THE CORE

As a leader, I'm always looking for smart resources that will help me serve the people I care about most even better. This is one of them! “The Core reminds us that leadership isn’t about climbing ladders but about building people. It’s timeless wisdom for anyone who wants to lead with strength and heart.

The best leaders understand that authentic influence flows from character forged in humility, not from position or power. In The Core, Paden and Jones masterfully bridge ancient biblical wisdom and modern leadership challenges. As someone who serves both in the courtroom and the classroom, I've seen these eight principles transform leaders across generations. Whether you're leading a Fortune 500 company, a church, or a family, this book will recalibrate your understanding of what it means to truly work for the good of your people.

At a moment when strong, values-based leadership is in short supply, The Core delivers clarity, conviction, and practical guidance. Rooted in decades of real-world leadership experience, the authors, Jones and Paden, offer eight essential principles that cut through today’s chaos and complexity. Their message is both timeless and urgently needed: leadership isn’t about titles or positions—it’s about influence, service, and character. The Core will challenge you, equip you, and inspire you to lead with authenticity in every sphere of life—your organization, your community, and your home.

A leader must remember. It’s not enough to know. The Core is a how-to book scaffolded in practicality and anchored in scripture, the tentacles of which make these time-tested principles impossible to forget.

The Core is an excellent leadership book built on eight basic principles that apply to just about every leadership role. Review the titles for each of the eight chapters, and you will be sold, and once you start reading, you will have a hard time putting the book down.

Simple, Biblical, and Elegant. Invest in your People who in turn Invest in your Customers who in turn Invest in your Business.

The Core is a timely reminder that real leadership is built from the inside out, grounded in character, conviction, and a genuine commitment to serve others. In a season where authentic leadership is increasingly rare, Dr. Paden and Dr. Jones offer an essential guide for leaders who are committed to leading with integrity, humility, and courage.

Dr. Ken Jones is a man of principle. Over the past 20+ years, as one of his mentors, I have come know him and the principles he teaches are the basis of his deep wisdom. The principles in this book are some of his very best. Build on them with confidence in your leadership journey.

If your character is flawed, influence is forfeited. At last, a leadership book that dares to connect biblical truth with modern business. Jones and Paden give a practical game plan for integrating life and leadership. Read The Core... It will help you become a leader worth following!

Insightful. Impactful. Indispensable. The Core belongs on every leader’s desk - regardless of title or industry.

Dr. Paden writes with the kind of wisdom that only comes from experience. This book is thoughtful, grounded, and deeply practical, the rare leadership guide that speaks as clearly to the heart as it does to the realities of running an organization.

For anyone who’s ever led from a place of exhaustion or discouragement, The Core is a lifeline to help you lead well.