ABOUT US
Lead Yourself First.
The foundation of every great leader isn’t inspiration or strategy—it’s Self-Leadership.
Great leaders grow daily in self-awareness and emotional intelligence. It’s a process everyone needs…but few are taught.
1st Lead U equips leaders to be great by perfecting self-leadership every day.
You’re Leading, But Are You Thriving?
Do you want to reach your greatest potential as a leader?
You stepped into leadership because you wanted to make a difference. You care deeply about your team, your vision, and your mission.
Without a clear path forward, even passionate leaders burn out.
1st Lead U provides you the tools needed to realize your fullest potential and experience your greatest fulfillment as the leader you ‘re meant to be.
Self-leadership is the answer.
Without emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and personal alignment, team challenges multiply. Morale drops. Trust fades. Burnout spreads. And the cost isn’t just financial — it’s deeply personal.
Why We Created 1st Lead U
After years of watching leaders struggle because they had no clear system for intentional growth, John Ballinger, a trusted personal growth coach, developed 1st Lead U, to help leaders succeed.
When leaders learn to lead themselves first, everything else multiplies—their influence, their impact, and their peace.
1st Lead U was created after years of watching leaders struggle because they did not have a clear system for intentional growth, or a trusted guide to help develop the system.
Your Guide:
John Ballinger
For decades, John helped leaders step into the best version of themselves. As a seasoned executive and personal growth coach, he’s worked one-on-one with over 250 senior leaders globally across business and ministry sectors.
John doesn’t just teach leadership theory; he teaches what really works. Every tool, every framework, and every insight is tested in real leadership contexts with real leaders facing real world challenges. His mission is simple: equip leaders with the clarity, confidence, and daily disciplines they need to grow, lead well, and create lasting impact.
John is the Founder of The Ballinger Group, a suite of four companies specializing in integrated risk management and Risk Management as a Service. His is a 2023 HEaL Award winner of Leadership Development of People and a 2024 Marquis Who’s Who inductee. John serves in prominent leadership roles including, for the last 8-years, President & CEO of the National Association of Christian Athletes (NACA) and Fort Bluff Camp – which impacts more than 14,000 children each year. He has also served, for the last 13-years, as the Chief Risk Officer and Trustee for C &M Disposal and Family of Companies.
As a Supreme Court Rule 31 Listed Mediator, John has overseen more than 1,200 risk assessments, guided hundreds of civil mediations, and helped more than 150 organizations navigate complex challenges with clarity, confidence, and proven results.
On the cutting edge of leadership, he is the co-creator and co-host of the 1st LEAD U Podcast (featured on Apple Podcasts and Spotify) and Oath and Pledge, a program helping veterans successfully transition back into civilian life. John holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from American Military University and is a decorated Army veteran who served in the high stress field of aviation maintenance and safety.
What Happens When You Lead Yourself First
Leading yourself isn’t about working harder or pursuing another degree.
It’s about working smarter. By building a foundation of clarity and discipline to support every leadership decision you make. You can reach your fullest potential, experience your greatest success, transforming yourself and the lives of those you lead.
When you collaborate with 1st Lead U, you’ll experience:
Assessments that provide clarity
The uniquely developed Self-Awareness and Emotional Intelligence Assessment enables you to discover your authentic character as a leader equipping you to step into your unique leadership calling.
Training that brings understanding
Step-by-step curriculum leads you through the 1st Lead U System of self-leadership. You learn how to use both your personality strengths and weaknesses to enhance relationships, identify which leadership pursuits cause you frustration or joy, and deepen your emotional intelligence bringing about calm, clarity, and excellence in communication.
One on one coaching that supplies Support
Coaches assist you in delving deeper into personal obstacles hindering your ability to be your best self, which allows you to able to extend caring, compassion, and encouragement that uplifts your team to offer their best effort and experience success.
Group Cohort Sessions that produce innovation
Gathering with others also applying the 1st Lead U System broadens the experience through combined daily interactions, applications, and personal discovery, accountability, and innovation for sustained and transformative growth.
