A Conversation with Dr. Ken of Nichols Leadership Institute

When I was in high school, I got involved with Habitat for Humanity – from my first build years ago to a recent one Charlie and I volunteered on together, it’s been part of my life since the early days of the iPhone camera.

I currently serve as an Ambassador for Trinity Habitat for Humanity, a title I share with Dr. Kenneth Nichols. He volunteers with a number of local nonprofits, and has dedicated his career to service. After decades spent living on various military bases, he decided to plant roots in Fort Worth. Here, he founded Nichols Leadership Institute to advance the principles of servant leadership in both individuals and institutions. In the conversation below, he shares insight into how his personal values have shaped all aspects of his life.

Being former military, you have lived in several places. Why did you decide to settle in Fort Worth?

I was stationed in eight different places with the Navy, including Fort Worth back in 2009. It was much less populated then, but even today it still feels open with lots of room for it to grow and expand. It has more of a family atmosphere than most other large cities, and there are lots of things to do. Of all the places we lived, we enjoyed Fort Worth the most, so when it came time to settle down, it was the place we wanted to call home.

How did you get involved with Trinity Habitat for Humanity?

Originally, I started volunteering with Habitat for Humanity when I was stationed in Meridian, Mississippi. I would take my kids to serve with me, because I saw it as a great way for us all to learn how to give back to the community — to help it thrive by contributing to its growth and development. I re-engaged with Habitat when I moved back to Fort Worth, and today I serve as a Fort Worth volunteer and ambassador.

Are you involved in any other service organizations?

About two years ago, I got involved with the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where I also serve as an ambassador. It’s been another way for me to meet people and connect with the community, to see where I can help and assist. I attend Mount Olive Baptist Church in Arlington, which partners with grocery stores and food banks to provide food to the hungry. We host a food bank on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and can always use more volunteers.

I’d like to starting a non-profit of my own that focuses on meeting the needs of underserved veterans. Some of their needs are being met, but it’s really hard to help people without meeting them in person at a grassroots level. You might ask, “Why would someone choose to be homeless when they can fill out some paperwork?” But if that person feels worthless or less than, maybe that’s the reason why. It’s hard for people to succeed without resources to support their personal development. It seems simple, but to inspire somebody to be their best is life-changing.

What do you want people to know about your business?

I consider myself a servant leader and lifelong learner, so when I retired from the military, I still wanted to help people. I started Nichols Leadership Institute in affiliation with Leadership Management International in Waco. The goal is to help individuals and organizations reach their full potential to help achieve attitude and behavior changes. We have a Biblically-based, total-person approach that is solidly rooted in principles that have stood the test of time — working on what’s important in life, doing things that matter most, using time management to buy time back, and utilizing it to get results.

All of my programs are action- and application-based. For example, if you said you wanted to buy a home in five years, what do you need to do now to get there then? What I do is hold people accountable, and I do it in a way that depends on who I’m talking to and what they need to do to achieve the results they want. It doesn’t change based on industry — it’s about human connection and understanding that we are all very valuable.

How do you see Nichols Leadership Institute evolving in the future?

Right now I am working with a lot of individuals, and I hope to have the opportunity to work with more organizations in the future. I also want to expand by sharing the resources and techniques I use with more employees. I would love to hire a few veterans and train them to help people to become the best version of themselves. I may not always be the one who can help, but I can certainly point people in the right direction. Ultimately, I want to be able to reach more people and help our community grow even stronger and more vibrant than it is today.

How can people support you?

By referring us! We are a referral business, so it’s all about conversation. Working together has to be a win for both parties, so we don’t charge for an initial consultation, and we guarantee results or your money back.

Dr. Kenneth Nichols
Nichols Leadership Institute
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