Jeff Davis is an award-winning author, blogger, speaker, mental health advocate, and consultant. He has delivered keynotes worldwide and is a sought-after expert in authentic leadership, resiliency, and workplace dynamics.
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Guest Resources
The Courage to Leave – Get a copy of Jeff’s new book.
Jeff D Speaks Website – Visit Jeff’s website for blog and resources.
Jeff’s LinkedIn – Connect with Jeff on LinkedIn or email him directly.
3 Value Bombs
1. Kindness is not weakness—it’s rooted in emotional intelligence and personal growth, and it’s a leadership strength.
2. Workplace toxicity can be subtle, insidious, and deeply damaging—but there are strategies to reclaim your power.
3. Healing from workplace trauma starts with addressing the root cause, seeking help, and building resilience.
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Show Notes
**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode.
Today’s Audio MASTERCLASS: Escaping Toxic Workplaces: The Courage to Leave with Jeff Davis
[1:05] – Kindness is a strength, not a liability.
- Jeff’s “hot take”: kindness, often misunderstood, is a key ingredient to success. Kindness is power.
[2:09] – Wild toxic workplace stories: knives, sabotage, and lawsuits.
- A colleague once pulled a knife on Jeff at a corporate event.
- At HelloPrint (Rotterdam), Jeff was sabotaged due to jealousy after giving a keynote.
- Fought and defeated a corrupt billion-dollar company by studying Dutch law, staying calm, and taking legal action.
- Got a toxic HR director fired—someone whose behavior drove colleagues to the brink of suicide.
[7:33] – Even top companies like Meta have toxic cultures.
- Jeff’s friend Anya suffered severe emotional damage from persistent dismissiveness at Meta.
- Subtle and consistent invalidation can be more harmful than overt bullying.
[8:40] – Mental resilience: how to reclaim your power.
- Practice R.A.V. (Recognize, Acknowledge, Validate) to deal with difficult emotions.
- Simple tools: breath work, walking, reaching out to a trusted lifeline, and mindfulness.
- These tools help shift your mind to a more neutral, empowered space.
[10:36] – A timeout to thank our sponsors!
- Airbnb: Your home might be worth more than you think! Find out how much at Airbnb.com/host.
- Public: Build a multi-asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto, and more. Go to Public.com/fire to fund your account in five minutes or less!
- All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. Brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities, options and bonds in a self-directed account are offered by Public Investing, Inc., member FINRA & SIPC. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1890144), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC. Alpha is an experimental AI tool powered by GPT-4. Its output may be inaccurate and is not investment advice. Public makes no guarantees about its accuracy or reliability—verify independently before use. *Rate as of 6/24/25. APY is variable and subject to change. **Terms and Conditions apply.
[13:28] – How to break free from toxic workplaces without risking it all.
- Don’t just “quit”—be strategic.
- Apply for opportunities daily (contracts, consulting gigs, jobs).
- It’s a numbers game: opportunities are out there, especially if you persist.
- Avoid impulsive exits—call a trusted friend before making a major decision.
[16:03] – How to build a company without toxicity.
- Engage with empathy: look past behaviors to see people’s potential.
- Don’t judge—get curious about people’s stories and experiences.
- Prioritize human skills over just technical competence: listening, trust, honesty.
- Dysfunction thrives when no one knows how to handle difficult conversations.
[17:46] – Healing from workplace trauma.
- Step one: address the root cause—what does this toxic experience represent?
- Therapy, support groups, and speaking out (even anonymously) can be part of the healing process.
- “Get out of there” doesn’t mean impulsively leave—it means start planning your exit with intention and action.
[19:51]– Final thoughts and call to action.
- The Courage to Leave – Get a copy of Jeff’s new book.
- Jeff D Speaks Website – Visit Jeff’s website for blog and resources.
- Jeff’s LinkedIn – Connect with Jeff on LinkedIn or email him directly.
- You are not alone—there is always a way out
[21:05] – Thank you to our Sponsor!
- ThriveTime Show: Attend the world’s highest rated business growth workshop taught personally by Clay Clark and now featuring Football Star, Tim Tebow, and President Trump’s son, Eric Trump, at ThrivetimeShow.com/eofire!
Killer Resources!
1) The Common Path to Uncommon Success: JLD’s 1st traditionally published book! Over 3000 interviews with the world’s most successful Entrepreneurs compiled into a 17-step roadmap to financial freedom and fulfillment!
2) Free Podcast Course: Learn from JLD how to create and launch your podcast!
3) Podcasters’ Paradise: The #1 podcasting community in the world!
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