A tiny thought, caught in the interview with John Maxwell on Shane Parrish’s podcast, The Knowledge Project, the other day: ‍

“Sometimes I need to find myself, so I can know where I’m going.” — John Maxwell

At the age of 40, an accomplished leader John Maxwell decided to devote his life to writing books on four key themes that he believed all successful people have in common:

• Ability to build good relationships
• Ability to form teams and empower them
• Ability to overcome life’s adversaries
• Ability to lead  
  

At the core of each of them, according to Maxwell, are self-awareness and self-realization. The greatest leaders are the ones who accept the reality of who they are, he says. The first step to become a good leader, then, is to learn how to lead yourself.

It is only once you’ve figured out how to lead yourself, once you’re no longer craving for followers, or are needy for being in alignment with others, that the true magic of leadership (its compound value, if you will) can happen.

Once you've mastered that one, it is no longer about you. It's about other people. And you begin to guide other individuals to become great leaders (of) themselves, too.

Kindly,

Neva.