Many young adults wonder if they are truly capable of becoming leaders.
Some believe leadership belongs only to CEOs, entrepreneurs, public speakers, or people with years of experience. Others think leadership is something you are simply born with.
But leadership is often much simpler and much closer than people imagine.
During their time at Cumorah Academy, Cliff and Michelle March shared powerful insights with students about leadership, growth, and personal development. Their experiences in business and life helped students see that leadership is not reserved for a select few. It is something that can be developed starting today.
Learning from Experience
Cliff and Michelle March are from California and have spent decades building careers in demanding industries.
Michelle worked for an institutional investment firm, developing professional skills in high-level environments that required responsibility, communication, and discipline.
Cliff spent most of his career in the retail sector, leading IT organizations and working with teams, systems, and people in fast-paced business settings.
Despite their impressive backgrounds, their message to students was simple and encouraging.
“It was great to share our experience with students here,” the couple shared.
Their focus was not only on career success. They wanted students to understand that leadership begins long before a job title or promotion.
It begins with mindset, action, and the willingness to grow.
Why So Many Young Adults Don’t See Themselves as Leaders
One of the biggest challenges young adults face is recognizing their own potential.
Many people look at successful leaders and assume they are fundamentally different. More confident. More prepared.
But that belief often becomes an excuse to stay small.
Cliff and Michelle discussed how many young people struggle to see themselves as leaders for two main reasons.
1. They Have a Limited Definition of Leadership
When people hear the word “leader,” they often picture someone standing on a stage or managing a large company.
Leadership means influencing people for good.
It means helping, serving, listening, and improving the environment around you.
At Cumorah Academy, students are constantly reminded that they already have influence. They already impact the people around them every single day.
As Patrick Sedivy often teaches, young adults are already leaders.
The real question is whether they will intentionally develop those leadership abilities.
2. They Believe They Lack Talent or Skills
Another reason many young adults hesitate is that they feel unqualified.
Some think:
- “I’m not charismatic enough.”
- “I’m too shy.”
- “I don’t have enough experience.”
- “I’m not naturally talented.”
But leadership is not built overnight.
Most great leaders did not begin with extraordinary skills. They developed those skills through practice, mistakes, mentorship, and persistence.
Confidence is not something people magically receive before acting.
Confidence grows after taking action repeatedly.
That is why experiences like mentoring, teamwork, service projects, presentations, and challenging environments are so important. They help young adults stretch beyond their comfort zones and discover abilities they did not know they had.
Leadership Starts Now
One of the most important lessons Cliff and Michelle emphasized was that leadership development cannot be postponed.
Many people tell themselves:
- “I’ll become disciplined later.”
- “I’ll improve my communication skills someday.”
- “I’ll start leading when I feel ready.”
But leadership grows through daily habits.
The decisions made today shape the leader someone becomes tomorrow.
Small actions matter:
- Showing up on time
- Keeping commitments
- Learning to communicate clearly
- Taking responsibility
- Serving others
- Being dependable
- Continuing to learn
These habits may seem small, but over time they create strong character and real leadership ability.
Young adults do not need to wait until they are older, richer, or more experienced to begin growing.
They can begin right now.
The Power of Mentorship
One reason students at Cumorah Academy benefit so deeply from visiting mentors is that they gain direct access to people who have already faced challenges, built careers, and learned valuable life lessons.
Mentors like Cliff and Michelle help students see possibilities beyond their current limitations.
Sometimes all it takes is one conversation to change how someone views their future.
A mentor can help a young adult:
- Build confidence
- Gain direction
- Learn from mistakes
- Develop professional skills
- Strengthen their vision for life
Most importantly, mentors help students realize that growth is possible.
Nobody has everything figured out in the beginning.
Every successful person started somewhere.
Becoming the Leader You Dream of Becoming
Leadership is about growth.
It is about choosing courage over fear, action over excuses, and progress over comfort.
Young adults today face enormous pressure and uncertainty. Many feel lost when thinking about careers, purpose, relationships, and the future.
Leadership development can change the direction of a life.
When young people learn discipline, communication, responsibility, and vision, they become capable of creating opportunities instead of waiting for them.
That transformation does not happen accidentally.
It happens through intentional experiences, mentorship, learning, and action.
Your Future Starts with One Decision
The leader you want to become will not appear overnight.
It starts with one decision:
To believe that you are capable of more.
At Cumorah Academy, young adults are challenged to step outside their comfort zones, develop leadership skills, receive mentorship, and discover their potential in a life-changing environment.
You do not need to wait until someday to become a leader.
Start now.
