Episode 122 | “I’ve Got This.” Famous Last Words of an Overloaded Leader

LWH Podcast Recording: Hey friends, welcome back to the Lead with Hope Podcast. I'm your host, Brandy Kelly. If you've been listening to this podcast for any length of time, you've heard about my brother Brandon, it dawned on me that I've never really shared with you who Brandon is. And for you educators out there, I think you're gonna see this kid in some of your students. Brandon was that kid. You know the one. If there was trouble, he would find it. when we were kids, he was ramping his dirt bike and he broke his collarbone. Another time he fell through a glass door and he lost so much blood that on the way to the hospital, he actually passed out. I thought he was going to give our poor mother a heart attack. And at school? Well, let's just say that Brandon always seemed to have a story to tell. He was always saying something, doing something, or finding a way to get himself in trouble. When he was in sixth grade, Brandon told his teacher, I don't need school. He had an answer for everything. Looking back, I recognize so many things about Brandon that may have been connected to ADHD. But back then, he was simply that kid. the kid who couldn't sit still in class. He had a mechanical pencil. My mom had to stop buying mechanical pencils because he would just click, click, click, click, click. It drove the teachers nuts and probably his peers too. He was that kid who was always getting into something. He made life so much harder than it needed to be. But here's the thing about Brandon. He was also the kid that everybody loved. Underneath all of that energy and mischief was a heart of gold. Brandon was kind, he was compassionate, he noticed people, and he had an incredible ability to make people laugh. He reminded me, and still reminds me to this day. That sometimes that person who is the hardest to love is also the person that has the most to give. And that's where my story of hope begins with Brandon, because his story would eventually become one of the most painful chapters of my life. And at the same time, it was that experience that. Shaped my purpose. One of the biggest things I've learned through the hardest seasons of my life is this. We were not meant to do this life alone. I think sometimes we confuse strength with independence. We think being strong means handling everything ourselves. We don't want to bother anyone. We don't want to admit that we're struggling. We don't want other people to see that we're tired. And especially as leaders, we can fall into this trap of thinking, I've got this. I can figure this out. People are counting on me, and I can't be the one who needs help. But here's what I've learned. You can be strong and still need people. We all do. And there is no shame in that. In fact, I would argue that some of the strongest leaders that I have met, They've learned how to surround themselves with people who can walk alongside them. People who will listen, people who will challenge them, people who will tell them the truth, people who are going to pray for them and lift them up. People who will celebrate them and people who will sit beside them when there are no easy answers. Those are the leaders that we remember. We were not meant to do this life alone. And this matters in leadership too. Because if you're carrying everything, every decision, every problem, every difficult conversation, you're not just exhausted, you're isolated. Isolation makes leadership harder. I know I've been there.

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LWH Podcast Recording: Your people need you to let them carry some of it too. That's where delegation comes in. Delegation isn't just about getting things off of your plate. It's about creating opportunities for other people to contribute. To grow, to lead. We want them to use their gifts and to build confidence. Sometimes we think that we're helping people by doing everything ourselves, and that's just not true. So maybe the question you can ask yourself today isn't how can I get everything done? Maybe it's who can I invite into this? That's a different question. And it's a powerful one. So I want to give you two simple challenges today. First, find your people. Think about the people in your life who know the real you. Who can you call when life gets hard? Who can you celebrate with? Who challenges you to grow? Who reminds you who you are when you've temporarily forgotten? connection does not happen by accident. You have to be intentional about finding your people. And your people. May look different in different seasons. You may need a friend, a mentor, a coach, a faith community, or a family member. Someone who will simply say to you, I'm here, and you don't have to carry this by yourself. the second challenge, let your people help you. This one is harder. Because finding your people is one thing. Actually letting them show up for you is another. You don't always have to have the answer. you don't always have to be the strong one. You don't have to carry every burden by yourself. It is okay to say, I need help. Sometimes that means saying, I don't know. What do you think? And sometimes it simply means I could just really use a friend to talk to right now. That's not weakness. That is connection, and we all need connection. So here's what I want you to do today. Connect with someone. Not tomorrow, not when things slow down, but today. Connect with someone. Send a text, make a phone call, invite them for coffee, check on a friend, especially your strong friends, because they need it too. Reach out to someone and tell them that you appreciate them. and if you're thinking, ooh, I don't really have anybody to reach out to. I don't really know who I would connect with, then start there. just one person. Take that first step. Because sometimes we wait for people to come find us when what we really need to do is make the first move. Brandon's story is one of the reasons I believe so deeply in the power of people. Because when I look back on my life, I can see the people who showed up. The people who sat with me in the heart. The people who listened. The people who loved me. The people who reminded me that even when life did not make any sense, I didn't have to walk through that heart alone. And that's really the message I want to leave with you today. We were not meant to do this life alone, friends. Find your people. And then be someone else's person too. Because sometimes the greatest gift you can give someone isn't advice. It's just letting them know that I'm here for you. I care about you. And you don't have to do this alone. So Connect with someone today. And if you don't know who to connect with, reach out to me. I'll put my contact information in the show notes, and I would be honored to have a virtual coffee chat with you. Take that first step. And maybe that's what hope looks like sometimes. Not having all the answers. Just knowing you don't have to walk through the hard all by yourself. I'll see you next time.

LWH Closing: That's a wrap for today's episode of Lead with Hope. ⁓ Remember, ⁓ the world needs your leadership and change starts with you. ⁓ Fuel your life with HOPE, embrace your purpose, and shine your light for others. ⁓ If this episode inspired you, I'd be so grateful if you could take a moment to give us a five-star rating and share it. ⁓ Every review helps spread HOPE ⁓ and empowers more leaders to rise. ⁓ Thanks for listening ⁓ and until next time, ⁓ keep leading with HOPE. ⁓