No Rules Leadership
“Life is about making an impact not making an income.”
As a serial entrepreneur, Kevin Kruse has started and sold many successful businesses and had his fair share of failures, too. What he didn’t realise when starting out was that leadership and time management were integral to his success. He became a student and now shows others how to successfully lead and best manage their time.
I speak to Kevin about his company Lead X – Leadership development for the modern day workforce. Built on the back of Watson, Lead X is an AI-powered leadership development platform that allows leaders to be trained and coached at scale. We discuss why great leaders have no rules and the benefits and implications associated with this and Kevin shares some time-hacks as well. I hope you find value in this interview. Enjoy!
Guest Bio
In pursuit of the American Dream, Kevin Kruse started his first company when he was just 22 years old. He worked around the clock, literally living out of his one-room office and showering each day at the YMCA, before giving up a year later deeply in debt.
But after discovering the power of Wholehearted Leadership and Extreme Productivity, Kevin went on to build and sell several, multi-million dollar technology companies, winning both Inc 500 and Best Place to Work awards along the way.
Kevin is also the author of several books including the NY Times bestseller, We: How to Increase Performance and Profits Through Full Engagement, Employee Engagement 2.0, and 15 Secrets Successful People Know About Time Management. He is a Forbes Leadership columnist and was named to the Top 100 Business Thought Leaders list by Trust Across America.
Quick round questions
Do you have any routines and rituals that you believe contribute to your success?
I start the day with an attitude of gratitude.
How would you define success? What does success look like to you?
Being able to do what I want to with my time.
What advice would you give your 20-year-old self?
Be likeable but don’t worry about being liked.
What advice would you give someone that needing/wanting to make a change in their life?
Change your environment.
If I would serve you your last meal what would you request?
French fries and good bourbon.
What activity gives you the greatest sense of joy?
Time with my kids.
If you could pick one book to pass down to your children or future generations what book would it be?
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
Great Leaders Have No Rules: Contrarian Leadership Principles to Transform Your Team and Business by Kevin Kruse
We: How to Increase Performance and Profits through Full Engagement by Kevin Kruse
Employee Engagement 2.0: How to Motivate Your Team for High Performance (A Real-World Guide for Busy Managers) by Kevin Kruse
What quote, phrase or message would you text or tweet to everyone in the world?
“Life is about making an impact not making an income.”
Do we all have a Hidden Why, a purpose?
It is not something we are born with but we can decide on one and change it.
The purpose of life is to live a life of purpose but you get to pick your purpose.What do you believe is the underlying motivation behind everything you do?
Helping others to achieve their full potential.
How to connect with Kevin
Check out Lead-X here and coach Amanda.
Kevin’s personal website can be found here.
Further Reading and Resources
TED Talks: Ideas worth spreading
Elite Daily: The Voice of Generation Y
Four Hour Work Week: How to escape the 9-5, live anywhere and join the new rich.
The Minimalists: How to pursue a minimalist lifestyle and be happier.
Mind Hacks: Tips and Tricks for Using Your Brain
Rich Roll: Plantpowered Wellness Advocate
The Art of Charm: Build confidence, feel comfortable and networking differently.
The Art of Manliness: Encouraging men to be better husbands, fathers, brothers, citizens.
Tiny Buddha: Simple wisdom for complex lives.
Mind Body Green: Lifestyle media brand dedicated to inspiring you to live your best life.
Zen Habits: Find simplicity and mindfulness in life.
Creative NonFiction: “true stories well told.”
Barking Up the Wrong Tree: science-based answers and expert insight on how to be awesome at life.
The Positivity Blog: Practical articles on happiness, self-esteem, productivity and social skills.
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