Be brave, be kind… and simply BE

A wise person once whispered, ‘At a certain age, it’s best to refrain from printed t-shirts, a plain option is a more suitable choice.’ 😂

In 2016, against that advice, when visiting the beautiful redwoods of Still Valley, CA, I bought a t-shirt that I can't let go of…

𝐁𝐄 𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐄…𝐁𝐄 𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐃.

Every spring and summer, it gets a run and every year it stirs me in different ways… 

𝐁𝐞 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞?

Take it on… take a ‘risk’

Be true to yourself… trust yourself

Say no

Say YES

𝐁𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐝?

Show compassion 

Seek to understand

Give rather than take

Forgive

The list could be longer, and I’m sure you have your own experiences to add.

This year my trusted ‘unfashionable’ t-shirt is challenging me to consider what kind of leader I am, and the legacy we all create with the way we lead.

In 2024, 𝐁𝐞 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞, 𝐁𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐝 is about my choice… a choice to lead from a place of fear OR from a place of love.

There have been moments in my career when my identity was my job or the company I worked for. I can see how I pushed ahead and chased targets at all costs to win! Many times I was leading from a place of fear, not convinced or convincing. Often I was defending, protecting and disengaging… not really listening. In those moments, I was not showing up and at best was playing a zero-sum game. Best described as Unconscious leadership.

Yet flip that around to the moments in my career when it was fun, creativity was easy, results took care of themselves and time slipped by easily… these moments and outcomes were generated when I led from a place of love. When I'm present, listening, understanding, expanding and engaging, pure potential is available. Experiences that remain in my heart today. Best described as Conscious leadership.

Embracing your ‘playful heart,’ as Jim Carrey put it, and choosing love over fear is essential for authentic leadership. This means letting go of the masks we wear and daring to be seen in our true, vibrant selves.

By choosing to lead with love and without fear, we transform the agenda, shift the game plan and create a ripple effect that inspires and uplifts those around us.

𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐁𝐄. We have a choice: a choice to be present, a choice to be the best leaders we can be and make the world a better place.

I love my ‘unfashionable’ T-shirt!