Blog Archives
Values Based Organizations: Aligning Culture and Strategy
Values Based Organizations lays out a clear and practical roadmap for building organizations that actually live their values instead of just talking about them. It explains how culture, strategy, leadership, and processes can work together when they are aligned. The core idea rests on five practices: Take Stock, Commit to Why and How, Align Action, Champion Values-Based Leadership, and Engage Everyone. Throughout the book, author Dr. Thomas Epperson uses stories, interviews, and real examples to show how these practices play out in companies of all sizes. The narrative leans heavily on the transformation of Luck Companies and other organizations that chose to anchor their work in purpose and values.
I found myself reacting with a mix of curiosity and skepticism that often turned into appreciation. The writing comes across as honest and steady, almost like talking with someone who has seen the same mistakes happen over and over. I liked the plain language and the way the author admits that culture work is messy and sometimes painful. I felt the weight of those stories about organizations drifting or fighting themselves, and I caught myself nodding when he described leaders who avoid hard truths or cling to the wrong assumptions. The book made me think about my own reactions to change. I kept feeling a strange mix of discomfort and motivation, like someone tapping me on the shoulder saying, “Stop pretending you don’t see the problem.” That emotional push gave the ideas more power.
I also enjoyed the practicality of the examples. The section on Taking Stock made me laugh at the image of leaders scribbling complaints and then discovering that none of them had written “me” on the list. That moment says everything about the self-awareness required for real change. The parts about rediscovering a company’s history gave me a sense of warmth and even hope, because the idea that organizations can return to their roots instead of tearing everything down feels refreshing. Sometimes the book leans into repetition, and at moments I wished it would linger less on the obvious, but even then I understood why the reminders mattered. Culture work is slow, and people forget quickly.
The book isn’t flashy, but it is sincere, and it pushes you to think about organizations as living systems that need both care and discipline. I would recommend Values Based Organizations to leaders who want to shift their culture in a real and grounded way, and to teams that feel stuck or scattered. It would also be helpful for anyone stepping into a new leadership role who wants a straightforward guide to understanding how values can steer an organization.
Pages: 164 | ASIN : B0FTLLR57V
The Leader Connection
The Leader Connection lays out a clear and heartfelt blueprint for what leadership can look like when connection sits at the center. The book moves through personal stories, reflections, and structured explanations of leadership styles, communication, emotional intelligence, inclusivity, and the daily habits that shape teams. It blends storytelling with guidance in a way that feels both instructional and personal. The author returns again and again to one central idea that leadership is not about authority. Leadership is about people, relationships, and the courage to show up with empathy and clarity.
The writing has an honesty that makes the lessons easier to take in. It feels like sitting with someone who has lived through the highs and lows of leadership and wants to save you a few hard knocks. Some sections moved quickly and carried a lot of detail. Still, the personal moments resonated with me. The porch conversations with family, the reflections on being only “30 percent” at times, and the admission that leadership is a lifelong balancing act. These parts made the book feel warm, real, and grounded. I appreciated that it did not pretend that leadership is neat or simple. It showed the mess. It showed the growth. It showed the heart behind the concepts.
The breakdown of the eight leadership styles was one of my favorite pieces. The explanations were straightforward and avoided the kind of buzzwords that often bog down leadership books. The author talked about transformational leadership in a way that made me feel energized. Then he moved to servant leadership and cracked it open through lived experience rather than textbook definitions. I also liked how he admitted the limitations of each style. Nothing was presented as perfect. Everything had a cost and a reward. That honesty added weight to the guidance. At times, I wished for more story and fewer lists, but even then, the content stayed practical and easy to follow. The tone felt approachable, like a mentor showing you notes from a career full of lessons, some earned the hard way.
I feel that this book would be a meaningful fit for new leaders, seasoned managers who want to reconnect with their purpose, and anyone who feels the weight of responsibility and wants a clearer path forward. It is especially fitting for people who lead with heart, or who want to. The book’s message is simple. If you focus on people, if you stay honest, if you listen, if you stay willing to grow, you can make a real difference.
pages: 186 | ASIN: B0FN1VV122
Clip Toenails for a Living: A Unique Path to Success
Clip Toenails for a Living is a blend of memoir, mindset guide, and professional journey that follows Dr. Marcin Vaclaw’s rise from podiatry resident to clinic owner and medical officer. The book lays out a simple idea. Success comes from doing the unglamorous work and doing it well. Dr. Vaclaw uses podiatry, especially the humble act of clipping toenails, as the central image of his philosophy. The book is organized into parts that move from fundamentals to building a personal path to defining success in your own terms. It mixes anecdotes from training, small wins, setbacks, and the slow grind that shaped his career.
I felt pulled in by the author’s plain way of telling stories. Nothing feels sugar-coated. He talks about fungal nails, house calls and residency struggles. That honesty made the bigger ideas easier to trust. I liked how he treated simple work with respect. It made me think about my own habits and how often I overlook basic tasks. Sometimes the writing leaned a little too hard on metaphors about cooking or recipes, but it still kept the tone friendly and down to earth.
I also enjoyed the way the book paced through the lessons. Some chapters focused on grit. Others focused on adjusting your course or finding your niche or learning from discomfort. I felt myself nodding along, especially during the parts describing how success is mostly small steps and small choices that pile up. It felt real. At moments, though, I wanted more detail about his own failures. Even so, the overall effect is motivating. I came away feeling lighter and more willing to take on the boring parts of my own life.
I would recommend this book to people who like personal development stories that feel practical and human. If you are early in your career or trying to rethink your path, it hits the spot. It would also appeal to readers who enjoy memoirs from medical professionals. The lessons are simple, clear, and easy to apply. It left me with the sense that I could do a little better tomorrow.
Pages: 193 | ASIN: B0FT6ZDK3M
The Backyard Peace Project
The Backyard Peace Project, compiled by Cathy Domoney, feels like a woven quilt of human experience stitched together with courage, pain, and healing. Each chapter comes from a different voice, yet they all hum the same melody of self-discovery, resilience, and love. From psychic awakenings to stories of grief, motherhood, and self-acceptance, every piece pulls at something tender inside. The narratives are raw and deeply personal, sometimes almost uncomfortably so, but they carry an undercurrent of light that keeps the pages turning. It’s not a book about perfection. It’s about peace found in the middle of mess and meaning drawn from the fragments of ordinary lives.
Some chapters hit me harder than others. Alice Terry’s account of her psychic gift and the fear that shadowed it as a child made me pause and think. Cathy and Skye Domoney’s mother-daughter dialogue about inherited trauma and forgiveness touched something familiar, that ache we all have for connection that doesn’t wound. And then there’s Gretchen Holmes, whose story of learning to love herself harder when everything hurt, felt like an echo of what many of us need to hear but rarely say aloud. The writing across these stories is conversational, imperfect, and real. It pulls you close instead of performing for you.
What I loved most was the honesty. These writers are trying to connect with the reader. There’s this feeling of being seen through their words, even when the subjects are heavy, like grief, illness, loss, and shame. I found myself nodding, sometimes tearing up, other times smiling at the resilience that sneaks through in small moments. The tone is hopeful without being forced, spiritual without preaching. A few stories reiterate lessons about self-love and empowerment. You can sense that every contributor truly believes in the peace they’re offering.
The Backyard Peace Project feels like a gentle nudge to look inward and to see our scars as invitations instead of flaws. It’s not just a collection of essays; it’s a movement of voices reminding us that healing happens in community. I’d recommend this book to anyone walking through their own transformation, anyone craving connection, or anyone who just needs to be reminded that there’s light even in the cracks. It’s for people who want to feel rather than analyze, who value stories told from the heart more than those crafted for applause.
Pages: 278 | ASIN : B0FSQWQ1GZ
Letters to a Young Teacher: Wisdom for Those Who Guide Others
Letters to a Young Teacher is a heartfelt and introspective exchange between two voices. One seasoned, one still learning. The book unfolds as a collection of letters that feel intimate yet universal, tackling the quiet battles teachers and caretakers face while guiding others. It isn’t just about education in the formal sense. It’s about emotional endurance, vulnerability, and the messy process of becoming someone who leads without losing themselves. Through tender honesty and sharp wit, the authors build a bridge between exhaustion and renewal, inviting readers to sit in their own discomfort and find grace in the act of staying.
What struck me most was how relatable it all felt. O’Neill’s voice has this rare balance of humor and rawness, while Gacilo’s letters glow with warmth and courage. Together, they create a rhythm that feels alive, like listening to two souls learning how to breathe again after too many years of holding it in. The lessons aren’t wrapped up neatly. There’s no false optimism. Instead, they offer a kind of tired hope, the kind you earn by showing up even when you’d rather disappear. I found myself nodding, wincing, and sometimes laughing at how painfully familiar the words were. The prose dances between lyrical and plainspoken, and that tension gives it power, it’s equal parts poetry and therapy.
The reflections on resilience, stillness, and the cost of always being “okay” hit like soft blows. There’s a steady reminder throughout that strength isn’t stoicism, and love isn’t theory, it’s practice. The authors don’t preach. They confess. And that makes the wisdom feel earned, not borrowed. I found myself pausing after nearly every chapter just to think. The book has that rare ability to make silence feel full, to make vulnerability feel safe.
I’d recommend Letters to a Young Teacher to anyone who’s ever tried to hold everything together for too long, teachers, caregivers, leaders, and anyone who quietly carries others while forgetting themselves. It’s a companion for the weary, the self-doubting, the ones who keep showing up even when their hearts are heavy.
Pages: 168 | ASIN : B0FH688BJK
It’s NOT Just About Money
The Leader Connection – The Foundation dives deep into the human side of leadership, covering topics like empathy, communication, adaptability, and the nuances of eight distinct leadership styles, as well as providing actionable strategies for leaders. Why was this an important book for you to write?
Observing the current discussions and insights about labor, staffing shortages, and turnover, I felt compelled to share my journey and passion with a broader audience.
What is a common misconception you feel people have about leadership and employee connection?
It’s only about the money!
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
1. Understand Your Leadership Style
2. The Importance of Your Role in Building Connections and Enhancing Culture
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from The Leader Connection – The Foundation?
The book serves as a crucial resource for both novice and seasoned leaders, offering valuable insights to help achieve success.
Author Links: Facebook | Website
Leadership Is a Holistic Endeavor
Seven Core Values To Become An Impactful Leader shows how Integrity, Learning, Excellence, Accountability, Determination, Empathy, and Respect form the foundation of authentic leadership. What inspired you to frame leadership around the acronym I-L.E.A.D.E.R.?
The acronym I-L.E.A.D.E.R. (Integrity, Learning, Excellence, Accountability, Determination, Empathy, and Respect) emerged from a deep desire to provide a memorable and actionable framework for aspiring and current leaders. My personal journey and extensive professional background revealed that these seven values are not merely abstract concepts but are foundational to sustained impact and thriving organizational cultures. I wanted to create a tool that leaders could easily internalize and apply daily, transforming their intentions into tangible actions that resonate deeply within their teams and communities. This framework serves as a constant reminder that leadership is a holistic endeavor, demanding both competence and compassion. It encapsulates the essence of what it means to truly guide and uplift others, offering a beacon for ethical and effective leadership. Embracing I-L.E.A.D.E.R. empowers you to lead with purpose, fostering environments where everyone can thrive.
How did your military background shape your perspective on softer values like empathy and respect, which many leaders overlook?
My military background has profoundly shaped my understanding of values like empathy and respect, demonstrating their critical role even in the most demanding situations. In high-stress scenarios, effective leadership requires not only command but also a genuine understanding of individual struggles and the fostering of cohesion. I learned that authentic leadership builds trust and resilience, transforming challenges into opportunities for growth and shared success. These “softer values” are not weaknesses; they are powerful catalysts for unity and collective achievement, essential for inspiring unwavering commitment and cultivating a truly impactful team. Experiencing the consequences of their absence firsthand solidified my conviction that empathy and respect are indispensable for genuine leadership, creating a powerful bond that transcends rank and ensures mission success. It is through these values that we unlock the full potential of every individual, fostering an environment where collaboration flourishes and spirits soar.
In your experience, which of the seven values do leaders struggle with most and why?
Leaders most frequently struggle with empathy among the seven core values because it demands vulnerability and a willingness to transcend one’s own perspective. Many leaders prioritize task accomplishment and measurable outcomes, inadvertently overlooking the importance of the human element. Developing empathy requires active listening, understanding diverse perspectives, and genuinely connecting with team members on an emotional level, which can feel challenging and time-consuming in fast-paced environments. However, neglecting empathy creates a disconnect, hindering psychological safety and ultimately stifling innovation and engagement within the team. Genuine empathy requires a conscious effort to step into another’s shoes, which, while challenging, unlocks unparalleled loyalty and commitment. It is the bridge that connects hearts and minds, forging a team that is not only productive but also deeply unified and resilient.
If someone only remembers one takeaway from Seven Core Values To Become An Impactful Leader, what do you hope it is?
If someone remembers only one takeaway from “Seven Core Values to Become an Impactful Leader,” I hope it is this: “Leadership is an act of service, rooted in consistently living your values.” It transcends titles and positions; it is about inspiring others, fostering growth, and creating a positive ripple effect through your actions and character. Your commitment to these core values defines your legacy and truly elevates your ability to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those you lead. This single realization empowers individuals to become beacons of positive influence, transforming every interaction into an opportunity for growth and inspiration. Embracing this principle means leading from the heart, knowing that genuine impact stems from a place of integrity and a selfless dedication to others’ success. This truth will guide you through any challenge, ensuring your leadership leaves an indelible mark of positive change.
Author Links: Facebook | Website | Instagram | LinkedIn
Dr. Gomez, a scholar-practitioner with a doctorate and multiple master’s degrees, meticulously outlines how these values translate into tangible leadership competencies. Each chapter offers practical strategies and real-world examples, enabling readers to internalize and apply these principles for immediate impact. This book serves as an indispensable compass, guiding aspiring and seasoned leaders toward a purposeful and impactful leadership journey, ultimately shaping a new generation of value-based practitioners.
LITERARY TITAN 