"If you can't lead yourself, you can't lead anyone else. At some point, we are all responsible for guiding someone else through something. Be it parenting, mentorship, managing, or simply friendship. Knowing this, we should all live like leaders."
We live in an era where information is unlimited, speed of service is unparalleled, and educational resources are at an all-time high.
If you want an answer to a question, Google it. If you want a product, go to Amazon. If you need a ride, Uber it. If you want to learn something new, Youtube it.
My point is, if you want a million dollars, a six-pack, or peace of mind, it's not because you don't have access to the information to unlock all three.
You clearly have the tools to find the answer, but you lack the resourcefulness, self-discipline, and desire to find out how to do it on your own.
You simply don't know how to lead yourself.
You are too busy waiting on someone to grab your hand and walk you through the next step.
Surprise! Life is not kind to people who wait for hand-me downs. Life does not give back to people who are not willing to earn it on their own.
When you adopt a lead-yourself mindset, you will start to garner the respect from others in every pocket of life. Be it personal or professional.
Whether you believe you are a natural-born leader or not is irrelevant.
Great leaders are built, not born. They walk through the fire, earn their stripes, and hone their skills of leadership through scars and calloused hands.
We all have the ability to become a leader. But it takes a rare breed to embrace the lifestyle of a leader.
So, if you are someone who has to provide, parent, mentor, manage, or has other people who depend on you, I gently suggest you develop these skills to become the leader you are capable of being.
I prefer to call these character traits, "skills" as opposed to qualities. Because skills can be sharpened over time after years of repetition. You can improve the skills of leadership the same way a pro basketball player improves his midrange jumper or his stepback three. It just takes an undying commitment to the process.
These skills will not only shape your character and your identity, but success has a funny way of following people who possess this unique skill set.