What the Prince of Darkness Can Teach Us About Leading Boldly
It’s no secret I’m a huge music fan. The bands of the ‘70s, ‘80s, and early ‘90s had a massive impact on my musical taste—and one of the biggest influences of all was Ozzy Osbourne.
When someone who’s had such a cultural impact passes away, there tends to be an outpouring of love and gratitude. In Ozzy’s case, it seems fitting this affection has gone to the extreme. People across generations, industries, and cultures have come out of the woodwork to share what he meant to them.
So this week, in honor of the legendary Ozzy Osbourne, I want to share a few leadership lessons we can all take from the Prince of Darkness himself.
- Be Authentic
For all his faults and flaws, Ozzy was unapologetically himself. He didn’t try to clean up his image for critics or conform to expectations. Throughout his 50+year career, he made it clear that his antics and addictions may have been destructive, but they were his alone to deal with.
As a leader, authenticity isn’t optional—it’s foundational. People may disagree with your approach, but they’ll respect your consistency. If you’re pretending to be someone you’re not, your influence will crumble when the pressure rises.
Ask yourself:
- Who are you? What’s your brand?
- What do you stand for?
- Are you that same person when things go wrong?
- Be Original
The moment you hear Ozzy’s voice, you know it’s him. No one else sounds like Ozzy—and no one else tried to. He never chased trends. He set them.
When Black Sabbath debuted in 1970, heavy metal wasn’t even a genre yet. In the ‘80s, Ozzy and guitarist Randy Rhoads helped define what a metal band should be. And in the ‘90s—at the peak of grunge—he released No More Tears, once again reinventing himself and pushing heavy rock forward.
As a leader, it’s easy to get swept up in trends. But if you abandon what makes you unique, you risk losing your competitive edge. Be aware of industry movements—but don’t trade originality for relevance. The things that made you successful in the first place are still your greatest assets.
- Take Risks
When Lollapalooza organizers told Ozzy he was too old to perform, he didn’t sulk—he launched his own summer festival- Ozzfest. It went on to become one of the highest-grossing rock tours of its time.
In the 2000s, he let reality TV cameras into his home for The Osbournes. Here was the “Godfather of Heavy Metal” dealing with teenage drama, arguing over chores, and cleaning up after the dogs. Not many rock stars would’ve been willing to show that level of vulnerability.
Leadership requires risk. Sometimes that means creating your own stage. Sometimes it means showing people the messy parts of your life. Either way, the reward is greater connection—and often, greater success.
- Give Something Back
Ozzy’s son Jack once said in an interview:
“My dad had a lot of faults and flaws. He had addictions and issues. But his contributions more than outweighed his faults.”
That’s a legacy worth aiming for. None of us are perfect—we all have shortcomings. But when we contribute more than we take, we leave something meaningful behind.
Stop asking yourself
- Was I perfect?
Start asking
- Did I help?
- Did I lead with impact?
- Did I leave something better than I found it?
Final Thoughts
Whether you were a fan of Ozzy or not, there’s no denying his influence. He lived loud. Led boldly. Pushed boundaries. Challenged the norm. Overdid almost everything—and pissed a few people off along the way.
Mostly? He did what he loved, right up until the end.
Let’s hope we all have the courage to do the same.
Thanks, Ozzy, for taking us on one hell of a ride aboard the Crazy Train
Until next time
Cheers to you and your continued success…
One Quarter Turn at a Time
Thoughts for the week from Ozzy himself:
“Of all the things I’ve lost I miss my mind the most”
“I can’t do anything in moderation”
“To be a liar, you’ve got to have a great memory, and I don’t have a great memory”
“You gotta be really careful what you bite off. Don’t bit off more than you can chew. It’s a dangerous world out there.”
I have a genuine love affaire with my audience. When I’m on stage they’re not privileged to see me. I a privilege for me to see them.”
“Rock Music isn’t about being perfect”
-Maybe, it’s not too late. To learn how to love, and forget how to hate- Crazy Train
Thank you Ozzy!
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