28 Inspiring Leadership Quotes

Leaders throughout history have inspired us to take action, to become our best selves, to create a better world, and to ensure a brighter future. Their legacies live on in the quotes they gave us to live by. Here are some insights from leaders across the ages whose words continue to inspire us today.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.” — Margaret Mead

“I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do or any kindness I can show, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.” — Stephen Grellet

“Sometimes you have to let go of the picture of what you thought life would be like and learn to find joy in the story you are actually living.” — Rachel Marie Martin

“It’s not the strongest of the species, nor the smartest of the species that survive, but the ones most adaptable to change.” 
Charles Darwin

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” 
Maya Angelou

“Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.” — John Wooden

“Say Yes, and you’ll figure it out afterwards” — Tina Fey

“Out beyond idea of wrongdoing and righting, there is a field. I’ll meet you there. When the soul lies down in that grass the world is too full to talk about.” — Rumi

“Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it; Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.” — Goethe

“In the end, we only regret the chances we didn’t take.” — Lewis Carroll

“Folks are usually about as happy as they make their minds up to be.” — Abraham Lincoln

“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” — Nelson Mandela

“There is nothing to fear but fear itself.” — FDR

“Nothing is either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” — Shakespeare

“Never let a good crisis go to waste.” — Winston Churchill

“Strive to be an uncynical force, to be a steward of substance.” — Maria Popova

“Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.” — Henry Ford

“Expect not and thou shall not be disappointed.” — Chariji

“In any given moment we have two options: to step forward into growth or step back into safety.” — Abraham Maslow

“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.” — T.S. Eliot

“The World is full of difficulties, but its even more full of hope!” — Bob Goff

“It’s not what you get into, it’s how you get out of it.” — Miles Davis

“If one moves confidently in the directly of their dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.” — Henry David Thoreau

“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” — Howard Thurman

“It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.” — Aristotle

“Only the ideas that we actually live are of any value.” — Hermann Hesse

“The problem with real jobs…was the lack of opportunity to dance.” — Puma Sneakers

“May you always be Courageous, stand upright and be strong. May you stay forever young.” — Bob Dylan

What Award-Winning CEOs Are Reading Now

While we still find ourselves in the era of social distancing, many of us have had to find new ways to pass the time while confined in our homes.

Given the circumstances, there’s never been a better time to brush up on your reading. Reading has been shown to improve communication, emotional intelligence, and organizational effectiveness. All of these traits are critical requirements for effective leadership. We were curious to know what books the world’s top impact business leaders are reading.

We asked the CEOs of the winning companies of the Real Leaders Impact Awards to tell us what books inspire them to achieve greatness as they build their careers. These are the answers we received:

The China StudyT. Colin Campbell
A Year of YesShonda Rhimes
How to Stop Worrying and Start LivingDale Carnegie
Rain of GoldVictor Villasenor
A New EarthEckhart Tolle
SiddarthaHerman Hesse
The RoadCormac McCarthy
BlinkMalcom Gladwell
Good to GreatJim Collins
The GameKen Dryden
FactfulnessHans Rosling
Winters TaleMark Helprin
First Things FirstStephen Covey
Extreme OwnershipJocko Willink
The Holocaust by BulletsFather Patrick Desbois 
The ProphetKahlil Kiyosaki
Sophie’s WorldJostein Gaarder
The Heartfulness WayKamlesh D Patel & Joshua Pollock
HiroshimaJohn Hersey
Science & Health Mary Baker Eddy
The AlchemistPaulo Coelho
The IdiotFyodor Dostoevsky
The Hard Thing About Hard ThingsBen Horowitz
Leadership: In Times of CrisisDoris Kearns Goodwin
New Rules for the New EconomyKevin Kelly
Hillbilly ElegyJD Vance
SapiensYuval Harari
Selling the InvisibleHarry Beckwith
Seven Storey MountainThomas Merton
Let My People Go SurfingYvon Chouinard
The Four AgreementsDon Miguel Ruiz
Playing BigTara Mohr
City of ThievesDavid Benioff
A Light in the AtticShel Silverstein
Into Thin AirJohn Krakauer
Things Fall ApartChinua Achebe
Divine PoemsJohn Donne
The Big Orange SplotDaniel Pinkwater
Nine Lies About WorkMarcus Buckingham
What Works in Stressful TimesHamish McRae
Selling Without Selling OutSunny Vanderbeck

World’s Top Impact Companies – Call for Entries

The Real Leaders Impact Awards honors the top impact companies applying capitalism for greater profit and greater good. This award helps companies attract new business, top talent, and raise awareness within their industry as well as the impact investing community. You deserve to have your company recognized as one of the world’s top impact companies. Apply for the 2021 Real Leaders Impact Awards before August 31st to get our special Early Bird Rate.

A List Of Resources For Supporting The Black Lives Matter Movement

As protests continue around the world, we must call for action. The chaotic images of cities around the world may have you feeling helpless, but there are many ways you can support ending police violence, help the cause of racial justice, and support the broader Black Lives Matter movement. We’ve gathered a list of ways to help and educate yourself below:

Charities and Funds

  • Action Bail Fund, organized by Black Lives Matter LA, is supported by White People 4 Black Lives. 100% of donations go directly to support bail, fees, and medical costs associated with actions. Donate here.
  • Black Visions Collective is “a Black-led, Queer and Trans centering organization whose mission is to organize powerful, connected Black communities and dismantle systems of violence…through building strategic campaigns, investing in Black leadership, and engaging in cultural and narrative organizing.” Donate via the organization’s website here.
  • The Brooklyn Bail Fund is “committed to challenging the racism, inequality, and injustice of a criminal legal system and immigration and deportation regime that disproportionately target and harm low-income communities of color.” Donate here.
  • The National Bail Out is “a Black-led and Black-centered collective of abolitionist organizers, lawyers and activists building a community-based movement to support our folks and end systems of pretrial detention and ultimately mass incarceration.” Donate here.
  • Unicorn Riot is a non-profit media organization dedicated to fair, on-the-ground reporting on civil disobedience, police brutality and white supremacy. Donate here. Donate here.
  • National Police Accountability Project: This group, a project of the National Lawyers Guild, helps people find legal counsel and to effect change in the flawed legal system. More info here.
  • Campaign Zero, a police reform group that has been working on policy solutions “informed by data and human rights principles.” More info here.
  • Color of Change launched a petition asking that all the officers involved in Floyd’s death are brought to justice. Sign here.
  • Justice for George Floyd” petition on Change.org already has 8.5 million supporters. Sign here.
  • NAACP Legal Defense Fund: Donate today to help advance the cause of racial justice, equality, and an inclusive society. More info here.

Articles, Resources and Tools

  • Anti-racism resources for white people (by Sarah Sophie Flicker and Alyssa Klein)
  • Twitter Thread: What To Do If You Can’t Donate Right Now (via @traderjosephina)
  • 100 black creatives inspiring change (via The Dots)
  • 75 things white people can do for racial injustice (via Medium)
  • Ways to help (via Black Lives Matter)
  • IG: 10 steps to non-optical allyship (via Mireille Harper)
  • IG: Transform Allyship into Action: A Toolkit for Non-Black People (via Social Justice in Medicine Coalition at USC)
  • Twitter Thread: Advice for companies from Sheree Atcheson, Monzo’s Head of Diversity and Inclusion (Via Sheree Atcheson)
  • How to protest safely during a pandemic (via VICE)
  • Talking About Race (via Smithsonian)
  • Confronting Prejudice: How to Protect Yourself and Help Others: Pepperdine University

Michael B. Jordan Fights for Justice in New Film

A powerful and thought-provoking true story, “Just Mercy” follows young lawyer Bryan Stevenson (Jordan) and his history-making battle for justice. After graduating from Harvard, Bryan had his pick of lucrative jobs. Instead, he heads to Alabama to defend those wrongly condemned or who were not afforded proper representation, with the support of local advocate Eva Ansley (Larson). One of his first, and most incendiary, cases is that of Walter McMillian (Foxx), who, in 1987, was sentenced to die for the notorious murder of an 18-year-old girl, despite a preponderance of evidence proving his innocence and the fact that the only testimony against him came from a criminal with a motive to lie. In the years that follow, Bryan becomes embroiled in a labyrinth of legal and political maneuverings and overt and unabashed racism as he fights for Walter, and others like him, with the odds—and the system—stacked against them. 

Director: Destin Daniel Cretton 

Writers: Destin Daniel Cretton & Andrew Lanham 

Producers: Gil Netter, Asher Goldstein, Michael B. Jordan 

Executive Producers: Bryan Stevenson, Mike Drake, Niija Kuykendall, Gabriel Hammond, Daniel Hammond, Scott Budnick, Jeff Skoll, Charles D. King 

Cast: Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx, Rob Morgan, Tim Blake Nelson, Rafe Spall, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Karan Kendrick and Brie Larson 

Based on the book by Bryan Stevenson 

Serena Williams and Mark Cuban Invest in Digital Support Network for New Moms

Serena Williams and Mark Cuban are investing $3 million in Mahmee, a startup that provides resources for mothers during pregnancy and through the first critical year of parenthood.

There is a gap between the quality of care for pregnant mothers versus mothers who have just given birth. The most vulnerable time for mothers and babies is from birth to the their first birthday. Mahmee provides online group discussions with other moms going through this critical time and also connects them to medical providers. Physicians and specialists can share care plans while providing parents with personalized support and education. 

Around 700 women die from pregnancy-related complications in the United States each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control. This is the worst maternal death rate of any developed country. The statistic really hit home for tennis legend Serena Williams. When her daughter was delivered through emergency C-section, she developed blood clots in her lungs and Williams was hospitalized for a week, confined to her bed at home for six weeks and incapacitated for another two months. 

In a recent press release Williams said, “Given the bleak data surrounding maternal death and injuries, I believe that it’s absolutely critical right now to invest in solutions that help protect the lives of moms and babies. Mahmee’s data-driven approach is the right solution to one of the most significant problems in the healthcare system: That of fragmented care.”

Mark Cuban added, “This tech solution is helping usher in the future of maternity health care.”

UN Secretary-General’s Message for World Refugee Day

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for World Refugee Day, observed on 20 June:

On World Refugee Day, my thoughts are with the more than 70 million women, children and men — refugees and internally displaced persons — who have been forced to flee war, conflict and persecution. 

This is an astonishing number — twice what it was 20 years ago.  Most of the forcibly displaced came from just a handful of countries — Syria, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Myanmar and Somalia.  In the past 18 months, millions more have fled Venezuela.

I want to recognize the humanity of countries that host refugees even as they struggle with their own economic challenges and security concerns.  We must match their hospitality with development and investment. It is regrettable that their example is not followed by all. We must re-establish the integrity of the international protection regime.

The Global Compact on Refugees, adopted last December, offers a blueprint for modern refugee response. What refugees need most urgently is peace.  Millions of people around the world have joined UNHCR’s [Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees] World Refugee Day campaign and are taking steps, big and small, in solidarity with refugees.  Will you take a step with refugees too?

Leadership Lessons from Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones (GoT) has become a cultural phenomenon since airing its first episode on HBO in 2011. Your favorite character may not have ended up on the throne but the best leader always prevailed. For a show that revolves around power, it’s important to comprehend how different characters obtained and sustained leadership. This review breaks down the leadership qualities of 4 dominant leaders; Ned and Sansa Stark, Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen.

 

WARNING SPOILER ALERT ahead.

 

Lord Ned Stark: The Commander – Honorable, Traditional, Value Driven

From the first episode of the series Lord Ned Stark faced leadership challenges. Ned stayed true to hierarchy as there was a pecking order in Westeros that he wanted to honor. King Robert Boratheon asked Ned Stark to be his hand (right hand man) and he agreed. Although he knew this would put his family’s life in danger he felt a duty to the King. In Ned’s mind there is only right and wrong, no grey areas. This is problematic for Lord Stark because he failed to consider his constituents who held opposing values. Ned’s oversight leads to his demise after discovering the illegitimacy of the kids between King Boratheon and Cersei Lannister. In a dissonance of right vs. wrong Ned’s core values lead him to reveal the truth. Cersei Lannister, the most fearful woman in all of Westeros made sure truth would not be broken and handed the kingdom Lord Stark’s head.

Take away: Ned allowed his own personal values to blind him to potential risk and destroyed partnerships that could have been beneficial to him. The lesson learned is to not trust others will to prioritize the same core values as your own. Before you dedicate time to a business relationship first assess how your values align with the other party (or tyrant). Practicing self-awareness will stabilize your success as a leader.

Jon Snow: The Protagonist – Natural leader, Servant Leader, Altruistic

Jon Snow is the character we all want our world leaders to be. His core values of truth, empathy, community and courage lead him on a righteous path. He never has any interest in taking a leadership role, yet people are enticed to follow him. From the beginning of the show, Jon is trying to prove that he is more than a bastard and he belongs in the royal Stark family. Growing up an outsider in his own family made Jon wants to be as inclusive as possible. In a world full of agendas, Jon is one of the few to lead with 100% honesty. Jon’s strong suit is bringing people together around a common cause like he did with House Targaryen, Wildings and Northmen to defeat the Whitewalkers. The desire to prove himself drives him to become the greatest warrior in Westeros. He never enjoyed fighting in battle but wanted to serve his people. This lead to serve mentality made him easy to follow because of his honest intentions.

Take away: Everyone is much more willing to follow someone who is out on the battlefield with them. It is important that your followers know you are committed to a cause higher than yourself.

Daenerys Targaryen: The Visionary – Follows a Prophecy, Bold, Egotistical

The mother of dragons began her journey with a vision of conquering the throne that was stripped from her family when her father was killed. She envisioned a kingdom with no slavery or war and the lines of morality were clear as day but when she is faced with complicated scenarios she obstructed her main goal. She frees slaves by arming them so they can kill their masters. The goal was accomplished, but at what cost? After freeing the slaves, she fails to install any form of power structure. Once she leaves those cities, the masters take back power –  reinstituting slavery. In her final scene, Daenerys tells Jon “It’s not easy to see something that has never been before,” and followed a vision that she couldn’t sustain. Her lack of experience led to losing sight of why she was doing all this in the first place as she became the very thing she was fighting against – a tyrant.

Take away: If you are the kind of leader with big ideas, you must surround yourself with experienced leaders who can help share that vision but keep in mind that the mark of a true leader is one who wants their organization to be better than when they leave it.

Sansa Stark: The Observer- Patient, Observant, Value-driven

Sansa Stark is one of the most unexpected leaders in Game of Thrones. She spent her entire childhood dreaming of marrying a prince and living happily ever after. Instead of marrying Prince Charming, she is forced into multiple unhealthy relationships with atrocious partners. Sansa survived traumatic experiences that would have broken the average person’s spirit. Instead, Sansa makes the best of a bad situation by taking insights about the power of her competition while still maintaining the values instilled in her by her father, Ned. She listens politely and solves problems with patience.

Sansa’s journey allowed her to recognize whether or not someone is working for her best interest. Her strong judge of character presents itself in her distrust of Daenerys. Sansa wanted Wintefell to return to independence and she knew Daenerys would not allow it. Even after Daenerys is killed and Bran takes the throne, Sansa still demands that Winterfell remain independent – allowing her to become Queen of the North. The hardships of Sansa’s life never shifted her values. She remained patient and learned from everyone she came into contact with.

Take away: Sometimes the most important lessons are learned through adversity, remaining patient through life’s obstacles will result in long-term success.

Understanding these leadership principles displayed by the characters in Game of Thrones can teach us this; false leaders pursue their prophecies to paradise while true leaders recognize imperfections in pursuit of a better world. Honor is important but don’t expect the people around you to operate at the same level. Servant leaders are incredibly easy to follow but a vision with no plan leads to chaos. Patience comes through devastation and shortfalls but battling through life’s challenges will enhance your long-term decisions.  

Which character are you?

Remembering Nipsey Hussle: A Leader Los Angeles Needed

A dark cloud of despair has hung over the city of Los Angeles since Grammy-nominated rapper Nipsey Hussle was shot and killed outside his clothing store in L.A. on March 31st. With his passing, Los Angeles mourns more than just a music icon.  

Nipsey, whose real name was Ermias Asghedom, was also an entrepreneur, cultural advocate, and leader of the black community. He lent his voice and influence to those who might not otherwise have had the chance to be heard.

Nipsey was always thinking outside the box. When he was 12-years old he built a computer from spare parts, the very same computer he began to make music on. After selling CDs from his car he started gaining a fanbase. Instead of signing to a major record label, he sold 1,000 copies of his “Crenshaw” mixtape for $100 each and used the proceeds to launch his own record label, All Money In. He was never afraid to take a gamble on himself and this attitude laid the groundwork for a new generation of artists to start releasing their music independently — from Chance the Rapper to Frank Ocean.

Since the start of his music career, Nipsey has always been an advocate for his hometown, the Crenshaw District of Los Angeles, whose street names have been featured in the titles of two of his mixtapes “Slauson Boy” and “Crenshaw.” Even his apparel store, Marathon Clothing, can be found at the intersection of Crenshaw  and Slauson Avenues, one of the primary business hubs in South L.A.

The Marathon honors those that don’t quit from the endeavors they commit to. Nipsey equated the reality of success and greatness to a rollercoaster ride — filled with ups and downs, and emphasized the importance of perseverance. Nipsey and his brother Sam employed the people they grew up with, and those fresh out of prison who couldn’t find decent work. They also made a point to use unknown models to promote their clothing line, to give people exposure they wouldn’t otherwise get. The brothers understood well the roadblocks their peers face in getting jobs, so they created opportunities that prevented them giving up and returning to the streets.

Some of Nipsey’s other real estate endeavors included a Fatburger restaurant, a seafood market and a barbershop. His goal was to create similar business hubs around the country, that benefited the black community and that established a foothold against new, outside businesses moving in and closing down local business.  

“All money in, no money out” was Nipsey’s motto for encouraging the black community to invest their money in something, rather than spend it frivolously. Nipsey was an activist for black entrepreneurship, unity, economic affluence, and self-sustainability. His devotion to giving a voice to the black community is reflected in his advocacy for the project “Destination Crenshaw,” an open-air museum spanning a mile  and designed to celebrate black history and culture through art exhibits. It aimed to capture the value of what communities create, while allowing the creators to reap the benefits of exposure.

Nipsey’s investments in the community reach much further than real estate, he invested in people too. He was an investor in Vector90, a co-working space where young students could take classes in math, science and technology, most notably through a program called “Too Big to Fail” that links inner-city youth to Silicon Valley. Having dropped out of high school himself, Nipsey understood the hardship for black and brown kids in the education system. While growing, up he never felt that his efforts where being properly recognized in school. This is why he invested in the 59th Street Elementary School, donating money to make sure every student got a new pair of shoes, and also renovated the basketball courts and playgrounds. He understood the importance of education in the development of youth in his community, and hoped to place a brighter future in their hands.

Nipsey Hussle was living proof that no matter where you come you have the ability to lead for a better tomorrow. He was such a towering figure in the community that his memorial service was held at Staples Center — with a capacity of over 21,000. Not only did he create change in his community, his actions will inspire a new generation of leaders around the country. From his efforts, the youth of Los Angeles have been exposed to a wealth of new opportunity that they could only dream about before. His music and business lessons will live on forever. The marathon continues.

 

Earth Day: Take Part in the Biggest Volunteer Event in History

Earth Day Network is implementing a nationally coordinated environmental volunteer cleanup to mark Earth Day 2019, in collaboration with partners across the U.S., including National CleanUp Day and Keep America Beautiful. All over the country people are encouraged to get up, get out, and help clean their communities to celebrate Earth Day on 22 April.

People have a right to expect a clean environment and can exercise that right by helping to clean their own communities. More than 3,000 cleanups are planned for green spaces, urban landscapes and waterways, in conjunction with grassroots organizations. Events will take place throughout the remainder of the month of April.

“The Great Global Cleanup will bring together millions of people around the globe to create the largest coordinated volunteer event in history,” Earth Day Network President Kathleen Rogers said. “We are excited to kick off in cities across the U.S. in 2019, and to expand globally in 2020 in honor of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day.”

Plastic pollution and waste challenge every community, every day, and these cleanups offer a chance to make a real difference. Cleanups are planned in over 80 cities and towns, including Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Richmond, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, D.C.

More cities and sites are being added every day and volunteer registration is open now. Sign up here.

Earth Day Network’s mission is to diversify, educate, and activate the environmental movement worldwide. Growing out of the first Earth Day in 1970, Earth Day Network now works with more than 50,000 partners in 190 countries to build environmental democracy. More than one billion people now participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world.

The Earth Day 2019 Cleanup aims to inspire volunteerism and achieve a tangible impact on the waste we see in our environment. The campaign includes mobile registration, digital mapping, social media, photo sharing, corporate volunteer engagement, and data collection on the cleanup results.

Building on best practices from 2019, this event will then be scaled up for the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day in 2020, which will be known as the Great Global Cleanup, featuring more than 100,000 events globally with a goal of collecting more than one billion pieces of trash.

For more information visit: earthday.org/greatglobalcleanup.