“True leadership isn’t about doing it all yourself. It’s about helping others rise to the occasion.”

In this episode, Craig P. Anderson talks to Brian Wheeler, the President and Chief Visionary Officer of The Vertical Life, for an insightful conversation about leadership. Brian shares his leadership journey, from high school entrepreneurship to leading a faith-based nonprofit organization focused on developing young leaders. Brian’s story is a testament to the power of vision, humility, and influence in leadership. Brian reflects on key moments of his leadership evolution, including the lessons he learned as a teenager running a pressure washing business, and the ongoing work of leading with purpose in a mission-driven organization. He emphasizes the importance of self-discovery for young leaders and how developing a mindset of service, rather than self-centered ambition, has been crucial to his leadership style.

After You Listen:

• Connect with Brian Wheeler on LinkedIn

• Check out The Vertical Life

• Connect with Craig on LinkedIn

• Subscribe to Craig’s "The Evolving Leader" newsletter

Key Takeaways:

• Leadership is about influence, not age, authority, or title

• Humility as a leader leads to better collaboration and growth

• Faith in your mission fuels motivation and commitment in your team

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Intro

(00:30) The importance of vision in leadership

(01:33) Brian’s leadership insights

(07:12) Brian’s early leadership journey

(11:24) Leadership in faith-based organizations

(16:36) The role of humility in leadership