25. The Hidden Cost of Doing the Right Thing

In this episode of Bad Boss Confessional, Beth Fahey talks with EOS Implementer Michael Deutsch about a leadership failure that tested his ethics, his systems, and his gut. After landing the biggest client in his electronics recycling business, Michael discovered that valuable materials were being stolen somewhere in the supply chain. The mistake was not driven by bad intent, but by gaps in people and process that he ultimately owned as the leader.
Michael shares the uncomfortable moment of choosing to proactively tell a Fortune 500 client the truth, knowing it could cost the relationship. Looking back, Michael points to right person, wrong seat decisions, weak project oversight, and the danger of trusting without the right structure in place.
The lesson is clear: Core values are not words on a wall. They are tools that guide decisions when things go wrong. Doing the right thing does not always protect the outcome, but it protects who you are as a leader.

Timestamps
00:00 Introduction to Bad Boss Confessional
01:28 Michael Deutsch’s Diverse Career Path
05:51 The Electronics Recycling Business
07:46 The Biggest Client Scandal
12:54 Owning the Mistake and Lessons
16:32 People, Process, and System Building
21:31 Applying Core Values and EOS
27:53 Personal Core Values and Self-Reflection
33:09 The ‘Let Them’ Tattoo and Farewell

About: 
Beth Fahey is a leadership coach, Expert EOS Implementer, and co-creator of the How to Be a Great Boss Workshops. With nearly 40 years of hands-on leadership experience, Beth has worn many hats: from working in film and owning a bakery to leading a national trade association.
 
Now, as the host of The Bad Boss Confessional, she shares candid stories about the challenges of leadership, mistakes made, lessons learned, and the path to becoming the kind of boss your team actually wants to follow. Through humor, honesty, and heart, Beth is on a mission to help leaders grow, one confession at a time.
 
Show Links
For more information about Beth Fahey follow the links below.
Website: www.eosworldwide.com/beth-fahey 
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BethFaheyEOS
Instagram: www.instagram.com/bethfaheyeos/
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@bethfaheyeos
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/bethfahey/
Bad Boss Confessional YouTube: 
https://www.youtube.com/@badbossconfessional 
Beth's Youtube: 
https://www.youtube.com/@bethfaheyeos 

Guest Links:
Website:  https://implementer.eosworldwide.com/michael-deutsch/
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldeutsch/

Michael has been part of senior management for over 25 years - first as a leader for several high-growth organizations and then as a business owner. Now, as an EOS Implementer, he helps other business owners avoid the mistakes he made and get what they want from their business that they're not getting right now.

Sponsor Links
Thanks to our Sponsors
A big thank you to our amazing sponsors for making this episode possible:

Titus Talent – Helping organizations make the best hiring decisions with performance-based talent strategies.

Strety – Empowering teams through strategic planning and performance management tools built for modern workforces.