You are the Hardest Person You’ll Ever Lead: A Personal Growth Plan (with a Little Humor to Keep it Real)

Let’s get real for a second: the toughest person to lead isn’t your boss, your team, or even your neighbour with the noisy kids—it’s you. Yes, you! Leading yourself is like trying to herd cats—only the cats are your thoughts, emotions, and those stubborn habits that just won’t budge.

For over 30 years, I’ve seen people underestimate their own potential and struggle to step into the spaces they were uniquely designed for. I’m passionate about developing leaders, young and old, into the incredible people they already are.

So, why is self-leadership so tricky? Because our inner dialogue often sounds like a stand-up comedy roast:“Are you sure you can do this?”“Remember that embarrassing thing you did in front of all the perfect parents?”“Did you just say ‘is’ instead of ‘are’?”“Did I really wear black to a wedding?”“I’m just not that smart.”

Leading yourself means managing this noisy crew, setting goals that don’t terrify you, and actually following through—without letting the couch win every time.

Here’s your personal growth plan: or maybe just four ideas to consider when leading yourself, sprinkled with a little humor to keep you sane:

1. Self-Awareness: Take a good, hard look in the mirror (yes, the one that talks back). Notice those... “interesting” habits you have—like hitting snooze five times or talking to your plants like they’re your life coaches. What messages are you sending yourself?

2. Intentional Goals: Make goals that excite you, not ones that feel like the Comrades Marathon. Goals that are measurable and attainable. Because let’s be honest: nobody runs marathons just to eat more cake (or do they?). The best exercise is... the one you actually do!

3. Embracing Growth: You need a personal growth plan. It’s not complicated—but you do need a little help. That’s why I have a job! Remember: you can build your emotional toolkit—resilience, empathy, and (most importantly) the ability to laugh at yourself when you mess up. (Guaranteed, you will.) But grow, you must. I specialise in teaching the 15 invaluable laws of growth, written by John C Maxwell.

4. Seeking Support: Sometimes you need a cheerleader, a coach, or just someone to remind you that you’re not alone in this circus called life. I honestly credit everything I’ve achieved to my husband and close friends, who have been crazy enough to agree to my ideas and not just “smile and wave, boys.” You are the average of your five closest friends, so choose them well. And occasionally—you may have to change them.

   
   

As a certified Maxwell Leadership Team member (Gosh, am I allowed to be proud of a certification at my age?), I am a person of value, who values you, and wants to add value to you. I specialize in coaching and training people overcome the obstacles that are holding them back—people who have incredible potential but occasionally trip over imaginary steps.

So, are you ready to lead the hardest person you’ll ever know—with a smile and maybe a little coffee-fueled determination? The journey starts now. And hey, if you stumble, at least you’ll have a funny story to tell.

You’re not just the leader you’ve been waiting for—you’re also the funniest, most complicated, most beautiful, and most stubborn person you will lead. And that’s a great thing. Let’s lead ourselves well (and laugh a lot) along the way!