Change isn’t made by asking permission. Change is made by asking forgiveness, later.

People don’t believe what you tell them. They rarely believe what you show them. They often believe what their friends tell them. They always believe what they tell themselves. What leaders do: they give people stories they can tell themselves. Stories about the future and about change.

You don’t have to be in charge or powerful or pretty or connected to be a leader. You do have to be committed.

1. Transparency really is your only option.

A marketing executive who buys millions of dollars’ worth of TV time even though she knows it’s not working—she does it because her boss told her to.

Being charismatic doesn’t make you a leader. Being a leader makes you charismatic.

My friend Fred has a new book coming out and he was trolling around for marketing ideas. I think he’d be surprised at this one: Sell one. Find one person who trusts you and sell him a copy. Does he love it? Is he excited about it? Excited enough to tell ten friends because it helps them, not because it helps you?

Human beings can’t help it: we need to belong.

2. Your movement needs to be bigger than you.