MATT GRAY Profile picture
Mar 24, 2024 24 tweets 7 min read Read on X
I’m obsessed with great leadership.

But when I was young, I wasted years and opportunities not knowing what great leadership looked like.

Learn from my mistakes.

21 clear signals you have a great leader: Image
Integrity Is Their North Star

They do what's right, even when no one's watching.

As Bill Campbell, the "Trillion Dollar Coach," once said: "It's not about what you say. It's about what you do."

A great leader walks their talk.
They Measure Output, Not Input

They care about outcomes achieved, not facetime.

They know that results are the currency of business, not promises and hours spent.

And they know that what gets measured, gets improved.
They Wear Humility Like A Badge

They're not afraid to admit when they're wrong or don't know something. They're always eager to learn from others, regardless of their position.

They know that the ego trip is a journey to nowhere. Image
Emotional intelligence Is Their Sixth Sense

They have an uncanny ability to read people and situations. They navigate complex emotions and interpersonal dynamics with flair.

Empathy and understanding are their tools of choice.
Resilience Runs In Their Blood

They view setbacks as stepping stones, not roadblocks. When knocked down, they dust themselves off and keep pushing forward.

Their tenacity is contagious.

They prove that enthusiasm is common, but endurance is rare.
Adaptability Is Their Competitive Edge

They adapt themselves to circumstances, as water moulds itself to the pitcher.

They don't just embrace change, they champion it.

As Max McKeown says “All failure is the failure to adapt; all success is successful adaptation.”
Innovation Fuels Them

They foster a culture of creativity and outside-the-box thinking.

They encourage bold ideas and calculated risks.

Status quo? Not in their vocabulary. Image
They Don't Wear Masks or Play Politics

What you see is what you get:

• Real
• Raw
• Relatable

They create depth. And depth creates authenticity. Image
They Communicate With Transparency

Delivering the truth courageously is the highest form of respect.

They believe clear information sharing is power.

Empire building requires clarity of thought and word. Image
Active Listening Is Their Nature

They don't just hear, they listen to understand.

They give their undivided attention and make others feel truly understood and heard.

They know that successful people listen more than they talk.
They Adopt A ‘Relationships First’ Attitude

They invest time and energy into nurturing authentic connections.

They remember birthdays, ask about family, and genuinely care.

Their single greatest "people skill" is a highly developed and authentic interest in the other person. Image
Their Hearts Beat With Empathy

They put themselves in others' shoes and see the world through their eyes.

They feel what others feel and use that understanding to build deep connections.

Their compassion knows no bounds.
They Develop Other Leaders

A leader’s greatest responsibility is to ensure that others rise as high as they possibly can.

They prepare others to carry the torch and expand the circle of light.

Their mentorship leaves a lasting impact.
Learning Is Their Lifestyle

They have an insatiable appetite for growing their knowledge.

They turn every interaction into a learning experience to expand their mental models.

This compounding knowledge fuels creativity and vision for decades. Image
They Take Intelligent Risks

They understand that big rewards require big risks.

They’re bold in seizing data-backed opportunities with asymmetric upside.

They know that fortune favors the brave.
They Embrace Feedback

They actively seek input and are open to constructive criticism.

They view feedback as a gift and use it to improve.

Their growth mindset is contagious. Image
They Focus on Systems

They understand that scale and speed rely on repeatable systems.

Ensuring that when others fail, your processes don’t.

They know that systems run the business and people run the systems. Image
They Create An Exceptional Culture

They shape an environment where everyone feels valued, supported, and inspired.

They lead by example and set the tone from the top.

Their culture is the glue that holds everything together.
They Give Credit Publicly

They're the first to shine the spotlight on others' successes.

No win is too small to celebrate.

They understand that recognition is the ultimate performance enhancer.

Their words of affirmation propel top players to reach for the stars.
They Criticize Privately And Thoughtfully

Feedback is a gift they give with care and kindness. They understand that growth happens best in a safe, supportive space.

They have the hard conversations behind closed doors, not in public.
They Have A Knack For Attracting Talent

A-players flock to them like moths to a flame.

They want to work with them because they create environments for people to thrive. They architect ecosystems and incentives that make heroes.

They don't just attract talent, they create it.
Great leaders are rare, but when you find one, hold on tight.

They'll take you to places you never thought possible.

They'll challenge you, support you, and inspire you to be your best self.

They're not just bosses; they're game-changers. Image
P.S. If you like proven systems, you'll love my weekly newsletter (it's free).

1 actionable tip to grow your online business.

Bonus: You’ll receive my Vision Board System (worth $249) for free.

Join 107,000+ subscribers here:

founderos.com/newsletter

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More from @matt_gray_

Sep 21, 2025
If I lost everything today and had to start from $0, here's what I'd do:
Step 1: I'd Start a Community Before I Start a Company

Most founders build products then find customers.

I'd find customers then build products.

Community is the new moat.

Audience is the new currency. Image
Step 2: I'd Launch a Newsletter on Day 1 (Not Day 1,000)

While competitors fight for followers, I'd own the inbox.

Newsletter subscribers convert 40x higher than social followers.

They're not just an audience, they're your unfair advantage. Image
Read 20 tweets
Sep 17, 2025
I interviewed 10 founders making $75,000+ per month.

They all shared the same 7 dreams.

Dreams so vivid they kept them awake at night.

Dreams so real they could taste them.

Here’s what they told me:
Dream 1: The One-Month Test

"I want to disappear for 30 days and return to find my business better than when I left."

This is the ultimate freedom test.

Right now, most founders can't take 3 days off without everything falling apart.
But imagine:

Your team operates flawlessly.

Your systems run themselves.

Your revenue grows while you're gone.

This isn't fantasy.

This is systems. Image
Read 13 tweets
Sep 13, 2025
How to brand yourself in 30 days (without selling your soul):
The Old Game Is Dead

I've spent $1.4M testing what doesn't work:

• Paid ads → 83% ROI decrease
• PR firms → $30K for zero sales
• Press features → 72-hour spikes
• Chasing algorithms → Endless pivots
• Networking events → Surface connections

2025 winners aren't buying media. They're becoming it.Image
The Media Takeover

Look at the numbers:

• Elon Musk: 193M followers vs. Tesla: 20M
• Tim Cook: 14M followers vs. Apple: 9.6M
• Richard Branson: 12.3M followers vs. Virgin: 667K

Yet 97% of founders are still playing by outdated rules.
Read 19 tweets
Sep 11, 2025
Most founders stay broke because they get trapped by these 8 deadly patterns.

I was stuck in every single one of them for years.

Here's what's keeping you small:
1.  Procrastination → Do It Dirty

Perfect is the enemy of profit.

I used to spend 3 weeks perfecting a single post.

Meanwhile, my competitor launched 15 "messy" posts and made $30,000.

Done is better than perfect.

Launch the draft. Image
2.  Imposter Syndrome → Scared = Ready

That knot in your stomach isn't fear.

It's excitement disguised as terror.

When I was scared to launch my first course, a mentor told me:

"If you're not embarrassed by your first version, you launched too late."

Fear is just readiness wearing a disguise.Image
Read 10 tweets
Aug 30, 2025
The great founder extinction is coming.

I've identified 3 types of founders.

Only one survives the AI revolution.

Here's the brutal truth about which one you are:
The Ghost Founder (97% - Going Extinct)

These founders are invisible behind their companies.

No personal brand.

No systems.

No leverage.

When AI automates their core business functions, they have nothing left.

They built companies that could replace them.

Now AI will. Image
The Personality Founder (2% - Temporarily Safe)

These founders ARE their brand.

High visibility. Big following. Constant content.

But they're trapped in the content hamster wheel.

They can't systemize because they ARE the system.

When they burn out (and they will), it all collapses.Image
Read 11 tweets
Aug 27, 2025
I'm going to tell you things that will make you uncomfortable.

Things that financial advisors won't say because they'd lose clients.

But after building a multi-million dollar portfolio, I've learned these truths the hard way:
Focus On Making More, Not Saving More.

Cutting $5 lattes won't make you rich.

Adding $5,000 monthly income will.

I went from broke to millionaire by obsessing over revenue, not reducing expenses. Image
Index Funds Won't Make You Rich

8% annual returns are mediocre when you factor in inflation and currency debasement.

The wealthy start businesses, not become employees earning "safe" returns.

I make more in one month from my businesses than most make in a decade from index funds.

Build equity. Own assets. Stop being a passenger.Image
Read 17 tweets

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