Treasure Your Dreams

This is the thought, or rather the question, weighing most heavily on my mind tonight. For that reason, this blog will be different from my others. Typically, I try to write about things I know; tonight I come from the opposite side of the coin — I will write about something I have a desire to know.

What makes a leader?

I have always aspired to be a leader, but the truth of the matter is, I have really never had anyone to lead. Now, as I see leaders — or rather, potential leaders — begin to form within my team I feel this huge burden to BE a leader to them.

My first instinct is to run to Barnes and Noble, pick up every book I can find on leadership and read and read and read until I “get it” — I know this wouldn’t be a bad place to start, but I know also that this is not enough.

Unfortunately, leaders are not born overnight. In order to become a leader, one must gain the trust and respect of those he or she wishes to lead. Reading books on leadership will not make someone a leader — so what will?

The most logical answer I can come up with is to lead by example — in order to become a leader, one must become a person worthy of being followed.

So, if this is true, then the best way to become a leader is to continually be working on improving oneself.

If I want my team members to commit to their businesses, I must be commited.
If I want my team members to consistently call their prospects, I must be consistent.
If I want my team members to become good managers of their time, I must become a good manager of my own.
If I want my team members to become great leaders, I must first become a great leader.

When you look at the great leaders in history, the best ones are remembered for practicing what they preached. That is what I, what anyone striving to become a leader, must work towards every day.

How could I ever ask someone to do what I do not do myself?

This concept of leadership is a new challenge to me — however, I can only surmise from recent circumstances that it is a challenge that I am ready for; a challenge I can overcome.

The Law of Attraction states that you attract people who are like yourself — in his CD “Recipe for Success”, Michael Clouse states that in looking at the people you have brought into your business, you will be able to see a reflection of yourself.

Well, to me, that reflection is one of leadership. For the first time I can truly look at my team and “see” 5 leaders, or rather, 5 people with the qualities to become leaders if they themselves are lead properly.

In James 1 it states that “God will never test you beyond what you can bear.” God would never hand me leaders to lead, if I was incapable of leading them.

Based on these two things; the law of attraction, backed up by God’s Word, I can only surmise that this test is truly one I am ready for. I am nervous, I am excited, but more than anything I am committed to learning what it takes to become a leader.

I know I do not have all the answers. But I do know that I will start at the most logical place; within myself. I will continue to work daily towards improving myself; however unlike before there is a new passion driving my actions.

In order to truly help others improve THEIR lives, I must constantly be working toward improving my own.

The quote I leave you with today is this, by Michael S Clouse:

“Leadership is knowledge is action!”

Very few things in life can be done by yourself. Even fewer are enjoyable when done by yourself. As a human race we are programmed for interaction; for camaraderie, for companionship and teamwork.

And we wonder why the economic state of our country is what it is today.

The corporate world (the rat race, the J-O-B) unfortunately operates on a “every man for himself” mentality. This is true whether you are at the very bottom, or the very top. Everyone is out for himself.

You are either climbing that corporate ladder, or kicking someone off from it –

The absense of this mentality is truly one of the most rewarding aspects of what I do. I LOVE the fact that in MY industry you can only grow yourself by helping others grow.

Shouldn’t everything in life be this way? How different would our world be if everyone was out to HELP each other, rather than to push each other down?

So much time is focused on self-prosperity. So little, on the prosperity of others.

Everyday I have the privlege of helping other people get what they want out of life. I get to share in the hopes and dreams of the people in my organization — help them set goals, help them REACH those goals! I get to rejoice in their successes, and encourage them when they falter.

I am truly, truly blessed to be able to do what I do every day.

Today, I had the opportunity to witness one of those successes. A lady in my organization brought someone in to HER organization — this was something she has been striving towards for some time now, and was in the midst of becoming discouraged.

I saw the email notification pop up in my Inbox and literally let out a squeal of excitement! I had a smile on my face for the rest of the day — I was SO excited for her!

My true passion in what I do is helping those who have joined me reach their goals — to coach them as they make their journey towards success. Again, I am so blessed in what I do.

I encourage you to think on this; how different would your life be on a daily basis, if you were to help other people aspire towards their own happiness?

How rewarding it is to help others — I believe that is truly what we were put on this earth to do.

The quote I leave you with today is by Mark Twain:

“Really great people make you feel that you, too, can be great.”