Johann Wolfgang von Goethe said, “If you would create something, you must be something.”

Empowerment is about improving your ability to lead yourself and others effectively. How you go through your leadership journey is just as important as what you go through. Being empowered to operate at your best enables you to experience the best.

The hardest person you will ever lead is yourself. Theodore Roosevelt once stated, “If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn’t sit for a month.” As a leader, you have to work on you before you can work on them. You cannot expect to challenge others if you are not challenging yourself. If you are having trouble motivating yourself, you will have an extremely hard time motivating others. You can’t lead the masses if you can’t lead yourself.

To be a great leader you have to conquer yourself first. You have to come to a place where you slay your fears, self-worthlessness, failures, pride, worries, and limits. The best leaders are the ones who are confident in who they are. Not because of ego, but because of healthy self-assurance. Philosopher Lao Tzu said, “He who conquers men is strong; he who conquers himself is mighty.” When you exterminate the enemy within, you liberate the warrior inside.

Leading yourself is about eliminating self-damaging beliefs that limit your ability to influence others. You cannot expect confidence and courage in others if you are not confident and courageous yourself.

To win in life and leadership, you have to bring your best self to your biggest challenges. Bringing your best self requires you to ask the question, “What would a great leader do?” This compelling inquiry empowers you to remove your bias and act appropriately. Leaders have to be what they want to see in others. The most effective form of leadership is to exemplify the expectations you have in others.

You have the potential to be an incredible leader, but it has to start with yourself. You cannot hide from the responsibility of self-leadership. You cannot fake it till you make it when it comes to authenticity. Your true self will come out in due time; therefore, you have to deal with your inner-limits if you want to have significant influence. When you conquer yourself, you can overcome anything. Rise up and slay the unwanted traits within yourself and begin to form the right thinking and habits to lead from your fullest potential.

To lead from your fullest potential you’re going to need resources and people to help you become all you’re capable of becoming. Invest in yourself and you’ll be investing in a better future.