Trust, Compassion, Stability and Hope (and Why They Matter More Than Ever)

Not long ago, I came across a Gallup article that said the best leaders provide four key things: trust, compassion, stability, and hope.

I read that and thought, Yep. That’s it.

It’s not groundbreaking. But it hits home—because I’ve been living it.

Over the last year and a half, I’ve been lucky enough to find my place as the Recreation Manager for the City of Casper. And when I say “found my place,” I mean it. This job fits me in a way few things ever have. It’s meaningful. It’s challenging. It’s full of purpose. And since day one, I’ve been committed to building a team culture around those same four values—trust, compassion, stability, and hope.

Not in a cliché, poster-on-the-wall kind of way. But in the way we talk to each other, support one another, and show up for our community. That’s where leadership really lives.

And honestly, those values didn’t just show up when I got this job. They’ve been guiding me for a while now—because I’ve needed them in my own life.

About five years ago, I was at my heaviest. Physically, mentally, emotionally—I just wasn’t where I wanted to be. But I made a choice to change. I lost nearly 100 pounds. I worked my way through the entire FBI hiring process and got the offer to go to Quantico. I ran a 32-mile ultramarathon. I proved to myself that I could do hard things.

It was one of the best seasons of growth I’ve ever had.

But here’s the thing… life doesn’t keep climbing forever. It loops. It dips. It throws you curveballs.

In 2024, I had neck surgery—and it knocked me off track more than I expected. Recovery was slow. The momentum I’d built started to fade. I wasn’t as locked in with my habits, my health, or my mindset. Truthfully, I let myself go a bit. And getting back hasn’t been easy.

I’ve been clawing my way forward—tooth by tooth, nail by nail—trying to rebuild what I lost. It’s slower this time. But I’m still in the fight.

And those four leadership values? I’ve had to turn them inward.

Trust—that I still have it in me.

Compassion—for the days I fall short.

Stability—in the form of small daily wins.

Hope—that it’s not too late, and there’s still something big ahead.

I’ve realized these aren’t just values for the workplace. They matter at home, too. I’m a dad to three amazing kids. They don’t need me to be a superhero. They just need me to be present. Steady. Real. To model what it looks like to get knocked down and stand back up.

Some of the best leaders I’ve had in my life? They weren’t loud or flashy. They were calm, consistent, and they believed in people. They made you want to rise up—not because they demanded it, but because they made you believe you could.

That’s who I’m trying to be now. For my team. For my family. For myself.

So yeah—trust, compassion, stability, and hope might sound like leadership buzzwords. But for me? They’re more like a compass. Whether I’m leading staff, tucking my kids in, or dragging myself back into a fitness routine, those four things are guiding me forward.

And I think the world needs a little more of all four.