On this episode of The Playbook Podcast, host Ken Eslick is joined by former NFL Linebacker, speaker, and coach, Anthony Trucks.

Anthony Trucks shares the raw, emotional journey from a child in foster care to a professional athlete, detailing the exact internal pivot that changed his trajectory. This conversation is a blueprint for radical ownership, directly addressing the Founders and Enterprise Leaders who feel caught in the "cycle of diminishing returns" and whose companies are overly dependent on them.

Anthony explains why his only belief was in the opposite—the certainty that if he did nothing, he would not be great —and how he channeled that fear into Dark Work. Learn why true self-mastery is about building a "Dominator's Identity" that dominates the weaker version of yourself and how taking ownership ("I am the common denominator in all of my problems" ) is the best gift a leader can receive for achieving maximum valuation and a smooth transition.

• [00:01:00] The early life: From being given away at three years old to enduring abuse and instability in the foster care system.
• [00:08:00] Finding stability and a new identity: The adoption that created the emotional room to pursue something new (football).
• [00:13:00] The Catalyst: The moment a peer rationalized her circumstance and Anthony committed to controlling his own destiny .
• [00:17:00] Defining Motivation: Why the belief in the opposite of what you want is the most powerful anchor against quitting.
• [00:21:00] The Power of "Dark Work": How Anthony's commitment to preparation led to an internal shift—"I have done too much work in the dark to lose in the light".
• [00:23:00] The Dominator’s Identity: Exerting control over the weaker version of yourself to be a better spouse, leader, and person.
• [00:30:00] College, the NFL, and the Fog: Navigating life after football and falling into a dark place.
• [00:33:00] The Ultimate Gift: The realization that "I am the common denominator in all of my problems".
• [00:38:00] What stopped him? The harrowing moment Anthony almost committed suicide, and the strange anchor that brought him home.
• [00:42:00] How to work with Anthony: The Dark Work Experience and the necessity of taking action.

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