This episode is different.
UNICORN isn’t a personality type or a motivational idea.
It’s a leadership standard.
In this episode, I unpack what it means to lead in a moment where standing out is easy—but standing up is rare. UNICORN is an acronym that describes a way of governing yourself when pressure, noise, automation, and low standards make it tempting to drift, conform, or perform.
UNICORN leaders are:
Unleashed — not reckless, but no longer self-censoring
Nonconforming — calm, grounded, and unwilling to live by default norms
Intentional — choosing direction over drift
Creative — shaping meaning and solutions in a changing world
Optimistic — engaging possibility instead of retreating into cynicism
Rare — consistent, dependable, and decent in a low-trust culture
Necessary — because people aren’t starving for content, they’re starving for examples
This episode isn’t about being special.
It’s about being responsible.
If you’ve felt the quiet tension of knowing it’s time to stand up—this conversation is for you.
