RelationShifts

Let me introduce you to someone who is unique, purpose driven, bright and determined. His name is Demilade Oluwasina. He is no stranger to struggle. His life is one of difficulties and overcoming.

Demi is a person who understands how to persevere. He is curious and realizes the importance of learning and growing from our failures. His entrepreneurial spirit is not about creating new business startups. It is about solving problems and creating solutions. He is driven to provide opportunities for others who are in need.

Demi knows first-hand what third world struggles feel like. He is a living example of a person who refuses to become a victim but instead works to make things better. 

I encourage you to take a minute to listen or watch my interview with Demilade Oluwasina.  Learning about his unique and inspiring journey will be worth your time. Demi is a leader who is certainly making a difference.

eaglecenterforleadership.com

Words mean more when the person speaking has experienced them!

Independent
People Leave
Responsibility
Work ethic
You can do more
Lessons versus people
Being curious is a choice

Dr. Julie Pham has lived each of the above words. She understands hardship and what it feels like to be left by others. Julie was challenged to do more and she responded by doing just that. She refused to become a victim of her circumstances but instead dedicated herself to become a life long learner, leader and author of the book “7 Forms of Respect”.

Take a minute to listen to Julie’s story in the latest edition of our Crossing The Line podcast. It will inspire and challenge you.

 Julie encourages us to turn curiosity into a practice. I agree. When we are habitually curious we will make a difference.

eaglecenterforleadership.com

2022 provided good and bad, happy and sad, hard and hopefully some rewarding memories for us. Soon, we will set our sights on the future. But before we look ahead to 2023, I invite you to look back. Choosing not to learn from our past is a mistake. No matter in what season of life you find yourself, learning from our victories and mistakes is essential to living a fulfilled life in the future. In other words, looking back will help us to lean forward.

We have compiled a few nuggets for you to watch and/or listen to from our 2022 Crossing the Line podcast. I found myself truly intrigued as l looked backed at the interviews we conducted and heard the relevant truths our guests shared. A huge shout out and thank you to our podcast team, Robin, Will and Ren for all the work that went into producing this Best of 2022 edition of Crossing The Line.

Take a few minutes and allow yourself to reflect on these valuable lessons from our guests. Choose to look back and learn and you will make a difference!

eaglecenterforleadership.com

This is part 2 of my podcast with Ian Richardson.

eaglecenterforleadership.com

I have discovered that those who have something truly valuable to say have experienced struggles in their life. The men and women who have the strength to learn from their struggles are the ones who I listen to the most. I’m really not interested in “pie in the sky” philosophy or “3 ways to make life easy” propaganda. I want to hear from those who speak truth and who are willing to share about the hard lessons they have learned through experience. Those who display that kind of openness possess strong courage and deep compassion for others. 

Ian Richardson is that kind of leader.  He demonstrates authentic transparency with a genuine desire to invest in the lives of others. His journey is one of difficulty, pain, determination and passion. He has refused to live as a victim but instead has chosen, through hard work, to live a life and create a legacy of purpose.

I recently interviewed Ian on my Crossing The Line podcast. It was such a powerful conversation that we have divided it into 2 parts. It is a story full of ups and downs. Mostly, it is a story of strength and commitment. I must warn you that we deal with the issue of suicide in these episodes. Please be aware of any potential emotional triggers this may cause.

I strongly encourage you to listen to this podcast. Ian has something incredibly important to say and he has earned the right to say it. This CTL episode will make a difference.

eaglecenterforleadership.com

Have you ever been around someone who you could tell was a good leader by how they engaged those around them? Many times we think of leaders as being extroverted, assertive, outspoken individuals. I have studied and walked with leaders for many years and I want to challenge that line of thinking. I have found that there are attributes, characteristics, and behaviors that strong leaders exhibit on a personal as well as professional level that are different from what you may think.

I have boiled down these traits to one word…GRIT. I am not referring to the popular, tiny white grain that is eaten in the South. I am referring to an acronym that defines what an excellent leader looks like.

GRIT stands for: Get over yourself; Run toward the hard thing; Inspire others; Take time for your growth and renewal.

In the recent episode of my podcast Crossing The Line, I explain how to become a person of GRIT and how it will positively impact your life. I invite you to join me by clicking the link below.

Leading yourself and others well is important to all of us. When we choose to become a person of GRIT we will make a difference.

eaglecenterforleadership.com

It is a mystery to me. It seems that as a person increases his or her responsibility or position in an organization, their ability or willingness to exercise EQ (emotional intelligence) decreases. The same is true in our personal lives. Many times, when we find ourselves in a position of power or leverage, we forget or refuse the importance of EQ in relationships.

Toxic work environments are created because of a lack of EQ. Relationships that are struggling can almost always point to a failure by one or both parties to exercise strong EQ. I will admit that developing and demonstrating strong EQ is hard work. However, the data is clear, refusing to infuse EQ in your daily life will result in lower job and life satisfaction.

In my recent podcast episode of Crossing The Line, I break down the importance of practicing EQ and how it can be a game changer for us. The good news is that anyone can gain the skill, the bad news is that not everyone does. In my opinion, those who refuse to invest in others are self-centered, lazy or both. Take a minute to listen to this edition of Crossing The Line by clicking the link below. Maybe it’s just what you need to realign and focus your leadership.

It’s really not a mystery. Choose to demonstrate EQ with those you lead and love and you will make a difference.

eaglecenterforleadership.com

The question is not “if” you are creating a culture, but instead, “what kind of” culture are you creating? I once worked with an organization who had degenerated from an incredibly healthy culture to a toxic damaging one. The reason for the shift was how the new leader of the organization chose to lead. The environment changed from a servant leadership model to a dictatorial ego-driven model. The results were devastating.

Creating a positive and effective environment is as easy to understand as ABC. Our Actions plus our Beliefs equal our Culture. While it sounds simple, in reality it takes intentional work and perseverance to create and sustain a healthy culture.

Think about your home. What kind of environment are you creating? Saying one thing and doing another will result in a low trust, highly skeptical atmosphere. If we say we believe in strong communication but refuse to find time for meaningful dialogue, we create a disconnect between our words and deeds. This is a recipe for toxicity in our relationships.

In our professional and personal lives, learning how to create a strong culture is essential for success. I invite you to take a moment and listen to the Crossing The Line podcast. On this edition, I break down the ABCs that lead to strong relationships. 

When our actions and beliefs align, we will make a difference.

eaglecenterforleadership.com

It gave me hope. My conversation with Kevin Perry left me with the hope that character, hard work, and refusing to make excuses still matter. This young leader who played Division 1 football is now working his way up the corporate org chart and he is doing it the right way.  He understands the importance of personal responsibility, and leading himself while caring for others.

There is a reason that Kevin has developed into the man he is today. It did not happen by chance or luck. Kevin began his journey of leadership way before he became a collegiate athlete or corporate leader. His story is one of how truth, determination and perseverance still work.

You will not only enjoy but you will gain a sense of hope by listening to this edition of Crossing The Line. Kevin is a living example of how we can choose to make a difference!

eaglecenterforleadership.com

I was encouraged and even hopeful. In a world of selfishness, blame, and negativity, this was a breath of fresh air. My conversation with Elizabeth reminded me that there are still good young leaders in this world. Leaders who care about more than power, agendas, or prestige. Leaders who are curious, want to grow and who have a desire to help others.

Elizabeth is an entrepreneur who is different. She has a passion for making the world a better place and is actively doing just that. Her openness and vulnerability are an inspiration for all of us. She is the kind of person you just want to be around.

In this episode of Crossing The Line, Elizabeth talks about her life’s journey and how she developed the traits that are serving her well as she continues to pursue her passion. This is a fun and meaningful interview that will leave you with hope for our culture and our world.

Take a few minutes to listen to this podcast. It will be a wise investment of your time. Elizabeth’s story will encourage you to make a difference.

eaglecenterforleadership.com