Ryan Leak - Leveling Up: 12 Questions to Elevate Your Personal and Professional Development

Leveling Up

2022 Ryan Leak

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Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by W Publishing, an imprint of Thomas Nelson.

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ISBN 978-0-7852-6162-9 (HC)

ISBN 978-0-7852-4100-3 (eBook)

ISBN 978-0-7852-4101-0 (audiobook)

Epub Edition November 2022 978-0-78-524100-3

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022942192

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To the life and memory of Ricky Texada.

You were a voice of wisdom during the most formidable

years of building my family and career. Thank you for

always making sure I kept my eyes on what matters most.

This book wouldnt be possible without your mentorship.

CONTENTS

I have a problem.

I have this habit of telling people I can do stuff Ive never done. Like the one time my friend asked me if I could speak for their company.

I said, Sure, no problem.

She responded, Well, what about a full day of workshops? Could you lead our whole staff development day?

Confidently, I said, Of course.

Why? Why in the world would I tell her I could develop her whole staff of one hundred over the course of eight hours on a Monday when all I had ever done for anybody was deliver a sixty-minute keynote? I had no earthly idea how to pull it off, but Im so glad I accepted the assignment.

Ill never forget it. I spent one of the eight hours in the workshop on kindness. Why? Because its one of the few things you cant get a masters degree in that many companies desperately need. FYI, the company was a bank. I probably should have designed a day around leadership, customer service, and sales strategy for the twenty-first-century consumer. But for some odd reason, my friend green-lighted kindness hour. During that hour, people were tasked with going around and saying kind things to one another as I attempted to prove to this bank how kindness could change their entire business.

I kicked off the session by sharing a story with the bank about one of my favorite stores in the world. It is called the 99 Cents Only Store. What I love about the 99 Cents Only Store is that its one cent cheaper than dollar stores. Life is expensive, and I just like how the 99 Cents Only Store makes me feel. Dont judge me.

Once, I went there two days before Christmas. It was my goal to track down items that should not be ninety-nine cents. For instance, I found ankle braces that are normally forty dollars at Dicks Sporting Goods, and I asked the manager, Are these ninety-nine cents?

He replied, Sir, yes, they are ninety-nine cents.

Ive got two ankles, but I bought three. Why? Because for ninety-nine cents, why not?

I was so happy in this store that while I was in line, I told the cashier I would cover all of the items the person in front of me had at the time. She had five items. Do the math. Were at $4.95 plus tax. Its not that generous, but it was Christmas.

The woman turned around, looked at me, and said, Is this a prank?

I said, Maam, do you think people are going around doing five-dollar pranks?

She responded, Are you serious?

I said, Maam, of course. Its Christmas. Then she told me something I absolutely didnt expect.

She said, Sir, I have never had someone show me this much kindness in my whole life.

The point I made at that banks staff development day was simple: we only have to be a little kind to make a big difference. People live in a pretty mean world. What if we can change it one act of kindness at a time?

At the end of that workshop, we did a question-and-answer session. A woman stood up and said, Ryan, I dont have a question. I just want to say thank you. I grew up in a pretty volatile home. I went to a really competitive college. I just transitioned from another company where I learned that the only way to climb the ladder of success is to pull someone else off. I live in a dog-eat-dog world. But today, you taught me that I could actually get ahead in my career and in my life by being kind. I have never heard anything like that in my life. And if Im honest, I dont like the person Ive become. But today, you gave me a new way to be human. So no question for me. Just wanted to say thanks for coming.

That moment changed my life and career. I learned then that behind a coveted job title and salary was a woman just trying to figure out who she was. And I discovered there are so many more people just like her.

This realization is what led me to C-suite executive coaching. I wanted to have a career where I helped people win at work and win at home, even people who were crushing one aspect of their lives but struggling in others. Often were expected to take our careers to the next level while also attempting to manage our love lives, raise children, show up for our friends, and remain healthymind, body, and soul.

For way too long, work and life have been in this tug-of-war battle in the conversation around work-life balance. It is almost as if were being forced to pick between being good at work versus being good at life. However, contrary to popular belief, I think you can level up in your career and in your personal life at the same time.

For people who want the best of both worlds, some would say, You cant have your cake and eat it too. But who buys a cake not to eat it? I think the biggest problem is, when trying to find balance, work always gets on the scale first before life.

Billions of dollars are spent every year training employees on how to be better at work. Higher education courses are primarily designed to prepare students for their future vocations. Conferences are crafted to help leaders develop strategies to grow their careers. But how many resources are collectively spent on taking areas outside of our careers to the next level? But I believe our careers will grow when we do. Its remarkable the number of successful people who have accomplished so many of their career goals but dont have five people in the world they can truly call their friends. Theyre crushing it at work. Yet, theyre lonely in their personal lives.

Perhaps the only way to achieve work-life success is to consider putting some of our resources on the life side. In fact, if you level up in your personal life, itll make leveling up in your professional career way easier. The reverse is not true. When you put all your eggs in leveling up in your professional career, it often comes at the expense of your personal life.