Heya! I’m Bernie.

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Grow Deep Roots.
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From the Blog

The Hobbit Leadership Blog
The Leadership Myth
Lead From the Back
The Leadership Myth
Lead From the Back

Your team leader might be the least qualified person in the room.

Personality-based hiring creates mediocre leaders. Here’s what to do instead



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Lead From the Back
Career Sweet Spot: Find Work That Fits Your Strengths, Purpose, and Contribution Style
Lead From the Back
Career Sweet Spot: Find Work That Fits Your Strengths, Purpose, and Contribution Style
Lead From the Back

At 48, I was sure my career was over. Turns out I didn’t need more effort—I needed alignment. Here’s the Career Sweet Spot framework (purpose + strengths + contribution style) and a 10-minute assessment to find yours.

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Lead From the Back
I Can See Clearly Now
I Can See Clearly Now

After a recent eye-surgery, I really do believe this science stuff should be funded (and listened to).

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Sarahsville, Ohio
Sarahsville, Ohio

“The past is our definition. We may strive, with good reason, to escape it, or to escape what is bad in it. But we will escape it only by adding something better to it.”

Wendall Berry

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The Illusion of Being Impressive
The Illusion of Being Impressive

How to be truly impressive — not simply living with the fake land of performative greatness.

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Small Things, Great Love
Lead From the Back
Small Things, Great Love
Lead From the Back

A bit of a theological reflection which applies to an everyday leadership context.

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Lead From the Back

I publish an essay about leadership and creativity every Sunday morning.

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View fullsize Every week I write about leadership, spirituality, culture, and literature. This week all four of those things collided in this cultural moment in which we find ourselves. The Bible is being wielded as a weapon against the very people it tells us to
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View fullsize Dog walks. @ronswansonthebulldog is easy to photograph. His best friend Maeby is much more difficult. Will try again. #theeyeofthebulldog
View fullsize We don’t persuade by shouting. Ethos first. Then reasons. Then feelings. Rhetoric is important. We must learn to do better. New Good Dirt: The Runway of Persuasion. Link in bio.
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View fullsize The smallest things are waiting to be seen. You’re doing better than you think. “Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them.” — Eeyore #GoodDirt #PoohWisdom #ForestFloor #HiddenBeauty #MossAndMushrooms #YoureDoingBetter
View fullsize A few early thoughts from this week's Good Dirt essay. (Subscribe with link in bio.) I don’t remember what we had for lunch that day. I don’t remember what we were supposed to be doing. But I remember the mud, the creek, and my dad beside
View fullsize This is @ronswansonthebulldog and I went on a hike. I just thought you should see how happy he is.
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