Leadership Step by Step

Preface

Have you noticed how many top leaders were once actors, athletes, or other performers? And how few graduated from traditional academic leadership programs?

Actors, athletes, and other performers have become U.S. presidents, governors, senators, congress members, mayors, founders of well-known companies, and more. Love or hate actor-and- athlete-turned-president Ronald Reagan, he ranks near the top of many presidential polls. Meanwhile, the only MBA president, George W. Bush, ranks near the bottom.

Performers-turned-leaders include Arnold Schwarzenegger, Oprah Winfrey, Muhammad Ali, Sean Combs, Jesse Ventura, Jackie Chan, Al Franken, Jane Fonda, and others—not mere trendsetters. Besides not taking traditional leadership programs, many ...