When it comes to Leadership, many people talk a good game.

Not that many people actually lead.

That’s because they have lost touch with the actual foundation of Leadership.

And that is leading YOURSELF first.

You see, Leadership isn’t a job title or a fancy quote on LinkedIn. 

Leadership starts in the shadows, away from the crowds and when nobody is watching.

Leadership is getting it done when nobody notices whether you show up or stay home.

And leading yourself is the toughest kind.

There’s nowhere to hide.

You can talk a good game (trust me I’ve been there)……

But if you fall apart the second things get tough, the minute you get frustrated or bored, or when you’re tired and ‘don’t quite feel like it’…..

Then your leadership messages come away at the seams….

Because the hard truth is that people (especially children) will always learn more from what they see, rather than what you say!

To lead others, you must first show that you can lead yourself.

And that starts with making yourself a priority.

I get it that you want to be there for your family, your kids, your colleagues and your mates.

But how can you serve all these people, if you’re drinking from an empty cup?

You can’t protect and support people, if you can barely protect yourself.

Your own health.

Your own wellbeing.

Let me be clear that making yourself a priority isn’t selfish.

It’s an absolute necessity.

And it starts with your physicality (Pillar 3 of MAPPS).

Once you begin to train and train hard, it’s often the gatekeeper for other good habits to follow.

Training teaches you how to suffer.

But you will often then follow training with better eating habits, consistent hydration, and stronger recovery to give you a couple of examples.

Training reminds you that you can do hard things, even when your inner voice is telling you to take it easy.

It forges discipline, builds belief and builds standards (Pillar 5 of MAPPS) that will hold together when life challenges you.

Every session completed, especially when you didn’t feel like it, becomes proof that you are in charge of you, rather than your emotions or your need for ‘motivation’ being the fuel that you rely on.

Now I’m not asking you to be perfect.

None of us are.

But understand, that short term pain (when repeated often enough), will take you to long term pleasure.

That leaders are built in silence.

In the shadows.

And by action rather than words.

You want to lead others?

Start by leading yourself.

Lead from the front.

Especially when it’s difficult.

That’s the lonely walk.

That’s where standards are born.

Have a great week, and get training.

Ric