Trail Notes™

Every trail leaves a lesson worth remembering.

01
TRUST
02
PERFORMANCE
03
JUDGMENT
04
COMMUNICATION
05
RESILIENCE
06
PURPOSE
Leading With Gratitude

Field Notes on Leadership, Courage, and the Lessons Along the Way

Some leadership lessons happen in boardrooms. Others happen on a morning walk, during training, over an obstacle, or simply by paying attention.

Trail Notes™ is my field journal — a collection of moments that became leadership lessons. Some come from Search & Rescue training, obstacle races, everyday adventures with Gunner, or more than three decades of leading organizations and developing leaders.

Each reflection is an invitation to slow down, notice what others miss, and discover the leadership lesson hiding in an ordinary moment.

Choose a trail. Take a moment. Enjoy the journey.

Trail Guide

01

Trail Reflection

Personal insight & mindset

02

Leadership Challenge

Practical application

03

Executive Expedition

Strategy & organizational leadership

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Trust Trail

Loosen the Leash

4 min read | Leadership Challenge   Trust Trail
The Moment A leash can keep Gunner safe. It can also become a substitute for...
Read Note → about The Pack Leader about Loosen the Leash about Loosen the Leash about Loosen the Leash about Loosen the Leash about Loosen the Leash about Loosen the Leash about Loosen the Leash about Loosen the Leash

Built to Be Counted On

4 min read | Leadership Challenge   Trust Trail
The Moment Gunner does not understand the word reliability. He demonstrates it. When we train,...
Read Note → about The Pack Leader about Loosen the Leash about Loosen the Leash about Loosen the Leash about Loosen the Leash about Loosen the Leash about Loosen the Leash about Loosen the Leash about Built to Be Counted On

The Pack Leader

4 min read | Leadership Challenge   Trust Trail
The Moment When I first started training with Gunner, I was told something I did...
Read Note → about The Pack Leader about Loosen the Leash about Loosen the Leash about Loosen the Leash about Loosen the Leash about Loosen the Leash about Loosen the Leash about Loosen the Leash about The Pack Leader

Performance Trail

Train for the Distraction

4 min read | Leadership Challenge   Performance Trail
The Moment A command Gunner can follow in a quiet room is not the same...
Read Note → about When Accountability Feels Personal about When Accountability Feels Personal about When Accountability Feels Personal about Follow the Scent about Follow the Scent about Train for the Distraction

When Accountability Feels Personal

5 min read | Leadership Challenge   Performance Trail
The Moment Correcting Gunner has never worked particularly well when I make the correction about...
Read Note → about When Accountability Feels Personal about When Accountability Feels Personal about When Accountability Feels Personal about Follow the Scent about Follow the Scent about When Accountability Feels Personal

Stacking Wins

4 min read | Easy Reflection   Performance Trail
The Moment Training Gunner was never one enormous breakthrough. It was repetition. One command. One...
Read Note → about When Accountability Feels Personal about When Accountability Feels Personal about When Accountability Feels Personal about Follow the Scent about Follow the Scent about Stacking Wins
View All Performance Notes

Judgment Trail

Trust Your Instincts

4 min read | Leadership Challenge   Judgment Trail™
The Moment There is a point in training when Gunner knows what he has been...
Read Note → about Trust the Signal Before the Proof about Trust Your Instincts about Trust Your Instincts

Trust the Signal Before the Proof

5 min read | Executive Expedition   Judgment Trail™
The Moment There are moments when Gunner notices something before I do. A sound. A...
Read Note → about Trust the Signal Before the Proof about Trust Your Instincts about Trust the Signal Before the Proof

The Power Move Is the Pause

4 min read | Leadership Challenge   Judgment Trail™
The Moment Gunner is powerful. Which means restraint matters. A quick reaction from a strong...
Read Note → about Trust the Signal Before the Proof about Trust Your Instincts about The Power Move Is the Pause
View All Judgment Notes

Communication Trail

What Are They Hearing?

4 min read | Leadership Challenge   Communication Trail
The Moment Gunner does not understand my intentions. He understands what I communicate. I can...
Read Note → about What Are They Hearing? about What Are They Hearing? about What Are They Hearing?

Leading Through Mixed Signals

5 min read | Leadership Challenge   Communication Trail
The Moment Imagine telling Gunner to stay while everything else about me communicates movement. My...
Read Note → about What Are They Hearing? about What Are They Hearing? about Leading Through Mixed Signals

Communicating Without Words

4 min read | Easy Reflection   Communication Trail
The Moment Gunner and I have entire conversations without speaking. His eyes. His ears. His...
Read Note → about What Are They Hearing? about What Are They Hearing? about Communicating Without Words
View All Communication Notes

Resilience Trail

Reset the Pace

4 min read | Easy Reflection   Resilience Trail
The Moment Not every walk with Gunner needs to be fast. There are times when...
Read Note → about Reset the Pace about Reset the Pace about Reset the Pace about Reset the Pace about Reset the Pace about Reset the Pace about Reset the Pace

Acting Before It’s Too Late

5 min read | Leadership Challenge   Resilience Trail
The Moment When you spend enough time with an animal, you begin to recognize small...
Read Note → about Reset the Pace about Reset the Pace about Reset the Pace about Reset the Pace about Reset the Pace about Reset the Pace about Acting Before It’s Too Late

Fresh Tracks

4 min read | Easy Reflection   Resilience Trail
The Moment One of the things I love about being outside with Gunner is that...
Read Note → about Reset the Pace about Reset the Pace about Reset the Pace about Reset the Pace about Reset the Pace about Reset the Pace about Fresh Tracks
View All Resilience Notes

Purpose Trail

Leave the Trail Better

4 min read | Easy Reflection   Purpose Trail
The Moment Gunner has no interest in leaving a legacy. He does not need his...
Read Note → about Head Out the Window about Head Out the Window about Leave the Trail Better

Got Drive?

4 min read | Leadership Challenge   Purpose Trail
The Moment When Gunner has a job to do, you can see the difference. His...
Read Note → about Head Out the Window about Head Out the Window about Got Drive?

Head Out the Window

4 min read | Easy Reflection   Purpose Trail
The Moment There is something about a dog with his head out the car window....
Read Note → about Head Out the Window about Head Out the Window about Head Out the Window
View All Purpose Notes

Until Next Time...

Thanks for walking with us.

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We'll meet you at the next note.

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