In a world oversaturated with leadership mantras and bullet-pointed hacks to success, something strange has happened: the actual work of becoming a leader, of translating aspiration into action, impact into income, purpose into profit, has gotten obscured beneath the noise. There’s no shortage of people selling leadership. But there’s a distinct scarcity of people who are actually living it.

This is where Dr. Rubin Cockrell steps in, cutting through the din not with catchphrases but with a formula sharpened by adversity, reflection, and relentless personal evolution. His equation, I³ = P²™, doesn’t just sound like something you’d write on a whiteboard at a retreat. It’s something you live, breathe, and if you’re doing it right, something you pass on.

I³ = P²™: The Leadership Formula That Holds Up

Let’s unpack the math. Impact + Influence + Incomes = Purpose + Profitable. It’s deceptively simple at first glance, and wildly expansive once you sit with it.

Impact is where it starts. Not the Instagrammable kind, but the kind of real, measurable effect that leaves communities changed and individuals uplifted. “You can impress from afar,” Dr. Cockrell likes to say, “but you impact people’s lives up close.”

Influence follows, not as vanity, but as credibility earned through trust, proximity, and consistency. It’s the soft power that hard-won leadership cultivates. Then comes Income, and here, Dr. Cockrell is unflinching. Income is not the enemy of integrity. It’s the sustainability mechanism that ensures your leadership can grow legs and scale.

On the other side of the equation is Purpose, which is clarity, direction, and conviction in motion. And Profitable, which is less about dollars and more about value, lasting, generative value for yourself, your team, and the communities you serve.

The elegance of the framework is its symmetry. The front half fuels the second. Each component reinforces the others. It’s a living equation, one that bends, adapts, and persists across context.

Not Just For Boardrooms: Leadership in All Its Forms

Dr. Cockrell isn’t pitching theory from a podium. His framework is rooted in everything from mentoring young men of color in reentry programs to consulting with Fortune 500 executives. It’s been tested, not just taught, in universities, nonprofits, government institutions, and high-stakes corporate environments.

The equation resonates because it was built from lived complexity, not borrowed jargon. It doesn’t care about your title, it cares whether you’re accountable. It works if you’re coaching a college student through their first job interview or leading a cross-functional team through a market disruption. The point is that leadership isn’t one-size-fits-all, but it is built from the same durable elements.

Authenticity: The Unteachable X-Factor

The difference between Dr. Cockrell and your average leadership guru is that his credibility wasn’t handed to him, it was earned. The setbacks, the second chances, the deep commitment to “learn to lead yourself before you lead others”  these are not talking points. They’re core tenets of a life shaped by both triumph and tribulation.

And in a space cluttered by surface-level inspiration, that authenticity is magnetic. It’s why his message cuts through cynicism. It’s why justice-impacted communities trust him. It’s why corporations trying to do more than perform inclusion hire him to help rewrite their internal culture.

There’s something radical about saying, “Your past doesn’t define your ceiling.” But when Dr. Cockrell says it, it’s not a platitude. It’s a personal testimony. “Setbacks,” he reminds us, “are setups for comebacks.” T to the 4th power: trials and tribulations create testimonies. That’s math that matters.

Leadership for Now and for What’s Next

Perhaps the most underrated strength of the I³ = P²™ model is how comfortably it lives across generations. It’s not packaged in a way that alienates the old guard or panders to Gen Z. Instead, it’s rooted in a truth that feels transferable. You grow when you stay coachable, grounded, and clear on your values. You lead when you accept the discomfort of growth. You succeed when you stop counting other people’s pockets and start managing your own energy.

Dr. Cockrell practices what he preaches. He carves out “positively selfish” time for reflection and recalibration. He surrounds himself with advisors, not yes-men. He leans into the discomfort that comes with growth, knowing that legacy, not likability, is the end goal.

From Framework to Fulfillment

In the end, I³ = P²™ isn’t about just being better at work. It’s about being more intentional in life. It gives you a structure to measure growth beyond spreadsheets. It tells you where you stand, and more importantly, where you’re headed.

And in a culture addicted to shortcuts and optics, that kind of structure is revolutionary.

Because Dr. Rubin Cockrell isn’t in the business of selling leadership. He’s in the business of proving that it works.

And every day, he lives like it does.

So if you’re tired of frameworks that sound good but don’t do anything, try living this one.
Start with Impact. Stay rooted in Purpose. And see where the equation takes you.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only. The content does not guarantee specific results and should not be construed as professional advice.