Leadership is lonely! Any great leader I’ve observed—whether a political leader, CEO, university president, spiritual guide, or especially a truly good parent or mentor—carries a strain of loneliness, a weight in their eyes, a recognition of the solitary road they walk. I’ve had the privilege of leading most of my life, and one of the first things I teach those I mentor is this: you must have the courage to stand alone.
Today, I want to introduce you to the four voices that live within each of us. I guess I can even non-clinically diagnose us all with a bit of “multi-personality disorder” (in a good way)! Reflecting on my own journey, I see these voices as both our strengths and sometimes our hurdles.
Happy Halloween! With this holiday, it feels only fitting to talk about vampires—particularly the ones that don’t just suck your blood but your energy. A few weeks ago, during my West Coast BlindSighted book tour, I had a management metaphor experience that truly brought this concept to life. While enjoying a pleasant lunch with a dear friend, an older gentleman, likely in his 80s, sat on a nearby planter box, inserting himself right in the middle of our conversation.
Each morning, I walk the river bottom trail near my home—a sacred place that gives me clarity and peace. On this journey, I often cross paths with two brothers (seen with Rich in the photo below), whose smiles are a gift, filling my heart with joy. With them, it’s effortless to exchange positivity; we pass with a shared lightness, a little unspoken celebration of life. Then there’s another familiar figure, a woman who, for years, has met my smiles with a scowl, her energy a stark contrast to the brothers. I’ve often wondered what lies behind that look, what burdens she might be carrying.
This past week marked a monumental moment as I officially launched BlindSighted with my first book signing in San Diego and a plethora of media interviews. When someone asked how I felt, I couldn’t help but think of Julius Caesar crossing the Rubicon, that infamous moment when he entered Rome, knowing there was no turning back. Similarly, I felt as if I’d crossed my own Rubicon—not fully clothed, mind you, but standing there metaphorically in my underpants.
Now, you know me—I can’t go anywhere without keeping an eye out for the rainmakers, the young entrepreneurs who are hustling with everything they’ve got. And as Mark Twain once said, “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” This quote hit home for me during this trip, especially as I met some incredible people who are doing just that—starting, hustling, and pushing forward with everything they’ve got.
