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Episode 28: Leading Without a Title: How Everyday Influence Creates Legacy
26 Plays7 months ago
Think leadership is only for CEOs, influencers, or people with big platforms? Think again. In this episode of Mommas Who Lead, host Laura Caroffino breaks down the truth that leadership isn’t about titles — it’s about influence, purpose, and legacy.
You’ll learn:
- Why leadership starts at home and in the everyday choices you make
- How your influence impacts others, even when you don’t realize it
- Why legacy is a long game and how to shift your mindset to lead with purpose
Through real-life examples and practical takeaways, Laura reminds moms and women in leadership that they already carry the influence needed to create a ripple effect of impact.
Whether you’re leading your family, your business, or your community, this episode will inspire you to lead with clarity and confidence — no title required.
✨ Challenge for you: Think about your circle of influence. Where can you show up with intentional leadership this week? Connect more or to work with Laura go to www.lauracaroffino.com.
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Transcript
Introduction to Leadership Beyond Titles
00:00:00
Speaker
Welcome back to Mamas Who Lead. I'm your host, Laura Carrafino. And today we're diving into one of my favorite topics and that is leadership, but not leadership in the way of, you know, like the world thinks, or whenever you talk about leadership, it's, you know, big, fancy titles, corner offices, or thousands of followers. now Yes, that there's a place for that. But today I want to remind you that leadership, it is influence.
00:00:25
Speaker
And every single one of us has influence. Whether you realize it or not, you are a leader in some capacity. So if you ever thought, I'm not a leader, I'm not really a leader, this episode is for you because leadership isn't about...
00:00:42
Speaker
a position it's about purpose and it's about people. So I want to break this down for you into three powerful truths.
Truths About Leadership's True Nature
00:00:50
Speaker
And, um they're about leadership and legacy. The first truth is leadership starts at home.
00:00:57
Speaker
Yes. You know, and this is very important, especially how, you know, your children do things. So the way you lead your family, your friendships, even yourself sets the tone for everything else.
00:01:11
Speaker
Legacy doesn't begin when you get the big opportunity. It begins when you choose integrity, patience, and presence in the small everyday moments. So And maybe you might need you know the patience part a little more, especially when you're dealing dealing with children in general, from small to teens. I have that whole range right now, and that has been fun.
00:01:36
Speaker
um But think about that ripple effect. Your children watch how you handle stress, how you treat others. how you chase your dreams, that's legacy emotion. Everything you're doing, they're going to emulate in some capacity.
00:01:51
Speaker
And, you know, a lot, you know, you heard the saying, things are learned at home. You know, love is learned. Hate too is learned. um And so think about how you handle things, especially in front of our children, because they are watching Truth number two, influence is greater than a title.
00:02:18
Speaker
Some of the most impactful leaders in my life didn't have titles. They weren't CEOs or public speakers. They were women who showed up consistently, encouraged others, and lived within integrity.
00:02:33
Speaker
And influence is built in daily actions, the way you listen, the way you serve, the way you speak life into someone else. So don't underestimate the power of your influence. Even if no one is clapping, you never know who you are impacting and influence and influencing, you know, um,
00:02:58
Speaker
you know, a lot of people, it's easy to think back about, you know, obviously like our teachers and stuff like that, they're, you know, making a huge impact on us and our so our lives as growing up. And I had a lot of great influential teachers and um mentors that I've worked with and ah high level political leaders. And of course they all had great influence, right?
Influence Through Personal Stories
00:03:22
Speaker
The one i really love to think about back to when I was about three or four, we were living in this small, um, small little house in Tennessee and our next door neighbor, his name was red and he was like, probably close to 80 years old. And i adored him. was,
00:03:48
Speaker
would always um come outside when I was outside in our front yard and I would just yell, Red, Red, come out. um I wanted to and talk to him.
00:04:00
Speaker
he had so many interesting stories of stories. um time when he was growing up. And at that small age, I loved it. And he was just so kind to me. And he always gave me these, ah these little chocolate, did little Debbie snacks, the Nutty Buddies, Nutty Buddies, I think that's what they were called.
00:04:19
Speaker
And there was like two of them in a pack and we'd always split one he would give one to me. And um we would do, he had these like if you know what horseshoes are, had a horseshoe set up and didn't actually play with the horseshoes itself. i had he had something else that I could play with cause I was little and I just didn't um throw those, but those were memories. And he was always talking about how we need to be kind to one another.
00:04:50
Speaker
ah And i had a little sister and so she was much younger. She was a baby. And I think I had some jealousy, um you know, that the new baby was here and i had to share my mom and dad now. And I just remember, he's like, you need to be kind. You need to be a good big sister.
00:05:07
Speaker
So those little things had a huge impact on me and no one else was, you know, watching, watching, I mean, obviously my mom probably was in some way, but no one else. Like he wasn't doing it to, um you know, make a name for himself. But that's the power of influence.
00:05:25
Speaker
Like those conversations made an impact on me today as a grown woman and raising my children. So, Don't underestimate the power of your influence, even if no one is clapping
Building a Legacy
00:05:38
Speaker
yet.
00:05:38
Speaker
yes Truth number three is legacy is built in the long game. Yes, leadership isn't about instant results. You know, you're not going to post that one reel and it's going to go viral. I mean, it could. that Anything is possible. I'm all about possibilities.
00:05:55
Speaker
However, that's not the average for the average person, right? And don't expect those instant results. It's about impact that outlives you.
00:06:05
Speaker
And it's the consistency over time and building. Like I have been, i was in one industry for 10 years in government contracting. And I like to think that I made a good name for myself within certain circles.
00:06:18
Speaker
And then I transitioned out of necessity and opportunity and by grace of God, blessed me with another opportunity to work from home. and within that industry for 19 years. And so I built that legacy up over time.
00:06:35
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So when you lead with legacy in mind, you make decisions differently. You stop asking, what do I get out of this today? You know, and instead I start asking what seeds am I planting that will grow for years to come?
00:06:48
Speaker
Like who's going to, you know, what, how is this going to make an impact? How is this going to better the future, you know, either, you know, for myself or for others? So that shift changes everything in your business, in your relationships, and in the example that you leave behind, especially for your children, right?
00:07:08
Speaker
So, and I'll be honest, there have been seasons where I questioned whether what I was doing even mattered, but then one of my kids will repeat something I've said about believing in yourself or a client will remind me how one conversation shifted her perspective. And i realized, you know, legacy is kind continuously being written in ways i don't always see.
00:07:31
Speaker
So be open to that and receptive at that. And so here's my challenge for you this week. Think about people in your circle of influence. Where can you intentionally show up and lead without needing recognition?
00:07:44
Speaker
That's a big one. Sometimes we always want that applaud. We're so trained right now or accustomed to getting all the likes on social media, you know, how many views and mind you, those may be good.
00:07:59
Speaker
but they're not, obviously, you're not necessarily always making an impact and you're not necessarily always being paid for that. Right. And not that you have to be paid to make an impact.
00:08:10
Speaker
Uh, you definitely can make a huge impact, not being paid for things. So, you know, it's without needing that recognition, like what are you intentionally showing up and leading without needing the recognition?
Recap and Future Discussions
00:08:27
Speaker
And the truth is you are leading whether you realize that it or not in some way, in some capacity, you are leading. So to recap everything we've chatted about today, leadership starts at home, influence is greater than a title.
00:08:43
Speaker
Legacy is built in the long game and your leadership matters. And the ripple effect of your life works.
00:08:53
Speaker
will outlive the titles, the accolades, and the temporary wins. So if this episode has maybe encouraged you, given you some value, please share it with someone else who needs to be reminded of the influence that they already carry.
00:09:13
Speaker
And don't forget, we've got some incredible guests coming soon, including Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, who will be sharing about college leadership and turbulent times. So until next time, keep leading, keep growing and keep believing in what is possible.
00:09:27
Speaker
And be sure to connect with me at lauracarafino.com and be sure to join our Leaders Lounge community. Until next time. You've been listening to Mamas Who Lead with Laura Carafino. Thank you for joining us on this journey today.
00:09:45
Speaker
Each episode, each story, and every piece of advice we share is a step towards building a community of empowered, resilient, and inspiring Mama leaders, just like you.
00:09:57
Speaker
Remember leadership isn't just about the title or the workplace. It's about how we navigate our lives, uplift those around us and pave the way for future generations. As we close today's episode, I encourage you to carry forward the insights and inspiration you've gained, apply them to your life, share them with your tribe and continue to lead with heart and purpose.
00:10:18
Speaker
For more empowering stories, strategies, and support, make sure you subscribe to Mamas Who Lead on your favorite podcast platform. And don't forget to follow us on social media for behind the scenes content, community discussions, and much more.
00:10:33
Speaker
Until we meet again, keep embracing your unique journey of leadership and motherhood. You are capable, you are powerful, and you are exactly where you're meant to be.
00:10:44
Speaker
Lead on Mamas.