My parents taught me well how to exist and compete in a two-armed world. This determined, individualistic spirit worked well for me and at the same time caused much pain throughout my life. My determination caused me to choose the path of a radical rather than compliant. When teachers, bosses or others of authority said black, I would say white just to cause disruption. I would intentionally get into fights to prove I was as good or better than those with the use of both arms. My father taught me to play sports, overcompensating for my handicap. I actually made the high school baseball team but my radical behavior and attitude against those in authority told me I should quit rather than be bossed around. This attitude, along with the movement of the ’70s, took me for a long ride down a path of personal destruction, addiction, broken relationships and lost business.
By 1982 I had been married to my high school sweetheart — my wife and best friend for 42 years — and been blessed with twin daughters and a son. After living an extreme lifestyle in Lake Tahoe and losing everything, we packed up the family and moved back home to Chicago. This move, as I look back now, was the pivotal move in my life.
As I struggled to rebuild my life, I remember coming home from work and sitting at my kitchen table saying I am working 70 hours a week spending no time with my family, facing IRS charges from past business ventures and in tears: “This life doesn't work anymore.” In the midst of this, my father told me about a new church called Willow Creek and he thought we might like it. I was raised Lutheran but even in church settings I would rebel and skip out on Sunday School while my parents were in service. The pastor at Willow had a great way of presenting the sermon in a way that was relevant, and I remember saying “Is he talking to me?” Over time, the messages kept impacting me.
Rich LeBrun's Story
I was born 1954 in the Northwest suburb of Chicago, Prospect Heights, Ill. At six months old, I contracted polio in my arms, legs and neck. Through many doctor visits and a new medical breakthrough, I was cured of polio in all limbs except my right arm. My parents were instrumental in creating a “never give up, everything is possible” attitude that has carried me through to this day. The word “can’t” doesn’t exist in my life.
I remember hanging out with my friend, Bruce, and each Sunday while watching the Chicago Bears I would tell him about the sermon I heard at church. Bruce is Jewish and was well-read in the Bible. He began explaining to me all the surrounding details of the Bible history that supported the sermon. This intrigued me more and caused me to want to attend the next Sunday service. There was a Sunday I remember hearing about God’s forgiveness and faithfulness, and I needed both. In April 1985, I gave my life to Christ.
During this time I was working in real estate, managing a condo conversion project in Chicago. The chairman of the condo association board, Fred Iwen, took me to lunch at his private club. Little did he know that a simple conversation that day would send me on a 30-year journey of studying leadership and management from a Biblical perspective! He knew I was a young leader and asked if I knew when the first organizational leadership structure was created. He explained that in Biblical times, the father-in-law of Moses set up an organization of leaders to help him guide hundreds of thousands of followers. This intrigued me for I never felt I had a foundation of where life began and on what principles to build from. I always felt I had started in the middle of things and had to fight my way out.
This business idea that Fred planted, along with my new faith, inspired me to study leadership principles in the world and track them back to their Biblical origins. I have found over the years that every solid business principle written or spoken about in the world has a Biblical foundation. By reading and applying the skills I have learned from the Bible, I have found that God has given me insight on how businesses run, how and when they get off-course, how to help navigate companies through growth and change and how to build into people to bring out their best leadership qualities.
My dream is to write a book comparing worldly business practices to Biblical principles. Until that time, God has called me to share what He has taught me by providing leadership training, business consulting and executive coaching. When I asked God “Why me?” when there are so many great leaders who have accomplished much more than I, He answered, “I want for you to teach what I have taught you, not what the world has taught you and to do so regardless of its worldly success.”
Well, who would have guessed that once the guy who always rebelled against leaders now I have found the one leader that I am willing to serve and obey!
This journey has led me to want to share what I have learned about leadership.