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What It Means to Be a Fearless Leader 29

perspective you did not have before. I want you to have one ah-ha after
another that dramatically expands your ability, choice, and freedom to cre-
ate new realities. I must warn you, I have no tolerance for breakthroughs
that lead only to insight: insight is intellectually stimulating, but what I
want from you are breakthroughs that lead to decisive action.

Breakthrough
A sudden discovery that dramatically expands what can be achieved.

Each step of the way, I am going to ask you to make a series of choices.
Each choice you elect to make progressively expands your power and free-
dom to transform. Bring your skepticism, doubt, and disbelief along with
your frustration, disappointment, and discouragement. I want it all.
Together, we will examine how resignation forms, how to break its grip,
and how blind spots and automatic behaviors keep you stuck in an unful-
filling and unrewarding cycle.
Bring your enthusiasm, passion, and commitment. Decide now that
anything is possible. Bring your courage to explore uncharted territory, and
set aside your need to have all the answers. Trust that you will discover
the answers each step of the way.
Bring your unshakable resolve to stay the course and never quit, even
when you encounter breakdowns and roadblocks. As you build commit-
ted partnerships, you discover strength in partners who will stand shoul-
der to shoulder with you to overcome any challenge.
You are not alone, and you do not need to tolerate anything. By the end
of this book, you will have the tools to take charge and make change hap-
pen. If you bring your courage, I will provide the rest. We need fearless
leaders to restore our organizations and people to high levels of account-
ability and integrity. We need fearless leaders who are willing to take a
stand and do what’s right for right’s sake.

Transforming Together
There are two truths I have learned about transformation: (1) you cannot
seriously explore transformation without having it alter your behavior, and
(2) you cannot do it alone.