Perpetual Leaders: Powering the Cycle of Success

Perpetual Leaders are always leading. Who are they? Anytime two or more people set out to accomplish something together, there is a leadership opportunity. They build strong teams, solve complex problems, and deliver results at every level of the organization and community.In Perpetual Leaders: Powering the Cycle of Success, Ron Hewett, Captain, U.S. Navy (Retired), presents a practical leadership model built on four essential responsibilities that determine whether teams succeed or stall: Listen, Include, Act, and Follow Through. Together, these responsibilities form what he calls the Cycle of Success, a disciplined approach to leadership that helps individuals and organizations turn ideas into meaningful results. Most importantly, when leaders embrace and practice his proposition consistently, the people they lead begin to see leadership the way they want to be led.Hewett developed this model over a lifetime of leadership experience in demanding environments: starting as a commercial fisherman, then in command of a U.S. Navy warship, and then in fast-paced maritime port operations as a corporate executive. Over time he observed the most effective leaders consistently practice the same sequence of behaviors. They listen carefully before forming conclusions. They include the right people in the discussion. They act decisively once priorities and resources are aligned. And they follow through to ensure the work is completed. When leaders consistently apply this Cycle of Success, organizations become more capable, more accountable, and more resilient.Hewett shares practical stories, many personal, from the Navy, business leadership, professional sports, and everyday management situations to illustrate how these responsibilities work in real environments. Readers will see how strong listening builds trust, how inclusion improves decision-making, why action requires discipline and timing, and how follow-through transforms plans into performance.The reader will be engaged at all levels, from a captivating read to a deep dive that poses questions for further discussion in a team meeting or leadership class.Perpetual Leaders is written for leaders who want practical guidance rather than abstract theory. The lessons apply to executives, managers, supervisors, team leaders, and anyone responsible for helping people work together toward a common goal.You will learn how to:Turn leadership experience into a clear and repeatable leadership modelRecognize the habits that prevent leaders from listeningBuild inclusive teams that generate better solutionsAlign priorities, resources, and timing before taking actionDevelop future leaders and strengthen your leadership benchCreate accountability through consistent follow-throughAvoid the culture of complacency that weakens organizations over timeAbout the AuthorA graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, he served 24 years as a naval officer, including command of the USS Kiska where upon return from the first Gulf War, the ship was awarded the Navy Battle “E” as the top performing ammunition ship in both Eastern and Western Pacific. Ashore, he led the development of manning plans for the Navy’s 600-ship fleet while serving in the Pentagon. After retiring from the Navy, he built a successful NJROTC leadership program for high school students, and later as the Senior Director of HSE, APM Terminals, designed and implemented a management and leadership program for APM Terminals, one of the world’s largest maritime port operators. That program helped transform the company’s 12 domestic operations into the safest and most efficient port operations in their respective ports. Today, as founder of Leadership and Performance, Ron works with organizations seeking to strengthen leadership culture and performance through disciplined practices. Read more