What a Train Whistle Taught Me About Leading Forward

From sonic strategy to cultural anchors, here’s what’s keeping the mission on track this month.

Hey friend,

We’re deep into Q4 now, that unique stretch where the urgency is real, the calendar’s packed, and every decision feels like it matters a little more.

But even amid the busyness, I’ve been reminded of this: strategic leadership isn’t about doing more, it’s about doing what matters most, with focus and clarity.

That idea hit home (literally and figuratively) during an early morning run as a train whistle echoed in the distance. It became the spark for this month’s leadership reflection, a call to stay on track, cut through the noise, and keep pressing forward with intention.

In this roundup, you’ll find a fresh leadership insight, podcast updates, upcoming events, and an inside look at how we’re building culture through meaningful celebration.

Let’s keep the mission in focus and lead with steady resolve.

🧭 Leadership Insight of the Month

The Train Whistle as a Sonic Reminder of Strategic Leadership

It was just after sunrise when I heard it, an old-school train whistle cutting through the quiet on my morning run.

At first, it was background noise. But then it struck me: that sound was more than just a signal for a passing train. It was a metaphor.

In leadership, we’re constantly bombarded with noise, opinions, obligations, shifting priorities. And yet, like that train pushing through the landscape, the leaders who make the greatest impact are the ones who stay on track, focused on their mission, regardless of the chaos around them.

That whistle reminded me of five key leadership cues:

  • Stay on Track. Let your vision and values be your rails. Distractions will come, but your mission is the map.

  • Keep Your Cadence. Just like a train doesn’t speed up for applause or slow down for criticism, your leadership rhythm needs to be steady. Consistency builds trust.

  • Push Forward. Even if progress feels slow, it adds up. The train doesn’t see every mile, it just keeps moving.

  • Sound Your Whistle. Leadership isn’t silent. Sometimes, you need to speak up, declare the direction, and encourage others on the journey.

  • Tune Out the Noise. There will always be background chatter. But not all noise deserves your attention.

So here’s your leadership challenge for this month:

Find your version of the whistle. The thing that re-centers you, reminds you why you started, and keeps you moving, unswervingly, toward your vision.

Leadership isn’t about the loudest voice in the room. It’s about clarity in the noise. 

Keep going.

🏛️ Event Spotlight: MBA Leadership Forum – Memphis, TN

On October 16th, I had the privilege of speaking to the Memphis Bar Association Leadership Forum. We explored the vital role leadership plays in building a sustainable legal practice and growing client impact.

Key takeaways from my session included:

  • Control the controllables. Your daily actions shape your long-term trajectory.

  • Build a plan. Map your daily, weekly, and quarterly goals for professional growth.

  • Track progress. A plan without execution is just a wish.

  • Find accountability. A trusted partner can help you stay motivated and resilient.

It was energizing to see so many young attorneys take ownership and leadership of their influence and commit to intentional leadership.

🏆 Anchoring Culture Through Celebration

In Everybody Leads, I emphasize the value of “anchoring devices,” recurring events that unite teams, celebrate success, and reinforce culture.

One of our firm’s key anchoring events is the annual Chair’s Club Award Banquet, where we recognize top contributors across our 30 offices. This year’s celebration at the Spy Museum in Washington D.C. featured rooftop views, mission-themed storytelling, and heartfelt recognition.

It’s more than a party, it’s a moment to honor those going above and beyond and to build shared pride in our collective mission.

What anchoring device can you introduce in your organization to celebrate excellence and foster belonging?

📚 Book Review: Playing to Win by A.G. Lafley & Roger L. Martin

Why Strategy Isn’t Just for the Strategy Team.

In leadership, strategy can often feel like a buzzword, vague, lofty, and reserved for off-sites or boardrooms. But in Playing to Win, A.G. Lafley (former CEO of Procter & Gamble) and strategic advisor Roger Martin bring it back down to earth. This book is practical, punchy, and powerful for anyone who needs to lead with clarity.

The heart of their message? Strategy is about making choices, and every choice needs a purpose.

They outline five essential questions that guide any effective strategy:

  1. What is our winning aspiration?

  2. Where will we play?

  3. How will we win?

  4. What capabilities must we have?

  5. What management systems are required?

These questions seem simple, but when answered honestly, they shape how a team operates at every level. What I appreciate most is how the framework avoids over-complication. It’s not about perfection. It’s about alignment, and daily execution.

I first read this book in 2019 and recently revisited it during a season of renewed focus on long-term priorities. It served as a great reminder: clarity at the top fuels momentum everywhere else.

If you’re in a season of refining strategy or even rethinking what winning looks like, this one is worth the read, or the re-read.

🎙️ New on the Everybody Leads Podcast

  • October 22 – Kareem “K.W.O.E.” Wells, entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and Level Next recording artist

  • November 5 – 50th Episode Celebration with Jennifer Keller, President and COO, Baker Donelson

  • November 19 – Jon Acuff/Clay Scroggins discussion “Everybody Leads”

  • December 10 – Everybody Leads Podcast Year-in-Review

Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform for authentic conversations with high-impact leaders.

🎧 Recent Guest Podcast Appearances

I’ve also had the privilege of joining several great hosts over the past few months:

My most recent podcast release is with Damon Lembi, listen to it below 👇

Search for Tim Lupinacci on your favorite podcast platform to tune in.

🎤 Upcoming Speaking Opportunities

  • November 17, 2025 – Leadership Breakfast, Vestavia Hills, Alabama

  • February 19, 2026 – DRI 2026 Women in the Law Seminar – “Building Your Skills: The Art of Difficult Conversations” – Orlando, Florida

  • March 23, 2026 – “The Beyond the Bottom Line Seminar” – Orlando, Florida

  • March 27, 2026 – “Leadership Excellence to Drive the Healing Process” – The Alabama School of Alcohol and Other Drug Studies Conference, Tuscaloosa, Alabama

  • April 20, 2026 - LMA Annual Meeting Quick Start Program - “Leading Transformation” and “Everybody Leads” - New Orleans, Louisiana

If you’re attending any of these events, I’d love to connect!

✍️ Upcoming Book Signings

If you’re local, or passing through Johnson City, TN or New Orleans, LA in the next couple of months, join me at my upcoming book signings!

November 1st – 2 p.m. – Johnson’s Literary Depot, 333 E. Main St., Johnson City, Tennessee

December 10th – 6 p.m. – Octavia Books, 513 Octavia St. New Orleans, Louisiana

📖 Have You Ordered the Book Yet?

Everybody Leads is available in hardcover on Amazon!

Your honest review goes a long way in helping others find the book and join the growing movement of everyday leaders.

📝 Top LinkedIn Post of the Month 

Most leaders say they listen. But they're just waiting for their turn to talk.

When I became CEO, I did something that scared me.

I shut up and listened.

I visited offices across the firm.

Sat down with teams at every level.

Asked questions, took notes, and promised to act.

But here's what most leaders miss: listening without action is just performance.

Your team sees through it.

And when you don't follow through? You destroy the trust you're trying to build.

So here are the 3 things I learned from that listening tour.

Tip 1: Write it down, or it didn't happen.

I took detailed notes on everything.

The frustrations. The ideas. The things people were afraid to say.

Then I sorted through every note with my team to figure out what we could act on.

This showed people I wasn't performing.

I was paying attention.

If you're not documenting what you hear, you're not serious about listening.

As we enter the heart of Q4, stay focused on what matters most: mission, clarity, consistency, and connection.

Keep leading with heart,

Tim