Hey friends,
I managed people for years before I realized I was not actually leading them.
I had the title. I ran the meetings. People reported to me.
But managing a calendar and managing a human being are two completely different skills.
But first, here’s a quick building-in-public update:
💭 The night I almost talked myself out of it
There's a specific kind of busy that feels like progress but is actually fear wearing a disguise.
I know it well. I lived in it for months.
Researching. Planning. Watching one more video. Taking notes I would never use. Telling myself I was "getting ready."
But one night, building creatyl, I caught myself doing it again.
And I finally admitted the truth I'd been avoiding.
I wasn't preparing anymore. I was hiding.
Because as long as the idea stayed in my head, it could stay perfect.
As long as I was "planning," I never had to find out if it would actually work.
Planning felt safe. Shipping felt terrifying.
So that night I made one small decision. Not to build the whole thing. Not to have it all figured out.
Just to make the idea real in one tiny way.
One page. One offer. One action.
And here's what nobody tells you.
The moment I stopped planning and started building, the fog lifted.
The answers I had been researching for months showed up in a single afternoon of actually doing the work.
The market told me in one day what no amount of notes ever could.
That's the part I had backwards.
I thought clarity came first, then action. It's the opposite. Clarity is what action leaves behind.
The people who move forward are not the ones with the perfect plan.
They're the ones willing to take one small step before they feel ready, and let the step teach them the rest.
If you've been "getting ready" for longer than you'd like to admit, this is your reminder.
You don't need another plan. You need one small action that proves to yourself you're serious.
Take it this week. The clarity you're waiting for is on the other side of it.
Why not you?
If you want to turn what you already know into something real that earns around the clock, I’ll help you make the process feel simpler, clearer, and far less overwhelming.
Your team already knows if you are a good leader.
They decided months ago.
They are not waiting for you to read another book. They are watching what you do on a random Wednesday when nothing is going right and nobody important is in the room.
That is where leadership lives.
Not in the big speech. In the next small decision.
Today we are going to help you master this by using:
‘The Leader Skill Set - Build All 8 To Lead Well'
Let’s dive in!
Download This PDF + my Top 90+ Cheat Sheets At Bottom of Email
3 Ways to Lead Better By Building The Right Skills
1. When A Team Member Is Struggling
Scenario: A team member has missed a few deadlines and seems frustrated. Instead of jumping straight to solutions, you want to understand what's really happening.
Strong leaders don't solve problems too quickly.
They first make sure they're solving the right problem.
Start by asking questions before giving advice.
Try asking:
"What's getting in your way right now?"
"What part of this project feels hardest?"
"What would help you move forward?"
Listen all the way through before sharing your thoughts.
People are much more open to feedback after they feel heard.
2. When You Need To Give Tough Feedback
Scenario: Someone's work isn't meeting expectations, and avoiding the conversation will only make things worse.
Don't wait until you're frustrated.
Talk about specific actions, not the person's character.
Explain the impact their actions are having.
Try saying:
"I'd like to talk about something I've noticed."
"Here's what happened."
"Here's why it matters."
"Let's talk about what success looks like going forward."
Clear feedback builds respect, even when the conversation is difficult.
3. When Your Team Is Going Through Change
Scenario: A new process, system, or direction has people feeling uncertain.
People don't need every answer.
They need clarity about what happens next.
Tell your team:
What is changing.
What is staying the same.
What you know today.
When you'll share another update.
Small, regular updates build confidence better than one long meeting.
1. You're Stuck Between Too Many Product Ideas
Scenario: You have five ideas you like, but you can't decide which one to build.
Don't ask, "Which idea do I like most?"
Ask, "Which problem do people already want solved?"
Before you build anything, spend 15 minutes reading reviews, Reddit, or Facebook groups.
Write down the five complaints you see most often.
If your idea solves one of those problems, move forward. If not, keep looking.
The fastest-selling products usually solve problems people are already talking about—not problems you hope they have.
2. You Want To Create A Digital Product But Don't Know Where To Start
Scenario: You have knowledge people would pay for, but you don't know what product to create first.
Don't start with a blank page.
Go to creatyl.com and use the AI Product Builder.
First, answer two simple questions about what you know and who you want to help.
The AI will generate five product ideas based on your answers.
Pick your favorite, then keep making choices as the AI guides you through each step.
In just a few minutes, you'll have a fully built product that's ready to customize, publish, and sell.
The hardest part is getting started. AI can help you skip the blank page and get to a finished product much faster.
Want to read more? Go here to download the infographic.
Here's how you can make it real today:
Step 1: Pick your leadership skill
Look at today's infographic and choose one skill you want to improve today.
Don't try to work on all eight.
Pick the one that would make the biggest difference in your day.
Step 2: Find your moment
Think about your schedule.
Choose one conversation, meeting, or decision where you can intentionally use that skill.
Before it starts, remind yourself:
"This is my chance to practice."
Step 3: Do one thing differently
During that moment, make one intentional change.
It could be:
Asking one better question.
Listening before responding.
Giving clearer direction.
Staying calm under pressure.
Following through on a commitment.
Explaining the bigger picture.
Keep it simple.
One action is enough.
Step 4: Watch what happens
Afterward, take one minute to reflect.
Ask yourself:
Did people respond differently?
Did the conversation become clearer?
Would I handle it this way again?
Small changes are often easier to notice than you expect.
Step 5: Build tomorrow’s leader
Before your day ends, finish this sentence:
"Today I grew as a leader because I ______."
Tomorrow, choose a different skill and repeat the challenge.
AI Prompt: “Act as an executive leadership coach. Help me strengthen one leadership skill today by turning it into a simple action plan I can use in real situations.
Leadership Skill I Want To Practice: [Choose one: EQ, IQ, RQ, CQ, XQ, SQ, AQ, or VQ]
Situation I'll Face Today: [Describe the meeting, conversation, decision, or challenge.]
People Involved: [Describe who will be there and your relationship with them.]
My Biggest Challenge: [Describe what usually happens or what you're worried about.]
Provide:
A simple explanation of how a great leader would use this skill in my situation.
Three small actions I can take during the conversation or meeting.
Three phrases I can use that sound natural and confident.
The biggest mistake people usually make in this situation and how to avoid it.
One thing I should pay attention to while the conversation is happening.
Three reflection questions to answer afterward so I can learn from the experience and improve next time.”
Leadership is not one big decision that changes everything.
It is hundreds of small decisions that slowly become your reputation.
People may forget your title, your meetings, and even your results.
They rarely forget how you made them feel when work was hard.
The leader you become is built long before anyone calls you one.
Until next time and with lots of love,
Justin
This Week’s Growth Recommendations
Book To Read:
“Leaders Eat Last” by Simon Sinek (see it here)
TED Talk to Watch:
“How to Clarify Your Message So People Will Listen" by Donald Miller (see it here)
Quick Reads:
“Conflict Playbook” → Practical tools for handling tough conversations (see it here)
“Managing Your Manager” → Turn your manager into your biggest supporter (see it here)
“Helpful vs Hurtful” → Say the hard things the right way (see it here)
“15 Types of Negativity to Stop” → Replace negative thinking with better habits (see it here)
“Busy ≠ Productive” → Work smarter, not just harder (see it here)
It rewards creating.
If you're ready to stop consuming and finally build something you can sell, my free workshop will show you exactly where to start.
Today’s PDF
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