Like most people, I had no leadership training when I started to lead.
I was a high school English teacher when, in 2005, I set out to disrupt the plastic bag industry by starting a company to sell reusable grocery bags. I had no leadership training and no business experience—just a purpose and determination.
My first year in business while I was still teaching, I sold a quarter-million reusable bags. In year two, I quit teaching and sold 2 million bags. In year three, I sold 8 million bags. Over the next 12 years, I remained a top supplier and led a team of 200+. Then I sold the company, published a book, and gave a TEDx Talk.
The real advantage wasn’t luck—it was a set of practical leadership skills: building trust and respect, leading with confidence and humility, aligning people clearly, and making decisions with self-awareness to get buy-in from the whole team. That’s what researchers call emotional intelligence. Now, as a leadership coach, I help leaders apply the same skills to raise performance. help you develop a customized plan to increase your organization’s overall performance.
Resources for Leadership Development
I offer a lot of resources for people looking for leadership development.
- If you are browsing topics for self-help, browse my blog.
- If you are looking for services or events, check out services.
- If you are exploring coaching, start wtih How to Find a Business Coach that’s Right for You.
- If you want actionable tips for self-improvmement right now, take my 3-minute Leadership Quiz Audit to get personalized results in 5 key leadership skills and quick tips to improve today.