Summary: When men stop waiting to be told what to do, everything changes. In this episode of The Whetstone, Dredd and The Plague dive into what kills most organizations, the C3 (Bureaucratic) culture and how to replace it with an I2 (Individual Initiative) culture. They unpack the TEAM model (Trust, Equipping, Accountability, Mission) and explain how agency, immediate feedback, and clear standards turn followers into leaders. Whether you lead a family, a team, or a company, this conversation will challenge you to own your outcomes and stop waiting for meteorologist Jim to make the call. ✅ What You’ll Learn ✅ How “agency” and “accountability” separate leaders from bullfrogs✅ Why waiting for permission kills momentum and morale✅ How to build trust through immediate feedback — without emotion or delay✅ The difference between C3 (control) and I2 (initiative) cultures✅ How to use the TEAM model (Trust, Equip, Account, Mission) to develop leaders✅ Why standards must replace slogans and values statements✅ How to cut through the “fog of work” and lead with clarity✅ Why good carpenters never blame their tools — and what that means for you 💬 Key Sound Bites “You can’t build leaders by waiting for headquarters to tell you what to do.” — Dredd “Agency means owning the decision and the consequence.” — The Plague “If you need a sign in the break room to say ‘clean your cup,’ you’ve already lost the culture.” — Dredd “Managers give reviews; leaders give feedback in real time.” — Dredd “Only a bad carpenter blames his tools.” — Dredd “Trust is built when your deeds match your words — consistently.” — The Plague ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Opening banter + F3 sock story 🧦04:00 – New leadership role + mission clarity challenges08:00 – Meteorologist Jim and the danger of waiting for permission11:30 – Agency vs abdication: who owns the decision?17:00 – Trust and immediate feedback as leadership currency23:40 – From C3 to I2 cultures — how teams lose initiative27:30 – Modeling behavior > mandating rules (the dish example)32:00 – TEAM model explained: Trust, Equip, Account, Mission39:30 – Setting standards vs slogans (“values aren’t metrics”)45:00 – Accountability and the Black Tahoe principle (can’t vs won’t)50:00 – Prioritizing mission over distraction (“Secret Santa isn’t strategy”)54:00 – Clarity in purpose: profit, patient care, and fog of work60:00 – Good Carpenters Don’t Blame Their Tools — crafting excellence Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices