How to be a leader.
Just read an article from Fortune magazine about “what almost dying taught me as a leader.” Yes, I’m here to call bullshit on that one.
First, there’s way too much hype on being a leader. This is not a required skill to be successful. Everyone can’t be leaders. If you don’t know why, you don’t know what a leader is.
Second, training masses to be leaders in business, music, church, or any other group is selling them power they don’t actually have. Like telling someone they’re a cop without giving them a badge.
Third, maybe if we were better at leading ourselves, we wouldn’t need so many damn leaders.
Who does stuff if everyone is a leader?
I like do’ers more than I like most leaders.
There’s a thing they say when you’re in a plane about putting your mask on before putting on someone else’s. This leader stuff is a lot like that. Lead yourself.
If we could lead ourselves we wouldn’t need boycotts because everyone would know. We wouldn’t need billion dollar unsuccessful presidential bids because everyone would vote. We wouldn’t need propaganda because there’d be no point. No one is going to lead you to do right all the time. That’s what I call an “inside job.”
As a parent, I do not want to lead kids their whole lives. I want to instill in them the leadership to govern themselves. That’s successful parenting to me. Happy to report, kids are doing great.
Is it leading or following?
In the U.S., we train everyone to be leaders and give them shit jobs. Why? Why bother with training for a job you don’t want or will never have because you weren’t born with enough money?
Our new protest band is called Boots on the Ground. We are not leaders. We’re soldiers. It’s not about leadership skills for us. It’s about showing up. You do not have to be a “leader” for that, thank the Christ.
How many leaders does it take to change a lightbulb?
People admire great leaders and that’s okay. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with that. But most “leadership training” type stuff I’ve seen in my life is actually folks following orders. It’s never made sense to me.
Is it leading or hoarding?
If everyone thinks they’re “leadership material” then we have issues. Being a leader isn’t a goal. It’s a necessity. Craving power and relevance isn’t being a leader. It’s more like hoarding. Our society loves folks who hoard wealth. They’re powerful, in the news, making moves. It’s not because they’re great leaders. It’s because they’re great hoarders. They probably own leadership training courses.
Return to home.
A Song called “Too Good.”
Enjoy a song we did called “Too Good.” To me it’s about the decision to lead myself. I don’t need to mess up other folks for that.