| The night is dark; a deep, bone-chilling darkness | | | | pull over nice, law-abiding citizens?" |
| without a single star, no moonlight, no lights outside | | | | Then, through the fog of all of these excuses, the |
| the windows. It's June 21, 1988, somewhere around | | | | leader in you asks,"Were you speeding?" |
| 2:30 AM and you've been traveling since noon the | | | | "Well, uh...Yes." |
| day before. You've been on 'em all: planes, trains, | | | | Okay, then why blame the cop or the speedometer |
| automobiles-and now a bus-a BIG bus. The biggest | | | | when you were speeding? If we chose to accept |
| bus you've ever seen in your short 17 years of life. | | | | responsibility only when convenient, are we leaders? |
| This is the farthest you've ever been from home-the | | | | Deep thoughts-thoughts I actually had that early |
| farthest you've ever been alone. But you ain't scared; | | | | morning a couple weeks back; thoughts that were |
| you're a teenager! You know it all and you've got | | | | soon interrupted by the officer's presence at the car. |
| something to prove-to yourself and to the world. | | | | It was the leader in me who spoke was once the |
| The bus glides to a stop; the airbrakes "hisssssss"; | | | | window was down. |
| then silence; a silence so profound that you can | | | | "Officer, I admit I was going a little too fast back |
| actually feel it. The only sound you hear is the sound | | | | there." |
| of your heartbeat and the heartbeats of the other | | | | Was that really me saying those things?! Where was |
| souls on the bus with you. You finally acknowledge | | | | the excuse, or the standard denial? |
| the FEAR. | | | | The officer was speechless at first, and then he |
| All of sudden, the loudest voice you have ever heard | | | | smiled as we chatted. I'd like to say that my ability to |
| bellows," GET OFF MY STINKIN' BUS AND PUT | | | | accept responsibility somehow excused me from the |
| YOUR FEET ON MY YELLOW FOOTPRINTS-NOW!!" | | | | ticket, but it didn't. The officer was surprised I'd |
| That is how I remember my arrival at Marine Recruit | | | | admitted my wrong doing, and even apologized as he |
| Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina. I had arrived at | | | | explained that he had to ticket me since he had |
| Marine Corps Boot Camp. Let me tell you, in that | | | | already called it in on the radio. I accepted my fate, |
| moment (and plenty of other moments throughout | | | | and paid $223 to the city of Irving, Texas. My gut |
| the course of boot camp!) my heart pounded with | | | | reaction had been to take the easy path and blame |
| fear. | | | | others, or try to use persuasive words to avoid |
| Fear changed my life. | | | | responsibility. But in the end I did the simple, yet |
| I was afraid I had made a huge mistake. I was afraid | | | | difficult thing. I owned up to my fault. Even when |
| I couldn't handle the challenges I faced. I was afraid | | | | there was no reward, pat on the back or free pass, |
| to make the drill instructor mad. I was afraid I | | | | I did the right thing and accepted responsibility. In |
| wouldn't be good enough. I was afraid of my | | | | that one small act, I was a leader. |
| thoughts, so I quit thinking and did what I was told | | | | As a leader, avoid placing blame. Look to see where |
| to do. I got off the bus. | | | | you contributed to a problem and, once identified, |
| When I heard that first unforgettable bellow, I | | | | move forward with a solution. Placing blame wastes |
| thought to myself, "What am I doing here? Do I | | | | time and it damages valuable relationships. If you are |
| have what it takes? I have never really tried to do | | | | focused on influencing outcomes, the blame game will |
| anything that I didn't know FOR SURE I would be | | | | only slow you down. Make sure the word |
| good at. Do I have the heart of a warrior?" | | | | "accountability" is in your vocabulary. |
| First I had to find out, what being a leader even | | | | Don't Play the Blame Game! |
| meant. | | | | 3. Take care of your own-Take Care of those you |
| Emerson said, "Unless you try to do something | | | | lead |
| beyond what you have already mastered, you will | | | | Leadership is about service -- take care of those you |
| never grow." | | | | lead. The primary objective of Marine Corps |
| Are you good enough to be a leader? | | | | leadership is to accomplish the mission-GET THE JOB |
| The United States Marine Corps defines leadership as | | | | DONE! Good leadership gets the job done in the |
| the sum of those qualities of intellect, human | | | | quickest, most effective and efficient way. |
| understanding, and moral character that allow a | | | | The secondary goal of Marine Corps leadership is to |
| person to inspire and control a group of people | | | | provide for the welfare of Marines! Mission |
| successfully. | | | | accomplishment in the Corps really stands for |
| Leadership principles are general rules that have | | | | protecting the American people and protecting the |
| guided the conduct and actions of successful leaders | | | | welfare of our nation. Yes, the Marines place mission |
| of the past. Generations after generation of | | | | accomplishment before troop welfare-but that |
| American men and women have given special | | | | merely means that all responsible military personnel |
| meaning to the title United States Marine. These | | | | must be prepared to risk their lives for the lives of |
| same men and women live by a set of enduring core | | | | those they have taken an oath to defend. Many of |
| values and principles that form the bedrock of their | | | | you are relieved that you never took such an oath. |
| character. These principles give them strength and | | | | Yes, you did. |
| regulate their behavior; they form the foundation | | | | You took an oath of friendship. You took an oath to |
| that allows them to meet any challenge. | | | | your church. You took an oath when you married or |
| Are you good enough to be a leader? | | | | entered a committed relationship. You even took an |
| You BET YOU ARE!! | | | | oath when you went to work where you work. Are |
| And guess what? You have the potential to be an | | | | you doing everything you can to care for your |
| even stronger, more confident leader than you | | | | spouse, family members, co-workers and friends? |
| already are. Marines know that leadership skills take | | | | Continually ask yourself what else you can do to help |
| time and discipline to develop, but the payoff is | | | | someone out. This might mean helping your colleague |
| worth the dedication. As I learned during boot camp, | | | | with her resume, or driving your elderly neighbor to |
| to become a better leader, there are four things that | | | | the store. The more willing you are to help others, |
| you can do everyday to improve your leadership | | | | the more your relationships will be built on trust and |
| abilities: | | | | respect. |
| 1. Lead as you are-Know yourself and seek | | | | Taking care of those you lead reminds me of the |
| self-improvement. | | | | story of Geese and why they fly the way they do. |
| 2. Don't play the Blame Game-Seek responsibility and | | | | You see, researchers have discovered that geese fly |
| take responsibility for your actions. | | | | along in a "V" formation because as each bird flaps its |
| 3. Take care of your own-Take Care of those you | | | | wings, it creates uplift for the bird immediately |
| lead. | | | | following. By flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock |
| 4. Set the example-Practice what you preach. | | | | adds at least 71% greater flying range than if each |
| 1. Lead as you are-Know yourself and seek | | | | bird flew on its own. Whenever a goose falls out of |
| self-improvement | | | | formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance |
| One thing I learned in the Marine Corps is that a | | | | of trying to go it alone, and quickly gets into |
| leader must have self-awareness and seek | | | | formation to take advantage of the lifting power of |
| self-improvement. You have to know yourself in | | | | the bird immediately in front. When the lead goose |
| order to be a good leader and the easiest way to do | | | | gets tired, they rotate back in the wing and another |
| that is to sit down and honestly think about your | | | | goose flies point. The geese honk from behind to |
| strengths and weaknesses. Invest in a personal | | | | encourage those up front to keep up their speed. |
| coach. Take behavioral and personal interests | | | | Finally, when a goose gets sick, or is wounded by |
| assessments. Ask your immediate supervisor and | | | | gun shots and falls out, two geese follow to help and |
| close family and friends to provide you with | | | | protect. They stay with that goose until they are |
| feedback. | | | | either able to fly or until they die. Only then do they |
| Are those "easy" conversations-No! And it doesn't | | | | launch out on their own or with another formation to |
| mean you have to change who you are - it just | | | | eventually catch up with their group. Geese |
| means that you have to become a better you. Begin | | | | instinctively take care of their own! Geese |
| to learn your strengths and weaknesses and work to | | | | instinctively know they can't go it alone! |
| capitalize and improve upon them as needed. Lao Tse | | | | Take care of those you lead. |
| said, "He who knows others is learned. He who | | | | 4. Set the example-Practice what you preach |
| knows himself is wise." | | | | Marines instinctively look to their leaders for patterns |
| Marine Corps boot camp is thirteen weeks of | | | | of conduct which they may follow, emulate or use as |
| situations where a recruit must really learn about | | | | an excuse for their own shortcomings. Sounds kind |
| themselves and how to adapt, improvise and | | | | of like our kids, huh??? |
| overcome. The marine's very life may one day hinge | | | | Leaders have one standard - a high standard they |
| on the training and their depth of knowledge of | | | | ask others to keep. The same high standard they |
| themselves and what they can accomplish, and | | | | keep for themselves. |
| sometimes more importantly, what they aren't yet | | | | As a leader, you have to set the example for your |
| capable of achieving. | | | | friends, kids, coworkers and relatives. You also have |
| If you are shy, and would like to be more | | | | to have integrity, which is the ability to do the right |
| outspoken, think of environments where you can | | | | thing all of the time. It means that you are honest |
| practice voicing your opinion, or if you have a great | | | | and truthful in what you say and do. You put |
| sense of humor, make sure that humor is a part of | | | | honesty, sense of duty and sound moral principles |
| your leadership style - people around you will | | | | above all else. |
| appreciate your good nature. As you begin to learn | | | | Stand up for what you believe to be right! |
| about yourself, you build character. You also become | | | | When you lead by example, you are able to create a |
| better equipped for the ups and downs life throws | | | | strong team among those who surround you. |
| your way. Marine Corps boot camp taught me to dig | | | | Remember things like: |
| deep within myself and truly recognize my abilities | | | | 1. Don't use profanity just because others do. |
| and my limitations. I learned that true leaders are | | | | 2. Be loyal to your family, friends, your boss-don't talk |
| ordinary people with an extraordinary skill-to | | | | about them behind their backs and trash them. |
| continuously reach beyond and continuously grow. | | | | 3. Set the example of moral courage and remember |
| Lead as you are - always. | | | | the good ole golden rule we were all taught in |
| 2. Don't Play the Blame Game-Seek responsibility and | | | | kindergarten-treat others as we want to be treated. |
| take responsibility for your actions | | | | Begin to live that rule. |
| While there are many differences between life in the | | | | 4. Be courteous and cheerful-polite. |
| Marine Corps and life outside of the military, there | | | | 5. Practice the art of unselfishness-avoid making |
| are also lots of similarities. After taking note of the | | | | yourself comfortable at the expense of others and |
| differences, it is clear that the leadership principles | | | | be considerate and give credit to those that deserve |
| that guide our nation's most elite organization will also | | | | it. Remember that golden rule! |
| prove successful in your life. I've found that having | | | | Think of the benefits in your world when you |
| the courage to take responsibility for your actions is | | | | acknowledge that you already are a leader. Imagine |
| respected both inside and outside of the Corps. The | | | | the possibilities when you begin leading as you are. |
| difference is, in the Corps it was expected, in the | | | | You will gain more confidence by being yourself - |
| "real world" it is often the exception. As a Marine | | | | rather than the person you think everyone else |
| when I made a mistake, I owned up to it | | | | wants you to be. When you begin to focus on your |
| immediately- I was trained to do that, and as a | | | | strengths, you will discover your passion. When you |
| Non-Commissioned Officer it was expected of me. I | | | | acknowledge your weaknesses, they lose their |
| also expected my troops to do the same. Now that | | | | power and you can take action. |
| I no longer wear the uniform, I have to work hard to | | | | By accepting responsibility for your actions and not |
| remind myself of the importance of taking | | | | playing the blame game, you can start focusing on |
| responsibility and resisting the urge to blame others | | | | solutions rather than excuses. |
| for my problems. It's a tough world out there for the | | | | By becoming a better caretaker, you sleep well at |
| person who wants to accept responsibility- society, | | | | night knowing those you love have everything they |
| your co-workers, your family- heck; everyone loves | | | | need. |
| to get on the blame bandwagon. It's much easier to | | | | And finally, by practicing the golden rule and setting |
| blame others for your problems then to recognize | | | | an example of integrity, kindness and service you will |
| that you likely had something to do with them. | | | | have a lasting impact. |
| A couple of weeks ago I was speeding down the | | | | As darkness turned to light at the end of boot camp, |
| interstate. Suddenly, the red lights of an approaching | | | | I realized I had always been a leader. I had always |
| police car flashed in my mirror. I'm sure you all can | | | | known I should be responsible; that I should always |
| relate to that feeling you get in the pit of your | | | | try to better myself, that I should tell the truth and |
| stomach when you know you are being pulled over | | | | be considerate. You know these simple truths, too! |
| by a cop. | | | | Start believing that you are a leader today! |
| We've all been there, right? It usually goes something | | | | When you commit yourself to becoming a stronger |
| like this: | | | | leader, your perspective on the world changes - you |
| You maneuver your car to the side of the road; | | | | begin to feel more in control of your life, and you |
| start plotting your defense and developing a scheme | | | | start to see opportunities in areas where you never |
| to get out of the ticket. | | | | looked before. By being a better leader, you will |
| "You are tired; it's early in the morning!" "Other cars | | | | surprise yourself with the success and gratification |
| were going just as fast!" "This speedometer must | | | | you have discovered in your life...and your leadership |
| not be calibrated correctly." | | | | potential will amaze you! |
| You might even blame the officer... | | | | Reach beyond what you have already mastered-you |
| "Don't the police have something better to do then | | | | will GROW! |