I got a phone call recently from Josh Coad.
He said he’d been reading my blog. I paused for a second—honestly, I was surprised. Not because I didn’t think he’d care. But because the man who helped shape how I lead was now reading the thoughts I’ve been putting out into the world.
It brought me back to when I first started learning the business side of golf. I wasn’t looking for a mentor. I was just trying to stay afloat, trying to get things done. But Josh? He didn’t lead with speeches. He led with action. I saw how he walked the floor, how he handled the tough conversations, how he made space for others to learn.
One of the first things he did was hand me a copy of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. That book, along with The Servant, would become part of the foundation of how I think about leadership.
There’s an image in 7 Habits that shook me. Maybe you’ve seen it—a drawing that looks like either a young woman or an old woman, depending on how you look at it.
That one picture changed how I see people. It made me realize that based on our experiences, education, and intuition, we can look at the exact same thing and see something completely different. Both views can be true. That stuck with me.
Josh never told me what to think. He just introduced me to ideas and trusted I’d figure it out. And what stuck most from his example was simple: lead with action.
Don’t just talk about culture—create it by how you show up. Don’t demand accountability—model it. Don’t wait for someone to go first—be that person.
A lot of what I do now—whether it’s running a golf club, writing this blog, or raising my kids—carries the weight of his influence.
In Chinese, I’d call him 師父 (shīfu — teacher, master). In Japanese, it’d be 先生 (sensei — the one who’s gone before you). Both fit.
So thank you, Josh.
For your patience. For your standard. For showing me how to lead without noise.
Your Turn
Have you ever had a mentor—or even a book—that helped you see things differently? Drop a comment and tell me about it. And if you haven’t subscribed yet, now’s a good time—there’s more to come.