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Subscribe to my Substack
I write about my own leadership lessons on Substack’s flexible platform. What started as a Sunday evening writing experiment on this blog then migrated to LinkedIn Newsletter and finally landed on Substack. I write about leadership, coaching, career advice, and how to motivate your team. Check it out and subscribe: https://ryansleadershiplessons.substack.com/
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How I Became An Award Winning Customer Success Executive in 24 Months
When I tell people that I went from a corporate tax accountant to an award-winning Customer Success Executive in under two years, I usually get the same reaction. “Really? How did that happen?” The truth is that it was not a straight line. There was no perfect roadmap or overnight transformation. But it was intentional.…
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How High Agency People Make Luck Happen
Luck is often seen as a mysterious force—something that happens to you, like stumbling upon a four-leaf clover or winning a raffle. But in my years guiding corporate tax departments, running marathons, and serving as a nonprofit board member, I’ve learned that luck isn’t just random chance. High agency people—those who take ownership of their…
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High Agency vs. Learned Helplessness: How to Break Free from Limiting Beliefs
In life, we often face moments that test our resilience, challenge our beliefs, and shape our paths forward. Some people rise to these challenges with a sense of purpose and action, while others feel trapped, convinced that no matter what they do, nothing will change. This dichotomy reflects two opposing mindsets: high agency and learned…
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My High Agency Resume
In a world where complexity often overshadows clarity, I’ve built my career on taking ownership, driving innovation, and delivering results. My journey as a trusted advisor in corporate tax technology is not just a list of roles or accomplishments—it’s a testament to high agency, the mindset of proactively shaping outcomes rather than waiting for opportunities…
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Why I Rebranded My Blog as Ryan’s High Agency Blog
In today’s fast-paced economy, high agency—the ability to take initiative, make decisions, and act independently to achieve goals—is more valuable than ever. High-agency individuals don’t just adapt to change; they shape it, driving impact in their careers and communities. Here’s why I’ve rebranded my blog to reflect this mindset and how it defines my journey.…
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AI + Emotional Intelligence = Transformative Leadership
Today’s leaders face a high-stakes question: Can you wield the raw analytical power of artificial intelligence (AI) while keeping the human spark of emotional intelligence (EI) alive? The answer isn’t one or the other—it’s both, fused into what I call AI-powered coaching. This game-changing approach merges data-driven precision with empathetic leadership to fuel success. It’s…
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Celebrating Success: 2024 Customer Success Executive of the Year
It feels strange to write about success. Almost everyone wants to be successful. We want to make our families proud and use the abilities we’ve been given to do our best work. But I’ve always hesitated to share my achievements. I don’t want to seem like I’m bragging. Yet, if I stay silent, how will…
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Unlock Success: Innovative Self-Reflection Methods for Business Owners
Self reflection is powerful for organizations big and small Annual review time always seems to be just around the corner for most employees but what about business owners. Some of you who own a business or just started a small business on the side are starting to look back at how well you performed. Some…
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Repeatedly Showing Up & Doing The Work
Work is a steady grind that few see or appreciate. Why that’s a good aspect of life.
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Honoring Heroes: Starting The TMF Cleveland Chapter
Ryan Mulford and I are starting the Travis Manion Foundation Cleveland Chapter
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How To Be Laser Focused On Your Company’s Profit Margins
Alternatives To Cutting Costs & Raising Prices
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5 Coaching Strategies You Can Use In Business, Nonprofits, or Sports
Coaching a diverse and geographically dispersed team can be a daunting challenge. Early morning or late night calls to accommodate time zones. Understanding cultural and business traditions across multiple countries. Yet managing a global team is a rewarding journey that brings unique insights into effective coaching. In this post, we’ll explore five key coaching strategies…
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6 Areas Where I See Data Leading To Better Decision Making
ERP reports Healthcare statistics Social media analytics Economic findings Tax data We’re drowning in a sea of information. We track data for every facet of our society today. Whether it’s our driving information that’s fed to insurance providers for better actuarial calculations or online retailers tracking specific sales of the latest trendy product. However, data…
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How To Create Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Manuals For Your Business
Ryan’s Business Lessons 📁 #4 In the dynamic world of business, success often lies in the details—those intricate steps that make a processes efficient, effective, and replicable over a long period of time. Today, I’m excited to share a valuable business secret with you—it’s about how to create and unlock value in a Standard Operating…
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20 Time Management Hacks That Worked For Me
Ryan’s Business Lessons 📁 #2 These are 20 productivity hacks that worked for me: 18 of these 20 productivity hacks can be found in my LinkedIn newsletter. #productivity #timemanagement
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An Award Winning Year!
I recently received the Rookie of the Year and Circle of Excellence awards at Thomson Reuters for 2023. These honors highlight the outstanding teamwork, departmental excellence, and organizational dedication, along with our commitment to delivering top-notch solutions for corporate tax departments. Looking forward to more success in 2024! #success
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From the Nest to Success: How Being Charlie Cardinal Taught Me Invaluable Life Lessons
Ryan’s Sunday Night Leadership Lessons 🔑 #18 – November 4, 2023 As a former NCAA Division 1 Mascot, Charlie Cardinal, at Ball State University, I had the privilege of embodying the spirit and energy of our beloved Cardinals. Little did I know that beneath the feathers and antics, there were profound life lessons, leadership insights,…
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What I Learned Completing 350 Courses On LinkedIn Learning
Insights in Leadership, Strategy, Accounting, Tax, Finance, Teamwork, and Communication Embarking on a journey of continuous learning is a powerful way to expand your knowledge and enhance your professional growth. One way I’ve tried to expand my knowledge is through LinkedIn’s educational website LinkedIn Learning. In today’s fast paced and demanding work we need to…
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Setting Agendas
Ryan’s Sunday Night Leadership Lessons 🔑 #17 – October 15, 2023 Do meetings feel like a waste of time? Well, a big reason they often feel wasted and unproductive is due to not setting a proper agenda ahead of the meeting. In this post, I’ll explore the critical role of setting an agenda in meetings,…
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Chess And Leadership: A Surprising Connection
Ryan’s Sunday Night Leadership Lessons 🔑 #8 – April 16, 2023 At first glance, chess might not seem like an obvious pathway to leadership development. After all, it’s just a board game, right? No, it’s not as simple as it seems, rather chess has been shown to help develop the same skills that are essential…
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Eagle Scout: The Highest Award In Scouting Has Long Lasting Leadership Lessons
Ryan’s Sunday Night Leadership Lessons 🔑 #2 – January 22, 2023 The Eagle Scout award is the highest honor that can be achieved in the Boy Scouts of America. It is a testament of a young person’s dedication, perseverance, and leadership skills. But the lessons and impact of being an Eagle Scout go far beyond…
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Welcome!
The initial series of posts is titled, “Sunday Night Leadership Lessons: Unlocking Your Leadership Potential, One Lesson at a Time.” Throughout 2023, I will share 20 posts exploring various personal, educational, and career experiences, each distilled into concise leadership lessons you can absorb in just a few minutes on a Sunday night. As the blog…
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Combining A Process Improvement Mindset + Analytical Skills = An Engine For Growth
Start With Curiosity
Ryan Stemen, MBA 