Welcome to the kickoff episode of the For You Leaders podcast with Kirk Dando.

After coaching CEOs for 30+ years and helping generate more than $80 billion in enterprise value and $17 billion in successful exits, Kirk has seen a pattern most leaders miss: success itself can quietly sow the seeds of failure.

In this powerful opening conversation, Kirk shares:
- Why the hidden costs of growth are rarely talked about—until it’s too late
- The real difference between “For You” leaders and those who lead for themselves
- How clarity, accountability, and decision velocity determine your company’s ability to scale
- Two simple but transformative frameworks for your use: the CEO Growth Gauge and the TEM model
- Why it's important to normalize the journey of highs and lows for business leaders

If you're a CEO, board member, investor, or entrepreneur who’s tired of vague advice and ready for real-world, battle-tested insight, this episode is for you.

Episode Breakdown:
(0:00:15) Intro & Podcast Purpose
(0:02:42) Kirk's Leadership Journey
(0:07:40) Season Overview & Podcast Philosophy
(0:17:17) Kirk & Spencer’s Personal Connection
(0:25:22) Defining the Core Issue for Executives
(0:30:26) With the Right Guide, Any CEO Can Succeed
(0:37:07) Introducing the CEO Growth Gauge Framework
(0:47:25) TEM Model: Thesis, Execution, Macroeconomics
(1:04:38) An Investor's Lens on Business Growth
(1:09:25) One Action Step for CEOs Today
(1:13:23) Outro & What’s Next

Learn how to lead through the messy middle without losing your mind—or your business. Subscribe for bi-weekly episodes on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.