Blog 6: Courageous Leadership – New Lessons from Old “Desert Pete”
Courageous Leadership Lessons from Desert Pete
Discover how an old folk song teaches courageous, values-based leadership. Learn why priming the pump with trust and generosity transforms leaders.
Do You Trust the Pump Will Prime?
Courage, trust, and the power of leadership generosity.
There’s an old folk song from the Kingston Trio called Desert Pete. Its message is timeless for leaders: when the jar of water is in your hands, do you drink it for yourself—or pour it out to prime the pump for more?
That’s the crossroads of courageous leadership:
Do you hoard what little you have?
Or do you trust, give, and lead with generosity?
Where EQ Meets Servant Leadership
Self-awareness helps you recognize when fear is steering.
Self-management gives you the pause to choose courage over control.
Empathy lets you see what others need, not just what feels safe.
Relationship skills turn vulnerability into shared strength.
Leadership is often about priming the pump—pouring out energy, trust, and insight before the outcome is guaranteed. Choosing generosity before certainty. Believing that abundance follows action.
This is values-based leadership in motion:
Mentoring when your own tank feels low
Launching an idea without knowing if it will land
Choosing openness instead of self-protection
The Question for Leaders
What are you holding in your jar right now—and are you willing to pour it out?
Courage isn’t about never running dry. It’s about trusting that when we lead with wisdom and generosity, the pump will prime and others will thrive.
