In every room I’ve ever led, whether it was a SWAT briefing, a small business team huddle, or a coaching call with a struggling entrepreneur, I’ve noticed the same thing:
Some people love to talk about what they’re going to do.
Others? They move.
Leadership is about motion. It’s not a title. It’s not charisma. It’s not LinkedIn quotes or mission statements on the wall.
It’s momentum.
This mindset was captured perfectly in something I came across recently:
The Manifesto of a Doer.
It’s 23 punchy truths about how execution beats ideas every time.
Today, I’m ripping a few pages from that manifesto and putting a leadership spin on it along with the hard-earned lessons I’ve lived through in the field, in business, and in the fire of failure.
Let’s go.
1. Stop Talking. Start Leading.
I’ve sat in boardrooms where everyone had an idea. But the guy with the dry-erase marker never moved the needle.
Action isn’t a phase. It’s the job.
“You have two options: talk about the change, or make the change.”
Here’s what to do:
- Lead from the front. Show the team what urgency looks like.
- Don’t drown your team in hypotheticals. Give them a first step.
2. Urgency Is a Weapon
Back when I worked undercover, we didn’t get to circle back next quarter.
If you didn’t act fast, you lost the momentum in the case. Or worse.
In business, the threat might not be life or death, but the principle holds:
Slow teams get crushed.
“Deadlines serve you best when they are short, hard, and feel impossible.”
What to do:
- Set deadlines that make people uncomfortable but clear.
- Cut half of your next meeting time. Trade it for decisions.
3. Say No More
The biggest thing holding leaders back isn’t a lack of ideas it’s distraction.
Want to tank your company? Say yes to everything.
“You can do anything, but not everything.” David Allen
I’ve said no to clients who wanted to pay.
Why? Because they weren’t aligned with the mission. And dragging dead weight burns your whole team.
What to do:
- Guard your calendar like you guard your cash.
- Teach your team: If it’s not a hell yes, it’s a no.
4. Multiply the Mission
One of the smartest moves I ever made was finding multipliers people who shared the vision and could run without babysitting.
Leadership isn’t about doing it all. It’s about setting the target, then letting skilled people aim.
“Teams with a clear purpose and a clear sense of the change they can make get the most done.”
What to do:
- Assign ownership, not just tasks.
- Get crystal clear on the why before you touch the how.
5. Progress Beats Perfection
I see it every day: leaders stuck in planning hell. Waiting to feel ready.
Let me save you a few years you’ll never feel ready.
“Perfection comes over time. Not at the beginning.”
I launched businesses on bad websites and broken CRMs.
I gave talks before I had fancy slides.
I built momentum and cleaned up the mess later.
What to do:
- Move fast. Learn loud.
- Done is your first version of perfect.
6. Make Execution the Culture
If you want your team to move, you’ve got to model movement.
Don’t just ask for results live in results.
Don’t tolerate drift call it out and reset.
This isn’t micromanagement. This is leadership.
“What are we solving for?”
Ask it until it’s reflex. That’s how cultures shift.
What to do:
- Reinforce clarity daily. What’s the priority? Why does it matter?
- Kill “nice to do” tasks. Double down on impact.
Final Words
Leadership isn’t a vibe. It’s a responsibility.
And right now, your team doesn’t need a hype man.
They need someone who clears the path and sets the pace.
So stop waiting. Stop refining.
Start leading.
The world’s got enough thinkers.
