Preface

Your leadership journey starts with your story.

Leading is all about connecting.

In order for others to follow you, they need, first and foremost, to connect with you. They have to trust you. They need to know where you are from so they can believe in you. Only then can they have confidence that you will be able to lead them where they need to go.

That is why they yearn, above all else, to know your story.

Your story is what connects where you are from with where you are going. It conveys what you will and what you will not stand for. It opens the door to who you are—so that others can believe in you. Your story connects you more deeply with yourself and with those around you.

With that in mind, as Herb Greenberg’s story unfolds, I encourage you to think about the spirit and meaning of your own story. What is it that drives you? What are your unique qualities? Is it your passion? Or your compassion? Your vision of the future? Or your connection with the past? Your sheer determination? Or your ability to collaborate? Your ability to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds? Or your talent for inspiring others?

Throughout Herb’s story, you will hear certain themes that repeat themselves and come alive, helping to define him in ways that we can all easily connect with and admire. As you will see in the opening chapter, for instance, Brooklyn is not just a place where Herb grew up, but it is at the core of his identity. It is where the Dodgers infused him with a sense of moxie, as well as a belief in the underdog and the notion that “there will always be next season.” Then, in time, the Brooklyn Bridge took him to places he could never have imagined.

As you learn about Herb’s inspiring story, I hope it motivates you to think about your own story in a new way. What are the overarching themes of your story? What scenes from your life bring those messages alive? How do your personal stories connect with your leadership journey?

To the extent that your leadership story clearly reflects your core values, and you are able to share your story in a compelling way, others will lean in—and believe in you. That is when your true leadership can take hold.

Leading, ultimately, starts with you, and others, knowing the depth of your story.

What is it about you as a leader that reaches deep inside of you and can reach out to connect with others?

What is your leadership story?