The Fifth Gear of Leadership invites readers into the transformational journey of Jack, a well-meaning manager who discovers that leadership isn't a title - it's a shift in consciousness. Jack begins in Neutral, technically in charge but emotionally disengaged, reacting to problems rather than leading through them. As he moves through five metaphorical gears, he evolves from a passive, compliance-driven supervisor into a leader defined by clarity, empathy, accountability, and purpose.
Each gear represents a distinct stage of leadership maturity:
- First Gear: Passive management, avoidance, and low morale
- Second Gear: Task-driven control and early awareness
- Third Gear: Relational leadership built on trust and vulnerability
- Fourth Gear: Accountability, integrity, and values-aligned action
- Fifth Gear: Transformational leadership rooted in presence, influence, and legacy
Grounded in the principles of Management By Responsibility (MBR), Jack's story becomes a practical roadmap for leaders who want to move beyond reactive habits and step into intentional, conscious leadership.
The book is co-authored by John Wandolowski, BSE/MBA, a seasoned leader, storyteller, and mentor whose own career began on the shop floor as a second-shift maintenance supervisor. After discovering MBR, John rose to leadership roles at Johnson & Johnson, CIBA Vision, and Advocate Healthcare. His work blends emotional intelligence, practical insight, and visual storytelling to help leaders shift from control to conviction.
Dr. Michael Durst, PhD, creator of MBR, has spent decades helping leaders unlock their potential through clarity, accountability, and purpose. His pioneering leadership philosophy forms the backbone of this book. After retiring from consulting, Dr. Durst became an internationally acclaimed artist, known for his award-winning Fractal Impressionism and exhibitions across Europe and the United States.
Together, Wandolowski and Durst offer a compelling, human-centered guide for anyone ready to shift gears and lead with intention.
Durst, G. Michael: - Dr. Michael Durst is the creator of Management by Responsibility (MBR), a groundbreaking leadership philosophy that empowers individuals to lead from ownership rather than control. With a PhD in Human Development and decades of consulting experience across industries, Dr. Durst has guided thousands of leaders to unlock their potential through clarity, accountability, and purpose. His insights form the backbone of this transformative framework, redefining leadership as a way of being rather than a set of tactics.After retiring from his career in management teaching and consulting, Dr. Durst entered a new chapter as an internationally acclaimed artist. He pioneered Fractal Impressionism, a genre that fuses digital fractal patterns with impressionistic techniques to achieve a depth and vibrancy neither could produce alone. Durst's paintings have been collected by individuals across the United States, Canada, England, Scotland, France, Turkey, Chile, and Germany. His international exhibitions have received rave reviews, and he has received countless First-Place international awards including the prestigious "Persona Art Honors," awarded to only the top 50 contemporary artists worldwide.His artwork has graced the covers of books, magazines, and CDs. His work has also been exhibited at the European Modern Art Museum in Barcelona and the Italian International Art Museum (MIIT) in Turin, Italy hosted a solo exhibition of fifteen of his works. He has been named Artist of the Year at the Pucci Palace in Florence and has received prestigious honors including the Botticelli Prize at the Borghese Palace in Florence and the Leonardo da Vinci Art Award in Milan.From pioneering leadership philosophy to pioneering art, Dr. Durst's career reflects a lifelong commitment to transformation-helping leaders and art collectors alike move beyond the ordinary into clarity, vision, and legacy.
Wandolowski, John A.: - John Wandolowski, BSE/MBA, is a seasoned leader, storyteller, and mentor with a passion for inspiring transformation through responsibility and empathy. Like Jack, the fictional character in The Fifth Gear of Leadership, John's journey began on the shop floor as a second-shift maintenance supervisor. After encountering the life-changing philosophy of Management By Responsibility, he shifted gears-rising to upper management roles at several large corporations, including Johnson & Johnson, CIBA Vision, and Advocate Healthcare. With decades of experience navigating the challenges of modern leadership, John brings a unique blend of emotional intelligence, practical insight, and visual storytelling to his work. His commitment is to help leaders move beyond reactive habits and embrace intentional impact-leading with clarity, empathy, and legacy. Through his writing, podcasts and mentorship, John continues to guide others on the path from control to conviction, showing that true leadership is not just what you do, but who you become.
