Welcome back to the show, everyone! In our first episode, Antonio led the conversation as Jason discussed his own experiences, and in this episode, we are flipping the script, with Jason taking the lead which is definitely appropriate for our topic this episode!

As leaders, we often talk about the importance of leading a team, but what about leading yourself? Tune in as Antonio walks us through what it means to lead yourself, especially when everything around you is falling apart.

Antonio shares his powerful story of losing his home and community in the devastating California wildfires earlier this year, candidly opening up about the grief, uncertainty, and challenges of rebuilding his life from scratch. Through it all, however, he reveals the key strategies that he used to get through each day - focusing on what he could control, simplifying his priorities, and leaning on his support system.

As a self-employed public speaker, Antonio has had to learn to be his own leader, with no organization or paycheck to fall back on, and he highlights the importance of leading by example and staying committed to your goals, even when it's difficult, and as a CEO myself, I (Jason) can absolutely relate to the solo nature of leadership and how you have to set the tone for yourself before you can effectively lead others.

We also touch upon the power of vulnerability in leadership. In a world of highlight reels, people are always craving authenticity and connection, and by opening up about our challenges, setbacks, and even our dislikes, we help create deeper bonds and show others that it's okay to not have it all figured out.

Whether you're leading a team or leading yourself, this episode will likely encourage you to be more intentional about how you show up each day and to reach out to support the people in your life who may be going through their own storms. After all, that human connection can make all the difference!