Leadership from the Inside Out: How Self-Awareness Shapes Success

Dr. Wayne “Coach LYTE” Brown is a transformational coach, speaker, and philanthropist dedicated to helping individuals and organizations live their true expression. LYTE stands for ‘Live Your True Expression,’ representing his belief that authentic alignment between purpose, mindset, and behavior creates success that is both fulfilling and sustainable. Through his platform ‘Avoid Being Average,’ Dr. Brown coaches entrepreneurs, leaders, and creatives to move from excuses to results, emphasizing his core principle: “Reviewing results over reasons revolutionizes revenue.”

His background includes a blend of positive psychology, business strategy, and the creative arts, with over 15 years as an airbrush artist, muralist, and educator. Having faced adversity early in life, Dr. Brown uses his own journey as a metaphor for transformation—turning pain into purpose and creativity into clarity.

More at – https://www.avoidbeingaverage.com/

Summary:

In this episode of The Nonprofit Exchange, I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Wayne Light Brown, the founder of Avoid Being Average. We delved into the theme of authentic leadership and purpose-driven success, exploring Dr. Brown’s remarkable journey from artist to creative entrepreneur and leadership strategist.

Dr. Brown shared his roots in Harlem and the Bronx, emphasizing the importance of community and service in his life. He discussed how his experiences with graffiti and art therapy shaped his understanding of healing and transformation, leading him to create programs that support young entrepreneurs through his nonprofit, URISE.

A key focus of our conversation was Dr. Brown’s principle of “reviewing results over reasons,” which challenges nonprofit leaders to prioritize tangible outcomes over excuses. He highlighted the importance of revenue in sustaining nonprofit missions, urging leaders to embrace a mindset shift that recognizes the necessity of financial health for creating real impact.

We also explored the concept of living your true expression, which Dr. Brown defined as being authentic and transparent in leadership. He emphasized that authenticity is crucial for shaping organizational culture and fostering trust within teams.

Throughout the episode, Dr. Brown shared valuable insights on overcoming systemic barriers and unlocking potential in underserved communities. He encouraged leaders to practice vulnerability and transparency, reminding us that these qualities are essential for effective leadership.

As we wrapped up, Dr. Brown offered practical daily practices for aligning purpose with results, including the transformative exercise of morning pages, inspired by Julia Cameron’s “The Artist’s Way.”

I encourage our listeners to visit avoidbeingaverage.com to learn more about Dr. Brown’s coaching and resources. Remember, the journey of leadership is an art form that blends structure, purpose, and authenticity. Thank you for joining us, and until next time, let’s continue to make a difference in people’s lives.

 

The Interview Transcript

The Nonprofit Exchange Podcast Transcript

Hugh Ballou:

Welcome to the nonprofit exchange. I am Hugh Ballou. Today, we’re exploring the theme of authentic leadership and purpose-driven success with a remarkable guest, Dr. Wayne Light Brown. As the founder of Avoid Being Average, Dr. Brown helps leaders and entrepreneurs unlock their full expression and turn results into transformation. We’ll unpack his journey, his teachings on purpose and mindset, and what nonprofit leaders can learn about creating real impact through authenticity. Dr. Brown, tell us about your journey from artist to creative entrepreneur to leadership strategist and coach, please.

Dr. Wayne “LYTE” Brown:

Well, thank you, Hugh, for having me. And man, that’s a loaded question. you know, those three areas of the journey. You know, the journey started from a service space. Started, I always have to give shout outs to the ancestors, most importantly, my grandmother, right? Because we’re here speaking towards the community of nonprofits and community. So I think it’s always important to start from the heart. And that’s where it started. It started me watching the what’s missing in my community, but then also seeing the gems and the jewels in my community. I’m from New York City, born and raised in Harlem and the Bronx, and had the opportunity to go to college in Connecticut. My undergrad was using graffiti as a learning tool, psychology. And at the time, I was pursuing a career And a lane that was considered pseudoscience, right? Like art therapy was considered fake. But I knew that art graffiti had an impact because it actually healed me. It helped me get through a lot of challenges that I was going through. And in my process of going through my undergrad, I did a lot of service work and shout outs to National Service Organization AmeriCorps for all AmeriCorps alumni that’s out there, did two tours of AmeriCorps, which would actually aided in me being able to pursue my undergrad and a lot of other hard work. While in that journey, I kept noticing missing pieces. Usually people say, Oh, this is a problem. But I kept saying like, No, you know, there’s pieces here that work. Yet, it wasn’t speaking to what I was, you know, navigating every single day. And what I wound up doing was took that undergrad commitment to using graffiti as a learning tool, and combined it with my entrepreneurial mindset that helped me get through school. And then created and supported a nonprofit organization called URISE some time back. So it was a program to support young entrepreneurs. And I was young myself. And then I took that information of what I was still learning, failing forward, and then built my brand, Avoid Being Average, as a Everest t-shirt company, then parlaying that IP into an executive coaching franchise, and then built that out into my consultancy, and blah, blah, blah.

Hugh Ballou:

Well, that’s a great journey. Now, people are wondering what L-Y-T-E is for. It’s in your name. And then what does it have to do with Avoid Being Average?

Dr. Wayne “LYTE” Brown:

Man, well, the acronym, L-Y-T-E, light, again, shout outs to my grandmother for that. So light means live your true expression, but applying to the nonprofit sector, it was part of the original establishment of Light Foundation, which is lifting youth through entrepreneurship. So now, you know, I lift the young, older spirits in entrepreneurship for all the seasoned, you know, life experience individuals out there.

Hugh Ballou:

Talk about your principle, reviewing results over reasons revolutionizes revenue. That’s a lot of Rs there. It’s pretty powerful. And then how do we, how’s that valuable for non-profit leaders? We’re so purpose focused. That’s a different mindset for us.

Dr. Wayne “LYTE” Brown:

So, hey, Hugh, can we have fun doing this? Why not? If you can’t have fun, why not? Why do it at all? Because you pointed to the tripping on the R’s. It’s only two R’s to really look at. And it’s the line between where we have actually reasons or we have results. And usually our reasons are what stop us from moving forward.

Hugh Ballou:

Expand on that. You’ve tempted us to want to learn more.

Dr. Wayne “LYTE” Brown:

So, we all have results, right? We are all successful, right? From our first baby steps, and pun again, right, the tripping up, because we actually fall to actually fail to then rise again. Now, you know, everyone that’s listening to him, I’m going to keep playing in this baby analogy, because usually, you know, if we have a business or a nonprofit or something that’s a passionate to us, it’s our baby. And if you’re a parent out there, you understand it. No matter how old your child is, it’s still your baby. And with our purpose, our passions, our professions, or our nonprofits, sometimes we baby our businesses, and we don’t always produce the results that’s intended. Ooh, yeah, that part.

Hugh Ballou:

One of those ours was revenue, and we tend to, We tend to minimize the importance of revenue. It’s not about the money, but golly gee, if we don’t have the money, it’s really limits how much impact we can have in people’s lives. So talk about that limiting effect.

Dr. Wayne “LYTE” Brown:

So remember we spoke about those Rs and thank you for going there. Revenue is aligned with results. So the difference in reviewing and you’re looking at the different scales, So a lot of times when we look at the conversation of nonprofits and we look at revenue, you know, that can be a little daunting. It can be a little conflicting, right, for the individual that’s of service all the time, right? Because it’s for the cause, yet there’s a requirement. There goes another R. to keep the ship or keep the baby standing up, right? You know, to keep things moving forward. So we actually have to look at our KPIs, right? So all organizations have KPIs, which in this case, when we speak about revenue, we have to know what’s the difference between what’s in kind and what’s actual. And that is essential because that’s where we live in another R, reality. So in order for us to stay present and for all the executive directors, whoever you are, if you’re just listening from a conceptual space, you’re just starting off or you’ve been leading your organization for decades, it’s still keeping that premise, that mindset, that understanding in the forefront.

Hugh Ballou:

 For those people who are not familiar with corporate lingo, it’s key performance indicators, right?

Dr. Wayne “LYTE” Brown:

Yes.

Hugh Ballou:

And if we write a grant application and we’re actually awarded that grant funding, we’re going to need to use those because the funder wants to see certain results, which we need to measure anyway. But in order to report back how we’ve used their money, we need to have these indicators. Which ones matter? What are we going to measure? And so the mindset shift that you talk about with all these R’s, this is quite brilliant. R’s for choral music is a problem. So I won’t go there. What is the mindset shift that is especially important for those leading in what we call a nonprofit sector? It could be for purpose business, could be a whole social benefit, could be lots of other ways to frame it, but we know that nonprofit is a charitable organization. So what is a mindset that we need to have to overcome some of the myths that we’ve inherited?

Dr. Wayne “LYTE” Brown:

So to answer that question, of mindset, I’m always going to go to optimism, right? It’s part of branding. It’s part of where I come from. I come from the aspect of positive psychology. You know, the words that we say to ourselves then shape the world that we live in. But I also want to go, I want to answer that question a little beyond just the mindset piece. So if you didn’t have your pad out, I want you to take it out. And I actually want you to draw two lines, like it’s a track. But then between those two lines, I want you to draw one more line right down the middle. And I want you to just think about what pathway did you start in? Did you come from an ascension model? Did you start off volunteering? Did you start off coming up the hard ranks of service? And then the other pathway, You know, did you put the work in from the conceptual model, right? Did you go to school? Did you get the degrees? Yes, you had the passion, you had the heart, but then you applied for the executive position and you were just leading. Now, please hear me. Both paths and both mindsets along these paths are essential to the sustainability of an organization. but there are two different positions and perspectives in which an organization cultivates and has sustainability. So in short, pathway A, you came up from the trenches of service. A lot of times people have grown, but they may not have acquired all of the skills to then lead that organization. The heart, the passion is there, but back to that baby analogy, there’s a lot of trip-ups. Time does not exist. You don’t even wanna see the punch-in, punch-out clock because it doesn’t exist. But then as for some individuals, you’re there for the cause, you love it, but you punch in and you punch out. And I’m sharing that because we have to be very real and authentic. Because that are two different pathways and mindsets that lead a lot of nonprofit organizations. And all organizations have that intertwining of a people that’s there. And many times people don’t even know that, you know, that’s in the background and in a blind spot.

 Hugh Ballou:

Thank you for that. That’s illuminating. You also teach about living your true expression. Share what that’s about.

Dr. Wayne “LYTE” Brown:

So living your true expression is really living in purpose, is living in your authenticity. And there’s a difference between authenticity and genuine. Authenticity is being transparent. and letting the flaws live out there while still being in purpose. And then being genuine still is a great space. It’s about being honest. But yet sometimes we just don’t wanna go to those conversations that may expose us and show sometimes our shortcomings. And living a true expression also aligns to in the space of a nonprofit conversation? Are you doing this for the cause and not the applause? And can you embrace the applause for you being successful and fulfilled in the cause?

Hugh Ballou:

And can you reframe the applause? Maybe it’s not for you. It’s for the success that we’ve all created together. Yeah. So go deeper into that. You mentioned authenticity. Explain your framing of that word. And then how is authenticity from a leader important in shaping the culture of our organization?

Dr. Wayne “LYTE” Brown:

You know, this goes back to those first three R’s. when we look at the authenticity component, right? So we measure service and success through a different lens. And like you shared, you know, you shared about the aspect of like the grants, you know, the advocacy, right? What’s required to get the mission accomplished. to fulfill on the purpose, you’re carrying out this vision. And what that does to the leaders, the early mornings, the long nights, the weekends, the holidays, the official role, the non-official role, the perspective, the position that’s required to fulfill. And sometimes we ask the question, did I sign up for all of this? Right? Like, let’s just be straight about it, right? Did I really sign up for all of this? Okay. You know, what goes on in the background? You know, I have this, come on leaders, let’s get honest, right? You know, the pristine office, and then sometimes the paperwork, the paperwork and review is piled up. on your desk, but then you have all of your team members, then you have your community members coming in your office, and they do not know what’s going on inside that head and that heart to keep it all together. You know, some, right? So some of my people who are operating by PayPal performance grants, some people, you know, who are out there, when you’re looking at your budget, you know, your calendar, you’re waiting for disbursements, and yet things have gone from 30 day to 60 day to six months, ooh, yeah, it went there. Or the contract, right, that was supposed to be, you know, this high six figure or seven figure amount is coming in, what? I only got disbursed at a five figure amount? but the people are still there, and how do you still hold spirit, space, grace, and still the same spark to get the job done? And I have to go here for one more piece too, because the pressure of payroll, Yeah, we’re not, because see, that’s the part that many times, you know, people don’t always recognize whether, you know, whether this may be a leader and leaders listening, I invite you to share this with your team. Because sometimes there’s conversations you might not necessarily know how to have or may want to have because you have to still sustain your position. But your team and the community still needs to know what you manage. to get the job done.

Hugh Ballou:

Transparency, that’s a really underutilized leadership perspective, really. And we think being transparent is being weak, when it’s not. It’s being authentic, isn’t it?

Dr. Wayne “LYTE” Brown:

Yeah. I’m going to throw out this word, vulnerable, right? Yes. Vulnerability. An affirmation that I state is I’m a loving, courageous, vulnerable leader. I’m a loving, courageous, vulnerable leader.

Hugh Ballou:

I say it often. So you worked extensively with youth in underserved communities. What have you learned about unlocking potential in people who face systemic barriers?

Dr. Wayne “LYTE” Brown:

 defines systemic for me so I know exactly where you’re going.

Hugh Ballou:

We grew up in a culture where people say, oh, I taught at an entrepreneurial business conference for years. And the people said, oh, it’s so refreshing to be here, because I have these great ideas. And people in my family say, poo-poo, get a job. So the culture that we’re around, they want to put you down and say, you can’t do that. And so I don’t care where you are, in what society, there’s these systemic barriers that we have anywhere like that.

Dr. Wayne “LYTE” Brown:

Well, you know, you went to the get the job component, goes back to the lane conversation before, it’s the quote unquote employee mindset, you know, verse, that’s what we’ve been conditioned to, right? Competitive versus cooperative entrepreneurial mind. And then from the non-profit aspect, where it gets dicey, because the language is, technically speaking, no individual, i.e. founder or executive director, is not the owner of a non-profit. And now, I’m intentional about the language I’m using here, because Because if you’re not in this world, it doesn’t make sense. And then even if you are in this world and you’re developing yourself here, you’re trying to make sense of it, right? Because you’re here with this service initiative, operating, requiring revenue, yet operating it from a different scope and a different lens. and a different perspective and position. You hear me keep going back to those two P’s. And then when you deal with another P, which is your personal, your personal life, your family, the people that you see every single day, getting like, wow, you’re going to make a difference, but they don’t understand or comprehend the real work that’s required. Like the research, the reaching out.

Hugh Ballou:

Oh, and to tie to your vulnerability piece, it doesn’t mean that you’re whining. It just means that you’re, you’re really honest with yourself first.

Dr. Wayne “LYTE” Brown:

Yes.

Hugh Ballou:

And then you realize there’s limits as any of us have. And, um, we, we tend to think of underserved communities as people that live in inner cities that have poverty all around them and they don’t have opportunities or funding to do some things. But, you know, we, we all live in prisons of our own mind. in their own cultures, don’t we?

Dr. Wayne “LYTE” Brown:

Right. So, we’re going to speak about the other part of systemic aspects real quick on that, right? Because when we start to speak about, again, those three R’s about reasons over result and then revenue, again, most individuals who have actually taken a pledge of service, i.e., again, in the beginning of this interview, I shared, hey, I’m an alumni of of AmeriCorps. I lived off of $172 a week while still putting in 40 hours of service, while I had a mission to then be the individual to break the cycle of poverty, to tell the truth. When you shared you know, when you shared about the imprisonment of the mind, you know, I share this because being vulnerable and honest and transparent, authentic and transparent, right? My mother was incarcerated 34 years out of my life growing up. So to say, I’m going to be the difference or the change, and then not even knowing the word transformation at the time, Anyone that’s listening, I want you to really hear this. There’s a difference between change and transformation. Change means things can revert back. Transformation means, transformation states that it evolves. And that, that’s an essential piece. for leading your enterprise, do you have a transformational clause? Not just a simple, you know, clause for change. And that’s why we see, right, the vicious cycle in our communities, right, the poverty cycle. And then we see, right, in our service initiatives, we see nonprofits that’s been in existence for 50, for 100 years. Now, yet still going through the same struggle cycle, that are beginning, you know, six month pilot to 10 year, right? You know, pivot, you know, position, partnering. So we know the pathways, right? We know this because every nine months per se is our yearly calendar. Although, right, we all operate in this 12 year calendar. So, you know, that’s the part when we speak about the realities of the world of non-profit. You know, if you start in July 1, but then disbursements don’t, you know, don’t, disbursement of funds don’t get released until October.

Hugh Ballou:

Wow. This podcast is going by fast. We got a couple minutes left. So your website is avoidbeingaverage.com. What will people find when they go there?

Dr. Wayne “LYTE” Brown:

You will find an opportunity, an opportunity to To connect with myself and my team, an opportunity for you to enhance your communication by simply starting a journey. You will have the opportunity to connect to then be able to learn a little bit more about yourself as well as some of the tools that you may need personally as well as professionally to uplift your organization.

Hugh Ballou:

And the link will be in the podcast information where you’re listening podcast or on the nonprofitexchange.org site. So as we’re wrapping up here, what daily practices would help leaders make alignment between purpose and results? Just a quick, short summary. What can you challenge people with to align purpose and results?

Dr. Wayne “LYTE” Brown:

So the first piece is a morning page. Shout out to Julia Cameron, Artist’s Way. Morning pages made a difference in my life. And what it does is it’s a fresh start. So it’s a simple exercise. When you first wake up, Julia says, write three pages. For the busy, you know, exec, I invite you to start with one page. Pen to paper, just let the pen flow. Whatever’s there.

Hugh Ballou:

I have read that book many times. I do not remember that part. It’s a priceless book. It’s a priceless book. Ah, it’s so many good things in that. The Artist’s Way, is that it?

Dr. Wayne “LYTE” Brown:

Yeah. Yes, yes. And shout outs to her again, because I always said, Hey, it’s the Urban Artist’s Way because we, everyone does not have the same endurance to do that. That’s why I shared, I said, you know, one page, it’s just pen to pad and letting your mind flow. It may sound even cliche, a fresh glass of water, but it’s really about clearing, making sure that you reset and foot. I always, I give my day over to the creator because walking in purpose and living in purpose of service, can’t do it on my own.

Hugh Ballou:

Dr. Brown, thank you for sharing your wisdom, your passion, and for helping others live their true expression. I think your message reminds us that leadership is an art form, a blend of structure, purpose, and authenticity. For our listeners, our viewers, go to avoidbeingaverage.com. You can learn more about Dr. Brown’s coaching and resources. Remember, reviewing results over reasons doesn’t just apply to revenue. It applies to impact. Until next time, this is Hugh Ballew encouraging you to make a difference in people’s lives because it’s about impacting people’s lives. That’s the work it’s about. Thank you so much, Wayne, for being my guest today.

Dr. Wayne “LYTE” Brown:

Thank you, Hugh. Appreciate it.