Jul 14, 2021
Imagine being in the middle of nowhere on a large ice cap in Patagonia with twelve people you don’t even know. You’re in 18 °F weather, surrounded by ice that can break at any moment, and your group hasn’t seen any other humans in days. You feel crazy to want to be here, yet it’s worth it because this quest just might change your life. Plus you’ll have a great story to tell someday...
My guest on the Storytelling School Podcast today leads expeditions exactly like the one I just described above. Jan Rutherford is a former Green Beret, speaker, leadership expert, and coach who runs Crucible wilderness expeditions for executives and veterans around the world. So why did he start running his expeditions? What common traits has he noticed in great leaders, and what does grit mean to him?
Those are just some of the discussion points we get into today. We also explore the lack of a focus on feeling in the corporate world and how that impacts business long-term, as well as tools to help you be more humble and confident as a leader. In the process, you’ll get Jan’s expertise and hear stories showcasing how to fully step into leadership by creating a new story through overcoming challenges and strengthening your self-resiliency. While you might not be stuck on the third largest ice cap in the world right now, listening to this episode might just change your life too.
What you will learn in this episode:
Who is Jan?
Jan Rutherford is a successful executive coach and keynote speaker. As someone who values overcoming challenges to increase inner resiliency and effective leadership, he built his grit as one of the youngest and smallest military recruits at a mere 114 pounds at 17 years old. He became a Special Forces soldier, then earned the distinction of becoming a Green Beret. While in the military, he served three years as a medic, then an A-Team executive leader, then finally a military intelligence officer.
During his more than 25 years of business experience, Jan has held key executive roles in sales, marketing, training, business development, product management, and as a CEO. In 2011, he founded Self-Reliant Leadership® where he focuses on assisting leaders and teams to create powerful results through developing self-reliance. His clients have taken part in his workshops and Crucible® wilderness expeditions.
Currently, Jan also teaches leadership in the United States and in Ireland as a senior instructor at the Colorado Denver University’s Business School. In addition, he co-hosts a podcast, The Leadership Podcast, and has authored the book The Littlest Green Beret.
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