Are you chasing external markers of success, or are you genuinely growing into the leader you want to become? Today, I challenge you to stop and really feel where your drive is coming from. In this episode, I deeply reflect on the difference between being driven by the endless pursuit of success and embracing the sometimes messy, enriching journey of growth. We’ll take a closer look at what it costs to achieve your goals if you’re coming from a place of lack and discuss how marrying ambition with inner development is the key to lasting fulfillment.

“I’ve spent time with people who have reached all their goals, and they’re still not satisfied, they’re still not happy.” ~Mark

This week on The Rising Leader:

· How to distinguish between chasing success and pursuing growth

· Why proving yourself to others can lead to burnout and emptiness

· The warning signs that you’re “climbing the ladder on the wrong wall”

· The hidden costs of goal-oriented living—on family, health, and fulfillment

· Why growth-oriented leaders are more fulfilled, not just more successful

· A coaching approach that marries achievement with personal evolution

· How to set values-based goals and measure your fulfillment

· The emptiness of endless achievement without inner satisfaction

Grab Your Copy of The Rising Leader Handbook

Do you find yourself rising through your company's ranks so fast that you wish you had a manual to become an effective leader? Then, The Rising Leader Handbook is right for you.

In The Rising Leader Handbook, you’ll learn how to shift your perspective and gain the leadership skills you need, regardless of the breadth of your responsibilities, by leveraging the relationships you’ve built with the CEO, the Leadership Team, and the team you lead as well as your relationship with yourself.

Visit The Rising Leader Handbook: Turning High Achievers into Effective Leaders to grab your copy and start mastering your skills to become your team leader.

Leader, It’s Time to Rise!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Rising Leader Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

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Ever feel like you’re living your life—or growing your career—on autopilot? In this episode, I dive into the distinction between a “created rise” and a “default rise.” Are you intentionally building the path you want, or just following the steps that seem to be laid out for you? I share stories from my transition from tech to coaching, how that pivotal distinction changed my life, and how it might just change the trajectory of your leadership journey.

“Drop by drop, you can change the trajectory of your career, of your life, of your relationship, of everything.” ~Mark Silverman

This Week on The Rising Leader:

· A default rise happens when you follow the expected path without conscious intention; a created rise requires active, ongoing decisions.

· Small, deliberate choices—putting your resume together, scheduling networking lunches—are the foundation of big career moves.

· You can sculpt your next role based not only on what you want, but equally on what you don’t want.

· If you’re valuable to your organization, you have leverage to shape your responsibilities and environment.

· The “zone of genius” (per Gay Hendricks) is where work feels effortless and impactful—aim to spend most of your time there.

· Leadership often comes with “golden handcuffs”—more money, more responsibility, but less freedom—unless you create your own path.

· Identify what drains you and build a team or structure so that others can excel where you don’t.

· Transformational change is about consistent micro-steps and self-awareness, not giant leaps.

Resources Mentioned:

● Gay Hendricks’s “Zone of Genius” framework (from The Big Leap)

● Rich Litvin—Coaching inspiration and the original source for the created vs default life distinction

Grab Your Copy of The Rising Leader Handbook

Do you find yourself rising through your company's ranks so fast that you wish you had a manual to become an effective leader? Then, The Rising Leader Handbook is right for you.

In The Rising Leader Handbook, you’ll learn how to shift your perspective and gain the leadership skills you need, regardless of the breadth of your responsibilities, by leveraging the relationships you’ve built with the CEO, the Leadership Team, and the team you lead as well as your relationship with yourself.

Visit The Rising Leader Handbook: Turning High Achievers into Effective Leaders to grab your copy and start mastering your skills to become your team leader.

Leader, It’s Time to Rise!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Rising Leader Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | GooglePlay | Stitcher | Spotify | Amazon Music | iHeart Radio

Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help me reach more listeners like you.

Join me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn. For more exclusive content and information, visit our website.

You’ve heard it before—your reputation precedes you. But how often do you really consider how your reputation is judged by everyone across your organization, not just your direct boss or team? In this episode, I dive into the critical connection between your reputation and your relationships, revealing why what others say about you when you’re not in the room can alter your career path. I unpack the art of being a trusted advisor, the importance of accessibility and warmth, especially for high achievers, and offer actionable strategies to build support throughout your organization so you’re the person everyone wants to see win.

"When things are going to shit, you're not a bull in a china closet. You're still supportive, you're still respectful to everybody."

This week on The Rising Leader:

· Step into leadership by being the go-to person who takes ownership and eases your boss’s challenges

· Build win-win relationships with your peers on the leadership team—cooperation beats competition

· Your reputation is shaped by every interaction, across every level of the organization

· High-performing individuals can unintentionally intimidate; leading with warmth and accessibility counters this

· Promotion decisions are rarely made in isolation—everyone’s opinion matters

· Remaining steady, respectful, and supportive even during tough times differentiates leaders from doers

· Being a reliable supporter in moments of uncertainty makes you indispensable

· Offering help proactively, especially when others are struggling, forges a legacy of trust and respect

Grab Your Copy of The Rising Leader Handbook

Do you find yourself rising through your company's ranks so fast that you wish you had a manual to become an effective leader? Then, The Rising Leader Handbook is right for you.

In The Rising Leader Handbook, you’ll learn how to shift your perspective and gain the leadership skills you need, regardless of the breadth of your responsibilities, by leveraging the relationships you’ve built with the CEO, the Leadership Team, and the team you lead as well as your relationship with yourself.

Visit The Rising Leader Handbook: Turning High Achievers into Effective Leaders to grab your copy and start mastering your skills to become your team leader.

Leader, It’s Time to Rise!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Rising Leader Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | GooglePlay | Stitcher | Spotify | Amazon Music | iHeart Radio

Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help me reach more listeners like you.

Join me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn. For more exclusive content and information, visit our website.

What if you're not at your best? We've all experienced those days where everything feels like an uphill battle, when no matter the effort, things don’t seem to fall into place. In this episode, I explore the challenges and essential strategies for handling those tough days with grace and introspection. Through personal stories, like my memorable encounter with a rushed and hungry surgeon, I reflect on the importance of self-care and understanding when it's crucial to pause, reassess, and adjust our approach to leadership when our capacity is compromised.

My journey as an educator and mentor has taught me the value of emotional intelligence in navigating pressure. Being a leader often means maintaining composure, even when chaos might reign internally. I share how crucial it is to embrace those off days not as setbacks but as opportunities to recalibrate, ask for help, and be honest about our limitations with ourselves and our teams. Through my stories and insights, I aim to provide a roadmap for showing up effectively, even when we're not at our best.

“If we can get grounded and centered and question, ‘what's needed in this situation?’”

Today on The Rising Leader:

• Acknowledging when you’re not at your best and taking appropriate action is crucial.
• The paradox of pushing through versus knowing when to pause for personal care and reflection.
• The positive outcomes that stem from ensuring your emotional and physical readiness before tackling high-pressure responsibilities.
• Open communication can prevent misunderstandings when you're not performing at your peak.
• Seeking support and creating new agreements can alleviate pressure and improve outcomes.
• The value of using transparency to empower your team with context about your current state.
• Determining when a commitment requires your full capacity and when adjustments are necessary.
• Being truthful about your condition fosters understanding and minimizes potential negative impacts.

Grab Your Copy of The Rising Leader Handbook

Do you find yourself rising through your company's ranks so fast that you wish you had a manual to become an effective leader? Then, The Rising Leader Handbook is right for you.

In The Rising Leader Handbook, you’ll learn how to shift your perspective and gain the leadership skills you need, regardless of the breadth of your responsibilities, by leveraging the relationships you’ve built with the CEO, the Leadership Team, and the team you lead as well as your relationship with yourself.

Visit The Rising Leader Handbook: Turning High Achievers into Effective Leaders to grab your copy and start mastering your skills to become your team leader.

Leader, It’s Time to Rise!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Rising Leader Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | GooglePlay | Stitcher | Spotify | Amazon Music | iHeart Radio

Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help me reach more listeners like you.

Join me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn. For more exclusive content and information, visit our website.

In this episode of The Rising Leader, I had a conversation with Stephanie Chung, where we explored the challenges and strategies of modern leadership in today's rapidly changing environment. We focused on how leaders can effectively manage diverse teams, innovate strategically, and maintain composure in uncertain times. Stephanie shared practical advice on the importance of self-care, brain training for uncertainty, and the need for leaders to communicate transparently and consistently. Our discussion also covered the evolving dynamics of the workplace and the critical skills needed to lead successfully through complexity and change.

Stephanie Chung is a groundbreaking leader with an illustrious career spanning over 30 years. Known for her strategic innovation and pioneering achievements, she broke barriers as the first African American to lead a private jet company. Stephanie has held pivotal roles at American Airlines, Flexjet, and Bombardier Aerospace, earning accolades like Adweek’s Women Trailblazers and Ebony’s Power 100 recognition. She authored "Ally Leadership: How to Lead People Who Are Not Like You," offering nuanced insights into leadership, diversity, and fostering inclusive environments.

“Train the brain for uncertainty.” ~Stephanie Chung

Today on The Rising Leader:

· Effective leadership requires embracing both challenges and change.

· To lead successfully, it's crucial to prioritize self-care and rest.

· Training your brain to handle uncertainty can enhance decision-making.

· Leadership involves managing diverse teams with varying needs and perspectives.

· Transparency and over-communication are essential for building trust.

· The concept of work-life balance may be outdated; prioritize life integration.

· Each leader must constantly evaluate and expand their leadership capabilities.

· In times of stress and change, leadership is both an opportunity and a responsibility.

Connect with Stephanie Chung:

· Website: stephaniechung.com

· Social Media: @TheStephanieChung on various platforms

· Newsletter: Your Ally in Leadership (available on Substack)

For more information on the science of leadership and success, check out Stephanie’s latest works and subscribe to her newsletter for insights drawn from neuroscience.

Grab Your Copy of The Rising Leader Handbook

Do you find yourself rising through your company's ranks so fast that you wish you had a manual to become an effective leader? Then, The Rising Leader Handbook is right for you.

In The Rising Leader Handbook, you’ll learn how to shift your perspective and gain the leadership skills you need, regardless of the breadth of your responsibilities, by leveraging the relationships you’ve built with the CEO, the Leadership Team, and the team you lead, as well as your relationship with yourself.

Visit The Rising Leader Handbook: Turning High Achievers into Effective Leaders to grab your copy and start mastering your skills to become your team leader.

Leader, It’s Time to Rise!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Rising Leader Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | GooglePlay | Stitcher | Spotify | Amazon Music | iHeart Radio

Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help me reach more listeners like you.

Navigating the art of influence, this week, I delve into the delicate balance between being an influencer and being influenced. Drawing from recent experiences onboarding three new clients who share the same enneagram type, I explore the challenges faced by driven, goal-oriented individuals. I also discussed how energy in a meeting can be shaped by mood and how to maintain composure amidst differing opinions.

Anecdotes from my journey allow us to explore strategies for emotional intelligence thoroughly. I share insights that have shaped my approach, from empathic tendencies in reading a room to overcoming nervousness through grounding techniques.

“In moments of contradiction, breathe, settle into your groundedness, and influence the direction of the room.” ~Mark J. Silverman

This week on The Rising Leader:

· The impact of a leader's energy on a meeting

· The journey from being influenced to becoming an influencer

· Strategies for staying grounded in tense situations

· The role of emotional intelligence in leadership

· Techniques for handling public contradictions gracefully

· The power of calm presence in leadership

· The importance of breathing through fear

· Embracing mistakes as a path to growth

Grab Your Copy of The Rising Leader Handbook

Do you find yourself rising through your company's ranks so fast that you wish you had a manual to become an effective leader? Then, The Rising Leader Handbook is right for you.

In The Rising Leader Handbook, you’ll learn how to shift your perspective and gain the leadership skills you need, regardless of the breadth of your responsibilities, by leveraging the relationships you’ve built with the CEO, the Leadership Team, and the team you lead as well as your relationship with yourself.

Visit The Rising Leader Handbook: Turning High Achievers into Effective Leaders to grab your copy and start mastering your skills to become your team leader.

Leader, It’s Time to Rise!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Rising Leader Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | GooglePlay | Stitcher | Spotify | Amazon Music | iHeart Radio

Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help me reach more listeners like you.

Join me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn. For more exclusive content and information, visit our website.