An important part of success in life is the ability to lead. It is important that we are not only capable of leading others, but that we are willing to lead ourselves. No one succeeds in life simply by following others. Sometimes we just have to find a bold new path for ourselves.

Being a good leader is more than just being in front of the crowd. A leader must act. Too often in the United States we simply accept that someone looks or sounds like a leader and very rarely do we look at the actions that leader takes, and that is the true test of leadership.

However, to become good leaders, we must focus on those actions and not on mere appearances. The title of this article refers to 8 steps, but don’t think of these as progressive steps, as so many recipes or instruction manuals describe. Instead, think of these as actions that you need to take on a regular basis.

First, be alert to new potentials. “Reality” is not absolute but subject to constant change. Think of the inventors, explorers, and social change agents who have achieved greatness. Some might simply say that certain people are successful because they are lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time. Maybe so, but if they hadn’t had their eyes open for the opportunity, it wouldn’t have mattered if they were in the right place.

Second, accept inspiration from wherever it comes; even your opponents. The wisest leaders constantly study their competition. In war, politics, and business we constantly see examples of this investigation and recognition. However, many times this study focuses on finding a weakness to exploit. If you want to be a positive change leader, don’t fall victim to this trend. Instead, if you find a weakness, make sure you avoid that trap yourself. If you find a strength, find a way to strengthen your own qualities to match.

Third, learn something new every day and promote in new ways every day. This means that you must continually seek to expand your horizons, internally and externally. Feed your mind with new lessons and knowledge, but also constantly seek to expand your social horizons. Find and meet new people and immerse yourself in new social situations. You never know when these new experiences will help you in your leadership role.

Fourth, look for and find answers in subtle clues. Look below the surface and constantly question. This is an extension of the third step where you are looking for new knowledge, but this also means that you will have to go outside of the traditional paths of knowledge. Don’t just read books from the literary canon or the bestseller list. Take seminars instead of classes, as there is more room for questioning and debate. Seek out the unconventional thinkers, teachers, and writers.

Fifth, improvise if no solutions are available. No apologies. Necessity is the mother of invention. How do you know it won’t work if you’ve never tried it before? Remember, not all approaches need to come from the front. Look at your problem from all sides and systematically try different solutions in various combinations.

Six, make at least one person you care about happy every day. If you make an effort to be considerate and loving to one person every day, soon this considerate and loving behavior will become a habit, and that habit will spread to others around you. Making another person happy also fuels your own personal happiness. Imagine how much better the world would be if we all did a little more to spread happiness.

Seven, offer to help, even if there is no apparent advantage to you. This means more than writing a check. It means giving of your time and energy and yourself. Sometimes it will mean helping someone you don’t know and other times it can be a very personal action.

Finally, never let negativity be your last word on the subject. If your last words are negative, no matter how hopeful you may be about the potential of a project or action, the lasting impression you make on others is one of negativity. Accentuate the positive and you are more likely to see a positive outcome.

If you follow these eight action steps, you’ll not only be a better leader, but you’ll also have a more successful life.