I’m often asked, “What is leadership?” The answer is simple. The action is not.
Leadership means convincing people to do something they’ve never done before. That could be launching a new to world product or improving a process to be faster and more effective. It always begins with a mindset of “We Can,” especially in the face of failure.
Before pen touches paper, before a SEAL mission is planned, before a musician plays the first note, a decision must be made.
That decision is: I can.
And then: We can.
From Possibility to Action
It often begins with a fleeting thought: “What if this works?” A tiny spark of possibility. The leader’s role is to turn that spark into belief and action.
I’ve seen too many people in leadership roles just managing. Here’s the truth:
- People do not want to be managed
- They want to be led
- They want to be inspired
- And most of all, they want to learn how to lead
You manage time, money, and resources.
You lead people.
Why Leadership Matters
We cannot do it alone. No one is perfect, and no one is all knowing. Great leadership rallies individuals to look beyond their differences and unlock the potential of their combined strengths.
It all begins with one powerful, personal choice: “I can.”
People need a reason to believe. That belief, that conviction, is what leadership delivers.
Leadership Is a Daily Decision
This belief does not happen once. It is not a one and done decision. In Hell Week, in business, and in life, belief must be chosen again and again. Hour by hour. Step by step. Breath by breath.
But belief is hard. Negativity is loud. That is why I call out the voice of the “Whiner,” the internal force pushing doubt and fear.
This is where leadership starts, with mastering the “I Can” mindset.
From One Leader to Many
Not long ago, I was invited to coach the leadership team of a young insurance company. The founder built it from scratch on the simple belief that he could do business better.
That belief got them from three people to over a hundred.
But as the team grew, so did the leadership challenge. Many had never been on a winning team. Some came from cultures where people were managed, not led. Others were unsure if they even belonged.
That is why before my keynote, we did a book study on Unstoppable Teams. We unpacked their challenges, and the biggest one was clear:
Getting people to believe they can do it.
The Leadership Decision Wheel
To lead others to believe, we must believe first. I use a simple tool to explain this. I call it the Leadership Decision Wheel.
Imagine a wheel spinning in your mind. It has two choices:
I Can’t
I Can
Unlike Wheel of Fortune, you control where the wheel lands.
We have tens of thousands of thoughts a day. Most are noise. The ones that matter are the ones you choose to focus on.
Ask yourself: “Is this thought helpful or hurtful to achieving the goal?”
Train your team to ask the same. When stuck or facing indecision, ask: “What is helpful to get the job done?”
Keep It Simple. Keep It Real.
Leadership is not easy, but it does not have to be complicated. It starts with the courage to say “I can,” and mean it.
When a leader believes, the team believes.
When the team believes, success follows.
Just like my new friends in Missouri. They are choosing every day to believe.
And belief is what makes us Unstoppable.
Unstoppable is our choice.
If you're looking for a leadership speaker who doesn’t just inspire but equips your team to dig deep, lead boldly, and build resilience together, I’d love to explore how we can make that happen.
You can learn more about working with me as a leadership speaker or as a motivational keynote speaker.
Let’s lead with intent, strength, and purpose - together.
