What’s getting in the way of your goals, and are you really dealing with it? In this episode of Hard Hat to CEO, Chris G sits down with retired executive Jerry Fish to talk about something he calls the Black Dot Philosophy. It’s a simple way to spot the things holding you back and actually do something about them. Jerry shares his own tough story of losing family, going through a divorce, filing for bankruptcy, and how one eye-opening lunch helped him turn it all around. Now, he helps others do the same. If you're running a business, leading a team, or just feel stuck in life, this conversation will show you how to face your biggest challenges and take real steps forward.

Jerry Fish is a retired financial services executive with over 40 years of leadership experience, including senior roles at Prudential and New York Life. Throughout his career, he built and led high-performing teams across multiple offices and served as a Regional Vice President before retiring. After overcoming major personal and professional setbacks—including bankruptcy, the loss of loved ones, and depression—Jerry developed the Black Dot Philosophy, a practical system for identifying and working through life’s biggest challenges. Today, he shares that message through coaching, speaking, and writing. He is the author of The Black Dot Philosophy and is currently working on his next book, Unstuck.

Connect with Jerry:
Website: https://theblackdotphilosophy.com/

Grab a copy: https://tinyurl.com/mr3s39rs

Episode highlights:
(0:00 ) Intro
(0:36 ) Jerry’s background
(2:36 ) What is the Black Dot Philosophy
(7:58 ) How leaders can apply the Black Dot Philosophy today
(12:53 ) How CEOs can use Black Dots to build a better team and business
(16:42 ) Significance and size of Black Dots
(19:42 ) Why pushing down emotions doesn’t work long term
(22:08 ) Coaching team members with their Black Dots
(25:17 ) Advice for anyone quietly struggling
(28:37 ) Action step: Write your black dots this week
(29:38 ) Jerry’s upcoming book, Unstuck, and where to find him online
(31:59 ) Outro

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