Jon B. Becker

The hardcover edition of Culture First is officially available now on Amazon!

Building elite teams doesn’t happen by accident. Culture is shaped through deliberate leadership, consistent standards, and the daily habits that define who your team becomes over time.

In Culture First: 9 Leadership Practices That Build Elite Teams, I break down practical lessons and real-world leadership principles designed to help leaders create stronger teams and lasting cultures.

Now available in Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle, and Audiobook on Amazon. Link in bio.

It’s been over a month since Culture First launched and the feedback hasn’t slowed down.

I’m incredibly grateful for the leaders, practitioners, and teams who’ve taken the time to read it, apply it, and share their honest perspectives. The endorsements this book continues to receive aren’t just appreciated, they reinforce why this conversation matters right now.

Because culture isn’t a slogan.
It’s a standard.

It’s how teams operate under pressure, how leaders make decisions, and how organizations sustain performance over time.

Seeing this message resonate across so many different environments, from tactical teams to organizational leadership, has been one of the most meaningful parts of this process.

If you’ve read it, I’d value your feedback. If you haven’t yet, I’ve linked it in my bio.

Most operators understand the risks of blast exposure. Few understand just how cumulative, and preventable, it really is.

In my latest article, I break down what the history of cigarette use can teach us about low-level blast exposure and traumatic brain injury (TBI), and why the parallels are too important to ignore.

The research is catching up: repeated low-level exposure isn’t harmless. It’s linked to measurable neurological changes and long-term cognitive impact.

But the real takeaway isn’t just the risk. It’s what we can do about it.

Reduce unnecessary exposure.
Mitigate when exposure is unavoidable.
Build recovery into the mission cycle.

This isn’t about eliminating capability. It’s about preserving it long-term.

If you’re responsible for training, breaching, or operational readiness, this is a conversation worth having now—not years from now.

Link to full article in bio.

Or listen to the latest episode of The Debrief for a larger conversation about this important topic. Link to podcast also in bio.

Sometimes someone you don’t even know writes something that literally brings tears to your eyes. Jennifer Pratt thank you so much for this. You have no idea how wonderful this made me feel. Truly humbled and grateful for your words!

⭐ FULL REVIEW ⭐

“Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast. This Book Proves It. Five stars. No hesitation.

I’ve read more leadership books than I can count, and the pattern becomes predictable quickly. Repackaged principles, sexy compelling anecdotes, and new terminology designed to feel fresh while covering entirely familiar ground. Jon’s book breaks that cycle by confronting the uncomfortable truth that most leadership books conveniently sidestep: culture is the variable that determines whether any leadership philosophy succeeds or fails.

The central argument is both simple and devastating. It doesn’t matter how skilled, motivated, or well-trained a leader is if the organizational culture is broken. Their best efforts will be quietly suffocated. It’s like planting the highest-quality seeds in depleted, nutrient-starved soil. The potential is there, but the conditions make growth and change impossible.

Anyone who has spent time in law enforcement, the military, or any hierarchical organization will immediately recognize this pattern. Supervisors return from specialized training like SLI excited with fresh ideas and energized with purpose, only to have that momentum crushed by the toxic environment they’re trying to improve. A real and toxic dysfunction they didn’t create and can’t dismantle alone.

This book identifies that problem and refuses to let senior leadership off the hook.

The shift in perspective is long overdue and the field is better for it.
The cost of ignoring culture is measured in burnout, attrition, and organizational failure.

This is, without question, the best leadership book I’ve read, and one we have needed for a long time. Thank you, Jon!!”

-Jennifer Pratt, April 6, 2026

Wow what an amazing 48 hours it has been!

We went from launching a book with no idea what would happen to being the #1 Amazon Best Seller for Law Enforcement in the United States AND Canada!

All I can say is thank you! I am truly overwhelmed!

🚨 JUST RELEASED 🚨

I am excited to announce that we have moved up the release date for the paperback and Kindle versions of my new book to...TODAY APRIL 1!

Culture First: 9 Leadership Practices That Build Elite Teams is available NOW and I could not be more excited to share it with you.

🔗 Book info and link to purchase in bio

Please share your thoughts in the comments or leave a review when you've had a chance to read it!

In celebration of Culture First: 9 Leadership Practices That Build Elite Teams going fully on sale April 1, I wrote an article about building a decision-making machine. The article is based on Chapter 8 of Culture First and is now up on

🔗link in bio

Thanks to Nancy Perry for making me better and her support for the book!

Early reviews of Culture First are starting to roll in 📖

I’m incredibly grateful for the leaders, practitioners, and friends who took the time to read an early copy and share their honest feedback. Your insights mean more than you know and they reinforce why this message matters now more than ever.

Building a strong culture isn’t a slogan. It’s a daily commitment. It’s how teams perform, how organizations grow, and how people thrive.

These are a few of the endorsements that have encouraged me along the way. I can’t wait to share the full book with you soon and to hear what resonates most with you and your team.

Culture First is coming SOON. Stay tuned.

Thanks to for featuring me in their series The Hidden Superpowers of Every Great Leader and for diving into the concepts featured in Culture First: 9 Leadership Practices That Build Elite Teams.

🔗Link to the article in bio

Thank you to Bill Kirst for having me as a return guest on Coffee & Change. There is no where I would rather announce Culture First than on Bill’s show. A great conversation that gives a different perspective on the book.

🔗Link to Coffee & Change in bio. Check it out!

leadership