One Year Later: How Readers Are Using Unfolded to Lead, Dream, and Grow

A year after the release of Unfolded: Lessons in Transformation from an Origami Crane, one of the most meaningful surprises for Dr. Linda and Brian Schubring has been hearing how readers are carrying the book into their own lives, leadership, and teams.

In this episode of the Leadership Vision Podcast, Nathan Freeburg sits down with Brian and Linda to reflect on the conversations, stories, and moments that have stayed with them over the past year. What emerged wasn’t simply feedback about a book. It was a collection of stories about people rediscovering dreams, navigating change, and finding language for their own unfolding.

When Leaders See Themselves in the Story

One story that stood out came from an executive leader navigating uncertainty and pressure within his organization. After reading Unfolded, he connected deeply with the book’s metaphor of the “playground” — the environments and relationships that shape us.

Rather than trying to change the people around him, he began rethinking how to better understand and work alongside his team members as they already are.

“The most important part of the story was that we are here within this place, this playground, and that we need to learn to work with our team members and not try to change them.”

For Brian and Linda, hearing leaders apply the themes of the book in real organizational settings has been one of the clearest reminders that transformation is rarely theoretical. It happens slowly, relationally, and often in the middle of uncertainty.

Dreams Don’t Expire

Another recurring theme from readers has been the idea of dreams — especially among adults who may have stopped giving themselves permission to dream at all.

Linda shared stories of leaders unexpectedly reconnecting with aspirations they had buried beneath responsibilities, schedules, and expectations. Some readers resonated with the literal theme of flying found throughout the book, while others saw it as a metaphor for possibility, courage, and becoming something new.

“It’s the dreams that make us human.”

The conversation also explored an important reality: dreams often unfold much slower than we want them to. Brian reflected on how real-life transformation rarely follows the clean timeline of a story. Some dreams take years to develop. Others evolve into something entirely different over time.

The Unexpected Impact of the Meditations

One surprise from readers has been the response to the meditations woven throughout Unfolded. Originally intended as moments of pause and reflection inside the story, many readers have begun using them in their daily lives and leadership practices.

Some leaders are opening meetings or retreats with the meditations. Others revisit them personally during seasons of uncertainty or transition.

Linda shared one particularly meaningful story of reading a meditation aloud to a leader stepping into a significant new role. By the end, the leader simply responded: “I think I’m going to read this every day.”

Continuing to Unfold

As the conversation closed, Linda and Brian reflected on some of the phrases readers continue repeating back to them:

“The shape you’re in today isn’t the shape you need to stay.”

“Your life is a map.”

These ideas continue to resonate because they remind us that growth is ongoing. No matter our stage of life or leadership, we are still becoming.

If you’ve read Unfolded, Brian and Linda would love to hear your story — the quotes, metaphors, or moments that stayed with you. And if you haven’t yet explored the book, this episode offers a glimpse into how simple stories can create meaningful transformation long after the final page.