Guard Your Gates
THE BLOG
Tag: Leadership
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Irresistible Leadership: The Power of Presence Over Position
Irresistible Leadership: The Power of Presence Over Position By Rod Patterson, MBA What Makes Leadership Irresistible? When I speak of irresistibility, I often begin with my role as a husband—devoted for the past 34 years to making myself irresistible to my Queen. That same intentionality has shaped how I show up as a father, and…
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KEEP GOING
Watching your huge lead evaporate is painful. Seeing someone else lose momentum is just as bad. Momentum in sports is like a wave—once it starts rolling, it’s hard to stop. The New York Knicks proved this in their stunning comeback against the Boston Celtics in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Boston dominated early,…
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HEADWINDS
By Rod Patterson, MBA There is no doubt that the movement to make the corporate playing field more diverse has an uphill climb in the coming years. In Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s book, “Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?” he shared an exchange he had on a flight from the United…
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DEFYING GRAVITY
Gravity is an invisible force that pulls everything down, anchoring us to the earth. I felt that force for three years, and yet, in 2024, I experienced a personal triumph that defied this gravitational pull—I graduated with my MBA. In a graduating class filled with brilliant Generation Z students, I felt out of place. A…
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Rod Speaks: Change
Season two episode Eleven of the “Guard Your Gates” blog is now live! In this episode, we share a clip of Rod’s interview on The Ed Walker Network where he shared his thoughts on change.
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Are You Knight Worthy?
In one of the most memorable scenes from Game of Thrones, we witness Jaime Lannister knight Brienne of Tarth, breaking traditional norms and recognizing her true worth. Jaime’s words resonate deeply: “In the name of the warrior, I charge you to be Brave. In the name of the father, I charge you to be just.…
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Feeling Thinking Doing
There are moments when overlooking an offense is not an option. You must take action or speak up. This is crucial because silence or inaction can have a significant impact on the broader community.
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Yertle, Mack, and The Stack
Mack and the Burp Effect In the midst of ongoing protests sparked by the unjust murders of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, and other African Americans, I stumbled upon a profound story that resonated deeply with me. Dr. Seuss’ “Yertle the Turtle” unveiled a thought-provoking tale about power, ambition, and the courage to stand…
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DREAM SMALL?
“Dream small” has been my mantra for the past few years. We are always taught to DREAM BIG, and it’s not wrong. Just as it is not wrong to also dream small. I know that dreaming small is not popular. Sports fans don’t say, “Go small or go home.” But dreaming small has so many…
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HULK SMASH
Do you know any insurance professionals with a strong, domineering personality? Their presence and force of will impact the success of the team or organization with standout results. Their personality is their super power. However, like any power, it can be used for good or evil. They can inspire, motivate, guide, mentor, and so much…
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