What makes the world's best leaders so successful?
Find out in these full-length conversations — rich with life lessons, aha moments, and stories you won't forget.
Roy WilliamsGet better every single day
If you want big, consistent success, it takes small, daily discipline. Find a way to get better every day, even in just a small way. Those little improvements compound and add up!
Prepare for pressure
How you deal with pressure can make or break your career – not to mention your sense of well being. Here’s how to develop the habits and awareness you need to be ready and regulated.
Consistency creates results
There’s always a gap between doing the right things and seeing the results. Here’s how to stay consistent through that gap – with unwavering standards, constant belief, and a steady demeanor.
Belief is a practice
We often say we want one thing, then turn around and make choices that contradict it. Here’s what it takes to build a culture where belief shows up in everyone’s actions, not just their words.
Hit the ground listening
Everyone says to “hit the ground running.” But the leaders who really transform things know how to actively listen, right from day one.
Bet on yourself
Want to build a career and a life you really love? You’ve got to make a big bet – not on a company or an idea – but on yourself.
A great customer experience is an act of love
Truly great customer experiences are rooted in love – a deep empathy for your customers' problems, plus a genuine desire to solve them.
The power of emotional intelligence
Yes, you need a great product. But to truly build something extraordinary, you need to be great with people – emotionally aware, caring, and connected. That's as key to your bottom line as your product.
Culture is rooted in behavior, not words
You can't have a great work culture just by talking about values. Those values have to take shape through behavior—what gets recognized, prioritized, and amplified each and every day.
People skills matter most
You can have the best product or the most cutting edge technology, but if you don't work well with people, it's hard to excel as a leader. Make people skills a priority, and everything else will get easier.
Deep listening builds deep trust
Instead of thinking about what you're going to say next or trying to steer the conversation, slow down and truly listen. When you do, people feel it. It creates a level of trust that makes everything else possible.
See around corners
Today's problems are important, but don't let them keep you from focusing on the future, too. Be intentional about looking ahead so you don't get caught flat-footed when big changes happen.
How to find common ground
Disagreement is a part of leadership. When you understand how to bridge those differences and learn from the opposition, you can accomplish exponentially more than leaders who only work with like-minded people.
Build for what’s next
Most leaders react to growth after it happens. By then, their own company is a bottleneck. Instead, build for what's next. That way, you've got the infrastructure and organizational capabilities in place before you need them, not after.
Separate who you are from what you do
It's dangerous to make your job your entire identity. With that mentality, failure can crush you, fear can paralyze you, and burnout is practically inevitable. Separate who you are from what you do, and you'll be free to perform at your best.
Experiment and learn by doing
Give yourself permission to experiment. Try stuff, see what works, and then adjust what doesn't. Sometimes, the very act of doing something is the best way to learn and grow.
See the best in people
When it comes to people, be an optimist. Look for the best in them and deal from a place of trust and service. That's how you build lasting relationships and become the person people want to work with.
Serve others with radical hospitality
Give every person great service and attention in your business, whether that's customers, employees, or partners. That kind of 'radical hospitality' helps you build relationships and create a competitive advantage no one can replicate.
Progress over perfection
Don't wait until you have 100% of the plan to move forward. If you're clear on almost everything, take action. You can figure out the last 20% as you go. Momentum matters more than having all the answers.
Understand the soul of your brand
Take time to define the soul of your brand – what it's really all about. That clarity can inform your creative decisions and help you stay relevant no matter how consumer tastes evolve.