🎙️ Welcome to Tools, Talents & Techniques, hosted by Dustin Sutton — where we explore real stories of grit, innovation, and growth across entrepreneurship, sports, tech, real estate, and leadership.

In this episode, Dustin sits down with Nick Esayian — race car driver, entrepreneur, and CEO of LIGHT Helmets — to unpack how a tough upbringing, military discipline, and relentless execution turned a bold idea into the #1-rated tackle football helmet ever tested.

From the track to the boardroom, Nick shares hard-earned lessons on leadership, failure, and disrupting industries that resist change.

🧠 Key Takeaways ✅ Sports create life-ready leaders ✅ Mentorship fast-tracks growth ✅ Risk + failure = part of every big win ✅ Innovation demands persistence ✅ Setbacks teach more than success ✅ Protecting athletes takes pushing limits ✅ Big wins come from small daily ones ✅ Keep showing up — tomorrow matters

⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Intro to Nick Esayian 01:06 – Growing up tough in Wisconsin 07:00 – Sports, racing & discipline 14:49 – Learning through mentorship 20:03 – Early ventures & lessons 29:43 – Leaping into entrepreneurship 34:01 – Volunteering in Search & Rescue 38:12 – Learning from failure 40:15 – Adapting as an entrepreneur 46:47 – Life lessons from sports 49:38 – Launching LIGHT Helmets 58:31 – Helmet tech & innovation 01:09:47 – The science of concussions 01:12:44 – Resilience & inspiration 01:20:30 – Final thoughts

🎧 Listen to the Full Episode YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DustinCSutton Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7pQZ551Ct4jVRQ2BqB7Zr2?si=740ba4a90165417a Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tools-talents-and-techniques-with-dustin-sutton/id1692838507

🌟 About the Show Tools, Talents & Techniques features honest conversations with entrepreneurs, athletes, investors, and creators who are building with purpose and pushing boundaries.

🔗 Connect with Dustin Sutton Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dustincsutton LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustincsutton

🏁 More on Nick Esayian & LIGHT Helmets LIGHT Helmets Website: https://lighthelmets.com Nick Esayian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esayian/

🎶 Music by C€$ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/21zXwxV9nWaiE6iAleU6ww?si=yNBmIPqIT7-56hAmfvqShA

✅ Subscribe for More YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@DustinCSutton

In this episode of Tools, Talents & Techniques, Dustin Sutton sits down with Jonah Mitro, co-founder of Precision Pro Golf, to unpack what it really takes to build a successful golf tech company.

From humble beginnings to becoming a major player in the golf rangefinder space, Jonah shares the ups, downs, and pivotal lessons learned along the way. The conversation covers everything from navigating supply chain headaches and rising tariffs to battling knockoff products from overseas—and why being first to market with features like a magnetic rangefinder made all the difference.

Whether you're in the golf world, launching a product, or simply curious about the behind-the-scenes grind of entrepreneurship—this episode delivers actionable takeaways and candid stories that’ll stick with you.

Takeaways:

• Real experience > formal education
• Speed to market matters more than perfection
• You don’t have to be the cheapest—you have to be different
• People buy from people they like
• Customer service is your real brand
• Build to stand out, not blend in
• Challenges in manufacturing, innovation, and staying competitive
• Why great customer service still wins
• How differentiation drives market presence
• Building meaningful business relationships
• Knowing your strengths and timing your moves

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro to Jonah Mitro & Precision Pro Golf

01:45 – Jonah’s journey & entrepreneurial roots

10:19 – How Precision Pro Golf was born

15:20 – Quality control + manufacturing hurdles

20:22 – Supply chain + tariffs breakdown

27:59 – Competing with low-cost overseas products

0:05 – The power of innovation & customer relationships

41:25 – Partnerships, timing, and lessons for entrepreneurs

Connect with Jonah:

• Precision Pro Golf: https://precisionprogolf.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/golfmytro/?hl=en
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonahmytro/

Listen & Subscribe:

• YouTube: https://youtube.com/@dustincsutton
• Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tools-talents-and-techniques-with-dustin-sutton/id1692838507
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7pQZ551Ct4jVRQ2BqB7Zr2?si=740ba4a90165417a

Follow Us:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the3tpod/
• X (Twitter): https://x.com/the3tpod

Music by C€$:

• https://open.spotify.com/artist/21zXwxV9nWaiE6iAleU6ww?si=yNBmIPqIT7-56hAmfvqShA

In this episode, Mark Murphy—NYT bestselling author and founder of Leadership IQ—unpacks what separates great leaders from the rest. He shares insights on coaching vs. managing, the real reason promoting top performers can fail, and why your intention as a leader matters just as much as your action.

Mark emphasizes that leadership is about inspiring others to reach for more—not just getting tasks done. He breaks down the core differences between leadership and management, highlights the risks organizations face without strong leadership (especially in healthcare), and dives into hiring practices that focus on attitude over technical skills.

From shaping leadership traits early in life to managing contradictions like confidence and humility, this episode is packed with actionable gems—especially for leaders navigating high-stakes environments.

Key Takeaways:

• Leadership is about inspiring, not controlling.
• Your intentions as a leader matter just as much as your results.
• Promoting top performers into leadership roles can backfire.
• Great leaders balance confidence and humility.
• The right leadership style depends on the situation.
• Hiring for attitude is more important than hiring for skills.
• Effective leadership is essential in high-impact industries like healthcare.
• Optimism, adaptability, and resilience are critical traits.
• Nuanced leadership is where true success often lives.

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro to Leadership & Mark’s Journey

02:56 – Early Influences

05:54 – Defining Leadership

08:48 – Intentions in Leadership

11:50 – Leadership vs. Management

14:52 – Promoting from Within

18:06 – Mark’s Career Evolution

37:55 – Leadership’s Role in Patient Care

40:04 – Leading Through Cost-Cutting

47:24 – Traits of Effective Leaders

01:09:41 – Balancing Contradictory Traits

#leadership #coaching #inspiring #hiringforattitude #adaptability #resilience #patientcare #management #LeadershipIQ #MarkMurphy #the3tpod #career #success #entrepreneurship #businessinsights

Leadership IQ trains leaders across the globe—clients include the UN, Harvard, IBM, and more. Featured in WSJ, Forbes, CNN, NPR, and more.

Leadership IQ: https://www.leadershipiq.com/

Mark Murphy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markamurphy/

Listen & Subscribe

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@dustincsutton

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tools-talents-and-techniques-with-dustin-sutton/id1692838507

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7pQZ551Ct4jVRQ2BqB7Zr2?si=740ba4a90165417a

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the3tpod/

Vibes by C€$: https://open.spotify.com/artist/21zXwxV9nWaiE6iAleU6ww?si=yNBmIPqIT7-56hAmfvqShA