Leaders Lead Themselves First is a short meditation on personal leadership designed both to help deepen one’s own conscious practice and to develop an authentic approach to leading others.

“The universe is not asking us to do something, the universe is asking us to be something.”

Lucille Clifton

Hello, World!

About the Author

Christopher has helped to bring ideas to life in politics, advertising, technology, and real estate – coaching both colleagues and clients along the way. He currently divides his time between Ohio and Martha’s Vineyard where he is a shopkeeper, ally, writer, and proud Opa.

“Learning to lead is not like learning to ride a bicycle – learn it once and you are forever prepared with the skills to ride almost any type of bike. Instead, learning to lead is like learning to love – a lifelong adventure that changes you with each experience of it and inevitably expands both your abilities in the present and your aspirations for the future. And much like love, every experience of leading has in it new learning which serves as seeds for your next attempt.”

Christopher Celeste

Reader Response

  • Shorn of the usual leadership clichés, Christopher's simple book manages to separate the signal from the noise with elegant prose. Its passages reflect his practice of thoughtful observation shaped by experiences across business, politics and family life which he approaches with the openness of a curious student.

    William Bissell
    CEO, FABINDIA

  • A true gift to all of us fortunate enough to lead. Christopher describes ways of leading from a place of authenticity that holds space for others to be their best selves. This form of leadership comes from a place of humility and hope creating the organizations and communities we all need, desire and deserve.

    Adam Weinberg
    President, Denison University

  • “Leaders Lead Themselves First is a treasured reminder that the most important work we will do in our lives is the ongoing practice of knowing and being ourselves.”

    Dana DeSantis
    Founder, Brand Love

  • “This book is the perfect size…the feel of it, the monastic design of the cover, the messages inside. It’s been good to me and let me slowly work through it without intimidation.”

    James Zillian
    Founder, Farmhouse Pottery

  • “Small and understated, yet packed with wisdom and heart.”

    Mark Hillman
    Creative Director

  • Consider this book as the perfect field guide for leaders — both new and seasoned. It's a book to go back to again and again to remind yourself of the simple truth: leadership is a conscious, life-long practice.

    Mike Belsito
    Co-Founder of Product Collective