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Welcome to the Daily Stoke podcast. Each day we bring you a meditation inspired by the ancient Stokes illustrated with stories from history,

current events and literature to help you be better at what you do.

And at the beginning of the week we try to do a deeper dive, setting a kind of stoke, intention for the week,

something to meditate on, something to think on, something to leave you with, to journal about whatever it is you happen to be doing.

So let's get into it.

You have to lead yourself first.

It's hard to argue that our leaders are doing a good job.

It doesn't matter what your political persuasion is. You probably feel that your MP, your president, your prime minister, your CEO, your council member is doing a poor job.

The UN is proving to be not up to its tasks, the EU regulatory agencies.

There are a few legislative or leadership bodies who are exceeding our expectations these days on the contrary.

So what do you do? Do you despair? The Stokes would say you focus on what you control.

They would urge you to practice what the great George Ravelling calls the art of self leadership.

Or as Mike Irwin titled his great book, you'd have to lead yourself first.

As Senna could say, the real power is to be in your own power.

He was talking about getting your own act together rather than bemoaning the fact that other people don't have theirs together.

Practice better habits. Get informed.

Manage your emotions. See where you can contribute to your community.

Lead yourself. Lead your family.

And imagine what the world would start to look like if everyone did this.

Imagine what an example you could provide by being the first to start this trend.

Build up. Don't tear down.

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