It takes guts to be a leader.

You have a crazy idea and you begin dancing, singing, shouting, or tweeting your revelation.  It’s hard work being an innovator and a leader, but the first follower is really the key to an idea, program, or new product’s success. The first follower is the guy that takes the risk and is the first to follow the leader’s lead.  The role of first follower in many ways is most important than the leader.

Those first followers aren’t always co-workers or traditional business partners like you might expect.  I like to think of my husband, Greg (@xceptional_it) as the constant balance check in my life.  He is the first follower who grounds me as I dance along from one idea to the next.  Take for example, my book.  Without Greg and his support Tweet This! would have never been published.

This video (shown below) is one of my favorite videos from the TEDx talks.  If you are not familiar with Tedx, I suggest that you check them out, and if you’re in the Oklahoma City area, be sure to check out one or all of the Tedx OKC events.  The first Tedx Tuesday is Tuesday, October 19th in Oklahoma City at the Deep Fork Grill.