Sometimes leadership doesn’t begin with a grand vision—it begins with a text. In this introspective Gray Matter Moment, Ryan Gray records from the shores of Puerto Peñasco during his family’s annual October trip and reflects on a recent experience that brought personal vulnerability into the spotlight. He had been invited to co-lead a session at Yavapai College’s “Students of Leadership” retreat, an intensive three-day mountaintop experience for emerging student leaders. The theme? The phoenix.
What unfolded was a powerful exploration of the relationships that shape a leader’s story—those closest to you in your venture, and the larger network that comprises your odyssey. Feeling the weight of proving the concept, Ryan sent a late-night video request to his own leadership network, asking if they would say, simply, “I’m part of Ryan’s Leadership Odyssey.” The overwhelming response became a video that turned a presentation into a shared affirmation—and a retreat highlight.
This episode walks listeners through that experience, offering a reminder: the people you surround yourself with define your trajectory. Leadership isn’t solitary—it’s a journey guided by others.
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