Plenty of managers think leadership means carrying everything. They answer every question and fix every problem, then wonder why nobody on the team grows.
Zach Arend, founder and leadership coach at Create Purpose, is a two-time state champion saddle bronc rider who spent nine years rising to VP of sales at a $300 million logistics company. Then he got demoted at 34, and that demotion is where his coaching philosophy started.
In this episode, he breaks down:
- How carrying 20 direct reports for four years made Zach a "good soldier" instead of a leader, and why too much ownership strips it from your team
- What the LIFT practice (listen, identify, focus, transform) looks like for a middle manager caught between the team and the executive suite
- Why "are you running away from something, or toward something?" is the question to ask before you quit a job that isn't working
Timestamps
[00:02:23] Zach's rodeo coach tells an 11-year-old to saddle his own horse, then walks away
[00:04:39] Getting demoted from VP of sales at a $300 million logistics company at age 34
[00:05:19] A new boss hears about Zach's 20 direct reports and tells him a good soldier isn't the same as a leader
[00:06:09] How too much ownership takes the weight of responsibility away from your people
[00:08:32] The fearful rider, the rogue cowboy, and why Zach coaches leaders to become the horseman
[00:12:12] The LIFT practice, built from a rodeo lesson about lifting on the rein of a 1,200-pound bronc
[00:14:23] A billion-dollar CEO admits nobody in leadership knows what they're doing, and why that's what growth feels like
[00:17:46] The question that stopped Zach from quitting: are you running away from something, or toward something?
[00:22:08] Why true servant leadership means letting people work through their own discomfort
[00:24:19] Zach's first step for anyone stuck as a good soldier: a journal and a Friday afternoon at a coffee shop
Guest Bio
Zach's journey from the rodeo arena to the boardroom is packed with grit, growth, and the kind of no BS leadership wisdom we all need more of. He’s spent the last 20 years helping entrepreneurs, executives, and sales pros "Saddle Their Own Horse" a modern leadership mindset built on clarity, confidence, and purpose. If you’re ready for fresh ideas, real connection, and the kind of energy that’ll fuel your next big move, you’re going to love Zach!
Brought to You by Paylocity
Paylocity is the fastest growing unified platform for HR, Finance, and IT. Paylocity brings your people, processes, and data together in one place so HR leaders can spend less time managing systems and more time doing the work that actually moves their organizations forward. Learn more at paylocity.com
Keywords: saddle your own horse, good soldier, empowered leadership, servant leadership, fear-based leadership, extreme ownership, delegation, middle management, LIFT practice, imposter syndrome, demotion, career change, executive coaching, leadership coaching, journaling for leaders, manager development, employee ownership, rodeo leadership lessons
Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network.
Sponsors
