Leaders aren’t born, their made. Many leaders share the same core attributes. However, you don’t come into this world as a leader; many factors are involved in creating the leader. It takes years and in some cases decades. Good leaders continue to learn, adapt and have the foresight to spot opportunities as they arise. They aren’t much different than anyone else; except for the smallest amount of time it takes them to makes the decisions that mold the future. However, not everyone can be a leader, so……
Maybe you’re a doer. You don’t like the pressure or expectations that come with being a leader. You hate being in the limelight or the center of attention. You might work better being known as the person who gets things done and is dependable. Not the person whom the finger is pointed at and spoken about in hushed tones. We need doers in this world just as we need leaders, and although doers and leaders share a lot of the same attributes. The differences are vast.
Leaders push past limitations to the place that most don’t want to venture. That big dark place that is uncomfortable and scary. The one your mother told you about. Leaders may know words and phrases like “indecision”, “unsure”, “we can’t” and “it can’t be done.” They just don’t accept them. They take them in, let them wash over them and hand them off to the doer with a vision attached.
The doer does what they do and completes the project, or task to meet the goal. While dragging, prodding and prompting the followers kicking and screaming to the finish line. Followers can’t follow without a doer; doers can’t do without a leader, and leaders can’t lead without each of them.
Most people fall into this follower category. Followers are a dime a dozen. We need them in many aspects of business. However, the follower will never succeed past their own limitations. If you are a follower, be prepared to work hard. Stop complaining about the boss, or your low pay. You chose to be a follower. You can just as easily choose to be a doer by changing your mindset.
Which one are you? Which one do you want to be? Or, do you just want to be a couch potato that eats sausage all day? To each his own, but don’t complain that life isn’t fair. You control the outcome, not your boss, parents, siblings, friends or significant others. You chose your lot in life, if you want to make something special, do it. It won’t be easy and you won’t always feel secure while doing it. Just remember one of my favorite sayings when that insecurity taps into your conscience, and makes you feel unsure. “It’s wiser to simply smile, knowing that the magic is out there.”
Stay strong mentally, physically and emotionally in order to choose if you want to be a leader, doer, follower or just sit on the couch eating sausage all day. The choice is yours, it always has been.