160: The Hard Truths and Heart Behind the Rebrand: Why Grow with Purpose Matters
Behind every rebrand is a story—this one’s built on 20 years of growth, blind spots, and the honest conversations that change people, not just companies.
The Hard Truths That Grow Great Leaders.
20 years. Countless carefrontations. One conversation that changed everything.
Most leaders think their biggest threat is out there—the market, the competition, the economy.
But the truth? It’s often in here.
Blind spots. Busyness. Egos we’re too afraid to lay down.
There’s a moment in every business owner’s journey when growth demands more than hustle, more than spreadsheets, more than another strategy session.
For Axiom founder Joey Brannon, that moment came in the form of a carefrontation—with longtime friend and leadership coach Doug Poll.
Doug was there for the chaos, the whiteboard scribbles, and the hard truths no one else would say.
In this episode, we not only discuss the rebranding of the podcast, but also look back at what it really takes to work on becoming a better leader—and a better human—over two decades.
We’re pulling back the curtain on what growth demands… And why we’re renaming the podcast to reflect it.
🎙️ The Power of a Hard Truth, Delivered with Care
Doug Poll has been in Joey Brannon’s life since the beginning—through the startup grit, the window-whiteboarding strategy sessions, and every hard-earned leadership lesson along the way. He’s not just a business coach. He’s a truth-teller, a trusted advisor, and the one who once told Joey what few dared to: “You’re not leading in a way that builds a team.”
It wasn’t a criticism.
It was a mirror.
It became the moment that changed everything.
That carefrontation sparked a slow, deliberate shift:
From solopreneur to team builder
From fixing to listening
From pushing people to walking with them
It rewired how Joey leads. It reshaped how Axiom grows. And, it laid the foundation for this new season—for our team, for this podcast, and maybe for yours too.
🛠️ Blind Spots, Brave Conversations & the Growth Metrics Can’t Measure
Doug helped name what so many leaders ignore:
The biggest risks we face aren’t always strategic—they’re personal.
Most business owners operate with relational blinders, unaware that their greatest liability isn’t found in QuickBooks, but in how they show up with people.
The antidote?
Brave conversations.
Not confrontations—but carefrontations.
Carefrontation — telling the hard truth because you care, not because you're right.
This episode unpacks the blind spots that derail good leaders, and why carefrontation is a core leadership skill—not an advanced one. Doug makes the case that real leaders aren’t just fixers or answer-givers. They’re listeners, question-askers, and stewards of trust.
One of his favorite tools? W.A.I.T. — “Why Am I Talking?”
Because real leadership isn’t about being the expert, it’s about earning the seat at the table—and knowing when to speak, and when to stay curious.
You’ll learn:
Why listening beats fixing—every time
The role of empathy in building a strong culture
What real stewardship looks like in business
Why coachability is the doorway to growth
The simple truth: Leadership takes time. If you’re not willing to give it, you’ll never build a real team.
💬From Driver to Developer — What Makes This Leadership Shift Different
This isn’t a masterclass. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at what real leadership development sounds like—when no one’s trying to impress.
Joey shares candidly how he once led with speed, control, and urgency—classic driver traits. But years of coaching, countless 1:1s, and a growing capacity for self-awareness taught him a different truth:
Leadership isn’t about driving people. It’s about developing them.
What he once believed he didn’t have time for—empathy, one-on-ones, presence—has become the most meaningful part of his job.
Today, Joey leads with:
More curiosity. Less control.
More presence. Less pressure.
And that shift? It didn’t just change his team. It changed him.
Joey now believes Grow with Purpose is more than a title. It’s a mindset.
🎧 Why Listen Now? For the Truth That Could Shift Your Next Decade
If you’re a founder, executive, or admin helping hold it all together — this conversation will meet you where you are.
It’s not polished. It’s not packed with formulas.
It’s honest. It’s real.
It’s full of the kind of truth that could quietly shift the next decade of your leadership.
✅ Takeaways to Act On
Your leadership blind spots are someone else’s daily frustration.
If you're not willing to give your time, you'll never build a team.
Listening builds trust faster than fixing.
Empathy isn’t soft—it’s strategic.
Your people don’t need answers. They need you.
Don’t wait for the perfect time to say the hard thing. Say it with care.
🔑 Why This Matters More Than Metrics
Because you can’t grow a company if you’re not growing as a person.
Because spreadsheets won’t fix culture.
Because your team is already following the real you—whether you’ve figured that person out or not.
You don’t need more information.
You need transformation.
And sometimes, that starts with one honest conversation.
“You can’t earn trust without time. And you can’t lead well without trust.”
“Truth without relationship won’t be heard. That’s why we lead with listening.”
“The person you are now may not be who you need to be next — and that’s okay.”
Because you can’t grow a company if you’re not growing as a person.
Because spreadsheets won’t fix culture.
Because your team is already following the real you—whether you’ve figured that person out or not.
You don’t need more noise.
You need the right voices.
You don’t need more information.
You need transformation.
And sometimes, that starts with just one honest conversation.
Ready to grow with purpose—not pressure?
References and Downloadable Resources:
Episode 160: Leadership Guide
Doug Poll: LinkedIn