[March 7, 2020] As I sit in my comfortable armchair watching cable news, I watch many politicians pointing fingers to who they believe is responsible for the spread of the Coronavirus. At first, they blamed China and their leaders, then it was U.S. President Trump, and now they are accusing local health officials of allowing more outbreaks. “Confusion” is the word of the day and why I am laying out 15 leadership truths for us to contemplate.
I’m reminded of Henry Ford’s famous quote, “Don’t find fault, find a remedy.” If you see a problem, fix it, and if you can’t fix it, find a solution. Simple in concept but not so easy to do. The reason, I think, of it being difficult is to see the problem clearly and then find a path through the minefield of competing ideas.
Leaders must be ready. In the Boy Scouts, we call it being prepared. Here are 15 things that leaders can do to make themselves ready for seeing the problem and getting to the solutions:
- Remember, you are nowhere near where you could be.
- Be happy for people who share their good news with you.
- Treat yourself like you matter.
- Treat others like they matter.
- Take action, even when doing nothing seems to be the better choice.
- Look for and act in a positive manner that makes things better (make your bed).
- The meaning of life is found in adopting responsibility.
- Figure out what you want in life and aim for it.
- Make a schedule, not one that is tyrannical, but follow it.
- Think about what you would like to be in 3 to 5 years from now.
- Reorient your life in every way to make the probability that would occur.
- Identify those things in your life that could screw you up.
- Have a vision; for family, friends, career, education, time outside work, etc.
- Expose yourself regularly to things to which you are afraid.
- Setup goals you value.
Leaders are most often unprepared even for the smallest of problematic events. Getting caught unawares is a clear demonstration of a leader’s serious fault. This is why an articulated vision is so important.
While we all relax a little on this Saturday morning, remember that others are stepping out ahead of everyone else to get an edge on the competition. If you want to be one of them, a “go-getter,” then sitting here won’t cut it. Go out into the world.
Nice list and informative.
Thank you Gen. Satterfield for another wonderful article. This is the type that I usually cut out and post on my refrig so I can see it every time I go to get a drink of water.
Yesterday on Daily Favorites, Gen. Satterfield linked to an article I thought was especially good. “A Letter to My Children Regarding Bernie Sanders” which tells his kids what he thinks of US Pres candidate Bernie Sanders. It’s worth a read and dovetails well with today’s article.
https://claremontreviewofbooks.com/digital/a-letter-to-my-children-regarding-bernie-sanders/
Apache2 you are right. A socialist is a socialist who wants to impose state control on top of you and there is no shading the truth that it kills competition and the will to work, think, and grow.
Have a vision of the future. If you cannot do so, then ask someone you trust to help you. But whatever you do, do not fail to have a vision. Oh, no problem if the vision changes, that is what happens with those that begin to mature. Their view of their own future will morph some what.
… and treat yourself and others like you actually matter.
“Go out into the world.” Couldn’t have said it better.
“1. Remember, you are nowhere near where you could be.” No this makes a lot of sense. As individuals we often cannot see the potential in ourselves and it takes others to give us a little push in the right direction. Our potential is great, it’s just that our desires are so low. Now, some of us can go to the moon (perhaps figuratively) with our potential and it is more than others, but I firmly believe we all under-perform to what we could really do.
So true, Max and thanks for getting in your comment quickly this morning. Have a great weekend all.
Hi Max, great comment. My favorite one too. That is what I tell my kids and all the folks who work where I once worked (now retired). Keep up the great works here folks.
The old Henry Ford quote is the start of something more important than one might think. I suggest we all google Henry Ford and read some more of his quotes — they are great to start the day. ?
I see many of these in the past articles you’ve written before. Nice consolidation of them.
Here is my favorite “The meaning of life is found in adopting responsibility.” Without responsibility, you will never be satisfied with your life.
Yes and quiet a list it is.
We can add more. Let’s ask Gen. Satterfield if he will continue this type of blog post.
Very good list. THX !!