Iron Man
Published May 22, 2025
Great leaders own their mistakes.
One of the most defining marks of a great leader isn’t charisma or control—it’s the courage to say, “That was my fault.”
Tony Stark—billionaire, genius, hero—witnessed the devastating consequences of the weapons he created. What did he do? He didn’t shift blame or dodge the fallout. He shut down the entire weapons division of Stark Industries. He had everything to lose, yet courageously made the change.
That’s leadership.
Owning mistakes doesn’t always mean burning down your life and starting over. But whether it’s missing a deadline, speaking harshly to someone you love, or making a reckless decision—you prove your integrity not by being perfect, but by being honest. True ownership means you don’t just feel bad. You step up and do something about it.
Great leaders aren’t flawless. But great leaders are humble.
Tragically, leaders that walk in humility can be a rare find. Yet such leadership is powerful.
Take David for instance.
The celebrated king, poet, and warrior, had a moment of catastrophic failure.
In 2 Samuel 11, he stayed home when kings went off to war. His idle heart became a wandering one. Lust led to adultery with Bathsheba. Guilt led to the murder of her husband, Uriah.
But when the prophet Nathan confronted him, David didn’t make excuses. He didn’t shift blame. He broke.
Leadership is not about perfection.
It’s about responsibility. It’s about humility. It’s about the courage to change—for the sake of others, and for the sake of your soul.
Great leaders own their mistakes.
One of the most defining marks of a great leader isn’t charisma or control—it’s the courage to say, “That was my fault.”
Tony Stark—billionaire, genius, hero—witnessed the devastating consequences of the weapons he created. What did he do? He didn’t shift blame or dodge the fallout. He shut down the entire weapons division of Stark Industries. He had everything to lose, yet courageously made the change.
That’s leadership.
Owning mistakes doesn’t always mean burning down your life and starting over. But whether it’s missing a deadline, speaking harshly to someone you love, or making a reckless decision—you prove your integrity not by being perfect, but by being honest. True ownership means you don’t just feel bad. You step up and do something about it.
Great leaders aren’t flawless. But great leaders are humble.
Tragically, leaders that walk in humility can be a rare find. Yet such leadership is powerful.
Take David for instance.
The celebrated king, poet, and warrior, had a moment of catastrophic failure.
In 2 Samuel 11, he stayed home when kings went off to war. His idle heart became a wandering one. Lust led to adultery with Bathsheba. Guilt led to the murder of her husband, Uriah.
But when the prophet Nathan confronted him, David didn’t make excuses. He didn’t shift blame. He broke.
2 Samuel 12:13 — Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”From that moment of confrontation, David penned one of the most transparent moments recorded in scripture:
Psalm 51:1–2 — “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.”David, like Tony Stark, was wildly successful and dangerously flawed. But when he lost his way, he didn’t make excuses. He owned it. He repented and turned his life back to God.
Leadership is not about perfection.
It’s about responsibility. It’s about humility. It’s about the courage to change—for the sake of others, and for the sake of your soul.
Great leaders own their mistakes.