A Thanksgiving thought...

During one of my many birthday celebrations, I had the opportunity to experience something I had never before encountered, it literally took my breath away! It was a warmer than usual spring day when the Deputy Director asked me to join my colleagues in the conference room to recognize “one of our own” for a significant accomplishment. He told me my calendar was clear and that I only needed to “show face,” meaning I had no performance responsibilities. The fact that it was my birthday was far from my mind, as had always been the case, so I followed him to the conference room.

When I walked in, the shout “SURPRISE,” reverberated in the room. In walked a team member with an exceptionally large sheet cake, large enough to hold the plethora of candles affixed to its top, and started the song, “Happy Birthday to you.” When the song finished, one of my competitive team members shouted, I’ll bet you can’t blow that many candles out in one breathe, and in a hasty competitive way, I said, “just you watch!”

Please note, it is not wise to give quick responses. So, with a peak force of the max wind velocity humanly possible, I released my human hurricane over the candles, only to find they kept reigniting! I’d hit them again with a swift gust, only to find myself hyperventilating because those candles would not be denied their flame. Come to find out, it was all about the core, the magnesium core, who knew? Certainly, not me. For me, it was a joyless, dizzying, breathtaking experience, and what’s worse, I lost the challenge though I did enjoy the team celebration and genuinely thanked them all.

Speaking of thanksgiving, I want to let each of you know how very thankful I am for you. It is positively breathtaking and strengthens my heart to know there are others, like yourselves, who care deeply about authentic leadership, and are committing to learning and employing those core elements that inform quality leadership practices.

I am thankful that authentic leaders remember their calling to lead sacrificially, not selfishly. They see each day as an opportunity to be at their best, so they can give their best to, and bring out the best in, those they lead. I am so thankful that these leaders resolve to use their positions of power wisely to enable the highest level of potential possible; personally, professionally, and practically. I am most thankful these “real deal” leaders always “seek excellence while embracing humanity and striving daily to bring the two together through their leadership practices.”

Like the candles mentioned above, whose core kept their flames alive by rendering any dowsing challenger incapacitated, the core elements of authentic leaders do the same while also purifying, tempering, and providing these leaders with the capability and capacity to lead quite well. For you reading these words, thank you from the depths of my heart for choosing to grow and develop your personal leadership practices. You are the best, and from my family to yours…Happy Thanksgiving!