You Don’t HAVE to Be a Leader

“The leaders who make the most progress make the fewest excuses. And the leaders who make the most excuses make the least progress.” —Carey Nieuwhof 

When I began to become intentional about helping other leaders grow, I started a company called Catalytic Leadership. Why that name? 

A catalyst is defined as “an agent that provokes or speeds significant change or action.” A catalytic leader, then, is an agent of change. 

Every great leader I’ve ever met or learned from is a catalytic leader. They want to see significant change or action in their organization, in advancing their mission, or in developing their team and other leaders. 

I’m a catalytic leader. And for the last three decades, I’ve been a student of leadership. 

Thirty years ago, I attended my first leadership conference in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. I was a high school student, and one of my teachers saw potential in me and wrangled me an invitation to attend this event. I hopped a plane and for the first time in my life, heard someone talk about the power of leadership, using examples from American history.

I was hooked.

For the last thirty years, I’ve read every book I could get my hands on about leadership, about great leaders, and about history. I’ve read biographies about great leaders in government, business, the church, non-profits, and academia. I’ve sat and learned from powerful and inspirational teachers and speakers on leadership. What a privilege it’s been to learn so much from so many varied and diverse people. 

And I want to share what I’ve learned with you, to help you grow as a leader and lead your team and organization to what you KNOW they could be achieving. 

Here’s the thing about leadership – you don’t HAVE to be a leader. You don’t! You can continue doing what you’ve always done, following along, not making waves, trying not to see what could be, and keeping your head down.

It’s possible.

But if you’re a leader – deep down inside – you know what it means to have that hunger. The hunger for things to get better. For your team or organization to improve. To be more effective in your mission. To make a difference.

A hunger for significance. 

The quote above by Carey Nieuwhof is one of my favorites. “Leaders who make the most progress make the fewest excuses.” 

It’s time to stop the excuses why you can’t do it. It’s time to lead.