Leaders take responsibility.
I have heard that countless times over the years.
If you want to be a leader, you cannot play the blame game.
Not everyone feels that way.
When I look back at my teenage years, I fondly remember the feeling of freedom I felt as I would ride my bike everywhere I could.
I absolutely loved going wherever I wanted without a worry in the world.
That feeling changed during my late teens and early 20s, when a German Shepherd ran off a local farm and onto the road to chase me.
I had done nothing wrong.
I had not even touched a foot or a tire on that property.
Yet that crazy dog chased after me until he finally caught up with me and bit my leg.
When I managed to get home, my leg was a bloody mess.
My mother immediately loaded me into the car to take me to the ER to get my leg examined.
She stopped the car at the farmhouse, where the dog came from, and the dog started barking and trying to jump on top of the car.
My mom honked her horn until the owner finally stepped out of the house.
My mother rolled down her window slightly, still trying to avoid the provoked, pouncing pooch.
After explaining to the owner what had happened, the woman replied matter-of-factly:
“My Cujo is fine.”
Huh? What was she thinking?
Was she thinking my mom was going to reply graciously with:
“I am sorry for the inconvenience my son’s leg caused when it found its way into your dog’s mouth as he rode his bike past your property. I am glad to hear Cujo is doing fine.”
As is so often the case in life, when things go wrong we can either take responsibility or play the “My Cujo is fine” card.
If we play the “My Cujo is fine” card, we have no control, and there is nothing we can do to change.
If we take responsibility, whether we are at fault or not, we have the power to change.
We can change our attitudes.
We can change how we act.
We can change how we deal with things.
We can change.
When you face difficult situations, don’t play the “My Cujo is fine” card – be responsible.
Leaders take responsibility.
My name is John, and I’m thrilled to introduce myself
I am a dedicated husband to my wonderful wife and a proud father of two amazing children. In addition, I am blessed to be a loving papa to four adorable grandchildren. These roles bring immense joy and fulfillment to my life.
Two titles i identify by, that tend to grab attention: Leadership Advocate and Storyteller. These two titles are closely intertwined and warrant further explanation.
To me, being a leader means being an effective communicator. I firmly believe that storytelling is one of the most powerful ways to convey a message and connect with others. A good leader possesses the ability to inspire and motivate through the art of storytelling.