with Dr. Sheila Gujrathi
May 12, 2026
Inside Personal Growth
Listen on your favorite platforms
In this episode of Inside Personal Growth, Greg Voisen sits down with London Porter to discuss his transformative new book, THINK LEAD REPEAT: 369 Daily Micro Master Classes For Leaders Who Influence, Inspire, and Get Sh#t Done. Rejecting the traditional, dense management manual, Porter designed this book as a "Personal Leadership Gym" to meet over-stimulated leaders in the "messy middle" of high-stakes environments. By providing 369 daily micro-doses of wisdom—rather than the standard 365—Porter emphasizes that leadership is a relentless, compounding daily practice. It is a guide for those who want to move past the "pinnacle of complexity" and clear their mental runway to lead with both strategic data and deep human empathy.
Porter, a 2025 Human Resource Professional of the Year with over 25 years of experience, shares how his career navigating difficult decisions at the City of Henderson, Nevada, led him to a "straight-whiskey" style of coaching. He believes leadership isn't just a title you hold; it is a vibration you broadcast every single day. This long-form exploration dives into the core philosophies of his work, from the art of "inner standing" to the "emotional badassery" required to thrive in modern business.
Most leadership books are designed to be read once and filed away. Porter rejected this model entirely. He argues that leaders are currently facing what he calls the "pinnacle of complexity." Between the constant pull of technology, the "attention amnesia" caused by smartphones, and the rapid shift in workplace dynamics, a 400-page theoretical tome isn't what the modern executive needs.
Instead, Porter created a system for mindful repetition. The choice of 369 days—rather than the standard 365—is a nod to the fact that mastery has no offseason and no finish line. By engaging with a "micro-masterclass" every single day, a leader forces their brain to stay in a state of active growth. It is about moving from "knowing" to "being." As Porter explains, the leader you are becoming is already inside you; you are simply using these daily prompts to clear the mental runway so that leader can finally take off.
One of the most powerful reframes Porter offers is the concept of "inner standing." While most people strive to "understand" others, Porter argues that "understanding" often implies standing "under" a concept—a detached, intellectual exercise. To "inner stand" is to be inside the situation, meeting the other person exactly where they are in that distinct moment.
This deeper orientation allows a leader to read the room beyond the literal words being spoken. Porter suggests that in high-stakes negotiations or difficult HR interventions, the "words" are often just the surface. "Inner standing" requires a leader to sense the energy behind the communication. Is a question born of genuine curiosity, or is it rooted in disgust? By practicing this level of presence, leaders can navigate the "messy middle" of human conflict with a level of precision that data alone cannot provide.
Porter is on a mission to raise the vibration of the workplace. He notes that energy often walks into a room before the leader does. If a leader enters a space filled with anxiety, nervousness, or the scattered energy of "attention amnesia," that low vibration permeates the entire team. You can’t hide a bad vibration behind a fancy title or a polished slide deck.
To combat this, Porter advocates for a holistic approach to energy management. He doesn't just talk about spreadsheets; he talks about the intersection of brain, heart, strategy, and empathy. He personally utilizes tools like somatic breathing, grounding in nature, and even the metabolic shock of cold plunges to regulate his own internal state.
The goal is to ensure that when you walk into a meeting, you are broadcasting clarity and focus rather than reactionary fear. Porter believes that raising the vibration of a single conversation can eventually raise the vibration of an entire organization, and ultimately, the planet.
A recurring theme in Porter’s philosophy is the constant choice between courage and comfort. He bluntly states that "comfort zones don't pay bonuses." Many leaders stagnate not because they lack talent, but because they have chosen the safety of the status quo over the discomfort of growth.
Porter shares his own story of leaving a secure organization because he realized his creativity was being stifled by his own complacency. Taking that leap was an act of courage that "slingshotted" his professional life. This path requires what Porter calls "emotional badassery." This isn't about being "tough" in the traditional, aggressive sense. It’s about having the "compassionately firm" grit to tell the truth and the self-awareness to practice professional forgiveness. Porter views holding onto workplace grudges as "drinking poison and expecting the other person to die." Choosing to forgive and move forward is a high-vibration decision that reclaims executive energy for what actually matters: outcomes and integrity.
Even as a seasoned HR executive, Porter is forward-thinking about technology. He addresses the integration of Artificial Intelligence not as a threat, but as a tool to "shorten the distance between mistakes and mastery." However, he offers a vital warning: AI will not replace leaders; it will expose them. If a leader is unauthentic or lacks a clear vibration, AI will only make those flaws more visible. For AI to be a force multiplier, the leader must first have their "inner standing" and "attention on intention" dialed in. The future of work belongs to those who can live at the intersection of data and humanity—using the machine to handle the logic while the human provides the "heart" and the "vibration."
London Porter’s message is clear: Leadership is not a destination; it is a daily practice, a decision, and a vibration. Whether you are an executive in a boardroom or a new manager in the "messy middle," your success depends on your ability to show up with intention every single day. By committing to the "369" mindset, you aren't just reading a book—you are training for the most important role of your life.
➥ Buy Now: a.co/d/03iML85H
➥ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/londonporter/
You may also refer to the transcripts below for the full transcription (not edited) of the interview.
Continue Listening