Hey there!

I've been sitting with this powerful quote from Confucius lately: "We have two lives, and the second begins when we realize we only have one."

You know that moment when something just clicks? For years, I was that person chasing the next achievement, the next recognition, always looking ahead to what was around the corner. This has changed slightly for me. Don't get me wrong – having goals still energizes me, but something has shifted in how I think about success.

These days, I find my greatest joy in supporting others and being a "servant leader" – someone who's genuinely invested in lifting others up.

Whether I'm working with leaders at my client companies or connecting with the incredible community of over 1900 leaders at StartupExperts, nothing beats the feeling of watching someone unlock their full potential. Sometimes it's as simple as helping someone gain confidence in their daily work, other times it's supporting them through a career-defining job search, or even guiding them toward better earning potential through AI proficiency training.

The beautiful irony? In focusing less on my own achievements and more on others' success, I've discovered a deeper sense of purpose and feel that my days are more rewarding. The quote by Confucius reminds me that we truly have just one life to live, and I'm choosing to spend mine on what brings real, lasting joy – helping others shine. And ironically, this "shining" concept is built into the name of the organization that my 17-year old daughter created called Shine! Girls Leadership. She's helping girls gain leadership skills and AI confidence. And she's still very much in the achieving phase of her life so it'll likely be many years before that Confucius quote hits home and she follows her true passions.

I'm excited to share more of these reflections with you through this Field Guide. Consider this our informal coffee chat, where I'll be sharing thoughts on leadership, growth, and the occasional revelation that makes us pause and think differently about our unique and individual journeys. Do you have any reflections to share?

Warmly, Jesse