The Birth of The Vagrant
5 copies available on 9/19, 9/20, 9/21, and 9/22, 2023
We’re choosing 5 people who leave a comment on today’s post to receive a complimentary copy of The Vagrant, my new book co-authored with John David Mann.
If you don’t win today – 9/19/23 – we’re giving away five more copies tomorrow.
This offer is limited to US/Canada.
(Our son surprised us Sunday afternoon. I think Brynlee and Ellasyn are more excited for cake than the book.)
The birth of The Vagrant:
I had a story in my heart for over 10 years.
A high-performing leader stumbles over himself. He can’t see himself. He’s blind to his blindness. I tried writing the story. But it escaped me. That’s when I made one the best decisions of my Leadership Freak experience. I reached out to John David Mann.
I knew about John from the wildly successful Go-Giver he wrote with my friend, Bob Burg. Thankfully we talked and I told John the story in a nutshell.
It feels awkward to ask for help.
Thankfully, aspiration defeated discomfort. Our brief conversation became a relationship that produced The Vagrant.
I hope you love this little story as much as I do.
4 takeaways from The Vagrant:
- Invite people into your life.
- Talented people unintentionally stumble over themselves.
- Self-reflection in isolation leads to self-deception.
- Everything great in leadership (and in life) begins with humility.
Projects:
There are 5 self-reflection projects in the book that help propel you through self-defeating behaviors.
Structured self-reflection transforms leaders from the inside out.
At the end of the book, you’ll find a set of discussion questions to use in a group or with your team.
P.S. The Vagrant isn’t biographical, but I’ve done every dumb thing that entangles Bob, the protagonist in the story.
I invited John David Mann into my life. Who have you invited into your life?
If you don’t win a copy today, we’re giving away 5 more copies tomorrow.
Order The Vagrant here or at your local bookstore:
Self-reflection in isolation leads to self-deception. ……THIS IS A POWERFUL!
Received mine yesterday- started it last night looking forward to reading it
Thank you for purchasing The Vagrant. Hope you enjoy it.
Congratulations on the launch! The Leadership Freak blog is one of my favorites for the compact stories with big insights.
“It feels awkward to ask for help” is my [personal and professional] life in a nutshell. I need to get better at finding the right people then being more comfortable with inviting them into my life. This book is on my must read list!
Your summary points really resonated with me, Dan. I have been a loyal blog reader for 3 years or so and I am very interested in reading the book! Of the 4 points – the 4th is the one I believe steadfastly – humility and leadership belong together!
Humility is hard for so many, but I find being open with others allows them to come along side of us and help us in some way in our own journey.
Excited to check it out!
I’m excited to read it!
Love the theme and look forward to reading The Vagrant. Two other words come to mind that overlap well. One is contemplation – bringing both left and right brain awareness and reflection into our inner world. The second is dialectic. Through the dialogue with others we learn, grow, expand our views, interpretation, and understandings. Dr. Henry Cloud wrote about the power of another in our life, and to invite that other is an act of courage on many levels. thank you for sharing your wisdom/
I am in a book club for nonprofit executives. I plan to suggest this book as one of our upcoming selections.
Hi Pam, Please let me know if your group uses The Vagrant. Perhaps I can zoom in for a brief visit with everyone.
I’m so excited to see my preorder copy today. All of us who invited you into our lives by subscribing to Leadership Freak are thankful! I’ve recommended The Vagrant as the next book for our Go Givers networking group to read!
Thank you for buying The Vagrant. I appreciate your support.
So proud of you, grateful to know you
Thank you Scott! I appreciate you.
I’m not sure what to say except I have so enjoyed reading your posts for a long, long time now and shared so many of them with colleagues. I am delighted you have published a book, and would be tickled to read that too!
Excited for a great read
Forever greaftul!!! Thank you as always Dan for your inspirational words to help me get my butt in gear and on a leadership path early in the morning every morning. A co-worker recommended your blog many years ago now and i have been dedicated ever since! Thank you for continuously helping me improve myself and thus improving my leadership skills. I am so excited to dig into your new book!
I’ve been waiting for release day! I’m so excited to read this book! I really enjoy books that incorporate reflection questions, which seems to be, at least a partial, theme to this book. You know what they say, “it takes a village.” I believe that is not only true for raising a child, but also for developing as a human in any capacity.
“blind to his blindness.” Been there!!
Thanks for your commitment to sharing great ideas.
Self-Reflection can be very powerful. I look forward to this section of the book!
I have really begun to appreciate people who have learned to be self-aware of both their strengths and their opportunities. That feeling of weakness we get when we can’t do it ourselves… It’s so freeing to be able to ask for help when we remove that wall that we set up for ourselves. Learning that took me years, but ultimately it has led to collaborations that are far superior than if I had done it myself. Thanks for being authentic and vulnerable and sharing.
Sounds like the completion of the book itself illustrated the “4 Take Aways From the Vagrant.” Get out of your way, Invite someone in, ask others what they see, all require humility. Can’t wait to read it.
“Everything great in leadership and life begins with humility.” In my opinion, that is true. Allowing humility to be formed in me has been a life-long process.
I have made my work my life lately and the strain is showing. I tend to do the self-reflection that is more defeating than building me up and shut people out. I am trying to network more and not isolate myself so much. Congrats on your release day!
Congratulations on the book release and thank you for your daily inspirations! After reading your daily posts I often spend time on your site following the associated links to dig in deeper and cross-connect content. I appreciate how your concepts are always digestible, relatable and relevant.
Congratulations on getting out of your comfort zone to ask for help! Congratulations on writing something that will help many people!
Congrats on the release! Love the cake (what a great idea for so many things!)! Your blog has been an inspiration as I am sure the book will be.
Congratulations Dan. I ordered a copy on Amazon last week. Can’t wait to read it!
Thank you Ted. I hope to get up to your neighborhood in Canada one day.
Congratulations! Sounds like a great story. I am looking forward to reading it.
Inviting someone into your life reminds me of the adage that if you want to go fast, go alone; but, if you want to go far, go together. Togetherness is the key – in both professional and personal pursuits. It’s the way that we humans are built, namely to be in community with others. Get together, begin communion with others, and there is almost nothing that can’t get accomplished!
Congratulations! Humility is a key life lesson and also a thread running throughout each moment.
Thank you for modeling for us the importance of leaning into that “feeling awkward” moment so The Vagrant could be born.
Today is the day! How exciting for you. 🙂 I look forward to reading your book.
Many of your blog posts have inspired me to take a look at myself and my leadership style. I can’t wait to read your book!
I’m looking forward to the discussion questions within this book to use with my team and cannot wait to dive into the self-reflection projects!
Congratulations on the release of your book. I look forward to reading it. It’s so hard to self-reflect in a constructive way. I also find it hard to bring people in. I’m not an out-going person so I find it hard to network and meet new people.
I work in education and I think this will be a book I can use for professional development or as a book study for onboarding new teachers. Really looking forward to reading this!
Dan,
Congrats on your book. I look forward to reading it and will review it on AMAZON.
Paul B. Thornton
Congrats Dan…Can’t wait to read it…You are an incredible leader dropping inspiration daily! THANK YOU!
I invited Dr. Rob Gilbert, Sports Psychologist & mental strength coach into my life…I get his daily inspiration too by calling the success hotline 973-743-4690…
Keep surviving & thriving on your journey!
Everything great in leadership (and in life) begins with humility. << This is so true!! Humility and accepting that we may not always be right! 🙂
The 4 takeaways are a must in today’s remote workforce. We have lost humility and without a reset, it will show in both burnout and churn.
“It feels awkward to ask for help.”
It is amazing how much your guidance on leadership mirrors some of the same work I do in therapy. My take away, if you aren’t mentally healthy and working on yourself personally, you will never be the leader you want to be.
Thank you for always reinforcing the work I am doing on myself and helping me know that it will help me be a healthier and happier person as well as a great leader some day!
I work in a small office that has a book club that gets discussed every Wednesday at our staff meeting. Looking for our next book now. Currently reading Leadership by Example by Frank Sonnenberg. Would like a copy to see if this could be our next read. Thanks,
I look forward to reading this!
Without humility, a fall is inevitable, not to mention the many-faced stumbles along the way prior.
I really feel like I need this book right now for all reasons mentioned. Can’t wait to read it!
Already preordered and looking forward to reading it!
Your daily posts are always insightful. I’m positive the book will be the same.
I have ordered a copy and I am looking to consider deployment to Leadership team.
Thank you, Dave. Please let me know if you choose to do something with your team. Perhaps I can zoom in to meet everyone.
Looking forward to reading this!
Congratulations on the book! I look forward to reading it!
Congratulations!!! Wishing you much success. It is well deserved.
Can’t wait to read it
I am looking forward to reading your book. I have frequently shared your blog with my team, with certain members of our executive team, and with my husband. Your posts really have something for everyone, Dan, including inspiration for continuous learning and self-reflection.
Sound like another great read! Self-reflection in isolation leads to self-deception just as living life in isolation tends toward a multitude of delusions.
Leadership Freak has changed the way I think, process and communicate in ways I never even considered. Humility has become one of the leading virtues for change. I can’t wait to read The Vagrant to help further this venture.
Looking forward to reading the book Dan and sharing it with my leaders book club
I love point #4–everything begins with humility. I would argue that in this day and age, people often use the word humble in a self serving manner. True leadership, true humility doesn’t have to shine the spotlight on being humble. It just is.
“It feels awkward to ask for help.” Indeed it does. It feels vulnerable and weak. But the awkwardness is actually the risk of opportunity: to collaborate with trusted partners and experience the synergy of creating something neither of us could accomplish on our own.
Humility and self-reflection have always been a part of my personality. But I need a reboot and hope this book provides some new techniques and a new set of lenses for me.
Your Leadership Freak gives me nuggets I can use professionally and personally every day. I am looking forward to reading The Vagrant – it has not hit Cdn bookstores yet.
You share willing to help others and I look forward to learning more in this book, however the first lesson was already given without opening the cover. I appreciate you sharing how you reached out for help. In world of lone leaders, the willingness to admit help is needed allows us to be greater than ourselves. Humility is underrated. Thank you for sharing.
I am new to this blog. I have been a special education teacher for many years and am working on leadership skills. I would love a copy of your book
Dan, you are definitely one of the “mentors I haven’t met”. You’re insight and posts have definitely enhanced, if not reshaped, the leader that I have become. Thank you for your self-reflection.
Congrats on the book! I’m waiting for my copy to arrive and can’t wait to read it. No need to enter me for the giveaway. Simply wanted to celebrate with your audience.
I share your blog frequently, and I am sure I will be sharing the book as well.
Thank you Dan for your wise, authentic, stimulating posts that very often remind or inspire me to look at things from another perspective, to take action, to do the right thing. I am sure that your book with illuminate and resonate with readers. Letting people in and self reflecting out of isolation is really something I need to work on. I look forward to reading your book.
I would enjoy reading The Vagrant to possibly help me in a Leadership role.
My first thought – I know someone who needs to read this! My second thought – projects for the reader? I’m intrigued!
Congratulations on the release of your book. I am looking forward to reading it. You never know what impact someone you invite into your life will have on you and others.
Congrats on the new book! I really enjoy your daily emails and look forward to reading this too!
I suggested this blog to the Leadership team at Verizon; we now all read it! – I look forward to checking out the book!
Congratulations on the book! Just hearing that you carried this story for 10 years gives me hope in pursuing excellence and worthwhile ideas, and taking action with humility brings forth new realities. Your blog has inspired me as a daily discipline for so long, and I’ve shared it with so many leaders. I’m reflecting that discomfort often leads to growth. Thank you!
This sounds like something I should read. It’s so easy to think through things yourself, and so much more complicated to see things from another person’s point of view.
“Self-reflection in isolation leads to self-deception.” I have been feeling this lately but did not understand that the isolation was leading to this. I connected with several like-minded business people and it helped me to remember my worth. I look forward to reading this.
Congratulations on your book! I am looking forward to reading it and gaining insight in how to accept input and not get defensive but be humble. That’s the only way we can learn. I continue to look for ways to improve and hope that I continue to do this even long after I retire. It’s the only way to live happily.
You had me at “aspiration defeated discomfort” – that is such a powerful phrase that encapsulates pushing through challenges and obstacles to achieve goals. It is simply hard to embrace discomfort as a necessary tool of personal and professional growth.
Congrats!
Looking back to when I allowed you to enter my life, it was back in 2015, not quite around the time you began, however not that long after.
I take notes from your posts and keep the links and often forward them on to others. Looking at my OneNote file, the first article I have of your is this one: https://leadershipfreak.wordpress.com/2015/12/23/five-ways-to-answer-negative-stories/
What has kept me coming back and leaving comments (not just on the book giveaway days) is that you stick to your 300 word limit, your stories are concise and the point is there. and the best part is how you end each post with a question or two.
You get me to think about a lot of different things from different perspectives and I appreciate it!
Thank you for all you do and I’m happy to have you a part of my morning routine!
All the best with your book and having as many speaking arrangements as you desire!
Yes on HUMILITY! The difference between Confidence and Arrogance is HUMILITY!
Congrats Dan! First time commenting, long time reader of your blog. Love all the takeaways above, but especially #4 “Everything great in leadership (and in life) begins with humility.”
Dan- I lost my wife in April and your leaderships posts have been so meaningful as I reflect, wrestle and embrace my new journey. Your gentle nudges to reflect and invite people in are not easy but necessary. Thank you.
Hi Darryl, Please accept my condolences. Your life is changing in ways that you might not have chosen. I wish you well as you press forward.
Can’t wait!
Congratulations on the book Dan. Your description of the book makes it sound fun but inciteful. Thank you for your passion for helping others develop their leadership skills and I think crossing over to personal growth as well. I feel self-reflection is the most difficult but most powerful tool we have as a leader. Who wants to think that they aren’t doing their best all of the time. It hurts the ego. But if we can open up to feedback and can honestly evaluate where we can grow as leaders, it can thrust us forward to positive change, not only in our organizations but it will help us to grow leaders and our successors.
Excited to read the wisdom! Thanks for sharing.
Congratulations on the launch! It sounds like a “mustie” (must have) for my libraries – academic and personal! I look forward to reading it!
I think if I could only receive one inspirational piece each day, I’d have to choose Leadership Freak. There are days when I wonder where you’ve hidden the microphone and camera in my office to know exactly what I need to hear.
I’ve shared this with anyone and everyone who would listen and suggested it for those aspiring to a leadership role in our organization. Thanks for providing another source of guidance for me to share with the generation that will be following us.
I love your blog! I read it every day and you always give me some timely advice. Good luck on your book!
Humility in everything. That’s a great message for today. I look forward to reading your book!
Invite people into your life versus just using people to get where you want to go is quite a change from the norm.
Love Leadership Freak and learn something useful each day.
Thanks for giving your time and wisdom!
\I am sure the book will be a hit.
The timing of receiving this was near perfect. I’ve been in leadership for 20 some years now and through a series of unprecedented challenges I feel like I’ve slipped but haven’t been able to pinpoint where or why and so this book sounds like it could be very useful for where I am.
Best wishes for the success of the book. you have been selflessly serving the business community through your daily blogs. Thank You Dan.
This looks like a great book! Can’t wait to read it!
A goal of mine is to read more this year! The Vagrant would be a great spot to start with my team.
Hi T, Please let me know if you do something with the Vagrant for your team. Perhaps I could make a quick zoom visit to meet them.
Hi Dan, I love that you live what you teach. Reaching out for help even when you didn’t want to. You went out of your zone to help many others on this journey of life and leadership. Look forward to reading this book. I look forward daily to reading your Leadership Freak articles.
Cake and a new book – delightful!
I love the idea that asking for help is inviting someone into your life/space. Somehow for me that makes the idea of asking easier.
“Structured self-reflection transforms leaders from the inside out.” THIS!! So many leaders focus on those they oversee but forget to self-evaluate. Great point!
Self-reflection is the most looked over thing that leaders should be doing but don’t know how. Can’t wait to read this book!
Congrats on the launch of your book and best wishes! That cake looks amazing too! I read your blog every day and probably share your sage words to people and family weekly! I have frequently recommended your blog to numerous leaders in my organization, and I do my best effort to apply what you teach and share. I appreciate your work and have learned much! I also enjoy all the guests you feature too! Keep doing what you’re doing! It’s great… and SO needed! Can’t wait to read the Vagrant!
Asking others for help is a weak point in my life & career. I don’t mind inviting people into my life, but I don’t want to need them. I think I need to work on both these areas.
Everything great in leadership (and in life) begins with humility. The struggle is real
There is something great about reading how others have learned from their mistakes. It often helps me self-reflect. I look forward to reading!
I cannot wait to read the book and share it with my leadership team!
One of my favorite blogs. Love the daily insights. Excited to explore the wisdom in the book and use it to enhance my team!
“Self reflection in isolation leads to self deception” really hit me today. Take this as my sign to reach out to my mentor for a glass of wine and some chatting! Thanks!
I am thoroughly enjoying this book so far! Keep up the good work and I cannot wait to apply some of the lessons.
Thank you Joe.
A story from the heart shared with humility will always touch people in deep ways. And it also takes courage to write from that place.
Keep up this important work!
I have used many a Leadership Freak posting to grow personally and in my teaching and leading of others. I’m not sure there is a more relevant and applicable tool available for leaders to digest on a daily basis. I am eager to dig in to the Vagrant!
I can’t wait to read this book. The daily insights that I have been reading for years have made an impact in my daily work.
I’m new to the Blog, and I’m enjoying the great information. I have shared it with my team and will be introducing them to ” The Birth of the Vagrant”.
Great timing for “The Vagrant”. My latest leadership conversation this morning involves a colleague who thinks being in a position of authority makes her a leader. She says she is honored by her position but not humbled to show humility. She tells others her thoughts on how another person should lead instead of asking for help for herself. Instead of trust and empower her team, she reduces their functions and does things herself. Her fear and insecurity create double work and dissention. In a nutshell she is a Vagrant leader. I would love to read your book and share it with her. Oh, today is my birthday. Thank you for your leadership insights. I always share them with my team.
I’ve been looking forward to reading this! I love various intakes on “Leadership” and “self-development”!
So excited for this launch! I’ve ordered my copy on Kindle, and I’m starting to read it tonight!
Thank you for always being transparent with your own leadership journey as you challenge each of us on ours!
Excited about this book since I get so much out of these daily blogs.
You had me at “Invite people into your life.” I’m very inspired to read the book!
Who have I invited into my life? You, among others. I appreciate your wisdom and that you share it freely. Humility. Yes. Good things start there. Thanks, Dan!
“Self-reflection in isolation leads to self-deception.”
I had not thought of that and I see the possibilities there. I’ll be exploring this. It would be even better with the book, I am sure!!
“Talented people unintentionally stumble over themselves.”
This one intrigues me. Looking forward to learning more about this topic.
I have been a subscriber for a long time and regularly recommend to others that they follow you. Pretty much in every case I hear back from them about how valuable your insights are. I have been waiting for the release of this book. Will you be appearing in support of the book. I would happily come out to a signing.
Congrats on the Book Dan! I received my copy in the mail today! Can’t wait to read it.
Humility! What an important journey to discover who we really are and to live with a spirit of gratitude. One cannot do it alone, how necessary to let others in to help us see ourselves from the perspective of the other.
This sounds like a great book and opportunity. I am intrigued. Thank you for sharing your journey with others to learn and grow in Leadership.
Three sentences caught my eye as I read this post: “It feels awkward to ask for help.” “Invite people into your life.” And “Self-reflection in isolation leads to self-deception.” Whether it’s because we find it awkward or because we’re too proud or due to some other reason, we must consider the act of reaching out until we understand doing so has more potential positives than negatives. One significant advantage is the feedback to our shared beliefs and opinions can (and will) only improve them IF we take the time to understand that feedback. Even the most negative / irreverent feedback, well considered, will yield valuable insight to us!
I pre-ordered it and it has already been delivered, according to Amazon. Can’t wait to dig in!
Thank you Justin. I appreciate your support!
How fun, Launch Day!! Let’s see how high The Vagrant will fly..
The 4 take-a-ways listed were awesome. A talented, high performing person may lack humility, thus operating in isolation because there is a sense (not necessarily conscious) of “having it all together”. Inviting persons into your life provides that mirror which helps prevent self-deception and stumbling over oneself. I look forward to reading the book. I’m intrigued.
It is wonderful that you are sharing these experiences for others to learn from!
Congrats on this part of your journey, I love to read about hope, resilience, and the power of the human spirit in the face of overwhelming darkness.
Whew!! After reading through 127 comments, and being a long time reader of Leadership Freak, I know The Vagrant will be a great read. Thanks Dan
This has to be great because your blog has taught me sooo much.
Plus a cake that looks like book! It’s a winner!
I’m excited to share The Vagrant with my leader colleagues. I appreciate the collaboration at the heart of the inception of The Vagrant.
Love this blog and will be looking forward to reading the book!
Loving reading the Leadership Freak! It’s been giving me lots of great ideas and inspiration for the past year. This “nugget” was given to me last year after seeking some outside leadership growth support. Th Vagrant seems just like the story I need to read to continue on my growth journey.
I was just introduced to Leadership Freak less than a couple weeks ago, and I have already added so many great tips and tricks! This post is thought-provoking, and will definitely look into The Vagrant. I am just beginning my (hopefully long) journey into leadership, and also working on strengthening my own mindfulness. This book sounds like a great way to merge both journeys!
As a historian dealing with very difficult subjects (WWII, the Holocaust, etc.) I can attest to beginning with humility as a prerequisite to my field as well.
While the interconnected world offers great opportunities, it also tempts us to make self-righteous, snap judgements as if virtual interactions ‘don’t count’ like in a video game. They do though, more than we know.
As C.S. Lewis wrote ““Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.”
I’ve enjoyed this blog everyday and I’m so thankful for the mistakes you’ve made and lessons gleaned that will and continue to contribute to the success of so many others. Thanks for sharing this resource with us!
I would love a copy of this book. Sounds like just what I need to help me improve my skills and support my team at school.
Excited to read it!
I’m looking forward to reading this book, as I’ve appreciated the daily blogs very much over the years!