Last week, my good friend Lainie Rowell reminded me that it’s the six-month anniversary of the release of my book, The Leader Inside: Stories of Mentorship to Inspire the Leader Within. How could that be? I asked myself. It all feels like a whirlwind, like a dream I didn’t know I was capable of accomplishing. Can you relate?

Truthfully, I often forget it even happened until something, a disruption, awakens the journey that brought this book to life. After returning from holiday break, I opened my inbox to a message that read: “I loved your book. It was so beautiful. I was so inspired and filled with emotion. You must be so proud, Lauren.”

Those words took my breath away.

Haven’t we all had disruptor moments…those unexpected reminders that stop us in our tracks? They make us pause and reflect on who we were and who we are still becoming.

Our stories don’t happen overnight. The journey to The Leader Inside unfolded through countless incremental moments that shaped my future. As Karen Eber shares in her book, The Perfect Story: “A great story acts as a roadmap, guiding your audience through information to build an idea, feeling, or inspire action. They act as an open door, inviting people to come through.”

The story of The Leader Inside began long before I ever wrote it. It started when I was a little girl, watching my parents embody the kind of educators their students adored. It continued in Mrs. Roth’s classroom, where I sat with my chin cupped in my hands, staring at her in admiration. She had a way of making me care about learning deeply, of helping me see something in myself I hadn’t yet realized. At nine years old, she saw the leader within me.

This morning, while standing in line at the bagel store, another disruption stopped me in my tracks. A familiar but deeper voice called out, “Hey, Mrs. Kaufman. Nice sneakers!”

I turned and met eyes with my former student Ben. He had been in my last classroom before I transitioned into leadership.

“You remembered my name?” he asked, surprised.

“Of course I remember your name,” I said. “I can’t believe you remember mine.”

“I’ll never forget you, Mrs. Kaufman,” he said. “You were one of the kindest teachers I ever had. I know I didn’t give you an easy time, but you believed in me. You helped me become a reader. I’m doing well now, and I get it. You saw the leader in me.”

Disruptor moments, like Ben’s words, remind us of the ripple effect we may never fully see. They ground us in the truth that our work matters and that the gifts we give to others, often unknowingly, may take years to be unwrapped, revealing their true impact in ways we might never imagine.

This morning, I came across a quote by Brianna Weist shared by George Couros in his weekly newsletter: “You are exactly where you need to be. This is the perfect day to start your life again.”

Six months after the release of my book, I realize the story is still being written, not just in the pages of The Leader Inside but in every interaction, every connection, and every disruptor moment that reminds us of our purpose.

As I share in my book: There is a leader inside us all. It’s not just a phrase but a reminder that every one of us carries the potential to inspire, to mentor, and to lead in ways that leave a lasting impact.

Six months ago, I released a book I never thought I could write. Today, I celebrate the journey it represents and the leaders it continues to uncover. I celebrate that the story is still being written. 

Here’s to embracing the disruptor moments, trusting the path, and always seeing The Leader Inside.