You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone

There is a saying that you never know how much you miss someone until they're gone. I wonder if the person that penned this saying was speaking of a beloved leader. Leadership is a lot like watching home-makeovers on HGTV. A leader walks into a place seeing what COULD be and what is and is not functioning well. Many times, I watch these types of shows and say, "Hey! What's wrong with the house you're trying to renovate? I'll take it if it's too bad for you!" Though after all of the changes are made and the renovated house is revealed, I'm usually quite amazed at how much better it is and how that person had a vision and saw something amazing that was there and yet wasn't there. An amazing future wrapped in the present.

Question: What is poverty? Poverty is defined as the state of being extremely poor or insufficient in amount. In my estimation, the reason the world is not as great as it is destined to be is because there is a poverty of leaders. Now, I am convinced there is a poverty of leadership, and a poverty of leaders. This is because of the judgements of others through texts and tweets, the scoffs and the glares, the heckling and the whispers, the eye contact and the lack thereof, leaders have decided to not speak in public. Leaders choose to let the negative minded be the most vocal. Leaders have allowed the loudest voice to win. It seems Leaders do whatever leadership they can in the shadows - where it's safe. There is a great leadership proverb that says “A ship in the harbor is safe — but that is not what ships are built for.” — John A. Shedd

So? There is a picture of life with a caption titled "Leadership". Stop cropping yourself out of it. A leader spends far more time thinking of what has to be done rather than who should be the one doing it. Speak out. Be vocal. Figure out what cause makes you the most upset and then let it wreck you. Let it consume your mind so much that you have to do something about it or you'd rather die. You have a unique gift to see the world in a way others do not. You see the possibilities. You see the potential. In fact, you are the possibilities and you have the potential. You know what a tragedy is? A tragedy is a loss of potential. Grandpa passes away. That's sad but not a tragedy because he lived a long life and actualized his potential in the best way that he could. But a young boy passes away? A tragedy. What a loss of the potential of what he could become and the things he could offer to the world. It is a tragedy when leaders stay silent and choose to take a pass. It is like a man looking at his own grave. So? Rise Up. Speak. Lead Them.

Questions: 1. Where is it hardest for you to lead in your day to day life? What comment, question, or statement can you plan on making tomorrow to break the ice? 2.Where among your peers do you see the biggest examples of leadership? Where do you see the biggest deficits amongst your peers? (Remember, Leadership is, at its core, influence.)

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#transformationtuesday #missmewhenimgone #leadership #tragedy #riseup #speak