3 Reminders for Work and Character Development

As a talent and learning professional and a coach, I spend a lot of time thinking, planning and executing "Leadership Development" at work. Over the years, working in this profession, I have always reflected that leadership development of an average adult typically begins at first-time manager level or mid-management level - isn't it too late?

Most of who we are, what we do and how well we do in deeply imbibed in our habits, values and strengths by the time we become adults. By the time we initiate the leadership development journey we are working with fully-formed personalities and at times it is a difficult task at hand.

"Character is Destiny" - Heraclitus

Thus, I have always wondered if we should rather focus on "Character Development" and that too by starting early. There are many things we can do for Character development starting early - help them identify their values, identify their interests and passion areas, identify their strengths and build on them, support them in becoming a well-rounded person.

There is a lot to be done here yet one way I have always kept myself reminded of some universal principles which help with my character development and also work is by reading books.

"We become the books we read" - Matthew Kelly

Books are a great source of inspiration of what are want to be and what we can be. I have always gone back to some of my favorite books as reminders to myself on some universal values and character development.

I have many favorite books, yet in this post I am going to refer to 3 specific reminders on work ethic and character development.

It is interesting that I start with this reminder. It is important for all of us to remember that we are "work in progress" and are moving towards our state of perfection. It is a long journey and what matters is that we keep moving forward. To reinforce this universal message - here is an excerpt from the book "The Carpenter" by Jon Gordon.

"You show up every day. You do the work. You see yourself as an artist dedicated to your craft with a desire to get better every day. You put your heart and soul into your work as you strive for excellence. You desire to create perfection, knowing you’ll never truly achieve it but hoping to get close to it. You try new things. You fail. You improve. You grow. You face countless challenges and tons of rejection that make you doubt yourself and cause you to want to quit. But you don’t. You keep working hard, stay positive, and persevere through it all with resilience, determination, and a lot of hope and faith. Then you make it! And the world says, ‘Where have you been?’ And you say, ‘I’ve been here all along, and hopefully getting better day by day.’ To the world, you are an overnight success. To you, the journey continues."

This excerpt from Jon Gordon's book says it all so eloquently and succinctly about each one of us being unfinished works of art and how we need to persevere.

The second reminder is about having the work and life ethic of doing the thing - how ever tough, difficult or challenging it might be. We need more doers than thinkers and thought leaders. We need more of us to take accountability, ownership of the actions at hand - once we own something, the action follows.

This theme is very well reflected in the essay of "A Message to Garcia" by Elbert Hubbard. Although a short 3 page essay this has been published millions of times in multiple languages too because of the universal theme embedded in it. The story goes that when war broke out between Spain and US, there was need to communicate quickly with General Garcia who was in wilderness. They found a fellow called Rowan who can deliver the message to Garcia. He took the letter, sealed it up in an oil-skin pouch, strapped it over his heart, in four days landed by night off the coast of Cuba from an open boat, disappeared into the jungle, and in three weeks came out on the other side of the island, having traversed a hostile country on foot, and having delivered his letter to Garcia.

Here is an excerpt from that essay which reminds us that we have to "do the thing" however impossible it might be.

"By the Eternal! There is a man whose form should be cast in deathless bronze and the statue placed in every college in the land. It is not book-learning young men need, nor instruction about this or that, but a stiffening of the vertebrae which will cause them to be loyal to a trust, to act promptly, concentrate their energies; do the thing - “carry a message to Garcia!”

?The third reminder is from my all-time favorite author Kahlil Gibran. We all know about the gems of wisdom from the book “The Prophet”. Here is an outstanding excerpt from the same book which talks about work and how we need pour our heart and soul into our work. In which case, our love for humanity gets visible in our work.

We become the work and the work becomes us.

" And what is it to work with love? It is the weave the cloth with the threads drawn from your heart, even as if you beloved were to wear the cloth. It is to build a house with affection, even as if your beloved were to dwell in that house. It is to sow the seeds with tenderness and reap the harvest with joy, even as your beloved were to eat the fruit. It is to charge all things that you fashion with breath of your own spirit. Work is love made visible".

I hope these 3 reminders of work and character development inspire each one of you on your personal and professional journey. Always remember that:

• We are all unfinished works of art
• Do the thing, right away, and
• Work is love made visible

I would like to hear your thoughts and comments about the same it would be great if you can share your favorite books and quotes which helped in your own personal journey.