Mindful Monday / Issue #539
The 7 Essentials of Enduring Leadership
September 21, 2026 · By Ryan Hawk, host of The Learning Leader Show
Welcome to Mindful Monday!
My book, The Price of Becoming, is now 2 weeks old. So far, it is a USA Today National Bestseller, an LA Times Bestseller, a Publishers Weekly Bestseller, and a Success Magazine Bestseller. I think you’ll enjoy it. I appreciate your support!
Here are some things from this week…
- An incredible conversation with Andy Stanley & Sam Kaufman
- Apply to be in my next Learning Leader Circle
- Why you gotta stay in the game
- An essay I wrote about being in pursuit of excellence
- Some wise words from Annie Dillard (RIP)
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#707: Andy Stanley & Sam Kaufman – What Great Leaders Do
Andy Stanley is the founder of North Point Ministries, a network of more than 225 churches globally, serving over 200,000 people weekly. He’s the author of What Great Leaders Do: 7 Essentials for Enduring Impact. Sam Kaufman is the Chief Revenue Officer at Insight Global, a $5.3B talent, technical, and AI services firm. He started as an entry-level recruiter in 2004 and rose through the ranks to lead the company’s core sales divisions. During our conversation, we discussed… The difference between problems to solve & tensions to manage, the 3 questions behind every great decision, the 7 essentials of enduring leadership, and what great leaders do. You can also WATCH our conversation on YouTube.
You Can Apply To Be In My Next Learning Leader Circle
Applications are now open for my next Learning Leader Circle. If you want to surround yourself with growth-focused leaders who are striving to get better, then you might be a fit for our Learning Leader Circle. Here’s what Amy Arnold (SVP, Helios Clinical Research) said about her time in The Learning Leader Circle: “I can’t thank you enough for your time and leadership advice. I feel so grateful to have met you and truly would not be where I am today without your leadership circle. You make such an incredible impact on one’s life, and I hope you realize it. You truly have a gift. Thank you!” CLICK HERE to apply.
In Pursuit of Excellence
Timothee Chalamet’s recent Screen Actors Guild Best Actor acceptance speech for his portrayal of Bob Dylan in “A Complete Unknown” was a powerful testament to ambition. Instead of downplaying his efforts with false modesty, he told the truth: “This was five and a half years of my life. I poured everything I had into playing this incomparable artist.” I love learning about people who are aggressively ambitious and don’t apologize for setting super high standards. I think we need more of this. CLICK HERE to read more.
Stay In The Game
This is an essay I re-read every year. A great reminder that you can only win the game if you keep playing…
Wise Words About Making a Positive Dent in The World
“Never, ever, get yourself into situations where you have nothing to do but write and read. You’ll go into a depression. You have to be doing something good for the world, something undeniably useful; you need exercise, too, and people.” — Annie Dillard
