Centered on Others
Centered on Others
It Didn’t Feel Like It Was About Him
On Sunday night, Sadie and I went to see the Gaither Vocal Band.
If you know anything about Southern Gospel, you know the name Gaither carries weight. Bill Gaither has been leading vocal groups for decades longer than I’ve been alive. He has written thousands of songs, built an entire musical ecosystem, launched the Gaither Homecoming, a TV Channel, discovered talent, shaped an industry; the whole Southern Gospel world exists the way it does because of him.
When you’ve done all that, you’ve earned the right for the spotlight to be on you.
But here’s what surprised me most:
It didn’t feel like it was about him at all.
He’s the lead. He’s the legend. He’s the reason everyone showed up.
But somehow, the way he walked out on stage made the entire night feel like it belonged to everyone else.
He stepped back so others could step forward.
He told stories that made his team shine.
He let the younger guys take the spotlight and soak up the applause.
He bragged on every member like they were the reason the Gaither name mattered.
He had a group of singers that were not even in his vocal band.
And he did it all with this calm, joyful confidence.
It wasn’t forced humility.
It wasn’t fake.
It was just who he was.
And I sat there honestly confused… in a good way.
Because it definitely was about him.
But somehow — unbelievably — it didn’t feel like it.
The Kind of Leader I Want to Be
Sitting in that concert, something hit me.
That’s the kind of leader I want to be.
Not the loudest voice.
Not the center of every moment.
Not the one who has to prove anything.
I want to be the kind of leader who:
lifts people up
shares the spotlight
celebrates others more than myself
makes the room feel more free, not more tight
makes people feel like they matter, because they actually do
In my marriage with Sadie.
At the airport.
With the Leaders of Today team.
In every meeting, every conversation, every room I walk into.
Bill Gaither didn’t stand up and teach a leadership lesson on Sunday night.
He just lived one.
And let me be clear, they were still really good.
The music was incredible. Every person on that stage was insanely talented. The harmonies, the solos, the jokes, the energy, it was all top-tier.
It’s not like they toned it down just to be humble. They brought their best.
That’s what made it even more powerful. You can be excellent without making it about you. That’s what they did, and it worked.
Why It Mattered to Me
I left that concert thinking about how easy it is, especially as young leaders, to believe leadership is about being the person.
Being the name.
Being the face.
Being the one everyone looks to.
But leaders like Bill remind me that real leadership is the exact opposite.
It’s not about gathering attention.
It’s about giving it away.
It’s not about being the star.
It’s about making sure other people shine.
That’s the kind of leader who makes a legacy.
That’s the kind of leader who builds something that lasts longer than their name.
That’s the kind of leader I want to grow into, slowly, intentionally, day by day.
I don’t think I’ll forget that night anytime soon.
Action Steps
Celebrate someone publicly this week — and mean it.
It could be a teammate, a student, a spouse, someone on your staff, or even your kid. Find a way to say, “You crushed it, and I’m proud of you,” in a way they’ll remember. Text them. Brag on them in front of others. Write a note. Post it. Whatever fits. Don’t overthink it — just make them feel seen.Give the credit away — even if you earned it.
If you had a win this week, chances are someone helped make it happen. Mention their name. Shine the light on them. Leadership isn’t about taking the credit — it’s about building people who want to keep showing up again. That only happens when they know they matter.Check your posture in the room.
When you walk into meetings, work, school, or even your home, ask yourself:
Am I trying to prove something here, or build something here?
One is about ego. The other is about legacy. Strong leaders don’t need to be the center of everything. They’re secure enough to lift others up without losing themselves in the process.Practice being quietly confident.
You don’t need to fight for attention to prove you're doing something that matters. You don’t need to win every conversation. Sometimes the strongest move is to stay steady, lead well, and let other people shine. That’s not weakness — that’s leadership.
Why I Write
I write these posts as part of my own design cycle — to reflect, learn, and grow as a leader, a husband, and a follower of Jesus. My goal isn’t to sound like I have it all figured out, but to share the stories, lessons, and experiments I experiance long the way.
I believe leadership isn’t just about titles or influence — it’s about how we show up every day. It’s the small choices we make, the way we treat people, and the courage to keep trying even when things don’t go as planned.
I also believe we should dream big — to imagine what could be, not just what is. Every great idea, every movement, every changed life starts with someone who believed it was possible. The design cycle gives us a framework to turn those dreams into something real: plan it, build it, reflect on it, and share it.
Through writing, I hope to help people build the confidence to lead right where they are— to think differently, lead boldly, reflect honestly, and keep trying even when it would be easier to quit. My goal is to remind each of us that leadership doesn’t start someday in the future; it starts right where we are. We’re not leaders of tomorrow — we are Leaders of Today. And in everything I do, my hope is to worship Jesus through the way I live, lead, and love others.
Use what you read here to build your own cycle of growth.
Observe. Reflect. Adjust. Share.
Dream big — and then, start again.