EP50: The Courage to Grow

“Leadership isn’t about doing certain things; it’s about being a certain type of person,” says Ryan Gottfredson, a professor and consultant specializing in leadership development. In this episode, Ryan, the author of “Success Mindsets” and “The Elevated Leader,” sits down with Alex Raymond to explore vertical development—a powerful approach to growth that goes beyond just acquiring new skills. 

 

Ryan’s journey into this field started back in high school when a sports psychology class ignited his passion for personal development. That passion eventually led him to pursue a Ph.D. in organizational behavior and human resources, where he noticed a gap in traditional leadership research. Most studies focused on what leaders should do, rather than who they need to become. This insight redirected his work toward helping leaders and entrepreneurs focus on their way of being, not just their actions.

 

The three stages of vertical development are key to understanding this approach: the first stage focuses on safety and comfort, the second on standing out and advancing, and the third on contributing to the greater good. How do we shift from a mindset of self-protection to one of value creation? Ryan explains that while most people operate at the first level, true transformation happens when we move beyond it, advancing to stages where the focus shifts to making a meaningful impact.

 

Courage plays a critical role in this journey. Transitioning from one level to the next means letting go of certain needs and embracing new ones, which requires significant bravery. Ryan shares practical tips for entrepreneurs to start this transformation, like daily affirmations, journaling, and adopting growth-oriented mindsets.

 

This episode offers a deep dive into vertical development, providing actionable insights for entrepreneurs who want to move from survival mode to making meaningful contributions. By focusing on who they are, and not just what they do, listeners will learn strategies to overcome challenges, unlock their potential, and achieve transformative growth in both their personal and professional lives.

 

Quotes

• “Leadership isn’t about doing certain things; it’s about being a certain type of person.” (04:19 | Ryan Gottfredson) 
• “It’s one that’s very rare for people to take, but as I mentioned, it’s transformational. This path is what we call vertical development. Vertical development isn’t about adding apps to our iPad; it’s about upgrading our internal operating system so that we think and strategize at a higher level than we currently do.” (09:13 | Ryan Gottfredson)
• “Our mindsets are the most foundational aspect of everything that we do. How we see our world shapes how we think, how we learn, and how we behave. And we all have mindsets, and they are all driving our unconscious thoughts and processes. Most people think that they have good mindsets, but most people actually don’t even know the quality of their mindsets.” (33:47 | Ryan Gottfredson)

 

Links

Connect with Ryan Gottfredson:

Website: https://ryangottfredson.com/

 

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/

Website: https://consciousentrepreneur.us/

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