blueprint

“𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀?” When my boss asked why I wanted to be a commanding officer one day, I answered: “𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽.” And the moment I said it, I knew that answer wasn’t good enough. That’s when it hit me: I’d been following the 𝗴𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵. I was doing…

You can’t lead with alignment if you say “yes” to everything. The key? Getting clear on your values first. If you’re not clear on what truly matters to you, everything starts to look like a “yes.” The first place I recommend starting? Reflect on your core values. Ask yourself: 1. What are the non-negotiable attributes…

AI can handle the surface. But leading with depth is still on us. As technology gets better at managing the cognitive load our work as leaders shifts. We’re being called to do something only humans can: • Tune in. • Get curious. • Lead from a deeper place. That means learning to notice what’s inside.…

“𝗜’𝗹𝗹 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝘁… 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗮𝘆.” That’s what I used to tell myself. Let me finish this tour. Let me hit that next milestone. Let me make it to 30 years of service. Then I’ll start the coaching business. Then I’ll do what I 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 feel called to do. But here’s the trap: There’s always a…

Want your team to admit when something goes wrong? Start by showing them it’s safe. In my first week as commanding officer, I made a call I shouldn’t have. It wasn’t a crisis, but I owned it. In front of the whole team. Why? I wanted a culture where people felt safe to admit mistakes.…

You can follow the accepted path and still feel ‘off.’ For a long time, I did what most high performers do. • I took the next step. • Then the next one. • And the one after that. Because that’s what success looks like, right? Keep advancing. Keep achieving. But eventually, I had to pause…

You already know humility isn’t weakness. It’s a mark of a grounded, self-aware leader. And it’s necessary to create trusting, innovative teams. It signals self-awareness and the fact that you couldn’t possibly have every answer. And that’s what makes you open. • Open to other perspectives • Open to seeing something you hadn’t before •…

The leaders I respected most didn’t force it. They just seemed…natural. Not natural like “natural born leaders.” Natural because they were clear. • Clear on who they were • Clear on what mattered • Clear on their purpose I’ve also seen the opposite. Leaders who seemed to be copy-pasting something from a book. Saying the…

Want to learn something faster and more effectively? Learn in public! I think of learning much differently these days. The old way: Lectures Homework Exams and quizzes The new way is a cycle you can enter from any point: Experience Reflect on lessons Connect new lessons with old Incorporate learning into your next experience Repeat.…

You’re a leader. You have a great team yet feel isolated. Even when you’re surrounded by teammates or have a supportive boss… The responsibility is still 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴. The tough calls? 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴. That weight can be isolating. I’ve felt it too. One of the best things I ever did? I joined a group of leaders who…

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸? When we 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵 instead of 𝘤𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩, we remove their opportunity to think critically, adapt, and grow. We unintentionally limit their ability to: Solve problems in real time Own their development Self-assess Innovate Coaching unlocks potential. It invites reflection. It builds the muscle…

It can be lonely at the top… If you let it be. I get it. You’re the leader and you: Feel like you’re supposed to have the answers Don’t want to let your teammates down Want support outside the daily grind You used to be in the trenches talking about how “they” always mess everything…