Higher Leading with Jay Meyer

Leadership seems to be considered and discussed most often in the context of one’s work or occupation. But being a Higher Leader doesn’t just mean that we lead our employees or our organizations well -- it also requires that we lead ourselves well!  On today’s Chalk Talk with Jay, I’m sharing what I define as the 5 Stages of Optimal Self-Leadership. As you listen, I challenge you to think deeply a...

Jim Meyer is one of the first Higher Leaders I followed and learned from. He is my mentor and friend and one of my biggest supporters; he is also my big brother! I sat down with Jim on his birthday to talk about family, leadership, service, and of course, basketball.  Like me, Jim was a college athlete, and later became a very successful high school girls’ basketball coach who taught the importanc...

Mary Tyler is a force, and God certainly blessed me when he caused our paths to cross. As principal of her own consulting firm, Mary is influencing the greater Dayton region in the areas of diversity, inclusion and equity in a big, big way.  I’m proud to be walking alongside her currently, as we endeavor to build the capacity of African-American, non-profit leaders in our community. In this episod...

Former NBA player and University of Dayton standout, Chris Wright, is giving back to his north Dayton hometown with a mission to stabilize communities through sports. Through his Wright Way Foundation and the Flyght Academy, Chris and his team are preparing youth to use their God-given talents to positively impact the world both on and off the court. His concept of preparing well for 2 + 22 hours...

Most of us are familiar with the phrase “Thy will be done” from the Lord’s Prayer, and today, I want to share the story of a man whose life is one of the most perfect examples of living that phrase that I can think of.  As a professional basketball player, Dick Steineman traveled the world playing the game he loved. During his career, an experience on a hillside in Venezuela opened Dick's eye...

For this episode, I invited my friend, Doug Meyer (CEO of Brixey and Meyer), back to the podcast for a well-deserved encore. The December 19, 2022, episode of Higher Leading with Doug is my second most downloaded episode to-date, so you know this guy is saying something you should probably hear! From faith and football to family and business, Doug and I share so many values and interests, and I le...

The first Higher Leading podcast of 2024 is all about setting yourself up to be a better version of yourself this year than you were last year. God gave us all the ability to imagine ourselves as something more, and He also gave us the capacity to design our lives in any manner that we want. Yet, many of us are simply living by default and spending lots of mental and emotional energy longing for s...

I was recently asked a question that encouraged me to think deeper about why I publish this podcast. The very first thing that came to mind was that I want to share the leadership lessons I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way!) on my life’s journey. A less obvious goal, perhaps, is that I’d like to inspire young leaders to be good stewards of their God-given gifts, to find the purpose that drives t...

On this episode, I want you to meet one of the most focused and purpose-driven people I have ever met. Kris Horlacher is the Executive Director of Shoes 4 the Shoeless, a non-profit she founded that provides new, properly fitting gym shoes and socks to children in need. Kris’s journey from R.N. to Executive Director of this very efficient and effective non-profit is a true testament to following G...

The tables have turned Higher Leading friends, and this week’s ChalkTalk with Jay is an interview… with me!  Earlier this month, I was honored to be a guest on my friend Curt Tucker’s podcast, The Champion Life .  Curt's podcast takes a deep dive into what he has defined as his 5 key pillars of Faith, Fitness, Family, Finances and Fun, and how upping your game in these areas can help you star...

One of the most compelling cultures in the world of business today is that of Chick-fil-A, and I can’t tell you how excited I’ve been to publish this episode featuring one of the fast-food giant’s former directors. Dan Reep is a dear friend from my college basketball days at Ohio Northern University, and on this episode, he provides an insider’s look at Chick-fil-A’s remarkable way of doing busine...

Chances are you have seen or heard the Serenity Prayer somewhere and sometime in your life. It goes like this... "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." There is no such thing as a trouble-free life, so learning to accept and live life on life's terms is the fastest route to pea...

As a young college student working at a youth detention center, Alisha Murray was moved by an encounter with a 10-year-old boy who was caught stealing food.  It was in that moment that Alisha started to hear God calling her heart to help youth who struggled to have their very basic needs met. Now, as CEO of Daybreak Dayton, Alisha is living out her purpose by leading the region’s only emergency sh...

The month of September is quickly winding down and so is National Recovery Month. This is my last of 3 episodes dedicated solely to the subject of recovery, and today, Elaine Bonner (Director of Philanthropy) and Chris Adams (Co-Founder) from the Emerge Recovery and Trade Initiative have joined me to share their story of faithfully following God’s lead, as they support men and women in recovery, a...

This is the second episode of my series dedicated to National Recovery Month, and today I’m talking to Jessica Zwayer, the Executive Director of Joshua Recovery Ministries. This faith-based organization offers housing for men, women and most notably, pregnant women and new mothers, who are 30-days sober and in need of a residential environment that will support them in their continuing recovery jo...

September is National Recovery Month, and for those of you who know my story, you can understand why the month holds special meaning for me. I’m dedicating all three episodes of Higher Leading this month -- yes, there’s a bonus episode! -- to the recovery community by highlighting some Higher Leaders and their organizations who are doing incredible work to make recovery possible. My first guest is...

Living in the past is the quickest way to having a miserable present and future. If there is something from your past that seems to be holding you back, it’s time to let go and let God. He wants you to live a full and joyful life, but you’ve got to be willing to name and claim the thoughts that are inhibiting you from living in the present and seeing a better future. Then, you must dump those thou...

It’s hard to believe, but this week marks the one-year anniversary of the Higher Leading podcast! To celebrate, I brought back my very first guest, Scott McGohan, former CEO and Co-Chairman of McGohan Brabender. In the episode, we discuss our recovery journeys, and how finally getting vulnerable and truly working on ourselves from the inside out has shaped our leadership styles. We also talk about...

When you’re faced with a difficult problem or experience a major setback, do you immediately think, “Why me?” What if you flipped the script and asked yourself, “Why not me?” instead?  One simple word added to this simple question will change your life. Don’t be a victim. Don’t be the devil’s prey. Know that you’ve been chosen not for the pain and struggle, but for the growth and wisdom that comes...

The Dakota Center is a for-purpose organization that seeks to awaken the whole human potential of youth and seniors in inner-west Dayton, Ohio. Mike Miller is the Executive Director, and on this episode of Higher Leading, he and I discuss the maelstrom caused by the COVID pandemic and how the Dakota Center’s mission, vision, values and strategic plan served as the organization’s anchor during that...

Whether you are leading a team at work, leading your family at home, or simply leading yourself through life, it's important to recognize the importance  -- even imperativeness -- of personal growth.  On today's ChalkTalk, we're talking about how growing as an individual can exponentially affect the growth of the people around us, and I encourage my listeners to take on the 90-90 Ch...

Betsy Westhafer is the CEO and founder of The Congruity Group, an organization that is helping C-Level managers engage with their customers at a strategic level, building trust and gaining critical insights to ensure growth and success. In this episode of Higher Leading, Betsy and I discuss our shared passion for building customer and culture focused organizations, and the author and entrepreneur...

Our world feels like it is on shaky ground these days. Anxiety, fear and discord are all around us, and sometimes it feels like a very heavy, ominous storm is brewing. I empathize… but I also have good news. There is a way to feel more balance, harmony and contentment, and it all starts with building a rock-solid foundation in Him. On this episode of ChalkTalk, I’m sharing a self-tested and proven...

As a police officer, Monnie Bush witnessed first-hand the challenges that our society faces in terms of at-risk youth.  Kids who came from single parent homes or who were being raised by their grandparents simply could not break the cycle of poverty, and behavioral issues at home soon became criminal issues on the streets. As a faith-filled and family-centered man, Monnie felt God nudging him to f...

Living well takes effort, but it isn’t rocket science.  If you want to make positive change in your life, you must simply get up and start walking in the right direction.  I learned this truth from some hard, personal experiences, but also from the example set by two of the most influential people in my life - my parents. I’ve had extra cause to reflect on this, as mom recently passed into the ete...