Want to be a Star or Would Want To Leave A Legacy.

If I told you that you were an actor, you may or may not believe me. If I told you I am one, again, you may not believe me.

Actually though philosophically, we are all actors trying to tell others our story and in the act creating stories in history, in a way to state the purpose of our being created to be on the planet.  We are all in a performance in the theatre playing the drama called “life,”  (Remember the Shakespearean sonnet “All The Worlds a Stage”), it’s just like that. You might follow this link for the sonnet - https://allpoetry.com/All-The-World's-A-Stage

Now getting back to where I started.

We all have a story within us, that’ll help us perform the role we have been designed to, by the creator.

We are the actors, writers, and directors of our  life story, both professional and personal. Like all stories, it has a beginning, and an end… though in our case, we surely know it will end someday, just that we don’t know when, where, and how. All that we have is just moments in our hands to act. We have to be  in the moment always, initiating ideas, seeing the big picture we want, allowing for ideas to flow freely and creativity to flourish. We need to have we all have some defining moments in life. How we anticipate them, how we understand them, how we decipher them and convert them makes the difference from being “ordinary,” to become “extra-ordinary,” or “special.”   

Understanding and communicating our story can be quite powerful. It provides clarity around what we stand for as a human being. It keeps alive the people, values, and life lessons that we hold dear. It gives us the power of influence and authenticity by allowing us to match your words and our actions. It allows us build trust which helps us build relationships. Trust leads to credibility. By helping ourselves understand what has shaped our life, our story can make the strong emotional connection that is necessary to inspire and motivate others. It can also be a utility tool for self to learn lessons, gain knowledge and apply them in life. It helps us share our learning, our experiences, and our knowledge with others as well by our dialogues, punch lines, humor. Interesting engaging dialogues, narrations, discussions, and delivery  provides us and others with insights into what we hold important in our lives.

Whatever the role, whatever the situation, whatever the time, wherever it may be, we should have “integrity,” embedded in our character and we must walk the talk to sound credible and for people to accept us the way we are. We ought to be honest and sincere in playing the role which we have chosen. We need to behave the character we wish to play. We need to accommodate situations and events unforeseen and play the role that is demanded at that moment, at that time. There’s no one act for any scene. We need to be consistent with our act, no over acting no under-performance. Emotions enacted cleanly the way it is to be. Not to cheer when we have to feel sorry, and not the glum when it’s time to celebrate. We need to be grateful to the others for performing their roles so that it helps us  play our roles as conceived. We need to appreciate and compliment others so that they reciprocate the same when they play their roles with others. Every act has a bearing on the next scene.

Playing the role that we do, over a period of time we get engaged in “Lead Roles,” a plum character in any movies as a lot of it rides on their shoulders.  We need to understand people’s expectations of us, we need to give direction to our co-stars to enable them perform their roles too. When all of us bring our act together, our life and the lives of those around us becomes a “box-office hit.”

Want to be a Star or would want to leave a Legacy.

Each and everyone on this planet, is running their own race not knowing what the intended finish line is. They set their own pace, not again knowing how far, how much further. They have their stops, they change their paths. They thing the new is better than what they gave up. They soon realize the old was better than the new, they change track again. The finish lines are different, though the one who set us on this race has fixed the finish line the day we were set in motion in the race of life. Whatever you do, believe that you take autographs from people, and some grow to give autographs. Others may not give autographs, but, have their signatures on people's hearts. It's your choice, your decision, your move.

Autographs may be forgotten when you are away from the limelight, but, people who have your signature in their heart will carry your legacy down the generations.

It’ll be apt for me to leave this at this for now, with this as a “take-away.”

The 19.5 Principles of Leadership

Excerpts from a book called “Little Book of Leadership” by Jeffrey Gitomer

1. Your philosophy of life and leadership determines the process by which you lead. Your philosophy is something you’d want people to talk about at your funeral. Its’ what you hope will live on within others that you have inspired. What is your leadership philosophy? What is your life philosophy? Do you understand that your philosophy triggers attitude and guides your actions and your legacy?

2. Your positive attitude affects everyone around you. Your attitude determines much more than your expressions; your attitude determines your mood, your effectiveness, your thinking, your communications, your actions, and your fate. How positive is your attitude?

3. Your experience and past history of success provides comfort and assurance as you make decisions to move forward. Experience makes decision making faster and less complex, and gives you assurance. Are you using your past successful outcomes to ensure present and future successful outcomes?

4. When you lead by example, there is nothing your people will not do for you and with you. Don’t tell me what to do, show me how it’s done. Then delegate. What kind of example do you set on a daily basis?

5. Your “likability” can affect the quality and effectiveness of your leadership. Be or become likable. If the people on your team like you, and they believe you, and they have confidence in you, and they trust you – then they will follow you. It STARTS with likability. How likable are you?

6. Clear communications leads to understanding and action. Employees listen very closely to their leaders. But many leaders are not concise in their messaging, and not compelling in their presentation skills. Leaders have a responsibility to their people to deliver actionable messages. Understanding leads to task and project completion. How certain are you that your communications are compelling and clear?

7. Responsibility is not given; it’s taken. You are responsible for yourself and accountable to and for others. IMPORTANT: the opposite of responsibility is blame. Take responsibility for your actions, your delegations, and especially your words. How do you take responsibility?

8. Collaboration will earn respect, results, and reputation. Working WITH your people will create an atmosphere conducive to positive accomplishment. It will also expand thinking and enhance ideas. Is collaboration a daily part of your leadership responsibility?

9. Do what you say. Fulfill what you promise. Promises are empty words without action. It’s important to keep in mind that you are measured by your words AND your deeds. Your people are measuring you by follow through and by accomplishment. How do you measure up?

10. Take more than a minute to praise, coach, inform and train. There is no such thing as a one minute manager. How you lead should not be measured in time. Rather, it should be open-ended, quality time. Invest time in your people and their skills; the reward will be years of success and fulfillment. Is your time spent or invested?

11. Know the high ground of winning, and the stomping ground of defeat. Leading is not just about winning and losing, it’s about the experience gained to move forward. Celebrate the win, strengthen resolve from the loss – learn from both and move on. Are you a winner or a whiner?

12. Resilience is your internal force to react, respond, and recover from events and people. It is the least recognized and least understood facet of the complete leader. Also, arguably the most important element for long-term success. Do you understand what makes you resilient?

13. The courage to risk, be right and be wrong. Risk tolerance is higher in leaders because they know risk is part of wining. You’ve heard the expression, “No risk, no reward.” My statement is, “No risk, no nothing!” People and teams that “play it safe” when they have the lead, usually lose to those who are willing to take risks. What is your risk tolerance?

14. Separate task from person. Then assign them and combine them to achieve a positive outcome. A leader is more than a “people person.” He or she must also be task-oriented person. The successful completion of a task is based on the readiness and willingness of the person. The measurement of task success is as important as measurement of human success. Do you understand the situation? And do you recognize it as situational?

15. Reward individual and group achievement. Celebrate their victory. Praise their actions, and help them develop a deep sense of pride. CAUTION: Bask in present victory for a moment, but don’t dwell on it, or live in it. How would your people rate your ability to praise and reward them?

16. You must earn, not command, both trust and respect. “Earn” is THE key word to unlock leadership success. And respect and trust are the top of a long list of characteristics vital to every leader’s core values. You don’t just build a reputation; you earn one same with loyalty and friendship. It’s equally important to know that these attributes are not earned in a day – they’re earned, by your words, actions, and deeds, day by day. Do you earn it or expect it?

17. Encourage THEIR success to earn and achieve yours. If there is a “lost secret” of leadership it is the word: encouragement. Beyond giving orders, assigning tasks, setting deadlines, and any other aspect of achievement, one “attaboy” or “way to go” or “You can do it!” delivered with genuine emotion, will go a longer way than any command. How much encouragement do you deliver to your people on a daily basis?

18. Your ability to influence people will manifest itself in successful outcomes. Influence comes from a base of respected authority and your ability to transfer a message, concept, idea, strategy, or task in a compelling and believable manner. Are you measuring influence against outcome?

19. Your reputation precedes you, and defines you. Reputation affects your ability to lead as much as any other arrow in your quiver. Build yours by always “doing the right thing” and adhering to an ethical standard beyond reproach. How would your people rate your ethics?

19.5. Legacy is built with single achievements piled high on one another. It’s an end result of a lifetime of success. Build yours and the outcome will be lifetime lessons for those that follow you, and an eternal blessing to the ones your love. Are you aware that you will leave a legacy? What daily actions are you taking toward that legacy?