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POST 2 – “The Sacrifice of Leadership” Why I Stopped Going South I was 23, coaching young men just a few years younger than me. Respect wasn’t automatic. I had to earn it. And I learned something fast: You can’t lead people who see you as their equal in every space. So I made a quiet decision. While my players were heading south - South Beach, Brickell - I went north. Not because I was hiding… But because I didn’t want to be seen in a way that made leadership harder. Some might call that overthinking. I call it sacrifice. Because leadership isn’t just what you say, It’s how you carry yourself. And sometimes, that means giving up a version of yourself so your team can rise into theirs. I was still rough around the edges, a product of early 2000s Miami. But when I stepped on that court or into that classroom, something had to shift. My students noticed. “Coach, you’re different in class than on the court.” In class, I was cool, motivational, engaging. On the court, I was intense, focused, demanding , almost intimidating. They weren’t wrong. But I wasn’t being fake. I was being intentional. The goals were different. In class: personal growth, self-discipline, finding purpose. On the court: unity, sacrifice, preparation for battle. Leadership, I realized, is like stepping on stage. Sometimes, before you walk out, you whisper to yourself: “Scene one.” Then… action. You become who they need. That was my sacrifice. And to this day, I still ask myself: Was I being strategic, or not being authentic? Maybe both. Maybe leadership isn’t about choosing between authenticity and strategy… Maybe it’s about aligning your values with what the moment demands. Either way - I didn’t go south. Because I knew I couldn’t afford to lead from the crowd. Leadership Reflection Leadership is how you carry yourself, even if it means giving up a version of yourself so your team can rise into theirs. It’s not about being fake. It’s about being intentional. Because respect is the currency of leadership, and sacrifice is often the price you pay to earn it.

Are you truly listening to your team members' perspectives, or are you just waiting to share your own? As a leader, we don’t want to see things only from our perspective. But we might not have all of the answers. Stay humble and put your ego in check. Listen with the intention of truly hearing what the other person is saying. Use these conversations as an opportunity to grow your relationship with them and come to a unified understanding that will result in a successful mission.

Let’s be real: leadership isn’t about being the loudest in the room anymore. It’s about showing up with strength and empathy. Urs Koenig went from NATO commander to corporate coach—and he’s here to flip your leadership script. Packed with practical tools and real stories from Amazon, Microsoft, and more.

🚨Op-Ed #4🚨 Leading Through the Unknown: Why Empathy and Servant Leadership Are No Longer Optional Estimated read time: ~5 minutes This past week, I spent some intentional time reflecting. Everywhere you look—whether it’s in boardrooms or everyday conversations—you can feel the tension. Society feels stretched. Leaders feel the pressure. And the truth is, the old playbooks won’t carry us through times like these. In this piece, I share a lesson I learned years ago—coaching an 8th grade girls basketball team to a perfect season—and how that experience shaped my view of leadership today. Empathy and servant leadership aren’t soft skills. They’re survival skills. Not just for organizations, but for the people who build them. I also reflect on something I rarely hear discussed: as leaders, we must be willing to fill our own cup first—because you cannot pour into others from an empty one. You serve best from your overflow, not from your exhaustion. If you’re leading right now—at any level—I hope this challenges and encourages you. Because in uncertain times, leadership isn’t about shouting louder. It’s about stewarding people better. #CLevelWithCLo #Leadership #EmpathyInAction #ServantLeadership #FutureOfWork #SelfLeadership #CEOPerspective

Connect with and gain wisdom from these accomplished and empowering leaders who are making an impact.

Ownership is a leader's willingness to admit that they failed. Ownership is admitting that the reason their company struggles with culture, retention, engagement, lost productivity, toxicity, mediocre performance… …is entirely their own doing. That’s a hard pill to swallow. But culture is simply the sum of behaviors you allow. It’s what you tolerate, avoid, or ignore. If you don’t lead with intention, dysfunction will lead for you. “All that’s needed for evil to rise is for good people to do nothing.” Being a leader is a hard and lonely road. Leadership is a heavy burden to carry. So this isn’t a passing of judgement. It’s the brutal acknowledgement of what must happen in yourself in order to do the work required to create real and lasting change. You have to take ownership for… Not clarifying the standards and behaviors of the people who work for you. Not ensuring alignment in skills and character in the people you allowed into your organization. Allowing people to lead who lacked the character and integrity to do so. For turning a blind eye to the frustration, chaos, confusion, and toxicity you allowed to breed within your organization. You have to take ownership for failing to do anything about it. Until now. Because if you’re willing to swallow this brutal red pill that acknowledges the truth instead of the sugar coated blue pill that continues your ignorance and denial, then that’s the very first step towards creating real and lasting change in your organization. Full article here: https://www.clearauthenticbrands.com/articles/the-first-step-towards-creating-real-and-lasting-change-in-your-organization

Her exceptional leadership and coaching abilities transformed women's basketball, earning her the respect and admiration of both players and fans.

There is no perfect business plan. 🚫 Early in my career, I was taught to present the polished version—the one with no flaws, no setbacks. But as a leader, I quickly realized that embracing the tough truths in the planning and the setbacks in execution… that was where real growth and real performance happened. 🌱 It’s scary to be honest about the challenges, but it’s through that honesty that we gain clarity and strength. 💪 And when you are honest about the flaws in vivid color, some will not like it or they will just appear uncomfortable in the moment. Let them. It’s just part of the journey. And trust me, it’s worth it when the breakthroughs come for you and the team & you have a stronger foundation for the future. #AuthenticLeadership #WomenWhoLead #CourageInProgress #MessyMiddle #PersonalGrowth #AuthenticLeadership #EmbraceTheUnknown #TransformationJourney #VulnerabilityWins #womenleaders #womeninleadership #authenticleadership #empathicleadership #boundaries #setyourboundaries

The quote emphasizes that effective leadership requires balancing opposing qualities. A leader should be strong yet respectful, kind without being weak, bold but not a bully, thoughtful while still taking action, humble without being timid, proud but not arrogant, and use humor wisely. It highlights the importance of walking a fine line between strength and compassion, decisiveness and caution, confidence and humility in order to lead effectively and inspire others. #leadership #trueleadership #strongleadership #compassion

I AM AN ABUNDANT POWERFUL LEADER🪽SOVEREIGN QUEEN 🐲 ROYAL LIONESS 👑🦁💜✨🧞‍♀️🎶MUSE🧚‍♀️GODDESS🌸

Lean in for a second for a #BrownGravy moment: Let’s talk about leadership and the weight of CONNECTION vs. ATTACHMENT. Some folks are ATTACHED to the MINISTRY and their LEADER’S VOICE. That attachment is like a CUTE ACCESSORY—easy to put on when it matches your vibe and just as easy to take off when it doesn’t. No PAIN, no EFFORT, no SACRIFICE. It’s surface-level. However, COVENANT and CONNECTION? Oh, that’s a whole different game. Covenant is not an accessory—it’s a LIMB. It’s like a finger attached to the hand, PART of the BODY. To sever it would take decapitation or at best, a painful surgical process. Why? Because covenant is ORGANIC, it’s LIVING, and it’s COSTLY. Here’s the real: IHERITENCE and SUCCESSION don’t flow to accessories—THEY FLOW to those who are in COVENANT. Accessories get left behind, but covenant partners carry the mission forward. So, ask yourself: Are you just attached to the ministry and your leader’s voice, or are you truly connected in covenant? One is TEMPORARY and you are able to detach, remove yourself, and be unaccountable, the other is TRANSFORMATIONAL and you remain consistent and connected no matter what because the catalyst to change is in connection and covenant. Let’s be the kind of leaders, secondary leaders, congregants and friends who are connected, not just conveniently attached. Because when you’re in covenant, the fruit lasts, and the legacy continues….!!! Are You The One or Shall We Look For Another? #LeadershipMatters #BrownGravyPours #CovenantOverConvenience #TheRelevantLeadershipStrategist #LetsThriveIn2025 #BetterStill25 #LeaderSHIFT #Like #Tag #Share #Comment @highlight

I have a special guest for my Wednesday live Zoom class; you won't want to miss it. Edgar Jones is a former NFL player who spent seven years in the league with the Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys, and Cleveland Browns. Now a John Maxwell-certified coach and speaker, Edgar combines lessons from his NFL career with insights on leadership and self-development. His focus is to help individuals slow down, think deeply, and lead thoughtfully. Edgar shares practical strategies to guide teams, navigate conflict, and inspire individuals to become the best version of themselves. The link is in the comments. #leadership #personalgrowth #selfmastery #selfdevelopment