Hitendra Wadhwa, professor of practice at Columbia Business School and founder of Mentor Instituteteaches in the university's most popular personal class head AND sUccess — two topics that most business students are eager to learn more about.

This was clear on the rainy January day when I sat in on the afternoon session of Wadhwa's course; despite the gloomy weather, power it was palpable, with every seat occupied and some attendees even standing behind.

Wadhwa wrote the literal book on looking inward to find success outwardly. IN Inner Mastery, Outer Influence: How Your Five Core Energies Hold the Key to SuccessWadhwa reveals how activating purpose, wisdom, growth, love, and self-realization can help people make a real mark on the world.

^{Image Credit: Courtesy of Mentora Institute. Hitendra Wadhwa.}

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During the session I attended, Wadhwa told a compelling story about him Steve Jobs that captures those essential energies in action—and shows that the best leaders are willing to roll, even when it's hard.

“Innovation makes the difference between a leader and a follower.”

The story begins in 2001, a little before Apple was set to open the first retail store. Ron Johnsonthe company's senior vice president of retail from 2000 to 2011, was heading into a weekly planning meeting with Jobs when he shared his concerns about the new store's proposed layout.

Like most retail outlets, Apple planned to organize its store by product. But Johnson saw an opportunity to design it around the activity, like making movies or listening to music, and build on the innovation that had already helped Jobs mind becomes a category of one.

But Jobs wasn't having it: the store's opening was fast approaching, and he didn't think he had time for a complete overhaul. Johnson and Jobs sat with the tension of that disagreement as they rode the rest of the way to the meeting.

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Then, about 10 minutes later, the pair walked into the meeting, and Jobs surprised Johnson by telling the team that Johnson believed the store's design was completely wrong—and that he agreed. Jobs said he would retire while they all did worked together to find the best way forward.

In telling the story about Johnson and Jobs, Wadhwa makes an invaluable point: The kind of leader someone is at one moment should not dictate the kind of leader they will be at the next. A will for change your mind AND think outside the boxeven when this means additional challenges in the short term, it is not a weakness – it is a strength.

And, like Jobs himself said once“Innovation makes the difference between a leader and a follower.”

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