Higher Leading with Jay Meyer

It’s a special Father’s Day edition of Higher Leading! I’m joined today by my oldest (Jason) and youngest (Michelle) children, and we’re talking about all-the-things… what participating in college athletics taught them, how their lives and careers were affected by the pandemic, how having a special needs brother (our middle dude, Jordan) has helped shape their character and perspective on life… and so much more. I am so very proud of these two and their brother, and being their dad is the best job I’ve ever had. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did!

This is the second episode of Higher Leading dedicated to bringing attention to and reducing the stigma around mental health. My guest today is John Jung, a licensed clinical counselor with over 50 years of professional experience. John’s wisdom and gentle voice have provided strength, guidance and comfort to me many times during our friendship, and I feel blessed to share just a bit of that experience with my listeners. 

Anxiety is such a common struggle, and shedding light on it by talking about it, sharing it, or at the very least, recognizing that it is simply part of being human, is a good first step to gaining some control over it.  I love John’s advice to just “start somewhere”, and his Do-Then Feel concept is so simple, but so effective.

If you want to read more from John after this episode, be sure to check out his blog at www.reflectionsofacounselor.com.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 1 out of every 5 adults in America experiences some sort of mental health illness every year. During this Mental Health Awareness month, I’m dedicating two episodes of Higher Leading to bringing much-needed attention to this growing epidemic. 

My first guest, Tara Hagan, is a licensed clinical counselor, owner of Hagen Counseling Services and co-founder of the Therapy Collaborative. She is also a family friend whose wisdom on this subject is one I respect and appreciate, and one that I feel fortunate to help share. Our conversation serves as an important reminder that there is hope and help for those struggling to move forward through grief, anxiety and depression.

https://www.hagancounselingservices.com/
https://www.therapycollabohio.com/

If you ever needed proof that blind faith paired with passionate action can change the world, then I have it in spades for you today! Heather Salazar, CEO and President of Pink Ribbon Good (PRG), joins me on this episode to share her incredible story of showing up when God called and trusting His plan. It all started when Heather’s path crossed with another young mother struggling through breast cancer treatment. In an amazing leap of courage and faith, Heather showed up in a BIG way to support a stranger in need, and the series of events that followed can only be explained as divine intervention. Today, Heather leads an organization that provides meals, rides to treatment, house cleaning and peer support to cancer patients across the entire nation. This one will give you goosebumps!

Learn more about PRG here: www.pinkribbongood.org. 

Leadership seems to be considered and discussed most often in the context of one’s work or occupation. But being a Higher Leader doesn’t just mean that we lead our employees or our organizations well -- it also requires that we lead ourselves well!  On today’s Chalk Talk with Jay, I’m sharing what I define as the 5 Stages of Optimal Self-Leadership. As you listen, I challenge you to think deeply about how you can grow from simply having a title to having absolute trust. 

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Here's a list of books that I reference in this episode -- all great reading!
Trust and Inspire,  Stephen M. R. Covey
The Leadership Challenge, Barry Posner and James M. Kouzes
Man's Search for Meaning,  Viktor E. Frankl

Jim Meyer is one of the first Higher Leaders I followed and learned from. He is my mentor and friend and one of my biggest supporters; he is also my big brother! I sat down with Jim on his birthday to talk about family, leadership, service, and of course, basketball.  Like me, Jim was a college athlete, and later became a very successful high school girls’ basketball coach who taught the importance of relationships and preparation. Today, Jim continues to serve as a role model for me and others with his bold faith and humble heart. 

Mary Tyler is a force, and God certainly blessed me when he caused our paths to cross. As principal of her own consulting firm, Mary is influencing the greater Dayton region in the areas of diversity, inclusion and equity in a big, big way.  I’m proud to be walking alongside her currently, as we endeavor to build the capacity of African-American, non-profit leaders in our community. In this episode of Higher Leading, Mary and I talk about the people in her life who helped shape her into the person she is today, and we learn the secret to her seemingly infinite energy!  

Former NBA player and University of Dayton standout, Chris Wright, is giving back to his north Dayton hometown with a mission to stabilize communities through sports. Through his Wright Way Foundation and the Flyght Academy, Chris and his team are preparing youth to use their God-given talents to positively impact the world both on and off the court. His concept of preparing well for 2 + 22 hours of every day is so unique and inspiring, and I'm certain his efforts will be felt in the Dayton community for years to come. 

Learn more about the Flyght Academy and the sports center they are building to support their goals at www.theflyghtacademy.com.

Most of us are familiar with the phrase “Thy will be done” from the Lord’s Prayer, and today, I want to share the story of a man whose life is one of the most perfect examples of living that phrase that I can think of.  As a professional basketball player, Dick Steineman traveled the world playing the game he loved. During his career, an experience on a hillside in Venezuela opened Dick's eyes to a need that he felt God was calling him to fulfill. Upon retirement, Dick returned to his home state of Ohio and founded St. Patrick’s Soup Kitchen, among several other ministries, and he has been serving the less fortunate now for almost 30 years. His faith that the Lord will provide has proven itself in so many incredible stories that inspire me (and hopefully you too!) to believe in the notion that it is in fact, in giving, that we receive. 

To learn more about St. Patrick’s Soup Kitchen in Troy, Ohio, please visit www.soupkitchen.org.

Related Scripture:
Matthew 25:40
Matthew 6: 9-13

For this episode, I invited my friend, Doug Meyer (CEO of Brixey and Meyer), back to the podcast for a well-deserved encore. The December 19, 2022, episode of Higher Leading with Doug is my second most downloaded episode to-date, so you know this guy is saying something you should probably hear! From faith and football to family and business, Doug and I share so many values and interests, and I learn a new nugget of life-tested wisdom from him every time we talk. I invite you to listen and learn from the calm and humbly confident voice of a man who epitomizes Higher Leading, and yet, continues to challenge himself daily to grow into the best version of himself he can be for God, his family, his organization, and the world.