Great Leaders Are Like Great Parents: Your Success is Their Legacy

Over the past seven months, we've been called to adapt and pivot, refocusing our efforts to create new beginnings that will shape our future and daily routines. This is a critical skill for any leader—it ensures we can guide, mentor, and nurture the growth of our best talent.

The way we measure leadership success is by the impact we have on others, much like a parent measures their success through the growth and achievements of their children. As leaders, we’re not just responsible for holding people accountable—we are mentors who inspire, guide, and stand by our teams, through the good and the bad.

At the end of the day, when we see the fruits of our guidance in action, it’s truly rewarding.

A Personal Reflection on Leadership

My wife and I are blessed with four wonderful children, each with their own unique journey, especially during the challenging times of the pandemic. They’ve faced adversity head-on and demonstrated resilience, determination, and the ability to pivot when things didn’t go as planned.

Here are just a few examples of how they’ve turned challenges into opportunities:

• Our first son graduated college with a degree in exercise science, only to face job loss due to the pandemic. Instead of dwelling on the setback, he pivoted into a career in medical equipment sales, researching the field and using us as resources to guide his path.
• Our second son had his college internship cancelled, but he didn’t let that stop him. He took the initiative to find a new opportunity through LinkedIn, ultimately securing a position in New Hampshire that allowed him to stay on track with his finance degree.
• Our third son faced the disappointment of a cancelled prom and graduation, but we turned this into an opportunity to bring the community together for a safe, memorable celebration. His entrepreneurial spirit shone through as he started his own moving service business while transitioning to virtual learning.
• Our daughter, despite the challenges of online schooling, embraced the change with grace and perseverance. She was re-elected to the student council, named co-captain of the track team, and earned her driver’s license—while juggling a part-time job and volunteering for the first aid squad.

Each of our children has demonstrated the resilience to pivot in tough circumstances, an invaluable skill for both personal and professional growth.

Mentoring the Next Generation

The joy of being a leader lies in being able to:

• Listen and understand how someone can pivot into a new role or opportunity.
• Mentor them to realize their full potential and push past any self-doubt.
• Outline the pros and cons of taking the next step in their journey.
• Inspire them to think outside the box and embrace new possibilities.
• Create a targeted plan to reach their goals.
• Celebrate success as a team.

Leadership is about guiding others through their obstacles and challenges, not by shielding them from difficulty but by helping them overcome it.

The Leadership Quote that Resonates

As John Maxwell says, "A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way."

We, as leaders, can’t afford to stand idle and wait for change. We must remain resilient, pivot when necessary, and guide others to create their own destinies. Whether in our families or in the workplace, our success is measured by the success of those we lead.

No matter what the future holds, I am certain that my children’s success will be a direct reflection of the guidance and mentorship they’ve received. And in that, their success will always be our success.