The embedded Youtube video above is Simon Sinek’s five lessons on what it means to be a good leader. I believe anyone can be a GOOD leader, and just like in the speech, your intelligence does not determine how good of a leader you are. Anyone can take the lessons and stories from Sinek’s speech and find opportunity within their own lives with it. From the points in the video, I found to be driven by three important qualities.

1. Know when and how to seize opportunities
2. Always tell the truth
3. Ask for and except help

Every person has a reason or belief when they take the opportunity to seize something they want. In the video Sinek says there are two types of people: people who see what they want and people who see the thing that is preventing them from getting the thing they want. I personally believe there is no problem if you see the glass half-empty- but do not let that block in the road prevent you from getting what you want. “Stay fixated on the thing you want, go after the thing you want, use any means necessary, but do not every deny anybody else from getting the thing that they want” Simon Sinek says in the video. The lesson I took from this to be a good leader is, do not let anyone stop you from getting what you want, do it in your own way, without inconveniencing someone else.

It is not hard being honest, but it is hard to tell the truth. The most important quality any great leader should have is always telling the truth. How else would you expect people to follow you and your word? To be this person, you must not always have your best interest in mind, but the people that you want to trust you. Trust does not just emerge, it begins with full communication, taking full responsibility whether you are put in a good or bad light, and then trust can be established by these similar values.

You do not have to be the most intelligent person to be the greatest leader. The biggest mistake people make is thinking they have to know all the answers and pretending they do when they don’t, Sinek says. What I appreciate from this lesson is that even if you hold the highest credibility in the room, it is OK to ask for help from others, even if they do not hold the same credibility as you. When you act like you know everything, people will think that you don’t need the help- but that is not true because there always ways we can makes things better just by adding another persons ideas. I hold this lesson, never be afraid to except and ask for help, as the most important quality any great leader can hold.