About Christian Boucousis:

Christian “Boo” Boucousis is a former fighter pilot, CEO of Afterburner, and host of The Few Podcast. With decades of experience leading high-performance teams in both military and business environments, Boo empowers leaders to apply proven fighter-pilot methodologies, such as flawless execution and disciplined debriefing, to thrive in today’s rapidly changing world. He is also the author of The Afterburner Advantage.

In this episode, Kevin and Christian Boucousis discuss:

• How fighter pilot training translates into high-performance leadership
• The discipline of clarity, focus, and execution under pressure
• The power of mission-driven thinking in organizational success
• Creating a culture of continuous improvement and iterative learning
• The importance of preparation, practice, and resilience in driving results

Key Takeaways:

• Leadership under pressure requires clarity. Just like in the cockpit, decisions made in fast-moving environments depend on stripping away the noise and focusing on what truly matters.
• Debriefing is not optional — it’s a cultural practice that turns mistakes into growth. Leaders who normalize honest reflection and feedback unlock consistent improvement for their teams.
• Iteration is the key to growth. Continuous improvement isn't about massive leaps, but making small, intentional 1% improvements every day that compound over time.
• Credibility is the foundation of trust. Leaders build strong relationships by being consistent, delivering on commitments, and creating a culture where people know exactly what's expected of them.
• High performance isn’t about perfection. It’s about resilience — the ability to adapt, recover quickly, and keep moving toward the mission even after setbacks.

"If you want to be successful, you do need to be disciplined, and you do need to be structured, and you do need to invest in yourself, and you do need to develop." – Christian Boucousis

Connect with Christian Boucousis:

Website: https://callmeboo.com/ | https://www.afterburner.com/  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-boo-boucousis 

Connect with Kevin Neal:

Website: https://drkdneal.com 

Book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0C47RZDSS 

https://www.amazon.com/Guided-Greatness-Mentorship-Developing-professionals-ebook/dp/B0FGBH1VNS

Email: coachkd63@gmail.com 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachkd63