Episode 57: David Werdiger on the Power of Pause in Family Enterprise Leadership

David Werdiger returns to discuss his Power of Pause Institute and the concept of time as a critical leadership asset. Drawing from his experience as a second-generation family business enterprise member and decades advising high net worth families, David explores how family enterprise leaders can create clarity through intentional pause rather than constant urgency. The conversation covers stewardship principles learned from nonprofit boards, the importance of manufactured adversity in rising generation education, and navigating binary decisions like selling versus keeping family assets. David emphasizes that family wealth office governance thrives when leaders balance strategic clarity with relational awareness and treat time as their most valuable resource.

00:00 Introduction to David Werdiger
 01:57 Origins of the Power of Pause
 04:03 Second-generation business experience
 06:07 Time as a leadership resource
 08:00 Leadership styles and patience
 10:15 The pause practice framework
 12:30 Technology and intentional time
 14:45 Decision making under pressure
 16:52 Rising generation preparation
 20:29 Manufactured adversity concept
 22:45 Binary decisions in transitions
 24:49 Learning to be good owners
 26:33 Making every day intentional