Leadership and Business Growth

“If you want to make everyone happy, Don’t be a leader. Sell ice cream!” – Steve Jobs.

This is the tough truth about leadership.

Most times when you help people, people don’t like it. 

At least, at first. 

But like a parent, your job as a leader is to do what’s best for your followers..

Not what they “like/want” at the moment.

Rather, what’s best for them long term. 

That means you have to make tough decisions and have tough conversations for their future best interest.

Even if it means a short time, they don’t like it or you.

Get used to it as this is the job of a leader.

As a leader..

It’s definitely not about you!

It never has been.

It never will be.

When you accept this truth..

Your leadership will explode.

Winning needs to be your #1 focus as the desired outcome as a leader. 

In fact, you have a duty, obligation and responsibility to your team and clients to keep this as your north star. 

Although 2 things can also be true.

The 2nd is that you also must realize that no leader can do it alone.

That would impossible have this expectation of yourself.

So putting this into true perspective when you break it down… 

The real job of a leader is to put your team in a position to win.

This includes casting the vision.

Creating alignment.

Ensuring your people are highly trained.

Once that is accomplished..

Then you must ensure to provide the needed space for your team to execute the vision.

This increases the probability for the desired win which is your #1 focus!

Spoiler Alert!

As a leader, you do NOT have to have the best idea.

Release yourself from the burden.

Also, humble yourself. 

Instead..

Realize that as a leader, your job is to aggregate the BEST idea to serve your team & clients.

Sometimes that’s yours.

Sometimes it’s not.

And that’s OK!

You must stay HUMBLE.

Remove the ego.

Be open to the firepower from your team.

As your focus should not be on your idea.. 

Rather, the BEST IDEA!

SPOILER ALERT!!

Leadership is NOT about making people happy. 

It’s about helping them.

Very basic concept, but extremely profound.

Why is this challenging?

Because when you lead someone, the truth is many sometimes they won’t be happy with you.

But that’s ok and is your job as a leader.

Need an example that universally relates?

If you have kids.

They misbehave.

Your job is to provide the correct action and be a role model.

Guess what?

Chances are they will not be happy with you in the moment.

However, this will develop discipline and behavior that will help them in the future.

Yes, they will thank you later just like the people you lead.

However, at the moment, they won’t be happy.

Embrace this tough truth.

THIS IS LEADERSHIP!

Over the last few weeks, we have learned about the 4 pillars of Stoic Philosophy.

Why is this important?

In leadership, you need to control your internal thoughts/mind. 

As your thoughts/mind control your actions. 

And your actions control your results.

Success is an inside job, my friend.

And when you use the 4 virtues of Courage, Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation in your endeavors like a good stoic..

The strong winds of leadership will be at your side.

But you must take action.

As the last parting words of wisdom around Stoicism. 

It’s not an abstract philosophy full of “Thinkers”.

Rather, one of “Doers” who take action. 

And here are your 4 north stars of action for ongoing reference:

• Courage
• Wisdom
• Justice

Moderation or Temperance is the 4th stoic virtue.

I intentionally left it until the end.

Why?

Candidly, I struggle with most with this being I am recovering alcoholic & addict. Thus, I  cannot talk with an overwhelming amount of authority here. 

That’s the ugly truth. 

And while in some ways I have improved drastically, in others I have a long way to go.

This is a slippery slope as on 1 hand my addiction, when channeled toward the light, is a superpower.

On the other hand, it can be a looming disaster. 

Just like the use of anger can be a very good or bad thing depending on how it’s channeled. 

Thus and as a cautionary tail, this is what the stoics valued moderation or temperance as the 4th coveted virtue.

My message today?

Ponder on this and come to your own conclusion on how the usage of moderation can positively affect your leadership and life!

• Courage
• Wisdom
• Justice
• Moderation

Justice is defined by the Merriam Webster dictionary as: the quality of being impartial, or fair.

Justice is an incredibly valuable virtue especially since life is not fair. In fact, anyone telling you otherwise, should not be trusted. 

As a leader you have to strive for justice in order to support your team, clients and following. 

Although as a leader, you also have to understand the concept that fair is not equal and equal is not fair. This is true justice and why it can be so difficult which takes wisdom to decipher.

By now you can see the virtues compound.

Your focus as a leader?

Create value and justice for your following in every opportunity possible. You will need courage and wisdom by your side to aid you in this pursuit..

• Courage
• Wisdom
• Justice
• Moderation

“The More I Learn The Less I Know.” – Tony Bennett 

This quote perfectly describes the 2nd stoic virtue of wisdom. 

As the sober reality is that attaining wisdom is a lifetime pursuit. Something that you can acquire more of, but will always be elusive to some degree.

Although the journey of its pursuit is certainly a valuable one and one worth traveling…

“OK, Bryce, there’s value in gaining wisdom but how do I attain it?!” you might be asking..

Many ways although the truth is that most times wisdom can only truly be derived by life experience.  Although the closest life hack I learned at a young age was to develop relationships with your elders. 

They possess it due to their vast life experience..And if you listen well; you can unlock a world of wisdom, growth, and leadership. 

Looking forward to covering Justice next week!

1. Courage
2. Wisdom
3. Justice
4. Moderation

I listed the 4 Stoic Virtues last week below..

They are in no specific order according to the Stoics. But the best way I digest them specific to leadership is attacking COURAGE as number 1.

The fact is that strong Leadership often times means going against the grain. It means taking action not that is NOT part of the status quo. Many times, this action ruffles feathers. 

And sometimes a strong leader even has to make decisions that hurt some of the followers to protect the whole tribe.

You need COURAGE to lead this way. 

In fact, here’s one of my favorite leadership quotes by the late Steve Jobs of Apple, Inc. 

“If you want to make everyone happy, Don’t be a leader – Sell ice cream.”

And while you need all 4 other virtues to lead, without COURAGE to execute, nothing else matters.

This is the hard part of leadership. But why it’s so valuable. 

The good news is that COURAGE is a just muscle that you can improve. The more you flex it, the stronger it becomes.

I look forward to diving into Wisdom next week. 

• Courage
• Wisdom
• Justice
• Moderation