For five years now I have been attending a leadership conference in Los Angeles, CA. If you had asked me five years ago I would have laughed at the thought of ever coming back, now I sit back and couldn't imagine my life without it. For three years now I have had the privilege of coaching and molding the young minds of tomorrow-or better said the impactful minds of today.
In five years I have learned many lessons from networking and marketing to time management and goal setting. The most impactful piece of knowledge that I have received over these past five years is the lasting and loving relationships I have been able to nourish and grow. These friendships range from students, to fellow coaches, and even mentors.
Lately, I find society at a lack of words, people would simply rather stare at each other across the room or hide behind their phone than to approach each other and have a real and meaningful relationship. That is something that needs to change. There is not a single thing that replaces the value of the human touch and interaction, and nothing ever will.
Five years ago, I walked in a shy awkward sophomore in high school and walked out feeling more confident in myself and my ability to achieve my goals than ever before. Flash forward to the next year a still just a little uneasy about who I was but gaining confidence fast. Finally, after two summers of soaking up every bit of information I could, I applied for a coach. That year I was so terrified of not getting accepted I registered as well. I got it and I couldn't have been more excited. As the past two years of coaching have gone by I have learned countless lessons from my students and cannot wait to see what is in store for me this upcoming year.
The mark of a leader is someone who can not only lead others but do so by example and inspiration. We all have the heart of a leader inside of us, but sometimes it takes a little bit to bring it out.
"Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant" ~ Matthew 20:26
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