What does it really take to build leaders inside a small business—without burning people out or losing your culture?In this episode of The Real Leadership Brief, Donald Dunn sits down with Rich Ashton, a Navy veteran and entrepreneur with more than four decades of experience building, fixing, and selling companies across multiple industries.Rich breaks down why most small businesses struggle with leadership development, how military leadership must evolve in civilian environments, and why growth stalls when companies fail to invest in people before processes.This conversation is built for:Veterans transitioning into businessFirst-time supervisorsFounders trying to scale without losing cultureEntrepreneurs stuck at a growth ceilingYou’ll learn:Why leadership in business is different than in the militaryHow to identify a person’s “leadership ceiling”The hidden danger of authoritarian middle managementWhy communication must be circular, not top-downHow personal growth and professional leadership are inseparableWhy investing in people changes everythingRich also introduces his book Growing Your Own, a practical guide for small business owners who want to build leaders from within instead of importing them.This episode isn’t theory—it’s real-world leadership from the trenches.