Lead from the Outside

"What do I want, and how will I get there?" Stacey Abrams compels us to answer this in our journey from outsider to leader.

1. Embrace Ambition by Stretching Beyond Comfort

Leadership begins with ambition—and daring to step outside your comfort zone can be transformative. Stacey Abrams learned this first-hand when she hesitated to apply for the Rhodes Scholarship. She doubted her chances but, with encouragement from her college dean, took the leap. Even though she didn’t win, the experience broadened her perspective and ultimately shaped her career choices, leading her to Yale Law School.

Abrams underscores that ambition isn’t solely about titles or accolades but about identifying what drives you. She discovered this through a spreadsheet she created in college that detailed her goals for the next four decades. This exercise allowed her to imagine a life beyond the constraints of systemic barriers.

Ambition also involves flexibility and clarity in purpose. Abrams initially aimed to become Atlanta’s mayor by 35, motivated by her passion for serving communities hurt by racism and poverty. While her destination shifted, her purpose remained solid—paving the way for her political career. She suggests writing down five lifelong aspirations to uncover your own ambition.

Examples

• Abrams applied for the Rhodes Scholarship despite her fears.
• A spreadsheet helped her visualize and organize her long-term goals.
• She adjusted her goals to align with her purpose instead of fixating on titles.

2. Name Your Fears to Conquer Them

For minorities, the fear of being “too different” to succeed can be paralyzing. Abrams experienced this when friends doubted Georgia would elect a Black woman as governor. Despite her stellar qualifications, societal prejudice loomed large.

Abrams suggests confronting fears head-on. Often these fears stem from societal expectations, like the need to succeed for future generations or fearing alienation from your community. Abrams faced these when she became minority leader; she had to navigate the dual pressures of avoiding stereotypes while being an effective leader.

Finding a balance between embracing oneself and reading the room was Abrams’s solution. Instead of fiery rhetoric, she used her gift for incisive language to win over critics and deliver powerful critiques. She recommends listing your strengths and weaknesses to reflect on how they shape your actions.

Examples

• Friends questioned Abrams's decision to run for governor, citing societal prejudice.
• Abrams used her strengths as a writer to critique opponents.
• She advised listing personal traits for better self-awareness.

3. Hack the System for Opportunities

Outsiders often face closed doors in traditional systems, but creativity can open them. In Georgia, Abrams addressed voter suppression by cofounding the New Georgia Project, registering hundreds of thousands of voters of color.

Systemic barriers, like biased hiring processes, can seem insurmountable. Abrams recommends finding non-obvious connections like alumni networks or affinity groups. These connections can reveal alternate paths to opportunity.

Volunteering and internships also serve as back doors to professional spaces. Abrams advises excelling in these roles while proposing how you can add further value. It's equally important to eliminate self-doubt—she learned this after being advised to stop downplaying her achievements.

Examples

• The New Georgia Project overcame voting restrictions in Georgia.
• Abrams advises leveraging alumni and community groups.
• Early in her career, she learned the value of owning her accomplishments.

4. Build Your Personal Board of Advisors

Success isn’t achieved alone. Abrams attributes her early career growth to a mentor outside the standard hierarchy, Laurette Woods, who guided her in leadership and relationship-building when Abrams became Atlanta’s deputy city attorney.

Having multiple types of mentors is key. A sponsor might advocate for you in important rooms, while a peer mentor can share similar challenges. Each type of mentor offers a unique perspective on navigating leadership challenges.

Abrams stresses being proactive in these relationships. By taking ownership of the mentor-mentee dynamic—like scheduling check-ins and asking focused questions—you maximize their value and your growth.

Examples

• Laurette Woods guided Abrams on interpersonal leadership.
• Abrams defines mentorship roles—sponsors, advisors, and peers.
• She advocates for mentees to lead the relationship by setting schedules.

5. Achieve Financial Confidence for Independence

Money often determines who can lead. Before settling into her job as a lawyer, Abrams faced the reality of low credit scores and mounting debt—a product of taking out loans to cover school and help her family.

Financial fluency starts with honesty about your current situation. Abrams took such steps by paying off her credit cards and seeking resources to better manage her finances. From books to financial advisors, tools are available to dismantle financial uncertainties.

For leaders, understanding organizational finances is equally critical. Abrams suggests taking finance-related volunteer roles or courses to stand out. She encourages women and minorities to ask for investments without guilt, recognizing effort trumps guarantees in most backers’ eyes.

Examples

• Abrams used her signing bonus to settle her debts.
• She deepened her financial knowledge with tools like "Personal Finance for Dummies."
• She learned to confidently ask for campaign funding.

6. Learn from Setbacks

Admitting mistakes builds resilience. Abrams recalls a time when she misinterpreted tax codes for a major client. Instead of hiding her error, she confessed, and her honesty helped salvage trust with colleagues.

Owning up to mistakes also allows outsiders to redefine failure. Abrams notes that for minorities, the expectation to appear faultless is unfairly high, yet the courage to take responsibility separates good leaders from great ones.

Failures are opportunities for reflection. By analyzing what led to the setback and how you adapted, you prepare yourself for future challenges. Abrams insists that embracing failure is foundational for authentic leadership.

Examples

• Abrams admitted to her senior partner that she'd overlooked tax code details.
• She emphasizes the importance of letting failures inform growth.
• Reflection allows leaders to adapt, as Abrams did in future roles.

7. Adopt a "Work-Life Jenga" Philosophy

Forget balance. Abrams advocates for Work-Life Jenga, where life’s tasks are stacked and shifted dynamically based on urgency and priorities. This method embraces life’s unpredictability while helping you stay focused on what matters.

She advises categorizing tasks into Gotta Do, Need to Do, Oughta Do, and Might Get Around To. This framework helps you focus on completing what’s essential and defer what isn’t pressing. Also, delegating responsibilities prevents unnecessary burnout.

Abrams admits that managing priorities often means temporarily shelving cherished activities—such as her love for writing romance novels—but ensures nothing important is truly lost. Her approach is about planning for shifts, not perfection.

Examples

• Abrams stopped writing romance novels during her legislative career.
• Her Gotta, Need, Oughta framework helps manage priorities.
• Delegating tasks allowed her to focus on impactful work.

8. Creativity Wins When Resources Lack

Even with limited resources, change is possible. Abrams demonstrated this during her time in Georgia’s legislature by strategically delaying unfavorable bills through procedural loopholes like extended questioning.

She encourages cataloging whatever assets—knowledge, connections, access—you do have to see where you can spark change. Limiting beliefs, like waiting for ideal conditions, hinder action.

By showing value in unconventional ways, you also make yourself indispensable. Abrams notes how Ashley Robinson’s initiative as a field operative led to greater opportunities, proving that creativity and effort are noticed.

Examples

• Abrams used procedural rules to slow down harmful legislation in Georgia.
• She emphasizes leveraging internal and external resources creatively.
• Taking initiative led staffer Ashley Robinson to become Abrams’s chief of staff.

9. Small Victories Lead to Big Power

For meaningful change, smaller wins often create cumulative momentum. Gaining power requires patience and strategizing around what’s realistic. Abrams advises using methods like power mapping to identify key players and plan pathways to influence.

She also emphasizes defining your metrics for success. Without clarity on what constitutes a win, you could become disillusioned. Progress, Abrams contends, is incremental but significant when sustained over time.

Taking the time to track and celebrate these smaller victories motivates persistence. It encourages leaders to embrace long-term planning and invest in their missions step by step.

Examples

• Abrams’s voter registration efforts took years but transformed Georgia’s electorate.
• Power mapping helps identify influence points.
• Pacing efforts allows leaders to maintain momentum.

Takeaways

1. Write down your ambitions and organize them around your purpose, not just outcomes.
2. Adopt Work-Life Jenga by categorizing your tasks and delegating where possible.
3. Use power mapping to strategize around achieving your long-term goals incrementally.