Art of Tremendous Blog - Tracey C. Jones – Tagged "humility"

🐟 A Fish Rots From the Head: Leadership Is the Issue. Full Stop.

Tracey JonesAug 02, 2025

The phrase “A fish rots from the head down” is a blunt and timeless proverb that reminds us of a critical leadership truth: when an organization is in decline, the problem usually starts at the top—not with the staff, not with the systems, not with external conditions. The rot begins at the head.

The Faceless Friends: A Lesson in Humility

Tracey JonesJan 27, 2025

While there's nothing wrong with caring about how we present ourselves, the ultimate goal should be to reflect values like respect, professionalism, and selflessness—not to demand attention or stand out for the sake of ego. For example, adhering to workplace standards or dressing appropriately for significant events shows an understanding of the larger context and respect for the group.

Embracing Accountability: The Power of Repentance in Leadership

Tracey JonesApr 23, 2024

In moments of error or misjudgment, our response can define our character and the culture we cultivate within our teams. Do we meet criticism with denial, deflection, defiance, and derision? Or do we demonstrate remorse, repentance, restitution, and restoration? The difference lies in our willingness to turn our gaze inward, acknowledge our fallibility, and commit to growth.

Embracing Humility: Leadership in the Lowly

Tracey JonesMar 18, 2024

How many of us, as leaders, envision ourselves entering our roles with such humility? Yet, as Christ exemplifies, this is the only authentic way for a leader to make their mark on any stage. Allow me to share a poignant anecdote from my father, Charlie "Tremendous" Jones, which illustrates the essence of humility. This excerpt is from his speech, The Price of Leadership.

Can We Train Loyalty?

Tracey JonesMay 23, 2022

During one of my coaching calls last week, my entrepreneurial client remarked, "We can train for everything except loyalty." Wow, I had never heard this concept expressed that way. I immediately began to digest and unpack his words. Next, I asked several others, whose opinions I regularly seek out, what they thought. The consensus was that we should model and encourage loyalty, which is a given. But if a leader models and inspires loyalty, does that guarantee its reciprocation? Is loyalty a give-to-get kind of thing, or is it something that emerges internally regardless of the context?

Are You Reason-Able?

Tracey JonesMar 28, 2022

To be reasonable, you must be able to reason. Our ability to reason is what makes humans humane. And when we abdicate our frontal lobe cortex’s responsibility to interact as adults with others, we devolve into our reptilian brains. And nothing good happens in the Jurassic Park parts of our perceptions.