Hey Leaders, The role of today’s leader is changing. Today's Thinkers Thursday Harvard Business Review suggests that the most effective leaders act less like bosses and more like coaches—asking better questions, developing talent, and creating space for growth. Coaching leadership isn’t about lowering standards—it’s about raising people. This is how leaders multiply their impact. Better People. Better World. Download and read the full article. “Becoming the Boss” – HBR 💬 Let’s discuss: How often do you coach your people instead of directing them? - Dr. Joe

Hey Leaders, Ever felt like you’re running on fumes, too many tasks, relentless meetings, and not enough day for all your commitments? You're not alone. In this week's Wisdom Wednesday Maxwell Leadership episode, Perry Holley and Chris Goede open up about the difficult (but essential) leadership skill of creating margin—and why it just might be the ultimate secret weapon for success and longevity. Listen to this week's episode here! https://youtu.be/GkoCN9_lXgY?si=-gwRQC_YwjK2gF67 Why Do Leaders Struggle With Margin? Many leaders wear busyness as a badge of honor. As Chris Goede points out, “The more responsibility you have, the less margin you probably have.” We fill every minute, worrying that if we’re not running from meeting to meeting, we’ll fall behind—or worse, look unproductive. This constant motion often teaches our teams the wrong lesson: that leadership means never pausing to think, connect, or strategize. Margin is NOT Laziness: It's Leadership Contrary to popular belief, building white space into your calendar isn’t inefficient; it’s the key to moving from reactive to productive. Chris Goede talks candidly about battling the “achiever” mindset, which confuses busyness with accomplishment. Margin gives you space for better decisions, deeper thinking, and meaningful leadership—not just task management. Practical Ways to Create More Margin Chris Goede and Perry Holley lay out actionable strategies for protecting your margin: - Rethink Your Calendar: Trim meeting times (try 45 or 50 minutes instead of 60) and schedule thinking blocks. Defend these fiercely! - Decision Margin: Not every choice needs your stamp. Empower your team to make reversible, lower-stakes decisions—freeing your bandwidth for what truly matters. - Emotional Margin: Know what restores you (coffee break, walk, quick chat) and recognize early signs of depletion. - Strategic Margin: Block time each quarter to think on the business, not just in it. Use this space for deep work and visionary planning.

Hey Leaders! Here’s something to think about: If you spoke to others the way you sometimes speak to yourself… would you still be considered a good leader? In this honest and practical TED Talk, Dan Harris breaks down how harsh self-judgment sabotages our confidence, clarity, and effectiveness. He reminds us that real leadership requires compassion - not just for others, but for ourselves. When we’re less of a jerk to ourselves internally, we lead with more resilience, humility, and presence externally. Watch the Talk here: https://www.ted.com/talks/dan_harris_the_benefits_of_not_being_a_jerk_to_yourself Big Takeaways: 1. Self-compassion isn’t weakness — it’s a leadership advantage. Treating yourself with kindness reduces anxiety, increases focus, and helps you recover faster from setbacks. 2. Your inner critic is loud… but it doesn’t have to be in charge. 3. Mindfulness helps you observe negative thoughts without letting them dictate your actions or confidence. 4. Failure hits different when you’re kind to yourself. Instead of spiraling or shutting down, you learn, adapt, and move forward with clarity. The way you treat yourself sets the tone for your leadership. If you’re patient, calm, and compassionate internally, your team feels it - and mirrors it. Drop your thoughts: What’s one way you can practice not being a jerk to yourself this week - especially in moments where pressure is highest? - Dr. Joe P.S. Better People...Better World.

Are you a member of the military-connected community considering entrepreneurship or ready to strengthen your foundation for business ownership? We invite you to join us for this workshop. Whether you are exploring a business idea, preparing to launch a startup, or seeking to grow an established business, this session offers valuable insights and practical guidance tailored to every stage of the entrepreneurial journey. The Georgia Veterans Business Outreach Center (GA VBOC), located at the Georgia VECTR Center, will host the U.S. Small Business Administration's Boots to Business Reboot entrepreneurship training in Warner Robins. 📅 8-9 October, 2026 ⏰ 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (each day) There will be pre-assigned breaks between each Module and a lunch break from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM (both days) 📍 Georgia VECTR Center | Georgia VBOC 1001 S. Armed Forces Blvd., Warner Robins, Georgia 31088 This two-day, in-person training provides participants with an opportunity to explore the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, deepen their understanding of business ownership, and learn about SBA programs and Resource Partners that support their entrepreneurial journey. Who should attend? Veterans of all eras, transitioning service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and military spouses interested in starting, developing, or growing a business. No cost to attend. Partially funded by the US Small Business Administration (SBA) Note: Attendees are encouraged to bring a personal electronic device, such as a laptop or tablet, if possible VECTR Center-In-Person-2026-10-08-09 - Reboot | REGISTER HERE: https://lnkd.in/ewDwmBDk Or SCAN QR CODE: See Flyer Facilitator: Reginald Thompson, Director, GA VBOC 🗣️Expert speakers: Thursday, 8 October 2026 11:00 AM - A'Kira Foster, Commercial Real Estate Advisor 12:00 PM – Crystal Allen Joyner, CEO, R.E.G.A.L Counseling & Jerell Joyner, Real Estate Broker 1:00 PM - Rikki Waite, CEO, My Grandma's Empanadas Friday, 9 October 2026

Hey Leaders, Welcome to Week Nine of our Book Feature Friday series featuring John C. Maxwell’s Intentional Living. This week’s chapter is: At a Time That Makes a Difference: Live with a Sense of Anticipation Opportunities to add value are happening around us every day. The challenge is that many of these opportunities do not arrive with an announcement. They appear through ordinary conversations, unexpected interruptions, small requests, emerging problems, and people whose needs may not be immediately obvious. Intentional leaders live with anticipation. They begin each day expecting to find an opportunity to encourage, serve, teach, connect, solve, support, or lead. This mindset changes how we experience the day. Instead of seeing every interruption as an inconvenience, we begin asking whether it may contain an opportunity. Instead of moving through our routines unaware of the people around us, we become more observant. Instead of assuming someone else will respond to a need, we consider whether we may be positioned to help. Living with anticipation does not mean believing that every day will be easy. It means believing that every day has potential. A difficult conversation may become an opportunity to restore trust. A mistake may become an opportunity to grow. A struggling employee may become an opportunity to coach. A community need may become an opportunity to organize people around a solution. An unexpected meeting may become the beginning of an important relationship. Intentional leaders remain prepared because they understand that opportunities are often time-sensitive. If we are distracted, discouraged, overly hurried, or focused only on ourselves, we may overlook moments that could have made a meaningful difference. Leadership Reflection What opportunities have you recently overlooked because you were distracted, hurried, or waiting for something larger? How would your day change if you expected to make a difference? This Week’s Intentional Living Challenge