Million Dollar Habits

The True Test of the Leader 
Peter Drucker says that the only event that is inevitable in the life of the leader is 
the 
“unexpected crisis.”
It is only when you encounter a setback, an obstacle, a 
difficulty or the inevitable crisis, that you demonstrate the kind of person you 
really are. It is not what you say, wish, hope or intend that reveals your character. 
It is only your actions, especially your actions in the face of adversity and possible 
setbacks or losses. 
The Greek stoic philosopher Epictetus once wrote, 
“Circumstances do not make 
the man; they merely reveal him to himself.”
 
Develop the habit of asking this question, 
“What one great thing would I dare to 
dream, if I knew I could not fail?” 
Imagine that you have a magic wand that you can wave and you will be absolutely 
guaranteed of success in anything you attempt, large or small, long-term or short-

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Million Dollar Habits – Page 298 
term. What goals would you set for yourself if you were guaranteed of success in 
any area? 
Dorothy Brande once wrote, 
“Act as if it were impossible to fail, and it shall be!”
Develop the habit, from this day forward, of identifying the things you fear that 
may be holding you back, and then confronting each one of them until they contain 
no more fear for you. As Shakespeare said in Macbeth, 
“Take arms against a sea 
of troubles, and in so doing, end them.” 
Put another way, 
“Leap, and the net will appear.” 
Leap and build your wings on 
the way down. 
Make it a habit to do the things you fear, and the death of fear is certain. As your 
level of courage and confidence increases, your fears and doubts will decrease. The 
more you confront your fears and eliminate them, the stronger and more confident 
you will feel. Your self-esteem and self-respect will rise. As your fears diminish, 
you will become more powerful and persuasive. You will move forward like a 
rushing flood. You will become unstoppable.