Clinton Sparks

5 TRAITS TO BEING A GREAT LEADER: Running the Business of YOU

If you want to be a great #1, you must first learn how to be a great #2, #3, #4, or #5,

To be a great leader, you first have to know how to follow. And, that starts with following the plan.

Real leaders don’t just take the credit,
they stand in front when things go wrong, assume the blame, and work on the fix.

I’ve watched leaders fail because they didn’t get this. They lost their companies, credibility, and, most importantly, respect.
And even after losing everything, many still don’t see what they did wrong.

Here are 5 traits that I’ve learned and put to practice throughout my life.

1. Be Built by Design, Not Circumstance

Once you decide who you are and the kind of person you want to be,
no one’s words or actions should be able to change that.

You can’t lead others if you can’t first lead yourself.

2. Say What You Mean & Mean What You Say

If you say you’re going to do something — do it.

Whether Its a promose to your kids or wife, a customer, client or even to yourself.

Your word is your bond.
Your consistency is your credibility.

3. Don’t Give a Sh*t

Stay focused on your plan.
Stop caring about what someone else is doing. Caring about your plan mans not giving a s**t about someone elses.

Comparison is a distraction.
Jealousy is wasted energy.

Lock in on your own lane and execute.
Your vision doesn’t need validation, it needs discipline.

4. Master A.R.T. — Automatic Resourceful Thinking

When things go wrong (and they will), don’t waste time blaming.

Train your mind to default to solutions.
Ask yourself: “What can I do right now to fix this?”

Leaders don’t panic, they problem-solve.
Because at the end of the day, your job isn’t to complain…
It’s to fix the problem.

That’s leadership. If others cant rely on you to fix a problem, how can they trust to be led by you?

5. Listen to Others

You already know what you know,
but you don’t know what you don’t know.

Delete the ego that thinks you have all the answers.

Even people you don’t respect can teach you something.
Even an idiot has useful information.

Like, how to deal with one, how to communicate with one, and how to sell to one,
and trust me, that’s a powerful skill, because there are a lot of Idiots.

Leaders who listen, learn.
Leaders who learn, grow.
And leaders who grow, win.

Mike Tyson said it best:

“Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.”

And life will punch you in the mouth.
The question is, how will you respond?

These 5 traits will help you handle the hits, recover faster,
and sometimes avoid them altogether.

Being a great leader isn’t about power
it’s about purpose.
It’s about knowing when to step up, when to step back,
and even when to let someone else lead in a moment.

This Is how you become a true leader.

Your friend,
Clinton