USA Today National Bestseller
The Core
8 Principles for Building Strong, Authentic Leadership
8 Principles for Building Strong, Authentic Leadership
In a world overflowing with leadership seminars, self-help guides, and quick-fix strategies, The Core cuts through the noise to reveal what truly sustains effective leadership. Every leader reaches a moment when skill isn't enough, when the challenge cuts deeper and tests conviction, humility, and heart.
Through the journey of a young man whose plans are upended by tragedy, The Core blends a compelling story of mentorship with timeless principles. Under the guidance of Dr. Bill Jackson, a hospital CEO who leads with quiet strength, Clint Smith discovers that great leadership grows from the inside out.
Part fable, part field guide, accessible and deeply practical: leadership isn't for the few. It's for all of us, and it begins at the core.
Eight principles of authentic leadership, the backbone of the book and of every Core engagement we run.
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As a leader, I'm always looking for smart resources that will help me serve the people I care about most even better. 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.
At a moment when strong, values-based leadership is in short supply, The Core delivers clarity, conviction, and practical guidance. Their message is both timeless and urgently needed: leadership isn't about titles or positions. It's about influence, service, and character.
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.
Dr. Ken Jones is a man of principle. 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. 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.
Dr. Matt Paden is the President and Managing Partner of Great Days Leadership, where he helps leaders and organizations grow with purpose, integrity, and impact. With more than two decades of experience as an executive, consultant, speaker, and coach, Matt specializes in aligning teams around mission, building healthy cultures, and developing clear, values-driven leadership. He holds a doctorate in organizational leadership from Pepperdine University and lives in Franklin, Tennessee, with his wife and their two children.
Dr. L. Ken Jones is President of Oklahoma Christian University. His career spans engineering (Ph.D., Oklahoma State University), pulpit preaching, leadership training, and more than four decades in Christian higher education, including nineteen years as President of Lubbock Christian University. He and his wife Suzie have two grown children and four grandchildren.
Equip a team, a board, or a cohort with a shared copy of The Core. Volume pricing is available for events, offsites, and organization-wide rollouts.
Speaking requests for Dr. Paden go through the same address or the contact page.