Studying great leaders (both living and deceased) is proving to be an interesting and worthwhile endeavor for me.

When I see traits in myself that I possess and lack (as illustrated by the stories I read), I’m able to 1) determine what philosophies and methodologies resonate with me and 2) make mid-course corrections when I find valuable nuggets.

There are many leaders I admire, and just as many whose lives I wouldn’t want under any circumstances. Exposure to an array of perspectives and personalities inform the way I see myself being remembered, respected, and how I’d feel about myself during quiet moments of reflection.

I don’t think it’s impossible to grow into a respectable and effective leader without spending time on things like this, but I’m inclined to stack the deck in my favor.

And besides…many of these stories read better than fiction.