Today, buying shoes online is as commonplace as, well, buying shoes at a mall. But back in 1999, when 25-year-old Tony Hsieh and his partners conceived of the idea, it seemed almost foolish. After all, there wasn’t any proof to suggest that it would work: Would people really buy shoes without seeing them in person and without trying them on?
But Hsieh (pronounced Shay) had confidence in his idea, and he persisted, finding and convincing a backer to support him in his endeavor. Ten years later, his company-Zappos-is one of the most popular online shopping sites and an innovative leader in customer service with $1 billion worth of sales in 2008.
When most people hear the word “leader,” they associate it with a position or title: boss, CEO, team captain. But leadership doesn’t have to be “official,” and you don’t have to be an outgoing extrovert to lead. Hsieh didn’t set out to be a leader (he’s actually rather shy). He simply believed in himself and his idea, and the rest followed.
The fact is, you can develop leadership skills in every realm of your life and in any type of situation, from the mundane to the heroic, without being a formal or elected “leader.” These skills are important because they will help you achieve both personal and academic success in college and beyond.
So, how do you become a leader, big or small?
Even if you don’t have plans to run a company or govern the country developing leadership skills now will benefit you more than you know.
