Week Minded : 52 Reflections on Leading and Living One Week, One Story, One Measure at a Time

WEEK MINDED: 52 Reflections on Leading and Living, One Week, One Story, One Measure at a Time

is a heartfelt collection of 52 weekly reflections drawn from Rod Branch's remarkable journey from sharecropper roots and Arctic oil fields to boardrooms and family life. Through authentic storytelling, Branch demonstrates how true leadership and resilience are cultivated in setbacks, relationships, and acts of caring, rather than fantastic success. Each chapter offers a pause for deep thoughts, blending humor, humility, and wisdom, reminding us that our worth is measured by how far we've come, the people we've loved, and the legacy we create one week at a time.

"It's a direct, no-nonsense 52-week guide for people who want results. Each week delivers one clear principle you can actually apply - to how you lead, how you work, how you make decisions, and how you run your life. It's practical thinking, uncomfortable truths, and steady pressure in the right direction. What makes this guide powerful is its discipline. One week at a time for reflection and action. It doesn't try to change you overnight; it builds consistency, judgement, and resilience over a year. The lessons compound. It's a refreshing way to approach growth and change."

Janette Marx, CEO, Employbridge

"Week Minded feels deeply personal from the first page. You can tell it was written by someone who has lived a full professional life and never lost sight of what matters most. Rod's journey-from engineer and lobbyist to trusted leader-gives him a unique perspective, but what really comes through is his heart. Rod is one of the most giving people I know, and that generosity shows up in every story he tells. He writes the way he leads: thoughtfully, honestly, and with real care for the people involved. These stories don't try to teach or impress-they simply share experiences that make you pause, reflect, and think differently about how you show up for others. What stands out about Week Minded is how genuine it is. Rod isn't preaching or positioning himself as an authority. He's sharing lessons the same way he would in a conversation-openly, with humility, and without ego. His career shifts don't feel like big reinventions; they feel like a natural progression toward work that truly serves people. Week Minded is a reminder that strong leadership starts with kindness, listening, and doing the right thing even when it's hard. Rod's stories reinforce that you can be thoughtful and principled, practical and human, all at the same time. I'd recommend this book to anyone who values authentic leadership and believes that how you treat people really does matter." Hang Bower, Founder, CEO, Ethos Consulting LC

About the AuthorRod Branch, musician, engineer, lobbyist, executive, inventor, ordained minister, and now, author. He is a grassroots American, having worked as a roustabout in the oil fields of small-town America and as an engineer in the Alaskan Arctic, a Washington lobbyist, and a C-suite officer. His career has seen many industries, including energy, manufacturing, and construction. Rod holds a Bachelor of Science degree in petroleum engineering technology from Oklahoma State University and a Master of Science degree in global human resource management from the University of Liverpool (UK). He studied industrial relations at Cornell and has spoken at national leadership, safety, and management conferences nationwide. He is a frequent guest lecturer at Texas A&M University, holds U.S. patent number 5083614, and is both an ordained minister and a professional musician. He received the Houston Business Journal's HR Impact Leader of the Year award in 2024 and was honored in 2025 to be named a Tennessee Squire and an honorary admiral in the Texas Navy for his various charity efforts during COVID. He is a husband, father, grandfather, dog guy, and bourbon enthusiast. He is inspired by holding his grandchildren, watching it snow in Breckenridge, Colorado, or sipping coffee while deer wander across the Barton Creek Resort in Austin, Texas. His hope is that this book inspires you to keep learning, leading, and living with purpose and to find meaning in the ordinary moments that build enduring confidence-one week, one story, one act of kindness at a time.