Blog
Two Origins, One Identity: Leadership Lessons from a Day in Northern Portugal
My wife Lynn and I were in Portugal earlier this year, and after a full day of exploring Porto, we took a driving tour with Victor, our wonderfully insightful driver from the Forte de Gaia hotel. He insisted we couldn’t understand Portugal – really understand it – without seeing two places that shaped its earliest story: Guimarães and Braga.
What I didn’t expect was how much these two locations would speak to me as a leadership guy.
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Read MoreEthical Leadership in the Digital Age: Leading with Character in a High-Tech World
Let’s be honest, leadership is challenging enough when it’s just people, projects, and performance.
Now add artificial intelligence, big data, algorithmic decision-making, facial recognition, keystroke monitoring, and digital assistants that listen better than your teenage kids. Welcome to the digital age.
It’s not just a new chapter of leadership, it’s a whole new book. And here’s the big idea:
Just because we can doesn’t mean we should.
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Read MoreConfident Uncertainty: Leading With Clarity During Times of Upheaval
Leading through Confident Uncertainty
Let’s face it, this past decade has thrown everything at us. Political instability, economic disruption, cultural shifts. It’s been a season that’s tested leaders in ways we couldn’t have predicted. And in the midst of all that, one idea keeps surfacing in my conversations with leaders across the country: we’ve got to learn how to lead with what I call confident uncertainty.
Now,
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Buen Camino:
Measure Twice, Lead Once
Earlier this month, my wife and I had the privilege of walking a portion of the Buen Camino through Portugal and northern Spain, following a pilgrimage path that people of faith have walked for more than 1,000 years.
Read MoreWhat a Stubborn Rescue Dog Taught Me About Leading Leaders
A few months ago, we welcomed a new member into our home—Traveler. He’s not like our other dogs. He’s not golden. He’s not easy. He’s a rescue with a herding dog’s intelligence, a wild streak of independence, and a stubborn refusal to fit the mold.
And you know what? He taught me more about leadership in the last few months than some books have in the last few years.
This video isn’t about training dogs.
…I Reserve the Right to Be Smarter Tomorrow
I reserve the right to be smarter tomorrow.
That one sentence has become something of a personal mantra, a professional challenge, and a reminder that leadership is never static. It’s not a finish line. It’s not a title. And it’s certainly not an excuse to stop growing.
Read MoreThe Rhythm of Leadership
It’s mid-August. The school supply aisles are picked over, backpacks are packed, and the alarms are starting to ring earlier again. For parents, educators, and leaders alike, this time of year brings a familiar shift: summer spontaneity gives way to structure. Whether your calendar revolves around a school district or a fiscal quarter, August seems to tap us on the shoulder with a gentle, firm reminder: it’s time to get back in rhythm.
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Read MoreMeekness and Maturity: The Surprising Strength of Wisdom
James 3:13 – “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.” (NIV)
Read More45 Years, One Marriage, One Mission: A Few Things We’ve Learned (the Hard Way)
A couple weeks ago, Lynn and I had the privilege of sharing our story with our Red Rocks Church family. 45 years of marriage. That number still surprises me… probably because I still feel like we’re figuring it out most days.
Here’s the truth:
We didn’t get here by accident.
We didn’t get here because we’re perfect.
We got here because we’ve learned—sometimes the hard way—what it means to lean in,
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Read MoreThere’s Nothing New: Leadership’s Unchanging Fundamentals
There are over 17,000 people working in leadership development, all eager to make an impact. But here’s the kicker: despite so many voices in the field, the core principles of leadership haven’t changed in over 2,000 years.
What does this mean for us as aspiring or practicing leaders?
- Lead yourself first: Self-management and personal growth are at the root of leading others.
- Make others better: Your leadership should leave people stronger,
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