Lessons on Leadership and Service from a Lifelong Doer

In this deeply insightful episode, Brian English interviews Steve Sanabria, a transplant to Wakulla County who quickly became a pillar of the community. Steve shares his fascinating life story, from his roots as a Florida native to his career successes and his passion for servant leadership. He challenges conventional ideas about leadership and offers a powerful perspective on how to help create the world you want to live in. This conversation is a masterclass in living a purpose-driven life through dedicated action and collaborative community work.

Main Points from this conversation include:

-- The "First Follower" Philosophy: Steve says that leadership is often overrated and that the true power lies in being the first follower. A leader's vision only becomes a movement when someone else steps up to support it, giving permission for others to follow.

-- Creating Your Own World: Steve emphasizes that you are responsible for making your own community better. He believes in being a "doer" and rolling up your sleeves to get things done, rather than just being an "idea guy."

-- The Power of Non-Threatening Communication: Drawing from a career mentor's advice, Steve highlights the importance of presenting ideas and facts in a gentle, non-threatening manner to encourage collaboration and avoid closed doors.

-- Work as a Value-Add: Steve's core advice for young people is the necessity of work, but not just "busy work." He stresses the importance of engaging in work that adds genuine value to your life and the lives of those around you.

-- The Swiss Army Knife Approach to Skills: Steve shares his personal philosophy of being a "Swiss army knife," having multiple skills that may not be perfect, but are always ready and willing to get the job done.

In this special episode, host Brian English welcomes back Wakulla High School Head Football Coach Scott Klees to the Wakulla WaveMakers podcast. With the new football season on the horizon, Coach Klees offers an inside look at the team’s preparation, highlighting the hard work of his players and coaching staff. He provides a breakdown of the team's key positions, including a strong quarterback room led by his son, Owen, and a promising young core of receivers and linebackers.

The conversation goes beyond the field as Coach Klees reflects on his recent induction into the Florida Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He attributes this honor not to himself, but to the collective effort of his players, assistant coaches, and the entire Wakulla community. English and Klees also share heartfelt stories about the importance of family, with Coach Klees praising his wife, Nicole, as the "backbone" of their family and an invaluable supporter of the football program.

The interview touches on Klees's personal journey, from his upbringing in a sports-focused family to his early coaching experiences at a small private school, including a humorous anecdote about coaching girls' softball. He also shares his philosophy on leadership, emphasizing the need to delegate and trust in the Lord during difficult times. He offers powerful advice to young families on prioritizing faith and family over distractions like social media, and on teaching valuable life lessons that extend far beyond the football field.

Donny Bennett's life was changed by Jesus Christ in 2014 and since then he has been working to help change the lives of others, incuding through his work with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes as well as through his own ministry called Battle 14.

You can read more about Wakulla FCA on their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/wakullafca

Donnie Sparkman has served multiple terms as the Wakulla County Property Appraiser, and is also a veteran of the war in Viet Nam.

You can read more about the property appraiser here: https://mywakullapa.com/wakulla-county-property-appraiser/

Frank Messersmith is a former Florida legislator and current president of the Wakulla Chamber of Commerce. Brian English asks Frank about people who influenced him toward success, and what wisdom he would pass along to others.

You can read more about Frank here: https://www.tsc.fl.edu/media/divisions/alumni-amp-friends/hall-of-fame/Frank-Messersmith.pdf

Amy Geiger offers wisdom for being successful and advice she has picked up over the years, as well as some of the initiatives she is involved with in Wakulla County, Florida.

You can find out more about Amy here: bankers.ccbg.com/fl/crawfordville/amy-geiger.html

Congratulations to our Wakulla WaveMaker for August 2021, Scott Klees. As you will hear in this interview with Brian English, Scott is a man who raises the bar for everyone he comes in contact with, especially the young people he works with at the school and on the team...and even Brian himself!

Congratulations to our Wakulla WaveMaker for July 2021, Niraj Patel! As you will hear in this interview with Brian English, Niraj is very involved in Wakulla County as a business owner, developer and humanitarian, and is working hard to help make life better for local residents.

Congratulations to our new Wakulla WaveMaker, Josh Brown! He is an owner and broker at Waypoint Properties in Crawfordville, Florida, and here is their website: https://wptproperties.com/

He is also currently serving as president of the Wakulla County Chamber of Commerce and here is their website: https://wakullacountychamber.com/

Josh is also currently a Wakulla County school board member.