Dee Hock, the visionary behind Visa, understood this paradox deeply.

He knew that true breakthroughs come not from piling on new ideas, but from stripping away the crusty layers of old thinking.

We all carry mental baggage such as assumptions, habits, and fears that keep us attached to the familiar.

But what if the next world-changing leader or idea is trapped behind those very walls we’ve built to keep ourselves safe?

Hock didn’t just create a credit card company. He ignited a revolution in global finance by daring to question everything.

The inner leader’s journey, which Hock advocated, isn’t about becoming someone new.

It’s about rediscovering the bold, curious inner leader inside. It’s about having the courage to dismantle your own mental fortresses.

You have that power. Right now. To look at your industry, your community, or even yourself, and ask: “What if everything I believe is wrong?”

Frankly, if you really pursue this question, you’ll discover so much is upside down.

What you thought were pillars of truth might be the very obstacles blocking your path to innovation.

That’s how revolutions start. Not with grand plans, but with the quiet act of unlearning.

Dare to unlearn. Your revolution awaits.

— Bill

Bill Fox, Founder, LeaderONE​
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Pioneering Leadership from Within | Unlocking Human and Organizational Potential