsfinder (with a focus on the Genius Spark process for granularity)
• Enneagram ("it's a DNA thing, baby") for deeper, often unchanging traits and fears
• Recommends retaking tests after major life events; combining work and home use strengthens relationships:
  • "While we've always had a good marriage, this made a great marriage." (37:37, Stan Gibson)

7. Final Takeaways & Contact Information

(37:56–39:52)

• Stan reiterates: "This is about you. It's not about me. Go to leadwithstand.com and that's my guarantee to you."
• Justin closes with praise for Stan’s servant leadership and encourages listeners to share the episode.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Authentic Leadership:

  • "He walks into this cold, smelly locker room… and says something pathetic and prophetic: I know nothing about football, guys." (04:03, Stan Gibson)

• On Systems and Talent:

  • "They weren't bad coaches. They were great coaches in bad systems… They were great players in a bad system. And that’s how a lot of organizations are designed today." (07:50, Stan Gibson)

• On Masterminds:

  • "When you put 15 people in there, now you've got 150 connections, you've got a thousand years of experience, you've got a system that can help you when you're in chaos." (24:30, Stan Gibson)

• On Self-Care:

  • "How selfish are you being? And I mean, not selfish enough. Yeah, you're absolutely right. Not selfish enough." (13:49, Stan Gibson)

• On Shame and Authenticity:

  • "I should have leaned into my communities. I should have leaned into the masterminds… Instead, my pride and ego held me back… If we as leaders can start to be that example, I genuinely think we are going to change the world." (27:08, Justin Colby)

• On Self-Awareness:

  • "Self-awareness, understanding who you are, who you’re not; being that Michael Phelps… but knowing not only your swim lane, but how to associate and leverage other people…" (32:11, Stan Gibson)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |------------------------------------------------|-------------| | Intro and Stan’s background | 00:00–03:08 | | The Eastern Illinois story & lessons | 03:08–10:01 | | Systems over individuals in business | 10:01–11:28 | | Four pillars of the Resilience Lab mastermind | 11:28–19:27 | | Navigating chaos & clarity | 19:27–25:31 | | Power and challenges of masterminds | 25:31–29:16 | | Self-awareness, assessments, marriage advice | 34:30–37:56 | | Closing thoughts, contact info | 37:56–39:52 |

Action Steps & Recommended Resources

• Explore Stan’s free tools and assessments at leadwithstand.com (‘Double down on you’ graph and chaos-to-clarity assessment) (16:54, Stan Gibson).
• Re-evaluate your work and home environments: Are great people in the wrong system or role?
• Prioritize self-care: Build robust systems for morning and evening routines.
• Engage with a mastermind: Leverage collective knowledge and be willing to show vulnerability to accelerate your own growth.
• Retake personality/strengths assessments after big changes to recalibrate self-awareness.

Follow Stan Gibson:

• Website: leadwithstand.com
• Socials: LinkedIn, Amazon (for books), and all major platforms.

This thoughtful, candid episode lays out a blueprint for leaders to thrive by building trust, understanding their identity, creating robust systems, and connecting authentically with others.