LeaderNotes is a quick-hit companion to each episode of The Learning to Lead Show. In just 5–10 minutes, Mark Cundiff recaps the top leadership insights, frameworks, and action steps from each interview, designed for busy, growth-minded leaders who want to review and apply the episode’s biggest takeaways on the go. It’s like the highlight reel + playbook—all in one.

Lead from the Floor: Tim Harmon on Trust, Listening, and Real-World Influence

In this episode, Mark Cundiff sits down with Tim Harmon, a seasoned maintenance and reliability leader and U.S. Army veteran, to unpack what it really takes to lead in high-pressure industrial environments.

Tim shares lessons from his early days in JROTC, through Army and Ranger leadership, into corporate roles at organizations like AK Steel, Stanley Black & Decker, and Cooper Tire, and into consulting in reliability transformation.

This conversation is loaded with practical leadership wisdom for leaders who are trying to build trust, reduce chaos, and influence across departments—especially when you don’t have positional authority.

About Tim Harmon

Tim Harmon is a maintenance and reliability leader with 20+ years of experience building high-performing teams and driving operational excellence.

He served in the U.S. Army, including overseas deployments, and later transitioned into leadership roles in industrial manufacturing and global reliability implementation. Today, he serves as a senior leader in facilities, maintenance, and reliability at Liebherr Logistics USA.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

1) Lead by Example on the Shop Floor

2) The Leader’s Role as a Filter

3) Trust Comes Down to Credibility and Follow-Through

4) Listening Is a Leadership Superpower

5) Influence Matters More Than Positional Authority

6) Change Management Requires Voice + Feedback Loops

7) Continuous Learning for Leaders

Memorable Quotes

• “My schedule should never be so busy that I can’t engage somebody.”
• “If you’re not 100% sure you can deliver, don’t make the commitment.”
• “People don’t leave because they don’t like the work—it’s usually because of bad leadership.”
• “Don’t respond in haste. Digest it first.”
• “It’s not an individual—it’s a team effort.”

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✅ Subscribe to your favorite podcast app
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✅ Leave a 5-star rating to help spread the word

Free Learning To Lead Resources

• Free Book: The Trust Gap
• The Learning To Lead Newsletter
• LeaderNotes

🔎 About LeaderNotes

LeaderNotes is a quick-hit companion to each episode of The Learning to Lead Show. In just 5–10 minutes, Mark Cundiff recaps the top leadership insights, frameworks, and action steps from each interview, designed for busy, growth-minded leaders who want to review and apply the episode’s biggest takeaways on the go. It’s like the highlight reel + playbook—all in one.

Contact Mark at: mark@markjcundiff.com

Host Mark Cundiff shares five leadership insights from his conversation with Jay Jacobson, a longtime funeral home director, entrepreneur, and leadership consultant, centered on Jay’s book "Lead by Legendary Example."

The takeaways include: leadership is demonstrated through daily behavior rather than titles; integrity is revealed in quiet moments and in crises through truth-telling and owning mistakes; effective boards and teams surface disagreement to reach better decisions; true presence requires turning down distractions and giving full attention; and collaboration multiplies wisdom while control isolates it, illustrated by contrasting medical experiences at the Mayo Clinic versus a local hospital.

Mark encourages listeners to download the episode leader notes, check out Jay’s book, subscribe to the podcast, and leave a five-star rating.

Free Learning To Lead Resources

• Free Book: The Trust Gap
• The Learning To Lead Newsletter
• LeaderNotes

🔎 About LeaderNotes

LeaderNotes is a quick-hit companion to each episode of The Learning to Lead Show. In just 5–10 minutes, Mark Cundiff recaps the top leadership insights, frameworks, and action steps from each interview, designed for busy, growth-minded leaders who want to review and apply the episode’s biggest takeaways on the go. It’s like the highlight reel + playbook—all in one.

Contact Mark at: mark@markjcundiff.com

Episode Summary – Jay Jacobson | Lead by Legendary Example

Mark Cundiff welcomes Jay Jacobson—funeral director, entrepreneur, bakery owner, and leadership consultant—to the Learning to Lead Show. Drawing from his book Lead by Legendary Example, Jay shares six pillars of leadership shaped by real-life experiences across business, crisis response, and community leadership.

Jay reflects on his journey from childhood entrepreneur to funeral service leader and national board member, emphasizing that leadership is not declared—it is lived. He highlights defining moments, including the United 232 crash response in Northwest Iowa, where competing funeral directors united to serve families and coordinate disaster efforts—demonstrating integrity, collaboration, and leadership under pressure.

The conversation explores:

• Living with integrity through daily actions, especially in crisis
• The power of constructive disagreement in effective leadership and governance
• Vision that goes beyond short-term results to truly serve people
• Presence—giving undivided attention at work and at home
• Servant leadership shaped by personal hardship, family challenges, and empathy
• Collaboration in medicine, disaster response, and community leadership
• The difference between adaptability and compromise—holding values steady in changing times

Jay also discusses mentoring young people, building character early, and creating environments where future leaders can grow. He shares how continuous learning—through books, experience, and evolving tools like AI—remains essential for leaders who want to stay effective and relevant.

His book combines powerful stories with a practical 10-week leadership development framework, built to help leaders live their values, serve others, and lead with lasting impact.

Key message: Never stop learning. Leadership is lived one decision, one action, and one example at a time.

Free Learning To Lead Resources

• Free Book: The Trust Gap
• The Learning To Lead Newsletter
• LeaderNotes

🔎 About LeaderNotes

LeaderNotes is a quick-hit companion to each episode of The Learning to Lead Show. In just 5–10 minutes, Mark Cundiff recaps the top leadership insights, frameworks, and action steps from each interview, designed for busy, growth-minded leaders who want to review and apply the episode’s biggest takeaways on the go. It’s like the highlight reel + playbook—all in one.

Contact Mark at: mark@markjcundiff.com