Lead Different

As we are in the middle of a pandemic, it is easy to get negative. But this time of crisis opens the door to not just danger, but opportunity. Those who have accomplished extraordinary things in the past faced crises just like us, but were able to look past the danger to see the opportunities. We are in need of such leaders today: leaders who rise up in their communities, creating solutions the governments and corporations of the world cannot solve. Leaders who might feel too afraid or too sm...

“Some men see things as they are, and ask why. I dream of things that never were, and ask why not.”Robert Kennedy Much like artists, leaders are visionary. They see things that no one else sees, and break the mold of what is considered normal. Not bound by the shackles of conformity, leaders are original in their thinking and in what they produce, whether it is art, technology, athletics, etc. Silicon Valley is unique for many reasons, and arguably the most compelling reason is that it i...

“If we lingered on the past play perhaps we would miss an opportunity...Essentially, by not moving on to the next play immediately, we would be compounding that mistake, either by making another or by missing an opportunity to make a great play. Failing to move onto the next play was itself a mistake because it took focus and concentration off the current moment, the only point in time we could do something positive to impact the game.”Jay Bilas, Toughness: Developing True Strength On and Off...

“However tough people face their fears and doubts head-on, and they overcome them so they can function at the highest level without that fear and doubt inhibiting their ability to perform at their best. Embracing fear and using it to push yourself to get better, takes courage” Jay Bilas (Toughness: Developing True Strength On and Off the Court) Russ continues his conversation with Stone Eleazer and Coach Braumon Creighton to discuss how to teach and develop real leaders. Rather than sett...

“We may be born into a great family situation or a difficult family situation that forces or conditions you to be tough, but we aren’t born that way. Toughness comes from how you handle your experiences, what you learn from them, and how you’re guided through them by others in your life.”Mike Krzyzewski (Jay Bilas, Toughness: Developing True Strength On and Off the Court) “Mental toughness” is a term frequently used by coaches and players alike, but is often misunderstood as a concept. R...

Finishing the second part of our Military Leadership podcast, Russ continues his conversation with Lee and Ric on who were the military leaders that inspire them. One of the key take-aways is how helpful it is for everyone on the team to have a clear mission and purpose to what they are trying to accomplish. Once everyone knows their role and what they specifically bring to the team then they become bought into the bigger picture. Harry S Truman, the 33rd President of the United States ...

The military is one of the most successful institutions that builds and develops leaders. Over half of the United States Presidents have served in the military. Russ sits down with Lee Delony and Ric McClain, both retired Military service members to talk about their time in the service and what they have learned about leadership and how that can translate to help anyone who wants to be a leader in whatever capacity.“THE DAY THE SOLDIERS STOP BRINGING YOU THEIR PROBLEMS IS THE DAY YOU STOPPED ...

Continuing the conversation started in Part 1, Russ, Caleb and Matt share the overwhelming influence sports had on their lives and discuss how much it can develop the qualities of a leader. Northwestern University’s football team and their quest to unionize in an attempt to expand the rights and benefits of the student-athletes showed to contain many lessons on leadership. Team sports culture instills in those involved and ethos of, “we either succeed together, or not at all.” A collecti...

"My ego demands— for myself— the success of my team."BILL RUSSELL Everyone should be involved in team sports. Someway, somehow everyone should grow up in or around sports culture because it teaches you so many valuable lessons. How to work with others, leading a small group of individuals towards a common goal, working hard to achieve something and social skills can all be learned playing sports. Not everyone will grow up to become a professional athlete, or even a collegiate athlete, bu...

Russ Ewell sits down with Dave Banks and Todd Singleton to discuss if it is worth the time and effort to build and train leaders, allowing them the opportunity to fail and learn through their mistakes. Mark Zuckerberg, according to Kara Swisher’s opinion piece in the New York Times, has cost many people their privacy while he learns “on the job” how to lead in a digital space that has never been explored before. Is our unwillingness to be patient as leaders grow through the process placing us...