Welcome to the Leadership Quotient, where we explore the wisdom of those who've led before us to help us all lead better today. I'm Dusty Holcomb, and here's what I believe. Before you can lead others, you must lead yourself. In every episode, we take a powerful quote, and we wrestle with it together, drawing out the hard truths and the real life leadership lessons that will help you lead with clarity, purpose, and impact. Because leadership is built one intentional choice at a time.
Dusty Holcomb:Let's get started. Steve Jobs once said, the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. And I think, well, I know that resonates deeply with anyone pursuing meaningful work.
Dusty Holcomb:But here's the challenge. Loving what you do doesn't come gift wrapped. It's not easy. It's about lining your work with your values, your deeper purpose, and truthfully, that takes time and a lot of intentional effort. You know, there's a tension every leader feels a kind of push and pull between where they are now and where they believe they're meant to be.
Dusty Holcomb:It's attention I personally experienced. And, honestly, I think everyone who strives for greatness wrestles with it. When you're in a solid role, it's so easy to coast, to settle. And I'll admit it. It doesn't feel like failing, not outwardly anyway.
Dusty Holcomb:There's comfort in the steady paycheck, respect in the title, and value in the work. But settling for me would have meant ignoring the opportunity to lead more authentically, to connect my work more closely with my purpose. It was during those moments of reflection that I started aligning my efforts with what I believed mattered most, enabling purpose in others. That shift alone radically changed my leadership. You see, meaningful work isn't just about loving what you do.
Dusty Holcomb:It's about contributing in a way that aligns with the leader you aspire to become. And I truly think for most of us, that realization comes during the climb. When you're pushing through the tension, through the doubts, trying to bring purpose into what's right in front of you. So the real question we all have to ask ourselves is this, are we settling into comfort? Or are we challenging ourselves to step forward to finally pursue the work that moves the needle in our lives and in the lives of others?
Dusty Holcomb:It's not just about talent or luck when it comes to meaningful work or impactful leadership. It's about showing up day after day, especially when the road gets tough. I've seen this play out in leaders I deeply admire. Take for instance, those who've faced really challenging environments like fast evolving industries or tough corporate turnarounds. The common thread, they didn't give up.
Dusty Holcomb:They kept stepping forward. Even when the doubts crept in or the way forward wasn't clear, they understood the climb might not offer instant rewards, but they pushed through knowing each step was shaping them into better, stronger leaders. And, you know, I've experienced this too in a very personal way, training for an Ironman race. Let me tell you, those races aren't just about physical endurance. It's about mental toughness, staying focused when fatigue is screaming at you to stop.
Dusty Holcomb:Each mile, each stroke, each climb on that bike became a lesson. I learned how to dig deep creatively, how to rely on preparation and discipline, and how to embrace the discomfort because I knew it was part of the journey to the finish line. Leadership in many ways mirrors that Ironman mindset. Sometimes the climb, those long uphill stretches, it feels endless. But that's where grit comes in.
Dusty Holcomb:It's what keeps us committed when the outcome isn't immediate, when the success isn't guaranteed, but when we know, in our gut, that what we're doing matters. The leaders who stay the course, who endure those tough seasons, are the ones who go on to lead with true impact. Let's take a step back and think about something Jim Collins emphasizes in his in his book, Good to Great. Progress, especially meaningful, sustainable progress. It happens through intentional choices.
Dusty Holcomb:For leaders, this often means viewing your current role, not as a career endpoint, but as a launchpad for something greater. And let me say, that's not just an abstract idea. It's a mindset shift that can transform how you approach every single day. You know, it's really about asking yourself, how does this role, this season fit into the bigger picture of who I'm becoming as a leader? If you're waiting for the perfect job or the dream opportunity to show up, you might be missing the incredible potential right in front of you.
Dusty Holcomb:Some of the best leaders I've worked with didn't wait for their ideal roles to lead. They built their leadership chops in whatever capacity they they had, whether that meant volunteering to tackle a tough project, solving an overlooked problem, or mentoring someone on their team. In my time at AAA, I had a lot of roles, roles that could have easily been viewed as checkpoints, you know, stepping stones. But instead, I treated them as opportunities to hone skills, embrace challenges, and think beyond what was required of me at that moment. Your present role is ripe with opportunities if you choose to see them.
Dusty Holcomb:So maybe the question for all of us should be, what can I do today right where I am to prepare for what's next? It could be auditing your work to identify areas where you've started to coast. Maybe it's asking for a stretch project, initiating a side hustle, or reframing how you view those day to day tasks as building blocks for the leader you want to become. And if you're not sure what your next best step looks like, start small. Start with something that pushes you just an inch outside of your comfort zone because honestly, that's where the growth really happens.
Dusty Holcomb:Not in giant leaps, but in small, consistent choices to step forward. At the end of the day, meaningful work happens when we refuse to settle, when we see today not as the finish line but as the foundation. And as you take these steps, choice by choice, you're building something so much bigger than a career. You're building a leadership legacy, and that, my friends, is what matters most. So as you reflect on your own journey, I want to leave you with one final thought.
Dusty Holcomb:The climb you're on may not be easy, but it's worth it. Keep showing up, keep stepping forward, and most importantly, keep climbing. And with that, we've reached the end of this episode. Thank you for joining me today. Your pursuit of meaningful work matters more than, you know.
Dusty Holcomb:Until next time, stay intentional and keep leading with purpose. That's it for today's conversation on the leadership quotient. Before you move on to whatever's next, pause. Sit with this quote. Let it work on you.
Dusty Holcomb:Leadership is shaped in these moments, the quiet decisions no one sees but you. Take this. Turn it into action. And if this resonated with you, share it with someone else on their leadership journey because we all lead better together. Until next time, lead well and lead on purpose.
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