Key Point: Great leaders inspire and influence others to leap foreword. I experienced this in a powerful way this past week. It was a “wow!!!”
Friday, June 6, 2014 started off with a private breakfast hosting John Maxwell, Inc Magazine’s 2014 Leadership Man of the Year. Maxwell has written more than 70 books, taught in 80 counties and is the leadership coach to the CEOs of the world’s biggest companies, along with government leaders of many countries. He has a million plus followers on Twitter. This great teacher shared his leadership insights with 300 plus leaders of the company I work with all day Friday. What a trip into more deeply understanding what it means to establish a culture of leadership. Standing ovation stuff!!
Then at our annual “black tie” celebration of top company award winners that evening, I was given the privilege of hosting Craig Kielburger, the co-founder of Free the Children and the Me to We movement. While Kielburger is half of Maxwell’s age, his list of credentials is equally impressive: Huge world wide contributions addressing extreme poverty, hunger, child education and much more. As an example, his charity, Free the Children has built more than 750 schools in developing countries. And hundreds of thousands of community service acts of kindness have flowed from Me to We events. These spectacular results have led to the Order of Canada and many other awards for his huge humanitarian impact.
Read more about each of these men and you will be blown away. What leaders!
Of course these guys are smart, and also embody the elements of the Character Triangle in spades! They really “do it now,” act with kindness and give more every day. That said, neither possesses some super human power and they both come from rather modest family backgrounds. However, what they both do that differentiates them from many is that they have each developed a system and incredible bias for self action. They have transcended from “me” (self-focused) to “we” (the greater good) to ultimately the “I” (What I will do about it with super self accountability). They genuinely believe one-person can and will change the world and it’s going to be them. They are fearless. They do not wait for the “memo” to take action on what they believe needs to happen. They just do something to move the ball forward. My view is that they are transformative because they continuously transcend by self-employing their heart, mind and hands… And therefore it comes down to “I”… I will! I can! And I am! No excuses. No limitations. Sheer “I” power that harnesses a bunch of other “I”s into exponential positive outcomes. That makes them genius.
Character Moves:
- Believe you and I can change the world for better if even just a little. This has to be a genuine self-belief. Otherwise we will be passively swept by the current of life and one day be disappointed we didn’t paddle and steer a little more. Do you really believe you can evolve further on the journey of “me to we to I “? I know I sure can.
- Develop your own system for action. Every day John Maxwell employs ACT. He identifies just one thing he can A (apply), C (change) and T (teach); hence ACT. He does this with incredible commitment and dedication. After a lifetime of intentionally applying learning, our world will change for the better. Experience in life means little if we don’t intentionally reflect, really learn, AND personally do something about it.
- Craig’s system involves finding an issue that ignites a passionate response. Each of us is likely to run into something that evokes an emotional stir inside of us. When we become aware of that “buzz,” Craig believes that’s a signal to take some forward contributing action on that matter. Most people are stuck on where to start. How about NOW and small? Just give of yourself something to do that connects with that emotional stir and cause. You’re worth it. ACT with INTENTION.
- Learn what the Ecuadorian word “minga” means. I won’t tell you any more than that. But your vocabulary and mindset will be richer after understanding its meaning.
I for Minga in the Triangle,
Lorne
Published and Edited by Garrett Rubis