
Hey, Revved Up listeners! Gary Leeman here, diving into an electrifying chat with my buddy Ryan Strong, a serial entrepreneur who’s mastered the art of leadership and startup grit. From his daily cold plunges to building Stones AI, Ryan shares raw lessons on extreme ownership, staying lean like a cockroach, and why perseverance is everything. We unpack his failures, his new AI compliance venture, and how to lead without ego. If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or love no-BS leadership talk, this episode’s for you! Hit that play button, subscribe, and let’s get revved up together!
Guest Introduction:
Meet Ryan Strong, a serial entrepreneur and product management guru who’s got startup life in his DNA. I met Ryan at a Mexican restaurant over margaritas, and his sharp takes on leadership hooked me instantly. Now running Stones AI, he’s tackling AI compliance with a fearless, learn-first mindset. Ryan’s a dad, a cold-plunge junkie, and a master of turning failures into wins—perfect for our Revved Up crew!
Key Takeaways:
Embrace the suck with daily cold plunges—they build discipline that fuels leadership.
Let ideas marinate; don’t rush to build before understanding the market.
Extreme ownership means taking the blame to move forward, not win arguments.
Be a cockroach—stay lean, nimble, and ready to pivot in any storm.
Perseverance is your startup superpower; keep going, even in the valleys.
Prioritize one intention daily to cut through the noise and focus on what matters.
Chapter Markers:
0:00 Intro
0:10 Guest Introduction
3:00 Cold Plunge Discipline and Leadership
10:00 Lessons from Product Pal’s Shutdown
17:00 Stones AI and AI Compliance Venture
25:00 Leadership Lessons: No Sacred Cows
38:00 Extreme Ownership in Action
53:00 Personal Growth and Cockroach Mentality
62:00 Advice for New Entrepreneurs
67:00 Q&A Section
75:00 Closing
Keywords:
Gary Leeman, Ryan Strong, Revved Up podcast, entrepreneurship, leadership, AI compliance, startup lessons, extreme ownership, perseverance, Stones AI, cold plunges, business strategy, product management, startup failures, transparent leadership