When you have a goal of
making a gillion dollars, you need to look up some other website for
your leadership training. Having a desire to become the best, well,
let’s talk.
The “best” can be a nebulous term. To
illustrate what I mean by that, I tell you the following story. Many
years back I directed Ayn Rand’s Night of January 16th. On
opening night, we had the usual cast party. One of the lead actors had
invited her manager. During a conversation with this gentleman, he
asked me, “Do you ever do any acting?” “No,” I replied. “I think there
are enough actors in Los Angeles.” His response to me was one that I
will never forget. He said, “There are never enough of the good ones.”
This is a universal truth. There are never enough of
the good ones of any profession. When it comes to leaders, the good
ones are in very short supply. In business, in the nonprofit sector,
the bureaucracy and in the legislative branches of our government,
there are not enough good leaders to go around. And we all feel it. We
feel especially the lack of virtuous leaders. You know, the guys who
don’t make sub-prime loans, who don’t make $100,000,000 as the company
they are heading goes bankrupt, or those who demand total control of a
sector of the economy that was headed south under their watch.
To be the best means a constant struggle with yourself. When Jacob fought the angel, he was fighting his better self. The lazy, the irresponsible, they either don't fight or they give up easily. But when your goal is to be "one of the good ones" your biggest obstacle to overcome is you. It is easier to simply go along and get along or its opposite, argue with everyone because you are angry at yourself. Stop fighting the angel inside, and let that spirit take control.
The agenda for developing the inner life is as follows: * A list of suggested books to read and discuss * Defining personal ethics * Determining what leaders of the past are worthy of emulation * Discovering new leaders worth admiration * Essays on leadership style to fit the leadership substance * Work on individuation * Letting go of fear
George Washington had everything to loose by taking on the command of the American army in the struggle for independence. He did not let the fact of an untrained army, not enough supplies and a combined British and Hessian, highly trained force that greatly outnumbered his men stop him. Washington was a man who thought things through, and then stood behind his decisions. The British referred to him as “the fox.” He was. Being crafty is not a bad thing in war. Sneaking up on the enemy, or sneaking off in the middle of the night to go fight someplace else, these are all practices of the surprise elements of battle. In business it may mean keeping your mouth shut and your actions in motion while you prepare a new product or service. Like any father, this father of our country could be counted on to take up the unpleasant tasks as well. It's never easy being the leader, but Washington demonstrated how to carry it off with grace. His greatest act came at the end of the war when he voluntarily resigned his commission to become a private citizen once again. He could have taken control of the very disorganized United States. But he had virtue. Yes, virtue is a good thing. Only the mean spirited and wicked will fault you for it. Remember that.
The “best” can be a nebulous term. To
illustrate what I mean by that, I tell you the following story. Many
years back I directed Ayn Rand’s Night of January 16th. On
opening night, we had the usual cast party. One of the lead actors had
invited her manager. During a conversation with this gentleman, he
asked me, “Do you ever do any acting?” “No,” I replied. “I think there
are enough actors in Los Angeles.” His response to me was one that I
will never forget. He said, “There are never enough of the good ones.”