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February 2025
The Courage to Lead
How to Embrace Vulnerability and Authenticity to Become a True Leader
off that internal dialogue and fully absorbing what the other person is saying. It’s not about me; it’s about them. When people feel genuinely heard, it changes everything. They stop repeating themselves, and the conversation reaches a level of trust and connection that can’t be faked. Listening isn’t just a skill you learn and can use on autopilot — it’s a gift. And like any gift, it takes practice to give it well. Another challenging lesson has been wrestling with the need to “look good.” It’s human nature to want to be seen as capable and in control. But when I focus too much on appearances, I lose the authenticity that makes true leadership possible. People don’t connect with perfection — they connect with vulnerability. Admitting when I’ve been wrong, when I’ve fallen short, or when I’ve been inauthentic opens the door to genuine relationships. When it comes to homework, the program’s assignments have been surprisingly profound. One asked us to live as if everything matters. Whether it’s leaving a public restroom cleaner than I found it or tidying up my workspace, this practice reminds me that even small actions can have ripple effects. Another task was to stop self-deprecating when things went wrong. Instead of retreating into criticism, I’ve learned to face problems head-on with action. Looking back on my six-month journey, I’m reminded it’s never too late to become the leader I aspire to be. One of history’s greatest thinkers, philosopher Immanuel Kant, didn’t publish his first major work and lead the world of Western philosophy until he was already 57 years old. Leadership isn’t a destination — it’s a continuous process of learning, unlearning, and relearning. This National Leadership Day, I’m grateful for the growth I’ve experienced and for the people who’ve inspired me along the way. Leadership isn’t about perfection or knowing all the answers. It’s about showing up, listening deeply, and committing to the work every single day. As I take what I’ve learned into the future, I’m more determined than ever to lead with integrity, authenticity, and heart. Ultimately, that’s what real leadership is all about.
It feels fitting that National Leadership Day falls just as I wrap up a six-month leadership development program. This journey has been anything but easy, but it’s been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. Since it began in September, the program has demanded long weekends, weekly classes, and plenty of reflection on what it means to lead with integrity, authenticity, and purpose. As it finally comes to a close this February, I’ve realized leadership isn’t just about making decisions or steering a team. It’s about who you are at your core and how you show up for others — even when it’s uncomfortable. One of the first lessons we tackled was the concept of integrity. It’s a word that gets tossed around a lot, but here’s the truth: Without integrity, nothing works. It’s like gravity. You can ignore it, but it won’t ignore you. Integrity is about keeping your word, following through on commitments, and owning it when you fall short. I’ve learned that growth comes from stepping into challenges and knowing that breakdowns are inevitable. The real work begins when those breakdowns happen — when I have to confront why I missed the mark, peel back the layers of excuses, and face the uncomfortable truths about myself. Growth doesn’t happen without a little discomfort, and leadership requires the courage to look in the mirror. Listening has been another revelation for me. I realized that I often listened just enough to start crafting my response in my head. Through this program, I’ve learned real listening means shutting
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Bizarre Child Care Trends From the Past That Didn’t Age Well!
You’re Never Too Young for Tripe (1950s)
They say the truth is stranger than fiction, and that couldn’t be truer in the world of parenting. However, keep in mind that what’s strange to us now wasn’t odd back then. In fact, it was “the norm”! So, fasten your seatbelt and enjoy a journey back in time to look at the strange child care styles of yesteryear. Baby Travel Made Easy (1950s) A perk of traveling with a baby is that the baby stays in the parent’s lap the entire flight without paying for an extra seat, right? Well, in the 1950s, British Overseas Airways Corp felt that babies sitting in their mother’s laps the entire flight was a problem needing a solution: The Sky Cot. This travel contraption was fastened to the overhead luggage rack with a protective net to keep the baby secure during turbulence, giving a whole new meaning to “the sky is the limit.”
Parents now generally feed babies milk for at least the first six months of their lives before introducing them to solid food. However, in the 1950s, parents weaned babies off milk at four months and started them on solid foods — one of those foods being tripe, the stomach lining of cows, pigs, and other farm animals. Bon appétit! Baby Cages for Fresh Air (1930s) Back in the 1930s, when parents felt their babies needed fresh air, all they had to do was put them in a cage that hung outside their window. These terrifying baby porches were for children living in tall buildings in the city. At least they didn’t have to go down countless flights of stairs for fresh air.
No Country for ‘Lefties’ (1910s) Being born left-handed was once considered a characteristic of a defiant personality and something parents should train out of children. Treatment often included painful braces to restrain the use of the left hand, forcing children to make their right hand dominant. Parenting trends and child care standards have changed with every generation, but it’s safe to say certain child care techniques from previous generations are much better left in the past.
CAUGHT IN THE CLOUD
How One Thief’s Selfie Landed Him in Hot Water
(and comedy lovers everywhere), he uploaded this gem to the cloud.
not-so-well-intentioned young men with a half-baked plan.
In what could be a plot twist straight out of a sitcom, a brazen thief turned himself into an unwitting internet star after his phone-snatching heist went incredibly wrong. Picture this: A cool evening, a group of movie-goers casually strolling down their Houston neighborhood looking forward to a bucket of popcorn and a new blockbuster. Enter stage left: three
Thanks to his cloud-cast snafu, the authorities could get a full image of the newly minted most wanted. You could almost hear his fellow thieves’ facepalms as the video debuted on the victim’s account. The Houston Police promptly uploaded Mr. Selfie Bandit’s solo performance to their YouTube channel. Now, they’re hoping this unexpected audition tape will help put the fool of a thief behind bars. So, let this be a lesson to all would-be criminals: If you must commit a crime, maybe leave the selfies and social media out of it. We guess it’s true that not everyone is cut out for a life in front of the camera, especially when it leads straight to the slammer.
The trio of misguided musketeers approached the unsuspecting group with violent bravado. Brandishing a handgun, one of the alleged culprits demanded the victims’ phones and their respective passcodes. They even escalated the drama by pressing the gun to one victim’s head, threatening a finale no one wanted to see. Then, the robbers fled in their four-door white sedan, stolen wallets and phones in tow. But here comes the comic relief! In a blunder no one saw coming, one of the criminal “masterminds” decided it was his time to shine. He recorded a video of himself tossing gang signs and flaunting his newly stolen phone. Unfortunately for him, but luckily for law enforcement
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BRAIN GAMES
Chore-Time Reinvented
Turn Daily Chores Into Lessons in Responsibility and Teamwork
Chores can be an incredible tool for teaching children structure, discipline, and responsibility, all while keeping the home tidy and organized. The real challenge is getting your kids to actually do them. Here’s how to make chore time a positive, structured part of your family’s daily routine. Set the tone with timed tasks. Kick off chore time with a family-wide alarm each evening. This simple signal is a fun reminder that it’s time to tidy up together. This method helps eliminate having to nag and transforms chore time into a routine team effort, reinforcing the value of responsibility and teamwork. Assign age-appropriate chores. Providing children with tasks that match their developmental stage is crucial in promoting independence. Here are some suggestions on how to align chores with age: • Toddlers (ages 2–3) can help with simple tasks like putting toys away and filling the pet’s food dish, which is great for developing early motor skills. • Preschoolers (ages 4–5) can handle slightly more complex jobs, such as making their bed and helping clear the dinner table, which teaches them about daily routines and basic organizational skills. • Elementary kids (ages 6–7) can start taking on responsibilities that affect the whole family, such as setting the table and sorting laundry, helping them understand teamwork and household dynamics. • Older children (ages 8–9) are ready to contribute more significantly by loading the dishwasher and helping prepare simple meals, skills that teach planning and basic cooking. • Pre-teens and teens (ages 10 and older) can manage most household chores, including laundry and babysitting younger siblings, preparing them for future independence. Track chores creatively. Use chore charts, jars, or wheels to track tasks visually, helping kids stay organized. These tools make it easy to see what they’ve accomplished and what they still need to do, adding a layer of accountability and accomplishment to daily chores. Search online for templates and examples to spark your creativity! Consistency is key. Make chores a non-negotiable part of the day to solidify the routine. Even when enthusiasm wanes, maintaining consistency ensures children understand the importance of daily contributions to family life. Regularly review and adjust chores to keep them age-appropriate and engaging. Integrating fun, structure, and discipline through chores helps keep your home orderly and instills lifelong values in your children, setting the foundation for responsible, well-rounded individuals.
SOLUTION
Skillet Chicken in Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce
Inspired by LeCremeDeLaCrumb.com
• 2 tbsp butter • 5 boneless, Ingredients
• 2/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese,
plus more for serving
skinless chicken thighs • 3 garlic cloves, minced • 2 tbsp herbes de Provence • 3/4 cup canned sun-dried
• 2 tbsp lemon juice • 1/4 cup pine nuts • 1 cup spinach
tomatoes, drained and julienned
• Fresh thyme, for topping • Salt and pepper to taste • Cooked rice or linguine, for serving
• 1 cup chicken broth • 1/2 cup heavy cream
Directions 1. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken and cook for 7–8 minutes until browned and cooked through. Remove and set aside. 2. In the same pan, add garlic, herbes de Provence, tomatoes, chicken broth, cream, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, pine nuts, and spinach and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, and stir periodically until thickened and spinach is wilted, about 3 minutes. 3. Return chicken to the pan and top with salt, pepper, more Parmesan cheese, and thyme, and serve over rice or linguine.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1
Breakdowns to Breakthroughs: Lessons Learned From a 6-Month Journey
2
Parenting Styles Through the Years
Thief’s Selfie Mistake Turns Into Viral Sensation
3
Skillet Chicken in Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce
Master the Art of Chore Scheduling for Kids at Every Age
4
Marilyn Manson’s Explosive Plea Deal
BODILY FLUIDS AND BAD BEHAVIOR What Happened at Marilyn Manson’s Gilford Concert?
proceeded to kneel toward her, covered one nostril, and blew his open nostril on her arms and hands. According to a police sergeant who viewed the concert video footage, “Manson blows a significant amount of mucus at Fountain,” he said — the camera view then changed and showed Manson pointing and laughing at Fountain before she walked away. His attorney, Kent Barker, wrote that Manson’s performances over the past two decades have been known to include evocative and shocking stunts like his actions at the New Hampshire concert. Barker further explained that since the victim knew about Manson’s unorthodox performances, she ultimately consented to exposing herself to such bodily fluids.
Marilyn Manson, gothic rock’s favorite artist, sent shockwaves through the media again, but not for his usual controversial stage presence and music lyrics. This time, he found himself facing two misdemeanor counts of simple assault. The origins of the encounter stemmed from a concert at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion in Gilford on Aug. 19, 2019. Manson, whose real name is Brian Warner, pleaded no contest to blowing his nose on videographer Susan Fountain, who also alleged that he spit on her. Prosecutors ultimately dismissed that charge. The police affidavit stated that Manson approached the videographer in the venue’s stage pit area, leaned in close to her camera, and then spit a “big lougee” at her. Saliva landed on both her hands. Later, he approached her again and
Photo: Livioandronico2013
Fountain didn’t attend the trial but submitted a statement outlining that
Manson’s actions toward her were “the most disgusting thing a human has ever done.”
The judge in the case called Manson’s acts “egregious.” As part of his plea deal, Manson was fined $1,200. As a further stipulation, the rock star needed to notify local police of any performances in New Hampshire in the next two years and be free from any more arrests. This case is undoubtedly one for the books. Manson returned to the stage in 2024 for a short tour — though he held no concerts in New Hampshire.
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The Unexpected Benefits of Creating Your Business Succession Plan Now
your business’s longevity. This sends a powerful message to your team: Their future is secure, even in times of transition. Employees are more likely to trust leadership when they see a road map for continuity. Such trust translates into enhanced morale, loyalty, and a motivated workforce. When employees feel confident about the company’s direction and their roles within it, they perform at their best, driving business growth and resilience.
As a business owner, you’re accustomed to navigating the complexities of day-to-day operations and strategic planning. But amidst the hustle, one essential task often gets overlooked: creating a business succession plan. Far from being a distant concern, a well- thought-out succession plan offers immediate and unexpected benefits for your company, team, and family. Fostering Trust and Stability Within Your Team Taking proactive steps to craft a succession plan demonstrates foresight and dedication to
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... continued from Front
today. Identifying and grooming future leaders — whether key employees or family members — motivates them to step up and excel in their roles. Investing in leadership development builds a culture of growth and commitment. When individuals see a clear path to advancement, they’re inspired to bring their best efforts to the table. This results in higher productivity and positions your business for ongoing success.
Turning Planning Into an Immediate Advantage
The process of succession planning often uncovers valuable insights into your business operations, revealing opportunities for optimization and growth. It encourages a deep dive into your organization’s strengths and areas for improvement, giving you a competitive edge today while preparing for tomorrow. Take the Next Step Creating a business succession plan is more than just a safety net; it’s a strategic tool that benefits your business, team, and family in tangible ways. To learn how to start your plan and avoid common pitfalls, download our free resource: “How to Prepare Your Business Succession Plan.”
Reassuring Your Family’s Future Beyond the workplace, your succession plan reassures your family of their financial and emotional security. Life is unpredictable, and having a clear plan ensures your loved ones won’t face unnecessary uncertainty or conflict in your absence. This act of planning reflects your care and responsibility as a leader and a family member. By addressing potential challenges head-on, you protect your family from undue stress, fostering peace of mind for everyone involved. Inspiring and Developing Future Leaders A succession plan isn’t just about preparing for the future; it actively strengthens your business
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