Bridging Leadership Lessons from the Workplace and Those Experiences Shaping Today's Youth and Tomorrow's Leaders
After 30 years with the same company, I found myself in the position of preparing to transition to something new. While it was shocking to most, it wasn’t completely unexpected to me.
Now, not being surprised isn't the same as being ready! At 53, I wasn’t ready to retire. Our youngest son is a sophomore in high school and while I had been working towards a “Plan B” I was not ready to execute a “Plan B.” One day your blog post on Establishing Trust and Integrity at Work is being shared on the corporate website and the next you are changing your status on your social media. But as I have always said, “it is what it is” and my lecture on the Circle of Control was never more relevant. That day and the weeks that followed, were filled with people reaching out to me and I believe most were surprised about my calm and reassuring demeanor. My response just came out naturally, “sometimes God speaks to you, and you choose not to listen. Sometimes God shows you a path and you choose not to look. Sometimes God decides He has had enough, and He doesn’t care that you are too stubborn or too scared. It’s God’s plan and He decided it was time.” The next morning, I wake up at my normal time and begin my routine. In the NY Times Wordle game, my word was COACH! The following day, my morning verse was: "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you." - Psalms 32:8. It was reassuring to see His message. That week, I officiated the wedding for a young man that I used to coach when he was a kid. I also continued to livestream my Inside the Huddle interview with our High School coaches. I moved forward with my life because my life was moving forward. The next week I’m giving a training class on the 3 Pillars of Impact. The following week I’m watching the most incredible sunset (see the pic!) on the shore of the Pacific Central Coast, with nothing but gratitude in my heart for the blessings I have and continue to receive. The following week I was in Chicago at a Quartz Event IMPACT Manufacturing Leadership Summit , sharing my story of Impact while stressing the importance of executives to walk the walk and put the 3 Pillars of impact into action. During the two weeks following my departure, I had so many people reach out to me; former coworkers, friends, and casual acquaintances. They shared their sadness and confusion, warm thoughts of encouragement and advice, they provided contacts and even job offers. You quickly realize that your life really is about impact and the breadth of the impact is not always obvious. I was listening to an Audiobook titled The Big Goal System. One of the speakers was Krish Dhanam and he had some profound statements that I want to share here: “Success if not who you are in relation to the person sitting next to you. Success is who you are in relation to where you began and what you began with.” “Your career is what you are paid for, your purpose is what you are made for.” He finishes by saying, he is not his job and declares that he is a husband and father and states the names of his family. What a statement! I am not my job. I am the husband of Jenny and the father of Zach, Megan, Trey, and Ethan. Wow! That is a testimony. You may not be ready when events happen that force you to transition. It may not be part of your plan, but it is part of God’s plan. When you take a moment to reflect, you quickly realize that you are ready. That you are equipped for the next leg of your journey. That you are not alone. I am not my job. I am the husband of Jenny and the father of Zach, Megan, Trey, and Ethan. Ready or not, I am ready to move Beyond Today.
8 Comments
Adam Housewright
11/28/2023 04:12:33 pm
Awesome post Tom, excited for what lies ahead for you, and with that determination and perspective, you know you will succeed!
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Tom
11/28/2023 08:58:15 pm
Thank you Adam! I was doing some work with a company the other day and the owner said, you can either view things as obligations or opportunities. I choose to view things as opportunities! I appreciate your support!
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Karen Brown
11/28/2023 07:26:39 pm
You continue to lead and inspire!
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Tom
11/28/2023 09:01:21 pm
Thank you Karen! I have always appreciated your support and encouragement almost as much as I have appreciated your courage to challenge me to Be Better Today!
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Lonna Sowers
11/29/2023 07:36:20 am
Hey Tom,
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Tom
11/30/2023 01:19:53 pm
Thank you Lonna and keep making your IMPACT!
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Cathi Barth
11/29/2023 03:33:23 pm
Tom, you are missed by many at your former job. You will do great things, because that is your nature! From the wife of Rob and mother of Ashley and Evan - they are the reason I get out of bed every morning!
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Tom
11/30/2023 01:20:49 pm
Thanks Cathi! I miss everyone there as well. I love that testimony!
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AuthorTom Brown - a husband and a father who is simply trying to make a difference. Using my experience as a Manufacturing Executive to connect leadership from the boardroom to the hardwood to help teams grow and develop to make a difference in the lives of others. Archives
February 2025
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