Leadership is a tricky thing to pinpoint. We have all sorts of stereotypical visions of what leadership is and there are more philosophies than any of us care to admit. But we rarely consider the idea of self-leadership. So, here’s a confession: I am my own worst enemy when it comes to organization skills and focus. That’s pretty ironic given I have to map out a path to pretty much everything I do. That being the case, it was refreshing when I got the opportunity to read Michael Hyatt and Daniel Harkavy’s recently released and best-selling book Living Forward: A Proven Plan to Stop Drifting and Get the Life You Want a few weeks ago. Since being sent the book as part of the launch team, I have been stewing over the contents and wisdom it provides. Truth be told, there is not one piece of earth shattering content in it. So, if you are looking for the “secret sauce” you may be disappointed to learn that it’s something you already know: personal investment is the main thing missing in most life plans. To get where you want to go, you have to be intentional and methodical in your spiritual and physical well-being.

Self-Leadership precedes team leadership.

Self-Leadership precedes team leadership. This is an oft-repeated refrain throughout the book, and one that readers will be wise to take to heart. If you can’t get yourself on a productive course, why on earth would you expect people to follow you?  The only thing worse than a person being adrift in life is to have a full team adrift with them. “Each day is filled with thousands of opportunities to change the stories of our lives.” That starts right now. And it continues with every moment hereafter. Take a look at what you want from life, then look at where you are at and move toward that vision. It’s simple in concept, hard to do in practice. And that is the brilliance of Living Forward’s simplicity.

Self-Leadership means making choices.

“The right choices today will radically alter the shape of tomorrow.”  It sounds cliché and it sort of is, if we are being honest. That doesn’t undermine the truth within it though. A plan not only gives you direction toward a vision, it helps keep you on the path that leads to its fruition. In fact, it also gives you the chance to turn setbacks into momentum. For instance, when negative things happen, ask “what does this experience make possible?”

Did you see how that change in mindset shifted the focus of the moment? Did you see how something that could result in dwelling on the past transformed into a perspective that is forward thinking? The right questions and responding to questions like that make all the difference.

Self-Leadership means proper balance

One of the biggest take-a-ways from Living Forward for me is the perspective the authors provide on balance. We often think of balance as being equal weights. However, that is not the perspective proposed herein. Instead, balance is a matter of appropriateness. As you go through the book and begin making your life plan, you will be presented with the challenge of writing your own eulogy. That sounds dark, yes. But it puts you into the proper mindset for questioning how you want to be remembered. Like it or not, we are all building and leaving a legacy. Considering your eulogy helps you consider your why, for when people lose their why, they lose their way.

“Our legacy comprises the spiritual, intellectual, vocational and social capital we pass on. It’s the sum total of the beliefs you embrace, the values you live by, the love you express, and the service you render to others. It’s the you-shaped stamp you leave when you go.”

Self-Leadership with joy and contentment.

I love that idea quoted above. If you are leading (or even following) with joy and contentment, you have clarity of your priorities and are aware of your direct. You are not adrift, and Hyatt and Harkavy do a magnificent job of helping readers prepare a simple, straight-forward system for getting there.  You’ll be challenged to think about yesterday, consider where you are, plan your future and put all the interconnected pieces together. You’ll be challenged to say no to things. You’ll be granted the permission to say yes to your self and move beyond your present circumstances.

Buy Living Forward from Amazon