Art & Leadership

All great artists are leaders.  All great leaders are artists.

Is it cool with ya'll that I put my own words in a block quote?  I worked hard for this epiphany.

Some epiphanies are easy. You're just taking a walk, eating some ice cream, and then a Download From The Universe hits you out of nowhere. Like the guardian angel got the address wrong and accidentally shipped you something meant for Oprah.

This epiphany was not that.  This was a decade-plus in the making.  A decade-plus of me benching my inner-artist from my dayjob before I realized she was the secret weapon.

There is so much in common between great art and great leadership.  Here are just a few examples:

• It sees you, and reflects back to you what you need to see in yourself.
• It challenges your beliefs and wakes you up to your own limitations.
• It is a balancing act between ego and surrender.  
• The best versions of it require absolute vulnerability and courage.

If you're in a leadership position, don't bench your inner-artist.  Let her loose.  If you're an artist, don't bench yourself.  Get your work out there.  The world needs your leadership.