From Leadership Vignettes to Leadership Impact
Do you enjoy this post? Consider buying John a “coffee”.
Over the past while, I’ve received considerable feedback on the leadership vignettes and exemplars I’ve been sharing across my social media platforms. What started as storytelling—lessons drawn from decades of lived business experience—has led to a recurring question:
“How can organizations actually benefit from this experience in a practical way?”
That question is why I’m now formally offering leadership consulting services through Harbour Digital Media, focused on business management, operations, sales, and marketing.
And yes—before you ask—I know there’s no shortage of leadership consultants and coaches out there.
So let me explain what makes this different.
A Different Kind of Credential
I don’t have a master’s degree in leadership theory.
What I do have is what I often call a doctorate in leadership experience.
Over the past 45 years, I’ve:
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Chaired roughly a dozen boards
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Started, run, and exited multiple companies
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Managed approximately 1,500 employees
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Organized and led several networking and business associations
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Produced more than a dozen vodcasts and podcasts
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Created roughly 600 videos exploring leadership, business, and community
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Delivered over 30 years of public speaking
This isn’t academic leadership.
It’s leadership forged in real-world pressure, accountability, setbacks, and results.
That lived experience shapes how I work with organizations.
What Working Together Actually Looks Like
This isn’t complicated—but it does require honesty, time, and openness.
Step one: Listening.
We spend meaningful time talking. I need to understand your goals, your environment, your constraints, and what’s really going on inside your organization.
Step two: Thinking.
I analyze what I’ve heard—evaluating patterns, pressure points, and opportunities. From there, I outline a clear consulting or coaching framework tailored to your reality.
Step three: Acting.
We establish an action plan with timelines, responsibilities, and clear criteria for measuring success.
Step four: Reviewing and adjusting.
If appropriate, we review progress, refine the plan, and adapt as conditions change. That’s what real consulting does—it evolves.
The Leadership Equation
Over many years in business and organizational leadership, I’ve come to rely on what I call the Leadership Equation:
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Listen – Truly hear the situation
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Think – Analyze, evaluate, and make sense of it
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Act – Decide and implement
Simple in theory. Challenging in practice.
And there’s one constant thread running through all three stages:
Capacity to Change
You can bring in experience.
You can build a solid plan.
You can even agree on next steps.
But if individuals—and the organization itself—lack the capacity or willingness to change, progress stalls.
Leadership, at its core, is about adaptation.
Culture matters.
Mindset matters.
Follow-through matters.
That’s where experience becomes especially valuable—because change is rarely linear, tidy, or comfortable.
Continuing the Conversation
I’ll continue creating and sharing leadership vignettes and exemplars drawn from my life in business, community leadership, and organizational governance. These will remain available on my YouTube channel and across my social platforms.
If you believe your organization could benefit from:
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Practical leadership insight
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Experienced outside perspective
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Structured thinking paired with real-world execution
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Support navigating change and growth
I’d be more than willing to have a conversation.
No pressure. No pitch deck.
Just a thoughtful discussion about whether my experience can help strengthen your leadership capacity and change management capabilities.
Reach out. Connect. Let’s talk.

