Guest post by Ryan Underwood @teamtri_CEO
Politics and a presidential election is such an
interesting time for those in leadership development. It's one of the few times
so many of us stop and pay attention to just the idea of leadership, what it
is, what it isn't and the impact of it.
If this election season has you interested in leadership,
pause for a moment and read one of the greatest leadership reads around. It’s just
four pages. It’s co-authored by 55 of the most talented minds America has ever
known. It’s EPIC. It’s 4,543 of gripping awesomeness we call the Constitution.
I love that our Founding Father's made us stop every four
years and assess who is running our nation. It's good to stop and evaluate. You
can decide if you’re on the right path or need to make a course correction. I
wonder if that's why high school is four years or a bachelors degree takes four
years…so at the end of that time you can stop and assess? While you’re
assessing for the next few weeks who should lead our nation, stop and assess
how the president of YOU is doing and if you need to stay on track or change
directions.
I love that our Founding Fathers started the Constitution
with "We the People." Our
future has always been more about what "we" do rather than what
"they" do. We worry about who lives in the People's House when the
Founders knew that America's success was more about the leaders and people
living in your house.
I love that our Constitution outlines our principles as a
nation…justice, tranquility, defense, general welfare, secure the blessings of
liberty. Have you established your principles?
What do you stand for? Have you defined them or have you allowed others
to define them for you?
I love that our Constitution wasn't perfect. 55 talented minds wrote it, but only 39
actually agreed with the final product enough to sign it. And, even then we've amended it 27 times. You are not perfect. Leaders are not perfect. There’s
nothing wrong with expecting things to be perfect—it makes us strive harder to
be our best. But, in reality, the key is to fail forward; to fall ahead; to
strive for perfection and fall short with just awesome. Where do you stand? Do
you line up with the 16 negatrons that didn't get perfect and took their ball
and went home? Or do you line up with the 39 people who pushed ahead and said,
“it’s not perfect, but, it’s still pretty awesome” and changed the world? Will
you just sit there and complain about how your life is going, or will you stop,
realize you can amend you at any time, and lead a better life?
I love that our Constitution has three basic
qualifications to become President: be at least 35; be born in the U.S.; and,
while it’s not specifically noted, you have to decide to do it. Hundreds of
millions of people could be President:
- A “C” student (President Bush)
- A guy whose federal experience was serving 4 out of 6 years in the Senate (President Obama)
- A guy who was the Governor of a state half the size of San Bernardino County in CA (Candidate Romney)
Like this election, the world comes down to a few types
of people: decided, undecided, and those who will just sit it out. If you are
in the last two categories chances are your life is being led by those who have
decided and you complain a lot. But, it doesn't have to stay that way. You can
decide any day to lead your life…and…you don’t have to be 35 and where you were
born makes no difference either!
In the end, you are the President of YOU. Will you stop
and assess your leadership? Are you more concerned about what happens in
someone else’s house or your own? Do you have your principles? Do you realize
that you are not perfect, but are perfect enough? Will you decide?
If you've still got questions, take a moment and read
4,543 words…it’s just four pages. It built the greatest nation in the history
of the world. Perhaps there is an answer in there that can inspire you.
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