The Leadership Edge with Joe Glaser

Let me ask you something. And I want you to actually sit with this for a second. Are you trying to get different results… while still questioning if you’re enough? Because a lot of people don’t say that out loud. But it’s there. In the back of their mind. “I don’t know if I’m ready.” “I don’t know if I’m the right person.” “I don’t know if I can actually do this.” Let me stop you right there. You...

Let me hit you with something right out of the gate. Most people are waiting. Waiting for a big moment. A breakthrough. A win that finally changes everything. And that’s exactly why they stay stuck. Because that moment? It’s not coming the way you think it is. You don’t win big. You win daily. Let’s be real—because that’s what we do here. People love the idea of winning. They love the result. They...

Let me hit you with something right out of the gate. Most people are waiting… for a big moment. A breakthrough. A win. Something that finally changes everything. And that’s exactly why they stay stuck. Because that moment? It’s not coming the way you think it is. You don’t win big. You win daily. And I’m going to be real with you — because that’s what wedo here. A lot of people love the idea of wi...

Let me give it to you straight.   There’s a moment every leader hits.   It’s not loud. It’s not dramatic.   It’s quiet.   But it changes everything.   It’s the moment you realize…   No one is coming.   Not to fix your team. Not to fix your culture. Not to fix your habits. Not to fix your results.   No one.   And when that finally clicks…   everything shifts.   Because up until that moment…   you’r...

There’s a moment every leader faces. It doesn’t look dramatic. It doesn’t feel like a breaking point. It’s small. Something is slightly off. Someone cuts a corner. An expectation isn’t met. And you feel it. Then comes the decision. “Is this worth addressing right now?” That’s the moment. Because what you do next doesn’t just solve a situation… It defines your standard. The Reality Most Leaders Avo...

I want to start this one a little different. Because this isn’t just another episode for me. This is something I felt like I needed to say. Because I’ve been there. I’ve had moments where things didn’t go the way I planned… where momentum slipped… where I started questioning if what I was pushing for was actually going to happen. And if I’m being honest… there were moments where it would’ve been e...

Before we get into today’s conversation… I want to slow this down for a second. Because this one’s different. You know, a lot of times on this show, I bring people on because of what they’ve done… what they’ve built… the results they’ve created. But today… this isn’t about that. This is about a person. This is about someone who has had a real, lasting impact on my life… long before there was ever...

Let’s talk about something that almost nobody talks about openly in leadership. Trust. Not the easy kind. Not the kind people talk about in books. I’m talking about the real version. The version that gets tested. The version that gets shaken when you’ve been through situations where honesty wasn’t there… where people said the right things to your face but moved differently behind the scenes. Manip...

A Letter to My Younger Self Let me try something a little different today. Normally on this podcast we’re talking about leadership, culture,building teams, pushing performance — all the things that come with trying toelevate people and environments. But today I want to do something a little more personal. Today I want to sit down across the table from someone. A younger version of me. The guy who...

Let me tell you where most people quit. It’s not when everything completely falls apart. People quit in the middle. Right in that frustrating space where you’ve started something… you’re putting in the work… you’re adjusting… you’re showing up every day… …and nothing seems to be moving. No momentum. No validation. No applause. Just effort. That right there? That’s where most people walk away. And...

What if the biggest risk right now… isn’t failure? What if it’s staying the same? After taking a month off from recording, I’m coming back with something real. No script, no polish — just honest reflection on a season where I felt off, fatigued, and not as sharp as I expect from myself. In this episode, I break down: Why pushing harder isn’t always the answer How to recognize when it’s time to evo...

If you’re a real-world leader — and by that I mean you’re carrying responsibility, pressure, expectations, and people — this is going to hit close to home. Because collaboration sounds great… until you’re tired. Until the clock is running. Until people are looking at you for the answer. And in those moments, collaboration can feel less like teamwork and more like risk.

I want to set the tone for this episode. to build next. This show is called Conversations on the Edge for areason. It’s not about polished answers or highlight reels. It’s about real conversations between people who are still figuring things out. And I wanted you as the first guest back because you’re not just a peerto me. You’re someone I trust. Someone I respect. And honestly, someone I’ve learn...

Why Most Years Are Lost Quietly Most people don’t lose a year in December. They lose it quietly in the first few months. Not because they didn’t care. Not because they weren’t capable. Butbecause they assumed inspiration would carry them further than it ever does. They felt motivated. They had good intentions. But they never slowed downlong enough to anchor change. Leadership doesn’t fall apart lo...

The world doesn’t change because of a few extraordinary people. It changes because ordinary people decide to stop playing small.

Why Motivation Always Lets You Down By this point in the series, we’ve talked about standards. We’ve talkedabout identity. We’ve talked about mindset. This is where leadership stops being theoretical. Because habits are where everything you say you believe either becomesreal or quietly falls apart. Most people want change, but they rely on motivation to get them there. Motivation feels good. It sh...

Most people think leadership is tested in visible moments. Meetings. Results. Big decisions. Public pressure. But leadership rarely breaks there first. It breaks quietly. Internally. In moments no one else sees. Before performance slips, mindset slips. Before behavior changes, beliefstarts to wobble. And before leadership struggles publicly, it fracturesprivately. If identity is who you are and ha...

Identity Is What Holds the Standard in Place If resetting the standard is the starting point, identity is what holds it in place. This is where most people get stuck when the calendar turns. They change goals. They tweak routines. They rearrange schedules. For a while, it feels like progress. But when pressure shows up, everything snaps back to what’s familiar. That’s not a motivation problem. It’...

The next 30 will decide how the following 335 days play out!

I deeply value and respect people of every belief,background, and tradition. I fully understand that many people do not recognizeor celebrate Christmas, and I honor that. Our world is beautifully diverse, andwhen we choose understanding over judgment, we all grow stronger. And at the same time—I won’t apologize for what I believe. My faith leads me to recognize, celebrate, and believedeeply in the...

The Weight ofLeadership During the Holidays The holiday season has a way of revealing the true weight of leadership. Everything feels amplified: the expectations, the pressure, and the emotionspeople carry quietly into work each day. The year is closing, the pace has notslowed, and as leaders we are expected to keep moving forward while alsorecognizing that many around us are tired, stretched, and...

Your authenticity is not a problem. Your authenticity is your power. Your authenticity is what sets you apart. Your authenticity is the key that unlocks your potential. Theworld doesn’t need more carbon-copy professionals. The world needs people who show up with heart.

The holiday season has a way of testing leaders on a levelthat has nothing to do with numbers or dashboards. It tests our spirit. Ittests our presence. It tests the heart of who we are and the kind ofenvironment we choose to create for the people we lead. I have spent twenty six years in retail. I have livedthrough holiday seasons where everything felt like it was on fire and seasonswhere we moved...

Over the years, I’ve learned something that continues toshape the way I lead: our people rise or fall to the level of the environmentwe create for them. It’s not just about goals, sales numbers, or strategies —it’s about the feeling our teams walk into every day. Is it positive? Isit organized? Does it give people energy or drain it? These are questions I askmyself often because I know the answers...

What if the most powerful thing you could do as a leader… has nothing to do with strategy, spreadsheets, or the next big initiative? What if your greatest competitive advantage isn’t complicated at all… but something so simple most leaders overlook it? What if the edge your team truly needs… is a thankful leader?