This Is Day One

Leaders should focus on “Day One”, that is, today.

While it may sound like heresy, leaders shouldn’t focus only on long-term outcomes; they shouldn’t worry about next week, next month, next year or next decade. Leaders should concern themselves with only one day – today: Day One. 

Everything takes place on Day One and every day is Day One for proactive leaders. If you act like a leader on Day One, and on the following Day Ones, then you are practicing leadership for the long run.

Don’t worry about titles, salary and status. They are out of your control. All you can control is what you do, so act like a leader. 

Anyone can be a leader.

Society insists that people define leadership narrowly, but that’s fallacious. Leaders exist at every level and in every demographic category. Actions define leaders, not titles, money or past history. Unfortunately, the common attitude is that people can’t become leaders unless someone higher up gives them permission to lead.

Most people buy into the idea that leadership requires status, riches or accomplishments, when it really requires only doing the work of...