Core Values

Core values basically define who you are as a person. Your values are reflected through your words and actions. As Mahatma Ghandi puts it, "action expresses priorities." Good leaders apply their core values to all aspects of their life. Doing this gives leaders courage to be a leader during difficult decision-making opportunities. It helps during decision-making because you already have set principles that you know are right. So, it gives you direction and you already have your answer, you just have to choose it. As Mr. Fritz says, "Be a leader for the time, not of the time." This is accomplished when you keep your core values in the center of your life. These "big rocks" provide you an anchor, a companion, and a North Star. Those three things aid you in making the right decisions that coincide with your beliefs. So, choose to excercise self-control and decisiveness in order to stay true to your values.

Be Curious and Explore

One way to improve yourself is to look into your surroundings. There are plenty of opportunities to gain more valuable knowledge. Take for instance, your grandparents. They are an important part of your family and have influenced the way you were brought up by your parents. Even if you don't see your grandparents often, you can always call or make special efforts to interact with them.

You may be thinking, "What valuable information can I get from my grandparents who don't understand the modern way of life now?" Well, think about their insights on life and how it should be lived. Did they have any hardships in their life that you could learn from? Do they have any advice on how to improve social relationships?

Chances are, they've got some sort of sage wisdom to share. So, take advantage of your surroundings that are all around you and explore what you can gain by expressing your curiousity.

Difficulties We Face In Leadership

There are many varying things leaders have trouble developing. I struggle with being the same person no matter who I'm with. When I'm with my friends, or people I'm comfortable with, I tend to be myself. But when I'm surrounded by people I don't know very well or don't feel comfortable with, I usually retreat back and stay reserved. I do this because it's hard for me to know that I'm being judged. I think to myself that if people say negative things or even act negatively towards me, it's okay because they don't know me. But it's something different when they critcize who I actually am. So, this is probably the biggest area in my life that needs major improvement. I also tend to agree with everybody on pretty much everything because I don't want to offend them. So, I also need to work on standing up for what I believe.

What are some areas that may need improvement in your life?

A Positive Attitude Determines How You Experience Life

"Our attitude toward life determines life's attitude towards us." ~Earl Nightingale

Having a positive attitude creates an atmosphere of cheerfulness. As Mr. Fritz says, "It [tough times] will either make you bitter or make you better." Living your life with a joyous attitude will make all the difference on how you view your life. When I'm having a bad day, I try to remind myself that somewhere, someone will be having a worse one. Also, because attitudes are contagious, it is important to realize that how I feel and act impacts how others feel and act. So, having a postive attitude really helps me as well as others get things done effectively and efficiently.

I thought the following quote by Martin Luther King, Jr. really hits the nail on the head. It's so true and it caused me to think about larger things in life.

"I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant." ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Because truth and love are at the core of life and leadership, they make up the solid foundation of your life. If you are truthful and show sincere care for others, ultimately, you have the leg up. Others will follow your lead because they know they can count on you. They will also be more willing to sacrifice their time, energy, and other resources in order to accomplish a vision. Others are more likely to have an active role in striving to attain goals when they know that you genuinely care about them.

When you make a mistake, others know that they can still trust you if you have repeatedly been trustworthy in the past. It will cause some doubt in their minds, but that is better than permanent questioning. If you do not live with truth and love, you will suffer negative consequences. That is the evil triumphant. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s quote really puts this into perspective for me.