Success Advice
8 (More) Things Real Leaders Do Last

Leadership expert Simon Sinek’s most recent work, Leaders Eat Last, had it’s title inspired by the powerful culture and ethos of the Marines whose leaders literally eat last. A simple act, but profound effects; it carries with it a powerful message that trickles from the top–down, and ultimately becomes the DNA of the whole organisation.
It’s a paradoxical flip when compared with the typical image of an ambitious person crushing everything in their path—first in, best dressed, right? But it wasn’t what the Officers did first, it was what they did last.
Leadership is contagious. What is modelled by leaders is mimicked by others. As you build strong leadership habits, rather than thinking what could you do first, consider the effects of what you do last.
In honour of Simon Sinek’s great work, here are 8 (more) things that real leaders do last:
1. Leaders Battle Last
“The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.” – Sun Tzu
Leaders navigate through conflicts and trials as though no such thing ever took place. They have developed a keen foresight—seeing problems on the horizon and handling them well before they hit the shore and do any damage. They prefer the prevention rather than the cure.
If you see sparks setting off in your life, put them out before they turn into an inferno. It’s easy to let a crack turn into a canyon. Don’t just focus on where things are currently at, but where things may be heading. You may need to change your trajectory.
2. Leaders Speak Last
They allow others the freedom to express their opinion. They understand that happy employees are those given a voice, and feel part of the company. But leaders don’t just take everything on board, they assess and weigh up all contributions. Then, they speak last and tie everything together with their expertise.
Leaders know they can learn from anyone, but they excel in making the right decisions and choosing the best options. It is neither a dictatorship, nor is it a democracy. Good leadership is striking that perfect balance in between.
3. Leaders Celebrate Last
Because it’s not over till the fat lady sings. Leaders don’t take the pedal off the metal until they’ve well and truly crossed the finish line. The job is not done once it’s signed, sealed, and delivered; it’s done once it’s received, unpacked, and performed. Leaders see things through a panoramic lens.
Getting the product out there is one thing, making sure it performs with great satisfaction is another. You may make some sales in the short run, but you’ll never sustain a healthy career.
A sub-10 second sprint is pointless if you are trying to run a marathon.
4. Leaders Hire Last
The popular business mantra is to hire slow and fire fast. Leaders know that anyone can look like a superstar on paper. It’s easy to dazzle in a dress but not on the dance-floor. The leader says to the potential person:
“Don’t tell me, show me.”
Because quality will beat qualifications every single time.
It’s so easy to get excited during the previews. But you can’t get a refund once you’ve watched the whole thing—enough damage has already been done. Leaders let initial excitements die down before signing the dotted line. A great honeymoon doesn’t guarantee a great marriage.
5. Leaders Sweat Last
You’ve heard it said:
“Work smart, not hard.”
Leaders do both. But they work smart, before they work hard.
They push for productivity, and efficiency. They’re by no means shy about hard work, but they look for potent strategies before applying the elbow grease. They understand the 80/20 rule and create habits that kill ten birds with one stone. Leaders know how to maximise their strengths and outsource their weaknesses.
Are you spending more time labouring over your weaknesses rather than building on your strengths? Know when to be smart and delegate and when to be efficient and get your hands dirty.
6. Leaders Sleep Last
Before they nod off, leaders ask themselves:
“What did I do well today? And what do I need to improve upon?”
They know that mistakes are only failures when you don’t learn from them. And much learning comes from reflecting on the events of each day—to build on the positives and cut out the negatives.
As Earl Nightingale said:
“Success is the progressive realisation of a worthy goal or ideal.”
Remember that the progressive realisation comes from the progressive practice of your successful habits. Hindsight is always 20/20 and crucial for building the foresight and future for successful leadership. Reflect before you sleep.
7. Leaders Ask “How” Last
They ask the more important “Why” question first. Friedrich Nietzsche said:
“He who has a why can endure any how.”
Before a leader engages in building anything, they know that a successful endeavour will depend upon building a foundation of a deeper meaning and deeper “Why.” They know that difficulties and obstacles will certainly arise. At that point, though they possess all the how knowledge to finish a project, it is the why knowledge that brings it to completion.
We have enough information available to learn how to do just about anything. The reason anything gets accomplished is because there’s a powerful enough reason and purpose behind it. Consequently, the reason why you may not be getting anything accomplished is because you haven’t thought enough about why you would like to accomplish your goal.
What’s your why?
8. Leaders Get Off The Ship Last
It is an unspoken, but unbreakable rule—the captain is the last to leave a ship. A former P&O captain said:
“At sea, you have a great sense of responsibility for the people who are beneath you—you need to stay as long as anyone else remains.”
The most tragic ship wrecks are the ones where the captain is the first to abandon the crew.
A leader does not step into a role without accepting the significant responsibilities. They know that every decision they make affects a multitude of lives. If they steer the ship south, everyone on board is going south. If the ship sinks, they were the one behind the wheel.
Being the last to leave means honouring your responsibilities. Being a leader entails having followers. Peter Parker was told:
“With great power comes great responsibility.”
If you’re a leader that’s ignorant of your responsibilities, your ship is headed toward an iceberg.
If you haven’t already make sure you watch Simon Sinek’s speech about “Why Leaders Eat Last”
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How to Break the Cycles of Mediocrity and Manifest Your Greatness
There is no greatness without becoming and there is no becoming with authenticity

In just a few weeks, we will be wrapping up 2023. Can you believe it? This year has been absolutely incredible for me.
I have seen amazing doors opened, new relationships formed and I am seeing dreams realized in my life. While this seems like the hallmarks of a great year, this has also been the most challenging year of my life. With all of the change happening in my life, I have been forced out of my comfort zone and challenged to grow in every area of my life.
I can truly say that I have made the most of my moments this year and I have used everything as a catalyst for maximizing my greatest potential.
As a revolutionary leader, I have the pleasure of consulting and advising leaders around the world to fulfill purpose, realize their greatest potential and make an impact.
I want to share some insights with you that will help you to break cycles of mediocrity and manifest your greatness.
Everything legal must come through the matrix
I am sure that some of you are wondering why I am using the term matrix. However, what you have to understand is that I am trying to make a highly complex spiritual principle practical to understand.
Regardless of your spiritual beliefs, every life has an origin and I believe that origin is divine and begins with eternity. You are birthed from eternity and into time to fulfill a unique purpose and assignment in your lifetime and generation.
The matrix is simply the portal or vehicle that brings something out of the invisible realm and into tangible form. The problem with much of the teaching today is that it excludes the matrix. We are told to believe that success is instantaneous and overnight.
Nobody talks about how a dream progresses through stages beginning with visualization and ultimately culminating in manifestation. Without a matrix or portal then everything that you attempt to birth and build will be illegal.
The matrix not only makes you legal but it gives you the authority and power to function as the greatest expression of who you were created to be.
Every matrix has an incubation process
While many people admire and respect me today, I remember a time when nobody knew who I was or the significance of my message. How did I get to where I am today? I got here through an incubation process.
In other words, everything that has been destined for your life is incubating and awaiting a set time of manifestation. The problem is that most people live their entire lives idle and never initiate the incubation process.
What do I meany by that? Most people are living reckless and very few people are living intentionally. I am amazed at the number of people I have conversations with that have no vision, goals or strategies for their lives. They show great promise and they have undeniable potential.
However, without development they will die with their dreams still in them.
Everything that has been destined for your life must be incubated and converted to become realities born to time.
“Visualize this thing that you want, see it, feel it, believe in it. Make your mental blueprint and begin to build.” – Robert Collier
You must give expression to that which is not yet born to time
When you think about a matrix or a prophetic incubation process, you have to understand that potential is often unrealized and untapped. In other words, your potential is in raw form and your potential cannot serve you as long as it is untapped.
The thing that makes me valuable is that I have the ability to convert potential into power. I have done it in my own life and I have empowered leaders around the world to do the same. How do you convert potential into power?
First, it is important to note that you have to perceive potential. If you cannot perceive your potential then you can never cultivate your potential. In addition, you must take the time to cultivate your potential. We often get excited about our capabilities; however, we never expand our capacity in order to realize our greatest potential.
In other words, the strength of your potential is only discovered through your willingness to stretch. The more we are challenged the more we are empowered to expand our capacity for greatness. Most of all, you must begin to express your potential. The expression of potential is different for every person.
For example, the expression of my potential is best demonstrated through the thoughts, ideas, products, services, books, etc.
For another person the expression of potential may look like a screenplay, artwork, sports, scientific discoveries, medical breakthroughs, etc.
Regardless of the form of expression, I know that you will live empty and unfulfilled until you make the decision to express your potential. The expression of your potential gives voice to your dreams, life to your vision, significance to your moments and activates your true power.
You must manifest your greatness
As a revolutionary thinker and leader, my work has impacted people around the world. I am grateful that my life is a source of empowerment to so many people. However, before anyone could ever benefit from my life, I had to make a non-negotiable decision to become who I was born to be.
I wish I could tell you that this journey is easy and that you will get there overnight. However, in a world that celebrates us for doing we are often criticized for being. As a result, I wasted a lot of time trying to be who other people wanted me to be instead of being who I was born to be.
There is no greatness without becoming and there is no becoming with authenticity. It is through our bravery to be vulnerable that we ultimately manifest our greatness. We do not bless the world by being a duplicate. We bless the world when we honor our difference. When you honor your difference you honor your potential.
Ultimately, your difference is how you manifest your greatness.
When you present anything but your authentic self to the world, you are playing small and you are robbing the world of your significance. Manifesting your greatness requires you to master your gifts.
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