Leading System-Wide Change - What Makes a Leader

"People do not decide to become extraordinary. They decide to accomplish extraordinary things." ~ Sir Edmund Hillary

How exactly does one become a leader of industry? What is it that separates the few from the many? Some would argue it takes an unparalleled desire to succeed, a tireless work ethic, or the ability to transform dreams into reality. Our world is filled with over 6 billion people, yet there are very few success stories in comparison. So, what does it take to be a leader and effect change?

When I think of leaders who have changed the world I think of Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Mahatna Ghandi, Winston Churchill, and Nelson Mandela. People who over came incredible odds to accomplish extraordinary things. Thomas Edison patented over 1,000 ideas, products, and concepts including the light bulb. To me that is incredible because I couldn't imagine a world lit by candles and oil lamps. I wouldn't be writing this blog on my Mac using Google Blogger without the visions of ordinary men who created extraordinary things. Leaders become who they are by doing things other people haven't done, aren't willing to do, or haven't thought of yet... and they do it better than anybody else.

By definition, being a leader means you have to lead people in a direction. You have to have influence over others to want to follow you. You have to lead by example. Jim Rhone, one of my favorite authors and motivational gurus, said "if you want to be successful help others around you to become successful". Ideas and visions are only ideas and visions until they become action, and that takes people working together towards a common goal.

Obstacles are opportunities for a leader. I can't think of too many people who became leaders of industry without fighting an uphill battle. The illusion is that these people made it look easy. Where the masses may only see the results they seldom see the rocky, uphill battle to achieve the level of success they are in awe of. When Bill Gates dropped out of college, turned down a job with IBM, and began writing software and building computers in his garage his family thought he was crazy, but this is what it sometimes takes to effect change. No one could do what Bill Gates did... until he showed the world what he could do. His efforts effectively changed the world.

Not all leaders create change, and change is never easy. It is human nature to find the easy way. No one searches out the most difficult path, but when trying times are upon us it takes people with vision, guts, and determination to push through and use change to make things better. This is also a characteristic of leadership. When Nazi Germany was beating the British in WWII Churchill didn't throw up his hands and say "well, we gave it our best lads". No, he said "Once more into the breaches dear friends!" and lead a country against a powerful force to changed the course of war. He gave hope through action, and lead the minds and hearts of the English to rally up and fight through the toughest of odds. Ordinary people doing extraordinary things... this is what makes a leader.

I am a leader... not in the sense of Bill Gates, Churchill, or Ghandi, but I have a responsibility to my family, colleagues, and God to be a leader. My eyes are open to the struggles of raising a family and providing for them, finding solutions to problems at work, and walking in the path laid before me by God. None of these are easy, and it takes hard work, discipline, and a focus on what I believe is the right thing to do. For me, failure is not an option, which doesn't mean I won't fail, but I will get up more times than I get knocked down. I will continue to learn and grow as a person and do what I can to make those around me better. One person can't change the world, but if you can establish a good example for others to follow great things can happen. This is what it means to be a leader.

JP