In this episode of Becoming Unshakeable, I sit down with Jim Matuga, Founder of InnerAction Media, to explore a side of leadership that often goes unspoken: followership.

Jim brings a refreshing perspective that challenges the assumption that leadership is the only role worth aspiring to. Instead, he makes a compelling case for the power of humility, steadfastness, and the influence that comes from being an excellent follower. For him, excellence and mediocrity cannot coexist, and creating a culture that values both leaders and followers is essential for building organizations that thrive.

Jim shares stories from his own career, including the moment he realized that having a title doesn't mean you are equipped to lead. Being thrust into leadership without preparation forced him to confront his own shortcomings and inspired him to dedicate decades to studying, practicing, and teaching leadership grounded in service. He discusses the weekly culture conversations he holds with his team, drawing on lessons from John Maxwell and his own experiences, to ensure that values don't just hang on the wall but are lived out in everyday practice.

One of the most potent parts of our conversation is Jim's story of intentionally removing the lid on his business. He set a goal to build a company that would not rely on him by 2030, which meant facing uncomfortable truths, opening the books, and developing successors. That level of transparency and trust not only changed the company's culture but also allowed his team to thrive in new ways. Jim also shares his "10 percent rule," the idea that under challenging conversations, the most essential truth often goes unspoken. Learning to voice that final 10 percent, he believes, is where leaders find real breakthroughs.

As we close, Jim reflects on how he stays grounded in times of chaos. For him, faith, discipline, and a holistic focus on health, relationships, and purpose keep him steady when circumstances are uncertain. His message to anyone who feels like they are barely holding it together is to act with intentionality.

Reconnect with your purpose, take one step forward, and trust that progress will come from movement. This conversation is a powerful reminder that becoming unshakeable is not about perfection or position; it's about embracing resilience. It is about humility, resilience, and the daily practice of choosing excellence and equipping others to rise alongside you.

In today’s episode of Becoming Unshakeable, I’m doing something a little different. This is one of my solo shows where I answer questions that listeners have sent directly to me. It’s my way of making sure your voice is part of this conversation, because even though I cannot see you when you listen, I want to stay connected to what matters most to you.

In this episode, I respond to three powerful questions. We explore how to continue showing care when upper management pressures or restrictions get in the way, how to balance compassion with clear expectations and accountability, and what to do when your calendar is so full of other people’s needs that you feel like you are losing yourself in the process. These are real-life situations, and they all connect back to what it means to be grounded in who we are and how we present ourselves.

Becoming unshakeable is not about never being rattled. It is about staying calm and centered when the world feels off its rocker. It is about making intentional choices to lead with clarity, care, and accountability. As you listen in, I invite you to reflect on your own sphere of influence, your daily practices for grounding, and the ways you might bring both compassion and strength into your leadership.

Welcome to this episode of Becoming Unshakeable! If you’ve been a follower and fan of Leadership with Heart, you’re in exactly the right place. From here on out, Becoming Unshakeable will be the new name of my show—and I can’t wait to bring you invaluable insights on what it means to lead with clarity, compassion and courage.

Ed Rahill’s story begins with a grandmother’s steady voice and a childhood that could have gone either way. He learned early that fear can freeze your future, and that believing in something bigger than ego keeps you moving when life tilts. In this conversation, we trace his path from broken-home beginnings to the relay anchor leg that changed everything, where a single decision to run for dignity and team turned self pity into grit. That moment became a template for how he leads himself and others.

We follow Ed into boardrooms and high-stakes turnarounds, where respect and clarity, open doors that force will never crack. He explains the quiet moves that earn trust, how to disagree with grace, and why every person wants to feel seen and essential. His “mile relay” philosophy becomes a leadership framework. Receive the baton of wisdom, run your leg with courage, then pass it on stronger. Caring leadership shows up not in slogans, but in the way you help people take ownership of the win.

Then there is the race. A coast-to-coast endurance run, arrests, breakdowns, and a moment on the shoulder of the highway where he almost quit. Ed describes turning the ignition with a new rule for life. One mile at a time. That mindset set a record and reset his compass. Preparation mattered. Faith mattered. Choosing courage over fear mattered most.

If you are becoming unshakeable right now, Ed’s lesson lands simply. Go back to your first principles, remember who taught you to stand tall, and act from values instead of ego. Write down your story from the start and look for the pattern of growth. Lead yourself first, speak with respect, and move one mile at a time.