Sunday, March 28, 2010

The cruel reality of leadership revealed

Hello Fellow Aspiring Leader, 

So this may sound perilously close to a rant…. but bear with me. The song for this post is most definitely 'I hate you so much right now' by Kelis

I like to think of myself as an aspiring leader, you know, walking the walk and talking the talk. When I first started college, as recommended by my advisor, I came up with a four-year plan. I figured if was going to be building an empire I had to think big picture and come up with checkpoints along the way. This list had to be flexible to allow me to seize new opportunities that presented themselves, challenging to keep it fun, but above all realistic. This is exactly what I did, and so far, it has been going very well… possibly even better than I imagined. But this not the focus of my post ...

What I wasn’t warned about ad instructed to prepare for as I worked up the ranks was that sometime or another I would have to work beneath poor leadership. Imagine that?! There are actually people that achieve leadership positions within clubs and organizations that are not very good leaders. People that let their ego get ahead of legacy and vision. People that operate in self-interest instead of the interest of the organization. People that do not play teambuilding games during the staff retreat! I really hate these people, plants hate these people, even kittens hate these people, because honestly... whats to like!?
 Sigh--These people actually become leaders, and alot of times are oblivious that they are doing anything wrong… but then I come along…

Please enjoy the rest of this blog in the video below. Then take the survey to the right… the life you save may be your own.


Monday, March 22, 2010

Leadership is all about Attitude

Hello Fellow Leader,

--The soundtrack to todays post is 'keep your head up', Chaka Khan from Tyler Perry's Series--

Leadership is all about the attitude. I don't mean hip swiveling, twisted up lips and rolling eyes type of attitude either. I mean the your overall disposition toward your perceived life. Your attitude is something that is intensely personal, but often times its very public. 

Its like this - everyday may not be a good day, and that is all about you, but if you come into work angry and stomping your feet and slamming doors, it becomes about everyone else. So, if your aspiring to be a leader in your business, class, or organization don't underestimate yourself! You are a powerful person in that your attitude alone can make a meeting absolutely wonderful for all those in attendance or make it a pretty miserable experience for everyone-- including yourself. When it all comes down to it your attitude determines your altitude.
 Please enjoy my supplementary video below. 




Friday, March 12, 2010

Leadership Takes Courage

Hello fellow leader, 

The sound track to this post is ‘We’re not gonna take It’ by Twisted Sister on the Album Big Hits and Nasty Cuts

Last time I posted I talked about Hillary Clinton’s travels to several Latin American Countries. I believe that her efforts to build relationships with foreign powers highlighted her efforts to be developing her leadership skills through relationship building. In following her travels, I found that she also went to Chile despite the chaos surrounding the recent tragic earthquakes there.  During this visit in the wake of the Chile crisis, Clinton not only offered U.S. solidarity to the countries leaders but also brought with her much needed supplies.  I believe Mrs. Has done really well to build a positive relationship with Chile’s political leaders.


This week’s post is about leading courageously. Successful leaders oft make bold yet still reasonable decisions, taking risks and simultaneously using restraint as well as vigor. Through courage, all other things are possible. A courageous leader continues to try, lends trust to others, and speaks up and out. I found a great example of this kind of courage in the news this Tuesday in reports of a seven-year-old boy that saved his entire family from gun wielding home invaders. During the armed home invasion, the little boy quickly took his younger sister, hid in the bathroom with a cordless phone, and called 911 Emergency. Once on the phone with dispatchers he explained his situation and requested rescue, at one point demanding dispatchers “bring soldiers too”. In the released dispatchers audio one can hear the terrifying moments when the gunmen breakdown the bathroom door, and demand to know who the young boy was calling. When the boy replied 911, the gunmen fled- no shots were fired and no one was hurt. At just seven year old this young boy has exemplified the strength of courage found in successful leadership. Listen to the 911 Recording HERE.

Courage is the resistance of fear, the mastery of fear – not the absence of fear. – Mark Twain