I define leadership as: Emotionally, you own your business. You

Listen, O apprentices of enterprise and craft, to the wisdom of Mickey Drexler, a titan of industry who built his name through vision and care: “I define leadership as: Emotionally, you own your business. You own it with passion. And you either have or you don't have an economic investment. But when you have all three of those, you are the boss from Day One, and you care every single day more than anyone.” These words, though spoken in the language of commerce, carry the ancient rhythm of stewardship, purpose, and heart. For they remind us that true leadership is not granted by position — it is claimed through devotion.

The first element he speaks of is emotional ownership. To “own” something emotionally is not merely to manage it, but to bind your spirit to its destiny. The leader, in this view, is not a distant overseer, but a living part of the organism — feeling its pain, rejoicing in its success, suffering its failures. This is the essence of stewardship that the ancients knew well. The farmer who loved his land did not need to be told to tend it; his care was instinctive, for his soul and his soil were one. So too must the leader bind heart to mission, lest they drift into apathy, and the whole garden decay.

The second element, passion, is the fire that transforms mere ownership into creation. Without passion, one may command, but never inspire. Drexler, who led great empires of retail — Gap, J.Crew, and others — did not build by spreadsheets alone, but by conviction. He saw design not as fashion, but as language; not as product, but as soul. His passion turned stores into stories, and brands into symbols. The ancient masters would have recognized in him the same energy that moved architects to build cathedrals or generals to rally armies — for passion, when joined to purpose, becomes sacred.

Then comes economic investment — the tangible mark of commitment. Drexler speaks here not only of money, but of stake. When one invests, one bleeds a little into the thing they build. To have a share is to have responsibility; to risk one’s own fortune is to ensure one’s focus never strays. In ancient times, the ship captain who owned part of his vessel sailed with greater courage than one who merely drew a wage. So too, in any age, the leader who risks something of themselves — time, comfort, wealth, or reputation — earns not only authority, but trust.

But the quote’s heart lies in its union of all three — emotion, passion, and investment. When these converge, says Drexler, “you are the boss from Day One.” This is no arrogance, but truth: for leadership is not conferred by title, but by care. The one who feels, believes, and invests — even without official power — leads naturally. Others sense the authenticity of their devotion, and follow not out of obedience, but out of respect. Such was the way of great leaders — from craftsmen who built empires of artistry to visionaries like Steve Jobs, whose relentless pursuit of beauty in technology made him master of innovation, even among equals.

History echoes this truth again and again. Consider Ernest Shackleton, the explorer who, stranded in the Antarctic, led his crew to safety through ice and despair. He had no profit, no position to defend — only the emotional ownership of his men’s survival, the passion for the mission, and the total investment of his being. Because he cared “every single day more than anyone,” as Drexler says, his leadership became legend. His men did not follow a title; they followed a man who owned their shared fate.

So, my student of leadership, what lesson shall you draw? To lead is to care more — to wake each morning with the thought, How can I make this better? Whether it is your business, your art, your family, or your cause, take ownership in heart before hand. Pour your emotion into it, fuel it with passion, and risk something of yourself in its pursuit. Do not seek comfort in distance; stand close enough to feel the heat of your creation.

For Mickey Drexler’s wisdom teaches that greatness is born not from command, but from commitment. To lead is to love fiercely, to serve tirelessly, and to invest fully. Be the one who feels most deeply, strives most earnestly, and cares most completely. Then, though others may hold the title, you will hold the power — for you will be, in truth and in spirit, the boss from Day One.