Simple Tips from Dan Leonardi on Growing Your Career and Yourself
In the Expert Insight Interview episode, host John Golden talks with Dan Leonardi. Dan is a career coach and the founder of Leonardi Personal Development. He has over 45 years of experience in big companies like PepsiCo, Kellogg, and Conagra. His new book, Be the CEO of Your Life, teaches people how to take control of their lives and careers.
A New Way to Look at Life
Dan shares his story about starting out as a truck driver after dropping out of college. He says that even small jobs can teach you big lessons. His book is based on what he wishes he had known when he was younger. He wants people to know they don’t have to have it all figured out. Life is about learning as you go.
The Three Stages of Life
Dan explains life in three parts:
- Learn (Ages 20–30)
Try new things, make mistakes, and meet people. This stage is all about learning. - Earn (Ages 30–40)
Use what you’ve learned to make money and build a strong career. - Grow (Ages 40+)
Look back at what you’ve done and build even more from it.
He says it’s okay to feel lost sometimes. You don’t need to rush. Life isn’t a race.
The 70-20-10 Rule
Dan says that:
- 70% of learning comes from experience
- 20% comes from people you know
- 10% comes from school
He says real-life experience and relationships are more important than just getting degrees.
Make Your Own Luck
Dan talks about building your own success. Luck, he says, comes from being ready and taking action. Even small jobs or past failures can help shape your story and move you forward.
Parents and Pressure
Parents often want what’s best for their kids. But Dan says young people should find their own paths. His motto is: Be the CEO of your life. This means you are in charge. You should pick mentors—like a “board of directors”—to guide you, but the choices are yours.
Make a Personal Playbook
Dan gives a final tip: make a playbook for your life. This means:
- Know what you want
- Plan how to get there
- Take action with purpose
He says this is how companies grow, and people can use the same idea to succeed.
Main Tips from Dan Leonardi
- Learn early: Try new things and meet people in your 20s.
- Build money later: Use your skills and network in your 30s to earn well.
- Grow long-term: Use all you’ve learned to keep growing after 40.
- Real-world matters: School helps, but most learning comes from life and people.
- Take control: Don’t wait for success—go build it.
- Know your “why”: Make a plan that matches your interests.
This ebook is for anyone who wants to take control of their life and career. Dan’s honest and straightforward advice gives readers the tools to grow, lead, and succeed—one smart step at a time.
Our Host
John is the Amazon bestselling author of Winning the Battle for Sales: Lessons on Closing Every Deal from the World’s Greatest Military Victories and Social Upheaval: How to Win at Social Selling. A globally acknowledged Sales & Marketing thought leader, speaker, and strategist, he has conducted over 1500 video interviews of thought leaders for Sales POP! online sales magazine & YouTube Channel and for audio podcast channels where Sales POP! is rated in the top 2% of most popular shows out of 3,320,580 podcasts globally, ranked by Listen Score. He is CSMO at Pipeliner CRM. In his spare time, John is an avid Martial Artist.
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