Summit Life Today

“Leadership is more like a baton than a trophy. You keep a trophy, but you hand off a baton.” ~ Bruce Miller

It happened during the 2012 Summer Olympics and it will probably happen in the next one as well. In the 4×100 relay, it’s not only about how well you run your portion of the race, it’s also about successfully handing off the baton to the next runner. If you drop the baton during the handoff, it doesn’t matter how well you ran your race. It’s very simple, if you drop the baton, you are disqualified.

“One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar.” ~ Helen Keller

Have you ever felt like quitting? There are days in your life and leadership that you will come to the point where you feel like you’ve given all you can give. There is nothing left. It’s on those days that you experience the full weight of leadership, and it can feel overwhelming. Leaders are ultimately responsible in every circumstance and outcome…even when it’s not your fault. The captain goes down with the ship. As a leader, it’s always too soon to quit. You have to find the strength to take one more step or hang in there one more day…but where can you find the strength to keep going?

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” ~ Martin Luther King Jr.

Leadership is influence. This is a very simple yet profound principle of leadership. If you can’t influence people, you can’t lead them anywhere. The basis of your ability to lead is all about your ability to influence others. No matter who you are, you most likely have a group of people you influence. Some leaders have a small realm of influence while others may be in a position to influence thousands. The question is: What kind of influencer are you going to be?