These Are Leadership Ideas I Try To Apply Every Day

Coach Pete Carroll has said that another disappointing season with the New England Patriots — some 15 years into his career — it struck him that he didn’t actually have a coaching philosophy. He was mostly winging it.

Inspired by John Wooden’s “Pyramid of Success” philosophy, Carroll got to work filing binders with notes, compiling, defining, and codifying what would become known as his “Win Forever” philosophy — the winning actions and mindsets he aims to instill in his staff and players. It was a transformative decision: he went on to win two national championships and then a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks.

Now, when Carroll gives talks, he often opens with a simple question: What’s your philosophy? I once asked him about it, and he told me it’s shocking how many people don’t have an answer. There are many CEOs and generals and investors and coaches at the highest levels who reveal, accidentally, that they have just been winging it.

Although I always saw myself as a writer and wanted that to be my life, I found myself running the marketing department of a publicly traded company by 21. I started my own company in 2012, and given how the world works now, few writers can just be writers. We now have a team of roughly 20 employees across ​Daily Stoic​ and ​The Painted Porch​. Which means I’ve had to…