Julie Wright is the Vice President of Employee Engagement at Royal United Mortgage, a national mortgage lender headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Julie joins co-host Courtney Montfort to share a glimpse into her talk “Dear Younger Self,” where she reflects on the challenges she faced10 years ago when she began a new role. She discusses the lessons she learned during that time and how she has grown as a leader. 

What would you say if you could go back in time, to the early part of your career, and talk with your “younger self”? What advice would you give? How transparent would you be with the ups and downs you experienced, and would you do anything differently? This is the discussion I’ve been having with hundreds of people via a leadership talk that I give called, “Dear Younger Self.”

Onesimo (Mo) Vigil is the CEO of Inteli-Care, a locally owned, non-medical home health care provider based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Mo joins co-host Alex Rodriguez to share what he has learned throughout his journey as an entrepreneur. They also discuss the importance of family and how their support makes all the difference in running a successful business. 

Clint Squadroni, CEO ofInXpress, joins co-host Taylor Covey on The Edge to discussthe importance of mentorship, giving back to the community, and how work ethic has given Clint his edge in life. They also dive into the defining qualities of effective leadership and the paths that lead to personal and professional success.

As the parent of a preschooler, I’ve watched every episode of Bluey more than once. This Australian kids’ show about a blue heeler puppy and her canine friends and family is a staple in our household. If you’ve ever watched an episode of Bluey with your child, you'll know it's more than just a show for kids—it's a goldmine of wisdom that applies to our grown-up lives. This got me thinking: how can we take lessons learned from Bluey to help us level up at work?

Reading non-fiction is like going on a treasure hunt for me, and I’m always on the lookout for authors who push me to expand my perspectives. In 2023, I read Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know, in which Adam Grant introduces the concept of mental flexibility when it comes to questioning your opinions and updating your beliefs. Grant encourages readers to adopt the mindset of a scientist, where beliefs are hypotheses to be tested rather than truths to be defended. This perspective shift—and new focus on and openness to admitting what I don't know—has been a powerful catalyst for my personal and professional growth and success.

Empathy, or the lack of it, makes for unforgettable customer experiences. 

Last spring, my older son got his third concussion while scrambling for an errant, playground football. It was a long night in the ER, and we weren't discharged until nearly midnight. 
 
And when it rains, sometimes it pours. My all-day conference was winding down two days later when my husband texted:  "I think Moses is having appendicitis; I'm taking him to the ER." 
 

After making any sort of significant change in your life, you may have found yourself saying “Well, it’s only been a few months since…” to explain why you don’t know something, why you’re still catching up, or as it relates to the progress you’ve made in a positive way. Recently, I found myself saying, “Well, it’s been almost a year since I joined Gibson.” What I didn’t say out loud, but was certainly thinking in my head, was “ALREADY?!?” 

So much can change in 12 months. And life changes—such as a career move—are not ones to make lightly or haphazardly. As my dad taught me, “You find a job and work really hard. You stay loyal to them, and they will be loyal to you. You ride out the hard times because of the good.”   

Today's post is authored by guest blogger Jay Mattern, CEO of Villing+Company and TerraFirma Marketing. We hope you enjoy Jay’s leadership wisdom and insight.