A good leader doesn’t try to control or force people to do what they want. Instead, they inspire and motivate people to come along with them on the journey. A good leader knows how to bring out the best in people, promoting unity and cooperation instead of stress and division.

The #1 Quality of a Good Leader

A good leader knows how to get the best out of people by bringing out their best qualities. It isn’t about being forceful or dictatorial. Instead, it’s about being supportive and encouraging. A good leader knows how to give people the space to grow and develop their own skills.

This is a much more effective way of leading because it gets people to buy into your vision and goals, without forcing an artificial sense of loyalty. When people feel like they’re a part of something bigger, they’re more likely to be committed and motivated.

Additionally, it helps build trust and cooperation between leaders and followers.

How To Be the Best Leader You Can Be

When you’re a leader, it’s important to remember that not everyone will want to follow you. And that’s okay! You can’t force people to do something they don’t want to do. Instead, focus on those who do want to follow you, and work on being the best leader you can be for them.

Here are a few tips:

Be Clear About Your Goals and Vision

People need to know where you’re going in order to want to come along with you. When you can effectively communicate your goals, people will be more likely to buy into them.

Be Supportive and Encouraging

As mentioned before, a good leader knows how to bring out the best in people. When you’re supportive and encouraging, people will feel appreciated and valued. This will make them more likely to want to follow you. Bring out the best in people by letting them know that you believe in them.

Be Authentic

People can spot a fake a mile away. If you’re trying to be someone you’re not, people will see right through it. Be genuine, and people will be more likely to trust and respect you.

Lead by Example

People will follow your lead if they see that you’re doing what you’re asking them to do. If you want people to be honest, be honest yourself. If you want people to be hardworking, be a hard worker yourself. When you lead by example, people will be more likely to want to follow you.

Give People the Space to Grow

Let people take on new challenges and learn new skills. Give them space to see what works and what doesn’t work.

Be Open to Feedback

Leaders need to be able to take criticism and use it to improve their leadership skills. They don’t take feedback too personally and see it as an opportunity to be more effective.

The Bottom Line

A good leader knows how to bring out the best in people without forcing them to follow. Instead, they inspire people to come along with them on the journey. If you want to be a good leader, focus on being clear about your goals, supportive and encouraging, and open to feedback.

When we have a conflict with someone, we are apt to want to tell everyone our side of the story. We are worried about what the other person will say about us and if they will lie and attempt to tarnish our reputation. And sometimes, you end up in conflict with a toxic person, who will be the one who stabs you and tell the world they are the one who is bleeding.

While it can be tempting to want to put your story out there, the truth is, you don’t have to. Time reveals all, in my opinion. Case in point. A friend of mine got into a conflict with her sister. Her sister has a reputation of being such a nice girl. And most of the time, she is. She presents herself as super chill, laid back and who is friendly to everyone. Until she doesn’t get what she wants. Then she will go out of her way to make the “offender’s” life miserable, spreading lies about them to anyone who will listen.

She was tempted to “get ahead” of things and tell other people in her family her side of the story before her sister began talking shit to everyone. When she told me this, I asked her why she felt the need to do this. I told her that everyone knows her character, and even if her sister does talk some shit, it probably won’t hold much weight. But she was seriously worried about what other people in the family would think of her.

As expected, her sister went around telling her side of the story, which was far from how things really went down. People listened to her out of politeness. When my friend went to a family event, her aunt asked her about it and my friend told the truth. When she discovered what her sister had said about her to anyone who would listen, she nervously laughed. And then her aunt took her hand and said, “Don’t you worry, we all know how your sister gets when she doesn’t get her way. We know your real character.”

My friend felt instantly validated. When we are in high stress situations like this, it is easy to lose sight of the fact time does truly reveal who a person is. And in the case of family, we’ve all seen each other at our best and worst. In my friend’s case, her sister wasn’t fooling anyone. She had conflicts with others before who experienced the same thing as my friend did. My friend just lost sight of that because she was stressed that people would actually believe her sister and judge her.

In a scenario like this, say that people do actually believe what is being said about you and it is not true. It’s okay – it really is. Because the truth is, over time, as they deal with that person, they will see that other side of them. It can only be suppressed for so long. Their true colors will shine through eventually.

Surround yourself with people who make you happy and help you grow, not people who bring you down and stress you out. When you are around positive, supportive people, you will be your best self. But when you are around negative people who constantly criticize and complain, it will bring out the worst in you. So choose your friends and associates wisely and surround yourself with people who will bring out the best in you.

Why It Matters Who You Spend Time With

Whether it’s a demanding partner, a toxic friend, or a negative co-worker, being around people who stress you out can take a toll on your health. In fact, research has shown that chronic stress can lead to a variety of health problems, including high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.

Not only are there horrible health consequences for being around negative people, but it can also affect your mood and outlook on life. If you’re constantly being put down or criticized, it’s only natural that you would start to believe those things about yourself. And that can lead to a downward spiral of low self-esteem and depression.

On the other hand, being around positive people who make you feel good about yourself can have the opposite effect. When you’re surrounded by people who support and encourage you, it can boost your confidence and help you see the good in yourself. And that can lead to a more positive outlook on life, which in turn can lead to better health.

If you want to improve your health and happiness, it’s important to be selective about the people you spend time with. Make an effort to surround yourself with those who bring out the best in you, and limit your time with negative people who stress you out. It will make a world of difference for your health and well-being.

You Deserve the Best

There are almost 8 billion people in the world. That means there are almost 8 billion different personalities. So, it’s only natural that you won’t get along with everyone you meet. But that doesn’t mean you have to tolerate being around people who make you miserable.

You deserve to be around people who make you feel good about yourself. So don’t settle for anything less. If someone is constantly putting you down or making you feel bad about yourself, it’s time to move on. There are plenty of other people out there who will appreciate and support you for who you are.

It’s Your Choice

You get to choose who you spend your time with. You can choose to be around positive, supportive people or you can choose to be around negative, critical people. It’s your choice, so choose wisely!

We know that rock bottom teaches us significantly more than reaching our mountain tops do. We also know that all the happiness and growth happens during the journey of the climb, rather than reaching the top of the mountain itself. But for the fool, he places too much value in getting to the top. He discounts the fact that what causes him to enjoy the view up high, are all the challenges, adversity, and growth he encountered along the way.

The wise man, however, may be stuck at the bottom of a well, but he can sure see more than the fool can. He knows that struggle is part of life. He welcomes adversity as an opportunity to overcome and become better. He sees failure as experience and is always wanting to learn.

To achieve your goals, to be the person you want to be, and to constantly be growing, you have to be open to learning. Without an open mindset to learning, you will stay stuck at the level you are.

But, when you have a mindset to learn, you will always be growing in the right direction. This is one of the biggest traits of a wise person. A wise person doesn’t claim to know everything; rather they are always learning.

At every step of the way, life is giving us an opportunity to learn. From the smallest events like waking up late and missing the bus, to something bigger, like starting a business and failing, everything in life can teach us a lesson. A wise man sees these opportunities to learn; after all, you can’t learn a fraction of what you can learn from life in a textbook.

A fool, on the other hand, goes through the flow of life without realizing the incredible learning opportunities.

How You See Limitations Matter

Although we love to think otherwise, every human being has limitations. We were all born as crying, dependent little beings. We all have 24 hours in a day. We all have basic needs. Yet, have you ever felt like others just ‘have it better’ or are blessed with more?

The reality is, we are all the same. Sure, some people might have been born into wealthier families or had an easier childhood, but that still doesn’t take away from another human being’s ability to achieve success.

Understanding this is what distinguishes between a wise man and a fool.

A wise man uses what he has to the best of his ability. Have you ever noticed that there are people who seem to be able to fit three days worth of activities into one? They workout, work on their goals, balance their lives, manage their house, meet friends, and more. But they are just the same as anyone else. They all have the same 24 hours in a day as us. They’ve just found a way to maximize their time.

Similarly, there are people who are disabled who can do more than the average person. They are an inspiration because they have conquered their limitations and achieved greatness.

On the other hand, a fool complains about his limitations. A fool lets these limitations keep him stuck and often uses these limitations as an excuse. “I don’t have time” or “I am not good enough” are just excuses for staying stuck. Instead of seeing their limitations as something they can overcome or work around, they play the victim.

How You See Challenges Matter

We all have highs and lows. Life gives us experiences that are both joyful and challenging, but both are part of the human experience. The question, though, is how you navigate these experiences and whether you use them to grow or you allow them to drag you down.

When something difficult happens in life, it’s your choice to use it as a lesson or to give up. A fool would use a challenge and think “this terrible thing happened to me, so let me give up.” A wise person, though, takes every challenge as an opportunity to grow.

For example, let’s say someone started a business and failed. The fool would give up and use this as an excuse as to why they can’t make it work. They might end up becoming bitter and resentful, and maybe even put others down. The wise man, though, sees failure as experience. He looks at it as if he has discovered what doesn’t work in business and uses that knowledge in his next business endeavor.

The key to a successful life is to constantly be learning. A wise person learns from every experience in life, whether it be a joyful experience or a challenge. It’s easy to make excuses, especially in the face of setbacks and challenges. But a wise person knows that excuses keep them stuck at the same place they are.

Fools lack the ability to be a good friend. They are loyal to opportunity, not people. They’ve lost their integrity, honor and ability to discern fact from fiction. They are quick to believe lies and act without investigating the truth. They have overinflated egos and react rather than respond. They thrive in chaos and conflict.

A wise man can spot a fool quickly and understands his game. Rather than engage with the fool, he will cut himself free and focus on more productive conversations.

Being that there are more fools than wise men, you will encounter your fair share of them along your journey.

A Fool’s Journey: Betrayal and Deception

Fools come in all shapes and sizes. They may be your friends, your family, or even total strangers. But one thing is for sure: a fool will cause some kind of strife in your life. They will take advantage of you, whether it’s by stealing from you, lying to you, or hurting you emotionally. It’s important to be aware of these people and to avoid them at all costs.

The reason why fools betray is that they’re selfish. They only care about themselves and their own interests. They don’t care about how their actions will affect you or anyone else. All they want is to get what they want, even if it means hurting others in the process.

There are many fools in this world, but thankfully, not everyone is that negative. Many people are selfless. They think the best of others and always try to do what’s right, even if it means making sacrifices. These are the people you want in your life. They will never betray you because they know how much it would hurt you.

Avoiding Naivety

A wise person will see through the facade of these toxic individuals and avoid them. This is because they know that a fool’s journey is one filled with betrayal, deception, and drama. They know it is better to let go than to be dragged.

So, how do you spot a fool? How do you become wise enough to avoid one?

The truth is, most people who know how to avoid fools have probably been burned once or twice before. They’ve been betrayed, lied to, or hurt by someone they trusted. As a result, they’ve learned from their mistakes and become more cautious about who they allow into their lives. They had to experience the fool, to know how to avoid the fool.

Stopping the Cycle

Stopping the cycle of dealing with fools comes from experience alone. A wise man knows that it is better to be alone than to be surrounded by people who don’t have their best interests at heart.

If you ever find yourself in a situation where someone stabs you in the back, don’t dwell on it. Just remember that you can use this opportunity to learn from it and avoid those types of people in the future. And finally, don’t be a fool yourself. Take care of the people close to you and never betray their trust. Be the kind of person that others can depend on. It will make your relationships stronger and healthier, and it will make you happier in the long run.

In Breaking Bad, Tuco explains to Walter that the reason why he stole his meth is because “sometimes you got to rob to keep your riches.”

Tuco Salamanca, a sociopathic drug kingpin, became Walt and Jesse’s distributor before they got into business with Gus. Taco was absolutely crazy and such an enjoyable character to watch.

After Walt blows up Tuco’s office by throwing a small amount of fulminated mercury to the other side of the room, he threatens to throw another bag, which is much bigger. They end up striking a deal, where Walt and Jesse sell meth to him to distribute, with Tuco providing money up front.

Tuco’s explanation that “sometimes you got to rob to keep your riches” is said to Walt as a way of saying that they are both the same. He’s saying that Walt should understand why he did what he did because he did the same exact thing to him.

Tuco stole from Jesse to show him who is boss. For him it was all about respect. And Walt came in to collect the money and a fee for Jesse’s pain and suffering to show Tuco that he can’t mess with them. Again, it was about respect for Walter, too. He totally strongarmed Tuco, with the threat of violence with the fulminated mercury, getting a better deal for meth distribution and money for Jesse’s pain and suffering.  For some people, especially in a trade such as illegal substances, to stay in power and be feared you have to protect what you have and what you do at all costs.

When people thought the earth was flat, they were convinced of it. So, when Columbus set out to find a western route to Asia, he was opposed and ridiculed.

People often get stuck in what they hold to be true, and they fight any other suggestion that they are wrong. But when they do this, they stay limited and cannot learn anything new or grow. It is generally the ones who are most rigid in their opinions who are actually less wise.

Fools desperately hold onto what they think is true, because they don’t have the capacity to explore new ideas and opinions. Admitting that there are more sides to the story or that they could be wrong would undermine their authority.

On the other hand, intelligent people are open to new ideas and are flexible in their thinking. They know they might be wrong.

Traits of a Wise Person

They are Flexible in Their Opinions

A wise person knows how important it is to see things from various perspectives before settling on an opinion. Whether it is an opinion about politics or a scientific concept, they are open to hearing what others think of the same thing, so that they can make an educated conclusion.

Thus, when they do form an opinion, it’s built on strong foundations and well-thought-out arguments. But, that doesn’t mean they won’t budge from their stance. They are still happy to hear new ideas and be presented with more facts.

They are Always Curious

A wise person approaches the world from a place of curiosity rather than judgment. They love to learn about everything. These are the people who see themselves as students of life.

They Ask Questions

Because wise people are open to new ideas and concepts, they are always asking questions. They want to know what you think about something. They like to be challenged. They like to learn. In addition, they aren’t afraid of hearing opposing views or thoughts. They welcome those conversations as an opportunity to learn something new or to solidify their own perspective.

They Don’t Assume They Know Everything

Fools think they know everything. That’s why you can’t convince them of anything or change their opinion. On the other hand, wise people know that they don’t know everything. They know that there is too much information and too many sides to any story to assume that they are always right. That is why a smart person listens more than he or she talks.

The world is full of people who are stubborn in their views, such as the loud spokesman for their religion or the aggressively opinionated political person. However, the people who have the most opinions and are too closed off to different thoughts or ideas are not the wisest. A wise person knows they don’t know everything. They are flexible in their thinking. They ask questions, change their opinions, and are not afraid of admitting they were wrong.

As Socrates said, “the only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.”

A fool is truly someone who is not interested in learning or understanding and will instead take joy in sharing their own beliefs, even if they are wrong. This can be seen as a negative trait, as it shows close-mindedness and a lack of willingness to grow.

Think Before You Speak

This ancient proverb is as relevant today as it ever was. In a world where everyone is quick to offer their opinion on every issue (just log out onto social media), it’s important to remember to think before you speak. Offering an uninformed or thoughtless opinion can lead to more harm than good.

Rather than just blurt out whatever comes to mind, it is important to take the time to understand what is being said or discussed before adding your own opinion, otherwise you may just be spouting off nonsense.

Why It’s Important to Understand Others’ Opinions

In many aspects of life, it’s important to be able to understand where others are coming from – whether that’s in a personal relationship, at work, or in a larger sense like current events. If you can’t see another person’s point of view, it becomes very difficult to find common ground or compromise. Additionally, in many cases, people won’t even bother trying to explain their opinions to you if they can tell that you’re not interested in hearing them out.

So, while it’s okay to have your own opinions, it’s important to be open to hearing others as well. You never know when you might learn something new or gain a different perspective on a topic.

Avoid Those That Refuse to Learn

If you find yourself talking with someone who would rather hear the sound of their own voice rather than have a decent conversation with you, it may be best to move on. These types of people are often close-minded and set in their ways, which can make any sort of discussion or debate quite frustrating.

It’s important to surround yourself with people that challenge you and make you think, otherwise, you run the risk of becoming stagnant. So, if someone isn’t interested in hearing your opinion or understanding your point of view, it may be best to steer clear.

How to Ensure You Are Not a Fool Yourself

If you want to avoid being the fool, there are a few things you can do. Make sure that you:

• Take the time to understand what is being discussed before offering your own opinion
• Don’t just regurgitate what you’ve heard others say – critically engage with the topic at hand
• Be open to hearing other people’s opinions, even if you don’t agree with them
• Seek out conversations with those that make you think and challenge your beliefs

Doing these things will help ensure that you are not the close-minded person that this quote warns against. Instead, you will be an active and engaged learner that is always looking to learn and grow.