Episode Details

Mike Erwin: Lead Yourself First

Mike Erwin is the CEO of the Character & Leadership Center and the Founder and President of The Positivity Project, a non-profit organization with the mission to help America’s youth build stronger relationships by recognizing the character strengths in themselves and others. He is the co-author of the book Lead Yourself First: Inspiring Leadership Through Solitude*.

Key Points

• Solitude helps both in intense thinking and also in giving the brain a chance to quiet down.
• It’s hard to think intensively with a lot going on around you.
• Even extroverts can benefit from solitude.
• Start small. Just find a few minutes throughout the day to build a habit of solitude.
• Social media and solitude can coexist.

The four ways solitude benefits leaders:

1. Clarity
2. Creativity
3. Moral Courage
4. Emotional Balance

Resources Mentioned

• Lead Yourself First: Inspiring Leadership Through Solitude* by Raymond M. Kethledge and Mike Erwin
• The Character & Leadership Center
• Team Red, White, & Blue
• The Positivity Project

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