“If you measure the success of your leadership solely on the volume of people or dollars under your direction, you will fail to find the fulfillment and purpose of your life. Leading well the people closest to you will be significantly more rewarding. When your inner circle experiences the integrity of your leadership in the darkest and brightest moments your influence. Will be profoundly deeper and longer lasting.” J Loren Norris

“One of the biggest challenges for leaders who are human is to live with a strict rule for justice. Why?? Because humans build relationships, create bonds, share likenesses and affinities with specific people. This makes leading with equal treatment a matter of significant discipline, awareness and integrity. Justice also demands compassion when circumstances would give rise to an exception to treatment different from historically applied.” J Loren Norris

“Promises are made to be kept if you’re a good leader. The cost of keeping your promises can be high financially, relationally and emotionally. But the greatest cost to keep your promise may be nothing more than convenience. Leaders who make a habit of breaking  commitments just for convenience are selfish and won’t be trusted for long.” J Loren Norris

​“It’s one thing to admit your faults. It’s another thing altogether to take a firm stand for your decisions when you know there will be fall out because a tough decision you made is so unpopular, even if it’s the right decision. Owning your experience is more than quoting platitudes. Ownership leads to solid decisions which most people have opinions on, but they are not qualified to make themselves.” J Loren Norris

​“The story is the narrative and the narrative is a driven message used to manipulate the past, criticize or endorse the present and direct the future. If the results of the narrative are negative and dangerous then leaders should be challenging the narrative with a positive story strong enough to restore hope!” J Loren Norris

”The favorite tool of tyrants is fear. Fear creates unpredictability, insecurity, confusion and eventually submission. When people live in fear, they are easier to control, especially if you can convince them you have the only solution to defeat what they fear. This tactic has been used in families, religion and politics since the dawn of time. The real win exists when leaders employ stories of hope and victory as evidence of another solution.” J Loren Norris

“It’s more than just a win of the contest, the competition, the moment. Its a WIN for the discipline, the dedication, the devotion, the hard work, the sacrifice required to earn the win. Leaders must be bold enough to call out the best in those they lead. We all must be willing to sacrifice if we want to see the gains and growth required to win the biggest prizes, contracts, opportunities. Success is ALWAYS uphill. Strive harder knowing that your WIN inspires hope for others who are just about to quit!” J Loren Norris

“When you meet a stranger and begin the process of getting to know each other, background stories are essential. These stories tell us of common ground, common interests, common experiences and common ideas. These stories also reveal significant differences in all of these areas. The power of your story to challenge the status quo and misunderstandings is profound. The stories of those you lead have the same power to open your mind and shift your perspective.” J Loren Norris

“The reality of sources and resources being manipulated to control or promote a specific agenda deeply impacts the role of every leader. Research is essential to a leaders success. Accurate information and alignment of world views is critical to survival.” J Loren Norris

“We have heard stories all of our lives which inform the way we think and feel about ourselves and others. ‘Big girls don’t cry.’ ‘Real men don’t cry.’ ‘Look how you made me feel.’ All of these comments and sentiments likely harken back to a moment in your life. The incident, the relationship, the emotional drama which surrounded the very moment are as fresh as if it happened yesterday. Leaders must be aware not only of their own stories, but of the stories of anyone on their team which influence the attitude of daily behavior.” J Loren Norris

“There are team mates who have an agenda other than the success of the team. These people often has strong skills, great talent, admirable results and an ego larger than life. These peoples also have one potential devastating reaction to their jealousy of playing a supporting role to your success: they would rather sink the ship than serve in any role other than ‘Captain’.” J Loren Norris

“Every leader who influences others must understand the limit to their influence. Sometimes its based on character flaws of the leader. Sometimes its the limited knowledge of the leader. Sometimes its the existing influences of longer held and valued relationships. What causes those you lead to gather together? Is it just work? Is it family? Is it another common interest? Don’t speak out of turn just because you are the ‘leader’ of certain circles, it could end your right to influence.” J Loren Norris

“Nothing happening today in cultures, companies, and classrooms is a surprise if you know how to read the signs. “The philosophy of the classroom in this generation will be the philosophy of government in the next.” Abraham Lincoln The ideas which have been brooding in the kindergarten and colleges around the world have become the ideas of those who govern us. Leaders who cherish a nation which offers the greatest diversity, opportunity, equality and freedom in human history should speak up about true history.” J Loren Norris

“Whether a leader is the first voice to speak or the last voice of hope, it should be in the compassionate heart of the leader to listen up and speak up. Too many people are looking to self harm or even self destructive behavior because of stress, anxiety and self image who could have been helped if a leader (any person of influence in their life) had spoken a kind word. Learn to listen to the diverse languages of pain and fear, then speak the language of hope - that’s what your influence is for!” J Loren Norris

“If you are a leader who is not aware of politics in your team, you are blind or delusional. Politics exist everywhere humans interact. The real question is, have you learned to separate politics from real issues? Do you as a leader know what the antidote is to political maneuvering and manipulation? Do you know how to lead free of the influence of unwanted politics? Watch the video.” J Loren Norris

“Nothing is harder for a leader than outgrowing their friends and family on their journey to success. Good leaders know that it is inevitable. As the saying goes, ‘The thinking that got you here will not get you there.’ It is true of friends in many cases. The circle that got you to your current level of success may not be wise affiliates at the next level. Be ready for tough conversations and necessary endings as you move on to success.” J Loren Norris

“The greatest idea a leader can propose can be overwhelmed, defeated, dismissed by a narrative of the existing ‘status-quo’. Anytime the way things are has a better story than the change proposed, the reluctance to change remains. Any time the pain to change is more than the pain to stay the same - things will not change. If you want buy-in and participation in a new idea, start with a strong narrative of the benefits of what the better future will be.” J Loren Norris

”Like being in the dark or being out of focus, is a leader who is not relevant to the crowd they are leading or addressing. Too often, leaders feel like what they desire to convey is important to everyone just because they said it. Not true. The digital age makes communication simple to access for billions of people. Many have a growing audience, known as influence, but they have little relevance in the lives of other. Their influence makes them leaders, their opinion alone DOES NOT make them relevant.” J Loren Norris

“Leaders who will not own their behavior or the results of their behavior will become a destructive force in any environment. The damage left in the wake of an immature and careless leader can be costly in terms of financial devastation as well as damaged relationships, career opportunities, brand reputation, and legacy.” J Loren Norris

“Fear is a factor in leadership. Some use it to control others, but some leaders are stopped in their tracks by fear they try to ignore.. Do your own research, know the facts, overcome the narrative of the internal fear before it stops your path to success.” J Loren Norris

“To assume is never a good thing. Here’s one assumption leaders make in error regularly. To assume that a few data points, statistics or facts as you can prove them will create a mental u-turn for people following a false narrative is a disastrous assumption. How then do you overcome a negative narrative that is destroying your brand, your productivity, your company or your community? Watch the video to find out!” J Loren Norris

“Motivating people to participate at a high level requires an understanding of why people come together to begin with. Are they gathering for a check, a cause, the environment they gather in? Do they gather because they are sold out to your vision? Would they show up of you haven’t paid them for three weeks? When you know why they gather, motivating them will be much easier!” J Loren Norris

“The meaning of hard work goes way beyond the definition. The definition even varies based on the vocation or education of the worker. It is my experience having done both manual labor jobs and intellectually taxing jobs, the really hard work is the thinking work. Leaders must do that work, often behind the scenes. Watch the video to understand why and what that work consists of for a good leader.” J Loren Norris

“Leaders who seek only authority and power and yet ignore responsibility could be called corrupt leaders. Leaders who use power and authority to benefit themselves and those they favor, and also treat others with disregard, also corrupt leaders. Supervisor, boss, company owner, shift manager, elected official, if you are a leader with one of these titles and you choose to execute your authority to the detriment of others, you need to take time to ask yourself, ‘Am I corrupt?’” J Loren Norris

“A lack of grace is a devastating quality for leadership development. Leaders who know the meaning of grace, understand the need for grace and exhibit grace with team mates and strangers generously will find their level of influence and authority growing consistently. Leaders without grace, or who operate disgracefully won’t lead for long.” J Loren Norris