S4:E10 Leadership & Success Podcast LIVE: The Daily Voyage and the Charted Course

Hi, I'm John Maxwell. When the top companies in the world are looking for trainers, speakers, and coaches, there's one name that stands above the rest, and that's Maxwell Leadership. Our certified team members have gotten proven results for companies all over the globe, and our reputation, I'm proud to say, is second to none. Some of our members have risen to the top of their profession, including the one you're going to meet today. I proudly introduce you to my friend Bob Fabien Zinga.

Welcome to the Leadership and Success Podcast with your host, Coach BZ. If you need to develop into a better leader, this podcast is for you. If you want to achieve a greater level of success, this podcast is for you. His mentor, Dr. John C. Maxwell, said it best: everything rises and falls on leadership. We hope to inspire you today and provide you with an insight that has the potential to positively impact the trajectory of your life. Welcome to the Leadership and Success Podcast.

Hello everyone, this is Coach Bizy. Very glad to see you again today. And today we are going to be talking about the second and the third law of the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by my mentor Dr. John C. Maxwell. Like I told you, this is the curriculum for this season for the Leadership and Success podcast. Let me see if I can share my screen here. Just a second. And, uh, yeah, so this is, uh, an article I wrote, looks like May 28th, about, uh, The Daily Voyage and the Charted Course: How Process and Navigation Forge Great Leaders. So Dr. Maxwell, uh, talked about leadership developing daily, not in a day, right? It is a process. Anyone can steer the ship, but it takes a leader to chart the course. So we are going to be, uh, talking about that today. And, uh, if you guys have any questions, please, uh, test them in the comment section. I'm going live on both LinkedIn and YouTube. Also let me know please where you are joining from, what city, country, state, or region. I will let my AI agent take it over from here. Joe and Mary AI, you guys are up next.

Welcome to the deep dive where we take a stack of information and extract the most important nuggets of knowledge and insight custom tailored just for you. Today we're diving into a, a really fascinating topic. It touches on personal growth, professional success, and, well, how true leadership isn't forged in a single heroic moment, but through consistent, often unseen effort.

Yeah, exactly. And our sources today, they provide some compelling insights into this whole journey. We'll be drawing pretty extensively from a LinkedIn article by Bob Fabien Zinga. He's a trusted cybersecurity exec and Navy commander. The article is called "Led: The Daily Voyage and the Charted Course." How Process and Navigation Forge Great Leaders. Okay. And, you know, to bring these concepts to life, make them really relatable, we'll also weave in some maybe surprising wisdom from motivational clips. We've got cultural icons like Will Smith, Michael Jordan, and Serena Williams.

Oh, fantastic. So our mission for this deep dive then is really to unpack this powerful yet maybe often overlooked idea that real success, especially when it comes to leadership, it isn't really about avoiding failure. Or, you know, hitting that one grand slam that defines your whole career.

Right. It's much more about embracing a continuous process of growth and crucially, having a clear roadmap, knowing where you're headed.

Yeah. So you're going to discover practical principles, things you can actually use for cultivating leadership in your daily life and within your teams too, even, and maybe especially when no one is watching.

We're going to explore how these seemingly small, consistent efforts, they actually compound into truly significant achievements. And critically, how defining your direction, your ultimate destination is— well, it's just as crucial as the sheer effort you put in. It's really about building something durable, you know, one deliberate step at a time.

Okay, let's get into it. You know, when we talk about achieving something great, there's often this big misconception right at the start. It's not about being perfect from day one, is it? Or even avoiding missteps altogether.

No, not at all. It's about how you approach those inevitable stumbles.

Right.

And what's really illuminating in our sources is this profound emphasis on Not just failing, but failing forward. John C. Maxwell, who's a pretty prominent voice in leadership circles, he's famously quoted in Bob Fabien Zinga's article saying, fail early, fail often, but always fail forward.

Fail forward. I like that. It's active.

It is.

And it's not just some catchy phrase you'd put on a, you know, a motivational poster. It's actually a strategic, almost scientific approach to growth. It fundamentally shifts your perspective. Instead of seeing failure as this dead end, like a reason to just stop, you start viewing it as an absolutely necessary data point on the path to mastery.

A data point. Okay.

Yeah. It implies this continuous feedback loop, right, where each misstep gives you invaluable information. It assures you to refine your approach, identify your blind spots, and adapt with greater precision. It's really about learning, iterating, improving, not being paralyzed by the fear of imperfection or, you know, the shame of a setback.

That makes so much sense. It makes me think about how many of us maybe instinctively, try to minimize our failures or hide them or just avoid situations where we might fail entirely.

Mm-hmm.

But our sources suggest that's exactly the wrong approach. Will Smith, in one of those YouTube clips we looked at, shares this great anecdote. It perfectly illustrates this willingness to embrace the journey of imperfection.

Ah, yeah, I remember that one.

He talks about an audition for a Broadway musical way early in his career. He poured himself into it, really wanted the part, and Well, he didn't get the job.

Right.

And for many people, that's the signal, isn't it? That's when you think, okay, maybe this isn't for me. Time to quit, retreat, fall back.

But that's the crucial pivot point. Smith vividly recounts, he explicitly says he didn't quit. He didn't fall back.

No.

Instead, he says he walked out of there to prepare for the next audition and the next audition and the next audition.

See, that's more than just perseverance, isn't it? It's an active transformation of that rejection into preparation.

Yep.

He didn't let that single outcome define him or, you know, halt his progress.

Not at all.

Instead, he channeled that experience, that specific feedback, into fueling his effort for the next opportunity. It's an understanding that each attempt, regardless of its immediate outcome, is really a building block for what's coming next. It wasn't just about moving on. It was about moving forward with intention.

Yeah.

Taking the lessons from that setback to strengthen the effort for the next one.

And then he uses this surprisingly down-to-earth analogy. It really captures the essence of this persistence. He says, you hang around the barbershop long enough, sooner or later you're going to get a haircut. So you will catch a break. And I did catch a break.

Huh.

I love that. Yeah, it's so simple but powerful. It really emphasizes that sheer persistence combined with consistent effort eventually yields results. Yeah, it suggests that just by being present, you know, by staying in the game, And by continually putting yourself in a position to succeed, even when the immediate results aren't what you hoped for, you just increase your odds. It's the cumulative effect of showing up again and again.

Then Smith takes this idea and kind of turns it into this direct challenge to the listener, asking, do you have the guts to fail? If you're not willing to fall on your face, you can't create at a high level.

Hmm.

That directly links the willingness to embrace failure with high-level creation, innovation, and ultimately leadership. It suggests that true breakthroughs, whether they're in, you know, the arts or in business or leading a team, they often emerge from this courage to experiment, stumble, and then crucially learn from those stumbles.

Right. You have to risk looking foolish sometimes.

Exactly. Without that courage, our creative output stays limited, right? Confined by the boundaries of what's comfortable and safe. It's about shedding that fear fear and embracing the vulnerability inherent in trying new things.

And Smith's final point really hammers it home, almost like a call to action: "To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did." Powerful.

It directly ties new achievements to new, potentially uncomfortable actions. It's a clear call to step outside your comfort zone, try different approaches, embrace discomfort, and really internalize the understanding that unprecedented results require unprecedented efforts.

So it's about constantly pushing your own boundaries and redefining what's possible for yourself. Acknowledging that growth, it lives outside the familiar.

Exactly. So it's not just about a single failure here or there. Our sources paint this picture where a consistent pattern of struggle and resilience is often the very bedrock of success.

Yeah, the cumulative effect. All those moments of getting back up, brushing off the dust, taking another step forward.

And if we connect this to the bigger picture, We see this recurring theme among highly successful individuals. They don't just overcome failures, they actively credit their failures as catalysts for their achievements.

Right. It wasn't a setback, it was a setup.

Precisely. It's about how they responded. Viewing setbacks not as endpoints, but as critical moments for redirection, deeper learning, and profound growth. They didn't just endure failure, they actively extracted wisdom from it. Turned what might seem like defeat into a pivotal learning experience, a refined strategy.

Yeah.

This perspective just transforms obstacles into opportunities for deeper understanding.

Think about Michael Jordan. He's often celebrated as, you know, his Airness. But in that famous commercial, he laid out his history of setbacks with almost this defiant pride.

Oh, yeah, that's iconic. He says, I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I failed over and over and over again in my life, and that is why I succeed.

Wow. Just laying it all out there.

It's not just a list of professional failures. It's this powerful testament to how those failures, that consistent engagement with the risk of not succeeding, were absolutely integral to his eventual unparalleled success. He didn't shy away from those moments that tested him. He embraced them as part of his relentless process.

And Bizzy Zinga's article draws a powerful parallel with Jordan, too. Noting that his greatness wasn't defined by talent alone; it was forged in unseen hours of relentless practice, discipline, and resilience.

Hmm.

His journey, Zinga says, is a powerful reminder that what happens in the shadows prepares us for the spotlight. It really makes you think about all the effort that goes on behind the scenes, the struggle the public often never sees, but which is absolutely critical for those defining moments of triumph.

Absolutely. It's the invisible work that builds the visible impact.

Yeah.

And this underscores a profound truth: Champions are made when no one is watching. It reinforces the idea that the true process of failing, learning, adapting, improving, the development of deep capability, it often occurs outside the public eye. Yeah, it's in those quiet, solitary moments of grit, of repeated drills, meticulous self-correction, when there are no fans, no cameras, no cheering crowds. That's where the genuine foundation of excellence is laid.

It's unglamorous.

It's totally unglamorous, but it's the consistent work that builds the capacity to perform under immense pressure and achieve greatness when it counts. It's where resilience isn't just talked about, it's forged.

And then there's Serena Williams. Her message from the Still I Rise video, wow, that truly embodies this spirit of relentless progress despite overwhelming odds. She states, the ride for me was not and has not been easy. I've had my shares of ups and downs. I've had many struggles.

Yeah, she doesn't present this fairy tale of effortless success, does she? It's a raw, honest account of a journey just fraught with challenges. It's such an important counter-narrative to the glossy highlight reels we often see.

Definitely.

And she highlights specific, profound struggles she endured that went way beyond the tennis court. She faced blood clots in both my lungs at the same time, lived through tragedies and controversies, and so powerfully felt looked past because of the color of my skin. And overlooked because I was a woman.

Unbelievable challenges.

These weren't just professional setbacks. They were deeply personal and systemic challenges that could have easily derailed her career and her spirit. Her ability to persist through such immense adversity, it just speaks volumes about her extraordinary resilience. It shows that fail forward mindset applies not just to skill, but to systemic and personal obstacles too.

And despite all those battles, she recounts critics saying, "I will never win another Grand Slam when I was only at number 7, and now here I stand today with 21 Grand Slam titles, and I'm still going." Incredible!

That's such a display of defiant persistence against external doubt and internal struggle. It's a powerful narrative of proving critics wrong, not with words, but through sheer will and continuous, unyielding effort.

Yeah, showing the power of internal belief.

And she even brings in those powerful, iconic words of Maya Angelou, reciting an excerpt from her poem: You may write me down in history with your bitter, twisted lies. You may trod me with the very dirt, but still like dust I rise. Goosebumps, right? That powerful imagery connects her personal struggles and triumphs to this universal theme of resilience and overcoming adversity. It perfectly reflects the fail forward mentality. It's about an unyielding spirit that cannot be kept down regardless of the challenges or criticisms hurled its way. It's the essence of transforming struggle into strength.

So what does this all mean for you, our listener? Whether you're facing a career setback, a failed project, or just a personal disappointment, it means failure isn't the end.

Not at all.

It's often the raw material for future success. As long as you're moving forward, it's about adopting that mindset of continuous iteration where every stumble is just a setup for your next, more informed step.

Exactly. This approach transforms potential roadblocks into launchpads for greater achievements. Because you've learned something invaluable from the experience.

Okay, so that concept of continuous effort, it's not just for individuals, right? It also profoundly shapes how leadership itself develops. We often think leadership is about these grand gestures, that one moment you step up and rally the troops. But what if true power, true influence actually lies in the mundane? This is where John C. Maxwell's irrefutable law of leadership, the law of process, reveals a maybe surprising truth.

Yeah, and this raises an important question that many aspiring leaders grapple with: how do leaders truly develop? Maxwell's answer, as quoted by Zinga, is profound and often counterintuitive: "Leadership develops daily, not in a day." Daily, not in a day. That's the core of the Law of Process. It means that every day's small efforts, every learning experience, every discipline, consistently applied, they compound to shape us into truly capable leaders. It's a compounding effect, much like, you know, interest building in a bank account. Seemingly small deposits over time lead to truly substantial growth.

So the secret is consistency, not necessarily the intensity.

Exactly. It shifts the focus from leadership being an event to it being an ongoing journey.

So it's certainly not about some magical overnight transformation. It's about the daily grind, those unseen moments when you're building your foundation brick by brick.

Right.

It's not about waiting for a big title or a grand opportunity to suddenly become a leader.

No.

It's about the consistent, often unglamorous work you put in when no one is watching. That's what truly builds your leadership muscle and prepares you for when that spotlight eventually hits.

Zinga provides some compelling personal anecdotes to illustrate this, right? From his own diverse experiences in the military and tech.

He does. He gives us this window into these crucial unseen moments that forge genuine leadership capability. He recalls his early career, describing how at like 4:30 AM on a quiet naval base, as a junior officer, he was conducting what felt like routine, almost mundane work.

What kind of work?

Things like double-checking critical messaging, inspecting secure networks, and reviewing protocol binders page by page. He notes that at the time, it felt like thankless work in the shadows, far from any spotlight of recognition.

I can imagine. But in cybersecurity, that kind of stuff is critical, isn't it?

Absolutely crucial. Unlike many visible tasks, the mundane act of reviewing a protocol binder or meticulously inspecting a network is where the real vulnerabilities are often found. A single missed detail can lead to catastrophic breaches later. So this isn't just unseen effort; it's critical risk mitigation that happens entirely out of the spotlight. That distinguishes true technical leadership.

And it's fascinating how he connects that early naval experience to his later Silicon Valley journey. Years later, at a fast-growing startup, he found himself debugging code and drafting incident response plans long after the office lights dimmed.

Mm-hmm.

Again, it was painstaking, unglamorous work that few people saw.

It really emphasizes how consistent, quiet, diligent effort is this recurring, non-negotiable theme across vastly different environments, from the highly structured military to the dynamic, fast-paced startup world.

The nature of the technical work might change, but the underlying principle of diligent unseen preparation and risk mitigation remains constant. It builds competence and character.

And then came the payoff.

Exactly. He highlights the powerful, almost inevitable payoff. When a critical cybersecurity incident struck at 2:00 AM on a Sunday, those countless hours of preparation paid off. His team navigated the crisis calmly and effectively, earning the trust of customers and the accolades of executives.

Wow, not sudden heroism, but the outcome of sustained diligence.

Precisely. Zinga emphasizes a crucial truth he learned: leadership is built in these unseen moments, and that great leadership doesn't sprout overnight. It's a continuous, incremental process. Each small, uncelebrated effort contributes to this profound cumulative effect, making you ready, capable, and confident when the spotlight finally hits.

Zinga also shares how his Navy mentors would constantly remind him that The little things matter.

Yeah, at the Center for Information Dominance, CID Core Station in Pensacola, they'd say every checklist you complete and every drill you run is a deposit in your leadership account.

A leadership account. That's a brilliant analogy, isn't it?

It really is. It frames every small, seemingly mundane task as a deliberate investment in your future capacity. It's about understanding that every act of discipline, every moment of learning adds to this reservoir of competence you can draw upon later.

Zinga admits he didn't fully get it then, but those daily deposits of effort built a reserve of confidence and competence he later drew upon when leading teams under pressure.

Mm-hmm.

Which perfectly illustrates Maxwell's insight: see what a person is doing every day, day after day, and you'll know who that person is and what he or she is becoming.

It's not just about skill acquisition; it's about character formation. Consistently showing up and doing the work. Your daily habits are truly a mirror reflecting your future self.

Yeah, solidifying who you are becoming as a leader.

So this raises an important, maybe deeply personal question for you, our listener. What do your daily routines say about you? Right? Do you carve out time to sharpen your technical skills or study your craft? Are you investing in your physical and mental fitness? Do you reflect on mistakes to extract lessons rather than just moving on?

These aren't just rhetorical questions, are they? They're invitations to a profound self-assessment, urging you to consider whether your daily actions are truly aligning with your long-term leadership aspirations. Are you making those deposits into your leadership account?

Exactly.

Because these are the ordinary actions, repeated consistently, that determine whether you'll be ready when a big opportunity or crisis arises. There is, Zinga says, no instant shortcut or secret trick. The secret is simply doing the work day in and day out.

It's a powerful reminder. While we often seek grand gestures or quick fixes, true sustainable leadership growth stems from that consistent application of effort, patience, and discipline in the seemingly mundane.

Building a robust foundation that can withstand future challenges.

Zinga also recounts those evenings at Pivotal Software, right, as a security engineer, methodically documenting security procedures and conducting dry run drills for potential cyberattacks.

Yeah, and he openly admits he initially felt it was over preparation.

That feeling of over-preparation, I think many of us can relate to that. That little voice questioning the necessity of such meticulous, unseen effort, especially when the immediate payoff isn't clear.

Mm-hmm.

It's easy to dismiss these steps as just bureaucracy when nothing is actively going wrong.

But the impact was undeniable. And crucially, it was only clear when the stakes were highest. Later, when an actual incident unfolded, our well-practiced protocols clipped like clockwork.

The trust and credibility he earned, he says, didn't come from a single heroic act. It came from months of behind-the-scenes diligence.

It highlights that while one heroic moment might grab headlines, it's the consistent, quiet, diligent work, the preparation for the crisis that never happened or the one that did, that truly builds lasting trust and proves capability.

That's the real differentiator. Between those who just react and those who lead effectively under pressure.

And this principle of consistent unseen effort, it extends far beyond cybersecurity, right?

Oh, absolutely. It's universally applicable across all fields and disciplines—software development, sales, education, healthcare, you name it. If you commit to continuous improvement and truly persevere in the shadows, nurturing your skills and your character, you will eventually emerge into the light, prepared, confident, and uniquely capable.

That really encapsulates the core promise of the Law of Process. Diligent, uncelebrated effort is never wasted. It's a strategic investment that pays dividends when you least expect it, but most need it.

Exactly. So for you, it's about recognizing that every small— the process itself becomes a tool for leadership.

Yeah. So while that daily grind and diligent process builds your foundation, you can't just keep your head down and hope for the best, right? Leadership also demands looking beyond the horizon. It's not enough to just put one foot in front of the other. You need to know where you're going and how you plan to get there. This brings us to Maxwell's fourth law, the Law of Navigation.

Yeah. And this raises that important question that defines effective leadership. What truly separates a leader from a mere manager? Maxwell's Law of Navigation states pretty unequivocally, anyone can steer the ship, but it takes a leader to chart the course.

Anyone can steer, but a leader charts the course.

It means having vision and foresight, and then translating that vision into clear, strategic direction for daily efforts. A manager might ensure the ship runs smoothly day to day, handling immediate tasks. But a leader determines the ultimate destination, anticipates the challenges, and designs the safest, most effective path. It's proactive direction, not just reactive management.

So if charting the course is the leader's big responsibility, how exactly do you do that? What are the practical steps?

It starts by envisioning the destination with clarity, rigorously anticipating obstacles, and then meticulously planning the journey to navigate those challenges. Zinga again draws powerfully on his Navy experience here. Right, the chart table. Exactly. Before any significant mission or deployment, sailors don't just jump into action; they gather around a chart table and plot their course meticulously. This involves painstaking analysis—studying weather patterns, Mapping out navigation hazards, reviewing intelligence reports, discussing contingency plans for "what if" scenarios.

That level of foresight and detailed, collaborative prep?

It's central to effective leadership, especially when the stakes are high. And in the Navy, the stakes are incredibly high.

Lives and mission success depend on it.

Absolutely. That inherent pressure ensures no detail is overlooked, no potential risk unaddressed. It transforms planning from just an administrative task into a life-or-death imperative. Underscores the profound responsibility a leader bears.

And it's not just planning, it's communicating the plan.

Critically important. A leader must not only plan ahead but also communicate the plan clearly to the crew, Maxwell advises. When you prepare well, you convey confidence and trust to people. Leaders who are good navigators are capable of taking their people just about anywhere. People follow if they trust your direction. And believe you have a well-thought-out plan. Trust isn't given lightly; it's earned through demonstrated competence, foresight, and consistent, transparent communication, building shared conviction.

And that same principle held true for Zinga in the tech world at Truvantis.

Absolutely. Mm. He recounts joining Truvantis, a cybersecurity consulting firm, and finding teams with immense talent and energy. Everyone could steer the ship in their own area, But— they lacked a unifying direction. Exactly. A collection of capable individuals, but without a clear, shared destination, their collective efforts weren't fully leveraged. Progress felt fragmented.

So, he applied those military planning principles.

He did. He worked with the teams to chart a clear course, collaboratively setting quarterly objectives, identifying potential risks, devising fallback plans. Crucially, he then communicated this roadmap to every single team member. Ensuring daily tasks aligned with the bigger mission.

Making sure it was understood, embraced, felt relevant.

Yes. And the outcome was transformational. The effect was palpable. Instead of just completing tasks, our members saw themselves as part of a journey toward a clear destination. Alignment and morale surged because everyone had a stake in the plan, understood the plan, and their respective roles within it.

Wow. A clear, shared vision as a force multiplier. Transforming individuals into a cohesive unit. It's not just about tasks; it's about purpose.

And leadership navigation also means constantly learning from past voyages, both successes and failures. Like the Navy debriefs. Right. In the Navy, they rigorously debrief after every exercise. In tech, Zinga encourages postmortems and retrospectives. These insights aren't about blame; they're about learning.

They critically inform the next plan. Integrating lessons learned systematically.

Exactly. A truly good leader is always learning and adjusting the course based on data, demonstrating commitment to continuous improvement. That cycle—plan, act, observe, adapt—it's central to effective navigation.

This raises an important point, though. What about getting help with charting? As a leader, you don't have to have all the answers yourself, right? Oh, absolutely not.

Trying to do it all in isolation can be a massive weakness. Zinga, referencing Maxwell again, notes, 'One of the greatest values of mentors is the ability to see ahead what others cannot see and to help them navigate a course to their destination.' Seek advice from those who've traveled similar paths. Yes, and strive to be that guide for others coming up behind you. 'Effective navigation isn't done in isolation. It's a team sport,' Zinga says, adding, 'There's wisdom in many counselors.' This collaborative approach ensures plans are robust, vetted, and benefit from collective wisdom.

Building collective intelligence around your vision. Precisely.

So for you, this means having that crystal clear vision for your goals, personal or professional, and then crucially involving others—your team, mentors, advisors—in mapping out the best path.

Leverage your network. Okay, so we've heard about the laws of process and navigation, seen them through the experiences of Will Smith, Michael Jordan, Serena Williams, and B.Z. Zinga. Now let's get really practical. Right. The how-to. How can you, our listener, apply these powerful principles in your own life? Whether you're a junior officer, a seasoned pro, a senior engineer stepping into leadership, these aren't just abstract concepts.

No, they're actionable strategies for your daily life. And Zinga offers 6 concrete, actionable coaching tips that bring these laws directly to life. Think of them as daily practices.

Okay.

What's the first one? First, invest in daily growth. Zinga advises, "Treat every day as a training day." This means establishing a consistent routine of continuous learning. Like what specifically? Maybe consciously choosing to read leadership books or relevant technical articles. Actively seeking feedback from trusted colleagues. Intentionally practicing a new skill, even a small one. Building that habit of self-improvement.

And the key, tying back to the Law of Process, is that small, consistent steps accumulate. Like listening to a personal development podcast on your morning commute.

Like this one, perhaps. Well, possibly.

Or making time to debrief each day's events to capture lessons. It's the compounding effect of consistent, focused effort. Exactly.

As Zinga puts it, remember, the secret of your success is hidden in your daily routine. The foundation of future achievement is laid brick by brick through those seemingly small, deliberate actions each day.

Okay. Tip number 2. Number 2 is crucial.

Find mentors and mentoring moments. Zinga emphasizes, "Don't lead alone." Actively identify role models, then take the initiative to reach out for their guidance. He points out, "Many people are more willing to mentor than you might think." Don't assume they're too busy; just ask. Right. It requires humility, proactive networking, willingness to learn.

And it goes both ways, right? Mentoring others.

Yes, creating a virtuous cycle. Simultaneously, Mentor others whenever you can. Teaching is a powerful way to deepen your own understanding. Explaining concepts, sharing experiences, guiding someone else—it solidifies your own knowledge.

A reciprocal relationship strengthens the whole ecosystem.

Absolutely. Zinga reinforces this with a quote from Rajesh Murthy: "The number one reason for failure in life and business is not the lack of skill or resources but the lack of a good mentor." Wow, that's a strong statement. It underscores the critical role of external guidance. He advises surrounding yourself with a personal board of directors, trusted advisors, and crucially, being willing to pay it forward by guiding others.

Okay, uh, number 3 relates back to navigation.

Yes, create a vision and plan. This is where you proactively practice charting the course. If leading a project, Zinga suggests draft a simple roadmap before diving in, answering What does success look like? What obstacles might arise? How will you handle them? Foresight is key.

And this applies to personal careers too.

Definitely. If steering your own career, plot your path. What assignments, certifications, experiences will help you reach the next level? Write it down and adjust as needed. Be intentional about your own development.

Having a written plan gives you a tangible reference.

And Zinga stresses a key distinction: anyone can do the work that's given to them. A leader defines what work should be done to reach the goal. It's about being proactive, strategic, defining the direction.

Being a sculptor of the future, not just a follower. Got it. Number 4.

Fourth, build scalable processes. Zinga encourages leaders to be a builder of systems that outlast you, creating structures and methods that enable efficiency and consistency as you grow.

Start small and iterative. Yes.

Maybe standardize how your team shares knowledge or streamline a workflow that's causing confusion. The goal is to make things run more smoothly, predictably, consistently at scale.

So documenting steps, using checklists, automation, empowering others to contribute improvements. Exactly.

Over time, these processes become the scaffolding that supports your team's climb to greater heights, allows faster onboarding, maintains quality, creates a robust, self-improving infrastructure.

And frees the leader up. Yes!

Freeze you to focus on higher-level strategy rather than putting out fires all day. Delegate the routine. Focus your energy on vision, complex problems, navigation, smart leverage. Okay, number 5 must be about adapting. You got it. Stay adaptable and keep navigating. Zinga reminds us, even the best plans will face surprises. Conditions always change—tech, markets, crises. A leader must be ready to adjust the sails and refine the course. Rigidity is the enemy.

So, you need to check in on your plan regularly. Maxwell's acronym, which we'll get to, ends with "Daily Review Your Plan" for a reason.

Crucial reason. "Set it and forget it" doesn't work. And don't be afraid to pivot when needed, even if it means admitting the initial path wasn't quite right. Flexibility is just as important as vision.

Your team will appreciate that balance—steadiness of vision combined with flexibility in execution.

That's the hallmark of a skilled navigator. Shows commitment to the destination, but pragmatism about the route.

And finally, number 6 is that acronym.

Yes, Zinga reminds us of Maxwell's practical mnemonic for navigation: PLAN AHEAD. A structured, step-by-step guide. Predetermine a course of action. Lay out your goals. Adjust your priorities. Notify key personnel. Allow time for acceptance. Head into action. Expect problems. Always point to the successes. Daily.

Review your plan. P-L-A-N-A-H-E-A-D. Got it. These 6 tips, culminating in that framework, give you a clear, actionable path, empowering you to be both a diligent worker who understands process and a visionary leader who navigates skillfully. Building your capabilities day by day. So this deep dive, it's really shown us that leadership growth isn't instantaneous; it's often a quiet, patient endeavor.

Yeah, like laying stones for a foundation in the dark. Tedious, maybe lonely sometimes, demanding immense discipline, but absolutely essential if the structure above is to stand tall and strong.

It's the invisible work supporting all visible success.

And what's truly profound is the idea that you are putting in the work long before titles or accolades catch up, building that internal reserve of competence and character. Then when an opportunity arises, a critical project, a crisis, a new role, that tests everything you've built in those unseen moments, you find you aren't the same person who began the journey. You're transformed. Stronger, wiser, more capable. And others will see it too. It's a transformation forged in that crucible of consistent, unglamorous effort, and it becomes undeniable.

This connects back so beautifully to Michael Jordan's story, which Zinga highlights. We know the legend, but that early moment being cut from his high school team, Devastating, a moment that could have crushed his dream.

But he, incredibly, used it as fuel. He famously said, "Nobody will ever work as hard as I work. I failed over and over and over again in my life.

That is why I succeed." His greatness wasn't just talent.

No, it was meticulously forged in unseen hours of relentless practice, discipline, and resilience. True mastery cultivated in quiet moments of persistent effort. Far from the public gaze, the daily disciplined pursuit of incremental improvement.

It resonates perfectly with that saying, champions are made when no one is watching. A reminder that the seeds of future success, of true leadership, are sown and nurtured in the solitude of dedicated practice, learning, and unwavering commitment. Indeed.

And connecting this to the bigger picture, leadership isn't just about personal achievement, as profound as that is. The Law of Navigation, charting the course for others too, reminds us that the bottom line in leadership isn't how far we advance ourselves, but how far we advance others.

Your legacy isn't just your titles.

No, it's measured by the leaders you develop, the talent you nurture, the sustainable success you cultivate. Shifting focus from individual glory to collective elevation and lasting impact.

So as you embark on your leadership journey, chart your course boldly, but always bring your crew along. Equip them, empower them, develop them so they can eventually take the helm.

True leadership isn't just leading the charge. It's building capacity in others, ensuring the journey continues long after you've set the initial direction.

Okay. As we wrap up this deep dive, we want to leave you with some powerful reflections drawn directly from Bob Fabien Zinga's article. He thoughtfully integrates timeless wisdom from various sources, including biblical proverbs and scriptures, to reinforce these leadership insights. Yeah, these aren't just ancient texts.

They're enduring principles for navigating life and leadership in any era. And they raise important questions for you to consider. Think of them as ongoing compass checks on your leadership journey. Alright, let's hear them. For clarity and focus, Proverbs 4:25-27 advises, "Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you." This prompts you to ask, what distractions are pulling your attention away from the core mission? What one thing do you need to intensely refocus on right now?

Pruning away the nonessential, sharpening your vision.

Exactly. For daily faithfulness, Luke 16:10 states, "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much," leading to the question: What small leadership habit can you consistently practice each day that over time will inevitably prepare you for greater responsibility?

Embracing the Power of Consistent Minor Actions.

Regarding documenting vision, Habakkuk 2:23 instructs, "Write my answer plainly on tablets." Though it tarries, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. This challenges you: have you genuinely written down your leadership vision or strategic roadmap? And critically, who specifically needs to see it so they can truly align and act?

Making your vision tangible, shareable, actionable.

For patience in process, James 1:4 advises, and let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. This invites reflection. Where in your journey are you tempted to rush or skip essential steps? What would it practically look like to embrace the process with great patience and faith?

A reminder that true, sustainable growth takes time. Like rushing software quality checks leads to bugs, rework, less trust. Patience is strategic.

Absolutely. On wisdom in process, Proverbs 24:3-4 says, "By wisdom, a house is built, and through understanding, it is established." Asking you, Which process in your life organization needs to be rebuilt with greater wisdom and insight rather than simply more control or rigid rules? Are your methods truly effective or just restrictive? And finally, for discernment and guidance, Isaiah 30:21 offers: Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, this is the way, walk in it. Encouraging humility. Are you intentionally building margin in your life to truly listen for feedback, counsel, inner guidance? Who helps you calibrate your course?

Recognizing leadership isn't a solitary journey. Wow, these aren't just one-time questions, are they? They're constant compass checks for anyone striving to lead with impact and integrity.

Your journey continues, day by day, moment by moment, with every course correction. An ongoing voyage of growth, adaptation, impact.

Remember those two core laws: leadership develops daily through a consistent process, and true leaders adeptly chart the way through navigation.

We challenge you to apply these laws, starting now. Pick one thing large or small that you will commit to doing every day to grow. And take one deliberate step today to outline a clearer vision or plan for your team or your own career. Start small, but start.

Thank you for joining us for this deep dive into the essence of leadership through process and perseverance. Until next time, keep learning, keep leading, and keep charting your course with purpose.

All right, uh, thank you so much, uh, Drew and Mary. I do appreciate that. So that, that was it. That was my, uh, article, uh, about the, uh, third and the fourth law of leadership out of the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by Dr. John C. Maxwell. So again, no, law number 3: leadership is developed daily, not in a day. It takes time, it's a process, and it kind of compounds over time. And, uh, also what my mentor said about charting the, uh, the course: anyone can steer the ship, but it takes a leader to chart the course. So that's the law of navigation. So I'm going to check now to see if I have any questions on YouTube or LinkedIn. I don't see any. And thank you, Zalam, Yadida, Abdena, uh, coming to us from Ambo University in Ethiopia. I'm very glad that you are here. Hopefully everything I'm sharing, uh, is adding value to you. So I will meet you here again tomorrow at 6:30 for our next, uh, Leadership Excellence and Accountability Devotion. Thanks for being here. Until next time, this is Coach BZ. Have a great weekend.

Bye. Thank you for listening to the Leadership and Success Podcast with your host, Coach BZ. If you like what you heard, please subscribe to our channels and come back for more wisdom nuggets on how you may develop into a better leader and achieve greater levels of success. Leadership is the most critical skill. The world will always need leaders to lead others, deploy the next disruptive technology, or execute a business strategy. You may as well decide on counting yourself among the 21st century leaders See you right here next time on the Leadership and Success Podcast with Coach BZ.