They Ignored the Future… So He Walked Away From a Top Law Firm

They Ignored the Future… So He Walked Away From a Top Law Firm

He saw the future of his firm—before anyone else did. Proved it would work. Built the relationships. Created demand. Leadership said no. So he walked away from everything. IN THIS EPISODE:Marc Dedman didn’t follow a clean, predictable path to success—he built it through grit, calculated risk, and an unwillingness to ignore opportunity. From working brutal hours in Arkansas rice fields for less than a dollar an hour to leading major legal strategies and managing a multi-state law firm, his story dismantles the myth of “linear success.” But the real inflection point? When he saw where the legal industry—and his firm—needed to go next… and leadership refused to move. This episode breaks down what happens when vision collides with resistance, how to handle someone else’s “Yeah, But,” and why sometimes the only strategic move is to leave. WHAT WE COVER: * The moment he saw the future—and leadership didn’t * From Arkansas roots to Columbia MBA * Turning down investment banking after a $20K reality check * Working rice fields for under $1/hour (and what it taught him) * The scholarship strategy that made college possible * High-stakes legal experience in the Army JAG Corps * Why most lawyers get relationships wrong * “Be the buyer, not the bought” — strategic positioning * The 85-day experiment that proved his vision * Stepping down as managing partner to pursue the future * Walking away from one of the highest-paid roles * The Dr Pepper job that built elite people skills * Losing a case—but winning a $500 vs $500,000 outcome * The deathbed decision that changed everything * The “12-hour day” advice that reshaped his life QUOTES: * “How can we be the buyer and not the bought?” * “It’s not always about winning—it’s about minimizing the damage.” * “Work a hard half-day… it just doesn’t matter which 12 hours.” ABOUT THE GUEST:Marc Dedman is a seasoned attorney, former managing partner, and strategic leader with decades of experience across litigation, international law, and business strategy. Known for his relational approach and forward-thinking mindset, he has led firm expansion across multiple states and built global legal relationships spanning Europe, Asia, and the Americas. ABOUT THE HOST:Marc A. Wolfe is an Executive Coach, Strategic Advisor, and President of the Nashville Chapter of the Private Directors Association. He acts as a catalyst for high-performing leaders, helping them navigate complexity and turn conversations into outcomes. With a unique background that spans supporting early Apple technology at Fortune 500 companies to photographing U.S. Presidents and NFL teams, Marc brings a rare perspective to high-stakes environments. He is the author of Yeah, But, a framework designed to help leaders cut through the noise to accelerate growth and innovation. RESOURCES / CONNECT / CONTACT: * Website: https://www.marcawolfe.com/ [https://www.marcawolfe.com/] * Get a copy of Yeah, But: https://ybut.short.gy/yb [https://ybut.short.gy/yb] * Read your free chapter of ‘Yeah, But’: https://ybut.short.gy/chapter [https://ybut.short.gy/chapter] * Suggest a guest for The Yeah, But Podcast: https://ybut.short.gy/ybguest [https://ybut.short.gy/ybguest] CONNECT WITH MARC: * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcwolfe/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcwolfe/] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcawolfe/ [https://www.instagram.com/marcawolfe/] * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marcAwolfe [https://www.facebook.com/marcAwolfe] * X (Twitter): https://x.com/marcawolfe [https://x.com/marcawolfe]

She Was Told “You Can’t Do This”… That Moment Changed Everything

She was told—at one of the most personal moments of her life—“you can’t do this.”Most people would fold. She didn’t.That decision didn’t just define her—it exposed how often we let other people set our limits.And leaders do it every day with one phrase: “Yeah, but…” IN THIS EPISODE:Marc A. Wolfe sits down with Missy Acosta, Senior Vice President of Brand Experience at Delta Dental of Tennessee, to unpack what actually holds leaders back—and it’s not lack of skill. With more than 25 years across public relations, agency work, and enterprise leadership, Missy cuts through the noise on what actually works today: storytelling, owned media, and aligning your work with something real. But the deeper conversation goes beyond marketing—into time, identity, and the quiet excuses that stall momentum. This isn’t about tactics. It’s about the decisions leaders avoid making. WHAT WE COVER: * Why “everything is marketing” is more than a slogan—it’s reality * The shift from earned media to owned media (and why it matters now) * The leadership trap: when ideas accidentally become directives * Why most meetings kill creativity—and how to protect ideation * “I don’t have time” vs. the truth about prioritization * The hidden cost of constant interruptions on performance * What changes when you realize high performers are just human * How to handle being told “you can’t do this” * Why you cannot let other people define your ceiling * Developing thick skin without losing awareness * Breaking silos and improving real customer experience * Why “that’s how we’ve always done it” is a losing strategy * The importance of connecting every role to the “why” * Starting before you feel ready (because you won’t) * Replacing “but” with “and” to shift mindset and language * Why most people die with the song still in them QUOTES: * “Everything is marketing. It’s storytelling—and whether you like it or not, you’re in sales.” * “You don’t have a time problem. You have a prioritization problem.” * “I can’t let other people defeat me.” ABOUT THE GUEST:Missy Acosta is the Senior Vice President of Brand Experience at Delta Dental of Tennessee, where she leads marketing, communications, and customer experience strategy. With over 25 years in marketing—spanning public relations, agency work, and corporate leadership—she focuses on storytelling, cause marketing, and aligning brand purpose with real impact. ABOUT THE HOST:Marc A. Wolfe is an Executive Coach, Strategic Advisor, and President of the Nashville Chapter of the Private Directors Association. He acts as a catalyst for high-performing leaders, helping them navigate complexity and turn conversations into outcomes. With a unique background that spans supporting early Apple technology at Fortune 500 companies to photographing U.S. Presidents and NFL teams, Marc brings a rare perspective to high-stakes environments. He is the author of Yeah, But, a framework designed to help leaders cut through the noise to accelerate growth and innovation. RESOURCES / CONNECT / CONTACT: * Website: https://www.marcawolfe.com/ [https://www.marcawolfe.com/] * Get a copy of Yeah, But: https://ybut.short.gy/yb [https://ybut.short.gy/yb] * Read your free chapter of ‘Yeah, But’: https://ybut.short.gy/chapter [https://ybut.short.gy/chapter] * Suggest a guest for The Yeah, But Podcast: https://ybut.short.gy/ybguest [https://ybut.short.gy/ybguest] CONNECT WITH MISSY: * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/missyacosta [https://www.linkedin.com/in/missyacosta] CONNECT WITH MARC: * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcwolfe/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcwolfe/] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcawolfe/ [https://www.instagram.com/marcawolfe/] * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marcAwolfe [https://www.facebook.com/marcAwolfe] * X (Twitter): https://x.com/marcawolfe [https://x.com/marcawolfe]

Imposter Syndrome Is NOT Your Problem—Your Ego Is

He thought becoming CIO might expose him.A 150-year legacy. A massive brand. One wrong move—and it’s public failure.But what if imposter syndrome isn’t weakness… it’s proof you belong? IN THIS EPISODE: Shane Callahan, CIO at Vanderbilt University, dismantles one of the most misunderstood leadership challenges: imposter syndrome. Instead of treating it as something to eliminate, he reframes it as a signal—you’re in the right room, stretching into something bigger than yourself. Marc Wolfe and Shane go deep on the tension between fear and growth, ego and trust, and why the best leaders don’t pretend to know everything. From punk rock tours and skateboarding injuries to military intelligence briefings and executive leadership, Shane connects unlikely experiences into a powerful leadership philosophy grounded in humility, discipline, and mission. WHAT WE COVER: * Shane’s personal foundation: family, identity, and contradiction * From punk rock and skateboarding to the military * What skateboarding teaches about leadership and trust * Performing under pressure before you’re “ready” * Why failure is required (not optional) * The difference between failure and negligence QUOTES: * “Imposter syndrome is one click away from being honored to be in the room.” * “If you don’t know something, say it. Just don’t fail to follow up.” * “If people don’t trust you with the little things, they won’t trust you with the big ones.” ABOUT THE GUEST: Shane has over 25 years of experience in technology, intelligence, and leadership. He currently serves as Vanderbilt University’s Chief Information Officer (CIO), after being its first Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). Before joining Vanderbilt, Shane was Vice President and CISO at naviHealth, an Optum company, where he transformed the organization's approach to cybersecurity and built its first security program. Shane served four years of active duty in the U.S. Air Force and twelve in the Navy Reserves as an Intelligence Officer, focusing on cyber/information warfare, human intelligence (HUMINT), and psychological operations (PSYOPS). After several deployments, he resigned his commission to focus on family life. His private-sector experience includes leading the global data protection program for Deloitte and overseeing security, privacy, and disaster recovery functions at Tractor Supply Company. Shane also spent nearly a decade teaching IT and cybersecurity as an adjunct professor. He is a founding board member of the Nashville Chapter of the Cloud Security Alliance and has served on the Mayor’s Information Security Advisory Board. He is also a graduate of the FBI CISO Academy. Shane lives in TN, with his wife Brianne and their three children. He is also a lifelong musician and recovering skateboarder. ABOUT THE HOST: Marc A. Wolfe is an Executive Coach, Strategic Advisor, and President of the Nashville Chapter of the Private Directors Association. He acts as a catalyst for high-performing leaders, helping them navigate complexity and turn conversations into outcomes. With a unique background that spans supporting early Apple technology at Fortune 500 companies to photographing U.S. Presidents and NFL teams, Marc brings a rare perspective to high-stakes environments. He is the author of Yeah, But, a framework designed to help leaders cut through the noise to accelerate growth and innovation. RESOURCES / CONNECT / CONTACT: * Website: https://www.marcawolfe.com/ [https://www.marcawolfe.com/] * Get a copy of Yeah, But: https://ybut.short.gy/yb [https://ybut.short.gy/yb] * Read your free chapter of ‘Yeah, But’: https://ybut.short.gy/chapter [https://ybut.short.gy/chapter] * Suggest a guest for The Yeah, But Podcast: https://ybut.short.gy/ybguest [https://ybut.short.gy/ybguest] CONNECT WITH MARC * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcwolfe/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcwolfe/] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcawolfe/ [https://www.instagram.com/marcawolfe/] * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marcAwolfe [https://www.facebook.com/marcAwolfe] * X (Twitter): https://x.com/marcawolfe [https://x.com/marcawolfe]

From Asthma to Navy SEAL Commander: Overcoming the Impossible

A doctor told him to stop competing and “play chess.” Weeks later, his lungs were filling with blood in Navy SEAL training. He was handed discharge papers and told he didn’t belong. He almost rang the bell. IN THIS EPISODE: In this powerful conversation, Marc A. Wolfe sits down with Alden Mills, a three-time Navy SEAL platoon commander, Inc. 500 CEO, Division I athlete, and author of Unstoppable Mindset, to dismantle the myth of natural talent and expose the truth about failure. Born with smaller-than-average lungs and severe asthma, Alden was told to live a “less active lifestyle.” Instead, he became a Navy SEAL. But not without near-fatal setbacks, public failure, and moments where quitting seemed logical. This episode is a masterclass in overcoming the “Yeah, But” excuses, especially: * Yeah, but I’m not ready. * Yeah, but what if I fail? * Yeah, but I don’t know where to start. If you’re a leader, founder, executive, or athlete battling doubt, this one hits hard. WHAT WE COVER: * 01:47 – Born with asthma and smaller-than-average lungs * 02:41 – “I’ve failed more times than I’ve succeeded” * 04:20 – The doctor who told him to play chess * 07:32 – Scoring against his own team (4 times) and finding rowing * 11:16 – When failure meant death: SEAL training realities * 12:45 – Lungs filling with blood & getting medically discharged * 15:18 – The church moment that changed his mindset * 20:12 – Hell Week: “You’re why everyone is quitting” * 22:27 – The decision not to ring the bell * 26:47 – Five career paths, multiple business failures, 38 publisher rejections * 29:40 – Why your first attempt should be your worst * 31:06 – Stop comparing yourself to others * 33:31 – The horizon metaphor: Believe before you can see * 36:19 – The 3 controllables: Thoughts. Focus. Beliefs. QUOTES: “No one decides what you can or can’t do but you.” “It’s not complicated. It’s just hard.” “You have three controllables: your thoughts, your focus, your beliefs.” ABOUT ALDEN MILLS: Alden Mills is on a mission to help 100 million people Be Unstoppable. He is a three-time bestselling author, the former Inc. 500 CEO of Perfect Fitness, and the founder of multiple businesses. Throughout his time as a businessman founding and leading multiple companies, he has been awarded over 40 patents. A former Navy SEAL, he is a three-time platoon commander and ranked #1 platoon commander each time. Alden teaches people, teams, and organizations to Be Unstoppable. Entrepreneur magazine ranked him the #1 top virtual speaker. CONNECT WITH ALDEN: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aldenmills Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/aldenmills Website: https://www.alden-mills.com/speaking-overview Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alden_mills Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UnstoppableAldenMills [https://www.facebook.com/UnstoppableAldenMills%E2%80%8B] ABOUT THE HOST Marc A. Wolfe is an Executive Coach, Strategic Advisor, and President of the Nashville Chapter of the Private Directors Association. He acts as a catalyst for high-performing leaders, helping them navigate complexity and turn conversations into outcomes. With a unique background that spans supporting early Apple technology at Fortune 500 companies to photographing U.S. Presidents and NFL teams, Marc brings a rare perspective to high-stakes environments. He is the author of Yeah, But, a framework designed to help leaders cut through the noise to accelerate growth and innovation. RESOURCES FOR YOU * Website: https://www.marcawolfe.com/ [https://www.marcawolfe.com/] * Get a copy of Yeah, But: https://ybut.short.gy/yb [https://ybut.short.gy/yb] * Read your free chapter of ‘Yeah, But’: https://ybut.short.gy/chapter [https://ybut.short.gy/chapter] * Suggest a guest for The Yeah, But Podcast: https://ybut.short.gy/ybguest [https://ybut.short.gy/ybguest] CONNECT WITH MARC * * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcwolfe/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcwolfe/] * * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcawolfe/ [https://www.instagram.com/marcawolfe/] * * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marcAwolfe [https://www.facebook.com/marcAwolfe] * X (Twitter): https://x.com/marcawolfe [https://x.com/marcawolfe]

They Said It Was Impossible: 24 Months to Build a Fighter Jet (What If We Failed?)

They wanted a brand-new tactical jet. From a company known for small civilian aircraft. Designed, built, and flying in under 24 months. The kind of program that normally takes five to six years. Twelve leaders sat in a conference room. As a sketch of the airplane goes up on the screen, excitement builds. Then Dale says the deadline. Collective gasp.Thirty-two “Yeah, Buts.” And one question nobody wanted to say out loud:What if we fail, publicly? Because this wasn’t partial credit.It was a one or a zero.Fly… or don’t.IN THIS EPISODE:In this conversation, I sit down with aerospace executive Dale Tutt, former program leader at Cessna Aircraft Company, engineering executive at Virgin Galactic, and now a strategic leader at Siemens.Dale has led teams through record-breaking aircraft development, walked into organizations mid-crisis, and helped deliver a spaceship to space under the leadership of Richard Branson. But this episode isn’t about aerospace.It’s about leadership under pressure.It’s about walking into a room where doubt is louder than belief.It’s about taking over teams you didn’t build.It’s about moving your family across the country when you’re not even sure where to start.And it’s about realizing that what got you promoted wasn’t your technical brilliance, it was your ability to align people, build trust fast, and define success before execution begins.If you lead teams, run a company, or are stepping into something bigger than you feel prepared for, this episode will pressure-test your excuses.WHAT WE COVER:Taking on a “five-year” aircraft program with a 24-month deadlineThe room reaction: 32 “Yeah, Buts” in minutesFlying in 23 months, and why scope clarity came firstJoining Virgin Galactic mid-flight testingCutting engineering attrition from ~20% to 7%“I’m not ready” — leading outside your expertiseWhy MVP thinking beats over-engineeringQUOTES:“If you don’t have the fear of failure, you’re probably a little crazy.”“We didn’t need a perfect jet. We needed a jet that could fly.”“I didn’t get hired because I knew how to build spaceships. I got hired to lead people.”ABOUT THE GUEST:Dale Tutt is an aerospace executive and transformational engineering leader.He has led major development programs at Cessna Aircraft Company, served as Vice President of Engineering at Virgin Galactic, and now works in a strategic leadership role at Siemens, helping companies accelerate performance through digital innovation.CONNECT WITH DALE:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dale-tutt/ABOUT THE HOST:Marc A. Wolfe is an Executive Coach, Strategic Advisor, and President of the Nashville Chapter of the Private Directors Association. He acts as a catalyst for high-performing leaders, helping them navigate complexity and turn conversations into outcomes.With a unique background that spans supporting early Apple technology at Fortune 500 companies to photographing U.S. Presidents and NFL teams, Marc brings a rare perspective to high-stakes environments. He is the author of Yeah, But, a framework designed to help leaders cut through the noise to accelerate growth and innovation.RESOURCES / CONNECT / CONTACT:Website: https://www.marcawolfe.com/Get a copy of Yeah, But: https://ybut.short.gy/ybRead your free chapter of ‘Yeah, But’: https://ybut.short.gy/chapterSuggest a guest for The Yeah, But Podcast: https://ybut.short.gy/ybguestCONNECT WITH MARC:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcwolfe/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcawolfe/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marcAwolfeX (Twitter): https://x.com/marcawolfe