The Paradoxical Commandments

The Paradoxical Commandments are something that I believe all leaders should lead by, and everyone should live by. These were written by a fellow by the name of Dr. Kent M. Keith back in the 1960s for his book for students about leadership. These help illustrate that great leaders are there to serve the ones that they lead. Take some time to think these over, and possibly get inspired.

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.

Things to Think About

October 20, 2011

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What is an Inspired Leader?

Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.
John F. Kennedy

Welcome to The Inspired Leader blog, a place for leaders to come and be inspired. Now this blog isn’t specifically made for the managers, the bosses, or people in leadership positions. This blog is meant for anyone and everyone who wants to become inspired to lead. There is a difference between being a leader and holding a position. Sure those holding a position are leaders, but so are those who don’t. A leader is anyone who influences change. You influence change, whether you realize it or not, to someone, somewhere, you have made an impact. So now that we have established that you are a leader, let’s address the inspired part. Many people go out and take classes, read books, and read blogs (just like this one) on how to become or better lead. Let me set one thing straight. You cannot be taught leadership, you can only learn through practice. You become motivated to practice by being inspired to do so.

Leadership is not taught but instead is a constant practice of learning. Now what about those leadership books, those motivational speakers, those internet blogs? Non of these things can teach you to lead. Think of the great leaders of the world; Martin Luther King Jr., Gandhi, Mother Teresa. None of them were taught to be leaders. Sure books, speakers and blogs can give you tools to help you on your quest to greatness but they cannot turn you into a leader overnight. Now that does not mean that they are worthless! They are sources of inspiration. They only reason I am where I am today is because I was inspired by a motivational speaker. Now since leadership cannot be taught, just know that the road to being the leader that you know you can be is not an easy one, and most defiantly not a short one. This blog is not intended to teach you leadership, but instead to give you things to think about, to give you sources of inspiration. So what are we waiting for? To become the leader you want to be it’s time to get inspired.

Inspired Leaders

October 20, 2011

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