{"id":3499,"date":"2025-11-26T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-26T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gembadocs.com\/learn\/?p=3499"},"modified":"2026-07-08T14:56:52","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T13:56:52","slug":"gemba-summit-keynote-brian-meyers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/gemba-summit-keynote-brian-meyers\/","title":{"rendered":"Lean leadership: change yourself first"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"3499\" class=\"elementor elementor-3499\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2859f6d4 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"2859f6d4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aadd3a1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"aadd3a1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Keynote from Brian Meyers from Fat American Manufacturing at Gemba Summit 2025<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-49c5403e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"49c5403e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Brian Meyers, owner of Fat American Manufacturing, delivered a powerful keynote at Gemba Summit 2025 that challenged conventional thinking about lean transformation. Opening his presentation wearing a blindfold adorned with an American flag and eagle, Meyers used this striking visual metaphor to illustrate what every lean leader experiences: the feeling of moving forward without a clear map, navigating obstacles, and trusting the process even when you can&#8217;t see the destination. His message was clear-lean transformation isn&#8217;t a straight line from point A to point B, and that&#8217;s exactly as it should be.<\/p>\n\n<p>Over the past 14 months, Meyers has transformed his 20-year-old batch-and-queue operation into a flowing lean enterprise, learning hard lessons along the way. His presentation wasn&#8217;t about theory or perfection; it was about the messy, uncomfortable reality of change and the unwavering commitment required to make it stick. Drawing from his own experiences-complete with video evidence of improvements, setbacks, and yes, even burning binders in the company parking lot-Meyers shared three essential rules that have guided his transformation journey and can help any leader navigate their own path forward.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6776171 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"6776171\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6569320 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6569320\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Watch keynote<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-73803eb elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"73803eb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/youtu.be\\\/6seKhgkVaWk?si=aUZom9Iu7PAWLX1P&quot;,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0c640fe e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"0c640fe\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e993182 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e993182\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Listen to Keynote with GembaTalk Podcast<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2d3165d elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"2d3165d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"width: 100%; height: 200px; margin-bottom: 20px; border-radius: 6px; overflow: hidden;\"><iframe style=\"width: 100%; height: 200px;\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" allow=\"clipboard-write\" seamless src=\"https:\/\/player.captivate.fm\/episode\/cd222594-cf85-4e69-b331-71a07a3f7834\/\"><\/iframe><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-90205d5 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"90205d5\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d1c21af elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d1c21af\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Key takeaways<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-12a8b74 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"12a8b74\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>1. Never Go Backwards<\/h3>\n<p>Once you make an improvement, that becomes the new standard. Meyers learned this lesson when an employee created a digital solution to replace bulky binders of standard operating procedures, only to find someone had retrieved the old binders &#8220;just in case.&#8221; The temptation to keep backup plans is universal, but it undermines commitment to improvement. If a new process fails, the answer isn&#8217;t to revert-it&#8217;s to improve again.<\/p>\n<h3>2. Total and Unwavering Commitment<\/h3>\n<p>Meyers invoked the story of Hern\u00e1n Cort\u00e9s, who burned his ships upon landing in the New World, eliminating any possibility of retreat. While dramatic, the principle applies to lean transformation: if you leave escape hatches open, people will use them. True commitment means removing the option to return to old ways, even when the new path feels uncomfortable or uncertain.<\/p>\n<h3>3. Focus on Burden and Flow<\/h3>\n<p>Rather than chasing the eight wastes individually, Meyers discovered that burden and flow are the root causes creating those wastes. When employees are burdened-reaching, bending, struggling with poor processes-they become frustrated and burnt out. When work doesn&#8217;t flow, inventory accumulates, defects multiply, and customers wait. One disgruntled employee who dismissed lean as &#8220;rah rah bullcrap&#8221; became a believer after his team simply removed the burdens from his area without requiring him to embrace the philosophy first.<\/p>\n<h3>4. Learn from Those Who&#8217;ve Gone Before<\/h3>\n<p>Meyers credited Ryan Tierney with lighting his &#8220;mind on fire&#8221; and setting him on the lean path. Throughout his transformation, he followed leaders like Tierney and Oliver Conger, trusting that their guidance would help him navigate the blindfold journey. Even industry leaders like Toyota are learning daily, currently exploring AI integration in completely uncharted territory.<\/p>\n<h3>5. Action Beats Understanding<\/h3>\n<p>Meyers emphasized moving quickly from learning to doing. The faster you go from understanding a principle to putting it into action, the faster it will stick. Don&#8217;t just collect ideas-implement them immediately upon returning to work. As he put it on his YouTube channel &#8220;Lean by Doing,&#8221; the philosophy is simple: &#8220;We do lean, we just do it.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h3>6. A Bold Vision for the Midwest<\/h3>\n<p>Inspired by Ryan Tierney&#8217;s declaration to make Ireland the next Japan, Meyers made his own bold commitment: to make the Midwest the next Ireland. He&#8217;s already working with five to seven companies within hours of his location, creating pull and driving momentum. His message to the Gemba Summit audience was clear-we all start with a blindfold on, but we have to earn the right to take it off together.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ebf164a e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"ebf164a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fd5b4d5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"fd5b4d5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Speaker details<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9a51563 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"9a51563\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cc929b8 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"cc929b8\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c913d80 elementor-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon\" data-id=\"c913d80\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"#003659\"><g clip-path=\"url(#clip0_3111_32669)\"><path opacity=\"0.4\" d=\"M17.53 7.77C17.46 7.76 17.39 7.76 17.32 7.77C15.77 7.72 14.54 6.45 14.54 4.89C14.54 3.3 15.83 2 17.43 2C19.02 2 20.32 3.29 20.32 4.89C20.31 6.45 19.08 7.72 17.53 7.77Z\"><\/path><path opacity=\"0.4\" d=\"M20.79 14.7004C19.67 15.4504 18.1 15.7304 16.65 15.5404C17.03 14.7204 17.23 13.8104 17.24 12.8504C17.24 11.8504 17.02 10.9004 16.6 10.0704C18.08 9.8704 19.65 10.1504 20.78 10.9004C22.36 11.9404 22.36 13.6504 20.79 14.7004Z\"><\/path><path opacity=\"0.4\" d=\"M6.44002 7.77C6.51002 7.76 6.58002 7.76 6.65002 7.77C8.20002 7.72 9.43002 6.45 9.43002 4.89C9.43002 3.3 8.14002 2 6.54002 2C4.95002 2 3.65002 3.29 3.65002 4.89C3.66002 6.45 4.89002 7.72 6.44002 7.77Z\"><\/path><path opacity=\"0.4\" d=\"M6.54999 12.8496C6.54999 13.8196 6.75999 14.7396 7.13999 15.5696C5.72999 15.7196 4.26 15.4196 3.18 14.7096C1.6 13.6596 1.6 11.9496 3.18 10.8996C4.25 10.1796 5.75999 9.88962 7.18 10.0496C6.77 10.8896 6.54999 11.8396 6.54999 12.8496Z\"><\/path><path d=\"M12.12 15.87C12.04 15.86 11.95 15.86 11.86 15.87C10.02 15.81 8.54999 14.3 8.54999 12.44C8.54999 10.54 10.08 9 11.99 9C13.89 9 15.43 10.54 15.43 12.44C15.43 14.3 13.97 15.81 12.12 15.87Z\"><\/path><path d=\"M8.86999 17.9396C7.35999 18.9496 7.35999 20.6096 8.86999 21.6096C10.59 22.7596 13.41 22.7596 15.13 21.6096C16.64 20.5996 16.64 18.9396 15.13 17.9396C13.42 16.7896 10.6 16.7896 8.86999 17.9396Z\"><\/path><\/g><defs><clipPath id=\"clip0_3111_32669\"><rect width=\"24\" height=\"24\" fill=\"white\"><\/rect><\/clipPath><\/defs><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f028157 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f028157\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Who<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2b151c4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2b151c4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/brian-meyers-256833a3\/\">Brian Meyers<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fdd7ac7 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"fdd7ac7\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-932af52 elementor-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon\" data-id=\"932af52\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"128\" height=\"128\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"#003659\"><g clip-path=\"url(#clip0_4418_4950)\"><path opacity=\"0.4\" d=\"M7.1099 5.9593L16.1299 2.9493C20.1799 1.5993 22.3799 3.8093 21.0399 7.8593L18.0299 16.8793C16.0099 22.9493 12.6899 22.9493 10.6699 16.8793L9.7799 14.1993L7.0999 13.3093C1.0399 11.2993 1.0399 7.9893 7.1099 5.9593Z\"><\/path><path d=\"M12.1201 11.6305L15.9301 7.81055L12.1201 11.6305Z\"><\/path><path d=\"M12.1201 12.38C11.9301 12.38 11.7401 12.31 11.5901 12.16C11.3001 11.87 11.3001 11.39 11.5901 11.1L15.3901 7.28C15.6801 6.99 16.1601 6.99 16.4501 7.28C16.7401 7.57 16.7401 8.05 16.4501 8.34L12.6501 12.16C12.5001 12.3 12.3101 12.38 12.1201 12.38Z\"><\/path><\/g><defs><clipPath id=\"clip0_4418_4950\"><rect width=\"24\" height=\"24\" fill=\"white\"><\/rect><\/clipPath><\/defs><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1ff456e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1ff456e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">from<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-76426d2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"76426d2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fatamericanmfg.com\/\">Fat American Manufacturing<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7a9d9fe e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"7a9d9fe\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c561284 elementor-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon\" data-id=\"c561284\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"128\" height=\"128\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"#003659\"><g clip-path=\"url(#clip0_4418_4379)\"><path opacity=\"0.4\" d=\"M16.19 2H7.81C4.17 2 2 4.17 2 7.81V16.18C2 19.83 4.17 22 7.81 22H16.18C19.82 22 21.99 19.83 21.99 16.19V7.81C22 4.17 19.83 2 16.19 2Z\"><\/path><path d=\"M9.1001 12.0005V10.5205C9.1001 8.61048 10.4501 7.84048 12.1001 8.79048L13.3801 9.53048L14.6601 10.2705C16.3101 11.2205 16.3101 12.7805 14.6601 13.7305L13.3801 14.4705L12.1001 15.2105C10.4501 16.1605 9.1001 15.3805 9.1001 13.4805V12.0005Z\"><\/path><\/g><defs><clipPath id=\"clip0_4418_4379\"><rect width=\"24\" height=\"24\" fill=\"white\"><\/rect><\/clipPath><\/defs><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-206194c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"206194c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">YouTube<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d4e1cf1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d4e1cf1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@LeanbyDoing\">LeanbyDoing<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Brian Meyers shares three rules for lean transformation: never go backwards, show unwavering commitment, and focus on burden and flow. Bold lessons from 14 months of change.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5655,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","_ayudawp_aiss_exclude":false,"_ayudawp_aiss_exclude_summary":false,"_ayudawp_aiss_summary":"","_ayudawp_aiss_summary_provider":"","_ayudawp_aiss_summary_hash":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33,30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3499","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gemba-summit","category-gembatalk"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Lean leadership: change yourself first | GembaDocs<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Brian Meyers shares three rules for lean transformation: never go backwards, show unwavering commitment, and focus on burden and flow. 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