Journey to Greatness

When I hear the term “Leader” as in, I’m a leader, she’s a leader, he’s a strong leader, the first thoughts that come to my mind are, what does it really take to be a leader? And what made this person a leader, a cut above the rest? In become a great leader one has to behold a certain level of confidence and a special amount of drive, integrity and ambition amongst other things. And while all of that is fine, in my mind I’m always trying to convince not only myself, but those around me that “we” are instead destined for greatness.

Unfortunately this is or can be a hard concept to grasp. Some will say, “Well what’s the difference, greatness vs. being a leader? However, I believe there is a big difference, but it starts with acceptance and then seeking to understand your “I AM”, knowing who you are and then truly defining your values to create your efficacy in the world. I believe it takes more than just a “can-do attitude”, but rather an insurmountable dose of self-love (which can be difficult to achieve, regardless of what you say), being in tune with your inner-self in order to master the world around you, and most of all it requires habitual focus on right thoughts and right actions. The difference between being a leader and achieving greatness is vast. I personally believe that anyone can become a leader, but to achieve greatness requires much more thought and effort. It requires you to seek a deeper understanding of self, conquer fears and live the life you were destined to live, your best life.

Now you’re probably asking, “Well just how do I do that?” because it’s not like you haven’t tried, right? Well here are some things to ponder first: Do you accept that you can do nearly anything you put your mind to? Are you willing to accept that your habitual thoughts in time turn into action? Can you agree that if you focus intently and work steadily towards an objective, the odds of you achieving it are very plausible? Lastly, are you willing to accept that building greatness requires more than just a good character, but rather a willingness to explore the depths of yourself and attune your heart and spirit? If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions then you are already on your path to greatness.

Greatness does not mean you have to be known and seen by all, look at the many individuals who have come before us to ensure that we have the quality of life that we currently hold dear today. I’m sure you may even have someone within your midst or someone you’ve encountered that you’ve considered a phenomenal individual, and when you think of that person do you think of a leader or do you think of greatness? Greatness requires discipline and self-mastery. Greatness requires an unveiling and humility. Greatness requires walking in love. The best leaders of our time were not solely identified as leaders, but rather classified as great, inspirational and/or powerful this is because they were more than just leaders, they were walking in their greatness; leadership was just a part of that greatness. And it’s true that we may recognize some of those individuals more than others; however, nonetheless greatness is the people who believed in a dream and carried it through no matter the cost, who realized they had to change before they could change anything, who realized the goal was bigger than themself, and those who truly understood the meaning of love (that’s a whole other blog) – this is greatness.

So what impact will you leave behind tomorrow? I literally feel that every person I come into contact with, and believe that the life experiences I have from those interactions, especially with those that earn the title of friend or close associate, all have the potential to make a vast contribution into my existence and with that I hope to give back and inspire someone else’s life, if only that one individual – this is me aspiring for greatness. Maya Angelou says, “People may not remember what you said, and they may not remember what you did, but they will remember how you made them feel.” She is also someone I admire and respect as a great “leader”, but also someone who has mastered the art of achieving her greatness, and she’s probably not done yet.

So think about your future, where you’re headed, who has inspired you to get there and who you will take with you along the way. Be blessed in your journey to greatness and shine brightly this year!

Peace.