--- title: "The Leadership Playbook: Leaders Don’t Have Off Days | The Sales Blog" description: It’s funny that people criticize the President for taking vacations (Bush) or playing golf (Obama). Do you think the President of the United States is ever really “off?” His day still starts with CIA and NSA briefings and threat assessments of the three or four hundred things that might end the world. And the rest […] image: https://www.thesalesblog.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Screen-Shot-2014-08-10-at-7_53_49-PM.png --- ### [Now booking SKO meetings for 2026/27! 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Do you think the President of the United States is ever really “off?” His day still starts with CIA and NSA briefings and threat assessments of the three or four hundred things that might end the world. And the rest of the world moves right along doing whatever the rest of the world is going to do, much of it requiring his attention (or at least his awareness). How soundly do you believe the President sleeps? [Leaders](http://thesalesblog.com/blog/2014/05/25/the-three-questions-a-leader-must-answer/) don’t get days off, and they aren’t allowed to have “off days.” #### No Off Days Leaders lead. That doesn’t mean that leaders sometimes lead and other times, like when they’re not feeling up to it, decide not to lead. Leading isn’t easy. [You serve too many people](http://thesalesblog.com/blog/2014/07/14/leaders-dont-hire-weak-people/) for it to be easy. There are days and times when you have to will yourself into the right mental state to produce the results you need. You can’t have an “off day” when you are called on to make important decisions. There is no calling for a time out or a do-over when an emergency requires you to make a tough call, one that could easily go either direction. You can’t have an “off day” when you address the people you lead. Your address can move people in one of two directions, and an “off day” move them backwards. You can’t have an “off day” when you address your board, your largest customer, or your team. You have to be “on.” None of this is to say that you are supposed to be invulnerable. Vulnerability can make you human and allow the people you lead to connect to you on a deeper level. But you aren’t being vulnerable when you allow your state to control you instead of [controlling your state](http://thesalesblog.com/blog/2014/08/09/the-hustlers-playbook-hustlers-control-their-state/). #### They Are What You Are As a leader, you set the tone for the rest of your organization. If you are passionately engaged, the people you lead will be passionately engaged. If you aren’t, they won’t be. If it looks for a minute like you don’t care deeply about your most important initiative, your mission, your vision, your values because you are having an “off day,” the wrong message will not only be taken, it will be amplified. Take your days off, even if you are never really off. But don’t take “off days.” There are too many people counting on you to be the leader.   ###### Tags: [Leadership](https://www.thesalesblog.com/blog/tag/leadership) Post by [Anthony Iannarino](https://www.thesalesblog.com/blog/author/anthony-iannarino) on August 10, 2014 Written and edited by human brains and human hands. ![Anthony Iannarino](https://www.thesalesblog.com/hubfs/ai-blog-profile-crop.jpg) Anthony Iannarino is an American writer. He has published daily at [thesalesblog.com](https://www.thesalesblog.com) for more than 14 years, amassing over 5,300 articles and making this platform a destination for salespeople and sales leaders. Anthony is also the author of four best-selling books documenting modern sales methodologies and a fifth book for sales leaders seeking revenue growth. His latest book for an even wider audience is titled, The Negativity Fast: Proven Techniques to Increase Positivity, Reduce Fear, and Boost Success. Anthony speaks to sales organizations worldwide, delivering cutting-edge sales strategies and tactics that work in this ever-evolving B2B landscape. He also provides workshops and seminars. Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn, X or Youtube. You can email Anthony at [iannarino@gmail.com](mailto:iannarino@gmail.com) [Follow me on my website](https://www.thesalesblog.com/anthony-iannarino) [Follow me on Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/thesalesblog) [Follow me on LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/iannarino/) [Follow me on Twitter ](http://www.twitter.com/iannarino) [![AISA-square-ad-SKOs-26-27](https://www.thesalesblog.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AISA-square-ad-SKOs-26-27.jpg?width=400&height=400&name=AISA-square-ad-SKOs-26-27.jpg)](https://www.thesalesblog.com/authority) [![ai-cold-calling-video-sidebar-offer-1](https://www.thesalesblog.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ai-cold-calling-video-sidebar-offer-1.jpg?width=318&height=179&name=ai-cold-calling-video-sidebar-offer-1.jpg)](https://www.thesalesblog.com/free-cold-calling-video) ![how-to-lead-ebook-v3-1-cover (3)](https://www.thesalesblog.com/hs-fs/hubfs/how-to-lead-ebook-v3-1-cover%20(3).jpg?width=768&height=994&name=how-to-lead-ebook-v3-1-cover%20(3).jpg) ### How to Lead: The Leadership E-Book As leaders, we're faced with decisions everyday—not all of which are easy to make. Learn how to make those tough decisions, hold yourself and your team accountable, and build a legacy with How to Lead: The Leadership E-Book. [![DOWNLOAD EBOOK](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2922376/d345d648-812a-428a-81e4-53ce30822212.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2922376/d345d648-812a-428a-81e4-53ce30822212) ## Are You Ready To Solve Your Sales Challenges? ![Anthony-Solve-Sales](https://www.thesalesblog.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Anthony-Solve-Sales.png?width=290&height=221&name=Anthony-Solve-Sales.png) Hi, I’m Anthony. I help sales teams make the changes needed to create more opportunities & crush their sales targets. What we’re doing right now **is working**, even in this challenging economy. **Would you like some help?** [![Solve for Sales](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2922376/d3a4938b-2008-4a27-8b44-7b2223f6d035.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2922376/d3a4938b-2008-4a27-8b44-7b2223f6d035) ### Join my Weekly Newsletter for Sales Tips Join 100,000+ sales professionals in my weekly newsletter and get my *Guide to Becoming a Sales Hustler* eBook for FREE! --- ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org/", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Anthony Iannarino" }, "dateModified" : "2022-12-01T3:50:02 PM", "datePublished" : "2014-08-10 21:00:42", "description" : "It’s funny that people criticize the President for taking vacations (Bush) or playing golf (Obama). 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