“If you want instant, you can have it. Just know that instant will only give you average. Success loves discipline!”

“Mindset matters. People with passion to win find a way. People with apathy and entitlement find an excuse.”

For the past two years, I have enjoyed words of wisdom like these, shared by local leadership guru Justin Maust at local conferences, via social media, and in his book, “Building Powerful Teams: 321 Inspiring Quotes to Build Your Team.”

I have had the pleasure of watching Justin speak three times — twice at Lead Michiana, a leadership conference hosted each spring in South Bend, and again last summer in a smaller setting. Justin visited our team at Leader Publications to share his expertise on developing a team of leaders.

Each time I have heard Justin speak, I have left energized and excited to implement the practices he suggested. I have taken away a number of life lessons that I still use daily. For example, the importance of knowing when to say “no” and when to take advantage of opportunities.

I have always been a helper. I want to assist others any way that I can, and I tend to pile more on my plate than I can handle.

Justin has an analogy about being a “swamp,” someone drowning in waters they have made murky by not being able to prioritize opportunities. As Justin explains, swamps ooze every which way, while rivers flow in one direction with a clear purpose.

I have a note in my planner that says, “be a river.” Whenever I find myself “swamped,” I remind myself to look at the work I am doing and determine whether or not it helps me move in the direction I would like to be moving.

Justin also reminds people that to be successful, you must surround yourself with successful people.

Justin — an expert in leadership — has surrounded himself with other successful leadership experts annually at Lead Michiana. This year, the event is bigger than better than ever, nationally simulcast and redubbed “Lead USA.”

Our entire staff will attend this event Friday to hear Eric Thomas, a world renowned speaker, Bob Chapman, the CEO of Barry-Wehmiller, Karin Hurt, the CEO of Let’s Grow Leaders; Chris McChesney, a leadership consultant and executive advisor; as well as Justin, who founded the event.

I would encourage anyone hoping to recharge after the cold winter and prepare for an exciting new chapter to attend Friday.

More information about the event and the keynote speakers is available at leadusa.org.

No matter where you are in your career, we can all use an energy boost from time to time, and I guarantee there is no better way to find it in Michiana.

As Justin shared on his Facebook page a few weeks ago, “There is more in you. You can go higher. You can have more impact. You can live with more purpose. You can achieve more than you thought. You can live bigger than you imagined. You can help more people than you realized. If you want it, you must grow into it. It will not happen on your own. You must invest in yourself. … If you want more, you must become more.”

Ambrosia Neldon is the general manager at Leader Publications. She can be reached by phone at (269) 687-7700, or by email at ambrosia.neldon@leaderpub.com.