On this episode, Cal continues a two-part discussion on the importance of courageous leadership. Cal builds on the leadership principles discussed in Episode 8 by sharing three principles of courageous leadership:

1. Courageous leadership intentionally confront current reality, even when it's ugly;

2. Courageous leaders confront their own blind spots; and

3. Courageous leaders set clear expectations and provide honest feedback.

Our leadership and influence with either shrink or grow in direct proportion to the amount of courage we choose to have.

Acts of courage are often what makes a leader a leader. We know this instinctively, yet courage is easier to talk about than it is to put into practice.

On this episode, Cal begins the first part of a two-part discussion about courageous leadership and shares his first two principles of courageous leadership:

1. Courageous leaders champion change; and

2. Courageous leaders take action and are decisive.

By the end of this episode, Cal hopes to convince you that you are a leader and that your leadership will shrink or expand in proportion to the amount of courage you choose to have.

When we think of courage, we often think of giant figures that have changed the world -- Dr. Martin Luther King, Winston Churchill, Soldiers on the battlefield -- but courage is required of all of us if we want to achieve our potential and live the life we are called to live.

In this episode, Cal passionately discusses 5 principles to live a life of courage and to overcome the fear that so often paralyzes us from walking into a more abundant and fulfilled life.

Life is short, let's make it count!

On this Episode, Cal discusses the power of kindness to have a positive impact on our sphere of influence.

A small act of kindness can change the course of someone's day, pull someone out of a difficult place, change someone's view of themselves, and has the potential to alter someone's life for the better.

After reflecting on the power of kindness, Cal reflects on his observations of kindness in action and shares a story of a couple that showed kindness to him and his family as they confront the challenges of military life.

We all want to be happy, yet we engage in behavior that undermines our own happiness. One of the biggest ways we do this is by comparing ourselves to others.

In this episode, Cal explores the dangers of unhealthy comparison and shares a mental "battle drill" for dealing with our tendency to engage in comparison. By applying this mental battle drill, we can protect our happiness, celebrate the successes of others, and live more focused on achieving our dreams!

When we listen well, we meet a fundamental need in people to feel understood and affirmed. Yet, so often we don't focus on being good listeners and forget the principle of seeking first to understand before we seek to be understood.

In this episode, Cal focuses on two key principles to being a great listener, and he asks listeners to commit to being better listeners. Let's commit to this principle and believe that it can change our relationships and maybe even our world.

In this Episode, Cal shares a valuable lesson he learned in US Army Ranger School. He talks about an important quality that many, if not most, great leaders have. And that is the ability to remain calm under pressure – the ability to appear unflappable, to not be overcome with emotion, to not allow the outside pressures and circumstances – no matter how negative or dire they may be – to get the best of them.

Great leaders have this ability to remain calm and to make smart decisions based on their principles, not their emotions, but how do you do this? Cal shares specific ways to learn to master your emotions and make the best decision.

You cannot overstate the importance of being a great father. Yet, there are many things competing for our time and attention, and it's not always easy to focus on what is most important. In this episode, we explore three ways to make sure we maximize our time as fathers and make a lasting impact on our children. It starts with keeping a long term perspective, learning to say "no" to things that are less important, and being truly present with our kids. Let's be intentional about being excellent fathers!

Starting off your day the right way is key to making the day count. And making each day count leads to a more fulfilled life, increased influence, and achieving your goals. In this episode, Cal provides a brief introduction of himself, his motivation for starting this podcast, and 3 keys for starting the day off right!