LEADERSHIP
The Journey to Successful Leadership
Î Leadership is not something you can learn 100 per cent from a book or mentor. A lot will be learned from your own personal experiences—life lessons resulting in success or sometimes failure. Failure teaches you what NOT to do again. A lifetime of crazy experiences has served me well in my business career since the day many, many years ago when Mom and I came to Canada after the Second World War had destroyed much of our home in Rotterdam. We arrived by boat with barely anything—I had only the jeans, shoes, and Tshirt I was wearing and a couple of extra Ts. Looking back some 70 years later, I am thankful for all I have been able to achieve. Scrivener: What 5 words do you think of when you hear the word Leadership? 1. Determination: Even when the going gets tough, stay the course and never give up. If you fail, think of it as a temporary setback and pick yourself up and go again. Never, never give up! When the going gets tough, the tough get going! Being Second is Last! 2. Loneliness: When a major problem arises and you have a setback toward your goal—and there could be many, you have to rely on your own judgment. If you’re fortunate, you will be able to share problems with your spouse or a very close friend. In many cases, the person with whom you’re sharing your troubles is so happy to find someone with more problems than he or she has.
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3. Sacrifice: Being a leader and setting goals can be a 24/7 job—personal time with family and friends is sacrificed. 4. Influence: The actions of a leader can be beneficial or detrimental. 5. Motivation: Look motivated, act motivated, and you’ll be motivated! See the potential in people and help them achieve it. Pass your energy to them and discover what motivates them. Scrivener: What leadership books do you recommend? y The Art of War by Sun Tzu, written in China more than 2,000 years ago and translated for modern times, teaches valuable, strategic principles for business leaders. It was touted in the movie, Wall Street. y The Articulate Executive, Learn to Look, Act, and Sound like a Leader by Granville N. Toogood: Expert tools and advice for being a more capable and successful leader. There are many more excellent books about proven leadership methods. Scrivener: When you think of other leaders you’ve met over your career, what qualities do you admire most? Positive Attitude: A leader who is always positive stays on course toward the goal. Don’t have the word “can’t” in your vocabulary.