Brad Smith is one of the most admired leaders in Silicon Valley. 

But, when Brad was in grade school, a little girl he had a crush on made fun of him and called him 'stupid'. This had quite an impact. It's now a core part of Brad's authentic story.- or what I would call a crucible moment that helped determine what was most important in his life.

In everyone's life, there are crucible moments, those intense experiences that help shape your core values and leadership style. It's important to understand and practice articulating these moments. They are an inexorable part of your personal story and personal brand. 

People really connect to leaders who are authentic and have strong core values Brad Smith is the perfect example of a leader who is masterful at telling his leadership development story, including the anxiety and pain he faced as a child. These experiences helped shape the man and leader he is today.

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