What leadership style I have followed? No MBA, No Guru, then what for a young CEO

People sometimes ask me what leadership style I follow.

Is it influenced by a particular CEO?
A management guru?
A leadership framework from Silicon Valley?
A series of executive courses?
A list of certifications designed for founders?

It is a reasonable question.

In a world full of podcasts, MBA programs, growth playbooks, and performance frameworks, leadership often sounds like a product you subscribe to.

But in 2026, my answer is simpler than people expect.

I do not see myself as a strong leader.
I see myself as a learner.

The more responsibilities I carry, including team, partners, family, and long-term decisions, the more I realize how much refinement is still needed inside me.

This year, I made a quiet commitment.

Not to chase new management trends.
Not to imitate fast-growing companies.
Not to accumulate more certificates.

Instead, I return to two old teachings:

Đệ Tử Quy, to correct myself as a person.
Quân Thư Trị Yếu, to understand what responsible leadership truly means.

I am not following them perfectly.
I am practicing them daily.
Slowly.

Learning Character from Đệ Tử Quy

Đệ Tử Quy does not teach strategy.
It teaches conduct.

When I read it, I feel small in a healthy way.

It reminds me:

• Speak gently.

• Do not interrupt.

• Respect elders.

• Reflect on mistakes.

• Correct yourself before blaming others.

As a founder, it is easy to justify impatience.
It is easy to raise your voice in the name of urgency.
It is easy to believe results excuse behavior.

But I am training differently.

If I cannot discipline my words,
I should not lead a team.

If I cannot remain calm under stress,
I should not expect stability from others.

If I cannot show gratitude to my parents,
how can I expect loyalty from employees?

So my daily practice is simple:

• Reflect every night.

• Reduce ego reactions.

• Apologize faster.

• Listen longer.

• Speak less.

I am not trying to appear wise.
I am trying to become more grounded.

Learning Leadership from Quân Thư Trị Yếu

If Đệ Tử Quy teaches me how to become a better person,
Quân Thư Trị Yếu teaches me how to carry responsibility properly.

It reminds me that leadership is not about control.
It is about order.

Order begins with clarity.

These are the principles I try to apply in practical terms.

1. Fix the inside before growing the outside

Before opening a new branch, I ask:

• Is our culture stable?

• Are our systems clear?

• Is our cash flow healthy?

Growth without foundation creates noise.
Structure creates durability.

2. Choose people based on ability, not closeness

I may like someone personally.
But leadership requires fairness.

Roles must match competence.
Fairness builds trust.
Trust builds stability.

3. Do not let power go unchecked

I am the founder.
That does not mean I am always right.

So I try to:

• Invite disagreement.

• Let data challenge my opinions.

• Build systems where decisions are reviewed.

Power without accountability slowly weakens judgment.

4. Stay financially disciplined

Revenue can create illusion.

So I remind myself:

• Do not overspend to impress.

• Do not expand to show status.

• Invest in structure, not image.

Strong governance is usually quiet.

5. Solve small problems early

Conflicts ignored become culture problems.
Financial details ignored become risk.
Miscommunication ignored becomes distrust.

So I try to address issues while they are still small.

Early correction is easier than late repair.

6. Think long-term, even when short-term profit is tempting

Not every opportunity deserves a yes.

If it damages reputation, culture, or values,
it is too expensive.

Sustainable order matters more than fast applause.

The older I become, the more I realize:

Scale tests the soul.
Money tests integrity.
Authority tests humility.
Success tests restraint.

Modern leadership books focus on performance metrics.
Ancient texts focus on moral architecture.

Without moral architecture, performance collapses under pressure.

In 2026, I choose:

To refine my character through Đệ Tử Quy.
To discipline my governance through Quân Thư Trị Yếu.
To lead by correcting myself before correcting others.

Not because it is fashionable.
But because I believe:

A leader who governs himself well can govern complexity without fear.

That is the quiet kind of power worth pursuing.

[^^, And to my teammates, if you are reading this:
please understand that I am still a learner on this journey.
If you notice where I can improve, remind me kindly.]

——-

Keep walking toward the sun — with a smile, every moment.

Hải Thật. A reflective Vietnamese son-husband-father-founder in education, writing life notes to live more meaningfully.