The L3 Leadership Podcast with Doug Smith

How to Conduct a Year-End Review

Send us a textIn this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, host Doug Smith shares his year-end review process, which has been a cornerstone of his personal growth since 2004. Doug discusses the importance of reflecting on the year gone by to foster growth and documents his detailed approach to conducting a comprehensive year-end review. He includes practical tips and encourages creating a personalized review system. Additionally, the episode features a word from the sponsor, Andocia Marketing Solutions. Doug wraps up with thoughtful ways to conclude the review process and the benefits of such reflections.00:00 - Welcome to the L3 Leadership Podcast00:27 - The Importance of Year-End Reviews00:58 - Sponsor Message: Andocia Marketing Solutions02:08 - Starting Your Year-End Review06:05 - Essential Tools for Your Review08:23 - Creating Your Year-End Report12:26 - Wrapping Up Your Year-End Review14:29 - Final Thoughts and EncouragementThe L3 Leadership Podcast is sponsored by Andocia Marketing Solutions. Andocia exists to bring leaders' visions to life. Visit https://andocia.com to learn more.To find more leadership resources and helpful content for your leadership journey, check out our website at https://l3leadership.org/ today.

🎁 Holiday Gift Guide 2025: What Every leader Should Give (and Get!)

Send us a textIn this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, Doug Smith delivers a reflective, practical lesson on leadership gifts worth sharing—especially when life gets busy. Using the backdrop of the holiday season, Doug unpacks a curated gift guide through the lens of leadership, family, personal growth, and mindful presence. He reminds leaders that tools, systems, and intentional habits don’t replace the work of leadership—they strengthen the person doing it.00:00 Introduction & Doug’s return to personal lessons01:00 Why sharing resources creates lasting leadership impact02:15 The finish line thinking that shapes character first04:45 Finance tools leaders rely on now07:30 Family routines and training kids in stewardship09:50 Being present and blocking distractions14:20 Tech that supports productivity without clutter18:40 Kitchen tools that encourage hospitality at home21:10 Learning through business biography, faith, and leadership books25:35 Expanding impact by inviting the right people into your goals27:48 Doug’s encouragement to leaders heading into the holidays29:05 Quote on generosity and finishing wellKey Takeaways- Leadership starts with character, systems just support the leader.- Intentional family habits build leadership muscle long before adulthood.- Presence is not passive—it requires guarding focus.- Small tools that reduce friction protect mental bandwidth for what matters.- Investing in durable resources creates compounding value over years, not months.- Leaders grow bigger by asking who, not just how.WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/e4o5TLH87yE?si=ur3Ph7a40XzOQFv7 🎙️ FOLLOW THE PODCAST ON SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6huMUOmGFupQNjvrKALZ6u?si=7a9b9a2e1dcd4eac 🎙️ FOLLOW THE PODCAST ON APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-l3-leadership-podcast-with-doug-smith/id1569987442?i=1000723571859 🎙️ FOLLOW THE PODCAST ON ALL PLATFORMS: https://www.buzzsprout.com/5082/episodes/17705473 SUBSCRIBE TO: @l3leadership @dougsmithliveThe L3 Leadership Podcast is produced and sponsored by Andocia Marketing Solutions. Thanks to Andocia for co-producing and supporting multi-channel leadership storytelling.Want help translating leadership vision into execution? Reach out at Andocia.com"Give generously—even with your ideas. Inspiration is one of the easiest gifts to share and the longest to remember."Leaders don’t quit. Keep leading. The world desperately needs your leadership.

Creating Spaces for Men to Thrive with Peter Ostapko

Send us a textIn this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, Doug Smith talks with Peter Ostapko, co-founder of Kinsman Journal and leader of the growing Kinsman community in Springfield, Missouri. Peter shares his journey from a career in banking to launching gatherings designed to help men find authentic brotherhood, friendship, and faith-driven connection.Together they discuss the loneliness epidemic among leaders, why local community is essential, and how intentional gatherings can transform lives. Peter also opens up about parenting, navigating career transitions, and the importance of slowing down and creating space for what matters most.Whether you’re a leader longing for deeper friendships, a father seeking wisdom, or someone discerning your next step, this conversation will challenge and inspire you.Episode Highlights:00:00 Introduction and Peter’s passion for community02:00 How Kinsman gatherings began and why men said, “I didn’t know how much I needed this”06:00 The power of local connection vs. national networks09:00 Structuring meaningful gatherings with intentionality13:00 Friendship, brotherhood, and why men struggle to connect17:00 Moving beyond transactional relationships20:00 The annual Kinsman Summit and why environment matters22:00 Publishing Kinsman Journal and the story behind it25:00 Fatherhood lessons: being intentional, dealing with your stuff, and prioritizing your marriage30:00 Discerning career transitions and leaning into curiosity35:00 Why Kinsman became a nonprofit and Peter’s approach to fundraising40:00 The importance of slowing down and creating space to rest42:00 Best advice Peter has ever received47:00 Bucket list dreams: Italy and visiting every MLB stadium with his kids48:00 What Peter would tell his younger self49:00 Legacy: being remembered as a faithful servant, husband, and father🌐 https://kinsmen.org/ – A high-quality publication for men exploring themes of faith, fatherhood, and work. 🌐 https://kinsmen.org/gatherings – Community events and annual summit hosted by Kinsman to foster brotherhood and authentic friendships.The L3 Leadership Podcast is sponsored by Andocia Marketing Solutions. Andocia exists to bring leaders’ visions to life. Visit https://andocia.com to learn more.WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/e4o5TLH87yE?si=ur3Ph7a40XzOQFv7🎙️ FOLLOW THE PODCAST ON SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6huMUOmGFupQNjvrKALZ6u?si=7a9b9a2e1dcd4eac 🎙️ FOLLOW THE PODCAST ON APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-l3-leadership-podcast-with-doug-smith/id1569987442?i=1000723571859🎙️ FOLLOW THE PODCAST ON ALL PLATFORMS: https://www.buzzsprout.com/5082/episodes/17705473SUBSCRIBE TO: @l3leadership @dougsmithlive

Offering No-Cost Adoptions with Matt Higgins, CEO of Hope Children's Home

Send us a textIn this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, Doug sits down with Matt Higgins, Executive Director of Hope Children’s Home in Tampa, Florida. Matt shares the powerful mission of providing a loving home and education to children from difficult circumstances, along with their new Bundles of Hope initiative that gives mothers in crisis pregnancies the gift of time and support.Episode Highlights:00:00 Doug introduces Matt Higgins and the story of how they connected04:00 The mission and model of Hope Children’s Home08:00 Four pillars: physical needs, family environment, education, and faith14:00 Stories of transformation from children at Hope17:00 Aftercare and staying connected with alumni18:00 Bundles of Hope initiative and no-cost adoption vision25:00 Matt on taking over as CEO after his father’s leadership28:00 The unseen weight of leadership and why encouragement matters31:00 How to become the obvious choice for leadership roles33:00 Dealing with self-doubt and imposter syndrome34:00 The power of mastermind groups and surrounding yourself with stronger leaders39:00 Cutting meetings in half and lessons on leadership rhythms44:00 What went well and what went wrong in succession planning47:00 Best advice, parenting wisdom, and Matt’s legacy visionThe L3 Leadership Podcast is sponsored by Andocia Marketing Solutions. Andocia exists to bring leaders’ visions to life. Visit https://andocia.com to learn more.📺 WATCH ON YOUTUBE: [Link coming soon]🎙️ LISTEN ON SPOTIFY: [Link coming soon]🎙️ LISTEN ON APPLE: [Link coming soon]🎙️ ALL PLATFORMS: [Buzzsprout link coming soon]SUBSCRIBE TO: @l3leadership @dougsmithlive

9 Ways to Develop Your Character

Send us a textIn this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, Doug Smith shares a personal lesson on 9 Ways to Develop Your Character. As Doug explains, character development is the most important development for any leader—because without integrity, everything else eventually crumbles. Drawing from his own journey and the wisdom of mentors, Doug outlines nine practical and powerful ways to strengthen your character so that you can lead well, finish well, and live with integrity in every area of life.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:00:00 Introduction to Doug’s personal journey in character development01:00 Why only 2% of leaders finish well—and how to be one of them02:00 Step 1: Get a vision for your finish line03:00 Step 2: Follow God and allow Him to shape your character05:00 Step 3: The most dangerous prayer you can pray for growth06:00 Step 4: Surround yourself with people of high character07:00 Step 5: Listen to the small checks and convictions in your heart10:00 Step 6: Admit it, quit it, forget it13:00 Step 7: Get some real friends who love you enough to challenge you15:00 Step 8: Confess temptations before they become failures17:00 Step 9: Realize you are always an example—whether you want to be or not19:00 Doug’s hope: that every leader makes it to their finish line intactThe L3 Leadership Podcast is sponsored by Andocia Marketing Solutions. Andocia exists to bring leaders’ visions to life. Visit https://andocia.com to learn more.🎙️ FOLLOW THE PODCAST ON SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/episode/...🎙️ FOLLOW THE PODCAST ON APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/...🎙️ FOLLOW THE PODCAST ON ALL PLATFORMS: https://www.buzzsprout.com/5082/episodesSUBSCRIBE TO: @l3leadership @dougsmithlive