The Light of the World

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Leadership is on everyone's mind today.  Prayers for inspired leadership ring out in cities and villages all over the world.  More than ever, nations need inspired politicians who win elections because of their vision and integrity. More than ever, business needs ethical leaders who teach us that the heart of business is service.
ROBERT HOLDEN

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No, our opening quote was not a statement about the current political stage.  It was written back in 2008 in the brilliant book, Success Intelligence.  His words were true then and they still ring true today.  This isn't about politics for me and I don't think it is for Dr. Holden, either.  It's about great leadership.

I'm on a mission to partner with like-minded leaders who want to make a positive difference in the world with great leadership.  In pursuit of that recently, I was speaking to a local group of small business owners and sales people.  I asked them, "What does increasing your business and profit mean more deeply for you?  What deeper and more meaningful purpose does that serve for you?"

Some answers were on the lighter side, like 'vacations' and 'more travel.'  Others had more depth.  Here are some of their answers:

• Allows me to take care of my family
• Freedom
• Financial freedom
• Freedom to spend time with my family
• Helping to take others from where they are to where they can be
• I am helping business owners grow their business
• More business means more lives positively impacted including my family's
• Providing a path for additional income for others
• Seeing the creations my team works on for months come to life
• I don't like ceilings
• Helping people with something personal
• Putting more families into homes so they can start building wealth

Each of those leaders have purpose and vision and lead and live with integrity.  However,  those visions and purposes have probably not been fully identified, clarified, and articulated, yet.  That chat exercise was a baby step.  I think that for most people, personal purpose, mission, or vision is just kind of down there somewhere; not fully identified, not fully clarified, and mostly unspoken.  The same could be said for the bedrock of integrity: Core values. 

The kind of deep, reflective self-examination needed to fully realize personal and leadership purpose, values, principles, and vision can be challenging.  So, many people choose not to.  However, to become a great leader, it's an imperative.  It is a defining characteristic of  a great leader.

Leadership without a clear purpose (or if you have one and you’re not using it effectively) will result in wandering or getting off course and becoming subject to shift here and there as different winds blow from wherever they will.  And those around you are looking for consistency.  They are looking to be inspired.  They are looking for someone who is focused and who can lead change effectively.  They want more than just a job.  They want to show up at a place where they connect to deeper meaning and purpose.  Without a clear purpose, leadership philosophy, and core values, you risk not being aligned with higher principles—something else people look for in a great leader.

There is passage from the Gospel of Matthew that has inspired me since I was a young child, "You are the light of the world."  While Matthew was writing to those that he was trying to inspire to spread the gospel, it can and has inspired in many other ways, too. 

It can also mean to fully shine and flourish authentically as a person with purpose and love; someone who inspires and uplifts; someone unafraid of accountability both for themselves and others; someone pursuing growth, change, and a vision.  Quite simply, it means being the best and truest you.

So, ask yourself.  As a leader, do you light up the room when you walk in—or when you walk out? 

What kind of leader do you truly want to be?

Be the light.  Be the light of the world.

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Have an amazing journey today!

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Alan Mikolaj is a seasoned coach and leadership development consultant with nearly 20 years of experience.  He is passionate about helping leaders transform their leadership, their teams, and their organizations.  He has an impactful, professional approach driven by a passion for meaning and purpose, a growth mindset, and a commitment to excellence and service in order to drive change and results.

Alan holds his Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology and Associate Certified Coach credential with the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and maintains their ethics and standards of behavior, including the standards regarding confidentiality.  You can learn more about them on the ICF website.

Transformational change starts with a conversation!
Schedule your free, one-hour session by clicking here: Discovery Conversation with Alan
Or call or email: Contact Page

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