Raymond M. Kethledge

Raymond M. Kethledge is an American author and former lawyer who is currently a life coach and entrepreneur. Kethledge is best known for his New York Times bestselling book, Lead Yourself First: Inspiring Leadership Through Solitude. This book follows Kethledge's journey to success, including his experiences in law, business, and leadership.

Kethledge was born in Michigan and grew up in a large Catholic family. Following graduation from the University of Michigan, he obtained a law degree from University of Michigan Law School. After law school, Kethledge began his legal career as a clerk for Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy. During his clerkship, he also worked as an associate for the senior partner of Hogan & Hartson, now Hogan Lovells.

Kethledge eventually left the legal field behind to pursue business opportunities and executive level leadership roles. Kethledge moved to Denver in 2004 and started two companies, such as a wedding services firm and an online learning website. He also aimed to sharpen his leadership skills during his time in his two companies.

In 2015, Kethledge wrote and published his first book, Lead Yourself First: Inspiring Leadership Through Solitude, which quickly became a New York Times Bestselling book and has been featured in the Wall Street Journal and Inc. magazine. The book centers around the idea that effective leadership comes from within, and focuses on solutions to the common challenges of leadership. Kethledge uses personal reflections, examples, and real-world situations in the book to showcase techniques to leadership. Lead Yourself First provides a unique view of both group and individual leadership and is essential for anyone aspiring to be a successful leader.

In Lead Yourself First, Kethledge details his journey through the business world and his life experiences, which he believes are essential for the leader of tomorrow. He emphasizes the importance of solitude and personal reflection in order to achieve success. He also reflects on the tools and resources available for leaders and provides readers with tangible takeaways that can be applied in various aspects of their lives.

Following the success of Lead Yourself First, Kethledge penned his next book, How to Lead When You're Not in Charge: Leveraging Influence When You Lack Authority. This book focuses on the power of influence, especially when you don't have dictatorial authority. It explores how to think and act like a leader in any role, even when the power dynamics are unclear. Through this book, Kethledge focuses on teaching readers how to create change and impact by leveraging the power of influence.

Kethledge is passionate about inspiring the next generation of leaders and is an advocate of philanthropy and global issues. He also has a TEDx talk entitled “The Power of Solitude in Leadership” where he discusses his message of leading yourself first and the challenges that individuals face in their leadership roles.

In a world where people are bombarded by distractions, Raymond Kethledge proves that effective leadership can be found through personal reflection and self-awareness. Through his writings and teachings, Kethledge is helping people leverage their own paths to success and inspire their own leadership abilities.