By William F. Nazzaro, founder of The Time to Lead Institute, leadership expert, performance and executive coach, and trusted advisor to leaders navigating transformation and cultural change.

One conversation can change everything.

The phone rings. You expect just another call. Instead, a single sentence shatters your reality—your future, rewritten in an instant.

You can’t always control what happens. But you can always control what comes next. I don’t just believe this—I’ve lived it.

When Life Throws a Curveball

Twenty years ago, I thought I was on the right path. Then, out of nowhere, I lost my job. One conversation and it was gone—the career I had built was erased in an instant.

At first, I froze. My mind raced with worst-case scenarios. The panic was so consuming that I got lost on my drive home—on a route I had driven for over five years. That’s how disoriented I was. The weight of uncertainty was crushing.

But then, through the noise of my thoughts, a single realization br...

By William F. Nazzaro, founder of The Time to Lead Institute, leadership expert, performance and executive coach, and trusted advisor to leaders navigating transformation and cultural change.

Some books don’t just land in your lap—they grab you and refuse to let go. In 2024, that’s what happened when I picked up The Dark Side of the Light Chasers by Debbie Ford.

I’ll be honest—I didn’t stumble upon this book alone. My coach and mentor, Paul Martinelli, told me, “You need to read this.” He had that look that said, Trust me, this one will mess with you—in the best way possible.

I wasn’t prepared for what followed.

This book challenged and wrecked me.

And I’m not exaggerating. It took me months to get through, which is crazy because I can usually knock out a book in a week or so. But this one? It wouldn’t let me speed through. Every chapter was like a mirror, reflecting things I wasn’t ready to see. Some days, I had to put it down, take a deep breath, and say, Not today, Debbie.

But...

In an era where navigating through life on autopilot seems to be the default setting for many, the concept of intentional living offers a beacon of hope and direction. A recent exploration of John Maxwell’s Law of Intentionality underscores a profound truth: personal growth doesn’t just happen; it requires intention, focus, and deliberate action.

Breaking Free From Autopilot

For many of us, life seems to run on autopilot, with the assumption that experiences accumulated over time equate to genuine growth. This perception, however, is misleading. Growth is not a byproduct of merely existing but a purposeful endeavor that demands our conscious engagement and effort.

The Illusion of Automatic Growth

Exploring the reasons behind the lack of intentional growth, we encounter a range of justifications—from believing it’s not the right time to fears of change and failure. These barriers, though daunting, also highlight our intrinsic resistance to stepping beyond our comfort zones. Overcomi...

On your desk you find a gift box.  The box has a label on it.  It says “Contents: Productivity, Creativity, Energy, Emotional Health, Stress Relief, Memory, Better Relationships, Trust”.  Then you notice warning labels on the box.  Emblazoned in red are labels that say: “Unproductive, Waste of Time, Childish, Frivolous, Lazy, Useless, Worthless”.

 As you compare the labels, you find out that the warning labels were put on by your boss, your friends, and your family.  Would you heed the red warning labels and return the gift unopened or would you open the gift and claim the contents?

 If you opened the box, you would find inside a permission slip that says: “You have permission to play.”

 “Play” is different for different people.  Play is really a state of mind.  It’s how you think about whatever activity you are doing that makes it “play” or not.  Generally, all play is a voluntary experience, unstructured, and not necessarily for any specific goal (except fun).

 The permission sli...

Hello,

Bob and I are delighted to announce the launch of our new blog, It's Your Time to Lead^®!

We created this blog to provide you with our insights into leadership to help spark your desire, or continue to feed your leadership learning. We will be sharing our personal and observed leadership experiences (both good and bad). Of course, changing the names to protect the guilty :-).

We look forward to sharing why we feel leadership is a critical component for organizational success and why we feel it’s a crisis for most organizations. As John C. Maxwell, #1 leadership Guru states, "Everything rises and falls on leadership."

It is our desire that this blog will become a place for you to visit frequently and to share your ideas, comments, and feedback. Please take a moment to explore our new blog, bookmark us, or subscribe in order to receive weekly posting updates.

Thank you for letting us join you on your journey!

All the best,
Bill & Bob