Last week I was talking with one of my dear relatives about all kinds of things; one of them being leadership.
As all of us were talking about being courageous (one of his leadership points). And he then stopped us in our tracks with this great one-liner, “Don’t be afraid to go out on a limb. That’s where the fruit is.”
He quietly stood up at the table (in the kitchen, of course … the best place to gather and gab!) and walked toward his study. In a couple of minutes he returned with a piece of paper in hand; came toward me and handed these truths to me:
True Leadership
1. Trustworthiness
– It pays more than it costs to be honest.
2. Thoughtfulness
– Thoughtful actions begin with kind thoughts.
3. Truthfulness
– When in doubt, tell the truth.
4. Dedication
– Giving it another try is better than an alibi.
5. Discipline
– You’re never your best until you are self-disciplined.
6. Courageous
– Don’t be afraid to go out on a limb. That’s where the fruit is.
7. Ambitious
– You will be rated by what you finish far more than by what you start.
8. Reliability
– To know what is right and not to do it is as bad as deliberately doing wrong.
9. Stability
– Stand solid and don’t have a wishbone where your backbone ought to be.
10. Loyalty
– Don’t forget, the same person who promoted you can also demote you.
~ Harold Elliott, Chaplain of Arlington Police Department
