True Story

While file browing I came across this blog I wrote awhile back. It was a good reminder to me on what makes a leader.

1. Leaders solve problems others fear.
2. Leaders focus on encouragement and helping others.
2. Leaders acknowledge the potential in others.
3. Leaders often see trends before others because they are always looking for them.
4. Leaders seek out people who will mentor them and then pass on lessons learned.
5. Leaders have clear defined goals and then celebrate milestones with friends, family and co-workers.
6. Leaders form strategic alliances focusing on giving not taking.
7. Leaders listen with compassion.
8. Leaders accept feedback. Then take action to improve.
9. Leaders have a mission and a vision and stay true to that mission.
10. Leaders catch people doing something right.

Joe coaches little league football. This might not seem strange but he does not have a son that plays. Nobody would even know that he does this because he is so humble about it. He does not get paid for coaching and volunteers sometimes 10-15 hours a week to help these boys learn lessons about life and football. Joe looked for a place to help then took action and now has his own football team that will start playing in the fall.

I was taken aback to hear his story because so many people, including me, always ask what's in it for me. It is easy to want to be a Leader; it is hard to really be one. Joe is very busy like all of us but takes time for these 10 and 12-year-old kids because he has a passion to serve these little guys. Think about what you will be remembered for when you’re gone. It is a challenge to raise children, support your family for all of us. Think about spending that much time helping someone else's kids?

Zig always says it best. "You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help enough other people get what they want".

Way to go Joe.

Moving forward,

Jeff