In this episode of *Business Is Good*, I explore the concept of self-leadership and why it’s the foundation of all other types of leadership. I share that while a business's efficiency helps it survive tough times, it’s the strength of its leadership that determines its success in the good times. Often, the biggest limitation to growth is the founder or CEO—their personal knowledge gaps, emotional control, or mindset can be what holds the business back.

I walk through different forms of leadership, including team, brand, and niche leadership, but emphasize that self-leadership is the one we must master first. Drawing from my own experiences, I talk about the importance of financial literacy, staying emotionally disciplined, and confronting uncomfortable realities in business. For example, I share how I navigate challenging employee situations and manage my own emotional responses when faced with overwhelm.

Many gym owners, like those I work with, struggle with distractions and the excitement of novelty, which can pull them away from proven growth strategies. To counter this, I talk about the power of building focus-driven habits, such as setting aside a dedicated hour each day for high-priority work, to create lasting momentum.

To help you practice self-leadership, I’m introducing a 30-day challenge with daily prompts for self-reflection and actionable growth. I’ll provide questions and exercises to encourage honest self-assessment. Whether you’re writing in a journal or just taking a few moments to reflect, this is your opportunity to improve your self-leadership skills and build the discipline and focus that lead to lasting success.

This November, join me for a 30-day GOLDEN HOUR Challenge to grow your business!

To participate:

Commit to participating in our Facebook group (join here)

Post "done!" under each daily GOLDEN HOUR CHALLENGE post when you've completed the work for the day!

Connect with Chris Cooper:

Website - https://businessisgood.com/

Chris Cooper discusses the motivations and challenges of gym owners, who often sacrifice higher-paying careers to pursue their passion despite low earnings. He argues that wealth creation is essential for personal and societal progress, emphasizing that wealth enables freedom, problem-solving, and opportunities for others. Cooper highlights the importance of entrepreneurship in driving economic growth and democracy, noting that wealth creation is necessary for job creation and tax generation. He advocates for building wealth to solve personal financial issues, compound wealth, create opportunities for others, and ultimately, to give back through philanthropy.

https://otter.ai/u/gI_vGIJuGHfXY77z5D1AzbS4MD0?view=transcript

• [ ] Develop the skill of making money.
• [ ] Aim to have a personal net worth of $20 million to be able to give away $1 million per year.

• Chris Cooper discusses the low earnings in the fitness industry, with average wages for trainers at $28,000 and gym owners at $42,000, unchanged in recent years.
• Despite the low pay, gym owners often leave lucrative careers in banking, teaching, or firefighting to pursue their mission-driven work.
• Gym owners are willing to sacrifice personal financial stability to help others improve their lives, even going hungry to keep their gyms running.
• Chris Cooper emphasizes that gym owners are less interested in becoming millionaires due to their mission-driven mindset and the challenges of their profession.

• Chris Cooper argues that wealth creation is essential for prosperity and peace, driving our way of life and democracy.
• He explains that entrepreneurship, not government or unions, creates jobs and wealth, which in turn support the economy and democratic processes.
• Cooper highlights the historical context of wealth creation, noting that even 100 years ago, many Americans were still struggling with poverty and poor working conditions.
• He stresses that wealth creation is a fundamental driver of human progress, allowing for improvements in healthcare, education, and other essential services.

• Chris Cooper defines wealth as the freedom of resources and time, not just money, and explains that true wealth involves balancing both.
• He shares that solving money problems is crucial for entrepreneurs, as financial struggles can follow them home and impact their personal lives.
• Cooper provides a personal example of how solving money problems allowed him and his wife to afford Christmas presents and other necessities.
• He emphasizes that wealth solves many problems in Western society, such as access to clean water and child brides, though some issues like boredom and addiction are more complex.

• Chris Cooper explains how wealth compounds over time, using his own experience of paying off a mortgage in seven years instead of 25.
• He describes the snowball effect of eliminating debt, where extra money saved from debt repayment is applied to other debts, creating more financial freedom.
• Cooper shares a story of buying a car with cash, highlighting the long-term benefits of wealth compounding.
• He discusses the importance of setting up opportunities for others, such as creating jobs and investing in the future.

• Chris Cooper argues that wealth creates opportunities for others, contrasting bureaucratic jobs with entrepreneurial jobs that add