15 - Never Start With Why—The Missing Link in Leadership Development With David Ask

In this episode, Chris Behnke sits down with David Ask—entrepreneur, inventor, and leadership coach—to explore why authentic leadership is so rare despite thousands of books on the subject. David shares his journey from creating the world's first thermostat guard with a combo lock (now in 3,700+ stores) to partnering with Dr. Andy Garrett on transformative identity work.

They dig deep into why starting with "who" beats starting with "why," how children naturally live authentically until life teaches them to play roles, and what it really means to author your own identity. If you've ever felt like you're playing a character instead of being yourself, this conversation will change how you think about leadership forever.

We're human beings, not human doings—Your identity isn't your job title, and losing your occupation doesn't mean losing yourself

Children show us authentic leadership—Kids aren't old enough to fake it; they just live their essence until life teaches them to conform

Your "why" might be someone else's—Without knowing who you are first, you might waste years chasing purposes that were never yours

Leadership requires community—You need people brave enough to mirror back your strengths and call forth what's already in you

Most people take cues instead of establishing convictions—Real authority comes from pre-established identity, not external validation

Other Resources

David Ask's Website: davidask.com

Thermostat Guard Products: Available at Home Depot, Lowe's, and True Value Hardware