Ever since I was a little kid, I wanted to be great and achieve great things. When I interviewed him, John King told me that's not enough. He's the co-author of Tribal Leadership, a book that says we have 5 stages of development--and "I'm great" is only stage 3.

Tribal Leadership's 5 stages:

Stage 1: Life Sucks - In this stage, a person thinks life itself is terrible and nothing can be done about it.

Example: People in in prison

Stage 2: My Life Sucks - In this stage, an employee knows that life can be better, feels frustrated because he can't get the better life--usually because of a stage 3 boss.

Example: Dilbert.

Stage 3: I'm Great - At this stage, the person feels that he achieved excellence--but also thinks that everyone else is less than great. Stage 3 bosses end up having stage 2 employees.

Example: Donald Trump

Stage 4: We're Great - People at this stage work together within an organization and put the good of the whole above the individual. They work together against a common outside foe.

Example: Steve Jobs

Stage 5: Life is Great - At this stage, there is no outside foe. Everyone works together for the improvement of mankind.

Example: The Wikipedia project

(You can also download the full audio book of Tribal Leadership from Zappos.)

"Right click" here to download the interview