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3/27/08

Why?


In my daily living and breathing, I often come in contact with people.  the conversations usually turn towards motivation, self improvement and/or leadership.  I am amazed at the disproportionately large amount of people who have no interest in pursuing any of these subjects.  Rarely all three, let alone one.  These thought patterns and beliefs are so foreign to me that I fear I am totally and utterly unrelateable.  How can someone rationalize that they need no improvement in any area of their life?  Is it lack of humility?  Ignorance?  Laziness?

The conclusion I've come to is~the answer is ignorance.  People will become interested in these subjects when they are brought to the realization towards the necessity of studying, learning and implementing all they can; relating to motivation, self improvement, and leadership.






Since I'm not one to sit idly by, I offer these stories and quotes as enlightening knowledge.  I am currently studying an unprecedented and unequivocably the ultimate book on just these subjects.  "Launching a Leadership Revolution" by Orrin Woodward and Chris Brady.

I could wax poetic about the merits of this book for days but instead, I invite you to check out it's value and the value of it's authors by following this link. LLR  Don't even read the rest of my article.  Just check out the background and truth of this book and then come back to finish reading my writing later.

Pretty impressive right?  The biggest "aha!" that came to me as I was studying this book became the answer to my questions mentioned earlier.  Why leadership?  Why motivation?  Why self improvement?

Taken directly from the genius of Orrin and Chris an on pp 93-94 in LLR
"Hugo Grotius was a Dutch lawyer, writer, theologian, and statesman in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries.  President James Madison called him the "father of the modern code of nations."  On the topic of self government, Grotius boiled the idea of leadership all the way down to the level of the individual.  He said, "He knows not how to rule a Kindgom, that cannot manage a Province; nor can he wield a Province, that cannot order a City; nor he order a City, that knows not how to regulate a Village; nor he a Village, that cannot guide a Family; nor can that man Govern well a Family that knows no how to Govern himself."  Authors Mark Beliles and Stephen McDowell simplified it even further; "You must rule yourself before you rule others."  Too often in our world we see individuals attempting to influence others when they are barely able to lead themselves...To become a leader, one must gain self master, which can be accmplished only through a program of deliberate personal growth."

They say it better than I ever could.  Don't we all want to have influence and be important.  To our children, to our family, to our colleages to our students, our neighbors, our government.  Now that your mind has been "enlightened", ponder it, acknowledge it, and as Nike claims "just do it."












I'll close with my favorite quote
The heights by great men reached and kept were not obtained by sudden flight, but they while their companions slept, were toiling upward in the night.  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

 

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm going to have to check out that book, maybe Jared and I can read it together. Looks pretty good.

I know that one of the reasons we are here in Vegas is to influence people. I found the most amazing midwife back in October and had Hyrum at her house in December. We've become great friends and whenever I talk to her I realize that there is so much that can be done to help people, specifically women. I have had the opportunity to share some of my knowledge as I'm gaining more (and finding my strengths). It is so empowering to lift others. I am trying to find my place in all of this, but I know there is work for me to do and that feels pretty good.

Thanks for sharing Nichole. We love and miss you guys.

Anonymous said...

There's a lot to ponder on here! I really like what you said, that we need to govern ourselves first before we can lead anyone else. I apply this to being a mother.
It can be terrifying can't it?
If we fail, our children likely
will too! Then again, my children
are my inspiration so it's also a
good way to help keep me "pressing forward" daily!~ Keep writing, you're good at it!~

Anonymous said...

Okay, I'm convinced. I will put a hold on the book at the library!