This week, I've written three versions of this newsletter, just trying to get the right words to put down on paper. Like many of us, I've was shook by the recent shooting of Charlie Kirk. I admired what he stood for with his faith and his family. I appreciated his willingness to promote open dialogue and to promote free speech in arenas across the country that were designed to promote such debate. Sure, he had some wild takes designed for entertainment. Truth is, we all have some bold stances, but most of the time we're not willing to share them aloud, instead we just throw stones at the glass house we live in.

I struggled to figure out how to have this conversation with my team. Eventually, I settled on this approach. A simple quote with powerful meaning followed by a conversation. I was shocked by how impacted our team was. They knew who he was, and many were impacted by his death. I hope Charlie's principles live on, we need more like him. May God offer his wife and children peace within their storm.

“Society grows great when men plant trees whose shade they shall never sit beneath.”

I love that quote. Always have, always will.

Every time I read it, I'm reminded of our house in West Virginia. When we bought the house, I showed up for the inspection. On the side of the house, the owner sat in a chair. I introduced myself to him, and we had a conversation about the house. He had watched his kids grow up in that home, and he pointed to a singular tree in the yard. He talked about how he and his children had planted it when they were young, and he was sad to not be living there anymore, but was hopeful that we would enjoy the house.

That next spring, the tree started to bloom. At first, it was beautiful blue and pink buds, as spring advanced to summer, pits started to develop on the tree, and by the end of summer, we had a tree full of peaches.

Throughout our years in West Virginia, we would always look forward to that tree's yield. I often enjoyed sitting on that side porch, waiting for the sun to come up. Inevitably, there would be 4, 5, 6 or more deer gathered under the tree. The man who planted it was no longer there, but we sure enjoyed "sitting in its shade".

That’s the essence of leadership—planting, influencing, not for self, but for others.

Principled leadership is legacy leadership. It resists the pull of short-term gains, applause, or convenience, and instead anchors in values that outlive the leader. When leaders choose to stand on values—even when it costs them—their courage creates space for others to flourish long after they’re gone.

But how does a leader stay anchored in principle when the winds of pressure blow? Here are four quick thoughts:

1. Clarify your non-negotiables.​
Write them down. Be specific. “Integrity” is noble, but what does it look like in practice? Define the values you will not compromise.

2. Build rhythms, not reactions.​
Principled leaders don’t decide in the moment—they decide in advance. Daily disciplines, decision-making frameworks, and accountability partners keep you from drifting when the heat turns up.

3. Choose legacy over immediacy.​
Ask in every decision: “Will this matter 10 years from now?” Leaders who plant trees think in decades, not days.

4. Make values visible.​
A tree planted in secret still grows, but shared convictions multiply. Speak your principles often. Let those you lead know where you stand.

Freedom without principle collapses. Leadership without principle collapses. What we build won’t last if it’s not built on solid foundation. That foundation is your principles and your values.

Time is fleeting. Life is fragile. Legacy is generational.

Plant seeds today that others will sit in the shade of tomorrow.

Strive for Excellence,

RB