Are you a leader?

After my harrowing experience last Sunday, I have been taking it easy. I have been in a great deal of physical pain as a result of being bounced around in my car during the accident. I finally made the time to see the new Star Trek movie and reflected on all the years of being a Star Trek fan. I’ve always enjoyed the technology and future humanitarianism portrayed in the Star Trek franchise. After watching the movie I came to realize what I liked the most about the various shows in the startrekverse. It was the presence of leaders. People who dared to go beyond their perceived limitations. Beyond reason and beyond logic. When things seemed insurmountable, something welled up in the human spirit to go beyond the predominate perception of defeat.

What is a leader? The dictionary definition states: a person that guides in direction, course, action or opinion. A leader is a person who has mapped out different scenarios in his head and has projected an appropriate outcome for all concerned. Not just for himself; but all concerned. A leader guides others down a path that he has already perceived in his mind toward the outcome that he has projected. Perhaps we can better understand a leader by what a leader is not. One would think that a leader is not a follower. The definition of a follower is a person that follows another in regard to his or her ideas or belief. A follower is a disciple or adherent who models the behavior of the leader. It is also a person who imitates, copies, or makes a leader as a role model or ideal to follow. The precursor to becoming a leader is to be a good follower. A good follower recognizes the conclusions of the leader and accepts the conclusions that the leader draws. That’s why he follows him.

By setting a good example, a great leader inspires followers to dream big dreams, learn as much as they can about themselves and their world, step out in action and become the best that they can be. The costs involved with this are immeasurable. Yet, many “religious organizations” place a price on this knowledge and after you have committed the time and receive a certificate, you are deemed a leader. Wrong! A leader is born out of action moving in a negative direction and in response to this the leader takes the reins and guides the followers toward a beneficial solution for all. A phrase comes to mind; “The buck stops here.” There is no getting past a true leader because a true leader has mastered the art of being a great follower. What is the art of being a great follower? The ability to listen, reason, contemplate and take action by following a great leader. It is recognizing a chain of command that begins with an understanding that the leader has a mental lock on a desired outcome and his way is the best way for you to achieve your desired results.

The transition from a follower to a leader comes when those around you are in disarray, disjointed or totally confused about the correct path to take. A leader steps up to the plate and recognizes his responsibility to lead. He grabs the reins, takes command and LEADS! He forges ahead amidst all of the difficulties, perceptions of insurmountable obstacles and nay-sayers. Are you a leader? Are you a follower? Or are you so entrenched in mediocrity that you wallow in indecision and can’t even choose to be a leader or follower? It’s time to stop riding the fence. When you jump off the fence you might land in grass or a cow patty. That’s the chance you take. Nothing in life is guaranteed except the fact that if you stay on the fence, you’ll never know where you’ll land. Be a leader and take that leap!

For more info: Download my free Wilmington Spirituality Examiner toolbar. “Life is a gift. Be thankful for it and it will be replete with abundance. Encourage others to express creativity, release negativity and embrace pro-activity." Dean A. Banks, MCIWD, DD can be reached at webproducer@hotmail.com or banksnet.com. Download my free eBook on Articles 1-10 here.

What's in it for me?

The more I observe my immediate world and view network corporate news the more I see an underlying theme. What’s in it for me? While this is a valid question, it shows more about the person asking it than it is able to give an answer to that person. As was said in an episode of “Kung Fu” I once saw, “Seek not the answer, but seek to understand the question” seems to apply here. If you understand why you are asking the question, it will reveal what your values are. If you are only concerned about yourself, your ego is in command. Remember, ego is Edging God Out. If you look at life from a God-like perspective, you take others into account. You temper your actions based on what is good for others as well as yourself. As Spock from Star Trek once said, “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few; or the one.”

Asking yourself the right questions of is of prime importance. Look at what currently exists in your life and ask, “Is this all there is?” Is this what I truly want? What can I do to make the life that I deeply desire? Ask the right questions. Socrates answered questions with questions. It is known in philosophy as the Socratic Dialectic. Students would approach him with well thought out questions expecting sage answers and were posed even deeper questions by Socrates. Socrates knew that in order to get to the root of the question, one has to dig deeper. The only way to dig deeper is to keep asking quality questions. Do you ask yourself quality questions? Do you ask yourself any questions at all? If you don’t, then you are on the path to mediocrity. Mediocrity is the state where you are barely adequate, or we could say inferior. There is on old saying, “How can a fool make another wise.” If you are operating from an inferior state of being, how can you hope to get to a superior state of being without questioning the results you now experience? Asking yourself quality questions is the doorway to a better life for you and those around you.

We are not islands. We are social animals that need interaction, growth and a sense of accomplishment. Without these superior qualities we will stagnate, get depressed, and suffer inaction. What is it that you could do differently right now that could make a major positive change in your life? Are you willing to do this in order to traverse the pathway from inferiority to superiority? As the saying goes, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” What steps are you choosing? Are you on a pathway toward the light or away from the light? It is so easy for all of us to slip into mediocrity. It takes the willingness to become a better person in order to ask the tough questions.

And what about change? Do we really march toward change? Most people don’t really change. They rearrange people, places and things in their lives to accommodate their values. True change requires a mindset of truth. Being honest with yourself and knowing yourself is the first step toward true change. If your environment doesn’t reflect the state you desire to be in then you need to pro-act true change! How do you do this? By asking the hard questions you reveal your true values. Once you arrive at a knowing of your true values, acting on behalf of those values becomes much easier. Find a coach, get motivational CD’s, or seek out biographies on role models. See what they had to do to actualize their potential. The pathway is much easier to travel when you know where you are going. Have a great trip!!!

For more info: Download my free Wilmington Spirituality Examiner toolbar. “Life is a gift. Be thankful for it and it will be replete with abundance. Encourage others to express creativity, release negativity and embrace pro-activity." Dean A. Banks, MCIWD, DD can be reached at webproducer@hotmail.com or banksnet.com. Download my free eBook on Articles 1-10 here.