It is easier to discern the best paths to follow in the journey of life - Reason 21

In an old Colombian song, Los Caminos de la Vida, the author describes how the paths of life are difficult to walk[1].  For many people, life can be one big mystery, and sometimes even an experience of constant misery.

However, a leader is clear that her or his life is the fruit of their own decisions, and is not based on others’ choices or on fate.  Yes, decisions made by others may influence them and circumstances will have an impact, but he or she ultimately will follow the path that comes from their own inspiration.

The leader’s ‘trick’, if we can call it that, is to take time to reflect and to discern before making a commitment in any direction.  Discernment is an ability that allows a person to choose and to prioritise the best possible options before taking any action.

For a leader the importance of discernment is multiplied by the fact that any decision also will impact on the lives of others.  In the absence of proper discernment, life would be just a guess-work . . . 

(Excerpt from the book 82 Reasons to be a Leader)

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[1] Los Caminos de la Vida (The paths of Life) is a song by Omar Geles, about the difficulty of facing a life for one isn’t prepared.  The rhythm is called Vallenato and it is typical of the Eastern Atlantic of Colombia.  You can watch its performance here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5L9itEadUCE

Live a life with 100% challenges and 0% problems - Reason 20

Do you have a problem?  If you are a leader then that is excellent…

You see, a leader is basically a problem solver, but in an uncomplicated way since he or she never considers a problem as, well, a problem!  For a leader, it translates into challenges.

After all, if you solve a problem, that means you are still at school, but when you overcome a challenge, it means now you are a grown-up.

It is not just a question of word choice, and many leaders like to use the word problem, but the attitude defines how that leader will deal with the circumstances.  While a problem causes fear and worry, lots of stress and confusion, a challenge stimulates and inspires the best to emerge.

Leaders keep a big smile, as challenges come to oppose them and to encourage them to grow.


(Excerpt from the book 82 Reasons to be a Leader)

Adverse situations can be faced with internal stability, and a touch of humour - Reason 19

Do you remember The Lion King[1]?  As an animated movie, it brought fresh air to an industry and company that really needed it, combining an exceptional blend of humour and tragedy.

A little spoiler alert in case you haven’t watched it!  On the way to become a king, Simba suffered a big tragedy in his life, but the way he deals with it is to just move one and enjoy a free life in jungle.

That is the inspiration part of being a leader in difficult situations: nothing is too bad so that your mood goes off.  But the leader’s wit comes from a deep sense of stability, not from carelessness or worse, by feeling disheartened.

Nobody is really invincible and yet, when you are a leader, even your worst defeat turns into an occasion for reflection and self-progress.  Maybe it is the fact that a person who takes on a leadership mind-set will have truth by his or her side, or maybe it is the wisdom a leader builds along a life’s journey…  Whatever it is, obstacles in front of a leader become part of that journey’s landscape.

Isn’t it good to be a leader?  A leader is merged in a lead role of a hero movie and you just know the end will be brilliant!

(Excerpt from the book 82 Reasons to be a Leader)

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[1] The Lion King was produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation in 1994.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lion_King

A failure will turn into an opportunity - Reason 18

Who likes a failure?  Very few people, if there is even one, because it is not only the moment a failure happens, but it is possible the impact stays with the person for some time, affecting life in general.

But, if you are a leader, a failure is seen as a wonderful chance to do the same in a different way, or taken as a good signal to change what you do.

Failure activates an ambiguous response from any person.  On one hand, this individual just wants to crawl under some rock and hope people will forget he or she even exists.  It is like sensing a knot in the stomach, but the person knows thata won’t stop so soon, as there are consequences to be faced too.

On the other hand, a boost of energy comes, trying to find a solution and a way out of this situation.  It is at that moment that being a leader is an advantage: by using true leadership qualities, she or he is able to calm down and to focus on the new possibilities ahead.

Failure turns into an opportunity, a moment when a leader discovers something great about the self.

(Excerpt from the book 82 Reasons to be a Leader)

Your talents will be unlimited - Reason 17

Although skills are learned, they originate from very deep within the soul in the form of natural talent.  The arousal of latent talent is like the expression of a calling.

An ordinary person would use skills to attain money, success or fame, but this puts this innate fountain of energy to limited use.  A leader on the other hand uses his or her skills to make a vision coming true.

Just like a Brazilian housemaid [1]whose talent for fashion gave her and her family an opportunity in life or a cook who used his skills to feed homeless people[2], leaders use their talents beyond the ordinary and to create opportunities for others.

It is beautiful, because through their skills, leaders go beyond hammering, painting, cooking, cutting, sewing, typing, programming or writing and so on: they express what lies at the very core of their spirit, those wonderful and powerful qualities, and add to the lives of many others in the process.

(Excerpt from the book 82 Reasons to be a Leader)

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[1] Zica Assis, owner of Beleza Natural. http://www.forbes.com/sites/geristengel/2014/11/05/women-entrepreneurs-who-cure-marketplace-pain-points-scale-big/#74fee2fb5ebe

[2] Narayanan Krishnan, a award-winning chef with a five-star hotel group. http://edition.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/04/01/cnnheroes.krishnan.hunger/

Leaders bring certainty and, along with it, comfort - Reason 16

We can see how much people feel lost as things change faster than they expect.  For example an article on climate change published on Scientific American has shown that change is much faster than was first projected.  In this article, scientists say we know the direction, but not the rate.[1]

Same is happening with all other types of change: politics, social structure, economic, ideas, dreams and much more.  We know more or less the direction, we know change is taking us into a general direction, but by not knowing its pace, it is possible we reach there with no preparation.

Leaders will allow their vision to guide them and will help give guidance to others too – it is a certainty among the increasing uncertainty that is welcome.  As a leader you can comfort others and encourage them to keep moving on, because you understand change and you are aware of its benefits and how to be ready for them.

In this way, as a leader you are beyond the usual social exchange of just sharing pieces of gossip or discussing match results.  It becomes a chance to support in a holistic way those people who find themselves as victims of fast change.

(Excerpt from the book 82 Reasons to be a Leader)

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[1] Scientific American, November 2012 - https://www2.bc.edu/jeremy-shakun/scientificamerican1112-50.pdf

Your specialties inspire - Reason 15

All of us are special and we have qualities that are unique in our context.  Those specialties impact our family and friends, our jobs and the contribution we give to the community.  Specialties define us in relation to how others see us and also how we feel about life, and can therefore become valuable components for self-esteem.

A normal person can experience qualities that help harmonise relationships, increase self-esteem and attain some success, but a leader is one whose specialties will motivate others.

Many years ago, I had the chance to be with Dadi Prakashmani, the then Administrative Head of the Brahma Kumaris[1].  We were in a car, without translator; Dadi spoke very little English and I spoke very little Hindi.  This would be a problem for many people trying to communicate, but not for us …

Going beyond words and cultures, she gave me the best leadership seminar and the greatest inspirations ever, all in about an hour.  This is because it came from her own life, and from those specialties that flowed and influenced her words as the powerful leader she was.  In fact, I don’t remember what she said as much as how she said.

By being a leader, a person does not need to talk too much.  Actions and behaviour will do all the speaking, since the leader’s specialties will resonate with the others’ hearts.

(Excerpt from the book 82 Reasons to be a Leader)

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[1] Dadi Prakashmani (c.1920 – 2007) was an Indian woman of Sindhi origin who administered the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University from 1969 until the time to her death 38 years later.  The number of students increased from about 3,000 to almost a million during that period.