He wasn’t a guru. He didn’t have charisma. Honestly, I didn’t even like him. But the way he handled a disaster—calm, accountable, no excuses—stopped me in my tracks. In that moment, he taught me more about leadership than any seminar, book, or pep talk ever could.

In this episode of Old Guy Insights, I share the story of the leadership lesson I never saw coming—from the person I least expected. It’s a reminder that mentors don’t always arrive with titles, trophies, or TED Talks. Sometimes, they show up with coffee breath and a spreadsheet—and still manage to change how you see the world.

Because if you pay attention, the people you least expect might just teach you the most important life lessons. You just have to start observing.