“Daryl Horton’s EQfluence provides a necessary, actionable framework for leaders navigating complex environments. His Six Disciplines offer immediate clarity on how to build cultures rooted in truth and accountability. Highly recommended for anyone serious about leading from the inside out.”

—ASHEESH ADVANI, CEO, Junior Achievement (JA) Worldwide

“People deserve great leadership, and EQfluence challenges every reader to rethink what that truly looks like. Daryl Horton understands that strong, humble, and impactful leadership begins with a deep, honest look within—a case he builds from real-life experience, not theory or supposition. What comes through most is his genuine care, respect, and love for people, and the openness and vulnerability he brings to his own story build trust with the reader. EQfluence reminds us that we grow the most through hard times, and it offers hope that leaders willing to be honest with themselves can not only endure those seasons but also thrive.”

—DAN DYE, retired CEO, Ardent Mills

“EQfluence is an insightful guide that bridges the gap between emotional intelligence and effective leadership, offering practical strategies to strengthen your influence. Horton’s engaging, personal writing makes complex interpersonal dynamics easy to understand and apply.”

—URS KOENIG, former UN peacekeeper and author of Radical Humility: Be a Badass Leader and a Good Human

“Most leadership books tell you what to do. EQfluence shows you who to become. Horton writes with the hard-earned clarity of someone who has led people through high-stakes pressure, and he makes the case, convincingly, that culture rises or falls on the inner work of the leader.”

—DAVID GROSSMAN, founder and CEO of The Grossman Group and bestselling author of The Heart Work of Modern Leadership

“EQfluence names a truth many leaders learn through experience: lasting impact begins with inner alignment. 

Daryl Horton shows that clarity, calm, and presence shape how leaders see situations and how effectively they lead through them. When internal noise settles, leaders respond with greater wisdom, steadiness, and care. 

This is not a book about performance or polish. It's about formation. Leaders who care about people, culture, and sustainable change will recognize the value of this work immediately.”

—ERICKA FOLEY, ClarityWorks LLC, OCM consultant

“EQfluence provides a practical framework for leaders navigating complexity. The Six Disciplines offer a clear approach to building cultures rooted in trust, accountability, and intentional leadership. I highly recommend it to anyone serious about leading from the inside out.”

—GEORGE CHAPPELLE, former president & CEO, Americold Logistics

“Scripture teaches us to guard our hearts because everything we do flows from within. EQfluence applies this timeless truth to leadership, offering practical tools that help leaders develop self-control, steward relationships, and influence others with wisdom and integrity.”

—BRIAN WALLACE, lead pastor, City Connect Church, Fontana, California

“As someone who specializes in emotional intelligence and wrote my doctoral dissertation on this very topic, I can honestly say EQfluence is one of the finest resources I've read on emotional intelligence. Daryl Horton takes a complex, highly scientific subject and translates it into language that is understandable, relatable, and immediately applicable to real leadership and real relationships. This isn't a book to simply read—the reflection questions at the end of each chapter push you to pause, think deeply, and apply what you've learned. Whether you lead a company, a classroom, or a team of one, EQfluence belongs on your bookshelf.”

—DR. REGGIE THOMAS, professional speaker & author

“EQfluence challenges leaders to look somewhere I talk about a lot: within. 

Daryl Horton understands that what shows up in our leadership is rarely just about what we know or what we do. Beneath our decisions, reactions, relationships, and influence is the person we have become. That is where the real work of leadership begins. 

What I appreciate about EQfluence is that it doesn't reduce emotional intelligence to simply being more empathetic or emotionally aware. Horton connects inner clarity, self-governance, intention, identity, discernment, and relational stewardship to the very practical work of leading people. He reminds us that our presence creates conditions—and those conditions affect trust, accountability, connection, and ultimately performance. 

This is not simply a book about becoming a better leader. It is an invitation to examine the person doing the leading.”

—DAVID SATCHELL, author, leadership expert, and coach