Leading By Example

"Leadership is not magnetic personality - that can just as well be a glib tongue. It is not "making friends and influencing people" - that is flattery. Leadership is lifting a person's vision to high sights, the raising of a person's performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality beyond its normal limitations."


Going back to the last post where I was talking about being excellent in everything that I do...I feel that leadership is one of those things that I need to work on. Last night I had to watch one of the hardest things that I've had to watch in a while. I played on my high school soccer team called the Fire.  I had started varsity for the past three years, but this year I decided to focus all of my energy on track. I had to watch them play one of the better soccer teams in the state (Franklin) and I had to see them get beat up pretty badly. I'm thankful to the coaches for allowing me to sit on the bench with the team during the game, which allowed me to see all my friends on the team and who were constantly reminding me of how much they wanted me to be playing. As a team they were struggling, and I really didn't know how to communicate to them because I wasn't the one on the field; I wasn't the one getting embarrassed, instead I was the one who felt like he had let down his team for not being there for them when they needed me to be. As I watched the game the frustration of several of the captains grew and guys started getting more and more upset with each other and themselves. I then realized how important leadership is to people when things get difficult. I realized the importance of leading by example. People need someone to look to when they get tired, they need an inspiration, they need someone that they can trust to always be there for them. I feel like I haven't done a good enough job being a leader. Yeah there are times when I might have done an okay job leading, like last summer with the Illusions, but I need to be better. It goes back to being excellent in everything that I attempt, if I can why not try to help others be excellent in everything they do. Perfectionism is annoying; there is never an ending. The only way we can achieve perfection is to set out and try to reach out and touch it. The only problem with seeking perfection is the little things. They are the things that separate good from great, but this is also where the leaders become the most important people in our lives. When people see leaders leading by example, they cannot be helped but pulled along in the same direction. When others see a leader doing something better or going beyond what's asked, it'll make those same people ask for something deeper within themselves. When people see a leader who not only is leading by example but who is also encouraging others to be the best that they can be, it will influence them to do great things and become better people. I wish there were more people in the world who understood how much influence they have on people when they exercise a hard work ethic, a determined spirit, and an encouraging heart. One problem with blogging is that I am held accountable for the things I say which means that I'll probably start getting onto some of you about not doing the little things. Unfortunately I'm not superman...I wish I was but I'm not so as a result I'm human and being human I make mistakes...so if you see me slacking off in certain areas, please remind me that perfection requires doing the little things well. So thanks guys, even though last night was tough, it'll get better if you keep working hard, and doing the things that matter the most. You guys definitely had a positive influence on my life and I thank you for it.