Dr. Ron Stottz shares his transformational journey from Marine Corps service to becoming a mindfulness-based leadership coach who helps executives access higher states of consciousness and leadership effectiveness.

• Leadership is about supporting and bringing out the best in everyone, not being in front
• Personal development must happen alongside professional development to become an extraordinary leader
• Leaders often reach plateaus when they haven't addressed childhood wounds or disconnected parts of themselves
• The breath is our most trusted guide and advisor for developing self-awareness and mindfulness
• "Big Mind" allows leaders to access optimal solutions through present awareness rather than effortful thinking
• Higher consciousness in leadership creates workplace environments that positively impact employees' home lives
• Self-love and self-kindness are foundational to loving and supporting others effectively
• True leadership requires an open heart and mind, with neurological development that accesses our highest potential
• Authentic leadership means showing up as one integrated self rather than compartmentalizing work and home personas
• Building a proper foundation allows leaders to create lasting impact without eventually crumbling

Challenge yourself tonight or tomorrow with intentional breathing exercises: three seconds in, pause, three seconds out, pause, and repeat for two to three minutes.

Connect with Ron Stotts: -Website: ronstotts.com

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-Leadership Resources: https://linktr.ee/McMillionLeadership

My Mission: I will end toxic leadership practices by equipping leaders with transformational leadership skills.

Together, we will impact 1 MILLION lives!!!

Every day is a gift, don't waste yours!
Joshua K. McMillion | Founder MLC

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🎙 Episode Title: The Luckiest Man in the World – Leadership Lessons from 102-Year-Old WWII Veteran “Papa Jake”

In this powerful episode of Tales of Leadership, I sit down with Jake Larson—affectionately known as “Papa Jake”—a 102-year-old World War II veteran and national treasure whose story has captivated millions across the world.

Born during the Great Depression and raised on a farm in rural Minnesota, Jake’s journey took him from poverty to the front lines of history. At just 15 years old, he joined the National Guard by lying about his age. That bold decision would place him on the path to help plan the D-Day invasion as part of G3 Operations. Armed with a skill most overlooked—typing—Jake was responsible for processing the very orders that sent thousands of men onto Omaha Beach, including himself.

In this episode, we explore:

• How a typing class in high school saved his life and shaped his service
• What it was like growing up during the Great Depression
• His harrowing first-person account of surviving Omaha Beach under fire
• The leadership philosophy he carried throughout the war—and still lives by today
• How humility, mentorship, and storytelling can carry a legacy across generations

📲 Follow Papa Jake & Learn More:

• TikTok: @storytimewithpapajake
• Instagram: @storytimewithpapajake
• Book: The Luckiest Man in the World → Amazon

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My Mission: I will end toxic leadership by equipping leaders with transformational tools. Together, we will impact 1 MILLION lives.

Every day is a gift—don’t waste yours.
– Joshua K. McMillion | Founder, McMillion Leadership Coaching

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X → @JKMcMillion
LinkedIn → Tales of Leadership Podcast
Facebook → Joshua McMillion

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Lon Stroschein is the founder of Normal 40 and best-selling author of The Trade. With a career spanning international expansion, leading a $100M division, closing a $2.1B public deal, founding a private wealth group, and serving in the U.S. Senate, Lon knows success at the highest levels.

But his defining moment wasn’t in the boardroom—it was when he chose to walk away and chart a new path. Now, Lon helps high-performing professionals—executives, physicians, attorneys, military officers, and business owners—reclaim purpose and write the next chapter of their lives with intention.

Each episode dives into the pivotal transitions that shape our lives and careers, guided by the Normal 40 process—a proven roadmap for meaningful change.

This podcast is for anyone standing at the edge of "what's next"—ready to trade comfort for clarity. Lon’s mission? To inspire transformation in 1,000 lives. Yours might be one of them.

Connect with Lon Stroschein:
-Website: https://www.normal40.com/

-LinkedIn: lon-stroschein-normal40

-Twitter: LonStroschein

-YouTube: @normal40

-Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/normal-40-the-podcast/id1642813933

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-Leadership Resources: https://linktr.ee/McMillionLeadership

My Mission: I will end toxic leadership practices by equipping leaders with transformational leadership skills.

Together, we will impact 1 MILLION lives!!!

Every day is a gift, don't waste yours!
Joshua K. McMillion | Founder MLC

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Transitional leaders view people as objects to be used for selfish gain. If you choose this easy path, you may see temporary success, but you can also cause devastating effects in both your life and your organization. Below are ten habits to avoid to prevent becoming a transitional leader.

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Leadership Resources: https://linktr.ee/McMillionLeadership

My Mission: I will end toxic leadership practices by equipping leaders with transformational leadership skills.

Together, we will impact 1 MILLION lives!!!

Every day is a gift, don't waste yours!
Joshua K. McMillion | Founder MLC

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Brent Pohlman is an executive leader at Midwest Laboratories, where he has been instrumental in driving a positive impact on the lives of employees, clients, and communities for over seven years. At Midwest Laboratories, Brent is known for fostering a culture of excellence and trust, leveraging core competencies in innovation, teamwork, and dynamic service to benefit staff and partners. A published author with the latest book, "Leaders Look Within," released in May 2023, Brent shares invaluable insights on leading from the heart, coaching others, and nurturing a culture of trust and excellence. With an MBA in human resources and a dual BA and BS in business administration and secondary education, Brent's passion for continual learning and growth as a leader is evident.

Connect with Brent Polhman:
-Twitter: @bpohlman

-Instagram: @bpmwlo
-LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bpohlman/

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-Leadership Resources: https://linktr.ee/McMillionLeadership

My Mission: I will end toxic leadership practices by equipping leaders with transformational leadership skills.

Together, we will impact 1 MILLION lives!!!

Every day is a gift, don't waste yours!
Joshua K. McMillion | Founder MLC

Follow on social media:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/tales-of-leadership-podcast/?viewAsMember=true
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We are continuing with the House of Leadership (HOL) series. Throughout the series, my goal is not to persuade you toward the six principles I've selected. However, I do want to inspire you to critically think about what your principles will be. The best mentor we have is ourselves. Why? Because we spend literally every waking moment with ourselves. Remember, the first leadership phase is self-leadership, a fact throughout our journey to become Purposeful Accountable Leaders (PALs). Start discovering who you are and become the leader your team and this world need. Here are the first three of six principles that guide me, which I call BAD HUG.

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-Leadership Resources: https://linktr.ee/McMillionLeadership

My Mission: I will end toxic leadership practices by equipping leaders with transformational leadership skills.

Together, we will impact 1 MILLION lives!!!

Every day is a gift, don't waste yours!
Joshua K. McMillion | Founder MLC

Follow on social media:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/tales-of-leadership-podcast/?viewAsMember=true
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100078444653655
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Morgan Sullivan is a father to four exceptional children and a husband to a wife he believes he doesn't deserve. Morgan grew up in a small town in southeastern Ohio, where his days were spent working on a farm and engaging in sports. He pursued higher education at Heidelberg College and earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology. On September 12th, 2002, Morgan joined the Army, dedicating over 20 years of service that led him to various states and countries. His military career exposed him to diverse experiences, allowing him to meet exceptional individuals and navigate exciting and challenging scenarios. Morgan has extended his leadership to coaching baseball, softball, boys’ and girls’ basketball, and football across developmental leagues to high school varsity levels. Currently, he serves as a high school athletic director, focusing on supporting the coaches and student-athletes at West Liberty-Salem High School.

Connect with Morgan Sullivan:
-Website: www.betteryouthcoaching.com
-Facebook: Talkin with the AD
-Instagram: Talkin with the AD
-Twitter: Talkin with the AD
-TikTok: Talkin with the AD
-LinkedIn: Coach Morgan Sullivan, CIC

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-Leadership Resources: https://linktr.ee/McMillionLeadership

My Mission: I will end toxic leadership practices by equipping leaders with transformational leadership skills.

Together, we will impact 1 MILLION lives!!!

Every day is a gift, don't waste yours!
Joshua K. McMillion | Founder MLC

Follow on social media:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/tales-of-leadership-podcast/?viewAsMember=true
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100078444653655
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Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI-l-UT6nX_eXGKHf-Lc36g

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Leanne Meyer is the author of Climbing the Spiral Staircase, a guide for women seeking to gain control of their professional paths. She directs Carnegie Mellon Women’s Executive Leadership Academy and is the former director of the university’s Accelerate Leadership Center. With more than thirty years of senior-level consulting and executive development experience, Leanne provides evidence-based methods to change business practices. Her work helps leaders navigate critical inflection points, refocus professional identities and develop new skills. She consults with Fortune 100 companies and holds a master’s degree in industrial psychology from the University of Johannesburg. She is passionate about helping leaders reinvigorate their lives through the reclamation of passion and purpose.

Connect with Leanne Meyer:
-Website: https://leannemeyer.com/

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leanne.meyer.77

-IG: https://www.instagram.com/leanne.m.meyer/

-Twitter: https://twitter.com/leanne_meyer

-LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leannemeyer/

-Book: https://leannemeyer.com/book/

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-Leadership Resources: https://linktr.ee/McMillionLeadership

-Resilence-Based Leadership Program: https://resiliencebuildingleader.com/

- Discount Code: JMCMILLION

My Mission: I will end toxic leadership practices by equipping leaders with transformational leadership skills.

Together, we will impact 1 MILLION lives!!!

Every day is a gift, don't waste yours!

Joshua K. McMillion | Founder MLC

Provide feedback or give a shout out!

Support the show