Leadership Journeys [278] – Ron Rubin – “There’s gold in your backyard – if you’re willing to dig deep enough.”

This is the Leadership Journey series on the Choosing Leadership Podcast.

I believe we all have a lot to learn from each other’s stories – of where we started, where we are now, and our successes and struggles on the way. With this series of interviews, my attempt is to give leaders an opportunity to share their stories and for all of us to learn from their generous sharing. If you know a leader whom you would like to see celebrated on the show, please send me a message on LinkedIn with their name.

What does it really take to hold onto a dream for 40 years—and actually bring it to life?

In this conversation, Ron Rubin shares hard-earned lessons on patience, succession, and making bold decisions without losing your footing.

You’ll hear how great leaders balance risk with wisdom, let go at the right time, and build businesses that last beyond them.

More importantly, this episode challenges you to stop chasing distant opportunities and start recognising the “gold” already within your reach.

If you’re navigating growth, transition, or uncertainty, this one will hit closer to home than you expect.

You can find Ron Rubin at the links below

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronrubin/
•  ron@goldenyourbackyard.com

In the interview, Ron shares

• “Dreams don’t expire—they just wait for the person patient enough to build them.”
• “What looks like a long delay is often just the time required to do something meaningful.”
• “The best business advice I ever received was simple: stay debt-free and sleep well at night.”
• “Succession isn’t about stepping away—it’s about setting someone else up to win.”
• “If you don’t have a plan to let go, you don’t have a leadership strategy—you have control issues.”
• “Most people chase opportunity in distant places, while ignoring the gold sitting in their own backyard.”
• “The real lessons of leadership aren’t taught in classrooms—they’re earned through decisions, risks, and consequences.”
• “Great leaders don’t avoid risk—they understand it, respect it, and move anyway.”
• “Innovation matters, but never at the expense of the human touch that built your business in the first place.”
• “Success means very little if you’re not lifting others as you climb.”