From the Preface — David's own framing of what readers should expect, before they ever crack the spine.
Each chapter builds on the last. Read it straight through first. Then go back to the ones that hit hardest — those are your growth points.
The invisible ceiling capping your capacity — and why good intentions become bottlenecks.
Rescue. Relief. Reinforcement. Result. The cycle that turns occasional help into systemic dependency.
Perfectionism, fear, and identity tangle — the three root causes that trap even the best leaders. And the personal cost the data refuses to ignore.
Fixer. Protector. Perfectionist. Owner. Each archetype is the extension of the strength that got you promoted.
The three fundamental shifts that change how you think about completion, quality, and ownership.
Control → Trust. Perfection → Progress. Protection → Preparation. Driving → Developing. Dependence → Delegation Mastery.
The self-reinforcing system that builds itself once you stop running it personally.
The Five Pillars — Clarity, Capacity, Cadence, Coaching, Culture — and the Outcome Card framework that operationalizes them.
Martin, Tommy, Jessica, Raymond. Four leaders. Four industries. Same framework. Same results.
The Four-Layer Architecture: Individual, Team, Departmental, Enterprise. The roadmap for scaling delegation beyond your personal capacity.
The Preface and Chapter 1 — about 30 pages — sent straight to your inbox. Includes the Kentucky mechanical room scene that started it all.
You'll meet the 80% Loop. You'll see the four archetypes in their natural habitat. And you'll find out which one you've been operating as without realizing it.
No spam. No newsletter sign-up tricks. Just the chapters.
Ten copies or more, signed bookplates, and an optional 30-minute virtual Q&A with David for your leadership team. The bulk order is how most operations directors get the book into their organization — and the Q&A is where the conversation about implementation usually begins.
Standard quantity discounts. Free shipping over 25 copies in the contiguous US.
Forthcoming endorsement. Reserved for the Tier A reviewer — a recognized authority on operational leadership whose name carries weight with the COO buyer.
— Tier A endorser · To be confirmedForthcoming endorsement. Reserved for the industry-practitioner reviewer — a respected operational voice whose credibility lands directly with frontline leaders.
— Industry practitioner · To be confirmedForthcoming endorsement. Reserved for the industry-CEO reviewer — a named operator running a real organization who's used the framework.
— Industry CEO · To be confirmedForthcoming endorsement. Reserved for the academic-credentialing reviewer — a research-aligned voice that legitimizes the data and methodology.
— Academic / Researcher · To be confirmedSeptember 2026, timed to David's keynote at [Conference Name]. Pre-orders are open now through Amazon, Bookshop.org, and direct. Direct orders include a signed bookplate and ship in the launch window.
Both get you the same book. Direct ($28) includes a signed bookplate, supports David more (better margin), and gets you on the launch-day delivery list. Amazon is more convenient if you already have Prime. Same content either way.
The audiobook is in production and releases alongside the hardcover in September 2026, narrated by David. Pre-order on Audible or Apple Books from the buy options above.
Yes — the basic Outcome Card framework is in Chapter 8 with industry-applied examples. The comprehensive fill-in-the-blank templates with industry-specific scenarios and troubleshooting are part of the consulting program. See Work With David for the full set.
Yes, and several have. The book is designed to be the operating manual you hand down to your frontline supervisors, while giving you (the director) the diagnostic framework to apply organizationally. See bulk orders above — most teams buy 25–50 copies and request the optional Q&A.
Yes — see workshop and keynote options. Half-day workshops include a copy of the book for every participant.
If you read the book and don't think it was worth your time, email info@8020leaders.com within 60 days and we'll refund your purchase — no questions, no return required. Keep the book.