Barry L. Smith

The greatest gift you can give to someone is to believe in them. During my thirty years in the construction industry, I observed good leadership, bad leadership, and no leadership. As a student and practitioner of the subject for much of my life, I realize how important leadership is, and how desperately it is needed.

Many people are simply stuck and the opportunity to help change that through the written word is the motivation behind my writing. Everyone has a story to be told and those stories should be told. We all have the ability to add value to each other and my personal opinion is that we are losing a chance to make a difference by not believing that our story can make a difference in someone else's life.

In 2011, I founded "Building What Matters" and as a full-time coach, speaker, trainer, and author focused on leadership, communication, personal growth, and teamwork, I have opportunities daily to add value to those around me. The bigger mission is to empower them to do the same. I believe in building what matters and what matters are people!

As part of the John Maxwell Team, I have been given many opportunities to improve my skills and have been introduced to a global family of individuals that share similar values. The collaboration has been invaluable to my writing activities and I have many other projects, both collaborative and individual, in the works.

Singer Island, on the Atlantic coast of Florida, is where I call home. My wife Cheryl and I love living on the coast and enjoy one of the most beautiful beaches in the Country. We have a blended family including four sons, two of whom are married to amazing young women.