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 10: From Millions Lost to Millions Gained: Richard Bryan’s Story
At 28 years old, Richard Bryan was thrown into the CEO seat of his family’s 100-year-old car dealership group — a business losing millions and on the brink of collapse. With 400 employees and 16 family shareholders depending on him, survival became the only goal.
In this episode of Escape the CEO Doom Loop, Richard shares how he led under immense pressure, the pivotal role his mentor “Frank” played, and the leadership lessons he carries into his work today as a Metronomics coach. From firing C players to building an A-team, Richard’s story is a raw look at what it takes to lead through a crisis.
If you’re a CEO, entrepreneur, or leader navigating growth and uncertainty, Richard’s journey will challenge and inspire you. Subscribe for more conversations with leaders escaping the Doom Loop.
Chapters:
[00:00:00] Intro & Guest Welcome
[00:06:01] Becoming CEO at 28
[00:07:46] Defining Success as Survival
[00:12:00] Six Months of Cash Left
[00:13:38] Finding Frank the Mentor
[00:18:00] Hard Decisions: Closures & Layoffs
[00:29:42] Building an A-Team
[00:36:19] From Survival to Growth Vision
[00:43:28] Transition to Coaching
[00:50:00] Leadership Lessons for CEOs
