Overview

In this Leadership Lounge conversation, Cindy Hook sits down with Jeff Brainard (JJB Leadership Solutions) to unpack a 30-year journey from PR to resort operations, multi-property leadership, and ultimately the leap from a VP role to entrepreneurship. Jeff shares what it really takes to lead: being “brave for a minute,” building teams that outgrow you, hiring for hunger over résumé, and protecting life balance so you can show up at 100%. You’ll hear practical frameworks, candid stories, and the mindset shift from managing to leading, where people choose to follow.

What You’ll Learn

• Why work–life balance isn’t optional and how it fuels better leadership.
• The difference between managers and leaders (hint: one-word followers).
• How to be “brave for a minute” and make decisions with incomplete information.
• The hiring litmus test: hungry vs. experienced (and why hunger wins 10/10 times).
• How to define success by the growth of your people, not just your P&L.
• A practical mantra: make “better mistakes tomorrow.”

Highlights & Timestamps

• 00:00 – Welcome & origin story: From PR to hospitality leadership.
• 04:30 – Stretch roles that accelerate growth: Running Sales and Revenue at once.
• 09:10 – The big leap: Leaving a VP seat to build a consulting practice.
• 13:45 – Balance as a performance tool: Why 100% at home enables 100% at work.
• 18:20 – Decision-making under uncertainty: Being “brave for a minute.”
• 22:10 – Hiring without regret: Spotting character, drive, and true pride points.
• 26:40 – Redefining success: Track records of people you’ve developed.
• 30:45 – One book that changed his thinking: The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership (John C. Maxwell).
• 33:10 – Closing: Permission to fail and to learn faster.

Memorable Lines

• “To be a hero doesn’t mean others aren’t it’s just being brave for a minute or two longer.”
• “I’ll hire hungry ten times out of ten over experienced.”
• “Make better mistakes tomorrow.”
• “Leadership vs. management? One word: followers.”

Resources Mentioned

• Book: The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell.

About the Guest

Jeff Brainard is the founder of JJB Leadership Solutions and a veteran hospitality leader with deep experience in sales, revenue, operations, and multi-property management. He helps teams elevate performance through practical leadership, hiring for character and drive, and culture-first execution.

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