Leading L's in Life.

Leading LÆs in Lifeà

Leading is the one skill that we should practice toward ourselves first, and
then to others: There is no good leadership possible without proper
self-leadership. If you donÆt know how to carry yourself, you will never be
able to show others the right way. It is only when people respect how you
present yourself over time, that they will really accept your leadership,
whether you are their official superintendent or not. However, in order to
be a great self-leader and an accepted leader for others, there are some
priceless facts of life that you should continuously practice. Listed below
are these 10 vital facts and the way they should be perceived:

Learning is the only thing we do from day one after birth: every new
experience, every disappointment or victory, is a lesson that we should use
in our decisions later.

Listening is not just a polite activity, but it can be the determining
factor in being accepted or not. When people know that you lend them an
empathetic ear, that you also listen to the unsaid, and that you listen with
more than just your ears and your mind, you will earn their timeless respect
and loyalty.

Loving is the single emotion that will weed out all negativity that is
presented to us in the course of time. It will lead us to the realization
that the world will be a much better place if we all start practicing it
just a little bit more intense.

Laughing is the one act that we should practice more often: not only when we
hear something funny or when we experience a great progress, but also when
we catch ourselves making silly mistakes: for if you cannot laugh about
yourself, you are in big trouble.

Looking is one of the most misinterpreted words in the alphabet. Most of the
time we consider it as an act to be executed with the eyes only. But looking
with the mind, heart, and soul into other peopleÆs character and their
spirit can guide you to the right decisionsàmore than anything else.

Leaping may be considered the most daring act in life: It comes after
looking, but it requires much more than insight. It also demands bravery and
decisiveness. Some leaps may have a life-changing effect.

Legacy is what every self-respecting person would like to leave for others.
What a wonderful idea that people will continue to think of us, quote us,
use our wisdom or our strategies, long after our physical presence has faded
away. Leaving a legacy begins with living in an exemplary way.

Loyalty: toward friends, co-workers, subordinates, and not in the least to
your own principles, will be recognized by the ones who follow your acts.
They will learn from your behavior, and carry forth this skill toward
others.

Luck cannot be bought or ordered. But it can be found in the most unexpected
corners of life. It will manifest itself when least expected: as a result of
a good deed done to someone, somewhere, somehow. Luck is the karma that some
people mention when they encourage you to do well unto others. Luck is the
positive reward we get for the unknown blessings we brought unto others.

Living, finally, is the one requirement without which none of the above
would be possible. If you want to be a good leader for yourself and others,
you should realize that the art of living lies in a good balance in
everything you do: enough hard work, enough exercise, enough fun, and enough
rest. You just perform better when you are in balance. Remember: you exude
what you are, whether you are aware of it or not.

Joan Marques, Burbank, October 17, 2003
---------------------------------------------------
About the Author:
Joan Marques, holds an MBA, is a doctoral candidate in Organizational
Leadership, and a university instructor in Business and Management in
Burbank, California. You may visit her web site at www.joanmarques.com
Joan's manual "Feel Good About Yourself," a six part series to get you over
the bumps in life and onto success, can be purchased and downloaded at:
http://www.non-books.com/FeelGoodSeries.html
-----------------------------------------------------