2 minute read
Significant Traits of Inspiring Business Leaders
Years ago, there was a study done after the housing collapse and the economic downturn. While the study was initially done to see the progress of where we had come as a society, it showed something very interesting. The people who made $50k a year were back to making $50k a year and the people making $500K a year were back to making $500k a year. While this in and of itself isn’t shocking news, it may indicate something deeper.
If you do the same things, you’ve always done, you will have the same things you have always had. I heard that years ago, and this study seemed to prove it. The only way to improve your lot in life is to improve you. When people become motivated and move toward improvement, they usually follow a leader. That leader is usually a success in whatever field or endeavor that individual is aspiring to. Hence, the traits of business leaders will inspire those seeking to improve themselves and their entire portfolio of life.
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What traits inspire? The first response is usually a success. While this is probably true, the definition of success can only be interpreted by the one seeking to improve or be inspired to improve. The list, while endless, will usually include passion, optimism, persistence, creativity, and self-discipline.
Defining this group of traits is really not a debate as much as a personal attachment to each one. Passion, as defined by The Oxford Dictionary is “strong and barely controllable emotion.” Ask yourself, when you wake up, do feel this way about what it is you have planned for the day? If not, why, and if so, how far are you willing to push your envelope?
Optimism is really a mindset that seems to sway with the winds of change. The Oxford Dictionary gives the following meaning to optimism; “hopefulness and confidence about the future or the success of something.” Optimism isn’t based in the here and now, but actually where we put our mind’s eye to see where we can be.
Persistence is the opposite. It truly is the “here and now.” The Oxford Dictionary defines it as “continuing in an opinion or course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition.” Did you catch that? “In spite of opposition”. There are no words that best describe persistence except the bulldog.
Creativity is an internal range that has no limits to the individual. The Oxford Dictionary defines it as “The use of imagination or original ideas to create something; inventiveness.” Your imagination can take you to places you’ve never been and help you do things you’ve never done. This very trait made some of the most obscure moments in someone’s life become a true reality. Dreams can’t come true unless you actually dream the.
Lastly, self-discipline is the most difficult of the traits to corral. The old adage is that repetition is the mother of skill. The reason being is it takes your commitment to making whatever the goal a true reality. Depending on others to accomplish your goals is dangerous and quite frankly, impossible. Only you know the extent of your abilities. Only you know the extent of your capabilities, and only you can control either.
So, employ passion, optimism, persistence, creativity, and self-discipline into whatever your endeavors may be and see if the seed you’ve planted doesn’t grow from the acorn into the proverbial oak!
