Green Beret Lessons in Leadership with Jan Rutherford

Show Your Value with Lee Benson

I had the privilege of sitting down with Jan Rutherford, the founder of Self-Reliant Leadership and a former Green Beret, to explore the deep connection between self-reliance, leadership, and personal fulfillment. Jan’s journey from a 17-year-old entering Special Forces to becoming a seasoned business executive is a testament to the transformative power of overcoming adversity. There are some big lessons in the conversation that will add a lot of value to your life, be it personal or business.
What We Talk About:
- Self-Reliance is the Foundation of Leadership: One of the most impactful insights Jan shared is that leadership truly starts with self-reliance. As he put it, “If you're not squared away if you're not self-reliant, you are reliant on other people. And I always say that if you can't lead yourself, you can't lead others, you can't lead organizations.”
- Finding Purpose and Meaning is Essential: Jan emphasized the responsibility leaders have to help others find purpose in their work and discover it for themselves. Leaders and CEOs must help their teams and those around them find purpose and meaning in what they do.
- Adversity Builds Character and Resilience: Through our discussion, it became clear that struggles and challenges are not only unavoidable but essential in shaping effective leaders. Adversity and discipline shape us, and the more shaped we are, the more value we can add to the world.
This conversation with Jan will challenge your views on leadership and inspire you to create more value in every aspect of your life. Ready to become a leader people look up to? Then you won’t want to miss this episode!
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