LEAD YOUR
SELF
By Chris Cooper · Coming Soon
After working with thousands of entrepreneurs, one pattern became undeniable: the external problems — cash flow, team, growth — are almost always symptoms of internal ones. This book is about fixing the root cause.
Get notified when it launches
FIX THE OWNER,
FIX THE BUSINESS.
Your business will rise to the level of its marketing, but fall to the level of its leadership. In most cases, we are the thing holding our business back.
"It's me. Hi. I'm the problem. It's me." — Taylor Swift
You read 10 business books every year but your business never seems to change.
You're giving your staff a good income, but they keep leaving anyway.
You're shocked when a client leaves because of all the 'extras' you did for them.
You sign up for challenges but don't complete them.
You double your social media game but it doesn't change anything.
You sign up for mentorship but don't get a good result because you don't do the work.
READING BOOKS
ISN'T ENOUGH.
Reading leadership books is, for most people, a waste of time. Not because the books are wrong. Not because they don't have the potential to help us. But they're a waste of time because we don't apply them.
As with everything else in business, reading a book won't solve our problems. We have to practice the principles, test and measure their effect, reflect on them to make them permanent, and tweak to our specific needs. Then we need to try them again, and repeat the cycle.
This means that most of us would do better to read 5 books a year than 50. The problem with reading 50 books is that our new lesson replaces the old lesson before we have time to make it permanent.
The Test
Name a leadership book you read a year ago or more that you still use at least once per week.
When I first did this test, I could name 3 — but they were all books I'd read at least 3 times over.
THE FOUR REALMS
OF LEADERSHIP
Leadership develops in stages. Not all leadership is the same. A positive leader follows a scientific process — try, measure, reflect, adjust.
LEAD YOUR SELF
Before you can lead anyone, you must master yourself. Focus, discipline, emotional regulation — the internal work that makes everything else possible.
LEAD YOUR TEAM
Lead those with strong incentives to follow — your employees. Build systems, coach performance, create consistency.
LEAD YOUR PEERS
Lead those without a strong incentive to follow — peers and family. Influence without authority.
LEAD YOUR TRIBE
Lead a community with varying degrees of separation, through inspiration and storytelling.
The Progression
Therapy takes you from -1 to ground 0. Leadership coaching takes you from 0 to 1… then to 2, then 3, then level 4. You won't have the conviction, the confidence, or the influence to lead at higher levels until you've been successful at each of these other levels.
WHERE SHOULD
YOU START?
Rate yourself honestly on a scale of 1 to 5 for each statement, where 1 is "not at all" and 5 is "consistently true." This will tell you which leadership book to pick up first.
SELF-LEADERSHIP
I can focus without distraction for a full hour.
I recover quickly from setbacks, stress or negative feedback.
I can sustain deep thinking and problem-solving for several hours without losing quality.
When unexpected changes happen, I adjust quickly without frustration or loss of momentum.
I can delay immediate gratification and stay committed to long-term goals.
I have a clear sense of my values and make decisions aligned with them.
TEAM LEADERSHIP
I have documented systems and processes for all recurring tasks in my business.
I regularly train my staff to ensure consistency in delivery.
I evaluate staff performance objectively and provide timely feedback.
I coach my team members to help them grow beyond their current roles.
I delegate effectively and don't need to micromanage.
I communicate clear expectations and hold my staff accountable.
PEER LEADERSHIP
I build strong partnerships that create win-win opportunities.
I can influence peers to take action even when I have no authority over them.
I maintain credibility and trust in professional and personal circles.
I step into leadership roles during times of crisis and provide clarity.
I share knowledge and resources generously without expecting immediate return.
I collaborate effectively with peers to achieve shared goals.
18 questions remaining
SELF-LEADERSHIP
"If you want to go fast, go alone."
These books will help you develop the mental fitness, clarity, and resilience to lead yourself effectively. Fix the owner, fix the business.
Jay Shetty
Learn to quiet your mind, find clarity, and make decisions aligned with your values.
View on AmazonRick Rubin
Discover how to tap into your creativity and sustain deep thinking without burning out.
View on AmazonRyan Holiday
Build the courage to face fear, take action, and lead through uncertainty.
View on AmazonBrené Brown
Develop vulnerability-based leadership and emotional resilience.
View on AmazonSteven Pressfield
Overcome resistance and develop the discipline to do the work that matters.
View on AmazonDaniel Pink
Understand intrinsic motivation and how to align your actions with long-term goals.
View on AmazonTEAM LEADERSHIP
"If you want to go far, go together."
These books focus on leading people who have a clear incentive to follow you. Getting your business out of your head and creating systems takes you from -1 to ground 0. Creating the cycle of documentation, delivery, evaluation and coaching takes you from 0 to 1, 2, 3…
William Vanderbloemen
Learn to hire, develop, and retain exceptional team members.
View on AmazonJohn Maxwell
Make the critical shifts necessary to become a more effective leader of people.
View on AmazonPEER LEADERSHIP
"Share the mission with others beyond your control."
Most entrepreneurs never reach this level because their customers are usually compelled to keep dealing with them. But the best entrepreneurs are good at peer leadership — you want to keep doing business with them because of who they are, not what they sell. Influence is built fastest in times of crisis.
Donald Miller
Learn to clarify your message and connect with people emotionally.
View on AmazonBob Burg & John David Mann
Discover how generosity and service create lasting influence.
View on AmazonDale Carnegie
The timeless classic on building relationships and influencing others.
View on AmazonTRIBE LEADERSHIP
"When influence scales beyond 1:1, you begin leading tribes."
Most business owners won't need to focus here yet, but if you're ready to build a movement and influence your community at scale, these books will help.
Michael Toms
Understand the power of myth and storytelling to unite communities.
View on AmazonJocko Willink & Leif Babin
Balance the competing demands of leadership at scale.
View on AmazonPICK ONE.
APPLY IT.
Pick one book from your priority area. Read it. Then — and this is the important part — apply the Leadership Growth Cycle. Try one concept, measure what happens, reflect on why it worked or didn't, adjust and try again. Go through this cycle at least three times before you move to the next book.
Becoming a better leader isn't about eating the frog or making your bed or starting with why. It's about practicing the habits of leadership — trying new things, reflecting on the outcome, and trying again.
FIX THE OWNER, FIX THE BUSINESS.
Start with yourself. The rest will follow.
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