EMPOWERING TO LEAD.COM
Empowering Leaders. Inspiring Growth. Building Community.
Seize each moment. Maximize each day. Learn, Grow, Do... Repeat.
Hello! Welcome to my blog where I share principles, processes, structures and practices to empower leaders towards greater effectiveness. Whether you are a seasoned leader looking to ‘sharpen the saw’ or a newer leader just getting started on your leadership journey this blog has something for you. Empowering others to lead has added such value to my life, and I love having the opportunity to build a community of learning leaders with a shared interest in continuous improvement. Let's grow together!
HOW TO USE THIS BLOG
YOUR TIME IS VALUABLE
(1) So each post takes about one-minute to read.
(2) Blog posts are organized by topics so you can easily locate the ‘right now’ insight to enhance your leadership effectiveness.
(3) Add comments to posts and become a member of our community of learning leaders. The greatest insights come from collective expertise.
(4) Check out our Monthly Leadership Profile and Read for a deeper leadership dive and reflection.
MAY LEADERSHIP PROFILE
Douglas A. Smith
Douglas A. Smith is a former business leader, now relishing the second half of life as a consultant, speaker, teacher, writer and business co-founder. In his previous life, Doug served as CEO of Kraft Foods Canada, Chairman/CEO of Borden Foods Corporation and Chairman/CEO of Best Brands Corporation.
After being diagnosed with a life-threatening illness and resigning from active business leadership, Doug discovered a new fascination with what leads to "a considered and consequential life." This second half purpose led Doug to learn, teach and write about happiness and the ability thrive, particularly in the second half of life.
Doug believes that the second half of life invites us to experience new growth such that we live an even more fulfilling life. Since 2004, he has dedicated himself to learning about, practicing and sharing that which enables people to live and lead abundantly. For the past seven years, he has taught the most popular winter term course at DePauw University: The Skills of Happiness. He frequently lectures at Canyon Ranch in Lenox, Massachusetts and Tucson, Arizona. He is a sought after speaker for corporate and education events and conferences on both happiness and leadership. Doug does this without compensation, but requires a meaningful donation to cancer research, in return for his work.
Doug has authored two books: Happiness: The Art of living with Peace Confidence and Joy in 2014 and, with Ken Murphy, Thriving in the Second Half of life in 2020.
Doug's favorite Leadership Quote:
“Humans have an innate capability to dream, think and most importantly ACT in a collective cohesive way to achieve most anything they can conceive. Leadership is the act of enabling this capability.”
-Doug A. Smith
Gallery of Leaders
Keep in touch with the leaders we have profiled. These trailblazers continue to set the pace in their respective fields of expertise.
YOU ARE WHAT YOU READ
LEADERSHIP READ OF THE MONTH
Thriving in the Second Half of Life
-Douglas A. Smith
To live a full life, to thrive, the second half of life must be different than the first half. But often the invitation to the second half isn’t all that attractive. A setback at work, the children leaving home, a divorce, a disturbing health diagnosis, loss of loved ones … these all signal a need to reconsider our life choices and priorities.
TODD ANTHONY WALKER
As a chief officer, advocate and educator it is clear to me that leadership matters. I started Empowering to Lead with the goal of offering readers a glimpse into my thoughts and experiences about leadership. What started out as weekly posts has evolved into a dynamic site packed with information about various leadership topics that are near and dear to me. Take some time to explore the blog and see for yourself what sparks your next level of growth. Read on and lean in!
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