It’s Friday, and gratitude sits front and center. Six years ago, Ben McDonald and I launched a show with a simple aim and a firm stance. The world celebrates loud success. I argue the best builders lead with humility. That belief shaped the Anything But Typical podcast from day one, and it still guides the mic.
Humility is not soft; it is a competitive advantage. It attracts truth, fuels learning, and keeps teams aligned when pressure hits. It also makes the best stories. The entrepreneurs I admire most choose service over swagger. They make it about the work and the people, not the spotlight.
Why “Anything But Typical” Still Matters
Ben approached me about starting a podcast. I said yes, with two clear conditions. First, we would call it Anything But Typical. Second, we would feature founders and owners who show humility. That filter has shaped every episode since.
“We are all anything but typical.”
That line is more than a tagline. It’s a conviction. We are uniquely created. Our paths don’t match a template, and our thumbprints prove it.
“I believe we were all uniquely created by design and our thumbprints prove it.”
Ben and I have both run companies. We have served privately held businesses for years. We know the grind, the cash crunch, the hiring mistakes, and the near misses. We wanted a show that honored real builders and real stories. Not vanity metrics. Not highlight reels. Just honest lessons that help leaders grow.
The Case for Humble Leaders
Humble leaders make better decisions. They listen. They admit gaps. They ask for help early. That creates a culture where truth comes faster and waste burns slower.
Humble leaders build trust. Teams rally behind people who serve. Clients stay loyal to leaders who own mistakes. Investors prefer founders who measure twice and cut once.
Some argue confidence wins the market. Fair. Confidence matters. But false bravado is expensive. It hides risk. It scares off candid feedback. It pushes teams to overpromise and underdeliver. That is not leadership. That is theater.
What Six Years Have Taught Me
We’ve interviewed so many interesting people. The ones who move me the most are steady, not flashy. They credit their teams. They brag on their customers. They stay curious.
“Little did we know that we’d have so much fun interviewing so many interesting people six years later.”
Fun is the right word. Not because the work is easy. It is fun because humility unlocks honest conversation. That honesty makes the learning stick.
And then there’s gratitude. I am grateful for a partner like Ben. A great cohost makes the work lighter and the product better.
“I’m so grateful to have a cofounder and cohost like Ben.”
Make Humility Your Edge
Want a quick test of your leadership? Try this. Think of the three people who made your last win possible. Did you thank them publicly? If not, start today.
- Ask for hard feedback from your team this week.
- Admit one mistake in your next meeting.
- Shine the light on a quiet top performer.
These small acts shape culture fast. They also keep leaders grounded when growth hits.
A Final Word
The best founders are anything but typical because they choose humility daily. They make space for others. They honor the craft. They stay grateful. That mindset scales better than ego ever could.
Who are you grateful for? Send a note. Make a call. Share the credit in front of your team. Build a practice of humble leadership. Your people will feel it, your customers will notice it, and your results will show it.
