What does it actually take to spot the leadership gaps that matter, especially when life and work keep speeding up?
In this episode of Becoming Unshakable, I sit down with Erik Dodier, an entrepreneur who describes his career as a “30-year overnight success.” Erik takes us from his early love of business and entrepreneurship to building a company through decades of pivots, pressure, growth, and change. What stood out to me right away was his willingness to discuss the pause that comes after the grind, that moment when you stop running and finally have enough space to reflect on who you became while you were building.
Erik’s definition of becoming unshakable is refreshingly grounded. It is the quiet confidence that comes from surviving hundreds of hard moments and realizing you are still standing. He shares a simple line that stuck with me, “Of all my bad days, I’m undefeated.” And from there, we discuss pattern recognition as wisdom, how experience helps you respond with greater calm, and how looking back can help you face what is next with a little more air in your lungs.
We also get into the real weight of leadership as teams grow. Erik opens up about a pivotal season in 2014, when his company had to narrow its focus and make a painful shift that changed people’s careers. He describes doing it as humanely as possible, giving people time to retrain, find their path, or lean into the new direction. That conversation led us into something many leaders wrestle with: how to show care and compassion for others while you are privately carrying your own stress, doubt, and exhaustion.
One of my favorite parts of this conversation is Erik’s honesty about what kept him steady. He talks about books, biographies, and even motivational YouTube videos as tools to reset his mindset on hard days. He also shares how his leadership evolved from feeling he had to have every answer to recognizing that his real job was building the right team, removing obstacles, and focusing everyone on the problems that truly moved the business forward.
We close with a powerful reminder for anyone who feels stuck right now. Erik’s advice is to take the smallest step back in the right direction, because the shift you need might be closer than you think. As we step into 2026, he shares how he is using more time, greater intention, and AI tools as a sounding board to keep growing, personally and professionally.
As you listen, I would love you to reflect on what is one leadership belief you have outgrown, and what is the smallest step you can take this week to steady yourself again? Share your thoughts with me. I really want to hear what this brings up for you.
ERIK DODIER is a lifelong entrepreneur, EOS Implementer, and former CEO whose journey is defined by one core belief: the most meaningful success comes from playing the long game. Whether building a company, raising a family, investing in health, or redefining life after a major exit, Erik views every chapter through the lens of durability, intention, and personal evolution. He co-founded PixelMEDIA at 24 and bootstrapped it from a small Dover apartment into one of Salesforce’s leading global commerce partners, later rebranding it as RafterOne and building a team of more than 500 people before its 2022 acquisition by IPG.
After stepping out of the CEO role, Erik paused and asked, “What does a good life look like from here?”—a question that shifted him toward intentional living centered on long-term fulfillment. This led him to become an EOS Implementer, helping founders and leadership teams grow deliberately, design businesses that serve their lives, and avoid the burnout that comes from short-term thinking. His message is simple but powerful: if you build with intention, success becomes a sustainable system—not a sprint.
Rooted in New Hampshire, Erik focuses on longevity, clarity, and presence, maintaining a few grounding habits that keep him energized for the work and people who matter most. His story resonates because he’s lived the full entrepreneurial arc—from the early hustle to the reinventions, the exit, and the search for meaning afterward—and he brings a steady, long-term perspective that helps leaders rethink what lasting success can look like and build a life designed to endure.
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About Heather R Younger, J.D., CSP
Heather R Younger, J.D., CSP is a highly sought-after speaker, 2x-TEDx speaker, diversity, equity and inclusion strategist, and contributor to leading news outlets. She is also the Founder and CEO of Employee Fanatix, a leading employee engagement and consulting firm. After over 25,000 employee engagement surveys and years of working with organizations to transform employee engagement, here’s what Heather has seen over and over: When you know how to listen, employees will tell you exactly what they need to bring their full selves to work. Book Heather to speak at your event or organization.
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