In this powerful episode of The Growth Edge Leadership Podcast, Laurie Baedke welcomes back Lieutenant General (Ret.) Dr. Mark Hertling for a rich conversation on leadership, service, reflection, and legacy. Mark shares the deeply personal story behind his new book, If I Don’t Return, which began as a journal he wrote to his young sons while deployed during Desert Storm. What started as a father’s attempt to leave behind wisdom in case he did not make it home became, decades later, a broader reflection on leadership, fear, family, fitness, and what it means to live a life of purpose. Together, Laurie and Mark explore the striking similarities between military leadership and physician leadership, the power of diverse teams, why reflection is a leadership discipline, and how physical, emotional, social, and intellectual fitness all shape executive capacity. They also discuss mentorship, coachability, courage, and the responsibility leaders carry to steady others, even in uncertain times. This episode is both deeply human and highly practical. Whether you lead in healthcare, business, education, or beyond, you’ll walk away with timeless lessons on character, growth, and the kind of leadership that leaves a lasting mark. In this episode, Laurie and Mark discuss: * The story behind If I Don’t Return and how a wartime journal became a book decades later * What military leadership and healthcare leadership have in common * Why diverse teams outperform and why curiosity and humility matter * The role of reflection in becoming a wiser, more grounded leader * What fear can teach us about courage, growth, and leadership maturity * How mentorship, coaching, and self-awareness shape long-term development * Why values, preparation, and caring deeply for people still define the best leaders * The connection between physical well-being and leadership presence, stamina, and judgment Key takeaways * Leadership shifts when it becomes less about your own survival and more about your responsibility to others. * Reflection is not passive. It is one of the most underused disciplines in leadership. * Diverse teams are not a nice-to-have. They are essential for better thinking, stronger performance, and better outcomes. * Courage is not the absence of fear. It is the willingness to move forward despite it. * Great leaders care not only about what people do, but about who they are. * Sustainable leadership requires attention to physical, emotional, social, and intellectual fitness.
Connect with Mark Hertling LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-hertling-dba-57987066/ X - https://x.com/MarkHertling If I Don't Come Back book - https://www.amazon.com/If-Dont-Return-Fathers-Wartime/dp/1966786727/ref=sr_1_1?crid=5YND5JSYGRYK&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.8ssvMW40h5wkc4xrPh_G2g.4iDFQjsfcjNKfjf_q6O1o4gO7HohR7a9rozYzyIdpgY&dib_tag=se&keywords=mark+hertling+if+i+dont+return&qid=1773008983&sprefix=mark+hertl%2Caps%2C192&sr=8-1
