The L3 Leadership Podcast with Doug Smith – Details, episodes & analysis

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In this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, host Doug Smith shares his year-end review process, which has been a cornerstone of his personal growth since 2004. Doug discusses the importance of reflecting on the year gone by to foster growth and documents his detailed approach to conducting a comprehensive year-end review. He includes practical tips and encourages creating a personalized review system. Additionally, the episode features a word from the sponsor, Andocia Marketing Solutions. Doug wraps up with thoughtful ways to conclude the review process and the benefits of such reflections.

00:00 - Welcome to the L3 Leadership Podcast
00:27 - The Importance of Year-End Reviews
00:58 - Sponsor Message: Andocia Marketing Solutions
02:08 - Starting Your Year-End Review
06:05 - Essential Tools for Your Review
08:23 - Creating Your Year-End Report
12:26 - Wrapping Up Your Year-End Review
14:29 - Final Thoughts and Encouragement

The L3 Leadership Podcast is sponsored by Andocia Marketing Solutions. Andocia exists to bring leaders' visions to life. Visit https://andocia.com to learn more.

To find more leadership resources and helpful content for your leadership journey, check out our website at https://l3leadership.org/ today.

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Holiday Gift Guide Link

In this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, Doug Smith delivers a reflective, practical lesson on leadership gifts worth sharing—especially when life gets busy. Using the backdrop of the holiday season, Doug unpacks a curated gift guide through the lens of leadership, family, personal growth, and mindful presence. He reminds leaders that tools, systems, and intentional habits don’t replace the work of leadership—they strengthen the person doing it.

00:00 Introduction & Doug’s return to personal lessons
01:00 Why sharing resources creates lasting leadership impact
02:15 The finish line thinking that shapes character first
04:45 Finance tools leaders rely on now
07:30 Family routines and training kids in stewardship
09:50 Being present and blocking distractions
14:20 Tech that supports productivity without clutter
18:40 Kitchen tools that encourage hospitality at home
21:10 Learning through business biography, faith, and leadership books
25:35 Expanding impact by inviting the right people into your goals
27:48 Doug’s encouragement to leaders heading into the holidays
29:05 Quote on generosity and finishing well

Key Takeaways
- Leadership starts with character, systems just support the leader.
- Intentional family habits build leadership muscle long before adulthood.
- Presence is not passive—it requires guarding focus.
- Small tools that reduce friction protect mental bandwidth for what matters.
- Investing in durable resources creates compounding value over years, not months.
- Leaders grow bigger by asking who, not just how.

WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/e4o5TLH87yE?si=ur3Ph7a40XzOQFv7 

🎙️ FOLLOW THE PODCAST ON SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6huMUOmGFupQNjvrKALZ6u?si=7a9b9a2e1dcd4eac 

🎙️ FOLLOW THE PODCAST ON APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-l3-leadership-podcast-with-doug-smith/id1569987442?i=1000723571859 

🎙️ FOLLOW THE PODCAST ON ALL PLATFORMS: https://www.buzzsprout.com/5082/episodes/17705473 SUBSCRIBE TO: @l3leadership @dougsmithlive

The L3 Leadership Podcast is produced and sponsored by Andocia Marketing Solutions. Thanks to Andocia for co-producing and supporting multi-channel leadership storytelling.

Want help translating leadership vision into execution? Reach out at Andocia.com

"Give generously—even with your ideas. Inspiration is one of the easiest gifts to share and the longest to remember."

Leaders don’t quit. Keep leading. The world desperately needs your leadership.

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In this episode, Doug Smith joins Nick Poole on the Calvary Leadership Podcast. Doug shares his journey from being unaware of personal development to becoming a champion of continuous growth is highlighted through his impactful story. Doug shares his life plan approach for setting long-term goals in various life areas—spirituality, marriage, family, finances, friendships, and health—and emphasizes the value of feedback, resilience, and effective mentorship. 

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:17 First Encounter and Early Memories
00:47 Doug's Work and Personal Life
00:54 The Importance of Personal Development
02:02 Daily Disciplines for Growth
04:01 Staying Connected to God
05:15 Maintaining Hunger and Vision
10:35 Seeking and Responding to Feedback
15:39 Balancing Personal Development and Leadership
17:03 The Value of Real-World Experience
19:20 The Importance of Accountability
20:58 Finding and Engaging with Mentors
24:36 Preparing for Mentor Meetings
27:43 Fostering Resilience and Adaptability
30:44 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

The Calvary Leadership Podcast
Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/calvary-leadership-podcast/id1547285159

The L3 Leadership Podcast is sponsored by Andocia Marketing Solutions. Andocia exists to bring leaders’ visions to life. Visit https://andocia.com to learn more.

🎙️ FOLLOW THE PODCAST ON SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6OX3...
🎙️ FOLLOW THE PODCAST ON APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... 
🎙️ FOLLOW THE PODCAST ON ALL PLATFORMS: https://www.buzzsprout.com/5082/episo...

SUBSCRIBE TO: @l3leadership @dougsmithlive

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Episode Summary: In this episode of the L3 Leadership podcast, you’ll hear our interview with Mike Sullivan, Coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins. You’ll hear Mike talk about his favorite moments from both of his Stanley Cup runs, the lessons he’s learned from his leadership journey, how he turned around the Penguins so quickly and won two cups, his advice to his 20-year-old self, and more. Enjoy!

3 Key Takeaways:
1. Mike talks about the best part of winning two Stanley Cup runs.
2. He talks about his journey as a hockey coach and some of the lessons he's learned along the way.
3. He shares what he would tell his 20-year-old self if he knew then what he knows now.

About Mike: Mike Sullivan was named head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins on Dec. 12, 2015 when the team fired coach Mike Johnston. Sullivan was coaching the Penguins’ American Hockey League affiliate in Wilkes-Barre before being promoted to the NHL club.

Sullivan was an assistant coach for the Vancouver Canucks for the 2013-14 season under coach John Tortorella. Prior to joining the Canucks, Sullivan was an assistant on Tortorella’s staff with the New York Rangers and, before that, was again an assistant for Tortorella with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Sullivan also served as head coach for the U.S. Men’s team at the 2007 World Championships in Russia. He also was an assistant coach for the U.S. Men’s Olympic Team at the 2006 Olympic Games in Turin, Italy.

Previously, Sullivan spent two years as head coach of the Boston Bruins. In his first season in 2003-04, Sullivan led the team to the Northeast Division title. In 164 regular season games as a head coach, he had a record of 70-56-15-23 with a 3-4 playoff record.

Sullivan joined Boston after spending one season as head coach of their top American Hockey League affiliate in Providence, Rhode Island. Following his stint with Providence, he was named the assistant coach of the NHL’s Bruins under then interim head coach Mike O’Connell.

A native of Marshfield, Massachusetts, Sullivan played four seasons of college hockey at Boston University from 1986-87 until 1989-90. He scored 61 goals and recorded 138 points in 141 career college games. He was drafted by the New York Rangers as their fourth pick, 69th overall, in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft, though he never signed with them. He began his NHL career in August of 1991 when he signed a free agent contract with the San Jose Sharks after spending one season with the San Diego Gulls of the International Hockey League. Sullivan went on to play 11 seasons in the NHL and scored 54 goals with 136 points in 709 games during his playing career.

Connect with Mike:
Webpage

 Quotes from the Episode:
"Don't be so concerned about what other people think about you. Stick to your convictions." -Mike Sullivan 
"It's hard to be a head coach in this league if you're not willing to make tough decisions." -Mike Sullivan
"Great players don't win championships in this league, great teams win championships."  -Mike Sullivan
"Sometimes as a head coach you have to gain control by relinquishing control by empowering others."  -Mike Sullivan

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Episode Summary: In this episode of the L3 Leadership podcast, Doug discusses why you need a bucket list, what your bucket list could look like, and how you can continuously check items off your list. 

About Doug Smith: Doug Smith is the Director of Development at Light of Life Rescue Mission and Founder and CEO of L3 Leadership. He is the author of his eBook, “Making the Most of Mentoring”, a step-by-step guide to help you build and cultivate relationships with mentors. He blogs at dougsmithlive.com, is the host of the L3 Leadership podcast and is a sought-after public speaker. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Laura, who currently works as an Account Executive at Ivalua. Together, they love family, personal growth, travel, working out, and serving others.

4 Key Takeaways:
1. Doug talks about how his father-in-law opened up the world to him, inspiring him to have life-changing experiences.
2. He urges listeners to recognize that life is short.
3. Doug talks about what a bucket list is and how his bucket list is structured to inspire listeners to start their own list.
4. He discusses some ways to cross items off of your bucket list.

Quotes From the Episode:
“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”
“Always be adding to your bucket list.”
“Always ask who, not how.”
“Ask God to open up doors for you and give you bucket list experiences you couldn’t even dream of.”

Resources Mentioned:
My Plan For Living To 156 by Dan Sullivan

Connect with Doug:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Linkedin | Instagram 

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Episode Summary: In this episode of the L3 Leadership podcast, Anton Gunn talks with Doug about his leadership journey that turned into his career, his experience playing football in college, and important lessons he’s learned in life. 

About Anton: Anton Gunn is a former senior advisor to President Barack Obama and the world’s leading expert on Socially Conscious Leadership.
He has a Masters's Degree in Social Work from USC and was a Resident Fellow at Harvard. He is the bestselling author of The Presidential Principles and has been featured in TIME magazine, the Wall Street Journal, BBC, NPR, and on Good Morning America.
As an International speaker and consultant, he has worked with organizations like T-Mobile, Sodexo, KPMG, Emory Healthcare, Bernard Health, Blue Shield of California, Mercedes-Benz Vans, and Boeing.
From playing SEC football and being the first African American in history elected to the SC legislature from his district early in his career to now serving as the CEO of 937 Strategy Group and serving on multiple boards, he has spent his life helping people build diverse high performing teams and world-class leadership culture.

4 Key Takeaways:
1. Anton talks about the album that changed the trajectory of his life.
2. He recounts his experience playing football at the University of South Carolina.
3. He talks about his journey working in politics starting at a local level working in healthcare to becoming a Senior Advisor to President Obama.
4. Anton talks about his new book, Just Lead.

Quotes From the Episode:
“Your mindset matters more than your skillset.”
“As a leader, you should always keep your promises.”
“There’s never a wrong time to do the right thing.”
“When you’re passionate about something, do something about it.”

Resources Mentioned:
Pulp Fiction
Just Lead by Anton Gunn
The Audacity of Leadership by Anton Gunn
More Books by Anton
Audible

Connect with Anton:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Linkedin | Instagram

Episode Webpage: https://l3leadership.org/338

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Episode Summary: In this episode of the L3 Leadership podcast, Erin and Doug talk about how authenticity can be your superpower in your career, how she makes decisions, increasing employee engagement, leadership development, and more.

About Erin Hatzikostas: Erin Hatzikostas is a former corporate CEO turned founder of b Authentic, Inc. She is an author, a TEDx and Keynote speaker, a career coach, a podcast cohost, and Running Man enthusiast. At the age of 42, Erin became the CEO of a nine-figure 1,000-employee healthcare financial company where she led a massive turnaround, tripling earnings and sending employee engagement skyrocketing in just three years. Just when things were going great, Erin decided to walk away from the corporate world. She realized it was her reliance on authenticity that allowed her to say yes to the big girl job, but also to achieve incredible results.

Through her company, b Authentic Inc., she’s on a hellbent mission to eradicate the all-too-fake corporate environment by inspiring and enabling an army of people to crush their careers without compromising everything else.

Erin is the friend, the mom, the coach, guru, and the boss you’ve always wanted all rolled into one.

4 Key Takeaways:

1. Erin discusses with Doug why she left the corporate world to start her own company. 
2. She talks about how she was able to drive employee engagement in her corporate job.
3. She shares why she believes being authentic will help you get better results in your career.
4. Erin talks about how she teaches others to grow as leaders through keynote speeches and workshops. 

Quotes From the Episode:
“Authenticity does not mean to be yourself.”
“Leadership shouldn’t be a popularity contest.”
“It was my authenticity that drove results.”
“People respect authority, but they follow authenticity.”

Resources Mentioned:
B Authentic
You are a Badass by Jen Sincero
How I Built This Podcast
Speakernomics Podcast

Connect with Erin:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Linkedin | Instagram | YouTube

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Episode Summary: In this episode of the L3 Leadership podcast, Doug shares all of his favorite tools, services, and resources that have helped him go further and faster in every aspect of his life both personally and professionally. 

About Doug Smith: Doug Smith is the Director of Development at Light of Life Rescue Mission and Founder and CEO of L3 Leadership. He is the author of his eBook, “Making the Most of Mentoring”, a step-by-step guide to help you build and cultivate relationships with mentors. He blogs at dougsmithlive.com, he is the host of the L3 Leadership podcast, and he is a sought-after public speaker. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Laura, who currently works as an Account Executive at Ivalua. Together, they love family, personal growth, travel, working out, and serving others.

6 Key Takeaways:
1. Doug shares some resources that he found helpful in his marriage, parenting, and family in general.
2. He shares some of his favorite resources for journaling.
3. Doug talks about some useful financial tools and the 7 Baby Steps that have helped him go further with his finances.
4. He shares his favorite resources for traveling.
5. He covers resources for both physical and spiritual wellbeing. 
6. Doug talks about various work-related hacks and resources that help streamline his workflow. 

Quotes From the Episode:
“I love finding out about new services, products and resources to help my life to help my life get better and then I”m very passionate about sharing those with others.” 

Resources Mentioned:
Find a comprehensive list of resources and their links here: https://l3leadership.org/336

Connect with Doug:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Linkedin | Instagram

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Episode Summary: In this episode of the L3 Leadership podcast, Doug talks with his longtime friend Alex Pursglove about how investing in coaching changed her life, and what she’s learned about money through her success with her business.

About Alex Pursglove: From embracing personal growth and shifting limiting beliefs, Alex Pursglove transformed from a people-pleasing, self-criticizing, and struggling solotreprenuer into an unapologetic woman running a multi-six-figure coaching business. Once she learned the art of creating and quantum leaping, she tenaxed her business in under two years while strengthening her faith, confidence, and personal fulfillment.
Alex is dedicated to helping other women create wild success in life and business by releasing shame and fear that slows them down while cultivating full conviction in their vision and their value. Her clients experience significant shifts in how they see themselves as they accelerate their revenue and results more easily.
Deeply committed to practicing what she preaches, Alex has studied with multiple world-class mentors, including David Nagel, one of the architects of the personal development industry to uplevel every area of her life, family, and business.
She and her husband Adam value transformative experiences in travel, practicing Brazillian Ju Jitsu, and devoting a purposeful life together with their daughter, Stella Love.

4 Key Takeaways:
1. Alex talks about how she started her business and what she learned in the first year. 
2. She shares what her experience was like investing in a coach. 
3. She talks about her beliefs surrounding failure.
4. Alex defines what a “quantum leap” means to her.

Quotes From the Episode:
“I decided to follow what I wanted instead of doubting myself.”
“People pleasing is being dishonest with someone to avoid their potential reaction to you.”
“The only way you can avoid mistakes is to not be in the arena.”
“Money is a vehicle for change and for impact.”

Resources Mentioned:
Pace Success Coaching

Connect with Alex:
Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Instagram 

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Episode Summary: In this episode of the L3 Leadership podcast, Ginger discusses her career journey at Southwest, what she learned while working there, and shares her thoughts on work culture. 

About Ginger: Ginger Hardage retired as Senior Vice President of Culture and Communications at Southwest Airlines after an illustrious 25 years, where she served as a member of the CEO's executive leadership team. At Southwest, Ginger led a team of 150 people responsible for building and sustaining the organization's legendary culture and communications enterprise.

In 2017, Ginger launched Unstoppable Cultures, a brand designed to help organizations create and sustain cultures of enduring greatness. Recognized by many as a foremost global authority on building and sustaining organizational culture, Ginger was responsible for the activities at Southwest that nourished the culture and the internal and external communications function. 

Ginger has received numerous honors throughout her career, including induction into the Public

Relations Hall of Fame, being named as one of Texas’ Most Powerful and Influential Women and receiving the prestigious Larry Foster Award for Integrity in Public Communication from the Arthur W. Page Society. PRWeek has named her multiple times to its Top 50 Power list and 50

Most Powerful Women in Public Relations. She was named “Legendary Communicator” by Southern Methodist University, Legacy Award honoree by the Plank Center for Leadership, and selected for the James C. Bowling Executive-In-Residence Lecture Series at the University of Kentucky.

Ginger currently serves as Global Chairman of the Board for Ronald McDonald House Charities. In Dallas, she serves on the board of The Trinity Park Conservancy and was a past president of the Trinity Commons Foundation. Ginger previously served on advisory boards of Novartis in Basel, Switzerland; The Page Society; Business Civic Leadership Center, an affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Big Brothers and Sisters of Metropolitan Dallas; Southwest Cares; and the Council of Public Relations Firms.

Ginger earned a B.A. in advertising/public relations from Texas Tech University and was recognized as an outstanding alumna by the College of Mass Communications at Texas Tech University.

Ginger lives in Dallas, TX, and Santa Fe, NM with her husband, Kelly.

4 Key Takeaways:
1. Ginger recalls how she got her position at Southwest Airlines and grew a team centered around culture and communications.
2. She advises emerging leaders to distinguish themselves to grow within their current organization.
3. She discusses where her career has gone since departing Southwest Airlines. 
4. Ginger talks about what company culture and effective communication mean to her. 

Quotes From the Episode:
“Culture isn’t a faucet you can turn on and off.”
“I believe that culture, leadership, and communication go hand in hand.”
“We have to be authentically ourselves to be authentically happy.”
“Leaders cast a long shadow”.

Resources Mentioned:
Ginger’s Masterclass: The Fellowship

Connect with Ginger:
Website | Twitter | Linkedin | Instagram 

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