“It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up.” –Babe Ruth Today we will be talking about one of the most important character traits you can ever develop for...

“You can either focus on looking good or getting good, but you can’t do both.” –Marshall Goldsmith, Top Ranking Executive Coach On April 11, 1983, at 9am, the band members...

Photo by Deddy Dayag There is a wonderful story about President Teddy Roosevelt that teaches an essential life perspective. William Beebe, the naturalist, and a close friend...

Few things are more important that a leader’s words. A careless word can wound for a lifetime. An encouraging word might energize someone for a year. A badly timed reaction...

It’s hard to imagine a more difficult leadership assignment in the history of the world than what Winston Churchill faced. There is a reason his most iconic portrait by...

My friend Trey asks great questions. Shortly after starting my blog, he asked, “So why did you call it lead you first?” That inquiry inspired this post. What does it mean to...

 “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.” –Aristotle It would be impossible to talk about personal leadership without talking about...

Years ago, I heard John Maxwell says something I’ve never forgotten. To paraphrase—A great leadership legacy can take decades to build, but can be lost in an instant. An...

“Accept whatever comes to you, woven in the pattern of your destiny, for what could more aptly fit your needs?” –Marcus Aurelius Theodore Roosevelt was born with crippling...

“Take care of your body, it’s the only place you have to live.” –Jim Rohn One of the most important things you can do in leading yourself with excellence is being a great...

You cannot have great personal leadership without knowing your personal strengths, and leveraging them for maximum impact at work, and at home. In this post, I will...

I read my first leadership book in 2009 and quickly became obsessed with the subject. The Big Idea: As I read, I kept coming across a central theme from the authors and...