Blessings and Lessons in Leadership: My Dad's Legacy

Hey Friend,

This past week has been one of the hardest of my life. My Dad passed away a week ago today. He fought a long and courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease. As a Daddy’s girl, watching him struggle was painful. Parkinson’s changed what he could do, but it never changed who he was.

Dad lived with warmth, love, and laughter. He was the sixth of eleven children, and if you’ve ever grown up in a big family, you know it comes with both joy and hardship. His brothers and sisters shared stories at his service—stories of pranks and laughter, but also of tough times.

And here’s the truth: life and leadership can’t be totally separated. The patterns and themes in our personal lives often show up in our professional ones. If we don’t face them, they follow us. Growth requires us to be like the buffalo—walking directly into the storm, not running from it. That kind of leadership requires, confidence, connection and courage! That kind of leadership is H.O.P.E. fueled!

Leadership Blessings & Lessons

When my mom died of cancer in 1999, my dad remarried. I suddenly found myself navigating complexities I never expected. Blended families can be beautiful, but they are rarely easy. Some of those challenges shaped how I lead today. Over the past 25 years, I have experienced many blessings, but I have also learned some valuable lessons.

I'm going to share some of those lessons with you here today....

1. Get to Know Yourself.
Self-awareness is the foundation of effective leadership. Understanding your fears, triggers, blind spots, motivations, and desires can maximize your impact. Tools like Enneagram or DISC can give you a mirror to see yourself more clearly. When you understand who you are, you can exude confidence to better connect with those you serve.

2. Get to Know Your People.
Everyone carries stories that shape who they are. Dad has a sweet smile that exuded warmth and allowed him to connect with others well. Take the time to connect and get to know the people you work with and/or lead. Their past experiences influence their present choices and future growth. Leadership isn’t just about tasks—it’s about people.

3. Embrace Discomfort for Growth.
Growth is never comfortable. Once you understand yourself and your people, you can see the skills that require development. Leadership happens when we choose to step into discomfort and do the hard work. Sometimes this means asking for help. We weren't meant to navigate our lives or our leadership alone. It is okay to ask for help.

Dad's Legacy

As I reflect on my dad’s life, his legacy is clear: warmth, love, and laughter. Life is short, but we have important work to do—here and now. I know I’ll see Dad again in Heaven, but until then, I want to honor him by becoming better—and by helping others become better through HOPE-fueled leadership. Because when we lead with Habits, Optimism, Purpose, and Excellence, we don’t just grow ourselves—we spark growth in everyone around us.

Lead with HOPE Podcast

On Saturday, I will be sharing more about Dad's legacy and his gift for connecting with people. I hope you will tune in. I have a free resource that will help you put these lessons into practice.

Free Resource

If you’re ready to take a next step in your own growth, I’d love to offer you a free resource: a Values Assessment designed for our Community of H.O.P.E.. This simple but powerful tool will help you identify the core values that guide your decisions, shape your leadership, and impact the people around you. When you’re clear on your values, you can lead with greater purpose, confidence, and integrity. Reach out, and I’ll make sure you get a copy—it’s my gift to help you grow.

Sparking HOPE

At the end of the day, leadership is about more than titles or positions—it’s about the impact we leave on others. By building strong Habits, maintaining an Optimistic Outlook, living with Purpose, and striving for Excellence, we not only grow ourselves but also spark growth in the people around us. My dad’s life reminded me that warmth, love, and laughter can leave a legacy that outlives us. That’s what it means to Spark HOPE: to live and lead in a way that makes others better because we were here.

With gratitude,

Brandi