I turn 40 years old at 11:11 am today. It has been one hell of a ride filled with extreme lows and highs – just as everything meaningful is. Here are 40 leadership lessons I have learned in 40 years about life, death, love, heartbreak, and success.
- You don’t get what you deserve. You get what you go after.
- Allow yourself to love and be loved.
- You cannot be a great leader of others until you first become a great leader of yourself.
- There is nothing more dangerous than your ego on the hunt to prove its worthiness.
- Love people enough to tell them the truth.
- Find your voice, and you will find your confidence.
- The bridge between your suffering and your healing is forgiveness.
- You cannot love people into your version of existence.
- Guilt is a sign that you walked away from the truth of who you are.
- Don’t drown quietly. Ask for help.
- Go to therapy when you need it.
- When you’re not sure what to say, start with empathy.
- Take time for things that bring you joy.
- Believe in something bigger than yourself.
- Take radical responsibility for your energy.
- Stop trying to prove you belong and act like you belong.
- Sometimes you will play bigger than others are ready for. Play big anyways!
- Refuse to own others’ insecurities.
- Authenticity trumps everything else.
- We can all be assholes, so give people a break.
- Mind your business. Most things have nothing to do with you.
- Don’t give toxic people an audience.
- Laugh every chance you get.
- Be around people who challenge you to dream bigger and think deeper.
- Relax. Most things are not as serious as you make them out to be.
- It is okay to change your mind.
- You always know the next right answer. Trust it.
- Be a kind driver. Always let other cars over.
- Presence is the greatest gift you can give someone.
- It is denial that holds us back from growth, not other people.
- You can honor your emotions without being emotional.
- You can make something purposeful come from anything.
- You’re not what you think. You’re what you act on.
- Don’t hang people’s feedback on your soul.
- Hold onto friends who make you feel less alone in the world.
- Walk away when you are consistently being pulled out of the truth of who you are.
- There is enough success for everyone. Support others.
- Courageous action will take you further in life than fear ever will.
- You have the right and freedom, at any moment, to redefine who you want to be.
- Hold hands with people you love.
Which one of these lessons resonates most with you? What has been your biggest life-lesson so far? Send me a message. I’d love to know what you’re thinking.
And remember: If no one tells you they believe in you today, I believe in you!
Justin Patton, CSP®
Justin Patton is a trust keynote speaker, leadership coach, and founder of The Trust Architect Group. Through his trademark motto, Trust Starts Here™, Justin helps leaders build trust in themselves, with others, and across their culture, so they keep people coming back for more.
