Episode Summary – Jay Jacobson | Lead by Legendary Example

Mark Cundiff welcomes Jay Jacobson—funeral director, entrepreneur, bakery owner, and leadership consultant—to the Learning to Lead Show. Drawing from his book Lead by Legendary Example, Jay shares six pillars of leadership shaped by real-life experiences across business, crisis response, and community leadership.

Jay reflects on his journey from childhood entrepreneur to funeral service leader and national board member, emphasizing that leadership is not declared—it is lived. He highlights defining moments, including the United 232 crash response in Northwest Iowa, where competing funeral directors united to serve families and coordinate disaster efforts—demonstrating integrity, collaboration, and leadership under pressure.

The conversation explores:

• Living with integrity through daily actions, especially in crisis
• The power of constructive disagreement in effective leadership and governance
• Vision that goes beyond short-term results to truly serve people
• Presence—giving undivided attention at work and at home
• Servant leadership shaped by personal hardship, family challenges, and empathy
• Collaboration in medicine, disaster response, and community leadership
• The difference between adaptability and compromise—holding values steady in changing times

Jay also discusses mentoring young people, building character early, and creating environments where future leaders can grow. He shares how continuous learning—through books, experience, and evolving tools like AI—remains essential for leaders who want to stay effective and relevant.

His book combines powerful stories with a practical 10-week leadership development framework, built to help leaders live their values, serve others, and lead with lasting impact.

Key message: Never stop learning. Leadership is lived one decision, one action, and one example at a time.

Free Learning To Lead Resources

• Free Book: The Trust Gap
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• LeaderNotes

🔎 About LeaderNotes

LeaderNotes is a quick-hit companion to each episode of The Learning to Lead Show. In just 5–10 minutes, Mark Cundiff recaps the top leadership insights, frameworks, and action steps from each interview, designed for busy, growth-minded leaders who want to review and apply the episode’s biggest takeaways on the go. It’s like the highlight reel + playbook—all in one.

Contact Mark at: mark@markjcundiff.com