Life Cycles Program: Leadership Lessons in Action

Today I delivered our Life Cycles program to a truly great client. The CEO of their business, Barry, is perhaps the best leader I’ve seen in years. His approach makes them a great client because his concepts are simple, practical, and easy to bring to life.

Barry’s Approach to Leadership

Instead of relying on subject matter experts or authors of popular frameworks like The Five Traits or The 7 Habits, Barry develops his leaders by asking them to deliver the leadership modules themselves.

• Leaders share personal stories.
• Each story illustrates principles of leadership in action.
• The result is authentic, relatable, and deeply impactful.

I was humbled by the power and effectiveness of each story. Every leader had their own Odyssey to share.

A Personal Story

I hadn’t planned to talk about Lain, but it came out naturally. Lain is my business partner and best friend, and he is a cancer survivor—cancer free, we hope, as of two days ago after a radical surgery to remove a tumor, glands, lymph nodes, and tonsils in his neck.

Sharing this story, and connecting it to the leadership concept of Being There (from the authors of FISH), engaged me on a whole new level.

The Power of Presence in The Life Cycles Program

The building of bicycles and the moment when children entered the room to surprise participants was as powerful as I’ve ever seen—and delivered.

Barry’s ability to compel others to bring themselves fully to what they are doing moved me. It moved all of us. And I believe it will make a difference for Lain as he battles heroically to recover from his surgery.

Gratitude

Thank you, Barry, for inspiring us all.

Bill John