the Learn-It-All™ podcast 186: Take Ownership: The #1 Mindset Shift New Managers Must Make | Damon Lembi
Winning teams—and thriving careers—are built by those who take charge of their own growth.
In this solo episode, host Damon Lembi, two-time bestselling author and CEO of Learnit, shares the three essential truths for taking complete ownership of your career development. Drawing on real stories from mentees and colleagues, Damon unpacks why waiting for training, promotions, or happiness to arrive just doesn’t work—and how proactive planning, building a business case, and courageous conversations can change everything. Whether you’re new to leadership, battling resource constraints, or feeling stuck in the wrong role, this episode delivers practical strategies and mindset shifts to help you get unstuck and start thriving on your own terms.
From designing your own learning plan to making big, strategic asks (and having tough talks!), Damon empowers you with the tools and inspiration to own your path, champion your team, and rediscover your passion at work.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why no one cares about your growth as much as you do—and why that’s empowering
- How to proactively build and present your own learning and development plan
- The art of crafting a business case and ROI to advocate for your team’s resources
- The importance of having honest conversations if you’re miserable in your role—and how to transition back to work you love
- Why leaders often want to help, but need you to step forward first
- Tangible next steps: how to move from frustration to action, starting today
Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction: The myth of waiting for help
01:05 – Taking responsibility for your own learning plan
03:22 – Mentee story: Designing a custom leadership curriculum
06:05 – What to do if your company won’t pay for training
07:05 – The importance of biographies and self-driven learning
08:10 – Build a business case and ROI for your team’s success
10:24 – Sales leader story: Conferences and proven results
14:30 – Leaders are busy—why you need to help them help you
15:30 – The power of proactive initiative (Carly Lutz example)
16:35 – The hardest story: Getting stuck in the wrong management role
19:50 – How honest dialogue can transform your job satisfaction
21:55 – Lessons for “getting out of your comfort zone” and loving your work
23:30 – Damon’s final challenge: Take action now
25:00 – Damon’s book, Learn it All Leader, and goodbye
About Damon Lembi
Damon Lembi is a 2x bestselling author, the host of The Learn-It-All Podcast, and CEO of Learnit – a live learning platform that has upskilled over 2 million people. Drawing from his prior baseball career, Damon brings an athlete’s perspective to leadership. Through his journey, he has gained invaluable insights into what helps organizations grow, how great leaders learn, and why learn-it-all companies outpace their competitors every time.
Resources & Mentions:
The Learn-It-All Leader: Mindset, Traits, and Tools by Damon Lembi:
Good Decisions Equals Success by Damon Lembi & Kandis Porter:
Damon Lembi LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damonlembi
Coach Your Team (Learnit Course): https://www.learnit.com/courses/coach-your-team
Make Listening Your Superpower (Learnit Course): https://www.learnit.com/courses/make-listening-your-superpower
Run Better Meetings (Learnit Course): https://www.learnit.com/courses/run-better-meetings
Think Critically (Learnit Course): https://www.learnit.com/courses/think-critically
Delegate to Scale Your Impact (Learnit course):
https://www.learnit.com/courses/delegate-to-scale-your-impact
Podcast Contact Information:
Website: www.learnit.com
Email: podcast@learnit.com
Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates.