Rethinking Success Through the Lens of Real-Life Leadership

Every day, we read a story about a leader who did something remarkable—and then returned to their inner self.

The executive who walked away from a high-powered role to focus on his health.
The founder who stepped back from their company to repair relationships at home.
The professional who realized, mid-sprint, that the finish line they were chasing wasn’t actually their own.

These aren’t stories of failure.
They’re stories of remembering.

They echo something quiet but constant in our modern world: that success, at least the kind that sticks, must eventually circle back to something deeper. Something more human.

The Wheel Beneath It All

In the pursuit of achievement, it’s easy to reduce leadership to output, metrics, or moments of glory. But beneath all the movement is something more circular than linear.

Leadership, at its healthiest, doesn’t climb forever.
It turns. It revolves. It balances.

That’s how the concept of the Wheel of Leadership came to life—an organic framework, drawn not from theory, but from real conversations with people trying to live and lead with depth.

Seven key areas kept surfacing in those conversations. I started calling them the 7 Fs. They aren’t rules. They’re reminders. A way to check in with the parts of life that leadership sometimes forgets.

The 7 Fs — The Hidden Balance of Whole Leaders

Faith.
Not just belief in something beyond yourself, but belief within yourself. Purpose. Perspective. A reason why the work matters, especially when it gets hard.

Family.
The people who see you without the title. Who care about you, not your calendar. Real leadership doesn’t skip the dinner table to chase applause.

Fitness.
Your first source of energy. Clarity. Presence. Whether it’s a morning run or simply remembering to breathe, leaders who care for their bodies last longer—in every sense.

Finances.
More than money. It’s about feeling safe. Free. Empowered to say yes—or no—without fear.

Friends.
The ones who remind you who you are. You can’t build great things in isolation and expect to feel whole.

Fun.
Joy isn’t a luxury—it’s a survival skill. It softens stress. Restores creativity. Reminds us that being human isn’t a flaw; it’s the point.

Future.
A long view. A vision. A path forward that isn’t just reactionary, but intentional. Great leaders don’t just solve problems. They imagine what’s next.

These seven are like spokes on a wheel. When one is ignored, the whole ride gets bumpier. When several are neglected, the wheel stops turning—and so do we.

So…What’s Your 8th F?

Most people find themselves reflected somewhere in the seven.
But every so often, there’s something else—something uniquely theirs.

That is what I call the 8th F!

It’s not part of the official wheel, but it may be the part your life is calling for most.

Here are a few I’ve heard:

• Fame – Not for ego, but for impact. A desire to amplify, to be seen, to influence meaningfully.
• Freedom – The ability to choose, move, breathe without asking permission.
• Fulfillment – That internal “yes” that tells you you’re not just succeeding—you’re becoming.
• Flow – The rare, beautiful state where work becomes play and time disappears.
• Faithfulness – A long, loyal commitment to what matters, even when no one’s watching.

Maybe yours is something entirely different. Maybe it doesn’t start with an “F” at all. That’s okay.

What matters is that you name it.

That you make space for it.

That you let it be part of the wheel.

NOT A FORMULA- A REFLECTION

The Wheel of Leadership isn’t a tool for perfect balance. Life will always be tilted, messy, in motion. You can find the wheel and a test here: https://goodleadership.com/seven-fs/

But it is a way to stay grounded.

To return to yourself.

Because real leadership isn’t just about what you build.
It’s about who you become while building it.

So before you dive back into strategy and structure, pause. Ask yourself:

“What have I left behind—and what do I want to bring back?”

What part of your life has been waiting patiently to be seen again?