Introduction:
- Dr. Allen Lycka introduces Gary Hibbs, an executive with over 30 years of experience in various leadership roles.
- Gary's journey from a successful lawyer to a leader in the largest continuing care retirement community in the nation is highlighted.
- Despite facing addiction and personal struggles, Gary has emerged as a resilient leader, author, and advocate for self-improvement.
Gary's Journey Through Addiction:
- Gary reflects on his experience with addiction, acknowledging the challenges and the journey to recovery.
- Addiction as a universal struggle: Gary emphasizes that everyone is addicted to something, whether it's work, approval, or substances.
- The pressures of work and addiction: Both Gary and Dr. Lycka share their experiences of being driven by work addiction and the toll it took on their lives.
Lessons from Recovery and Faith:
- The importance of honesty and self-awareness in recovery: Gary discusses how being honest with oneself is crucial for personal growth and recovery.
- Faith and spirituality in recovery: Gary shares insights into how his understanding of faith has played a pivotal role in his recovery journey.
- The concept of living a fantastic life: Gary emphasizes the joy and freedom that comes from living authentically and being true to oneself.
Teaching and Leadership Philosophy:
- Gary's teaching philosophy: He emphasizes the importance of connecting with students on a personal level and adding value to their lives beyond academic knowledge.
- Principles from John C. Maxwell: Gary shares key teachings from John Maxwell, focusing on adding value to others and embracing failure as a catalyst for growth.
Conclusion and Contact Information:
- Dr. Lycka expresses gratitude for Gary's insights and shares information about his own work in life quality assessment.
- Listeners are encouraged to visit Gary's website, Unleashed to Lead LLC, for more information and to connect with him for further discussions or inquiries.
Closing Remarks:
- Dr. Lycka concludes the episode by inviting listeners to explore their own paths to a fantastic life and to stay tuned for future episodes featuring inspiring guests like Gary.
BIO:
Gary Hibbs is an executive with over 30 years of experience, first as a lawyer and later in the C-Suite of operations for large continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs). He was the Executive Director of the largest such community in the nation (2,500 residents, 1,400 employees) when COVID arrived. His life crashed in the valley of addiction and has recovered to a mountaintop of recovered health, wellness and leadership; he was literally standing at the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro on the one year anniversary of his sobriety date. He is the CEO and founder of Unleashed to Lead, LLC, which seeks to help leaders lead themselves well so they can lead others well. Gary is an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore teaching Aging and Management. He is also the author of the upcoming book "Come Out of Hiding: The Joy of Living and Leading Unashamed, Untethered and Unleashed". Gary is the father of four children and a grandfather, and has his JD and MSW degrees from the University of Maryland.
Social Media:
Facebook: Gary Hibbs
IG: unleashedtolead
www.unleashedtolead.com
gary@unleashedtolead.com
connect@unleashedtolead.com
gary.hibbs7@gmail.com
ghibbs_99@yahoo.com