“I’ve invested decades working with and trying to develop leaders. In my travels I’ve encountered more articles, books, and blogs than I dare try to remember – and truth be told, most of them are a reiteration of countless predecessors.  Occasionally I stumble across a diamond, a sparkling jewel.  When I do, I carry it with me – study it – learn from it.  Becoming a Self Reliant Leader: How Grit and Disciplined Duty Forge Indomitable Teams  is not a precious gem – it’s the diamond mine.  It is that rare find that actually does more than challenge us to build our own narrative – it shows us the way.  Step by step and with wonderful real world examples that expound - each forged in a crucible.   Who should read this book?  Everyone interested in building a life that matters – to include every person that has ever dreamed of being a leader of significance.  This book will soon adorn the bookshelves of a great many.  But I hope that it will become much more – a reference guide on how to become a transformational human being.  We need them now more than ever before in this world of ours. This is the book a lot of us have been waiting for – we just didn’t know it.” 

"Becoming a Self-Reliant Leader' brings to light the raw, unvarnished truth about leadership. Much like the entrepreneurial journey, the story shows that the path to true leadership is often through the wilderness of challenge and change. The book acts as a compass, guiding the reader to understand that the real transformation begins where comfort zones end. It's a must-read for those ready to face their own crucibles and lead with conviction and clarity."

“Managing others is a difficult process, but managing ourselves to do so properly can be just as challenging. Fortunately, this book gives us the tools to do both in a remarkably illuminating and engaging read. Current and prospective leaders alike would be wise to absorb and implement its lessons."

The development of leaders, and especially extraordinary leaders, has been a challenge for thousands of years.  During that time, millions of books and even more studies have been produced in an attempt to identify how great leaders are developed.  This is an important endeavor because between 20% and 70% of the outcomes in organizations are due to the leader.  Strategy matters, culture matters, incentive systems matter, processes matter, but if all of those are in place and the leader is incompetent, the organization and its members will not thrive.  In this book, Jan Rutherford and his colleague, Jacquie Jordan, have captured the very essence of leadership development.  Using Rutherford’s Crucible Expedition experiences, they capture leadership lessons as they emerge and are refined.  Personal, interpersonal, and team leadership skills are developed in real time and in conditions where failure is costly.  This book is an exciting, entertaining, and insightful read, and you are almost guaranteed to capture numerous useful insights about how leadership develops and succeeds.