t was the middle of a scorching Missouri summer, in between two-a-day football practices, when Coach Paul Skeans called me into his office. He shut the door, handed me a book, I Believe by then Baylor Coach Grant Teaff and said, “I just heard him speak. You need to read this.”
He wasn’t just giving me a book. He was giving me a challenge. A challenge to lead, to grow, and to understand that raw talent only takes you so far. Without leadership, it doesn’t matter.
That moment stuck. Since then, I’ve read more than a thousand books on leadership. And I’m still learning. In fact, I recently reread I Believe and was reminded again of how powerful the right message at the right time can be.
But here’s the good news: today we’re not limited to books. Podcasts, videos, blogs, live events, we live in a world overflowing with opportunities to sharpen our leadership skills. The question is, are we taking advantage of them?
That’s the reason we created Leaderfest. It’s more than an event it’s a chance to learn from some of the best minds in leadership, to be challenged, inspired, and equipped. And just like Coach Skeans did for me, it’s a chance to hand someone else a spark that could change their trajectory.
So let me ask you: Who are you learning from? Who’s shaping your leadership journey right now and who do you know that others need to hear?
Always Forward.
