Good Leaders vs. Great Leaders

“Who do you admire?” I asked my client.

“Well...Tony Robbins, Rachel Hollis, You, Brendon Burchard.” 

I stopped in my tracks. Just to be listed among that list of my mentors - I mean,  words of affirmation are my love language, and I received an avalanche at that moment. Holy moly. “Receive it. Receive it,” I thought. I did and then from that place I asked her…

“Why? What is it you admire them?”

“BECAUSE THEY INSPIRE LEADERS.”

So many people out there are so busy counting how many followers they have - do I have more or fewer followers? 

Yet, “influencers” with audiences, or at least follower counts way bigger than mine are broke and struggling to monetize their audience - struggling to make even 4-figures a month, let alone five. 

...But they’ve got a FOLLOWING.

And that’s the problem.

WHEN YOU CREATE A CULTURE OF FOLLOWING IN YOUR BUSINESS - YOU AS THE “GURU” - PEOPLE FOLLOW WHAT YOU SAY AND WHAT YOU DO, YOU’RE TRAINING PEOPLE TO BE FOLLOWERS IN THEIR LIVES. 

This means you’ve created a culture of people who are searching OUTSIDE of themselves for the answers - looking to you.

Give me a leader every day, all day. 

There’s a scene toward the end of Hamilton - SPOILER ALERT RIGHT HERE.

It’s well known that Hamilton and Jefferson vehemently disagreed on many of the foundational beliefs of setting up the federal government for the US. 

They fought brutally against each other - and in Hamilton, it’s via rap battles, which is just simply put, AMAZING. If you haven’t watched the Disney+ special, just do it. Right now. (I’ll wait.)

Anyway, Hamilton and Jefferson disagreed. They both stood on opposite sides of the aisle. 

Meanwhile, there’s Aaron Burr. No one really knows what he stands for. 

And when Hamilton is asked to give a public endorsement for one of the candidates for president, Jefferson or Burr, Hamilton endorses Jefferson, which ultimately ends in the duel between Hamilton and Burr.

Great leaders create leaders, respect leaders, endorse leaders. 

NO.1 -  GOOD LEADERS ATTRACT FOLLOWERS. GREAT LEADERS CREATE LEADERS. 

Followers are easy to fall off the pedestals that they created for you, as their leader - for as you fall or fail as a leader, they fall off their path....and blame you on their tumble down. 

Instead, inspire people to lead their own lives, take ownership, and empower them to make their own choices - not because it’s the choice you would make, and maybe it isn’t the choice you would make, but it’s the right choice for them. 

I was in a session with one of my clients who’s in her seventies. She was struggling with her desire to coach and consult people in their businesses. 

“But you’re so good,” she said, “Why would someone want to work with me if I could just refer them to you?”

“First of all, there’s only so much work and clients that I can take on,” I said with a chuckle, “And secondly, I don’t have the years of experience that you do. There are some who will not be able to hear the message or see the value because they cannot see themselves reflected in me, for whatever reason, - maybe it’s my age, or my race, or my gender, or the sparkly nature of my personality.”

She laughed, “You have a point.”

“And if they can’t see it, then it’s hard for me to serve them. That’s why we need you! This world needs YOU to stand in your power because there is a whole slew of people who YOU can reach that I can’t.”

A week later, she booked a $20,000 contract for consulting - one that I probably never would have got because I didn’t have the skillsets, training, experiences, tools, or, frankly, age that she has. 

THIS IS WHY MORE LEADERS ARE NEEDED. 

You can speak to people and serve people who will not hear this message coming from me. 

And also, this is pure abundance baby! 

It’s only “lonely at the top” because people have been taught that it’s lonely at the top. There’s plenty of room for us all. Keep climbing.

HELP YOUR FELLOW LEADERS TO RISE INTO THEIR REIGN JUST AS MUCH AND AS QUICKLY AS YOU ARE RISING INTO YOUR OWN.