Beyond KPIs: Dr. Johnny Torgeson on Building Teams That Refuse to Quit

Dr. Johnny Torgeson, a 25-year fire service veteran and author of Forging Your Team, breaks down the fundamental flaw in modern leadership training. He argues that while anyone can be taught to manage tasks and KPIs, true leadership is a "soft skill" rooted entirely in relationships and team building. Johnny shares his unique "Wisdom Formula," discusses why we must "fail fast and fail often," and explains how to "win the day" even when life punches you in the mouth.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• The "Free Donut" Mindset: Why successful people focus on the prize while others only see the length of the line.

• Management vs. Leadership: Why you don't need a relationship to be an effective manager, but you can't build a team without one.

• The Wisdom Formula: A mathematical approach to personal growth: Knowledge x Experience x Reflection = Wisdom.

• Winning the Day: How to reset your momentum with "small wins" when a plan falls apart.

• The Fallacy of Values Training: Why academic seminars fail to change a person’s core behavior and what to do instead.

• Active Mentorship: Why the best mentors reach down and across rather than waiting for someone to ask for help.

• Shadow Work: How teams create the intrinsic value that allows organizations to thrive beyond just a paycheck.