Self-Leadership with Purpose: Where Leadership Truly Begins

When we hear the word leadership, we often think of people leading teams, organizations, or movements. We picture CEOs, change-makers, influential speakers, and world leaders.
We describe leadership using words like visionary, courageous, charismatic, influential.

But those are leadership qualities in their ideal state—polished, visible, and celebrated.

What we rarely talk about is where leadership actually begins.

Before leadership is public, it is personal.

The Missing Piece: Leadership of the Self

Despite earning a Doctorate in Leadership Studies, I noticed something interesting:
Most leadership content focuses on managing others, communicating well, inspiring teams, or setting a vision.

But one critical component was almost always left out:

Self-Leadership.

Leadership is often studied in the context of guiding people—
but very rarely in the context of guiding yourself through your own life.

Yet in reality, that’s where leadership starts.

Leadership is Most Needed in Transition Seasons

Because while leadership theories are great in classrooms,
life is not a classroom.

Transitions are guaranteed.
Uncertainty is guaranteed.
There will be seasons where you feel stuck—
in your career, your identity, your purpose, or your sense of direction.

And in those moments,
no leadership model, no title, no personality test is coming to save you.

It’s you.

Self-leadership is what pulls you forward when everything feels unclear.

The Truth About Courage

Leadership isn’t reserved for the naturally bold or confident.

The most courageous people weren’t born courageous.
They became courageous.

They took so many small, uncertain steps
that courage eventually became a reflex.

Leadership doesn’t start at your ideal state.
It starts at your current state.

It begins where you are—
not where you wish you were.

Before You Lead Others, You Must Lead Yourself

Before you lead a family, a classroom, a team, a business, or a community—
you must first lead you.

Even if your goal is never to lead large groups,
self-leadership will always be required.

Because anytime you are moving toward a more intentional life—
a life aligned with purpose—
you are practicing leadership.

Whether you realize it or not.

My Work: Guiding People into Self-Leadership

I don’t just teach leadership.
I help people lead themselves through life.
Through identity shifts, transitions, calling, direction, and becoming.

That’s where leadership is born.

Self-leadership, with purpose.
That’s where it starts.

— Dr. Lexus Drakeford

Major Z.

Want to explore the journey from directionless to purpose-led living?
I’m developing a framework called Major Z, centered around identity, direction, and becoming.
It’s not a role, a title, or a major—
It’s the kind of person you are becoming.

Stay tuned.