"Once you start readingAwakening the Leader Within, you won't set it down. Cashman doesn't let you off the hook until you contemplate how you will live your life differently."
Tom Debrowski, Executive Vice President, Worldwide Operations, Mattel, Inc.

Awakening the Leader Within guides readers through the Six Seeds of Growth, which Cashman has used to help thousands of business leaders change their personal and work lives for the better. He draws on his renowned executive coaching techniques in order to lead the reader on a path to self-discovery and personal betterment. Based on the premise that you need to grow the person in order to grow the leader, this inspirational and interactive story centers on Benson Quinn, a CEO facing a deluge of personal and professional crises. As Quinn confronts the defining moments of his life, the reader learns valuable lessons about authentic and purposeful leadership, applicable at home as well as in the boardroom. At a time when issues of business ethics crowd the headlines-causing many leaders to question whether profit should be a leader's only goal-the practical applications of this book are more timely than ever. Awakening the Leader Within has been endorsed by more than thirty CEOs, thought leaders, and bestselling authors.

Kevin Cashman (Minneapolis, MN) is the founder of LeaderSource, the nation's premier executive coaching consultancy. He has been featured in publications such asThe Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, Harvard Management Update, andHuman Resource Executive. He has also been a contributing editor to Executive Excellence magazine.

KEVIN CASHMAN is Founder and CEO of LeaderSource, an international leadership development and executive coaching consultancy with offices across the U.S. For more than twenty years, he and his organization have coached thousands of executives and teams to enhance performance. His clients span a variety of Fortune 500 and fast-growth companies in the consumer products, healthcare, medical products, high technology, manufacturing, service, and food industries.

The Journey to Awakening Starts Here . . . 1

1 Executive Suite 11

2 Our Family . . . Our Town 20

3 The Call of Awakening 29

4 The End of the Fairy Tale 35

5 Waiting for Awakening 39

6 Dawn in the Garden 43

7 Awakening to Legacy 47

8 First Crossroads: Old Road or New Road? 50

9 Awakening to Purpose 60

10 Renewing a Vital Partnership 67

11 The Strength of Vulnerability 73

12 Awakening to Authenticity 81

13 Always Connected 88

14 Awakening to Essence 98

15 The Blossoming Bud 109

16 A Day of Decisions 120

17 Heart to Heart 128

18 Piercing the Veil 132

19 Walking the Talk . . . with Baby Steps 151

20 Awakening Together 168

21 Facing the Demons of Doubt 173

22 Passing on the Torch 192

23 Gardener of Souls 211

24 Purposeful Vision 223

25 Remember the Seeds. . . . 239

26 The New Gardener Begins His Work 244

Growth Guide Awakening the Leader Within 260

About the Author 315

About LeaderSource® 317

Bibliography and Recommended Reading 318

Acknowledgments 321