Lessons from Four Legendary Leaders

...Is divided into four sections:

Foundations
Relationships
Systems
Balance

In my leadership work, I group skills and strategies into the four areas above. First, Foundations give the leader the clarity to know how to lead the team because the final result in clear; second, build and maintain effective relationship to assist in getting to the vision; next, develop effective systems allowing each team member to excel and to work together efficiently; and finally, create balance in work, in life, and between work and life.

The format for this year consists of interviews with Christian leaders from many different types of leadership styles and perspectives - some pastors, some musicians, some lay leaders, some Christian business professionals, and more. This month is a compilation of thoughts from many leaders.

In the sections representing my four leadership principles, I share quotes relevant to each principle. After that I are thoughts from great leaders who have influenced my life.  

FOUNDATIONS

You cannot change your destination overnight, but you can change your direction overnight. ~ Jim Rohn

Most great people have attained their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure. ~ Napoleon Hill

Achievement is largely the product of steadily raising one’s levels of aspiration and expectation.~ Jack Nicklaus

Success is something you attract by continually working on your own personal development. ~ Jim Rohn

RELATIONSHIPS

The way we communicate with others and with ourselves ultimately determines the quality of our lives ~ Tony Robbins

Be nice to people on your way up because you'll meet 'em on your way down ~ Wilson Mizner

Forgive those who have hurt you ~ Les Brown

Conflict cannot survive without your participation - Wayne Dyer

In the last analysis, what we are communicates far more eloquently than anything we say or do ~ Stephen Covey

 

SYSTEMS

Most people spend more time and energy going around problems than in trying to solve them ~ Henry Ford

Things rarely get stuck because of lack of time. They get stuck because the doing of them has not been defined. ~ David Allen

Effective leadership is putting first things first. Effective management is discipline, carrying it out. ~ Stephen Covey

In essence, if we want to direct our lives, we must take control of our consistent actions ~ Tony Robbins

BALANCE

Take care of your body. It's the only place you have to live. ~ Jim Rohn

What's going on in the inside shows on the outside ~ Earl Nightingale

If you do not conquer self, you will be conquered by self ~ Napoleon Hill

Much of the stress that people feel doesn't come from having too much to do ~ David Allen

A well-spent day brings happy sleep ~ Da Vinci

LESSONS FROM 4 LEGENDARY LEADERS

Martin Luther King

Growing up in Atlanta Georgia during the time of segregation was quite an eye opening experience. I was able to watch the change in our culture first hand. I experienced Martin Luther King first hand. As a very young person, I did not realize how much I learned about leadership from this great leader. The memory of Martin Luther King voicing his vision, “I have a dream!” is a powerful memory. It took me until I turned 60 to realize how much influence this experience taught me about being an effective leader – especially in the face of great opposition. Martin Luther King had a vision. He share his vision clearly, He was not willing to compromise or to give up. He continued to be nonviolent in the face of oppressive violence. Leaders make a difference.

Leonardo Da Vinci

This great artist and thought leader of his age said, “I dream my painting and I paint my dream.” That’s a concise description of goal setting. As leaders, it is important to dream. As effective leaders it is important to put the dream into a form that others can understand. As transformational leaders it is important to make that dream manifest into reality. Leaders make things happen.

James Allen

When it was fashionable to write in male dominate language, James Allen wrote his second book, “As A Man Thinketh.” In 1907 the culture centered around men. Reading this classic book is today’s eyes we can reposition the language as “he or she” and understand the underlying wisdom. This very small book is a fast read, however it is packed with wisdom. Many leadership trainers quote James Allen many times. A quote relevant to this chain of leadership examples is, “Men do not attract that which they want, but that which they are.” Leaders know how things happen.

Napoleon Hill

Napoleon Hill went to interview Andrew Carnegie for a magazine article. During their meeting, Carnegie offered to introduce Hill to the most successful men in America if Hill would do it for a year with no pay. He was also asked to compile what he learned to create a formula for success. As part of his research, Hill interviewed many of the most famous people of the time, including Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, George Eastman, Henry Ford, Elmer Gates, John D. Rockefeller, Sr., Charles M. Schwab, F.W. Woolworth, William Wrigley, Jr., John Wanamaker, William Jennings Bryan, Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft and Jennings Randolph. He was also an advisor to two presidents of the United States, Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Think and Grow Rich is the first book he wrote to articulate the success principles. He lists many attributes for true wealth. The last item on the list is money because he said it was the least important. It’s important, but not at the top of the list. He truly understood the principles that made people successful. He said, “Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” Leaders can articulate their definite purpose.

WRAP UP

The Shoeshine Man

I stopped to get a shoeshine in the Chicago airport. There was no one present when I arrived at the shoeshine chair. After a few minutes I heard a voice coming from down the corridor, “Just have a seat!” he cried. So, I lifted myself up the high chair expecting another boring, conversation less shoe shine. Well, it was the best shoeshine I have ever gotten AND it was an inspirational moment. There are times when someone shows up to lift us out of our fog. This was that kind of experience for me. His name is Sherman and he loves shining shoes.

The man who was proceeding to shine my shoes responded to my question of “Will you make me look professional from the bottom up?” He answered, “No, you are responsible for that. I can only make your shoes look great.” To which I responded, “You must be good at this.” He then answered, “No. I’m great at this! I put my heart into it and provide you the best service that I can deliver.” Wow. That was a great response! He went on to share his principles of success with me, so I asked, “Why don’t you go on stage as a speaker so you can share these principles?” To which he replied, “I like what I am doing, so I will stay right here.” It made me reflect on the fact that I also like what I do and never want to stop even though I turn 65 this year which is the official place we, as Americans, get permission to “retire.” Not wanting to check out of the space that brings me value by bringing value to others, I revisited my commitment that I never wanted to “retire.” I love working with leaders and adding value to their work. Why should I ever stop.

Sherman went on to talk about his level of commitment to providing the best service and to serve people from his heart (said as he patted his chest over his heart).

Here’s what I learned in just under 10 minutes from Sherman about success:

1. Show up – you have to be present, fully present
2. Be prepared – know what you will need and plan ahead to have it
3. Serve others with your heart – don’t just provide the minimum, provide the best
4. Show others that you care – tell people that they matter and ask what they want
5. Be great at what you do – there’s no half way, either you are great or you are ordinary – do we need more ordinary people among today’s leaders?

I was not looking for inspiration. It came to me. Fortunately, I was paying attention. An effective leader is aware – not only self-aware, but also aware of what value others are brining to their work and to us through their work. I had been on the phone, or writing this article, or just in a fog thinking about only my problems or challenges, then I might have missed out in the moment of inspiration that appeared in my day. The Greek words for time, Kronos and Kairos give perspective on chronological time (sequence and strategy) and the unplanned moments in time that bring us an emphatic revelation. It’s a Kairos moment when God allows up to experience his joy from unexpected sources and it is a perfect moment of discovery.

I received an unexpected gift today. The shoeshine costs $6. I’ll bet that most people pay $10 for the extra value. I did. How will you bring value to someone in an unexpected way today?

CONCLUSION

Arrive at your place of comfort utilizing the best of what you can learn from others. Build your foundation, maintain your relationships, utilize effective systems and keep a healthy balance in your life. Begin today. There's not an arrival point. It's simple a journey.
Grace and Peace to you in your duty and delight as a Christian leader.