Trusting the Journey
On Leadership
A Personal Reflection on Leadership and Purpose
Stepping into the limelight as a leader often brings challenges and introspection. For me, the path to becoming CEO was not something I envisioned 10 or 12 years ago. As a child, I always wanted to make a difference—not for recognition or wealth, but to challenge the status quo, stand up for the underdog, and change the world in meaningful ways. Fighting for the fatherless with Man Up and Go aligns perfectly with that passion.
However, the journey has been anything but straightforward. I started my career as a teacher and assistant football coach here in Florida, a phase of life that ended in a personal and professional low point. For many years following that time, I resisted being in the spotlight. Although God was restoring me on the inside and I still wanted to make an impact, but I preferred to remain behind the scenes. Even during a successful blogging venture with my wife, she became the face of the platform. I admit, I wanted to stay hidden and worked quietly in the background. Ironically, public speaking and leadership come naturally to me, yet I found myself willingly shrinking away from visibility.
A pivotal moment came thirteen years ago when I wrote in my journal about feeling trapped. I wanted to do ministry but lacked a clear path. Although I was a deacon at my church, others around me suggested I become a pastor. Neither my wife or I felt 100% confident in that path. During that season, I felt God urging me to let go of my own expectations and trust His timing and plan.
The message was clear: “Your value is in the fact that you are mine. Let me work it out.” It was a release from the pressure of trying to prove my character and worth through achievements or validation. That perspective shift allowed me to embrace the opportunities God placed before me, including the role I now have developing Patros at Man Up and Go.
Today, I see leadership as a responsibility to steward resources and inspire others, not as a platform for personal gain, and it’s made me more comfortable being in the public eye. Patros is about equipping men to live out biblical masculinity and take action in their communities—particularly in addressing fatherlessness. It’s hard work, especially creating content and staying consistent, but the mission keeps us going.
Whether God keeps me in this role or moves me elsewhere, I’m committed to obedience. The impact isn’t mine to orchestrate—it’s His. My job is to walk through the doors He opens, trusting that even a small voice can spark change when aligned with His purpose.
Be well,
Jeffrey Charles Ford