"Virtues are actually a highly developed set of habits you already have or possess."
It was pouring rain that morning. My usual nature walk was out of the question. But skipping the movement I committed to? Not an option. Instead, I dropped down for 40 squats in my living room. No music, no prep. Just a reminder: discipline isn't always loud. Sometimes, it's quiet, inconvenient, and essential.
This moment might sound minor, even trivial. But it’s the foundation of everything I stand for as a founder and leadership coach. Today, I want to talk about habits—how they shape us, how they define our credibility, and how they are at the core of leadership.
Why do some people grow into reliable, effective leaders—and others don’t?
"So to get to those [virtues], you need to do repetitions."
If you're reading this, you probably want to make an impact. You're likely building something, leading a team, or preparing to do so. But here’s a truth I’ve learned the hard way: leadership doesn’t start with charisma or insight. It starts with habits.
We often admire leaders for their vision or confidence, but underneath that are thousands of repetitions. Small, deliberate choices. Habits. And the absence of those? It shows.
Before you can inspire others, you have to prove something to yourself. You must become the kind of person who does what they say they will do. And not just once, but relentlessly.
Building the Habit Baseline
"So the baseline is basically your discipline. Most people call it discipline."
I define my baseline clearly: I move my body every day. When life throws a curveball—a thunderstorm, a headache, travel—I adapt. But I don't negotiate the baseline. Because once you start negotiating with yourself, you’ll lose the only client that truly matters: your own credibility.
This principle applies far beyond fitness. Posting regularly. Reading. Learning. Practicing your craft. These are not rituals for show. They are the signals you send to yourself—and later, to others—that you can be trusted.
Let’s break it down:
Credibility comes from doing what you say you will do.
Being a role model means your actions are worth copying.
Sharing a vision demands clarity and consistency.
Challenging others requires deep skill and confidence, earned through practice.
If you want these traits, you can’t download them. You develop them through habit.
The Unseen Engine of Growth
"Leadership and trainers are, in most cases, the same thing. We just frame that a little different, but the core habits are the same."
As someone who trains junior talent, I see this every day. The successful ones? They show up. Not just physically, but mentally. They build consistency. That’s where their real transformation happens—from uncertainty to confidence, from knowledge to mastery.
It’s the same with founders. You want to scale a business? Build hiring pipelines? Create a vision that others rally behind? You need to lead. And to lead, you must show up as someone others want to follow.
So, how do you do that? You train. Not in front of a mirror, but in real life. With habits.
Key takeaways
"In order to become incredible, you need to become credible first."
Credibility is earned in solitude; in moments when no one’s watching.
Habits define who you are, not your ideas or intentions.
Discipline is your absolute baseline; it tells your story better than words.
Leadership is repetition, challenge, consistency, and delivery.
Virtues aren’t born—they’re built; one habit at a time.
Final Thought
We talk a lot about big ideas in leadership circles. Culture. Strategy. Innovation. But all of them rest on something simple and often overlooked: whether you showed up today. Whether you’ll show up tomorrow.
So ask yourself:
What’s one habit you’ve been avoiding that could change everything in six months?
Sources and Mentions:
Malcolm Gladwell on Deliberate Practice and 10,000 Hours
Habit Formation – Psychology Today
Leadership through Training – Vocational Learning Models
If this resonated, consider sharing your thoughts. I read every reply.
Stay consistent.
– Adrian
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