Hey Leaders, Welcome to Week Eight of our Book Feature Friday series featuring Intentional Living by John C. Maxwell. This week, we are exploring: Partner with Like-Valued People Shared interests can bring people together, but shared values are what allow partnerships to endure. Like-minded people may agree about what they want to accomplish. Like-valued people also agree about how the work should be accomplished, how people should be treated, and what principles must guide the journey. Values shape behavior. They influence how partners communicate, manage conflict, handle responsibility, make decisions, share credit, respond to pressure, and treat people when circumstances become difficult. A partnership may have talent, resources, influence, and opportunity. But when the partners do not share foundational values, progress can quickly become conflict. Intentional leaders do not choose partnerships based only on convenience, visibility, skill, or immediate opportunity. They also examine character. Before entering a meaningful partnership, consider: Do we share a commitment to honesty? Do we value people in similar ways? Can we communicate openly? Will we honor our commitments? How will we respond when we disagree? Are we more committed to the mission than to personal recognition? Do our actions support the values we publicly claim? The right partnership creates synergy. Each person contributes something valuable, and together they accomplish more than either could accomplish alone. However, healthy partnerships require clarity. Expectations should be discussed. Roles should be defined. Responsibilities should be honored. Communication should remain consistent. Trust should be protected. Leadership Reflection Are your current partnerships built only around shared goals, or are they also grounded in shared values? What value must be present in every meaningful partnership you build? This Week’s Intentional Living Challenge Identify your five most important leadership values.

Integrity is not just "being honest." That's the kindergarten version. Real integrity is a three-part alignment — and most leaders only have one or two of the three working at the same time. At My Father's Leadership Business, we call it the Integrity Triad: Words. Actions. Character. Words are what you say. Actions are what you do. Character is who you actually are when neither of those is being performed. You can have polished words and disciplined actions — and still have a character that crumbles in private. That's not integrity. That's a very good act. John Maxwell's Law of Solid Ground says it plainly: trust is the foundation of leadership. And trust is only built when all three — words, actions, and character — are pulling in the same direction, consistently, over time. That's what The Forge is about. Steel doesn't become steel by accident. It's shaped by heat, by hammer, by time. Integrity works the same way. This is Week 1 of a 12-week series on integrity. Follow along. This one's going to cost you something good. Which of the three — words, actions, or character — is most underdeveloped in your leadership right now?

Great to be a part of the community and I look forward to learning from such a dynamic group from around the world. I operated a Chick-fil-A for 25 years and now work in consulting and ministry. I had the honor of moderating and hosting the Middle Ga Live2Leads this season with Axis Leadership. Like many of you I am product of Joes leadership influence!

Hey Leaders, We’re continuing our 10-week Leadership Series and I want YOU to help choose the next book we break down together. Each Friday, we’ll take real lessons and turn them into practical moves you can apply in business, leadership, and life. 👇 Which book should we start next? 1️⃣ The 5 Levels of Leadership 2️⃣ Intentional Living Drop your vote below ⬇️ Let’s grow on purpose 💪 #FeatureFriday #Leadership