Joe Davis @JoeDavisLeader

Ambition is powerful, but I have learned that the title should never become the goal. When my daughter told me she wanted to be Secretary of Education so she could make a difference for children, I encouraged her to focus on the difference she wanted to make.

One of the most important lessons I have learned about leadership is simple: let people finish. I still catch myself thinking I know where someone is going and jumping in too soon.

One of the most important communication lessons I have learned is simple: be succinct. Giving a TED Talk reinforced that lesson because I was asked to cut, cut, and cut again. The same principle applies when communicating with your team.

Traveling through Scandinavia and Greece with Sarah has reminded me how wonderful people are. Here in Greece, the birthplace of democracy, I have been reflecting on the freedoms we cherish and the strength that comes from bringing different people together.

Beautiful morning.

Google’s Project Oxygen reinforced something I have seen throughout my career: great managers coach by engaging, empowering, asking questions, and truly listening. When people feel heard and trusted, they are more likely to grow, contribute, and stay.

Feedback can be uncomfortable, especially in the moment. But when it comes from a place of genuine care and a desire to help someone improve, directness can be powerful.

Sarah and I have been married for 45 years, and one thing I believe helped us build a strong family bond was simple traditions. Saturday family movie nights. Sunday dinners around the dining room table. Nothing complicated, but they gave us consistent time together.

Have you ever used someone’s time telling them what they already know, without first understanding what is in their head? A colleague once presented a CEO with a 200-page deck. Twice, the CEO asked, “Where is the meat?”

I stuck with it. Sometimes perseverance starts with someone reminding you not to quit too soon. Grateful to be part of this 500th episode celebration. 🎧 [harbourresources.com/podcasts/the-l…](harbourresources.com/podcasts/the-l…)

After one more store manager basically wanted to kick me out, I told Sarah I did not think I could keep it up. Very wisely, especially for a 24-year-old, she told me to hang in there for one or two promotions. Back in 1980, a promotion at P&G was considered golden.

500 episodes is an incredible milestone. Congratulations to Mike Harbour and The Lead Up Podcast! My “Never Quit” moment came in my first job after college as a P&G sales rep, going in and out of grocery stores. It was not what I expected to be doing.

I enjoyed this conversation with Michael Vickers about why generosity is not a “soft” leadership skill. When we lead with genuine care, curiosity, and connection, we create stronger teams and better results.

Managers shape engagement, and engagement drives performance. But leaders cannot focus only on teams. Managers need connection, care, and support too. Ask thoughtful questions. Show them they matter. Create small moments that help them feel seen and included.

One of the joys of taking a different road is discovering what you did not expect to find. A classic root beer drive-in. The beautiful St. Croix River. A sculpture park in the middle of Minnesota. Small towns along the Mississippi filled with character and pride. x.com/JoeDavisLeader…

Routines have their place. They help us keep track of the little things and bring structure to our days. But sometimes, breaking the routine is exactly what we need. Sometimes a new route is all it takes to see things differently.

One of the most powerful ways to connect is to ask questions with a genuine desire to learn. Before a conversation, I often ask myself three simple questions: Who am I about to meet? What have they done? Where might they be coming from?

For 45 years of marriage, four children, and now nine grandchildren, one lesson has stayed with me: strong families are built through communication. For us, it happened around a big blue kitchen table. We talked, laughed, interrupted, listened, and made room for every voice.

How are you spending your summers? A friend told me about sitting next to a sixty-year-old CEO on a flight. His wife had reminded him that, based on his age and expected lifespan, he might have only seventeen summers left. That simple thought changed how he viewed his time.

Another one of the gifts of being a grandparent!