TL;DR: This week, people kept showing me something about myself. Frances Hesselbein showed me years ago. My mom showed me on Tuesday. Jodi showed me by text. Maybe this week I will finally let it land.

TSN 26.11 "On Letting It Land"

March 15, 2026

Hiya

In 2007, I was introduced to Frances Hesselbein at a book launch party in New York City. She was - and remains - one of the most decorated leaders in American history. Within a few moments of meeting me, she looked me in the eye and asked,

"And, Mr. Womack, how can I help you?"

I didn't know what to do with that.

Not because I was unprepared. Because she was. She didn't know me. She had no obligation to me. And yet, in a room full of people, she stopped, turned toward me, and looked for a way to be of service.

That was her motto: "To serve is to live."

I told her I'd like to think about it and come back with something worthy of the question. Two months later, I was in her office, there in New York City. Weeks later, we launched a series of articles together - Leaders in Action - that people still read today.

All of that, from one question.

It's Women's History Month. I think about her often. (And recently re-listened to a conversation we had...) But this week, I've been sitting with what she actually taught me - not just the content of her leadership, but the posture of it.

The willingness to turn outward, to see the person in front of me and ask: what do you need?

I've tried to build my work around that question. Since January 2019, I have worked hard to stay out of the spotlight... IYKYK.

I was mentored well - encouraged not to talk about myself, my books, my business.

To serve.

To support.

To engage.

I took that seriously.

But this week kept pushing back on me.

Tuesday, I spent the day with my mom so my sister could take some time for herself - get her hair done, breathe a little.

Put on your own oxygen mask first.

I helped Mama get out of bed, made her brunch, and worked through some physical therapy exercises with her. Our relationship is complicated, layered, and long. I set everything up at the table, sat down across from her, and asked, "It's been a bit since I've been here. Anything you'd like to talk about?"

She looked at me, her food in front of her, and said: "As I'm about to start eating? No, not yet."

I can't fully explain what that did to me. Since her stroke, words have been hard to come by. That was... a lot of words. All at once. With timing, and a little bit of sass.

I just smiled.

Later that week, Jodi sent me a text:

I hope you get a moment to reflect how amazing you are.

She'd been the one to nudge me out the door for a run a few days before. She does that. And then, quietly, when I wasn't expecting it, she handed me something to hold onto.

I also spent time this week with one of my oldest friends - the person who has known me the second-longest outside of family. He's an entrepreneur, a father, a cyclist, a thinker. He keeps asking me to think bigger. Not louder. Bigger. 

And the feedback from our recent Connecting @ SSC event at Vandenberg kept arriving, line after line: "This was an amazing experience that changed my perspective." "I wish more people had access to this."

That last one made me a little sad, honestly. I know this works. I'm still learning how to let it reach further. But here's what I think this week was really about:

My friend and mentor Frances

didn't just model how to serve.

She modeled how to see someone. And, showed me... twice: once in 2007 when she asked the question, and again every time I've tried to pass it forward.

• My mom gave me a whole sentence.
• Jodi gave me a text message that landed like a hug.
• My friend gave me room to think out loud.
• Vandenberg gave me proof.

I've spent years learning to see others. I am slowly - still - learning to be seen.

The book I'm working on? That doesn't feel like stepping into a spotlight. It feels like leaving a light on. A gift I'm in a unique position to give, for the people who weren't in the room.

I think that's okay to want.

Where are you this week?

JW

PS: I'll be driving half a day on Thursday. If you have time to talk, shoot me a text, and I'll call ya!