Escape the CEO Doom Loop
Escape the CEO Doom Loop is built for CEOs and leadership teams ready to grow. Each episode delivers practical insights, real-world stories, and tools you can use today to lead with clarity and scale with confidence. We spotlight what’s working—and what’s not—for leaders navigating growth, building culture, and driving accountability.
It’s more than a podcast—it’s a gateway to The CEO Playbook and the next step in becoming the leader your business needs next.
Escape the CEO Doom Loop
Episode 2: “From the Corner Office to Coach: John's Journey Through the Doom Loop”
In this powerful second episode of Escape the CEO Doom Loop, co-host John Ninkovich opens up about his personal leadership journey—from working behind the counter of a family business at age nine to running a company, losing it all, and rebuilding with purpose.
John sits down with Glen Dall to share the real story behind why he became a CEO coach—and why the most valuable lessons don’t come from the wins, but from the moments you feel like you’ve hit rock bottom.
Inside this episode:
- What it really feels like to go from CEO to employee—and why ego isn’t your enemy, but your teacher.
- The hard truth behind family business dynamics, loyalty, and painful people decisions.
- Why coaching your own team is like trying to play quarterback and be the head coach—and why that rarely works.
- The 3AM sweat: waking up with payroll panic and learning what real responsibility feels like.
- How the darkest moments often become the foundation for your purpose as a leader.
If you’ve ever felt the weight of leading a team, the fear of failure, or the isolation that comes with the title “CEO,” this episode is for you. John’s story is a reminder that real leadership is forged in adversity—and that you’re not alone in the journey.
Up next: In Episode 3, Glen shares his CEO story—the rise, the fall, the public-company pressure, and the path to purpose.
