Before I ever led a team, I had to learn to lead myself. That might sound simple, but it’s one of the hardest lessons any aspiring leader can learn. Leadership isn’t built on titles or promotions, it’s built in the unseen moments when no one’s clapping, no one’s watching, and no one’s reminding you to keep going. It’s in those quiet spaces that your character is tested, and your foundation is formed. Growing up, life didn’t hand me easy beginnings. My mother worked tirelessly to raise five children, often sacrificing her own comfort so we could have what we needed. We didn’t have much, but we had love, and we had faith. Faith became my refuge in the moments when the noise of life grew too heavy. It gave me the courage to believe that there was meaning behind every struggle, even when I couldn’t see it yet. Later, in the military, that faith was tested again and again. There were nights I was so exhausted I could barely stand, moments when fear whispered that I wasn’t strong enough, and times when the responsibility of leading others felt heavier than the gear I carried. But in those moments, I realized that leadership isn’t about being the loudest or the strongest, it’s about showing up, day after day, with purpose and humility. Leading yourself means holding yourself accountable when no one else will. It means keeping your word, even when it costs you comfort. It’s waking up early to do the work when others are sleeping in, finishing what you start, and maintaining integrity when shortcuts look tempting. True leadership begins in the daily discipline of choosing character over convenience. And here’s where faith becomes essential. Faith steadies you when everything around you is shifting. It reminds you that even when you stumble, you haven’t failed, you’re being refined. Every challenge, every setback, every “not yet” moment is part of a larger process shaping who you’re meant to become. When you lead yourself well, you begin to see the world differently. You stop chasing perfection and start pursuing purpose. You stop needing recognition and start focusing on impact. You realize that the strength to lead others begins with the courage to look inward, to confront your weaknesses, own your mistakes, and keep growing anyway. If you’re chasing leadership, start there. Don’t rush to stand at the front of the room, learn to stand firm in your own values first. Ask yourself: Am I leading with purpose, patience, and faith? Because leadership isn’t built in the spotlight, it’s forged in the quiet choices you make every single day. When I look back at my own path, from a curious boy by the lake to a soldier, husband, and father, I see that every season of growth started the same way: with a decision to rise. To get back up. To keep going. Reflection: Leadership begins long before a title, it begins with the decision to rise, again and again, guided by faith, grit, and integrity.