Leadership Development
Traveler, Our Cattle Dog, Needs a Job, and So Do We
Traveler Needs a Job
Our gym is dog-friendly. In fact, it’s more than dog-friendly; on any given day, there’s at least one member’s dog clipped between barbells and rowers, greeting people like they’re old friends. Truth be told, while our CrossFit gym has great coaches and an incredible community, I’m convinced a surprising percentage of members joined because they could bring their dogs.
Read MoreTwo 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 MoreI 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 MoreThe Selfless Leader
There’s a reason I’m drawn to dogs. They don’t care if you’re CEO, intern, or mail carrier. They show up, they’re loyal, they serve. You could say they lead with their tails — always wagging, always ready to engage.
Redford, our rescued Golden Retriever, reminded me of that truth every day. When we first brought him home from a puppy mill, he was skittish, unsure, and wary. But over time,
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Read MoreThe Bigger Picture: What Leaders See That Managers Often Miss
There’s a moment in leadership when you realize the difference between getting things done and seeing what must be done. It’s the chasm between managing the day-to-day and lifting your eyes to the horizon. Between executing tasks and carrying vision. Between reacting to what’s now and leading toward what’s next.
That moment, for many leaders, is the beginning of Conviction.
Vision Begins Where the Task List Ends
If you’re like most effective managers,
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Read MoreWhat Kind of Leader Are You? Embracing Summum Bonum for Purpose-Driven Leadership
Am I a Good Leader?
This question haunts me regularly. While I never aspired to build a multi-million-dollar business, today I find myself leading an enterprise of more than 175 team members who look to me for leadership.
Fellow leader: you and I both know that great leadership is more than driving profits, hitting targets, or climbing the corporate ladder. The best leaders—the ones who build lasting impact, strong teams, and meaningful organizations—orient their leadership around a higher purpose.
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Read MoreThe Top 20 Leadership Books for 2024 (Plus Two Essential Bonus Reads)
As we head into the fall, leadership continues to be a crucial topic for professionals across industries. Whether you’re a seasoned leader or just stepping into a leadership role, the right book can provide the insights and inspiration needed to excel. Here is a curated list of the top 20 leadership books that should be on your reading list this year, along with two bonus selections by John Maxwell.
- “Dare to Lead”
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Read MoreThriving in the Shade: Lessons in Growth and Leadership from Asiatic Jasmine, 4.9.2
Asiatic Jasmine is not native to central Texas, but it thrives here. Evergreen, hardy, heat- and drought-resistant, Asiatic Jasmine is a favorite ground cover plant for Texas…
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