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Can you have loyalty without action?

In this episode of Northbound Leadership, Chris reflects on a rafting trip through the Grand Canyon and draws a powerful parallel to leadership under pressure. Once you're in the canyon, you're committed. The water moves fast, the weather changes, and the rapids don't care how confident your guide sounds. In that kind of environment, loyalty isn't proven by words—it's proven by action.

Chris explores why loyalty without action is empty, how hesitation and silence expose teams to danger, and why decisive leadership builds trust when things get rough. Using real-world rafting experiences, he shows that great leaders prepare for what others can't see, step in when risk is highest, and absorb pressure so their people don't have to.

This episode challenges leaders to move beyond lip service and lead with courage, clarity, and commitment—especially when the waters are rough. Because loyalty isn't what you say when things are calm; it's how you lead when the rapids hit.

Pick up the oar. Read the river. Lead the raft.

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What happens when you trip—and no one's watching?

In this episode of Northbound, Chris shares a moment from the trail that became a powerful leadership lesson. While backpacking alone in the woods, Chris trips, falls flat, and immediately feels embarrassed—despite having no audience. That moment sparks a deeper reflection on leadership, performance, and the pressure to always look put together.

Through humor, Scripture, and honest self-examination, Chris explores why leaders often perform instead of live authentically, how image management makes us fragile, and why humility and self-awareness are essential for healthy leadership. He challenges the idea that falling is failure and reframes it as proof that you're moving forward.

This episode reminds us that great leaders don't pretend to be untouchable. They laugh at themselves, learn from the stumble, and keep walking—trusting that God shapes real people, not curated images.

Trip. Fall. Get up. Lead on.

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Northbound Summit - Remember The Trail That Got You There

The best shower of your life doesn't come from luxury—it comes after going without.

In this episode, Chris shares a backcountry story about three weeks without a shower and how discomfort sharpens gratitude. Using the Northbound climb as a framework, he explores why leaders who remember what it's like to go without stay more humble, empathetic, and grounded as they rise. Because comfort can create blind spots—but gratitude keeps leaders connected to their people.

The higher you climb, the more important it is to remember the trail that shaped you.