Shaped by Sacrifice: How a Soldier's Death Forged a Mission-Driven Leader

A leader is many things, but most importantly, a leader should be someone willing to take accountability, even if some things are out of their control. A great leader should have the ability to prove that actions speak louder than words. In this week's episode, we have the absolute pleasure of conversing with an exceptional author, keynote speaker, Pat Tilman Military Scholar, and founder of Loyalty Point Leadership, Patrick Nelson. He is an accomplished leader who served in the US Army as a paratrooper for nearly seven years and led soldiers on three combat missions. His military awards include the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart Medal. Patrick is an engaging facilitator who has conducted leadership development programs for a wide range of customers, including Fortune 500 companies and small enterprises from various industries. During one of his deployments, his failures as a leader resulted in one of his comrades being killed in combat. This life-changing experience led him on a quest to help others avoid making the same mistakes. Join us as we talk about how failure can lead you to be an exceptional leader. Starting the conversation, Patrick kindly shares his childhood background and the reason behind his joining the US Army. Then he explains some of the misconceptions the world has about the people and culture in Iraq and Afghanistan, along with the reasons why sovereign countries that go into these countries repeat the same mistakes. We turn our attention to the 'Pride Factor', where people don't like being told that they are doing something wrong and how that affects the safety culture in construction. It's important that we develop relationships in the workplace because, in an industry like construction, where safety is a huge concern, there have to be people who care about your welfare. We talk about the value of developing a work culture where people care about the well-being of others. Furthermore, Patrick shares his knowledge on developing leadership skills along with some leadership lessons that he learned from the military that are applicable to construction.   EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS [02.40] Patrick's childhood and the journey to the US military.  [05.12] Parachute training. [09.06] The misconceptions that the world has regarding Afghanistan and Iraq. [15.31] The sense of community.  [17.22] Ego and safety in construction.  [21.02] The reasons behind safety failures that are preventable.   [23.00] The importance of developing relationships in the workplace.  [26.15] Safety Stump Speech.  [31.22] Opioids addiction recovery.  [33.01] Leadership lessons from the military.  [36.40] Is leadership an innate skill or a developed skill?   [40.00] Forward-looking accountability.  [42.28] Accountability of a leader.  TIPS & TOOLS TO IMPLEMENT TODAY Actions speak louder than words. Luck is not on our side all the time. You are going to run out of luck eventually.  Develop relationships with people who you are working with. You have to be able to lead yourself first if you want people to follow you.  While we can all learn, grow, and acquire most of the qualities, not everyone is destined to be a great leader.    Are people problems eroding your company's profits? Discover proven strategies to lead, strategize, and sell effectively, ensuring your projects stay profitable. Elevate your construction business by purchasing Construction Genius: Effective, Hands-On, Practical, Simple, No-BS Leadership, Strategy, Sales, and Marketing Advice for Construction Companies today and turn your people problems into profit!: https://www.amazon.com/Construction-Genius-Effective-Hands-Leadership/dp/B0BHTRDY1T/ Is an executive or leader in your company struggling? Reach out to Eric to discuss how his transformative executive approach can help. Schedule a 10 minute call with Eric today to learn more: 10minuteswitheric.youcanbook.me   RESOURCES Connect with Patrick Nelson LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/patrick-nelson-b2964b1b/  Website - loyaltypointleadership.com/    Written by Patrick Nelson Front-Line Leadership: How to Eliminate Complacency and Build All-In Engagement amazon.com/Front-Line-Leadership-Complacency-All-Engagement/dp/1394240759