The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast

Paul Akers started FastCap in his garage with no MBA, no funding, and one simple conviction: fix what bugs you. Today FastCap ships over 2,000 products to more than 40 countries, and runs on a philosophy so simple it fits in two words — eliminate waste.
In Part 1 of this conversation, Dwayne Kerrigan sits down with Paul to unpack the Lean methodology that made it all possible, and why it has nothing to do with manufacturing.
In this episode:
Paul breaks down the eight wastes of Lean thinking — overproduction, transportation, inventory, defects, over-processing, wasted motion, customer waiting, and wasting human potential — using a Costco toilet paper run as the most memorable example you'll ever hear
Why Paul calls himself a "Lean maniac", not a lean practitioner: "How do I improve this? And how do I make it easier for everyone around me?" — the two questions that drive every decision at FastCap
The communication standard Paul holds his entire organization to: no one should ever have to ask you a question twice, and why every back-and-forth email chain is a symptom of a deeper waste problem
How FastCap documents every single process — from cleaning a toilet to setting up a $250,000 injection molding machine — using eight-step visual SOPs, QR codes, and unlisted YouTube videos that any employee can access instantly
Why Paul starts every Lean implementation the same way, regardless of company size: the bathroom. And why every visitor to FastCap — including presidents of major corporations — cleans the bathroom before they're allowed a tour
The mindset Paul refuses to argue with: if you're not ready to change, he's not interested in convincing you — and why that boundary is itself a Lean principle

Episode Highlights:
00:00 - No Questions Twice
00:22 - Podcast Welcome
00:54 - Meet Paul Akers
04:37 - FastCap Origin Story
08:31 - Lean Gospel Mindset
10:34 - Lean Maniac Defined
13:42 - Eight Wastes Explained
17:03 - Small Daily Improvements
20:10 - Hunger and Underdogs
28:31 - Lean History Lesson
31:36 - Toyota Just In Time
34:15 - Skeptic to Believer
35:25 - Lean Is People First
36:33 - Stop The Line Mindset
38:00 - Three Habits Of Toyota
40:46 - Morning Meetings
42:45 - Dialogue Not Monologue
43:26 - Keynote Agenda And Culture
48:03 - Defects And Kanban Flow
51:56 - One Hour Before Work Pays
53:59 - Ego And Leadership Growth
57:08 - How To Start
01:03:16 - Standard Work And QR Training
01:07:30 - Who Actually Changes
01:08:22 - Wrap Up And Disclaimers
Resources mentioned:
2 Second Lean — Paul Akers
Lean Health, Lean Travel, Lean Life, Banish Sloppiness — Paul Akers
The Amezawa Legacy — Paul Akers
Lean the Gospel Dressed Up in a Business Suit — Paul Akers (in progress at time of recording)
Out of the Crisis — Dr. W. Edwards Deming
Toyota Production System (TPS)
FastCap — Paul Akers' company
Bob Taylor / Taylor Guitars — referenced as Paul's early mentor
Training Within Industry (TWI) — referenced framework
FastCap YouTube channel — https://www.youtube.com/user/fastcaptv

Quotes:
"I have no time whatsoever to convince you of common sense. Zero." - Paul Akers
“ I read Dick and Jane like 10 times when I had to read it in front of the class. I had to read it over and over and over again and memorize it so I didn't screw it up when I read in front of the class.” - Paul Akers
“ But there's one thing that I've kind of realized in life is that the reason why we don't have something in our life is because of the story that we're telling ourselves.” - Dwayne Kerrigan
“Everything I look at, I'm always thinking, how do I improve? How do I increase the quality and reduce the burden on me and the people around me? So I want everything to be. Easy for everyone. No struggle in flow.” - Paul Akers
“ No one should ever ask you a question twice. If you communicate to someone, your communication should be so clear that when you say it and the words come out of your mouth, they go, I understand exactly what you want.” - Paul Akers
About Paul Akers: Paul Akers is the founder and president of FastCap, a product development company specializing in woodworking tools and hardware for professional builders, started in his garage in 1997. FastCap now has thousands of distributors in over 40 countries and launches 20–30 innovative products per year. Paul is the author of 2 Second Lean — now available in 15 languages and a Shingo Institute award winner — along with many additional books including Lean Health, Lean Travel, and Lean Life. He has won Seattle Business Magazine's Business Executive of the Year and spoken in over 34 countries.
Connect with Paul Akers: https://paulakers.net/
Connect with Dwayne Kerrigan
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Disclaimer: The views, information, or opinions expressed by guests during The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Dwayne Kerrigan and his affiliates. Dwayne Kerrigan or The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of any of the information contained in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. Listeners are advised to consult with a qualified professional or specialist before making any decisions based on the content of this podcast.

Most entrepreneurs think the next stage of their business requires a better strategy. Dwayne Kerrigan disagrees. In Part 2 of his live keynote at the LeanScaper Operations Intensive in Cape Coral, Florida, he makes the case that what's actually required is a different identity — and that without that shift, no system, tool, or team will get you where you're trying to go.
In this episode:
Dwayne walks through his personal identity chart — from the "warrior" and "general" identities that ran his life for years, to the consciously designed identities he operates from today, including the Chairman, the Profit Seeker, and the Peak Performance Coach
Why the Serenity Prayer became one of the most powerful business tools Dwayne ever learned — and how distinguishing what you can and can't control transformed his leadership at 32 years old, running an $18M business with 300 employees
A live identity creation exercise: how to write your own eulogy for a specific business role, and why that process is the starting point for becoming who your business needs you to be
The eight stages of the entrepreneur and the business lifecycle — and why understanding exactly where you are in both is critical to knowing which identity needs to show up
The four economic seasons (spring, summer, fall, winter) and why Dwayne believes the landscaping industry is currently sitting somewhere between late fall and early winter
40 years of lessons learned — distilled into the principles that have shaped how Dwayne builds, leads, and recovers

Episode Highlights:
00:00 - Tsunami Of Change
00:27 - Podcast Mission
00:59 - Internal Vs External
02:07 - Serenity Prayer Lesson
03:42 - Identity Chart Origins
04:32 - From Warrior To General
06:10 - Purpose And Marriage
07:47 - Building New Identities
08:48 - Chairman Identity Script
09:50 - Language And Questions
12:38 - Borrowing Role Models
13:41 - Post Fight Debrief
14:40 - Create Your Identity
16:48 - Write Your Eulogy
17:46 - Visualization And Realism
19:01 - Do The Work
19:48 - Physiology Guidelines
20:15 - Physiology and Rituals
20:57 - Energy and Emotions
22:00 - Identity Agent Tool
23:53 - Daily Identity Editing
24:56 - Future Shock and Adaptation
26:22 - Economic Seasons Framework
27:58 - Entrepreneur Stages
29:13 - Business Lifecycle Reality
31:33 - Shift Identity in 3D
31:56 - Courage and Deep Thinking
34:57 - Lessons Learned Log
37:19 - Hard Won Business Rules
40:19 - Final Fear and Farewell
Resources Mentioned:
Think and Grow Rich — Napoleon Hill
Stephen Covey — The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Covey Institute
Keith Cunningham — referenced as the "Rich Dad" in Robert Kiyosaki's Rich Dad Poor Dad
Tony Robbins — Date With Destiny, UPW seminars
Identity framework AI agent — available at The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast: https://www.dwaynekerrigan.com/identity-framework/

Quotes:
“You can either be right or you can be rich, but you can't be both.” - Dwayne Kerrigan
“I did this for my wife through a lot of pain and self suffering, I had to get to the point where the general just couldn't run the show anymore because it was just not sustainable.” - Dwayne Kerrigan
“You don't experience the life that you live. You're experiencing the life that you focus on.” - Dwayne Kerrigan
“ My greatest fear in life is on my final day to meet the man that I could have been.” - Dwayne Kerrigan

Connect with Dwayne Kerrigan
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Linked In
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Disclaimer: The views, information, or opinions expressed by guests during The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Dwayne Kerrigan and his affiliates. Dwayne Kerrigan or The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of any of the information contained in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. Listeners are advised to consult with a qualified professional or specialist before making any decisions based on the content of this podcast.

Most entrepreneurs don't burn out because the business gets too hard — they burn out because they never stopped being the operator. In this keynote, recorded live at the LeanScaper Operations Intensive in Cape Coral, Florida, Dwayne Kerrigan makes the case that the real battle isn't strategic, it's psychological. Until you understand the most powerful force in the human condition, no framework, system, or tool will save you.
In this episode:
Dwayne breaks down the operator's mindset vs. the owner's mindset — and why operators get tired while owners get rich
Why your purpose has to be large enough to keep you out of "the tyranny of how" — the trap that pulls owners back into the weeds
The identity principle Dwayne calls the single most important lesson from 10+ years at Tony Robbins' side: the most powerful force in the human condition is to remain congruent with how we identify ourselves
The event–meaning–emotion–behavior chain, and how changing the meaning you attach to an event changes your results
How physiology, language, and focus (the triad) function as your meaning-making filter — and how to use them to access empowering states more consistently

Episode Highlights:
00:00 - Purpose Over How
00:27 - Podcast Welcome
00:59 - Event Introduction
02:53 - Dwayne Takes Stage
04:12 - Finding The Why
05:40 - Mentors And Lessons
08:58 - Business Root Causes
11:55 - Operator Vs Owner
14:48 - Core Values And Purpose
19:37 - Identity Drives Action
21:20 - Bus Fight Identity Shift
24:14 - Reframing a Past Bully
25:17 - Identity and No Negotiation
25:51 - Procrastination Becomes Identity
27:47 - Event Meaning Emotion Loop
31:34 - The Triad Explained
32:45 - Physiology Power Positions
36:31 - Energy Thermostat and Mirroring
40:47 - Language Questions Shape Reality
45:21 - Focus Habits and Meaning
47:49 - Closing Thanks and Disclaimer
Resources Mentioned:
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People — Stephen Covey
Keith Cunningham — referenced as the "Rich Dad" in Robert Kiyosaki's Rich Dad Poor Dad
Tony Robbins — Platinum Partners immersion program
Simon Sinek — referenced in the context of finding your why
John Grinder — creator of NLP, mirroring and matching technique
LMN (Landscape Management Network) — referenced by Dwayne and Mark Bradley

Quotes:
“Taking your passion and turning it into a business is usually not a good wealth strategy.” - Dwayne Kerrigan
“If you stand like this for 10 minutes a day, it will increase your testosterone 20%. You can look this up. This is true 20%. It'll increase your testosterone. If you stand like this, it will reduce your cortisol from anywhere from 23 to 25% and it will increase the odds of you being able to make a decision by 33%.” - Dwayne Kerrigan
“I'm in the ground and I'm down there and I'm like, and I remember thinking, and through the course of this whole thing, this whole event, is that I am never, ever going to get beaten up again.
"From that day forward, I started working out…” - Dwayne Kerrigan
“The most powerful force in the human condition is to remain congruent with how we identify ourselves.” - Dwayne Kerrigan
“Change the meaning, change the emotion, change your life.” - Dwayne Kerrigan
“Operators get tired and owners get rich.” - Dwayne Kerrigan

Connect with Dwayne Kerrigan
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Instagram
Linked In
Website
Disclaimer: The views, information, or opinions expressed by guests during The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Dwayne Kerrigan and his affiliates. Dwayne Kerrigan or The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of any of the information contained in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. Listeners are advised to consult with a qualified professional or specialist before making any decisions based on the content of this podcast.

In Part 2 of this powerful conversation on The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast, Adel Sayegh shares the deeper chapters of his entrepreneurial journey — including betrayal in business, a life-threatening health crisis, and the resilience required to rebuild both physically and professionally.
After helping grow a company from the ground up to more than 1,200 employees, Adel watched it eventually go public for billions of dollars without receiving anything himself. For many people, an experience like that could lead to lasting bitterness. Instead, Adel chose a different path — one rooted in forgiveness and perspective.
But the challenges didn’t stop there.
Adel also opens up about facing a serious illness that forced him to confront his own mortality and rethink what success truly means. Through that experience, he rebuilt his health, refocused his priorities, and ultimately emerged stronger than before.
Today, Adel reflects on how adversity — whether in business, health, or life — can become the foundation for growth. His story is a powerful reminder that success isn’t just about wealth or status, but about resilience, forgiveness, and the ability to keep moving forward even after life’s most difficult setbacks.
Episode Highlights:
00:00 - Opening quote on forgiveness and harboring hatred
00:25 - Show intro and welcome back to Part 2
01:28 - Building a global security empire and the China partnership betrayal
03:58 - How RFID technology revolutionized retail loss prevention
06:10 - Facial recognition's secret use in catching shoplifters
09:08 - GPS chips in pharmaceutical bottles to track stolen opioids
10:45 - The Ring camera Super Bowl commercial backlash
14:22 - Microchip technology debate - child safety vs. privacy
20:15 - Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at 49 while at the peak of success
42:38 - Surviving the night when doctors said he wouldn't - and his wife's unconditional love
46:50 - Discovering the company was embezzled while fighting for his life
1:06:18 - Choosing forgiveness over prosecution and finding peace
1:12:10 - From discipline-driven to commitment-driven; a philosophical shift on purpose
1:17:00 - The Unbroken Foundation mission to end child trafficking
1:29:15 - Closing prayer and final words of encouragement
Key Takeaways:
True peace is impossible while holding onto hatred or resentment.
Forgiveness is often more about healing yourself than the other person.
Building a global company requires persistence, trust, and innovation.
Financial success alone does not guarantee fulfillment or peace.
Perspective and resilience help transform betrayal into growth.

Quotes:
“You can't have a hundred percent peace if you are harboring hatred on anyone.” - Adel Sayegh
“I don't approve what they do.” - Adel Sayegh
“I don't have them in my life, but I've forgave them because that was also medicine for me.” - Adel Sayegh
“ I never even dreamed of, you know, growing up a little kid immigrant from Jordan that I would have, the lifestyle that I would have.” - Adel Sayegh
“On a marketing level that’s about as bad as the Bud Light commercial.” - Dwayne Kerrigan
“Your story is unbelievable. You are an example of evolution and grace and commitment to the values and beliefs and faith that you have.” - Dwayne Kerrigan
Adel Sayegh’s story is one of grit, grace, and perseverance. From humble beginnings in his garage, he built a company that reached a $1 billion valuation. A Marine Corps veteran and pancreatic cancer survivor, Adel has overcome tremendous adversity, shaping his mission to use every challenge as a platform to serve others. His unwavering faith in God has been the cornerstone of his journey, grounding him through both triumphs and storms. Today, Adel speaks to entrepreneurs, leaders, and dreamers, challenging them to rise above adversity, pursue excellence, and live with purpose. His message of resilience, faith, and hope leaves a lasting imprint on audiences, calling them to embrace challenges as opportunities and build a legacy that outlives them.
Connect with Adel Sayegh:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adel-sayegh-06109a9/

Connect with Dwayne Kerrigan:
Facebook
Instagram
Linked In
Website
Disclaimer: The views, information, or opinions expressed by guests during The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Dwayne Kerrigan and his affiliates. Dwayne Kerrigan or The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of any of the information contained in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. Listeners are advised to consult with a qualified professional or specialist before making any decisions based on the content of this podcast.

In this deeply personal conversation, Adel Sayegh joins Dwayne Kerrigan to share Part 1 of his story of losing everything — financially, professionally, and emotionally — and the lessons that followed.
Adel opens up about the moment when the life he had built suddenly collapsed. The house, the car, the career, and the identity that came with success were all gone. What followed was one of the most defining moments of his life: facing fear, uncertainty, and the realization that everything he once believed about stability and success could disappear overnight.
But this story is not about loss — it’s about resilience.
Adel reflects on how faith, humility, and the support of his wife helped him rebuild from the ground up. He explains how identity often becomes tied to status and material success, and why losing those things forced him to rediscover who he really was.
This episode is a powerful reminder that adversity is not the end of the story. Often, it’s the beginning of the one that matters most.
Episode Highlights:
00:00 - Opening: Finding meaning and purpose in life's challenges
00:31 - Introduction to Adel Sayegh's remarkable journey of resilience
01:27 - Growing up in poverty in Jordan during the 1967 war
5:14 - Starting with childhood: The foundation of character
9:37 - The watermelon truck story: Early entrepreneurial lessons
12:06 - Life in a one-room house with 11 family members
16:23 - Zimbabwe lesson: True happiness vs material wealth
22:44 - Hit by a car at age 5: Experiencing hatred and survival
26:22 - Joining the Marines: Brotherhood and pushing beyond limits
33:20 - MetLife success: Youngest manager making $250K at 28
57:30 - The OJ Simpson moment: Vision for surveillance technology
1:05:52 - Rock bottom: Losing the house and filing bankruptcy
1:07:30 - Wife's ultimate sacrifice: Offering her jewelry to save the dream
1:09:02 - The turnaround: Business takes off and light at end of tunnel
Key Takeaways:
Success can become dangerously tied to identity and status
Losing everything can reveal who you truly are
Support from loved ones can anchor you during crisis
Resilience is built through hardship, not comfort
Faith and perspective can reshape how we view failure
Starting over requires humility and courage
True strength comes from facing adversity head-on

Quotes:
“I was vulnerable because for the first time in my life I just, I thought I had it all figured out and now I don’t.” - Adel Sayegh
“I just lost everything. I lost my house, I lost my job, I lost my car, I lost my identity.” - Adel Sayegh
“Now fear said, what? What if this doesn’t work out? What if this isn’t going anywhere?” - Adel Sayegh
“Businesses is a series of relationships and one of the biggest relationships that we have is with ourself.” - Dwayne Kerrigan
“Your story is unbelievable. It’s an unshakeable journey of overcoming obstacles.” - Dwayne Kerrigan

Adel Sayegh’s story is one of grit, grace, and perseverance. From humble beginnings in his garage, he built a company that reached a $1 billion valuation. A Marine Corps veteran and pancreatic cancer survivor, Adel has overcome tremendous adversity, shaping his mission to use every challenge as a platform to serve others. His unwavering faith in God has been the cornerstone of his journey, grounding him through both triumphs and storms. Today, Adel speaks to entrepreneurs, leaders, and dreamers, challenging them to rise above adversity, pursue excellence, and live with purpose. His message of resilience, faith, and hope leaves a lasting imprint on audiences, calling them to embrace challenges as opportunities and build a legacy that outlives them.
Connect with Adel Sayegh:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adel-sayegh-06109a9/

Connect with Dwayne Kerrigan:
Facebook
Instagram
Linked In
Website
Disclaimer: The views, information, or opinions expressed by guests during The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Dwayne Kerrigan and his affiliates. Dwayne Kerrigan or The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of any of the information contained in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. Listeners are advised to consult with a qualified professional or specialist before making any decisions based on the content of this podcast.