Independence by Design™ is a framework to help owner-operators get out of the weeds and lead from the boardroom.
I built it because I lived this trap. In 2009, I joined my dad in our $21M family business. We turned it around and sold it for eight figures in 2014 — enough to pay off debt, cover taxes, let my dad retire, and leave me with a chunk of cash at 27.
But the sale gutted our team, systems, and identity. It looked like a win, but it didn’t feel like freedom. I bawled in the driveway.
After 450+ interviews, thousands of owners, and multiple ventures, I saw the real issue: we didn’t know the difference between being owners and operators. Our goals weren’t aligned. And we had no framework to guide us.
That’s why I built iBD — to help owners avoid regret, reclaim their time, grow real equity value, and build a business that gives them freedom — whether they stay, scale, or sell.
This show is the one I wish I had.
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Independence by Design™ is a framework to help owner-operators get out of the weeds and lead from the boardroom.
I built it because I lived this trap. In 2009, I joined my dad in our $21M family business. We turned it around and sold it for eight figures in 2014 — enough to pay off debt, cover taxes, let my dad retire, and leave me with a chunk of cash at 27.
But the sale gutted our team, systems, and identity. It looked like a win, but it didn’t feel like freedom. I bawled in the driveway.
After 450+ interviews, thousands of owners, and multiple ventures, I saw the real issue: we didn’t know the difference between being owners and operators. Our goals weren’t aligned. And we had no framework to guide us.
That’s why I built iBD — to help owners avoid regret, reclaim their time, grow real equity value, and build a business that gives them freedom — whether they stay, scale, or sell.
This show is the one I wish I had.
#452: Geoff Woods | Author of The AI-Driven Leader
Independence by Design™
1 hour 23 minutes 32 seconds
3 months ago
#452: Geoff Woods | Author of The AI-Driven Leader
What if the success you're chasing isn't the final destination, but the beginning of something more? Watch on YouTube
Most business owners I talk to know AI matters—but many are still stuck thinking it’s just for writing emails or something their IT team should handle. That’s not the game we’re playing.
In this episode, I sat down with Geoff Woods to talk about what it really means to become an AI-driven leader. We’re not talking about automation—we’re talking about thinking. Geoff and I break down how AI becomes your most powerful thought partner once you’re clear on your goals, your constraints, and your role as the owner. If you’ve been wondering how to actually integrate AI into your business at a strategic level, this conversation is for you.
We covered everything from the CRIT prompting framework to building executive-level AI boards, why most people struggle to think clearly, and how the education system trained creativity out of us. I also share how I’m using AI with my clients to build strategic plans, model out deals, and clarify ownership goals faster than ever before.
This episode is for the owner who wants to stay ahead—who’s ready to think bigger, make better decisions, and design a business that works without them. Geoff Woods is the author of The AI-Driven Leader and the founder of AI Leadership. He previously co-founded the company behind The ONE Thing and served as Chief Growth Officer at Jindal Steel, where he helped grow its market cap from $750M to over $12B. Geoff teaches CEOs how to use AI as a strategic thought partner—not a task robot—so they can lead more effectively, make smarter decisions, and build companies that thrive in an AI-driven future. His frameworks, including CRIT and the AI Empowerment Curve, are helping leaders around the world operationalize AI from the boardroom to the frontlines.
Chapters:
(00:00) Geoff's career journey from CEO advice to AI leadership
(03:53) The One Thing company partnership and strategic questioning expertise
(06:50) December 2022 ChatGPT discovery and initial limiting beliefs
(08:35) CRIT framework development context role interview task methodology
(13:50) Strategic thinking as competitive advantage versus tactical approaches
(24:39) Industrial revolution education system and modern workforce implications
(34:47) Growth mindset versus fixed mindset in AI adoption
(38:39) Custom AI board creation for strategic business decisions
(44:41) Enterprise value focus versus tactical AI use cases
(54:34) AI-assisted book writing process and content creation
(1:06:02) Data privacy security and enterprise AI implementation
(1:13:26) Future of work and maintaining humanity in technology
(1:17:12) Zero to one implementation daily AI usage habits
Rate, comment, and share with the owner/operators you know!
Resources:
Independence by Design™
Independence by Design™ is a framework to help owner-operators get out of the weeds and lead from the boardroom.
I built it because I lived this trap. In 2009, I joined my dad in our $21M family business. We turned it around and sold it for eight figures in 2014 — enough to pay off debt, cover taxes, let my dad retire, and leave me with a chunk of cash at 27.
But the sale gutted our team, systems, and identity. It looked like a win, but it didn’t feel like freedom. I bawled in the driveway.
After 450+ interviews, thousands of owners, and multiple ventures, I saw the real issue: we didn’t know the difference between being owners and operators. Our goals weren’t aligned. And we had no framework to guide us.
That’s why I built iBD — to help owners avoid regret, reclaim their time, grow real equity value, and build a business that gives them freedom — whether they stay, scale, or sell.
This show is the one I wish I had.
