Why Choose Higher Ground?
For 40+ years I sat in the corporate leadership chair and watched good companies quietly bleed out because trust was broken and no one knew how to measure it. I’ve lived the regret of decisions that looked smart on a spreadsheet but cost us talent, customers, and years of momentum. I’ve seen a newspaper chain client lose 60% of their promotional subscribers overnight because readers felt lied to. I saw a client CEO head to prison for bogus refi deals. I’ve watched brilliant teams fracture because leaders stayed silent instead of speaking truth. I’ve felt the sting of realizing too late that mistrust was the real reason growth stalled.
That’s when I made the decision to focus solely on helping other leaders avoid repeating those mistakes & why I built Higher Ground Life’s 5Cs trust building model and tools like the TrustPulse survey.
When you put the 5Cs into action, something shifts in your organization from the inside out. It’s not just better metrics or smoother operations; it’s a deeper transformation that changes how you feel, how you work, and what you leave behind. Competence builds confidence, Consistency builds credibility, Candor builds courage, Concern builds compassion, and Connection builds legacy.
This isn’t theory. It’s the quiet revolution I’ve watched happen when leaders make the conscious decision to build trust.
Co-Founder | Higher Ground Life
“My mission is simple: come alongside leaders like you, give you the clarity I wish I’d had decades ago, and help you build an organization people trust enough to follow, buy from, and stay with—for good.”
These five behaviors are the operating system in action & the visible proof that trust is thriving in your organization. They’re non-negotiable, measurable, and the reason Higher Ground organizations outlast and outperform the rest.
You value relationships over transactions—every single time.
What it looks like: You refund a customer without them asking, or you walk away from a big sale because the partner treats their people poorly.
Impact: Customers become lifelong advocates. Employees stay for decades. Your reputation becomes bulletproof.
When you don’t: People feel used. Word spreads. You bleed talent and customers faster than any marketing campaign can replace them.
You put purpose before profit—without apology.
What it looks like: You invest in training during a tight quarter or choose the ethical supplier even when it costs more.
Impact: Teams rally around a mission bigger than money. Innovation and loyalty skyrocket. Profit follows as a byproduct.
When you don’t: Cynicism sets in. People disengage. The culture becomes transactional, and long-term growth flatlines.
You choose transparency over opacity—because trust dies in the dark.
What it looks like: You share the real numbers—good and bad—in all-hands meetings and explain tough decisions before rumors start.
Impact: Problems surface early. Execution accelerates. Energy is spent solving, not speculating.
When you don’t: Silence breeds fear. Politics replace progress. Good people quietly start updating their résumés.
You lead with conviction over compliance.
What it looks like: You override a bad policy to do right by an employee or customer and own the call publicly.
Impact: People follow you with passion, not just obedience. Ownership replaces clock-punching.
When you don’t: Resentment festers. Initiative dies. You’re left leading a group of compliant order-takers who leave the moment a better offer appears.
You’re an advocate for your employees and customers vs. remaining apathetic.
What it looks like: You fight for their success like it’s your own—celebrating wins, removing obstacles, defending them fiercely.
Impact: Employees become recruiters. Customers become evangelists. Loyalty compounds into decades of growth.
When you don’t: People feel invisible. Turnover spikes. Customers quietly switch. Your brand becomes just another faceless option.