VIDEO SUMMARY
Master Your Leadership Journey: Key Steps to Empowerment!
Ready to level up your leadership game? 🚀
Hey there, rockstar! Ever felt like you’re stuck on a hamster wheel at work? 🐹
Well, what if I told you there’s a way to break free from the daily grind and become the leader you were born to be? 🌟
Imagine a world where you’re not just punching the clock but actually making a difference, inspiring others, and feeling fulfilled every single day.
Sound like a dream? It’s not! 😎
We’ve put together some killer strategies to help you unleash your inner boss and transform your work life from meh to magnificent! 💼
From mastering the art of communication to creating a kickass company culture, we’ve got you covered.
So, if you’re tired of the same old routine and ready to kick some leadership butt, buckle up, buttercup! 🚀
Click the link to discover the secrets to becoming the leader everyone wants to follow.
Trust me, you won’t want to miss this! 😉
#LeadershipGoals #BossLife #GameChanger
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Understanding Leadership Perspective
Description:
This step involves adopting a mindset where leaders perceive themselves as serving a greater purpose rather than being the ultimate authority. It emphasizes humility and a sense of responsibility towards a larger cause.
Implementation:
- Shift Perspective: Leaders should view themselves as servants to a greater mission or cause, recognizing that their role is to serve rather than dominate.
- Embrace Humility: Encourage leaders to accept that they are part of something bigger than themselves, fostering a mindset of humility and accountability.
Specific Details:
- Leaders should understand that even when they reach the pinnacle of their organization, they continue to feel subordinate to a higher purpose.
- Emphasize the importance of humility in leadership, where leaders prioritize the mission or cause above personal recognition or power.
Step 2: Embracing Sacrifice for a Purpose
Description:
This step focuses on the willingness to sacrifice personal aspects, such as social life and relationships, for the sake of a larger mission or purpose.
Implementation:
- Identify Sacrifices: Leaders need to recognize and accept the sacrifices required, including social life, intimate relationships, and family time.
- Commitment to Purpose: Encourage leaders to commit to their purpose wholeheartedly, understanding that sacrifices are inevitable in pursuit of a greater goal.
Specific Details:
- Sacrifices may include foregoing social events, intimate relationships, and family time to prioritize the mission or cause.
- Leaders should consciously choose to prioritize their purpose over personal comforts or desires, understanding that commitment comes with sacrifices.
Step 3: Recognizing the Cost of Leadership
Description:
This step highlights the understanding that leadership comes with a cost, whether it’s financial, personal, or in terms of time and energy.
Implementation:
- Acknowledge Costs: Leaders must acknowledge that leadership entails various costs, whether tangible (financial) or intangible (personal sacrifices).
- Decision to Lead: Encourage leaders to make a conscious decision to lead, understanding and accepting the associated costs and responsibilities.
Specific Details:
- Leadership entails costs that may involve financial investments, personal sacrifices, time commitments, and energy expenditures.
- Leaders should weigh the costs and benefits of leadership and make a deliberate choice to pursue their mission despite the sacrifices involved.
Step 4: Committing to Spreading the Message
Description:
This step focuses on the commitment to spreading the mission or message with unwavering dedication, even at personal expense.
Implementation:
- Drive and Determination: Leaders should commit to spreading their message with passion and determination, regardless of personal challenges or obstacles.
- Building Momentum: Encourage leaders to strive for momentum in spreading their message, ensuring its dissemination even in their absence.
Specific Details:
- Leaders should make a conscious commitment to drive their message forward with unwavering passion and dedication.
- Building momentum involves creating a movement where others can also propagate the message, ensuring its continuity and impact beyond the leader’s direct involvement.
Step 5: Fostering Legacy Beyond the Messenger
Description:
This step focuses on the importance of ensuring that a message or mission transcends the individual messenger, emphasizing the enduring impact of the message itself.
Implementation:
- Understanding Legacy: Leaders must recognize that the longevity and impact of their message depend on its ability to outlive them, emphasizing the significance of the message beyond the messenger.
- Inspiration from Messengers: While the messenger serves as an inspiration and guide, the focus should remain on the message itself, which serves as a beacon for future generations.
Specific Details:
- Emphasize historical examples like Martin Luther King Jr., whose message of civil rights endured beyond his lifetime, showcasing the importance of a message transcending its messenger.
- Encourage leaders to look beyond their personal legacy and focus on creating a lasting impact through their message, inspiring future generations to carry it forward.
Step 6: Reflecting on Personal Sacrifices
Description:
This step involves reflecting on personal sacrifices made in pursuit of a greater mission or cause, acknowledging the challenges and trade-offs involved.
Implementation:
- Acknowledging Sacrifices: Leaders should openly acknowledge the sacrifices they’ve made, such as missed opportunities in personal relationships or social engagements, due to their dedication to the mission.
- Acceptance and Gratitude: Encourage leaders to accept their choices and be grateful for the opportunities and experiences they’ve gained, despite the sacrifices made.
Specific Details:
- Leaders should reflect on missed opportunities in personal relationships or social activities due to their commitment to their mission.
- Emphasize the importance of accepting these sacrifices with gratitude, recognizing the transformative experiences gained through dedication to a higher purpose.
Step 7: Embracing Personal Choices and Consequences
Description:
This step emphasizes embracing personal choices and the resulting consequences, focusing on acceptance and commitment to the chosen path.
Implementation:
- Reflection on Choices: Encourage leaders to reflect on their decisions and the outcomes, understanding that every choice comes with both benefits and costs.
- Commitment to Chosen Path: Leaders should reaffirm their commitment to their chosen path, acknowledging both the rewards and challenges it brings.
Specific Details:
- Leaders should reflect on the decisions they’ve made and the consequences, recognizing that every choice involves trade-offs.
- Emphasize the importance of staying committed to their chosen path despite challenges, acknowledging the fulfillment gained from pursuing a meaningful mission.
Step 8: Valuing Sacrifice for a Greater Cause
Description:
This step underscores the value of sacrifice in service of a greater cause, highlighting the significance of dedication and perseverance.
Implementation:
- Recognizing Purposeful Sacrifice: Leaders should recognize the purpose behind their sacrifices and find meaning in dedicating themselves to a greater cause.
- Gratitude for Opportunities: Encourage leaders to express gratitude for the opportunities and experiences gained through their sacrifices, understanding the profound impact of their dedication.
Specific Details:
- Leaders should acknowledge the purpose behind their sacrifices and find fulfillment in contributing to a greater cause.
- Emphasize the importance of gratitude for the transformative experiences gained through dedication, reinforcing the significance of their contributions.
Step 9: Learning from Role Models and Mentors
Description:
This step involves drawing inspiration and wisdom from role models and mentors, leveraging their experiences to inform one’s own journey.
Implementation:
- Seeking Guidance: Encourage leaders to seek guidance and wisdom from experienced individuals who have navigated similar challenges and sacrifices.
- Applying Lessons Learned: Leaders should apply the lessons learned from role models and mentors to their own situations, gaining insights into effective strategies for managing personal sacrifices.
Specific Details:
- Leaders should actively seek out mentors and role models who have experienced similar sacrifices and challenges, learning from their wisdom and experiences.
- Emphasize the importance of applying these lessons to navigate personal sacrifices effectively, ensuring continued growth and resilience on the leadership journey.
Step 10: Balancing Personal Sacrifices with Mission Commitment
Description:
This step involves navigating the challenges of balancing personal sacrifices with a commitment to a greater mission or cause, emphasizing the importance of managing stress and maintaining relationships.
Implementation:
- Acknowledging Sacrifices: Leaders should acknowledge the sacrifices made in pursuit of their mission, recognizing the impact on personal relationships and well-being.
- Prioritizing Health and Relationships: Encourage leaders to prioritize their health and maintain meaningful relationships alongside their professional endeavors, ensuring a balanced approach to life.
- Managing Stress: Provide strategies for managing stress effectively, such as setting boundaries, practicing self-care, and seeking support when needed.
Specific Details:
- Leaders should reflect on the sacrifices made during their journey, acknowledging the toll it may have taken on personal relationships and mental well-being.
- Emphasize the importance of prioritizing health and maintaining relationships to foster a balanced and fulfilling life.
- Provide practical techniques for managing stress, such as mindfulness practices, regular exercise, and seeking professional help if necessary.
Step 11: Reflecting on the Cost of Personal Sacrifices
Description:
This step involves reflecting on the costs and consequences of personal sacrifices made in pursuit of a mission or goal, acknowledging the trade-offs involved.
Implementation:
- Understanding Trade-offs: Encourage leaders to reflect on the trade-offs involved in their personal sacrifices, considering the long-term impact on their well-being and relationships.
- Acceptance and Gratitude: Help leaders cultivate acceptance and gratitude for the experiences gained through their sacrifices, while also acknowledging the lessons learned.
Specific Details:
- Leaders should reflect on the costs and benefits of their sacrifices, recognizing the value gained from their experiences.
- Encourage leaders to accept their choices with gratitude, acknowledging the transformative nature of their journey while also learning from the challenges faced.
Step 12: Creating Boundaries and Prioritizing Well-being
Description:
This step focuses on establishing boundaries and prioritizing personal well-being to prevent burnout and maintain overall health.
Implementation:
- Setting Boundaries: Encourage leaders to set boundaries between work and personal life, ensuring dedicated time for relaxation, hobbies, and social connections.
- Self-Care Practices: Provide guidance on implementing self-care practices, such as mindfulness, exercise, adequate sleep, and healthy eating habits.
Specific Details:
- Leaders should establish clear boundaries to prevent work from encroaching on personal time, fostering a healthy work-life balance.
- Emphasize the importance of self-care practices in maintaining physical and mental well-being, including regular exercise, relaxation techniques, and hobbies.
Step 13: Nurturing Meaningful Relationships
Description:
This step emphasizes the importance of nurturing meaningful relationships alongside professional pursuits, fostering connections that enrich life beyond work.
Implementation:
- Investing in Relationships: Encourage leaders to invest time and effort in nurturing meaningful relationships with family, friends, and loved ones.
- Quality Time: Stress the significance of quality time spent with loved ones, prioritizing genuine connections and shared experiences.
Specific Details:
- Leaders should prioritize spending quality time with loved ones, fostering deep connections and meaningful experiences outside of work.
- Encourage leaders to invest in building and maintaining strong relationships, recognizing the value they bring to overall well-being and fulfillment.
Step 14: Seeking Support and Balance
Description:
This step involves seeking support from peers, mentors, and professionals to navigate the challenges of balancing personal sacrifices with professional commitments.
Implementation:
- Seeking Support Networks: Encourage leaders to seek support from peers, mentors, and professionals who can provide guidance and assistance in managing stress and maintaining balance.
- Open Communication: Foster an environment of open communication where leaders feel comfortable discussing their challenges and seeking assistance when needed.
Specific Details:
- Leaders should actively seek support from trusted individuals who can offer guidance and encouragement during challenging times.
- Emphasize the importance of open communication and vulnerability in seeking assistance and building a support network to navigate personal and professional challenges effectively.
Step 15: Embracing a Holistic Approach to Success
Description:
This step emphasizes the importance of adopting a holistic approach to success, recognizing that fulfillment and achievement extend beyond professional accomplishments.
Implementation:
- Defining Success Holistically: Encourage leaders to define success in terms of overall well-being, fulfillment, and meaningful relationships, rather than solely focusing on career achievements.
- Balancing Priorities: Help leaders prioritize various aspects of their lives, including personal growth, relationships, and professional endeavors, to create a balanced and fulfilling lifestyle.
Specific Details:
- Leaders should redefine success to encompass holistic well-being, acknowledging the importance of personal growth, relationships, and fulfillment alongside professional accomplishments.
- Encourage leaders to strike a balance between different areas of their lives, ensuring that they devote time and energy to pursuits that contribute to their overall happiness and satisfaction.
Step 16: Addressing Work-Life Balance Issues in Organizations
Description:
This step entails addressing work-life balance issues within organizations by focusing on root causes rather than superficial solutions. It emphasizes the role of leadership in creating a supportive and inclusive environment that prioritizes employee well-being.
Implementation:
- Identifying Root Causes: Encourage organizations to identify the root causes of work-life balance issues, such as poor leadership, unrealistic expectations, or a culture of overwork.
- Promoting Leadership Development: Provide leadership development programs to equip managers and executives with the skills and mindset necessary to prioritize employee well-being and foster a healthy work culture.
- Creating Supportive Environments: Foster a supportive environment where employees feel valued, respected, and empowered to voice their concerns about work-life balance.
Specific Details:
- Organizations should conduct thorough assessments to identify underlying factors contributing to work-life imbalance, such as excessive workload, lack of flexibility, or inadequate support systems.
- Leadership development programs should focus on promoting empathy, effective communication, and the importance of work-life balance in creating a positive workplace culture.
- Encourage organizations to implement policies and practices that support work-life balance, such as flexible work arrangements, wellness programs, and clear expectations around workload management.
Step 17: Fostering a Culture of Empathy and Support
Description:
This step emphasizes the importance of fostering a culture of empathy, support, and inclusivity within organizations to address work-life balance issues effectively.
Implementation:
- Promoting Empathy: Encourage leaders and employees to cultivate empathy and understanding towards each other’s personal and professional challenges.
- Providing Support Networks: Establish support networks within the organization, such as employee resource groups or peer mentoring programs, to provide assistance and guidance on work-life balance issues.
Specific Details:
- Leaders should lead by example by demonstrating empathy and understanding towards employees’ work-life balance needs and concerns.
- Establish formal and informal support networks where employees can seek advice, share experiences, and receive support from their peers and colleagues.
Step 18: Implementing Flexible Work Policies
Description:
This step focuses on implementing flexible work policies and practices to accommodate employees’ diverse needs and preferences, thereby promoting work-life balance.
Implementation:
- Flexible Work Arrangements: Offer a range of flexible work options, including remote work, flexible hours, compressed workweeks, and job sharing, to accommodate employees’ individual circumstances.
- Clear Communication: Ensure clear communication of flexible work policies and procedures to all employees, including expectations, guidelines, and available resources.
Specific Details:
- Organizations should assess their current policies and practices to identify opportunities for introducing or expanding flexible work options.
- Provide training and resources to managers and employees on how to effectively manage remote work arrangements and maintain productivity while supporting work-life balance.
Step 19: Promoting Work-Life Integration
Description:
This step emphasizes the concept of work-life integration, where work and personal life are viewed as complementary aspects of a fulfilling lifestyle rather than competing priorities.
Implementation:
- Encouraging Boundary Management: Promote strategies for managing boundaries between work and personal life, such as setting designated work hours, creating dedicated spaces for work and relaxation, and practicing mindfulness techniques.
- Emphasizing Well-being: Prioritize employee well-being by offering wellness programs, mental health resources, and stress management workshops to support holistic health and resilience.
Specific Details:
- Encourage employees to adopt practices that promote work-life integration, such as scheduling regular breaks, engaging in hobbies and interests outside of work, and fostering meaningful connections with family and friends.
- Provide resources and support to help employees navigate the challenges of balancing work and personal life, including access to counseling services, flexible scheduling options, and opportunities for personal development.
Step 20: Evaluating and Adjusting Policies
Description:
This step involves regularly evaluating and adjusting work-life balance policies and practices based on feedback, effectiveness, and changing organizational needs.
Implementation:
- Collecting Feedback: Establish mechanisms for collecting feedback from employees on work-life balance initiatives, such as surveys, focus groups, or suggestion boxes, to identify areas for improvement.
- Continuous Improvement: Use feedback and data to make informed decisions about adjusting policies, procedures, and support programs to better meet the evolving needs of employees.
Specific Details:
- Organizations should foster a culture of continuous improvement by regularly reviewing and updating work-life balance policies and practices based on feedback and emerging trends.
- Encourage open communication and transparency around changes to work-life balance initiatives, soliciting input from employees and stakeholders to ensure their voices are heard and valued.
Step 21: Promoting Work-Life Balance as a Strategic Priority
Description:
This step emphasizes the importance of positioning work-life balance as a strategic priority within the organization, aligning it with broader business goals and objectives.
Implementation:
- Leadership Commitment: Secure buy-in and commitment from senior leadership to prioritize work-life balance as a strategic imperative, demonstrating alignment with organizational values and mission.
- Integration into Business Strategy: Integrate work-life balance considerations into strategic planning processes, performance metrics, and organizational culture to ensure sustained focus and accountability.
Specific Details:
- Leadership should champion work-life balance initiatives and lead by example, modeling behaviors that promote well-being, flexibility, and boundary management.
- Ensure that work-life balance goals and objectives are clearly articulated in organizational plans and initiatives, with dedicated resources and support allocated to their implementation and evaluation.
Step 22: Recognize the Importance of Better Leadership
Description:
Understanding the significance of having better leaders and leadership within organizations is crucial for initiating change.
Implementation:
- Acknowledge the need for improved leadership within your organization.
- Understand that resigning isn’t the only solution when faced with poor leadership.
- Commit to taking action to transform your workplace into the ideal environment.
Specific Details:
- Emphasize the value of investing in leadership development at all levels of the organization.
- Recognize that anyone, regardless of their position, can become a student of leadership.
- Choose to actively support and nurture individuals within the organization to help them grow and become better versions of themselves.
Step 23: Empower Individuals at All Levels
Description:
Empowering individuals at all levels of the organization fosters a culture of collaboration and growth.
Implementation:
- Encourage individuals to take ownership of their roles and responsibilities.
- Provide opportunities for skill development and growth through training programs and mentorship.
- Foster an environment where everyone feels valued and respected.
Specific Details:
- Delegate authority appropriately, allowing individuals to make decisions and contribute to the organization’s success.
- Offer regular feedback and support to help individuals thrive in their roles.
- Create channels for open communication and idea-sharing to empower individuals to contribute to the organization’s goals.
Step 24: Understand the Tribal Nature of Human Behavior
Description:
Recognize the tribal instincts inherent in human behavior and its implications for organizational dynamics.
Implementation:
- Understand that before the advent of corporate jobs, individuals felt a sense of belonging and obligation to their tribes or communities.
- Acknowledge the historical context of human social structures, where people relied on each other for survival and shared resources.
- Recognize that hierarchical structures and leadership roles emerged as populations grew, leading to the development of classes and specialized roles.
Specific Details:
- Emphasize the importance of community and collaboration in traditional societies, where individuals contributed to the collective well-being.
- Understand that hierarchical structures, while beneficial for resource accumulation and societal advancement, can also lead to alienation and disconnection within larger populations.
- Acknowledge the role of leaders in fostering trust and cohesion within the organization by prioritizing the well-being of their team members.
Step 25: Reevaluate Leadership Roles and Responsibilities
Description:
Redefine leadership roles as responsibilities to care for and empower team members rather than exerting authority.
Implementation:
- Shift the focus from positional authority to nurturing relationships and fostering a sense of community.
- Encourage leaders to prioritize the well-being and development of their team members over personal gains.
- Promote a culture of mutual support and collaboration where everyone feels valued and respected.
Specific Details:
- Emphasize the importance of leaders taking risks and demonstrating trustworthiness to establish strong relationships with their team members.
- Encourage leaders to create a circle of safety where team members feel psychologically safe to contribute and innovate.
- Highlight the role of leaders in setting a vision and direction for the organization while actively involving team members in the decision-making process.
Step 26: Embrace Leadership as a Relationship
Description:
View leadership as a dynamic relationship based on trust, mutual respect, and shared responsibility.
Implementation:
- Encourage leaders to lead by example and demonstrate vulnerability to build trust with their team members.
- Foster a culture of open communication and feedback where everyone feels empowered to voice their opinions and ideas.
- Promote a collaborative approach to problem-solving and decision-making, leveraging the diverse perspectives within the team.
Specific Details:
- Encourage leaders to prioritize building strong relationships with their team members over asserting authority.
- Emphasize the importance of empathy and understanding in leadership, where leaders actively listen to their team members’ concerns and perspectives.
- Promote a culture of continuous learning and growth where leaders and team members alike strive to improve and evolve together.
Step 27: Embrace Servant Leadership
Description:
Understand the concept of servant leadership, where leaders prioritize serving a greater cause over asserting authority.
Implementation:
- Recognize that the best leaders see themselves as servants to a larger purpose or vision.
- Encourage leaders to adopt a mindset of humility and service, even at the highest levels of the organization.
- Promote the idea that leadership is about supporting and empowering others rather than controlling them.
Specific Details:
- Encourage leaders to view themselves as stewards of a mission or vision rather than as individuals seeking personal glory.
- Foster a culture where leaders prioritize the well-being and success of their team members above their own ambitions.
- Emphasize the importance of leaders setting an example by demonstrating humility, empathy, and a commitment to serving others.
Step 28: Value Effective Followership
Description:
Recognize the importance of effective followership in organizational success.
Implementation:
- Understand that effective followership is about actively supporting and contributing to the goals and vision set by leaders.
- Encourage a culture where team members feel empowered to voice their ideas and opinions while still supporting the decisions made by leaders.
- Promote a sense of accountability and responsibility among team members to ensure the success of collective efforts.
Specific Details:
- Emphasize the importance of followers actively contributing to the success of the organization by offering ideas, feedback, and support to their leaders.
- Encourage followers to remain committed and engaged even when their ideas are not chosen or when decisions do not align with their preferences.
- Foster a culture where followers take ownership of their roles and responsibilities, understanding that their contributions are essential to achieving organizational goals.
Step 29: Cultivate Humility and Openness to Ideas
Description:
Promote humility and openness to ideas as essential qualities of effective leadership and followership.
Implementation:
- Encourage leaders to remain open to ideas and feedback from their team members, regardless of their position or rank.
- Foster a culture where team members feel empowered to share their ideas and perspectives without fear of judgment or reprisal.
- Promote a collaborative approach to decision-making where leaders and followers work together to find innovative solutions to challenges.
Specific Details:
- Highlight the importance of humility in leadership, where leaders acknowledge their limitations and actively seek input from others to make informed decisions.
- Encourage leaders to create a safe and inclusive environment where all voices are heard and valued, regardless of hierarchy or status.
- Emphasize the role of leaders in setting the tone for open communication and collaboration by actively soliciting input and feedback from their team members.
Step 30: Embrace the Power of Mutual Support
Description:
Recognize the role of mutual support and service in building confidence and overcoming doubt.
Implementation:
- Understand that genuine confidence often comes from serving others and helping them succeed.
- Encourage individuals to offer support and assistance to those around them, fostering a culture of mutual care and empowerment.
- Emphasize the reciprocal nature of confidence-building through acts of service and support.
Specific Details:
- Encourage individuals to seek opportunities to support and uplift others, whether through mentoring, coaching, or simply offering a helping hand.
- Highlight the transformative power of genuine service and the positive impact it can have on both the giver and the receiver.
- Foster a community where individuals feel valued and supported, knowing that their contributions make a difference in the lives of others.
Step 31: Focus on Building Trust
Description:
Understand the importance of trust in building confidence and overcoming doubts.
Implementation:
- Recognize that trust is built through mutual respect, honesty, and reliability in relationships.
- Encourage individuals to prioritize building trust with others through open communication, transparency, and consistent follow-through on commitments.
- Promote a culture of trust where individuals feel safe to share their vulnerabilities and seek support when needed.
Specific Details:
- Emphasize the role of trust in fostering meaningful connections and collaborations within teams and communities.
- Encourage individuals to demonstrate trustworthiness by honoring their promises, maintaining confidentiality, and acting with integrity in all interactions.
- Highlight the reciprocal nature of trust-building, where individuals who trust and support each other are more likely to receive support and encouragement in return.
Step 32: Practice Genuine Care and Empathy
Description:
Understand the importance of genuine care and empathy in building confidence and overcoming doubts.
Implementation:
- Encourage individuals to cultivate empathy and compassion towards themselves and others, recognizing that everyone struggles at times.
- Promote a culture of care and support where individuals feel seen, heard, and valued for who they are.
- Provide opportunities for individuals to practice active listening, empathy, and kindness in their interactions with others.
Specific Details:
- Emphasize the power of genuine care and empathy in creating a supportive environment where individuals feel safe to express themselves and seek help when needed.
- Encourage individuals to offer support and encouragement to others, even in small gestures, such as a listening ear or a kind word.
- Highlight the positive impact of caring relationships and supportive communities in building resilience and confidence in the face of challenges.
Step 33: Reflect on Personal Growth and Contribution
Description:
Encourage individuals to reflect on their personal growth and contributions to others as a source of confidence and fulfillment.
Implementation:
- Provide opportunities for individuals to reflect on their strengths, accomplishments, and the positive impact they have had on others.
- Encourage individuals to celebrate their progress and achievements, no matter how small, and to recognize the value of their contributions to others.
- Foster a culture of gratitude and appreciation where individuals feel acknowledged and valued for their efforts and contributions.
Specific Details:
- Encourage individuals to keep a journal or gratitude log where they can record moments of personal growth, success, and acts of kindness towards others.
- Provide opportunities for individuals to share their reflections and experiences with others, fostering a sense of community and connection.
- Highlight the importance of ongoing self-reflection and personal development in building confidence, resilience, and a sense of purpose in life.
Step 34: Understanding the Win-Win Philosophy
Description:
This step involves comprehending the concept of win-win and its implications in various aspects of life, including relationships, competitions, and goals.
Implementation:
- Define Win-Win: Understand that a win-win situation implies mutual benefit or positive outcomes for all parties involved.
- Apply to Different Areas: Recognize that the win-win approach extends beyond individual success to include collective well-being, such as in personal relationships, competitions, and endeavors.
- Shift from Zero-Sum Mentality: Acknowledge that life is not a zero-sum game where one person’s gain necessitates another’s loss. Embrace the idea that cooperation and collaboration can lead to shared victories.
Specific Details:
- Winning in life doesn’t always mean someone else has to lose; it’s about finding solutions that benefit everyone involved.
- Embrace the mindset that success can be achieved through cooperation rather than competition alone.
- Understand that fostering win-win relationships often leads to greater long-term satisfaction and success compared to short-term gains from unilateral victories.
Step 35: Reevaluating Notions of Success
Description:
This step involves reassessing traditional notions of success based on individual achievement and competition.
Implementation:
- Challenge the Notion of Being Number One: Question the societal emphasis on being the best or winning at all costs, whether in personal relationships, careers, or competitions.
- Explore Team Dynamics: Understand the dynamics of individual success versus teamwork, particularly in competitive environments such as sports or business.
- Recognize the Limitations of Individual Achievement: Realize that achieving individual success, such as winning Olympic gold, may not guarantee long-term fulfillment and can lead to issues like depression.
Specific Details:
- Reflect on the experiences of athletes and individuals who have reached the pinnacle of success but still feel unfulfilled.
- Consider the impact of societal pressure to excel individually versus the benefits of collaboration and cooperation.
Step 36: Committing to a Healthy Lifestyle
Description:
This step involves making a commitment to lead a healthy lifestyle by incorporating habits such as exercise, sufficient sleep, and mindful eating.
Implementation:
- Set Realistic Goals: Establish achievable and realistic health goals, considering factors such as current fitness level, dietary habits, and time constraints.
- Create a Routine: Develop a consistent daily routine that includes regular exercise sessions, adequate sleep duration, and balanced nutrition.
- Track Progress: Monitor your progress towards health goals by tracking metrics such as weight loss, improved fitness levels, and overall well-being.
Specific Details:
- Start small and gradually increase the intensity and duration of physical activity to avoid burnout or injury.
- Prioritize quality sleep by maintaining a consistent sleep schedule and creating a conducive sleep environment.
- Focus on nourishing your body with nutrient-rich foods while being mindful of portion sizes and food choices.
- Use tools such as fitness apps, wearable devices, or journaling to track your exercise routine, sleep patterns, and dietary intake.
Step 37: Embracing an Infinite Mindset
Description:
This step involves adopting an infinite mindset characterized by continuous growth, adaptation, and a focus on long-term sustainability.
Implementation:
- Shift from Finite to Infinite Goals: Transition from finite, measurable goals to embracing a mindset focused on lifelong learning, improvement, and resilience.
- Prioritize Sustainable Practices: Emphasize sustainable habits and behaviors that contribute to overall well-being, rather than solely chasing short-term outcomes.
- View Setbacks as Learning Opportunities: Reframe setbacks or missed milestones as opportunities for reflection, learning, and adjustment, rather than as failures.
Specific Details:
- Understand that health and well-being are ongoing journeys rather than finite destinations, requiring constant effort and adaptation.
- Cultivate a mindset of curiosity, openness to change, and willingness to experiment with different approaches to health and fitness.
- Foster a sense of self-compassion and acceptance, recognizing that progress may not always be linear and that setbacks are a natural part of the journey towards health and vitality.
Step 38: Incorporating Personal Experiences into Work
Description:
This step involves integrating personal experiences and insights gained from the book into one’s professional endeavors, particularly in the context of leadership and organizational culture.
Implementation:
- Reflect on Personal Insights: Take time to reflect on how the concepts and ideas from the book resonate with your own experiences and beliefs, particularly in relation to leadership and workplace dynamics.
- Apply Learnings to Work: Identify practical ways to apply the principles of trust, collaboration, and continuous improvement discussed in the book to enhance teamwork, communication, and overall organizational culture.
- Share Insights with Others: Share your learnings and insights with colleagues, peers, or subordinates to foster dialogue and encourage collective learning and growth.
Specific Details:
- Consider how your own journey and challenges with confidence, trust, and leadership align with the themes discussed in the book.
- Look for opportunities to implement strategies for creating a more inclusive, supportive, and empowering work environment based on the principles outlined in the book.
- Use storytelling and personal anecdotes to convey the importance of fostering a culture of trust, collaboration, and purpose-driven work within your organization.
Step 39: Taking Action as a Leader
Description:
This step involves identifying actionable steps that leaders can take to cultivate a more inclusive, empowering, and purpose-driven work environment.
Implementation:
- Build Trust and Empowerment: Prioritize building trust and empowering team members by delegating responsibilities, providing autonomy, and fostering open communication channels.
- Promote Continuous Learning: Encourage a culture of continuous learning and development by providing resources, support, and opportunities for skill-building and personal growth.
- Lead by Example: Demonstrate the values and behaviors associated with an infinite mindset, such as resilience, adaptability, and a commitment to long-term goals, through your own actions and decisions.
Specific Details:
- Implement regular feedback mechanisms, such as one-on-one meetings or anonymous surveys, to solicit input from team members and address concerns or suggestions for improvement.
- Foster a sense of belonging and purpose by articulating a compelling vision and mission for the organization and ensuring that everyone understands their role in achieving it.
- Recognize and celebrate individual and team achievements, emphasizing the collective impact of collaborative efforts and shared successes.
Step 40: Investing in Leadership Development
Description:
This step involves taking proactive measures to invest in leadership development within the organization, leveraging existing resources and fostering a culture of continuous learning and growth.
Implementation:
- Utilize Existing Resources: Leverage internal talent and enthusiasm for leadership development by empowering employees who are already engaged in reading books, watching talks, and listening to podcasts to lead development initiatives.
- Encourage Self-Directed Learning: Encourage individuals to take ownership of their own leadership development by engaging in self-directed learning activities such as reading books, watching talks, and participating in discussion groups.
- Facilitate Peer-Led Development: Facilitate peer-led development sessions where employees can share insights, discuss key concepts, and support each other’s growth and development as leaders.
Specific Details:
- Create a leadership development program that utilizes a blend of formal training sessions, informal learning opportunities, and peer-to-peer mentoring to foster holistic growth and development.
- Provide resources and support for employees to access leadership-related content, such as books, podcasts, online courses, and workshops.
- Foster a culture of continuous improvement by recognizing and celebrating individuals who actively engage in leadership development activities and contribute to the growth and development of their peers.
Step 41: Embracing Rivalry over Competition
Description:
This step involves shifting from a mindset of competition to one of rivalry, where competitors are viewed as opportunities for growth and improvement rather than threats to be defeated.
Implementation:
- Identify Dignified Rivals: Identify competitors or industry players who demonstrate excellence in their field and serve as worthy rivals that inspire growth and improvement.
- Learn from Competitors: Study the strengths and successes of competitors to identify areas for improvement and innovation within your own organization.
- Embrace Collaboration: Look for opportunities to collaborate with competitors or industry peers to address common challenges, share best practices, and drive collective growth and innovation.
Specific Details:
- Foster a mindset of curiosity and openness towards competitors, recognizing that their successes can serve as valuable learning opportunities for your own organization.
- Encourage a culture of continuous improvement by leveraging insights gained from observing competitors to inform strategic decision-making and drive innovation.
- Emphasize the importance of collaboration and partnership within the industry ecosystem, recognizing that collective success is often achieved through cooperation rather than competition.
Step 42: Identify Worthy Rivals
Description:
Identify individuals and organizations that excel in areas where you seek improvement.
Implementation:
- Evaluate colleagues and competitors in your industry and beyond to pinpoint those who outperform you or your organization.
- Consider factors such as leadership, product development, sales, design, or any other relevant aspect of performance.
- Be honest in your assessment and focus on recognizing excellence rather than feeling threatened by it.
Specific Details:
- Look for individuals and organizations that demonstrate superior skills, expertise, or outcomes in specific areas of interest.
- Research industry reports, market analysis, or professional networks to identify potential rivals.
- Document observations regarding their strengths and achievements to inform your improvement strategy.
Step 43: Learn from Rivals
Description:
Study and learn from the practices and successes of identified rivals to extract valuable insights for personal or organizational growth.
Implementation:
- Analyze the strategies, methodologies, and approaches employed by your rivals to achieve their success.
- Seek opportunities to observe their actions, whether through direct interaction, case studies, or publicly available information.
- Embrace a mindset of curiosity and openness to new ideas and perspectives.
Specific Details:
- Engage in active listening during interactions with rivals to glean firsthand insights into their processes and decision-making.
- Utilize online resources, industry conferences, or networking events to expand your knowledge of rival practices.
- Take note of specific tactics, techniques, or innovations that could be adapted or implemented within your own context.
Step 44: Embrace Finite Games
Description:
Acknowledge the value of competition and the excitement it brings while maintaining a focus on sustainable growth and improvement.
Implementation:
- Embrace the competitive spirit inherent in finite games, recognizing the thrill and motivation it can provide.
- Balance the pursuit of short-term victories with a long-term commitment to continuous improvement and development.
- Cultivate a mindset that values progress over perfection and views setbacks as opportunities for learning and refinement.
Specific Details:
- Emphasize the enjoyment and engagement derived from participating in competitive endeavors, whether in business or personal pursuits.
- Strive for a balanced approach that prioritizes both short-term wins and long-term sustainability.
- Foster a culture within your organization that celebrates effort, resilience, and progress over mere outcomes.
Step 45: Imagine Your Last Day
Description:
Visualize your final day on Earth and contemplate the legacy you wish to leave behind.
Implementation:
- Reflect on your achievements and envision the fulfillment of your life’s aspirations, including family, relationships, business endeavors, and impact on the world.
- Acknowledge the impermanence of material possessions and recognize the enduring significance of personal truths and lessons.
- Embrace the notion of carrying essential truths with you beyond life’s physical constraints, shaping your legacy and influence.
Specific Details:
- Consider the values, principles, and beliefs that define your existence and contemplate their lasting impact on future generations.
- Explore the concept of leaving behind a meaningful legacy that transcends material possessions and encompasses profound insights and wisdom.
- Embrace the opportunity to distill your life’s experiences into fundamental truths that can guide and inspire others long after you’re gone.
Step 46: Identify Three Truths
Description:
Articulate three profound truths or lessons derived from your life experiences that you believe hold universal significance.
Implementation:
- Reflect on your life journey and identify key insights, epiphanies, or learnings that have profoundly shaped your perspective.
- Select three truths that resonate deeply with you and encapsulate essential principles for living a purposeful and fulfilling life.
- Consider the potential impact of these truths on others and their relevance as guiding principles for navigating life’s challenges and opportunities.
Specific Details:
- Delve into personal anecdotes, transformative moments, or significant milestones that have contributed to your understanding of these truths.
- Articulate each truth with clarity and conviction, ensuring they resonate with authenticity and authenticity.
- Consider how these truths can serve as beacons of wisdom for future generations, offering guidance and inspiration in times of uncertainty.
Step 47: Embrace Greatness
Description:
Commit to a life of purpose, service, and relentless pursuit of a vision larger than yourself.
Implementation:
- Embrace a sense of purpose that transcends personal ambition and encompasses a commitment to serving others and making a meaningful impact on the world.
- Cultivate empathy, compassion, and generosity in your interactions with others, prioritizing their well-being and growth.
- Dedicate your efforts and resources to advancing a noble cause or vision that aligns with your values and aspirations.
Specific Details:
- Start by clarifying your sense of purpose and aligning your actions with principles of service and contribution.
- Foster meaningful connections and relationships built on trust, respect, and mutual support.
- Embrace the challenges and uncertainties inherent in pursuing greatness, recognizing that the journey itself is a testament to your courage and resilience.
COMPREHENSIVE CONTENT
Leadership and Sacrifice
The best leaders never think they are the end, that the responsibility rests upon them. They always believe they are in service of something greater than themselves, even if they are the leader. The person in a leadership position reaches the top of any organization and still feels subordinate to something even greater.
Sacrifices for a Purpose
We sacrificed social life, meaning intimate relationships as well as friendships, family life. What does that mean when you discover this thing called ‘the why’? Because I realized that its power had a remarkable influence on my life, and I love sharing it with you. You know what it feels like, the tension of sharing ideas, it hasn’t disappeared, it obsesses me. And I understood that I was the only spokesperson for it, and it was at a time when people now talk about purpose and business as if it wasn’t a big deal, back then it just wasn’t the big idea. You were saying they were talking about it, they were some weird hippies, it still wasn’t mainstream, and so I realized the power of the idea and made the conscious decision that I was going to — everything has a cost, nothing is free, whether it’s a cost of money or personal life or time or energy, whatever it is, everything costs something, and so I made the decision that I was going to put myself out there and I was going to drive this message as hard as I could. I made a deal with myself that I was going to drive with forces until I gained momentum, and I define momentum as if I give less energy the message would still spread just as fast or faster without me, in other words, building a movement where other people could spread the message as well.
And the sacrifice I made was not being at home, and so for a long period of time, I couldn’t go out, I met someone incredible and she was like, oh my god, I had a good time, are you free for a second date in six weeks’ time to go out with me here? Also, when I come back home from a trip, I’m exhausted, so I just want to stay home, so I knew that this was happening, and the good thing is that momentum is like it has its own momentum, and so now I’m fulfilling my deal and instead of slowing down the mountain, I’m actually on the road itself, so now it’s taking better and different shapes to spread the message, and I understand the internet is more mature, and podcasting is a thing, social media is more mature, there are other avenues through which I can continue spreading the message without having to be there. You have to be on your floor, but I like going out because I prefer to connect with people one-on-one. Well, you’re very talented in what you do, and I mean, I’ve seen you speak, I think it was at Archangel, I was going to put my foot in my mouth near Nelson, and they get people to speak there, we did some Q&A, and it was like the best performance of the whole program, you have an incredible message when you speak, so it’s probably difficult for you to be like well, nobody can say it like me, nobody has the experience that I’ve had learning from all these great leaders to tell this story, and maybe that’s a bit proud and challenging to say thank you, I’m a big believer that if a message has value, it has to be simple, understandable, and repeatable, yes, because if I can do it consistently, it means someone else can understand it, and if someone else can understand it, it means they can repeat it without you being present and without reading the words from a book, so my goal has always been when it’s me who’s on stage, when it’s me who’s on camera, to try to present the ideas I have in such a simple way that someone can understand and internalize them and repeat these same ideas in their own words, and it’s very kind of you to say that, but I would feel like it would be a very weak movement if I were the only one who could talk about it, yes, yes, so what importance does the messenger have to the message? Well, I think the messenger of course matters, but a message must be bigger than the messenger, otherwise, the whole message would die with the messenger, civil rights would have ended when Martin Luther King was killed, but clearly it wasn’t like that because the message was bigger than the messenger, but we look to the messenger to inspire us and point us towards a distant destination in the future, an idealized and achievable vision of the future, and we take that vision and make it our own and dedicate our efforts and energies to building it. If there’s something you regret in the last decade since you’ve been building the movement and the momentum of the movement with your personal life, if of course, I mean, of course you want to share, I mean, of course, where people could say seriously that could have been a great relationship or great friendship, the people you really connect with, my true friends who stuck with me through everything, even now some people have told me and they have been.
Reflections on Sacrifice and Regret
It’s like a blow to me that you’re too busy to go out, and the reality is that busy people are patient with busy people, so it seems to continue if that was the case. The truth is that we make time for the things that matter to us, yes. And of course, I regret it, but regret is not — I wouldn’t use the word regret, of course, there are things I missed out on, but you make a decision and I’m very happy with that decision and I stick to the choice because not only have I had the opportunity and the incredible experience of spreading this message and seeing it grow and be bigger than me, but I’ve had the opportunity to live an absolutely surreal life thanks to it, my life changed direction profoundly and it’s not fair to compare those things, they’re not the same, everyone with straight hair wants curly hair and everyone with curly hair wants straight hair at least once, and I know people who have stability in life and look at my life and it’s like oh my god, I wish I had that, and you look at my life and I’m bouncing all over the place, and the answer is that I’m very grateful for the life I live, so no regret is not the word I would use, but there was a price and a cost, there’s a price and a cost that I willingly assumed.
Lessons from Robert Greene
It’s interesting, do you know Robert Greene, the author of the 48 Laws of Power? Oh yes, I know those books, all those books, he came when was that, Tiffany, about six months ago, a year maybe, the last book I’m forgetting the name of the last book it’s probably up there somewhere, but he came, he came here and had a stroke right before his book was released and he came about a month after the stroke, it took him about 15 minutes to get from the door to be able to sit here and half of his body was essentially paralyzed, and he’s sitting here and we could barely see half of his body, he’s very slow, and it took him about 4 years to write this book and I said do you think this book was the cause of the stroke? He said yes because I obsessed too much with the message and I said do you regret putting out this book and putting so much effort into it? I would do it differently without the stroke and he said no I wouldn’t do it any other way, I’m willing to sacrifice this for the message, I thought that was very — I don’t know if I would go that far, I mean if you could go back and do it differently and bounce back a bit but he said I love this job and the message that’s how important it is to me.
I don’t understand when I wrote Leaders Eat Last it’s the book on leadership and the nights and weekends were a fantasy it became an obsession it was like a beautiful mind I used to have a magic marker not a magic marker a dry erase marker in my bathroom so that if I was in the shower and I had an idea as soon as I got out of the shower I would write on the tiles and I would stop and brush my teeth in the morning and at night and read one of the notes that I had written on the tiles and I had another idea and you’d walk into my bathroom the trays were full of ideas I mean it was really insane yet it was fun but I lost two relationships over the course of this book yes because I wasn’t myself I was stressed and I was short as soon as I finished the book I’m still friends with one of my ex-girlfriends that I was dating and while I was writing that book she only met me in that period and she knows me now and she says this is better I know you’re less stressed but I would have changed not that those sacrifices would have been good for those relationships to last but the book the message is bigger than me but there’s no way to convey a message at the same time and take care of your health and have any relationship with someone if again these are parts of learning how to do it’s learning and look I couldn’t write a book all the time the only consolation is that even though that book took two years it’s done and I don’t want to do it again it’s a finite game and it’s a finite game and it also had its moments but there’s a light at the end of the tunnel it’s finite actually I think it’s a much more reasonable and manageable lifestyle than what I think a lot of people actually live where they work in an organization where their leaders are operating with a
Reflections on Work-Life Balance
Limited mindset, but different with me. The book ends, and I end. At the end of the quarter, at the end of the year, work doesn’t end, business doesn’t end, it goes on and on. I think that’s much more tannin when you’re literally on a hamster wheel all the time, you have ups and downs but it doesn’t stop. I think that’s much more tannin.
You mean the employees of a company itself?
Yes, yes, so there should be a finite end for employees.
No, no, no, what I’m saying is that the company needs to operate in a way that cares more about its people and these arbitrary and limited things that are not the end of everything nor will it be everything and create an environment where there are moments of stress but not constant stress all day, every day, in every day of our lives. What we know has contributed to the increase in cancer, diabetes, and heart diseases, that is, our jobs are literally killing us. So I think the problem is not the small explosions of stress.
The life I lead is actually quite healthy, I think. It’s the constant drip of cortisol when you go to a job where we don’t believe our bosses care about us and the company doesn’t care about us, and they have annual rounds of layoffs to balance the books every year, they see you as a number, and then the company has the audacity to say millennials are not loyal, it’s a joke, it’s like they’ve entered a workforce where they’re only treated as disposable commodities. Why should they give you loyalty? Show a little loyalty to your people, and you’ll be surprised how it comes back to you. So I think this is a much more damaging environment, and that’s law or I fight I’m making myself clear right now so I don’t think what I’m doing is really harmful I think it’s small explosions of stress that’s how momentum is built, and it’s more here for everything over a period of time to build something like for example a rocket which takes I believe almost 50% more than 50% of its fuel in the first mile of launch.
Yes, and then it can handle the momentum for a year. Momentum is something it’s amazing to go from 0 to being underway it’s impressive it’s all the energy if you’ve ever gotten out of bed to go to the gym that’s more it’s harder even though being there is so difficult getting up and putting on your shoes you talk a little about how there’s a whole industry around work-life balance as a choice it’s like there’s a massive industry that’s trying to teach this and help people with work-life balance it seems to be failing right treating the symptoms is like many things in our life so here’s a bad analogy we buy running shoes and they really thick you know they have this you have very thick and a lot of padding in the heel but that’s because people don’t know how to run we land on the heel which is bad for our joints we’re not supposed to have and a bit you’re supposed to support the toes and have your knees always bent you know that so instead of teaching people how to run what we do is build shoes with more padding in the heel and treat the symptom instead of the cause and I think it’s the same we treat the symptoms instead of the cause so the work-life balance what we’re doing is instead of changing business and changing the way a business operates and changing the way we teach leaders to operate with an infinite mindset so that we naturally have work-life balance let’s be clear about what work-life balance means more yoga doesn’t create work-life balance that’s necessary the padding in the shoe month is the padding in the shoe right in the balances that I feel safe at home I don’t feel safe at work that’s the imbalance and no amount of yoga or vacation time will fix that what fixes that imbalance between work and life is higher quality leadership in our companies and then what you’ll find is the balance but instead what we do is we have the whole industry that’s treating the symptom that’s putting padding in the shoes to make us feel that for an hour I’ve achieved balance yes but it’s only for an hour and we literally market companies that market themselves as helping to provide your work-life balance unless you’re teaching the leaders who are my bosses that you’re not helping me achieve work-life balance you’re helping me numb the pain you’re helping me cushion the blow so when companies have a lunch buffet every day sleeping in exercise rooms or when they have therapists they’re treating the symptoms or are they actually about creating a safer environment overall it depends on the company if the company is well-led then it’s part of a larger scheme and if the company is more led then it’s disguising its failures you and I have visited companies that are magnificent and there’s a company where I think their corporate kitchen the cafeteria the food the food is amazing you never want to leave but it’s amazing for us as visitors it’s amazing they’re numbing themselves with it and I don’t know any person who turns down a job offer because the food here is so good it doesn’t exist but I know a lot of people who turn down job offers because I love working here I love my boss I feel part of something.
Reflections on Leadership and Responsibility
Your office is nicer than the one I work in, yes, and your food is better than what they give me, but I want to work at Kelvis to get more free time or whatever it is, true, whatever it is. In other words, the feeling of interesting to come to work is much more important. Now, of course, those things are nice, I’m not going to say those things aren’t nice, but those things aren’t what make us real, those aren’t the things that make us feel like we belong to something bigger than ourselves, those are just very nice things. So, whose responsibility is it for a leader of a company to create a sense of safety, a feeling that something bigger is happening here, a feeling of psychological safety and belonging or I just want to be part of this brand, of this mission because it’s something bigger than me, even though maybe elsewhere there are better opportunities for food, gym or whatever it is. Is a person from the company responsible? Is it the responsibility of the executive team? It’s everyone’s responsibility to create that if it’s more efficient when it comes from above, but it’s anyone’s responsibility. Leadership is a responsibility to the people around us, it’s not a rank. Have you heard me say this before? With many people who sit at the highest levels of organizations and who are not leaders, they have authority and we do what they tell us because they have authority over us, but if they don’t lead, we don’t follow them. And I know many people like you who sit at lower levels of organizations and who have no formal authority and who have made the decision to take care of the people who are on their left and to take care of the people who are on their right. We trust them, and we would follow them anywhere. In other words, leadership can come from anywhere in an organization. We have the right to demand better leaders and better leadership in our companies, but when we don’t have it, quitting isn’t the only option, and neither is just letting ourselves be. To undertake the task of becoming the place we would like to have, or anyone at any level can become a student of leadership, and anyone at any level can choose to take care of that person and that one, and work tirelessly to see them rise, to become better versions of themselves, and to show up to work inspired and go home feeling fulfilled and safe when they’re at work thanks to us. And even though the organization itself is dysfunctional, there are diamond pockets in the coal mine, and if you get enough of those pockets, the power can be controlled by those who don’t have it. So that’s the great irony of all this, that power belongs to the people. This is a truth in front of the lodge of power. There’s always for that reason, dictators dedicate themselves to being crowds to give the appearance of being popular or they make false elections to give the appearance of having a mandate. Dictators do that, right? If the people didn’t have the power, dictators wouldn’t need riots or elections. And indeed, dictators fear the people, it’s true, because the people have the power in any population and in any organization. And what keeps dictators, bad leaders, and authorities in power is keeping the people divided because if you can create distrust among neighbors, then the people will never be able to unite and will never be able to overthrow the leader. And so if you look at any dictatorship that has existed, there are systems. Look at East Germany during the Cold War. We didn’t know who was dealing with us, so everyone stayed away and nobody trusted anybody, neighbors didn’t trust neighbors, and that allows authoritarian organizations to do whatever they want. When the people unite, it’s not the Congress that stood up one day and decided the Civil Rights Act, that’s a fairly idea. It was thousands and thousands and thousands of people marching in peaceful protests that exerted incredible pressure for the system to change. And everything that has happened in the world where there has been a revolution or an evolution did not happen this way. If people always have the power, and that’s very true also in business, people have the power, and so if we have mass layoffs on an annual basis, you create internal competition, what you’re doing will pit people against people, especially if you create a system where we only incentivize based on performance.
Work Environment and Tribal Dynamics
In an organization, such as a sales team, where individual incomes are directly tied to sales performance, there’s a tendency to maintain a sense of separation among individuals. Keeping people divided sustains the existing system. However, when people come together, positive things happen.
I strongly believe that those of us who advocate for a better corporate environment, those who believe that saying “I love my job” is a right rather than a privilege reserved for a few fortunate ones, are onto something profound. Loving one’s job shouldn’t be akin to winning a lottery, where only a select few can exclaim their satisfaction. It’s a fundamental entitlement bestowed upon us by a higher power.
Why does this happen? Because humans are inherently tribal creatures. We all crave inspiration; we all desire to be part of something bigger than ourselves. We seek a sense of physical and psychological security, whether at home or at work. We fear war, we fear crime, and we yearn for psychological safety. At the end of the day, every human being on this planet wants to feel capable of providing for themselves and their families.
Importance of Work and Tribal Culture
There’s nobility in work, a clarity that cuts through the ego. There’s a sense of accomplishment in putting in a hard day’s work and receiving acknowledgment for it. Being valued as a significant member of the tribe reinforces positive behavior. Before the era of corporate jobs, people worked within their families, within tribes. For the majority of human history, we lived in communities, not conglomerates.
Evolution of Social Structures
Anthropological evidence suggests that for the majority of human existence, we lived in groups no larger than 150 individuals. We distributed wealth within these tribes, even the best cuts of meat were shared among the tribe rather than hoarded by the strongest or most dominant individuals. We accepted hierarchy; we respected our elders. There was a shared sense of sacrifice and mutual dependence.
Transition to Agriculture and Social Stratification
Around 10,000 to 12,000 years ago, with the advent of agriculture, we no longer needed to wander. We could settle and support larger populations. This led to the emergence of ruling classes, intelligence specialization, and philosophical contemplation. However, the scale of these societies broke down the inherent cohesion of smaller tribes. Humans are not naturally suited to living in large populations.
Leadership and Responsibility
In larger groups, leadership becomes crucial. Leaders are not just responsible for giving orders; they’re responsible for nurturing those under their care, ensuring they, in turn, look after others. When frontline workers feel supported and valued, they’re more willing to contribute. Leadership isn’t about asserting authority; it’s about fostering a sense of belonging and responsibility.
In conclusion, the effectiveness of any organization depends on its ability to replicate the dynamics of smaller tribal communities within a larger structure. When everyone feels cared for and empowered, the collective thrives.
Leadership and Trust
The relationship between leaders and their subordinates is often distant. It’s always “the colonel,” never “our colonel.” There’s a lack of connection. However, when leaders take emotional ownership of their positions, it signals mutual trust and commitment.
Risk and Leadership
Leadership isn’t just about authority; it’s about taking risks and building trust. Leaders aren’t called such because of their rank; they’re leaders because they take the risk of trusting first. They create a circle of safety, venture into the unknown, and embody the vision.
Responsibility and Followership
The best leaders are also the best followers. They believe in serving something greater than themselves, even if they hold top positions within an organization. This mindset fosters a culture of responsibility and dedication.
Good Leadership and Followership
Effective leaders and followers complement each other. While leaders provide direction, followers support and contribute to the success of the vision. It’s essential to respect the decisions made by leaders and wholeheartedly support their implementation.
Humility in Leadership
True humility lies in being open to others’ ideas, regardless of one’s position or expertise. It’s not about downplaying one’s abilities but rather about recognizing the value in others’ contributions and maintaining a curious attitude towards new ideas.
Confidence and Humility
Confidence is healthy; believing oneself to be better than others is not. Humility is not about self-deprecation but about acknowledging one’s strengths while remaining open to learning from others.
Developing Self-Confidence
Self-confidence develops through experiences, challenges, and learning opportunities. It’s a journey that requires a balance between self-assurance and humility.
In conclusion, effective leadership is characterized by trust, humility, and a willingness to embrace the ideas and contributions of others. Leaders who prioritize these qualities create environments where both leaders and followers thrive.
Building Self-Confidence Through Relationships
Doubt can be one of the greatest dream killers. So, how does one develop and maintain self-confidence amidst stress and uncertainty?
External Sources of Confidence
It’s ironic that we call it “self-confidence” because it doesn’t necessarily come from within. Children aren’t born with self-confidence; it’s nurtured through external factors such as parental, peer, and teacher encouragement and guidance.
The Role of Relationships
My own self-confidence stems entirely from the relationships I have. It’s not an internal strength but rather a result of the people in my life. When I doubt myself, it’s the support and belief from others that give me the courage to tackle difficult tasks.
Trust and Risk-Taking
True self-confidence isn’t about never doubting oneself; it’s about having the belief and courage to take risks, even in the face of uncertainty. Trusting in oneself and one’s cause is essential for undertaking challenging endeavors.
Experimenting with Confidence Building
I conducted an experiment with a dear friend who has been a significant source of support and confidence for me. Despite my efforts to coach her through tough times, she struggled to maintain confidence. So, I decided to ask for her help instead.
Mutual Support and Growth
I approached her, acknowledging my own struggles, and asked her to devise a training program for me. This mutual exchange of support led to a profound transformation in both of us over just a few weeks.
In conclusion, true self-confidence is nurtured through relationships and mutual support. By helping others build their confidence, we, in turn, reinforce our own. It’s not about looking inward but about fostering meaningful connections with those around us.
Reimagining Self-Confidence
Over the course of a few months, my friend’s confidence grew exponentially as she served and trained me. This led to positive changes in her career and personal life. It’s not about “self-confidence” per se; rather, it’s about trust and mutual support.
Etymology of Confidence
Exploring the etymology of the word “confidence,” we find that it stems from “con” meaning “with” and “fidel” meaning “trust.” Thus, confidence isn’t just about oneself; it involves trust between individuals.
Building Confidence Through Service
True confidence isn’t built by looking inward; it’s cultivated through meaningful connections and acts of service. Helping others overcome their doubts fosters one’s own confidence.
The Infinite Game of Life
Life isn’t about winning or being the best. It’s an infinite game where everyone can win. Focusing too much on being number one leads to finite thinking, which ultimately limits growth and fulfillment.
The Fallacy of Being “Number One”
Being the best doesn’t guarantee happiness or fulfillment. Olympians, for instance, often struggle with depression after achieving their goals. In contrast, team athletes tend to fare better mentally because their success is shared.
Team Dynamics and Mental Health
Team athletes, unlike individual competitors, experience a sense of camaraderie and shared success. Winning the championship doesn’t lead to the same level of post-achievement depression as individual accolades.
In summary, true confidence arises from trust, service, and a shift away from finite thinking towards embracing the infinite game of life. It’s not about being number one but about fostering meaningful connections and supporting each other’s growth and success.
Winning the Olympics
I want to win the Olympics, well, actually, you don’t win the Olympics, you win an event, yes, but everyone says the same thing. “I’m going to win the Olympics,” and then they say nonsense like they want to inspire little children. Not one of them on their vision boards has pictures of little children reaching the Olympics. They have pictures of themselves standing on podiums holding medals, holding trophies. Their vision boards are entirely selfish. If it’s not like that, and any inspiration for little children is just a stroke of luck in reality, which is very good for the press conference, but none of them wake up doing it for the children. I drag myself out of bed, I run in the rain, or I miss Thanksgiving for the children. It didn’t happen, it was for me. And so whether they’re medalists or not, when they’re done, even if they were medalists, when they’re done with the Olympics, their ability to pursue victory, they spent their whole childhood to adulthood striving to be number one. And let’s be honest, they’re not the best. They’re just better than everybody else that day.
What I find very amusing is that you can get a gold medal in, pick a sport, ice skating, and you fall in your routine, but if everybody else falls twice, you’re the best. You’re the best, but you’re not. You’re just better than everybody else in the competition because it’s finite. And finite has known players, fixed rules, and agreed-upon objectives. They are just the players, but it’s not life. And there’s an imbalance. If finite games are very important, finite games and finite goals are essential in the infinite game, but the infinite game is the context of those finite games. I need to excel, be the best here to achieve what I want and recognize that this is not the end of everything. The analogy for living with an infinite mindset is not about winning. The best analogy is exercise. So how can you be a healthy person? Well, you have to eat well. You have to sleep enough. You have to nurture your personal relationships.
You have to exercise. If you do any of those things, you’ll be healthier than if you do none. But you have to do all of them. Living with an infinite mindset is the same. There’s a series of practices. If you do some, you’re better off than doing none. But you have to do all of them. And the way finite mindset sneaks in is, I want to get in shape. I’ve been sitting on the couch most of my life watching TV, and I’m going to get in shape, and I have a goal to get in shape, a finite goal where I can easily measure my weight. I can look at a scale and measure my progress, and I’ve set the goal that I’m going to lose this amount of weight by this date, and so I commit to living a healthy lifestyle. I eat better, I exercise more, I sleep more, and I see the weight I lose. And I don’t hit my goal. I don’t lose the amount of weight I wanted to lose by that date. So it’s still healthier, and you’re on the path to being even healthier. And I can see with certainty that you will absolutely reach the goal later. And even if you reach the goal, the problem is you can’t stop exercising. You have to do it for the rest of your life. That’s what an infinite mindset is. An infinite mindset is more of a lifestyle. If it’s absolutely important to have finite goals, we are absolutely driven by goals. We like to measure things. It’s much easier to get into the lifestyle of exercise and the habit of it. I have metrics. Look at the craze of Fitbits and such, which if overdone is actually unhealthy and has external effects. That’s not the point. But the point is to help people get up and have a healthier lifestyle. We like to measure things. It’s human.
But it’s not about winning. It’s not about the goal. Goals and measures are just a way to help us measure speed and distance. I’ve lost this amount of weight in this amount of time. You can’t run a marathon without kilometer markers. It’s bewildering. Mile markers help me measure how far I’ve come, how far I’ve come and the right relationship and the parameters we have at work help us measure how far we’ve moved and how fast we’re moving towards a vision that is practically unattainable. That’s the infinite game. There’s a context. And so when we punish ourselves because we didn’t reach a specific number on a specific date, but the question is, are we building a healthy organization? And I would prefer that organizations do all the right things to build a healthy organization even if they don’t meet the specific deadlines. One of my favorite stories is Cary Wright of W40. W40 is a public company, a decent-sized company, something incredible, a giant. Basically, it’s like grease. Basically, it’s a very sophisticated lubricant that’s actually made for the space program, but by the way, we talk about gourmet food and their offices to be able to move into a new office recently. Their old offices were a dump, right? But morale was through the roof because people loved it because it was never about the office. It was about the people. It’s never about the office.
It’s about the people. Anyway, they now have a new and nice office, but it’s still for the people. That’s why I said earlier, it’s the food. Well, it depends on the company. Anyway, I was on one of their quarterly calls, and one of their analysts said, “You’ve missed your numbers.” And Garbee said, “No, I didn’t. You missed yours. Mine are fine.” And that’s the point. There’s nothing wrong with having parameters and metrics. They’re very important for humans, but for what purpose? What are we serving that’s larger than ourselves? So criminology is like, once we know most of an iceberg is beneath the water. So when there’s a tiny, tiny part of the iceberg that’s above the ocean, it’s the visionary who can see beneath the ocean.
It’s the visionary who stands there, and even though everybody else sees a tiny or nothing, they can’t see anything, the seer is able to explain what exists only in their imagination, okay, only exists in the imagination if it inspires a few people to join them because if we can do it, and they start working, and a little bit of the JCE sea starts to be seen, and a few people say, “Oh, this is going to work,” and then they commit to joining the movement or the company, and a little more of Likesburg is seen, and before you know it, in the ex-truth shows enough for people to say, “This is something real. You’re not crazy. What you’re doing is actually happening.” But the thing is, the vast majority of Likesburg still exists under the ocean. And so what the visionary does is constantly remind us of where we’re going and how much is left to do. And although we can celebrate how much we’ve achieved, how much Likesburg stands out above the ocean, the reality is we have a
lot more work, and when I die, it will still be mostly under the oceans. And that’s what the movement is about. The measures and parameters help us measure the speed, the distance, the part of the expert we’ve revealed, but the infinite game is understanding that most of our work is still undiscovered. A friend, I wish we had three hours because this is amazing, but I want to finish with a few questions to be mindful of our time. And there’s so much more good stuff in this book. I want you to get it. Make sure you get “The Infinite Game.” Look, there’s so much good stuff we haven’t even started to scratch the surface, but there’s so much good stuff. Well, I hope everything we’ve talked about has been influenced by what I’ve learned in this book and which we don’t necessarily have to talk about chapter three, but we can tell you I write about the ideas that shape me indirectly.
My work is semi-autobiographical. It starts with him because it was born out of my loss of passion and the discovery of a concept that put me never in which my passion was greater than I had ever experienced. And I shared it with my friends, and that’s how it started. And my friends invited me to their homes to share it with their friends, and that’s how it started. And how was I to know there would be a talk, they’d give a book? I had no imagination for that. I just knew I loved sharing this idea that was incredibly powerful and changed the way I typically saw the world or functioned within it. And the leaders eat last was the struggle I had with confidence. I kept meeting military leaders who gave their lives for people they didn’t even like, whereas in business, people didn’t even like to give credit for things. I wanted what they had. We called each other colleagues and coworkers.
They called each other brother and sister. I want that. I want to work in that kind of environment. And so my initial theory was they’re just better people, and you find better people in the military because they’re drawn to a life of service. But the more I started to learn, the more I started to discover, it wasn’t the people. It was the environment, and anyone can create these kinds of relationships, this kind of trust if you get the right environment. That’s what I wrote in “Leaders Eat Last,” which led the way I live my life and see the world. And this book is no different. I’m an idealist. Imagine a world where the vast majority of people can wake up every morning inspired, feel safe at work, and go home fulfilled at the end of the day. And people tell me I’m crazy. People tell me stop being so idealistic. And when I speak to CEOs, they tell me you’re not.
Understanding Business and Leadership
Many of us go to work with the uncomfortable feeling that things shouldn’t be this way. Those in power, with more money, influence, and authority, keep telling us they’re right and we’re wrong. They claim we don’t understand how businesses work, citing examples like shareholder supremacy. But I trust human instinct. I don’t believe it’s just the few who know while the rest of us are wrong. I got tired of people telling me that.
The discovery of the concept of finite and infinite games, articulated by Simon, changed my perspective. It made me realize it’s not that I don’t understand business—it’s them who don’t. We all have this uncomfortable feeling that work shouldn’t be like this. We’re right. This book and concept articulate perfectly what an infinite game is, but I was stuck with the challenges. How do we leverage it? How do we apply it? How can organizations adopt it? How can leaders shift from a finite to an infinite mindset?
Implementing Change
It deeply influenced my worldview and how I navigate through it. Every response I’ve given today has been filtered through the lens of learning and writing this treatise. So, what are three things a leader of an organization, watching or listening right now, could start applying tomorrow? What about employees?
One thing leaders could do is build trust within their teams. Being in charge doesn’t make you the leader. Everyone has the potential to lead. Leaders are made, not born. It’s a set of skills you can learn and practice. Not everyone wants to learn it or will be good at it, but for those who do, they need to become students of leadership. They should read books, watch talks, read articles, and have conversations about it. Start small with what you have. You don’t need a big budget for leadership training. You can buy a book, listen to podcasts, or start a book club. Everyone can be the leader they wish to have.
Embracing Healthy Competition
One concept I discuss in the book is shifting from competitors to rivals. In this game, competitors are those you want to beat. But in an infinite game, there’s no such thing. We need to change our mindset from competition, which is finite, to rivalry, which is infinite. We shouldn’t have internal competition but internal rivalry.
A worthy rival is someone whose strengths reveal our weaknesses, giving us an opportunity to grow. For example, when Starbucks entered neighborhoods, some local businesses thrived because they saw Starbucks not as a competitor but as a worthy rival. Those who saw Starbucks as a competitor and didn’t adapt failed. A worthy rival is someone who is genuinely good at what they do, revealing areas for improvement. Companies should find worthy rivals and focus on constant improvement.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the key is to embrace an infinite mindset, where the goal is not to win but to constantly improve. Leaders and employees alike should become students of leadership, shifting from competitors to rivals, and focusing on continuous improvement. This mindset shift can transform organizations and individuals, leading to long-term success and fulfillment in the workplace.
Embracing Growth Opportunities
Let’s be honest: are they better than us? Whether they’re better leaders, smarter, excel in product development, sales, or design, we can learn from them. Instead of seeing them as adversaries to beat, view them as individuals who reveal where we have opportunities to grow. The same applies to companies. Who are the organizations in your sector or beyond that excel? Choose your worthy rivals. Don’t focus on competition; focus on improvement. Even if we’re good, we can always get better.
The Value of Long-term Thinking
The allure of finite games is understandable. They’re easier, more exciting—the thrill of competition. But infinite games require a different mindset. It’s like choosing between chocolate cake and a healthy meal, sleeping in versus going to the gym. It’s hard work, but it’s worth it. Shifting the incentives of an organization from individual achievements to team effort is challenging. It requires seeing beyond quarterly or yearly goals and focusing on long-term progress. Rapid growth may seem appealing, but it’s not always healthy. It’s about sustainable growth, sometimes fast, sometimes slow. It’s like losing weight or building muscle—it’s not just about growth; it’s about purposeful growth.
Leaving a Lasting Legacy
Now, imagine it’s your last day on Earth, and you’ve achieved everything you wanted in life. You’ve built relationships, impacted the world, but you have to take everything with you. Your books, work, talks—everything’s gone. All that remains are three truths you’ve learned and want to share with the world. Mine would be: start with purpose, serve others, commit to a vision larger than yourself. These principles guide greatness.
Acknowledging Collaboration
Simon, I want to acknowledge your passion, wisdom, and dedication to researching and creating frameworks for understanding and applying ideas in our lives. You allow these ideas to exist beyond yourself and contribute to our collective growth. Thank you for being you and for allowing our partnership to evolve. One final question: what’s your definition of greatness?
Definition of Greatness
Greatness, to me, is living a life dedicated to helping others find their greatness. It’s about service. What about you?
Closing Remarks
Thank you for watching this video. If you’re seeking something greater in your life, check out the next video. We may face challenges, but remember, crises can also be opportunities for growth. In fact, I made more money in the 2008 crisis than ever before.