Who’s Speaking Up When You’re Not in the Room?
We spend a lot of energy trying to show up well.
To lead with intention. To speak with clarity. To bring courage into the spaces we’re in.
But here’s the question that really matters:
Who is speaking up for you in the rooms you’re not in?
Because that’s the test of real connection.
Not who claps the loudest when you’re present, but who backs you when you’re not.
Not just the ones who follow your work online, but the ones who advocate for you offline.
In leadership, in life, in culture-building — it’s not just what you say or do that shapes your impact.
It’s who you surround yourself with.
Choose People Who Pull You Forward
Surround yourself with the people who:
Speak your name in opportunities
Tell the truth with care
Celebrate your growth without envy
Help you stay grounded, even when you doubt yourself
These are the ones who will fight for you when no one’s watching.
They do it because they see your value — not your title. Your effort — not just your outcomes.
Let Go of What Drains You
Some people bring energy. Others take it. And sometimes, leadership means choosing to let go. Of the ones who undermine, question, compete, or silence.
It is not about cutting people off with arrogance.
It is about protecting your energy with intention.
Because if you want to do meaningful work
If you want to lead with purpose
If you want to challenge the norm, create change, and lift others along the way —
You cannot afford to stay surrounded by energy that shrinks you.
Lead Like It Matters (Because It Does)
At Blue Dog Culture, we believe leadership is not a solo pursuit. It is a collective act. And the people around you shape the way you lead.
So choose the ones who push you to grow. Who remind you what you are capable of
Who fight for your name, even when you’re not there to hear it.
That’s the kind of leadership that sticks. That’s the kind of culture we’re here to build.