Leadership

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Nelson Mandela was an amazing leader. His style was that of calm, love, Ubuntu, and he focused on emphasizing
change through peaceful discord while knowing that sometimes civil unrest is the best way to achieve political gain.
He was humble, he was loyal, he was remarkable in every way. And he ushered in a new era of prosperity, unity,
and provided a common goal for his people. These are not qualities that any past president or leader possessed with
the exception of Abraham Lincoln perhaps. Comparing and contrasting them, however, is like trying to compare and
contrast water and oil. The times were different, the circumstances were different, and their constituents were worlds
apart. However, both men possessed skills that are essential to being great. One, they both had the ability to change
the social consciousness. Two, they were both charismatic and used their life trials to bring confident humility to
their jobs, and three, they both spread a message of peace, love, and emphasized unity rather than unrest.

But… These are great men, they rose to power under duress, perhaps unwillingly, and they changed the world for
the greater good. There was no if, there was no why, only a how do we get this done. And this is what makes a great
leader. It isn’t becoming a lawyer and reading thousands of books about law (although that helps in today’s world).
It isn’t becoming a great speaker, or knowing how to respond to quick fire questions (as was noted in the case of
President Bush). It isn’t being the best at something then telling others how your’re the best at it so you should be
the leader. It isn’t about your past life so much as it is what you hope to accomplish in the futre and how you plan to
accomplish those things. No, leadership is more than that. Leadership is about being truthful, honest, filled with
integrity. It’s about being thoughtful, about being able to put things into perspective, reflect, and act in a smart,
moral, and legal way. It’s about connecting with people on the ground level. It’s about understanding the needs of
others and working to fulfill them. And most importantly, great leaders should bring a message of peace, prosperity,
and love to others in an effort to change the social consciousness so that a nation or a group of people can become
one voice. After all, ten people in a crowd of 10,000 is still ONE LOUD VOICE!

Leadership is about changing what really needs to be changed not just for the sake of it. Leadership is about bringing
a group together, not making them drift apart and into indifference. Leadership is about knowing, not just
understanding what to do next, and accepting failure when things don’t work out the way you had it planned.
Leadership is about creation, not destruction – even if destruction seems to be the only answer. Leadership is about
standing up and taking the heat for what someone else may have done wrong. Leadership is about listening more
than talking. Leadership is about blessing others, taking nothing for yourself. Leadership is about humility, knowing
that no matter who you are, you’re still making your own bed every day (something Nelson Mandela and I share in
common). Leadership is knowing when to step up, and when to take a step back.

Leadership is about making the tough choices that no one else can. Leadership is about getting a group organized,
and helping them pave the pathway to their victory, not yours. Leadership is about knowing when to speak up, and
when to stay silent. Leadership is about being positive, thinking universally, and growing the group’s mission.
Leadership is about trusting others who trust you, and treating others with respect. Leadership is about bringing
prosperity to the situation. Leadership is evaluating all outcomes, determining the best course of action, and
reviewing results with others. Leadership is never about me, rather, it is about you. Leadership is about everyone
and everything else, for you are the first to rise, and the last to sleep. Leadership is about explaining to others what
might have gone wrong and perhaps why they are at fault, and why there are consequences while at the same time
not reprimanding, demeaning, or being accusatory. Leadership is about respecting others, and respecting the fact that
others may not respect you. Leadership is about being the example from which others can follow. Leadership is
knowing that respect is earned, not freely given, and that it goes for both parties, in all ways. Leadership is knowing
when to start, how to start, when to stay quiet, and when to shout.

Leadership, therefore, is more than just a simple statement like, “I’m a leader.” It is action, it is words, it is silence, it
is being a resource, it is allowing a forum and participation in that forum means one must listen. Leadership is about
caring for each other, about reaching a common goal and motivating others to help you be the voice of reason.
Leadership is about making 10,000 voices fall silent because your 10 voices are still strengthened by truth.
Leadership is knowing when you are wrong, when to admit it (always), and when to congratulate others for their
success. Leadership is knowing that you gave it your everything, even though others will try to disprove that fact.
Leadership is knowing when to shake hands and join others, and when to stand tall, and not back down.
Nelson Mandela and Abraham Lincoln possessed all of these qualities, and they led their people through tough
times, each saving a nation. And it is people like  these men that have the power to change the world.