5 Leadership Thoughts from Robin Sharma

Robin Sharma is considered to be one of the top 5 leadership experts in the world. His work is embraced by rock stars, royalty, billionaires, and many celebrity CEOs. His mission statement is to help people and organizations around the world lead without a title. Here are our favorite quotes from Sharma:

1. “We are all here for some special reason. Stop being a prisoner of your past. Become the architect of your future.” Everyone makes mistakes, everyone misses the mark. Leaders understand their imperfect selves, know how to apologize, and own up to mistakes. But they also know how to move on. Use the same energy you may have used to shame yourself in the past to put towards learning from mistakes and building a brighter future, bringing others along the journey.

2. “Everything is created twice, first in the mind and then in reality.” We often hear stories of people who’ve been inspired by their dreams. Think of Paul McCartney’s story of how his hit song “Yesterday” came to him in a dream or Mendeleev’s dream-inspired construction of the periodic table of elements. Leaders understand that creativity comes when your mind is free and at rest. If you are having trouble solving problems or critically thinking, try changing scenery, getting quality rest, or being around people that energize you. Once you have your idea, surround yourself with a team that can help make your new creation a reality.

3. “Dreamers are mocked as impractical. The truth is they are the most practical, as their innovations lead to progress and a better way of life for all of us.” Do you have a dream? An idea? Don’t be afraid to innovate and try new ways of doing things. Leaders have had the courage to try and fail all throughout history and you have the same opportunity. You have no idea how many people depend on it.

4. “What the society thinks is of no interest to me. All that's important is how I see myself. I know who I am. I know the value of my work.” Today, we are living in a hyper-distracted, input-stimulated, over-sharing society. Every leader will feel the pull to be liked by all, to follow the status quo, to assimilate. Sharma explains that a person who fiercely protects their productivity, ferociously expresses their greatest talents, and joyfully does work that serves many is considered weird. Sharma consistently warns us not to be those who flee our creativity via an addiction to escapism on our phones, mindless video games, and following the days of people we don’t even know on social media. The job of society is to get you to fit in, never stand out.

5. “Never overlook the power of simplicity.” 50% of consumers claim they will pay more for a brand that delivers a simpler experience. Think of Amazon’s one click to buy experience, or Costco’s promise to deliver the best bulk deals, or Apple’s uncomplicated product design - people are obsessed with simplicity. You can harness the power of simplicity in many ways. Perhaps this week, you can choose to simplify your communication, or how you lead meetings, or parts of your lifestyle, or your decision making process.

Until next time, lead on.

The Leadr Team