Sometimes it may feel lonely climbing the mountain to success in career or entrepreneurship. Be inspired! Others have done, so can you.

1. The Courage to Lead Alone
You Alone Can Lead, but You Can’t Lead Alone
Presented by
Vanessa Womack Easter
For VCU/Higher Ground Women’s Leadership Institute
January 25, 2013

2. Getting To Know YOU
Feel sad, depressed,
set-up
MAD###!!
Recall the first time you had to act or be on your own

3. Immediately found someone to follow

4. Began a plan to move forward on a plan of action
Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.
Helen Keller

5. What did you learn from the experience?
Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be
trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s
thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own
inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart
and intuition. Steve Jobs

6. Lead, follow, or get
out of the way.
Laurence J. Peter
No person will make a great business
who wants to do it all himself or get
all the credit. Andrew Carnegie
To thine own self be
true….
William Shakespeare
Clearly no one knows
what leadership has gone
undiscovered in women
of all races, and in black
and other minority men.
Gloria Steinem
Leadership requires the
courage to make decisions
that will benefit the next
generation.
Alan Autry

7. Courage in Leadership
• Assuming responsibility
– Some assembly required
• Change happens
– Recognize that changes must occur

8. WHY Are You In This Position?
• Were you selected because of your vision or innovative
leadership, other?
• Did you have success leading a similar project or department
to a successful outcome?
• Is your ego too big to allow someone else to take the lead?
• You have shown courage before and people respect you.
• Are you being set up?

9. Answer
• Are you more prepared now than before to take a
leadership role that maybe others are not willing,
capable or interested?
• What would inspire you to invoke your courage in
leadership meter?
• What would you do or think differently about a future
situation?
• How will you engage others?

10. Finding Inspiration
• “Be strong and courageous….” At least three Bible
verses were found that begin with these words. (Deut.
31:6, Joshua 1:6 and 2 Chron. 32:7)
• Humans are ambitious and rational and proud. And we
don't fall in line with people who don't respect us and
who we don't believe have our best interests at heart.
We are willing to follow leaders, but only to the extent
that we believe they call on our best, not our worst.
- Rachel Maddow
Read more at
Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/leadership-
quotes-by-women.html