"…I wasn’t a good athlete and I was never going to be a good athlete, but what I was good at was trying to be a little bit better next time than I was this time." — George Pesansky

In this debrief, Jerome and Julienne reflect on George Pesansky’s story of running uphill—literally and figuratively. What began as a painful failure in cross-country running became the foundation for a leadership style built on persistence, self-awareness, and learning from what does work.

They explore how George’s insight—focusing not only on mistakes but on consistent successes—can transform how organizations think about leadership, process improvement, and knowledge transfer.

You’ll Hear:
– The Power of Persistence – Why resilience is less about winning and more about showing up, trying again, and modeling accountability.
– Learning from Success – How focusing on what worked can be as valuable—if not more—than dissecting what went wrong.
– Capturing Institutional Knowledge – Why stories from long-time employees hold the keys to process improvement and continuity.
– Reframing “Failure” – How so-called failures can be retold as lessons that shape leadership character and future confidence.

Narativ’s online course in partnership with New Mexico State University Global Campus:
Lead With Your Story (self-paced, on-demand course)
Podcast listeners get 25% off - Use code NARATIV → Register Here

Learn more about how to leverage Narativ’s storytelling method for your pitch and sales team: Download our free e-book, or you’re welcome to schedule a free 15-minute call with Jerome.

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Buy Julienne’s book here