Rich Smalling

Practically Positive Rich Smalling

"You think you know about business and leadership. Lord knows you've had plenty of lessons about how not to lead and not as many examples about how to lead well. I'm here to tell you that you don't know what you need to know yet."




Thriving organizations elevate humanity. Yet many leaders struggle to create the conditions that allow all stakeholders to thrive. Doing so takes courage, patience, and dedication. It requires challenging the status quo and balancing many conflicting needs. Leaders who choose this path will create meaningful change in the world, starting in their own organization, and even in their own home. Leaders are made, not born. They inspire hope and make things better.

Practically Positive is the story of one leader's journey. Over a period of twenty-five years, he learned that being a successful leader is not about putting yourself on a pedestal, but about taking on the responsibility of caring for your people and constantly improving your skills as the enabler of transparency, respect, and trust.

Practically Positive is a three-step, no-nonsense guide for leaders to create and maintain thriving organizations rooted in accepting imperfections, forging mutually beneficial connections, creating clear visions for the future, and cultivating the "why," whether it be at home or anyplace else.