Challenge is the opportunity for greatness. People do their best when there’s the chance to change the way things are. Maintaining the status quo simply breeds mediocrity. Leaders seek and accept challenging opportunities to test their abilities. They motivate others as well to exceed their self-perceived limits. They seize initiative and make something meaningful happen. Leaders treat every assignment as an adventure.

Most innovations do not come from leaders—they come from the people closest to the work. They also come from outsight. Exemplary leaders look for good ideas everywhere. They promote external communication. They listen, take advice, and learn.

Progress is not made in giant leaps; it’s made incre­mentally. Exemplary leaders move forward in small steps with little victories. They turn adversity into advantage, setbacks into successes. They persevere with grit and determination.

Leaders venture out. They test and they take risks with bold ideas. And because risk-taking involves mistakes and failure, leaders accept the inevitable disappointments and treat them as opportunities for learning and growth.

In the next two chapters, we will see how you must