What happens when the biggest leadership breakthrough in your career starts with a personal decision to change your life?
In this episode, Forest Wentworth, Associate Director of Projects at the Advanced Manufacturing Center at the University of Maine, gets refreshingly honest about what it really takes to show up as a leader, starting with showing up for yourself first. He opens up about his personal journey through recovery and how getting sober unlocked his highest performance, both at work and at home.
From there, the conversation covers building a brand new team from scratch inside the unique world of university-based applied manufacturing, and why under-promising and over-delivering should be the foundation of every client relationship. He also shares how replacing assumptions with questions can transform the way you communicate. Forest goes on to share his father's timeless advice, always help the little guy, and pulls back the curtain on the Late Start Racing Team, a three-generation family project chasing a land speed world record at Bonneville Salt Flats in a 1988 Porsche 944 Turbo, pushing toward 800 horsepower.
Takeaways:
- You can't pour from an empty cup. Before you can truly show up for your team, your family, or your clients, you have to show up for yourself first. Whether that means addressing addiction, protecting your mental health, or simply finding renewed purpose, investing in your own well-being is the foundation of high performance.
- Pay attention to how you feel Sunday night. How you feel the night before a workweek is one of the most honest indicators of whether you're in the right place. If you're dreading Monday morning and looking for excuses not to show up, that's a signal worth listening to and acting on.
- Lead by doing, not just directing. If you want to earn respect and build a strong team, make it your business to understand and be able to do the work you're asking others to do. When your team sees that you've walked in their shoes, it builds trust and creates a culture where everyone keeps getting better.
- Under promise and over-deliver every time. Setting realistic expectations and then exceeding them is one of the most powerful ways to build lasting client relationships. It turns a transaction into a transformation, and a satisfied client into a loyal one.
- Replace assumptions with questions. Perception is one of the biggest sources of miscommunication on any team or client project. Before acting on what you think you know, ask. Seeking out the other person's perspective, even on small things like shared vocabulary, builds clarity and prevents costly mistakes.
- Give yourself grace and live in day-tight compartments. You can't change yesterday, and tomorrow isn't here yet. Focus on what you can do today. Set achievable goals, do your best to exceed them, and let go of the rest. Self-compassion isn't a weakness; it's what keeps you in the game long-term.
- Always help the little guy. Every large company started as a small one. Don't overlook the emerging businesses, the first-time entrepreneurs, or the one-person operations. The value you provide early in someone's journey can be the catalyst that changes everything for them and for you.
Quote of the Show:
- “It’s really hard to show up for your team if you aren’t showing up for yourself.” — Forest Wentworth
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