The Plant Yourself Podcast The Perks of Being a Dumb-Ass: Garry Ridge on PYP 622
Garry Ridge is the former CEO of WD-40 and the co-author of Any Dumb-Ass Can Do It, a book about building high-performance cultures through servant leadership, emotional safety, and consistent values. In this conversation, Garry shares not just what he learned during his 25+ years at WD-40, but how he lived it—and how other leaders can too.
We talked about what it means to lead with a heart of gold and a backbone of steel, how culture can't be microwaved (spoiler: it's a crockpot), and why being a "dumbass" is actually a leadership superpower.
Garry tells stories about turning fear into learning, eliminating the word "manager," and why clarity around values—especially in a hierarchy—gives everyone the confidence to make the right decision, no matter their title.
We also explore:
- Why psychological safety isn't fluff, it's foundational
- How “the soul-sucking CEO” lives in all of us, and what to do about that
- What happened when Garry went back to school as a CEO
- How WD-40 went global using three simple marketing questions
- Why organizations should replace “failure” with “learning moments”
- The real-world power of love and belonging at work
- The “Maniac Pledge” and how it eliminates finger-pointing
- How even during COVID, WD-40’s engagement scores stayed sky-high
This episode is a warm bath of wisdom, humor, and hope for anyone who wants to lead—at work or in life—with integrity, humility, and heart.
Links
- Garry Ridge's website: thelearningmoment.net
- Take the Dumbass Proficiency Quiz here
- Connect with Garry on LinkedIn
- Join the School of Dumb-Assery on LinkedIn
- Garry’s book: Any Dumb-Ass Can Do It