The birth of a leader

Day 90

One day my daughter came home very upset. She said ma you know, I am the best player in my team but yet the team captain is this girl who isn't as good as me. I was always the best and everyone thought I would be the captain. It's so unfair. My smile said it all. There was a beautiful kingdom, which was ruled by a prince who took over the Kingdom after his father’s death.

After a few months of ruling, things started testing him. The drought caused losses for the farmers, killed many animals, birds, and precious plants in the forest. And it was followed by an unknown disease which killed many people. After a few months, things started slowly improving before they could recover completely, an enemy king took over the Kingdom killing many people and imprisoned some of them. The young king somehow managed to escape and planned to meet his childhood friend who was the king of a neighbouring kingdom. On his way he was thinking about how all these things could have happened to him. He was born and bred to be a king of the most powerful and richest Kingdom, but now he lost everything. He believed that he had bad luck because nothing has happened to his father or any other king he knew. When the Young king reached his friend’s palace, the guards did not allow him, because of his dirty looks and clothes and he tried many times and all failed. Then he took a job so that he can buy some clothes. After some days with new clothes, he was allowed to meet his friend.To his king friend, he explained all the things that happened to him. After hearing his story, his friend king ordered his people to give him a herd of 100 sheep. The young king was surprised as he was expecting much more than this. He doesn’t want to be a shepherd. But he has nothing else, so he took his friend’s offer. After a few days, while he was grazing his herd, a group of wolves attacked his herd and killed each one of them. While the wolves were attacking, the king ran away from that place. Then he again went to his friend king and asked for help. This time he gave 50 Sheep. But once again be failed to protect his herd from the wolves. The 3rd time, he was given just 25 sheep.This time young king decided that, if I don’t protect my herd from these wolves, he will not get any more help from his friend. So, he studied his place completely and understood the wolves’ attacking areas. Then he added additional fences and guards all around. He then continued to monitor the places and talked to all people and kept on learning the tricks of maintaining the herd. After a few years, his herd has grown into 1000 Sheep. With so much joy he meets his friend at the place and told what he achieved. After hearing him, the friend king ordered his ministers to give him a whole state to rule over. Hearing this, he asked his friend “Why you didn’t give me the state to rule when I first came to you for help? The friend king replied, “First time when you came to me for help, your mindset was like you were born and bred to be a leader, but the truth was you are far from it. You might have been born in wealth, pride, and power, but you have never been properly educated and trained to lead your people. So, when I gave you the herd, I was waiting for you to learn, how to manage and lead others. Dear friend, now I believe you are ready to lead others!” My daughter hugged me and began her journey to learn to be a leader.

Reflection by Dr Anjana https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/anjanavinod

Reflect in life have we ever taken things for granted just because we got them by default with no effort?. Remember being a manager in a higher position doesn’t make you a leader. Unfortunately some people think that they have to be born and bred to be leaders. But the reality is simply No, anyone can be a leader as long as they keep on learning the secrets of keeping their herd safe. Leadership is an ability to get extraordinary results from ordinary people. If we want our kids to be strong let's not give them money instead teach them the art of making money and they will never starve. So my daughter always had to do something to get what she wants e.g. to score well to get a Kindle. Your place in life is not hereditary. As leaders you need to create more leaders thats the true trait of leadership. THE FIRST RESPONSIBILITY OF A LEADER IS TO DEFINE REALITY THE LAST IS TO SAY THANK YOU IN BETWEEN THE LEADER IS ONLY A SERVANT. Let's go ahead in life & learn to be leaders and create leaders in every walk of life as every soul we touch. How do you read this story

1. Did you ever take things for granted?

2. What does this story open up for you?