An organization is more than a producer of goods or services; it is part of the fabric of the communities in which it serves. Over my nearly four decades in leadership roles in the financial, nonprofit, and public sectors, I have learned a lot about inspiring and motivating every organization's greatest asset, its people. People, in this case, includes everyone involved with the organization: its staff, of course, as well as its customers and the other stakeholders with whom it interacts in various ways.

People have always been the key to the success of any organization. That is even more true today, as technology streamlines our work while also challenging our ability to keep people engaged. Furthermore, with the current labor shortage, it is increasingly vital for organizations to attract and retain top talent.

I prefer a servant leadership style, which has suited me well in the many sectors in which I have worked. My strategic approach to growing revenue, reducing costs, and building relationships is to enable and support my team. I view my role as serving, supporting, and working for them so they have what they need for us all to succeed. We also have a lot of fun together along the way! It's about building synergy so that our entire organization's accomplishments are far greater than the sum of the individual efforts.

Through my experiences, I have identified seven timeless truths that have shaped me professionally and personally. I call these the 7 Rs of leadership and life.