EEC 443: The Art of Being Assertive Without Being a Jerk, with Danny Goldberg

Danny M. Goldberg is a serial entrepreneur, speaker, and author of the leadership book "A Little Bit Asshole." He is the founder of multiple ventures, including GoldSRD, Crowne Cloth, DCL Cards, LikeMe App, and GoldTM. How can being "a little bit of an asshole" actually make you a better leader, entrepreneur, and communicator? What are the biggest communication mistakes professionals make when trying to be liked instead of respected? You've built businesses across training, consulting, collectibles, and other industries — what core principles have translated across every venture? In today's world of AI and automation, why do people-centric skills still separate top performers from everyone else? What's one hard truth about success that most people know deep down but are afraid to admit publicly? Danny Goldberg Danny M. Goldberg is a serial entrepreneur, speaker, and author of the leadership book "A Little Bit Asshole." He is the founder of multiple ventures including GoldSRD (staffing, executive recruiting, and professional development), Crowne Cloth (a luxury lifestyle brand), DCL Cards (sports collectibles), LikeMe App (dating application), and GoldTM (ATM and vending services). Danny's work focuses on leadership, assertiveness, entrepreneurship, and the balance between empathy and decisiveness in business. His philosophy challenges the idea that success requires being ruthless—arguing instead that the most effective leaders learn how to be just assertive enough to get results while still earning respect. Through his speaking, consulting, and podcast appearances, Danny shares practical lessons from building businesses, navigating leadership challenges, and developing the confidence needed to succeed in modern workplaces. Excellent Executive Coaching Podcast If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review. The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals. Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.