I met Mark about 13 years ago at a Built To Lead two-day retreat that we were doing for a Fortune 500 Company. Chet was the facilitator and I was a new member of the Built To Lead team.
At the end of day one you could clearly sense and feel the passion Mark had for Chet’s message, building a strong CORE, which as many of you know is the foundational first step in the development of any aspiring leader. Mark closed the day with an inspiring message for the team and I felt then as I do now; he was a CORE Centered Leader for sure.
Making a long story short, I have a client who shares a story with me about a man he looks up to and respects as a good leader and mentor. It didn’t take me long after a brief description of this mentor that I figured out it was Mark from the BTL Retreat 13 years ago.
I got his e-mail address and we met for coffee today and shared our ideas, insights and leadership stories. I would describe Mark as a Transformation Expert; he understands big organizations, big organizational problems and transformational change. He has had a stellar career in 2 different Fortune 5oo companies, former West Point graduate and loathes mediocrity!
Some of the nuggets that I learned from Mark over coffee:
The only way you will grow, learn and develop is by being challenged in some way. Good leaders understand this and provide a strong, positive, challenging environment.
To win any victory we have to fight for it! You look at any area of your life and competing is an essential part of anyone’s development.
Resilience is a virtue that allows anyone to move thru hardships, those dark moments in your life, AND, it’s thru those hardships that often lead to growth and development.
Mark shared a saying that his grandfather often repeated, “There will be days when you are cold and wet but always remember, you are warm and dry.” Mark found himself in Ranger Training, in the mountains, very little sleep, cold and wet thinking I can’t go on! He then remembered that saying his Granddad used to repeat and he clearly understood what he needed to be thinking in that moment, ” I am WARM and DRY and I Will Finish!”
Mark understood the battle was more in his head than the physical pain he was enduring and being the mentally tough person he is, he finished Ranger Training.
You have to master the one who throws obstacles in your way——you have to master YOU!
For further study I would recommend “Resilience by Eric Greitens
BUILT TO LEAD 