I am excited to announce that The Happy Leader: Relatable Stories of Influence & Hope as the August 2026 book choice for Courtney’s Corner Book Club!
Dr. Calvin Lawrence earned his bachelor’s degree from James Madison University, where he laid the foundation for a career in education as a teacher and coach. He later received a master’s degree from Texas Christian University, completed post-master’s studies in educational administration at Texas Women’s University, and earned his doctoral degree from Baylor University.
With more than 41 years of leadership, as well as professional experience, Dr. Lawrence has served in a variety of educational and leadership roles. Today, he is the CEO of CalvinLawrenceSpeaks, where he inspires diverse audiences through presentations on leadership, diversity, and personal development.
I chose The Happy Leader due to the insightful leadership perspectives offered throughout the book. I greatly enjoyed this book because Dr. Lawrence guides readers through his lived experiences, using the power of storytelling to illuminate the challenges he faced along the way, as well as the valuable lessons that shaped his leadership journey. What I respected most about this book was how thoughtfully he explained the way he evaluated complex situations and the reasoning behind the decisions he ultimately made. This level of reflection offers readers insights into the mindset of an effective leader, highlighting that leadership is rooted in self-awareness and thoughtful judgement.
One part of the book that I resonated with was the discussion on the power of sport in Dr. Lawrence’s life. He explains his journey in football, and you truly can feel the passion Dr. Lawrence had for the game. I genuinely appreciated his authentic reflection on his football journey and the profound impact the sport had on his life. Although his college football career was cut short due to an injury, he openly shares how that experience shaped his character.
“Football taught me about teamwork and collaboration something bandied about all the time. When you participate in team sports, you actually live vicariously and otherwise through the team.”
This section offered such a valuable takeaway by illustrating that sport can provide so much more than success on the field. Dr. Lawrence shared that even after an injury, new opportunities to lead would present themselves. He moved into the role of Success Coach. It reminded me that sport can make an impact in ways we never imagined such as the discovery of a new role. Dr. Lawrence’s reflections are filled with genuine gratitude to compete at such a high level, the friendships he developed while in the sport, and the ability to positively impact others lives in this new role.
This teaching particularly reminded me that leadership is far more than a specific role assigned to one, but it teaches us the power of adaptability and finding purpose through adversity. Dr. Lawrence’s optimism is especially powerful because he encourages the reader to understand when one door closes another door opens.
Also, Dr. Lawrence does an excellent job of sharing his passion for education throughout the book. He thoughtfully guides readers through the various roles he held during his career, and shows how each experience he would prepare him to become an effective Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. I strongly valued Dr. Lawrence’s offering of small tips of advice that assisted him to make great connections with his students such as remembering names. Whether it was during his time as junior high assistant principal or assistant professor, remembering names always enhanced the environment. His journey illustrates how every position he embraced contributed to not only his own growth as an educator, but strengthened his ability to positively impact his students.
I highly recommend The Happy Leader for the practical wisdom it offers. It is a meaningful read for any individual who is seeking to become a more intentional and authentic leader. Get your copy today on Amazon!