The truth is, these highly successful people do stumble, worry, and doubt themselves, but they've also mastered reputation management and the way they're perceived.
"Great leaders know that every step they take, every decision they make, matters in the end," says author and public speaker Deirdre Maloney in her book "Tough Truths
"They know they must strategize carefully, then act aggressively," she says. "They know they must think ahead - not just to their next step - but to the many steps after it."
In her book, Maloney shared 11 tough leadership lessons that aren't usually discussed by those on top.