Turn Red Lights into Green: A Playbook for Bold Leadership
Mar 29, 2025
I don’t know about you, but life feels a little heavy to me these days. My favorite thing to do to escape reality is to watch a rom-com. Yep, I’ll admit it. I love these sappy shows that have a happy ending in about 90 minutes.
See if you can guess what my top three favs all have in common…. Failure to Launch, The Wedding Planner and How to Lose a Guy in 10 days. Ok, that was easy, it’s the male lead actor who is the source of today’s blog.
Leadership wisdom often comes from unconventional sources, and Matthew McConaughey’s memoir, Greenlights, is packed with insights that every leader can apply. More than just a Hollywood success story, the book is a deep dive into resilience, risk-taking, and the mindset needed to turn obstacles into opportunities.
McConaughey’s philosophy of catching “greenlights” in life—those moments of momentum and opportunity—can help leaders navigate challenges, embrace authenticity, and inspire their teams. Here’s how Greenlights can reshape your approach to leadership.
See Every Setback as a Setup for Success
I know that sounds cliche and if you’re anything like me, you HATE setbacks, but they are often impossible to avoid and they teach us more than success ever will. Life and leadership are full of red and yellow lights—moments when things slow down or stop completely. McConaughey reminds us that today’s obstacles often turn into tomorrow’s greenlights if we stay patient and learn from them. Leaders who embrace this mindset don’t let setbacks define them. Instead, they adapt, pivot, and use challenges as steppingstones for future success.
Authenticity is Your Leadership Advantage
One of McConaughey’s defining traits is his authenticity. Whether he’s stepping away from Hollywood to reinvent his career or turning down multimillion-dollar film deals to stay true to his values, he leads with integrity. Great leaders do the same. People follow those who are real, not those who chase approval. The more authentic we are, the more trust and loyalty we build within our teams. But here’s an important key, you need to work hard to be the BEST version of yourself. Being an authentic jerk doesn’t get you where you want to go. We need self-awareness and that includes the good, the bad and the ugly. I’m incredibly direct because I don’t have time to sugar coat things and that doesn’t always land well with team members. I will often apologize if my attempts at coaching a team member to the next level was received as me being harsh. I’ll often say, “I’m sorry if my feedback came across as harsh. I love you too much to leave you where you are. I see greatness inside of you and I’m working to help you develop it.”
Take Risks, Even When the Outcome is Uncertain
McConaughey famously rejected a $14.5 million paycheck to break free from typecasting and being seen as only a rom-com actor, not that there would be anything wrong with that from my perspective. He didn’t know what would come next, but he trusted himself enough to take the leap. Leadership often requires that same courage. The best leaders are willing to take calculated risks, knowing that growth and innovation happen outside of comfort zones. One of the phrases I live by is “life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” I’ve gotten comfortable being uncomfortable.
Reflection is Key to Growth
Throughout Greenlights, McConaughey emphasizes the power of self-reflection. He’s kept journals for decades, analyzing his choices, successes, and failures. Leaders benefit from doing the same. Whether through journaling, debriefing after major decisions, or seeking feedback, reflection helps us lead with more intention and wisdom.
Keep Livin’: The Mindset of Resilient Leaders
McConaughey’s mantra, “Just Keep Livin’,” is about more than enjoying life—it’s about resilience. Leadership is filled with highs and lows, but those who persist, adapt, and keep moving forward are the ones who create lasting impact. Instead of fearing failure, we should embrace it as part of the journey toward success and my suggestion is to work hard to see the JOY in everything, even when it feels bad. When things don’t work out the way I’d like, I force myself to list three things in that moment that I can still be joyful about. Many times, it’s that the next day brings me an opportunity to make the situation better. I have air in my lungs, my heart is still beating, and my brain is still working so let's go fix this.
Greenlights isn’t just an entertaining read—it’s a playbook for leaders who want to lead with courage, authenticity, and resilience. The next time you face a challenge, ask yourself: Is this a red light, or is it just a yellow light waiting to turn green? Stay patient, keep learning, and as McConaughey would say—keep livin’.