On Monday, December 19, 2016, Stetson University announced the appointment of Steve Trimper as head coach of men's baseball, following the outstanding career of Hall of Fame Coach Pete Dunn. During the search for a new coach, Jeff Altier, director of athletics and Stetson alumnus, had described Steve to me as the “whole package.” Indeed, he told me that Steve was more than simply a coach, but rather that he was a remarkable leader. Full of energy, full of charisma, full of positivity. An eager student of success and a passionate communicator.

Now that you have read Steve's book, you understand what we all saw in Steve, and the reason he is able to catalyze members of our Hatter baseball team to give their all for the game. Moreover, his enthusiasm drives members of the university community and those who live in our area to come out and watch the Stetson Hatters play America's pastime in the hot Florida sun.

But, as you have probably noted, this book isn't about Steve Trimper or his baseball coaching skills. You don't have to be an NCAA Division I coach to learn from Steve's message about leadership. What I love the most in his message is how little things count along with the big ones. Small interactions with everyday people, moments like the one in the airport restaurant where attitude made or broke the encounter—and led Steve to learn the lessons that came from those interactions. And Steve is a better leader because of them.

So, how does this relate to the way you will move forward to develop your personal brand of leadership? Certainly, the Coach's Challenge questions at the end of each chapter give you ample opportunity to look at your own leadership style and consider how to enhance your performance and success.

But I encourage you to “go beyond” (as we would say at Stetson) and start looking for the lessons you can learn from the special interactions you have with people whom you know well or do not know at all. Did you get a strong and warm handshake or encounter the connection from locking eyes with someone when the two of you met? Did you feel drawn to someone's positive outlook on life or commitment to taking the high road in a difficult situation? Did you sense the special magnetism of a keynote speaker at a luncheon or the quiet confidence of a veteran coach or school teacher?

All of these people are leaders and we can learn to model ourselves after them as Steve has done. Some leaders may be born, but this book reminds us that many leaders are made. You can choose every morning to be a “grinder”; you can choose to keep your eyes on the future but remember the details; you can choose to keep a strong ego and hear the praise, but give the credit to everyone who had a hand in lifting you up. Great leaders choose their futures and take their cues from those they will lead. They are continually learning from one another and fashioning their learning to make a difference.

I encourage you to keep Steve's book on your shelf and check it often: when you have a hugely successful day or have just crashed and burned; when you meet your expectations for yourself or when you miss the mark entirely. Take a lesson from Steve and write down the encounters that made an impression on you and talk with others about them. Keep an open mind and keep communicating.

We are all able to develop into great leaders by learning from those who inspire us. Let this book sit high on your inspiring list and move ahead with passion and confidence.