16 May

Transforming Pain into Purpose: Lead Like Eric Newman

Have you ever felt lost while chasing your passion? Or perhaps stuck between a dream and the all-too-familiar pushback from society, “That’s a silly idea.” If you resonate with this, you’re not alone. Eric Newman, the founder of the Roc Solid Foundation, shares with us not only his burning desire but practical strategies to lean into leadership in the face of uncertainty. Here’s how you can transform your own struggles into impactful leadership.

From Setbacks to A Non-Profit Superstar

Eric’s journey began when childhood cancer cast a devastating shadow over his life, leading him into the heart of the problem he’s fighting to resolve today. As he sat in the scalding world of pediatric cancer, he recognized a need for joy where there seemed to be hopelessness. It wasn’t just fancy ideas that drove him but palpable belief. “At the end of this life… I will regret it,” Eric reflects, as he talks about the relentless urge to start a Non-Profit to help kids fighting cancer.

Unpacking Leadership Skills through Personal Trials

In his 2009 journey of founding the Roc Solid Foundation, Eric learned crucial lessons about leadership that stick in your gut:

  1. Write It Down: If you have a vision, you need to articulate it—not just let it stew in your head. Writing your goals or ideas leads them toward tangible realization. “If you go to bed thinking about it and wake up thinking about it,” he advises, “write it down.”
  2. The Power of Hope: Often defined as mere idle wishfulness, Eric redefines hope as an actionable catalyst for change. When challenges mount up, what words inspire you? Eric vividly recalls reducing everything to one four-letter word—“HOPE” and divining strength from that.
  3. Test Hard, Pivot Often: Leadership isn’t linear; practice adaptability. Eric echoes one profound truth: “If you wait for perfection, you’ll never launch.” Each iteration offers invaluable insights; each dusting off will get you one step closer to a sustainable and meaningful solution.
  4. Empathy is Key: In leadership, true influence boils down to understanding people. Chiefly directed toward your mission, “the best gift you can give someone is yourself,” Eric admires. Treading alongside those you aim to serve will cultivate meaningful change.
  5. Be Customer Obsessed: Who are your people? Understanding whom you’re serving—and crafting your mission around them—will lead to transformational, life-changing experiences for others.

Dive into Uncharted Waters

Have you ever hesitated to jump? Eric candidly opened up about his chaotic faith journey, knowing deep crevices would exist whether he leaped or stayed stagnant. As it turns out, jumping might just lead you to your calling.

While not everyone will risk walking the entrepreneurial edge or starting a non-profit, consider what variations of “jumping” could mean in your daily life. What small actions can you take?

  • Identify your Audience: No business can thrive without understanding its market and the greater good of a targeted clientele; knowing your “who” speaks volumes.
  • Seek Wisdom and Mentorship: Don’t bury your essential ideas or journey in isolation—for Eric, running nose-deep in advice, encouragement, and experience among other leaders propelled him forward.
  • Start Small but Start: Begin with a pilot project, like Eric’s love for using Krispy Kreme beats early in his fundraisers. Starting with a successful test maintains momentum for the bigger vision.

Conclusion

As you think of your career or entrepreneurial aspirations, remember Eric’s monumental insights and experiences. Journeying through leaps of faith fraught with fears, you’ve got foundation stones laid down before you; now it’s time to lead through art—dare to laugh, banter, connect deeply, and share hope.

🧰 The Workbench: My Key Takeaways From This Episode

  1. Embrace Unexpected Journeys: Harness your personal trials to fuel your passion; hardships can birth innovation.
  2. Document and Celebrate Growth: Writing minimizes fears and clarifies ambitions.
  3. Lead with Empathy: Understand what those around you need before jumping in. Cultivate relationships before solutions.
  4. Test, Iterate, and Pivot: More often than not, snapping doubts suffer from the weight of overthinking. Test new strategies and be nimble with adaptations.
  5. Customer Focus Fuels Impact: Always begin with who you serve. Their stories define the impact; never forget what fuels your motivation.

Ready to jump in that pool or paddle along with the waves? 💪 Get inspired, take unwavering action, and embrace leadership!

For more awe-inspiring stories like Eric Newman’s, check out the Roc Solid Foundation. Consider supporting their mission by visiting RocSolidFoundation.org or donating your time to create some hope for a chiclhood cancer patient.

Check out this full episode of The Leadership Toolkit podcast with Eric D. Newman on Spotify, my YouTube Channel, Or click to watch below.

Check out past episodes of The Leadership Toolkit on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform!

Our host, Mike Phillips is a seasoned leadership educator and expert. He has a knack for extracting the most valuable insights from his guests. His passion for helping individuals reach their leadership potential shines through in every episode. Thank you for reading and watching. Please share this with someone who needs this message today!


 

* Some areas of this blog post were generated in part or whole by the OneCliq AI: The creative assistant for your content. OneCliq is an AI content assistant that creates, analyzes, and then helps in repurposing your content for you. More information on OneCliq is available at https://OneCliq.IO

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