Are you consciously creating your future—or simply following the script you were handed?

Dr. Wayne Pernell talks with entrepreneur, Army veteran, business operator, and author Steve Rolle about rejecting inherited limits and deliberately building the life you want. Steve shares how growing up in a low-income community outside Washington, D.C., shaped his early expectations—and how mentorship, books, an Army ROTC scholarship, and exposure to business ownership expanded his sense of possibility.

You’ll learn how environment influences identity, why the right mentor can interrupt a limiting pattern, and how small, repeatable wins help you prove a new identity to yourself. Steve also explains why joining higher-level communities requires bringing value to the table and shares his motivation formula: value × belief × immediacy ÷ friction.

The episode’s central challenge is simple but powerful: actively reject the future you did not choose, decide who you want to become, and prove it through action.

Learn more about Steve at [SteveRoll.com](https://steveroll.com), follow **@RollWithSteve** on social media, and find his book, *The Future You Choose*, on Amazon.

If this conversation helped you, follow *One Sharp Sword*, leave a review, and share the episode with someone who is ready to stop living by default.

Steve Rolle's LinkedIn Page: linkedin.com/in/steverolle

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What if self-trust is not something you build over time, but a decision you can make right now?

Dr. Wayne Pernell talks with self-trust business coach, author, strategist, and podcast host Dawn Ledet about moving before certainty arrives. Dawn shares how a season of “overworking and underliving” exposed her reliance on external validation—and led her to rethink confidence, identity, self-sabotage, and follow-through.

You’ll discover why fixed labels such as “procrastinator” or “self-saboteur” can weaken your agency, how to treat decisions as data, and how Dawn’s “lobby” and “inner room” metaphor can help you relate differently to difficult thoughts. The conversation also explores productivity, ADHD-friendly work patterns, outcome-based leadership, and why a strong identity floor matters more than trying to break through another ceiling.

Key takeaway: choose self-trust first. Follow-through is its expression, not the price you pay to earn it.

Learn more about Dawn, explore the free **Meet You in the Lobby** tool, and find her books at [TheSelfTrustCoach.com](https://theselftrustcoach.com).
Connect with Dawn Ledet on LinkedIn and listen to *The Self-Trust Solution* podcast.

If this conversation helped you, follow *One Sharp Sword*, leave a review, and share the episode with someone who is ready to trust themselves and take the next step.

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Dawn Ledet's LinkedIn Page: linkedin.com/in/dawnledet

What happens when the rules no longer apply?

In this episode of One Sharp Sword, Dr. Wayne Pernell sits down with transformational CEO Julie Peck to explore leadership in a rapidly changing world. From AI disruption to shifting business models, Julie shares why traditional “playbooks” are breaking down—and what today’s leaders must do instead.

They dive into navigating uncertainty, building organizational courage, and leading with clarity when the path forward isn’t obvious. If you’re leading through complexity, this conversation will challenge how you think about risk, strategy, and success.

Key Takeaways:

• You can’t risk-mitigate your way to success
• Chaos isn’t a threat—it’s an invitation
• Old leadership playbooks are becoming obsolete
• Organizational risk = individual risk tolerance scaled into policy
• The best leaders balance vision (zoom out) and execution (zoom in)
• Failure, when used well, accelerates success
• Leadership today requires courage, clarity, and adaptability

Memorable Quotes:

• “You can’t risk-mitigate your way to greatness.”
• “Chaos isn’t a threat—it’s an invitation.”
• “Playbooks have become our security blankets.”

Topics Covered:

• Leadership under pressure
• AI and organizational transformation
• Letting go of outdated strategies
• Building cultures that embrace failure
• Decision-making in uncertainty
• Vision vs. planning

Connect with Julie Peck:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/juliepeckceo

About the Show:
One Sharp Sword cuts through to what matters most—helping leaders think clearly, act decisively, and lead powerfully.

🎥 Watch the full episode now on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/XxdzlQncU0g

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