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Most Leaders Never Become Great

Man Will Never Fly
Man Will Never Fly

Misery loves company.

Them and they are four letter words.

Can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen.

Leaders, many of them anyway, fail because they have such a hard time being criticized, even if it’s constructive.

I posted an April Fools bit for jeffnoel.com, but took it down minutes later, after a close friend said it wasn’t funny.

I thought it was, and still do.  But took it down anyway.

Okay, so I’m worried about what others may think with a single April Fool’s blog post?  Now imagine what President Obama must have to deal with.

Just the other morning, this was in our local Orlando Sentinel.  It’s about the insane press one Central Florida Urologist is getting, because he said Obama is bad.

Great leaders must be so passionate about their purpose, that they are willing to take the negative criticism. Otherwise, they will never make it.

Great leaders know that the sky is the limit and small minds will always say otherwise.

Leading By Example Is Overrated

Food for Families 2009
Food for Families 2009

Wait.  That’s not right.  There are many things overrated. Leading by example is NOT one of them.

The story of Easter is an amazing one, whether you are a Christian or not.  There is no history book anywhere that disputes Jesus was executed.

As humans, we have daily opportunities to lead by example. Knowing how significant this is, my wife and I began volunteering at Food For Families in 1999.

It was a tradition we wanted to establish before we started a Family of our own.

Every Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas morning, since 1999, we have been waking up early and serving others, before we celebrate these traditionally festive American holidays.

Today is no different.

Our son didn’t start getting out of our car until he was three.  Didn’t start carrying boxes until he was six.

Now, at nine, he carries boxes and interacts with the needy Families we encounter on these special mornings.

The most important part about leading by example?

Value-driven behaviors (not intentions).

Done consistently.