The Focus Bee Show (331) Aslak De Silva: The Blackbelt in Leadership for CEOs
(328) Aslak De Silva: The Blackbelt in Leadership for CEOs
In this podcast episode, a seasoned business leader and martial arts practitioner shares how principles from martial arts—such as discipline, presence, and resilience—translate into effective leadership. Through personal stories, he discusses the importance of clear goal-setting, consistent routines, and managing stress.
The conversation explores the value of psychological safety, social support, and mental preparation in both business and life. The episode also introduces his upcoming book, Black Belt Leadership, offering practical lessons for leaders. Listeners are encouraged to cultivate self-awareness, steady effort, and positivity on their own leadership journeys.
✨ What’s Inside This Episode:
🎯 00:00:00 – Struggles with goal setting highlight the need for clarity and strong social support.
🥋 00:00:48 – Martial arts teaches discipline, resilience, and consistency—key leadership traits.
⚖️ 00:01:58 – Defining goals and communicating clearly is essential for balanced leadership.
🛤️ 00:03:42 – Discipline beats motivation, just like the “20 mile march” ensures steady progress.
🌅 00:06:02 – Morning routines and self-checks build daily discipline and readiness.
🏃♂️ 00:09:14 – Physical exercise fuels mental clarity and evening rituals support recovery.
🧘 00:11:25 – Meditation fosters presence and groundedness across personal and professional life.
🔕 00:14:08 – Reducing multitasking and recognizing distractions helps reclaim focus.
🤝 00:16:35 – Presence in leadership builds trust, safety, and high-performing teams.
🔥 00:19:20 – CEOs handle stress through connection, support, and mental resilience.
💪 00:23:33 – Martial arts mindset helps endure stress and adapt in tough moments.
📘 00:25:08 – Sneak peek of Black Belt Leadership with real-life stories and structure.
🌟 00:26:52 – Personal stories inspire continued growth and enjoyment of the journey.
💫 About Aslak De Silva:
With more than 15 years of leadership experience in sales, marketing, and customer experience, Aslak is passionate about creating value for clients, partners, and stakeholders. A dedicated martial artist, he brings the principles of life-long learning and coaching to his leadership approach. He is also a Forbes Business Council Member, a keynote speaker, and co-author of the #1 bestseller Winner's Mindset.
📲 Where to Follow & Connect with David:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aslakdesilva
💫 About Katie Stoddart:
Katie is the founder of The Focus Bee, an international high-performance coach, speaker, author, and host of The Focus Bee Show. She supports founders, CEOs, and high achievers to reach and sustain peak performance through focus, leadership, stress management and alignment. Her mission is to create purpose-driven leaders worldwide.
🌐 Website: https://katiestoddart.com
🎁 Free Tools & Resources:
🎯 Free Focus Guide: https://thefocusbee.kit.com/focusguide
🧠 Master Performance Course: https://fifteenseconds.com/seasons/master-performance
📕 Book – The Magic of Focus: https://katiestoddart.com/book/
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