Leadership is a constant struggle. It’s never easy. You may have a good day, but you probably won’t have two good days in a row. That’s the surprise most people never see coming.
When we think of leadership, we often envision the wins — the motivating speeches, the successful launches, and the sense of achievement. But the truth is, leadership is just as much about the setbacks, the disappointments, and the constant effort to keep moving forward despite them. There is a price to pay.
Leadership brings incredible benefits: satisfaction, purpose, and energy that come from seeing things go well. But those moments of triumph are surrounded by countless failures, frustrations, and long stretches of uncertainty. The best leaders aren’t those who avoid failure, but those who can keep learning from it and pressing on.
I once had a young entrepreneur ask me, “What do I need to do to start a new business?” My answer was simple: keep your day job. Start your business as a side hustle first. Devote an additional 15 hours a week to developing your leadership skills by reading, listening, and learning from others who’ve been there before.
Some people have no business going into business. If you’re not willing to give an extra 15 hours a week for at least a year or two, you don’t need to start a new business. Because the biggest leadership surprise isn’t how much you’ll gain, it’s how much you’ll have to give before you ever see results.
Leadership is a constant struggle, but it also comes with deep rewards. The question isn’t whether you want the success that leadership brings. The real question is, are you ready for the hard work that comes with it?
