Our Leaders Are Failing Us… But Are They Really the Problem?

This Compelling Tale Will Challenge Everything You Know About Leadership, And Open Your Heart to a World of New Possibility

Welcome

Is it possible to lead without followers?

Lead Without Followers is a compelling personal tale and Generation-Y diagnosis of the rampant problems with leadership in today’s world — and how, by redefining leadership on a radical and personal level, we can begin to become part of the solution.

This nonfiction book — the debut work of writer Dave Ursillo — questions the true meaning of leadership, and is infused with an inspiring political treatment of the state of modern leaders.

The storytelling style in Lead Without Followers is a vehicle through which the author intimately guides the reader to ponder one seemingly backwards idea:

That you and anyone else can become a leader in your own life, regardless of your socio-economic status, job title, or financial wealth – even if you don’t have any followers.

Lead Without Followers is against a disturbing backdrop: one of widespread disillusionment and rampant distrust with our modern political leaders — on both sides of the aisle.

The inspired tone of Lead Without Followers invites you to question the meaning of leadership in today’s desperate world –  and, conveys that somewhat distant and radical-feeling idea that by redefining the meaning of leadership to have more of a personal focus, we can individually and collectively begin to become part of the solution.

Told from the perspective of one young idealist in a post-September 11th world who had struggled and stumbled to find his way toward making a real and positive difference on behalf of the lives of others, Lead Without Followers speaks deeply to Generation-Y readers.

This book is especially powerful for college students, post-grads and 20-somethings who consider themselves to be “alternative thinkers” and also feel deeply drawn to creating positive change in our world.

 

So, what is the book like? Here’s a three-part summary below…

 

Part 1: The Leadership Problem

Lead Without Followers will guide you through redefining what it means to be a leader for yourself, on a very personal level as the book transitions from its storytelling style into a catalyst of personal discovery and growth.

Part 1 of Lead Without Followers is part personal tale, and part political analysis of the unique era that today’s rising generation — Generation Y — has been born into.

You’re guided to see the state of modern leadership in our world through the unique perspective of one young American — the author, Dave Ursillo — who invested years of his life hoping to make a difference in politics and public service.

But something never sat right with him.

And one October evening when living in Washington D.C., he had a revelation about the true nature of leadership: one that our loud world has forgotten…

Part 2: How to Lead Without Followers

Part 2 of Lead Without Followers functions as a positive spark for personal exploration for the reader, layered with a deeply human discussion on the principles that comprise leadership.

The book warmly commits the reader to an escape from the political discussion about leadership, and invites the reader to look within oneself to discover of compassion and selfless giving, the roots of your personal strengths and abilities, cultivating your inner leader through the routine actions and interactions of your everyday life, and more.

Part 3: Dawn of the Quiet Leader

And finally, in Part 3 of the book, Lead Without Followers delves into a deeper political analysis of the state of modern leadership in our world — all through the new-found lens that we can individually and collectively lead without followers.

The world is the goal, but throughout the book, the United States of America is the focus. The America-centric focus is meant to create an inclusive discussion about leadership in our world when set against the problems with American leadership, specifically — not an exclusive, nationalistic, divided mentality. Further, Part 3 intends to instill that all citizens of the world ought to hold America to the highest standard for its national and global leadership, on behalf of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” for all people.

Finally, Part 3 of Lead Without Followers returns to the discussion on today’s modern “leadership problem.”

What is wrong with our leaders? How can we — individually and collectively — begin to become part of the solution? And how does beginning to cultivate a sense of personal leadership in our everyday lives guide us to understanding the nature of refreshingly human leadership on a political level?

By reading Lead Without Followers, you’ll understand how by redefining the meaning of leadership to have more of a personal focus, you can individually stoke personal fulfillment, purpose and passion in your life — and begin to become a part of the bigger, collective solution to saving our jaded and cynical world.

 

Free bonus gifts for you…

I want you to feel like I’m right there with you when you read this personal perspective on leadership — one that hopes to inspire you to radically redefine leadership on your own terms.

So, I thought I’d include some bonus gifts for you.

This site also functions as your own personal resource to go along with the book, including tons of free content for to supplement your reading and learning, as if I’m your 1-on-1 guide!

Here’s what you can find:

  • Video interviews with a wide array of global changemakers,
  • Audio podcasts with industry leaders,
  • Intention Videos Series with Dave Ursillo to guide you as you read the book, and
  • A Chapter-by-Chapter Recap Series of audiocasts with Dave to summize, discuss, and invite you to deeply consider each of all eighteen chapters of Lead Without Followers! 

Simply put, I want you to have the deepest possible offering of quality content to guide your understanding of today’s leadership problem, and inspire you to start leading in your own life — so that we can all, together, begin to become part of the solution.

Learn more   |  Free Chapter  |  Buy Lead Without Followers Now »

My Story

“What is wrong with today’s leaders?”

This is the question that I couldn’t stop asking for years throughout my young life.

You see, from 2003 to 2009, I was deeply entrenched in the world of politics and public service, working in five state and federal government offices by the age of 23.

Yeah, in that business, it sure felt like a lifetime. And over those six years, I had:

  • Pushed paper for state senators in one of the most notorious capital cities in the United States of America
  • Watched as the F.B.I. cracked down on crooked politicians just months after I had worked interned amongst them
  • Researched, wrote and recommended sensitive policy courses-of-action on controversial legislative holes that continue to drain a desperate state’s financial resources
  • Served as a proxy to several Presidential-Appointees on environmental issues at the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) under the Bush Administration in 2008
  • Prepared an advisory report for the incoming Obama Administration on a federal environmental initiative protecting historic American rivers and watersheds
  • Worked inches away from a campaigning gubernatorial candidate as a personal driver, advance team worker and body man in 2009, and
  • Been summoned to the biggest job interview of my life in the West Wing of the White House — with only 40 minutes notice!

From this incredibly unique vantage point as a young American in a post-9/11 world, I, for years, kept asking this ever-important question:

“Are our leaders failing us, or are we failing ourselves?”

 

My name is Dave Ursillo, and I’m the author of Lead Without Followers.

As a young American and member of a driven generation of dreamers, Generation-Y, I felt desperately called to help our world after the devastating terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 — I was only 15 years old.

After seeing the death and destruction of that dark day, I felt “the call of a leader” within, and began to try to be a part of the solution to all of the problems that seemed to so devastatingly plague our broken world.

It would take years of questioning to start to understand what the real problem was with leadership in our world: hiding in plain sight for anyone to discover, if only you’d take the moment to really look.

That’s where Lead Without Followers really begins. And, it’s where you come in.

 

Let me tell you a bit more about myself.

About three years ago, I was trapped in a terrible job that drained every ounce of my happiness and health. I was also trapped in my head: between working in the world of politics which challenged every moral fiber of my being, I was also dumped from a serious relationship that left me heartbroken.

As I battled crippling anxiety and depression all by myself — without telling any of my family of friends — I faced the brink of total collapse. But I knew what I had to do.

I looked deep into my heart and three agonizing months later, decided to quit that job and leave the world of politics behind. I said goodbye to the life that I didn’t want to – and simply couldn’t – keep living. I haven’t looked back since.

Here’s the thing: I’m not a self-made millionaire. I’m not a self-help expert or “happiness guru” or someone who will torture you by saying, “I live on a beach in Hawaii and make $100,000 every month! And it’s easy! I’ll teach you how! Just pay me all of your hard earned money first!”

Today I’m a full-time, self-employed writer, blogger and emerging public speaker who is sharing inspiring messages with people and determined to leave a positive mark on the world.

Writing is my favorite way of giving to others — people like you. I love it, and I live for it. That’s me. That’s my humble mission. And I hope to share words with you that truly matter.

 

Why the personal side of the book?

In Lead Without Followers I use bits of my own personal story as a vehicle to help convey this seemingly backwards idea that anyone can be a leader.

I tell parts of my story throughout this book to invite you to remember what leadership means. I think you already know it deep down — I think that we all do. But in today’s world, even the very word “leadership” has become so convoluted that its simple meaning has become almost completely lost.

That’s why I love the empowering and inspiring facets of this catalyst of personal growth, discovery and empowerment.

Anyone can live it. Anyone can embrace it, practice it, and become it.

And during any bout that I’ve ever had with depression or simple heartache, I’ve found that by immersing myself deeply into the principles behind this alternative leadership book — selfless giving, compassion and forgiveness – I’ve found the power to heal, discover and thrive.

Today, I’m sharing these profound principles through the lens of personal leadership — and with the extremely important “big-picture” in mind about what we can do, individually and collectively, to begin to become part of the solution.

Learn More  |  Free Chapter  |  Buy Lead Without Followers Now »

What’s in the Book

PART ONE – THE LEADERSHIP PROBLEM

Part 1 of Lead Without Followers is a personal narrative: a warm, inviting tale from the perspective of a young American looking to make a positive difference in the world.

However, the narrator quickly finds the stage he and his Generation Y contemporaries have the odds stacked against them.

Part 1 thus opens against a disturbing backdrop: one of historic discontent with America’s leaders on both sides of the aisle; an apparent systemic failure with the American way of life; an endemic of distrust, anger and impatience with leaders in our world.

Our leaders appear to be failing us — but are they really the problem?

 

Introduction

“The essence of genuine leadership—an inherently human quality that has been manifested millions of times over, every single day, since the dawn of humankind—has been gently woven throughout history in a brilliant but mysterious tapestry of love, selfless giving, courageousness, compassion and hope. We aim to revive these principles today, and with unapologetic vigor.”

 

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Chapter 1 – A Gathering Storm

“Beneath the surface of petty headlines and trifling political arguments, there was a bleak, suspicious and dark atmosphere that had begun to grip the entire public psyche—as if a widespread virus had subtly inflicted the collective consciousness with pessimism, hopelessness, fear and anger.”

“Working to remedy the Leadership Problem by radically redefining the very meaning of leadership and reclaiming it on behalf of the ‘ordinary’ citizen will not only propel a renewed American spirit, but further, reestablish America’s important place as a quiet leader in our world.”

Audio Recap 1:

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Chapter 2 – Can the Meaning of Leadership Really Be “Lost”?

“The meaning of leadership can indeed change, evolve, degenerate or even become “lost” by way of a variety of factors and influences—and especially when the collective consciousness perceives leadership differently and begins to redefine it as such.”

On how the meaning of leadership can change: “Distractions. Lost priorities. Culture shifts. Historic periods of unprecedented growth and rapid global change. Quiet paradigms of habituated thoughts and shared feeling that become so widespread—and yet prevail so unnoticed—that they subtly dominate the social psyche before beginning to influence and literally create a new reality based upon the prevalent perception.”

Audio Recap 2:

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Chapter 3 – The Deficit of Trust

“It’s not the leaders. It’s not the system or our way of life. It’s not one politician or political party, or even an explicit fault of our own. We have gradually lost the meaning of leadership by way of a series of complex distractions and undeniable culture shifts that have redefined what leadership really is in our minds, and who we think our leaders are, and who we think ought to be elected into power.”

“When a perception reaches a level of overwhelming and widespread prevalence—as with the End of History, or today’s Leadership Problem—the very definition of a ‘perception’ as merely an intangible assumption, belief, or idea begins to change. On such a prevalent level of shared understanding, a simple ‘perception’ becomes indistinguishable from genuine reality.”

“This widespread air of discontent—a gathering storm of anger and distrust that has grown to plague the American psyche—remains unchanged even throughout power shifts between major political parties and individual elected leaders. That’s a pretty scary reality. And it means that something far more significant and alarming is going on—within the hearts and minds of us all.”

Audio Recap 3:

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Chapter 4 – Requiem of a Dream: My American Story

“As a writer, there’s nothing more remarkable to me than when the words flow forth onto the page as if not from my own hand, but from ‘somewhere beyond’ that I’ve somehow managed to tap into for just a fleeting moment.”

“What led me to believe there was a deeply-rooted, intrinsic problem with our understanding of modern leadership in our world? And how in 2008 did I get to that place at just 22 years old? The answer, in short, is because second to calling myself a writer, I suppose I would also call myself a leader. However, I’m not quite sure why.”

Audio Recap 4:

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Chapter 5 – My Leadership Revelation: One October Night

“Your leadership is reaped by the lives you touch routinely, every day, through positive actions and emotions that unduly influence others to live similarly—they, in turn, pass those same positive traits of yours onward to others in their world.”

Audio Recap 5:

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Chapter 6 – Hope and Hope Abandoned

“With only 441 days separating United States of America from taking a chance on hope before falling back into bleak sense of impatience and hopelessness, we might ask, is our public psyche suffering from a genuine bout of depression?”

“In spite of one man’s election to the highest office in the country, millions remained upset and unhappy. And as more time passed, shorter and shorter were the fuses of the voting public. The air of discontent still washed over the streets. The gathering storm had finally arrived and conclusively settled over our heads.”

Audio Recap 6:

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PART TWO – HOW TO LEAD WITHOUT FOLLOWERS

Part Two of Lead Without Followers suddenly departs from the personal perspective and storytelling style of discussion about modern America and its current state leadership — with explicit purpose.

Part Two of the book invites the reader to escapes from the political discontent, anger and impatience with our modern leaders in order to start anew: asking deeply personal questions so that we may remember what leadership really is, devoid of any partisanship or pre-conceived notions about what it means to be a leader.

As such, Part Two of Lead Without Followers functions as a catalyst for personal growth through deep introspection and heartfelt reflection — a genuine proponent of your self-realization of the capabilities you naturally possess to positively influence the lives of others as a leader in your life.

 

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Chapter 7 – The Great Escape

“Every day, your life—through something as small as existing in the world and interacting in society, regardless of your job title or socio-economic bracket—leaves a lasting and indelible mark upon the lives of dozens and hundreds and thousands of men and women who live around you.”

“As a human being, you are already biologically hardwired to be a leader. But in this technological day and age, your words and actions can literally reverberate throughout the entire world and its nearly seven billion inhabitants with an unabashed magnitude that was never before possible!”

Audio Recap 7:

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Chapter 8 – The Roots of Your ‘Power from Within’

“Each and every human being, independently and on one’s own, fully possesses the litany of tools and resources within that are ever needed to become a leader. Every day. In any walk of life. Period. This is the essence of what I call, ‘power from within.`”

“Regardless of how well you know your personal talents, gifts and abilities, brilliant inner strengths are already there within you, whether you believe it or know them or not. Understanding and exploring these strengths and their intricacies is not as important as simply knowing that they exist.”

Audio Recap 8:

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Chapter 9 – Discovering Your Own Lasting Leadership

“Gratitude—everyday thankfulness and, ultimately, a personified awareness of gratefulness—will help you to cultivate a profound and long-lasting sense of leadership. Leadership originates within. It is an intrinsically human and soulful quality that can be embodied by any human being, simply because he or she is human.”

Audio Recap 9:

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Chapter 10 – Become Giving: Leadership in Practice

“While leadership originates within a single individual, any definition of “leadership” is necessarily defined by the concept that it regards one person interacting among others: people are the explicit focus, intention and end-goal of every form of human leadership.”

Audio Recap 10:

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Chapter 11 – Cultivating the Inner Leader, Every Day

“Happiness begins within, and can only be made real by living among others. Leadership also dawns within—but is only made real when it is embodied and shared among others.”

“The Age of the Leader presents us with a litany of tools that allow us to become literal broadcasters for good or for bad, and on an incredibly far-reaching stage. In this extremely overlapping and interconnected world, we are, in essence, instant leaders.”

Audio Recap 11:

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Chapter 12 – The New Science of Leadership

“Being thankful creates a natural inner want to help others, and flips a deficit-minded outlook into a grateful one—which further propels a leader without followers to extend his selfless and caring reach into as many lives as possible.”

Audio Recap 12:

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Chapter 13 – The Radical Effect of Leading Without Followers

“What is created by a leader without followers is a unique synergy of reciprocation and mutual benefit—a shared strengthening of the spirit, of our inner resilience and of our happiness. Leadership does not benefit just one party or the other. Real leadership is exerted for the benefit of others and the self.”

Audio Recap 13:

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PART THREE – THE DAWN OF THE QUIET LEADER

Now with a refreshingly new and promising perspective on the nature of leadership — how each of us, individually and within ourselves, can become a highly influential leader in our lives by helping, inspiring, and living for others — we return to the political stage that began in Part One and reframe the conversation about the United States of America’s important place in a changing world.

Part Three of the book further analyses the modern leadership problem, examines what of our cultural perspectives might be to blame, and, through the new lens of leadership without followers, calls upon the American nation and truly all human beings who believe in peace, equality and liberty to exert themselves once more and to lead by humble and loving example.

Part Three of Lead Without Followers thus completes the full-circle journey: what begins with major and historic global problems as witnessed by one young man from a very limited perspective, extrapolated through an open-minded, love-based, truly human philosophy on leadership.

 

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Chapter 14 – America in a Changing World

“Perhaps the Leadership Problem’s truest roots—the overwhelming and shared sentiments of guilt and terror, pessimism and distrust, anger and impatience that have infiltrated every facet of our lives — originate from the fear that we have already come upon a second End of History: this time, our own.”

Audio Recap 14:

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Chapter 15 – What’s Wrong With Our Modern Leaders

“We need to conclusively kill the idea that leaders are—in any way, shape or form—different than the rest of us. As leadership is a basic human trait that is most powerfully embodied by working to become more human, we need to culturally defeat such an outdated concept—for the betterment of every human being, especially those who wish to become leaders without followers.”

Audio Recap 15:

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Chapter 16 – What Blame Lies With Us

“Make no mistake about it: we are living in a time of civil rebellion against the elected leadership of our country and those who reside on both sides of the aisle.” 

“What’s wrong with our modern leaders? They are us. And we are them. The buck begins and ends with ‘We, the People.’ We can’t ever expect things to change unless we, ourselves, take up the mantle to redefining leadership and uprooting the toxic environment that we have birthed and perpetuated.”

Audio Recap 16:

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Chapter 17 – How We Lost the Meaning of Leadership

“We are complete and whole, simply within ourselves. Nothing is lacking. But a lack-oriented, deficit-minded culture further propels the idea that we are necessarily incomplete and in desperate need of more to be happy. This dangerous perception has perpetuated depression and unhappiness for generations, and has now bled into the sphere of leadership.”

Audio Recap 17:

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Chapter 18 – To Revive the American Dream

“You are already a leader. And I’m here to tell you to call yourself one, without regret or hesitation or remorse—because your simple self-belief can and will change our world.”

“The revolution starts here, but it will live on only by your choice alone. And together, jointly, we can unite to revitalize what it means to be a leader, rejuvenate this entire world and reclaim the name of leadership for ourselves—for humanity’s infinite betterment. And it begins by leading without followers.”

Audio Recap 18:

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Learn More  |  Free Chapter  |  Buy Lead Without Followers Now »

Interviews Galore

Free Interviews, Podcasts & More

Within just months of its publication, this inspiring personal tale — based upon one seemingly backwards idea! — has been explored, discussed, debated and loved by hundreds of readers, change makers and thought-leaders around the globe.

Here’s what some brilliant minds from unique walks of life have had to say and ask about Lead Without Followers in discussions with author Dave Ursillo!

 

AUDIO PODCASTS

A podcast on the principles of personal leadership and self-publishing with The Publishing Insiders:

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The roots of the idea of becoming a leader without followers in your life on Radio Enso:

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The business-leadership side of becoming a leader without followers with Lisa Robbin Young of Business Action Hero:

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VIDEO INTERVIEWS

A two-part interview live and on-air in Rhode Island with Anthony Gemma, esteemed businessman, former Congressional candidate and inspirational speaker.

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A discussion with Brandon Sutton, documentarian and social change agent:

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What is the role of Generation-Y as leaders when entering the real world as post-grads?

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An interview on depression and building the foundation of lasting happiness with Amy Clover of Strong Inside Out:

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Discussing the leadership side of life in the context of today’s big-picture political problems with Laura Calandrella, social change-maker and consultant:

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TEXT-INTERVIEWS AND GUEST POSTS

 

Learn More  |  Free Chapter  |  Buy Lead Without Followers Now »

Get It Now »

“No magic pill will cure our woes. A resolute, flexible, and intelligent regimen will. That regimen is this alternative leadership philosophy, and your vital place within it.” — from Lead Without Followers

Available Now!

Lead Without Followers: How to Save Our World by Radically Redefining the Meaning of Leadership is available now on Amazon.com in beautiful softcover and affordable Kindle format!

 


Join our revolution of leadership based in love.

I hope you enjoy the book!

And please feel free to reach out and send me your thoughts at any time: dave@daveursillo.com / 401/384-0887

Thank you,