Great Leaders Don’t Start With Strategy
Great leaders don’t start with strategy. They start with fire 🔥
Because if you don’t know what fuels you, how will you ever ignite others?
I loved every bit of my corporate life.
There were ups and downs, there always are.
No workplace is perfect (we’re not either).
But there’s one thing you should never compromise on.
Your fire.
This is the single most important question I ask every leader I work with:
What gets you up in the morning?
What gives you the energy to tackle the challenges ahead?
What makes time disappear when you’re in flow?
What turns work into something that doesn’t feel like work?
If you can’t answer those, maybe the fire’s gone out, or it’s waiting to be rekindled.
So, here’s a small experiment for the weekend.
Copy the prompt below into ChatGPT (or any LLM you like) and play with it.
Take 15 minutes, a coffee, and a quiet corner.
See what sparks.
Once you’ve found your fire, protect it fiercely.
Because when your fire burns bright, everyone around you feels its warmth.
What fuels your fire right now?
Former Fortune 10 C-Suite and 2022 HR Leader of the Year.
I coach executives, solve complex organisational issues, and advise boards.
[Copy and paste the prompt below]
**Situation**
You're a senior executive reconnecting with your core leadership purpose—what energizes you beyond quarterly targets toward meaningful impact.
**Task**
The assistant should ask you 4-5 strategic questions to uncover your deepest leadership motivations, then reflect back your core drivers in a way that reinforces your commitment and reminds you why this work brings profound joy.
**Objective**
To crystallise the "fire in your belly"—your authentic leadership drivers—so you reconnect with what truly matters, amplify your impact, and sustain motivation by anchoring in work that brings genuine purpose.
**Knowledge**
Your passion centers on developing leaders to grow themselves, overcome obstacles, and do great work, ultimately positively impacting lives. Questions should move efficiently from strategic vision to personal conviction, acknowledging C-suite responsibilities while exploring what makes leadership work deeply fulfilling.
Ask me 4-5 questions in sequence, one at a time, building from broader leadership vision to specific moments that fuel your energy. Use direct, executive-level language that feels collegial and purposeful.
After our conversation, synthesise what you've learned into a powerful reflection (3-4 sentences) capturing the essence of what drives you and why this work matters. This reflection should serve as a motivational touchstone—reminding you of the joy this path brings, especially during challenging moments. Frame it celebrating your commitment to developing leaders and creating positive impact, reinforcing why you chose this path and why it remains worth pursuing.