Are You Still Tied to the Chair? Leadership Pain, Market Shifts & Breaking Old Patterns

In this episode of the Torsion Talk Podcast, Ryan Lucia takes on one of the hardest topics in business: the tough conversations leaders avoid, create, or live inside without even realizing it. Coming off an incredible mastermind event in Atlanta, Ryan shares insights from guest speaker Chris Brooks of Central Door Solutions, whose sales-first approach built a thriving company without relying heavily on marketing. Ryan also recaps day two of the mastermind, where he introduced powerful automations and sales tools through HighLevel and explained how garage door companies can reduce costs and increase capability by integrating the right tech stack.

Ryan gives updates on operator brands, including concerns about reliability, callbacks, and leadership changes across the industry, and shares his honest reaction to new products from Genie and LiftMaster. He highlights why consistency, not bells and whistles, is what customers truly want. He also talks about his new morning routine—early rising, stretching, meditation, prayer, and ashwagandha—and how it has dramatically improved his stress management and clarity.

The core of the episode centers on fear, failure, and the limitations leaders place on themselves. Ryan explains why playing it safe is no longer an option in a landscape shaped by consolidation, national competitors, and shifting customer behavior. He breaks down why word-of-mouth isn’t a marketing strategy, why many small operators won’t survive without adapting, and how medium-sized companies can grow rapidly through smart acquisitions and partnerships.

One of the most powerful moments comes from a story about circus elephants tied to chairs—a metaphor for the invisible limitations leaders drag with them for years. Ryan uses the analogy to challenge business owners to recognize where they’ve accepted false boundaries, outdated habits, and broken systems. He openly reflects on his own leadership flaws, including being too soft, staying loyal too long, and avoiding hard decisions with people who think they’re irreplaceable.

Ryan encourages leaders to examine whether their fears, standards, or past disappointments are holding their companies back. He explains how baggage from failed agencies, failed hires, or failed strategies can distort expectations and sabotage future success. By the end, Ryan brings the conversation back to accountability: if problems keep repeating, the mirror is often the first place to look.

He closes with gratitude, encouragement, and a reminder that growth requires both courage and honesty. As always, he thanks listeners for following Torsion Talk and hints that the next mastermind announcement is coming soon.

Find Ryan at:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://garagedooru.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aaronoverheaddoors.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠https://markinuity.com/⁠

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