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Every leader has preferences. We want the right team, the right culture, and the right circumstances. But what happens when the role finds you instead of the other way around? 

In this episode, leadership expert Julie Nee joins me to discuss the tension between calling and preference, and what it takes to fully lead people and circumstances you didn't choose.
⸻
⏱️ Episode Highlights
[01:57] – Calling vs. Preference: Why leadership isn't always about choosing the right circumstances, but fully showing up for the ones you've been given.
[03:51] – The Role I Didn't Want: Preston's story of accepting an assignment he resisted and discovering how it shaped him.
[09:04] – Meet Julie Nee: Julie shares her journey from sales leadership at Hershey to leadership development and authorship.
[12:35] – The Team That Didn't Choose Her: Julie's experience earning trust with a skeptical team.
[15:41] – When the Numbers Changed the Narrative: How results helped shift perceptions of Julie's leadership.
[17:34] – The Leader Gets Formed Too: How coaching a struggling employee shaped Julie as a leader.
[21:46] – Tell People the Truth: Why honest feedback can help people reach their potential.
[24:00] – People Before Results: Why developing people can lead to stronger results.
[25:05] – Stacking Perspectives: How different viewpoints can challenge groupthink and improve collaboration.
[29:45] – Go Be That Leader: Julie's challenge to lead with authenticity, commitment, and heart.
[31:02] – The Assignment Was the Point: Preston connects his experience to Joseph's story and the purpose behind difficult assignments.
[33:00] – Three Lessons From the Assignment: Lead the team you inherit, build trust first, and let difficult roles form you.
⸻
Links & Resources Mentioned
• Discipled Leader Apprenticeship: https://prestonpoore.com/ 
• Discipled Leader Book: https://prestonpoore.com/books-by-preston/ 
• How Is Greater Than What Book: https://prestonpoore.com/book/ 
• About Preston: https://prestonpoore.com/about-preston_poore/ 
• You Grow Girl! Plant and Pursue the Power of You Book and Journal by Julie Nee and Amy P. Kelley: https://www.you-grow-girl.com/books 
____
Connect With Me
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prestonpoore/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PoorePreston 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prestonpoore1/ 
⸻
Closing Thoughts
If today's episode hit home, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Like it, comment, and leave a review. It helps more people find the show and, quite honestly, it reminds me I'm not just talking to myself in here.

Peace out. Be a rock star.

About Preston Poore

Preston Poore is a former Coca-Cola executive who practices what he preaches. He uses his wealth of hard-earned experience in the corporate arena to help emerging leaders and millennials reach their potential—all while staying true to his values, purpose, and goals.

Preston is a Certified Maxwell Leadership Team Keynote Speaker, Facilitator, Trainer, and Executive Coach. Through his books, How Is Greater Than What, Discipled Leader (2022 Selah Awards Nonfiction Book of the Year) and 21 Days to Sound Decision Making, his blog, and podcast, he seeks to help people become redemptive influences in their workplaces and live more fulfilling lives.

Learn more about Preston Poore & Associates: https://prestonpoore.com

Work with Preston or invite him to speak: https://prestonpoore.com/leadership-development-services/

Sign up to receive the P³ Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/prestonpoore.com/thepulse

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/prestonpoore/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/prestonpoore1/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PoorePreston

Send us Fan Mail

Episode 13 is here!!!!

Every leader has told themselves that if they just work hard enough, their team will follow. But here's what nobody tells you, respect isn't given because of a title, it's earned in the moments nobody's watching. 

This week, Julie Nee joins me to talk about what it really looks like to walk into a room full of side glances and half answers, and why leading people who didn't choose you is the assignment that forms you the most.

If you've ever inherited a team that made you feel like an outsider on day one, this one's for you.

🎙️ Watch full episode @ link in bio

#p3podcast #discipledleader #followwellleadwell #leadershipdevelopment #executivecoaching

About Preston Poore

Preston Poore is a former Coca-Cola executive who practices what he preaches. He uses his wealth of hard-earned experience in the corporate arena to help emerging leaders and millennials reach their potential—all while staying true to his values, purpose, and goals.

Preston is a Certified Maxwell Leadership Team Keynote Speaker, Facilitator, Trainer, and Executive Coach. Through his books, How Is Greater Than What, Discipled Leader (2022 Selah Awards Nonfiction Book of the Year) and 21 Days to Sound Decision Making, his blog, and podcast, he seeks to help people become redemptive influences in their workplaces and live more fulfilling lives.

Learn more about Preston Poore & Associates: https://prestonpoore.com

Work with Preston or invite him to speak: https://prestonpoore.com/leadership-development-services/

Sign up to receive the P³ Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/prestonpoore.com/thepulse

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/prestonpoore/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/prestonpoore1/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PoorePreston

Send us Fan Mail

Every leader wants to take action when something goes wrong. But what if you're fixing the wrong problem? 

In this episode, Jerry Caldwell, President of Bristol Motor Speedway, joins me to explore how leaders can identify root causes, avoid surface-level fixes, and ask better questions to solve the problems that actually matter.

⸻

⏱️ Episode Highlights

[02:02] Symptoms vs. Root Cause: Why solving the wrong problem wastes time and effort.

[04:14] The Chariot Race: Preston's Coca-Cola story and the lesson about targeting the real problem.

[10:21] Meet Jerry Caldwell: How Jerry went from intern to President of Bristol Motor Speedway.

[12:40] Solving the Wrong Problem: Jerry's first season as General Manager and the lesson he learned from it.

[15:53] The Internal Shift: How Jerry discovered the real problem started with his own leadership mindset.

[18:14] Wise Counsel Over Solo Analysis: Why trusted advisors can help leaders see what they miss on their own.

[21:36] Whack-a-Mole: Why some problems keep returning in different forms.

[23:26] The Most Expensive Band-Aid: How hiring the wrong person can become a costly surface-level solution.

[26:12] Are We Solving the Right Problem?: The question that helps Jerry's team get unstuck.

[28:09] Feed Yourself First: The advice Bruton Smith gave Jerry that continues to shape his leadership.

[31:16] The Pharisees and the Manicured Grave: A lesson from Matthew 23 about focusing on what's happening beneath the surface.

⸻

Links & Resources Mentioned

• Discipled Leader Apprenticeship: https://prestonpoore.com/ 

• Discipled Leader Book: https://prestonpoore.com/books-by-preston/ 

• How is Greater Than What Book: https://prestonpoore.com/book/ 

• About Preston: https://prestonpoore.com/about-preston_poore/ 

• Bristol Motor Speedway: https://www.bristolmotorspeedway.com 

________

Connect With Me

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prestonpoore/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PoorePreston 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prestonpoore1/ 

⸻

Closing Thoughts

If today's episode hit home, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Like, comment, and leave a review to help more people discover the show.

Peace out. Be a rock star. 

About Preston Poore

Preston Poore is a former Coca-Cola executive who practices what he preaches. He uses his wealth of hard-earned experience in the corporate arena to help emerging leaders and millennials reach their potential—all while staying true to his values, purpose, and goals.

Preston is a Certified Maxwell Leadership Team Keynote Speaker, Facilitator, Trainer, and Executive Coach. Through his books, How Is Greater Than What, Discipled Leader (2022 Selah Awards Nonfiction Book of the Year) and 21 Days to Sound Decision Making, his blog, and podcast, he seeks to help people become redemptive influences in their workplaces and live more fulfilling lives.

Learn more about Preston Poore & Associates: https://prestonpoore.com

Work with Preston or invite him to speak: https://prestonpoore.com/leadership-development-services/

Sign up to receive the P³ Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/prestonpoore.com/thepulse

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/prestonpoore/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/prestonpoore1/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PoorePreston

Send us Fan Mail

Episode 12 is here!!!!

Working harder feels like the right answer when things start falling apart. But what if all that effort is aimed at the wrong target? This week, Jerry Caldwell, President of Bristol Motor Speedway, joins me to talk about the tension every leader eventually hits: confusing the symptom for the problem and pouring everything into fixing the wrong thing.

If you've ever pushed harder, moved faster, and spent more, only to realize none of it was solving the real problem, this one's for you.

🎙️ Check the link in the first comment to subscribe so you don't miss it!

#P3Podcast #DiscipledLeader #FollowWellLeadWell #LeadershipDevelopment #ExecutiveCoaching

About Preston Poore

Preston Poore is a former Coca-Cola executive who practices what he preaches. He uses his wealth of hard-earned experience in the corporate arena to help emerging leaders and millennials reach their potential—all while staying true to his values, purpose, and goals.

Preston is a Certified Maxwell Leadership Team Keynote Speaker, Facilitator, Trainer, and Executive Coach. Through his books, How Is Greater Than What, Discipled Leader (2022 Selah Awards Nonfiction Book of the Year) and 21 Days to Sound Decision Making, his blog, and podcast, he seeks to help people become redemptive influences in their workplaces and live more fulfilling lives.

Learn more about Preston Poore & Associates: https://prestonpoore.com

Work with Preston or invite him to speak: https://prestonpoore.com/leadership-development-services/

Sign up to receive the P³ Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/prestonpoore.com/thepulse

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/prestonpoore/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/prestonpoore1/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PoorePreston

Send us Fan Mail

Every leader hits the moment when the decision can't be delegated, deferred, or decided by committee. It's yours. 

In this episode, I revisit the two-year fight to save Coca-Cola's marketing rights deal with the University of Alabama, then bring my son Benton and his friend Zak Kuder into the studio for an honest conversation about what it actually feels like to carry a decision that's above your pay grade.

⸻

⏱️ Episode Highlights

[01:55] – Quick Recap: Last episode covered trade-offs vs. avoidance, and why "no" is never neutral.

[04:45] – The Alabama-Coca-Cola Story: A stalled contract, two years of dead ends, and Pepsi circling the deal.

[09:22] – The Nine-Minute Wait: The phone call to University of Alabama President Bob Witt that changed everything.

[11:05] – Meet Ben and Zak: My son and his good friend join the studio for a real, unscripted conversation.

[13:16] – Above Your Pay Grade: Ben and Zak share the moments they had to make calls that felt bigger than their role.

[18:35] – The Voice of Fear: The inner critic vs. the inner cheerleader, and learning which one to trust.

[21:02] – Stepping Up When No One Else Will: What happens when you raise your hand for a problem nobody owns.

[24:59] – Carrying the Weight of a Decision You Didn't Ask For: The hardest part of leadership accountability.

[28:21] – Final Wisdom: Eating the elephant one bite at a time, and why prayer comes before the leap.

[31:04] – Esther's Five Words: What "if I die, I die" teaches every leader about responsibility over fear.

⸻

Links & Resources Mentioned

Discipled Leader Apprenticeship — https://prestonpoore.com/ 
Discipled Leader Book — https://prestonpoore.com/books-by-preston/ 
How is Greater Than What Book — https://prestonpoore.com/book/ 
About Preston — https://prestonpoore.com/about-preston_poore/ 
_______

Connect With Me

LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/prestonpoore/ 
Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/PoorePreston 
Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/prestonpoore1/ 

⸻

Closing Thoughts
If this episode hit home, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Like it, comment, leave a review, it helps more people find the show and quite honestly, it reminds me I'm not just talking to myself in here.

Peace out. Be a rock star.

About Preston Poore

Preston Poore is a former Coca-Cola executive who practices what he preaches. He uses his wealth of hard-earned experience in the corporate arena to help emerging leaders and millennials reach their potential—all while staying true to his values, purpose, and goals.

Preston is a Certified Maxwell Leadership Team Keynote Speaker, Facilitator, Trainer, and Executive Coach. Through his books, How Is Greater Than What, Discipled Leader (2022 Selah Awards Nonfiction Book of the Year) and 21 Days to Sound Decision Making, his blog, and podcast, he seeks to help people become redemptive influences in their workplaces and live more fulfilling lives.

Learn more about Preston Poore & Associates: https://prestonpoore.com

Work with Preston or invite him to speak: https://prestonpoore.com/leadership-development-services/

Sign up to receive the P³ Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/prestonpoore.com/thepulse

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/prestonpoore/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/prestonpoore1/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PoorePreston

Send us Fan Mail

Episode 11 is here!!!!

Every leader has felt the weight of a decision they didn't ask for. But here's what nobody tells you: fear doesn't always look like paralysis. Sometimes it looks like another meeting, another email, or another attempt to follow the proper channels, while the decision keeps getting delayed.

This week, Benton and Zach join me to talk about the tension between responsibility and fear, what it means to step into uncomfortable situations, and how to move forward when the decision lands on you.

If you've ever known you needed to act but wondered what it might cost you, this one's for you.

🎙️ Check the link in the first comment to subscribe so you don't miss it!

#P3Podcast  #FollowWellLeadWell #LeadershipDevelopment #ExecutiveCoaching #CourageousLeadership

About Preston Poore

Preston Poore is a former Coca-Cola executive who practices what he preaches. He uses his wealth of hard-earned experience in the corporate arena to help emerging leaders and millennials reach their potential—all while staying true to his values, purpose, and goals.

Preston is a Certified Maxwell Leadership Team Keynote Speaker, Facilitator, Trainer, and Executive Coach. Through his books, How Is Greater Than What, Discipled Leader (2022 Selah Awards Nonfiction Book of the Year) and 21 Days to Sound Decision Making, his blog, and podcast, he seeks to help people become redemptive influences in their workplaces and live more fulfilling lives.

Learn more about Preston Poore & Associates: https://prestonpoore.com

Work with Preston or invite him to speak: https://prestonpoore.com/leadership-development-services/

Sign up to receive the P³ Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/prestonpoore.com/thepulse

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/prestonpoore/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/prestonpoore1/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PoorePreston

Send us Fan Mail

Episode 10 is here!!!!

Every leader has told themselves that passing on a decision was the safe move. But here's what nobody tells you: saying no doesn't get you off the hook. It just means you pay a different price. 

This week, Davin Salvagno joins me to talk about the tension between making a tough call and avoiding it altogether, and why the most dangerous place a leader can stand is in the hallway between two doors.

If you've ever been stuck between two options that are both right and both expensive, this one's for you.

🎙️ Watch and subscribe so you don't miss it!

#p3podcast
 #discipledleader
 #followwellleadwell
 #leadershipdevelopment
 #executivecoaching
 #tradeoffsvsavoidance
 #costofinaction

About Preston Poore

Preston Poore is a former Coca-Cola executive who practices what he preaches. He uses his wealth of hard-earned experience in the corporate arena to help emerging leaders and millennials reach their potential—all while staying true to his values, purpose, and goals.

Preston is a Certified Maxwell Leadership Team Keynote Speaker, Facilitator, Trainer, and Executive Coach. Through his books, How Is Greater Than What, Discipled Leader (2022 Selah Awards Nonfiction Book of the Year) and 21 Days to Sound Decision Making, his blog, and podcast, he seeks to help people become redemptive influences in their workplaces and live more fulfilling lives.

Learn more about Preston Poore & Associates: https://prestonpoore.com

Work with Preston or invite him to speak: https://prestonpoore.com/leadership-development-services/

Sign up to receive the P³ Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/prestonpoore.com/thepulse

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/prestonpoore/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/prestonpoore1/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PoorePreston

Send us Fan Mail

Every leader wants an option with no downside. That option doesn't exist. 

In this episode, author and Purpose Summit founder Davin Salvagno joins me to tackle the tension every leader faces in the decision-making arc: when both paths cost you something and the temptation is to choose neither.
⸻
⏱️ Episode Highlights
[01:57] – Trade-offs vs. Avoidance: Why saying no or not yet is still a decision, and it comes with its own price tag.
[03:51] – The 16 Ounce Bottle: Preston's Coca-Cola story, two legitimate positions, both backed by real logic, both with real costs.
[10:28] – Meet Davin Salvagno: Author, speaker, and founder of the Purpose Summit, on helping leaders discover purpose at work.
[12:11] – Notre Dame or Charlotte: Davin's story of choosing between two good options, and why one required leaving everything behind.
[15:55] – Wise Caution vs. Avoidance: The difference between a yellow flag and a red flag, and how to tell which one you're looking at.
[18:33] – When Avoidance Becomes Disobedience: Why delaying a decision you've already been called to make is its own kind of cost.
[21:09] – The Half Million Dollar No: The moment Davin walked away from vesting stock options, and why he did it.
[27:44] – Divine Intelligence vs. Artificial Intelligence: Why the best decision-making framework starts with God, not a model.
[31:04] – Gethsemane: The clearest trade-off evaluation in Scripture, and what it teaches every leader about naming the cost out loud.
⸻
Links & Resources Mentioned
• Discipled Leader Apprenticeship — http://prestonpoore.com 
• Discipled Leader Book — http://prestonpoore.com/books-by-preston 
• How is Greater Than What Book — http://prestonpoore.com/book 
• About Preston — http://prestonpoore.com/about-preston_poore 
• Purpose Summit (Davin Salvagno) —https://www.thepurposesummit.com/ Coming to Atlanta in October 
• Davin Salvagno's Books — http://davinsalvagno.com/#books
-section
________

Connect With Me
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/prestonpoore 
Facebook: http://facebook.com/PoorePreston 
Instagram: http://instagram.com/prestonpoore1
⸻

Closing Thoughts
If today's episode hit home, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Like it, comment, leave a review; it helps more people find the show, and quite honestly, it reminds me I'm not just talking to myself in here.

Peace out. Be a rock star.

About Preston Poore

Preston Poore is a former Coca-Cola executive who practices what he preaches. He uses his wealth of hard-earned experience in the corporate arena to help emerging leaders and millennials reach their potential—all while staying true to his values, purpose, and goals.

Preston is a Certified Maxwell Leadership Team Keynote Speaker, Facilitator, Trainer, and Executive Coach. Through his books, How Is Greater Than What, Discipled Leader (2022 Selah Awards Nonfiction Book of the Year) and 21 Days to Sound Decision Making, his blog, and podcast, he seeks to help people become redemptive influences in their workplaces and live more fulfilling lives.

Learn more about Preston Poore & Associates: https://prestonpoore.com

Work with Preston or invite him to speak: https://prestonpoore.com/leadership-development-services/

Sign up to receive the P³ Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/prestonpoore.com/thepulse

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/prestonpoore/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/prestonpoore1/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PoorePreston

Send us Fan Mail

Waiting for certainty before making a move isn't caution; it's fear with a professional name. 

In this episode, educator and principal Sherri McLeroy joins me to kick off Arc 3 by tackling the tension every leader dreads: making a high-stakes call with incomplete information and no guarantee of the right outcome.
⸻
⏱️ Episode Highlights
[02:05] – Welcome to Arc 3: Why leadership decisions rarely come with perfect information.
[04:11] – The Atlanta Snowstorm: What overconfidence disguised as clarity actually costs you.
[09:10] – Meet Sherri McLeroy: Principal, Maxwell certified coach, and author, 30 years in education.
[12:33] – Tornado and a Fire Alarm: 800 children, a live tornado, and a smoke alarm, all at once.
[16:18] – When Research Becomes Avoidance: The line between being thorough and being stuck.
[18:06] – Analysis Paralysis: What happens to a team when a leader refuses to decide.
[21:57] – Dead Certain and Dead Wrong: Why your most confident moments need the most questions.
[23:22] – Advice for the Paralyzed Leader: Sherri's wisdom for the leader waiting on a clear answer.
[27:44] – The Curiosity Advantage: Why the best leaders ask more questions, not fewer.
[29:01] – Noah, Abraham, and Peter: Three leaders who decided with zero clarity, and what that teaches us.
⸻

Links & Resources Mentioned
• Discipled Leader Apprenticeship — prestonpoore.com 
• Discipled Leader Book — prestonpoore.com/books-by-preston 
• How is Greater Than What Book — prestonpoore.com/book 
• About Preston — prestonpoore.com/about-preston_poore 
• Purposefully Made (Sherri McLeroy— children's book) - westbowpress.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/864722-purposefully-made 
• Purposefully Made Devotional (Sherri McLeroy— 52 week devotional) — https://a.co/d/09RbHWbo   

Connect With Me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/prestonpoore 
Facebook: facebook.com/PoorePreston 
Instagram: instagram.com/prestonpoore1
⸻
Closing Thoughts
If today's episode hit home, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Like it, comment, leave a review; it helps more people find the show, and quite honestly, it reminds me I'm not just talking to myself in here.
Peace out. Be a rock star.

About Preston Poore

Preston Poore is a former Coca-Cola executive who practices what he preaches. He uses his wealth of hard-earned experience in the corporate arena to help emerging leaders and millennials reach their potential—all while staying true to his values, purpose, and goals.

Preston is a Certified Maxwell Leadership Team Keynote Speaker, Facilitator, Trainer, and Executive Coach. Through his books, How Is Greater Than What, Discipled Leader (2022 Selah Awards Nonfiction Book of the Year) and 21 Days to Sound Decision Making, his blog, and podcast, he seeks to help people become redemptive influences in their workplaces and live more fulfilling lives.

Learn more about Preston Poore & Associates: https://prestonpoore.com

Work with Preston or invite him to speak: https://prestonpoore.com/leadership-development-services/

Sign up to receive the P³ Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/prestonpoore.com/thepulse

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/prestonpoore/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/prestonpoore1/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PoorePreston

Send us Fan Mail

Episode 9 is here!!!!

Every leader has been there, convinced they had the right answer, only to realize too late they never stopped to question it.

This week, Sherri McLeroy joins me to talk about the tension that trips up even the most experienced leaders: making the right call when there's no clear right answer,  and why waiting for certainty is often the worst decision of all.

If you've ever led with full confidence and still got it completely wrong, this one's for you.

🎙️ Check the link in the first comment to subscribe so you don't miss it!

#P3Podcast #DiscipledLeader #FollowWellLeadWell #LeadershipDevelopment #ExecutiveCoaching #ClarityVsAmbiguity #DecisionMaking

About Preston Poore

Preston Poore is a former Coca-Cola executive who practices what he preaches. He uses his wealth of hard-earned experience in the corporate arena to help emerging leaders and millennials reach their potential—all while staying true to his values, purpose, and goals.

Preston is a Certified Maxwell Leadership Team Keynote Speaker, Facilitator, Trainer, and Executive Coach. Through his books, How Is Greater Than What, Discipled Leader (2022 Selah Awards Nonfiction Book of the Year) and 21 Days to Sound Decision Making, his blog, and podcast, he seeks to help people become redemptive influences in their workplaces and live more fulfilling lives.

Learn more about Preston Poore & Associates: https://prestonpoore.com

Work with Preston or invite him to speak: https://prestonpoore.com/leadership-development-services/

Sign up to receive the P³ Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/prestonpoore.com/thepulse

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/prestonpoore/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/prestonpoore1/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PoorePreston