Lead Without Followers: Spotlight on Dave Ursillo

Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things

Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things

The concept of ordinary people doing extraordinary things is very much aligned with Lead Without Followers, the inspiring new book from first-time author, Dave Ursillo.

“The sky is still the limit, but all we need to do to achieve an extraordinary life and shape the legacy we leave is to be as human, not superhuman, as we possibly can — and the entire world will be all the better for it.” – Dave Ursillo

I first connected with Dave online last year, and then had the pleasure of meeting him at the World Domination Summit. No surprise really that Dave would emerge a leader stepping into his power shortly after.

To me, it seemed as though something ignited inside Dave after the Summit. He seemed on fire, declaring his intentions boldly and sometimes, it appeared, brashly. Who proclaims they’ll have a book completed and launched in just three months?

Dave Ursillo, that’s who.

Lead Without Followers is part hero’s journey, part examination of the US political scene and most inspiringly, part step-by-step process to guide you in discovering your own unique style of leadership.

Like most heroes, Dave writes of a calling, a sense of being chosen by the message rather than choosing it. This kind of calling is not generally an easy path to walk, but he’s aware of the challenge and writes, “Trust the unknown path. And walk it all the same.”

And so he has.

Dave asks, “Why should any of us bother to go to such lengths to examine a situation in our world that seems so dire and hopeless?”

His question brings to mind an answer from a distant past, an answer to the question why from the Hopi Prophecy.

Why should any of us bother? Because. . .

We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.

(You can read the entire Hopi prophecy at the end of the post.)

Click here to read more on Lead Without Followers.

And that is a very good segue from brief review of the book to spotlight on Dave himself, in which I give him an opportunity to share his vision, in his own words. Enjoy.

1.  Why are you here?

I’m here to deliver a message, but I didn’t find it. The message found me.

Three years ago on one cool October night, something in me changed. I had just concluded an internship at the White House in Washington D.C. that summer, and even interviewed for a job in the West Wing thereafter. Weeks later, life was uncertain. And deep down, something within me was bubbling to the surface.

I was restless, lonely and completely unable to sleep that night. So, like a true writer, I grabbed my journal and hoped that I would be able to write out my frustrations — hoping that whatever within me was wanting to escape would finally be birthed onto paper.

As I wrote, I pondered everything about my life.

Love. Career. Direction. Purpose.

Every major question that I had ever asked was swirling within my head. I remember looking to the stars for answers, but hearing nothing in reply.

As the minutes passed, I remember writing, “I know in my heart that I am a leader, but who am I to lead?”

This question, I suddenly realized, was what I had been living without ever realizing it. I had been striving my whole life to fulfill a calling within to become a leader.

“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.” — Dave Ursillo.

And then I asked another question that changed me forever:

“Is it possible to lead, without having others follow?”

The answer, I realized, was yes.

True leadership comes from within, and does not depend on others’ following. I now live to explore, understand and share that message.

2.  What is your future self calling for?

My new book, Lead Without Followers, is the culmination of the last three years of my life after having that realization about leadership.

The message of the book — a radical reinterpretation of leadership, a bold and important redefinition of what it means to lead — has challenged me, repeatedly, over and over again, to face up to it and risk sharing it with the world.

And now, for the first time in what feels like a long time, I’m not sure what my future self is calling for.

That’s both liberating, and terrifying!

In a lot of ways, I think my future self will continue to strive to understand the essence of leadership based in love, not money; giving, not getting more popularity; and compassion, not power. I’ll follow where the road takes me

3.  How do you honour that calling?

I strive to nurture a personal sense of openness and fluidity every day to remind me that things in this life mostly unfold of their own accord — the best we can do is to come into alignment with that.

The way that I attain this is through keeping true to my personal values, my passions and a sense of purpose. I strive to maintain nourishing practices while minimizing the things that simply do not resonate with my sense of being, purpose and fulfillment. I think we could all benefit from focusing more on those things. However, I too lose sight of them and need to take time to really remember what matters.

4.  What is both effortless and life-giving to you?

I consider written word to be a brilliant form of giving to others. Writing comes to me very effortlessly at times, and although I write primarily to share good and positive messages with others, writing really does nurture my soul in a unique way.

I live to give to others and strive to help people in their walks of life; my book is a testament to that. And, I hope that by sharing a part of my story within this unique alternative leadership philosophy, as detailed in Lead Without Followers, that I might help to provoke positive thought and inspiration in readers.

5.  What do you do best?

I’m probably the best at not taking myself seriously.

6.  What is extraordinary about your work?

I let readers decide for themselves. Every time I write, my goal is to make the writing as open and accessible to every possible person that might come across it. I don’t write for any specific demographic or age group, gender or socioeconomic class, nationality or political affiliation.

My goal as a writer is to reach out and touch the common humanity in every reader, regardless of what makes them different from each other. In that way, writing itself can bridge any gap of differentness, separation and conflict.

7.  What is guaranteed to inspire you?

People, nature, solitude, and life itself. In solitude, free of distractions and noise, we ultimately find our true voice within–our genius. I find solitude in nature to be especially nourishing and inspiring. However, in the end, a life is most worth living when it is lived amongst and for others.

“Giving is the most devout, private and personal of human religions: each act of giving is, in itself, alms, amends and prayer.” — Dave Ursillo

People are inspiring, and I’m always amazed by the incredible caliber of human being you can come across when you escape from your head and adventure out into the world.

8.  What will your epitaph say if when you’ve lived life on your terms?

“A quiet leader.”

Dave Ursillo is a 25-year-old former “politico” insider turned alternative leadership author and speaker who teaches people how to become “leaders without followers” in any walk of life.

Click to buy book now!

Connect with Dave

On DaveUrsillo.com

On Twitter

On Facebook

The Elders Speak

You have been telling people that this is the Eleventh Hour, now you must go back and tell the people that this is the Hour.

And there are things to be considered. . .

Where are you living?
What are you doing?
What are your relationships?
Are you in right relation?
Where is your water?

Know your garden.
It is time to speak your truth.
Create your community.
Be good to each other.
And do not look outside yourself for your leader.

Then he clasped his hands together, smiled, and said,

This could be a good time! There is a river flowing now very fast. It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid. They will try to hold on to the shore. They will feel they are being torn apart and will suffer greatly.

Know the river has its destination. The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off into the middle of the river, keep our eyes open, and our heads above the water.

And I say, see who is in there with you and celebrate.

At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally, least of all ourselves.

For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey come to a halt.

The time of the lone wolf is over.

Gather yourselves! Banish the word ’struggle’ from your attitude and your vocabulary.

All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.

We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.

The Hopi Elders, Oraibi, Arizona, Hopi Nation