As we head past the ten-year mark for this weekly message, I’m reflecting on the balance of responses it solicits. Over the years, there have been lots of thank yous and I agree’s but not enough outrage and anger…!

A good thought leader wants to write content that leads people to sit up, think and behave differently, with an unwritten rule that great content will irritate 1 in 10 readers sufficiently that they pick up a pen to respond.

Too little irritation tells you the message is overly bland, but too much of being controversial with the intention to garner a response is simply ‘clickbait’ – which lacks credibility and moves quickly into the realm of online clutter.

Trying to please everyone is one of the pitfalls that early startups often fall into. To thrive as a business requires one to be different and to dominate a small portion of the market rather than getting lost amongst the masses of sameness. It takes courage to stand up and stand out. This means politely saying no to people who are not your customers and understanding that this clarity strengthens your brand and your business.

The dividing line for leaders is the willingness to stand out in a crowd, to speak your truth, knowing that not everyone will like you or agree with you. True leadership makes you stronger, not weaker, and builds trust in who you are and what you stand for.

There are many different kinds of leaders – my ideal are those who invite everyone to come to the table and dare to serve them more hot chilli chocolate chip and less vanilla ice.

May February strengthen your leadership muscle as you build your ability to make a lasting impact in the world!