| More unlikely leaders walk the Earth than likely ones. | | | | what you can do for your country." |
| This fact is counter intuitive and runs against the | | | | "I have a dream..." |
| grain of popular opinion. But since the "world is flat," | | | | "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" |
| it's now more the case than it's ever been. Unlikely | | | | It's not disrespectful to non-leaders, people called |
| leaders are ordinary people who sometimes | | | | followers, to say "Things rise and fall on leadership." |
| accomplish extraordinary things. They're leaders who | | | | Yes, we know leaders can't accomplish a task alone. |
| achieve despite their weaknesses. | | | | If they do, they're not really leaders but loners. But |
| Sometimes the leader is the one you'd pick out of a | | | | even the Lone Ranger didn't do it alone. Tonto or |
| crowd. But just as often the leader is the person | | | | others are always involved. But leaders must be |
| you'd least expect. It's these unlikely leaders who | | | | involved. This doesn't mean "non-leaders" don't |
| surprise us. They rise up in our midst time and again, | | | | matter. It simply means leadership always matters. |
| demonstrating that anyone, anytime, anywhere can | | | | Unlikely leaders are just "regular people." Not just |
| be a leader. | | | | superstars, spiritual giants, or braniacs. Not just |
| Even a lot of leadership recruitment searches miss | | | | Condoleezza Rice or Franklin Graham or Elizabeth Dole |
| would-be leaders. This happens because we look for | | | | or Steven Jobs. Unlikely leaders emerge because |
| people we think are leaders when we should look for | | | | they care about something beyond themselves. They |
| people who can become leaders. We look too much | | | | stand out because they step up. |
| at visible attributes and not enough at the invisible. | | | | You can become an unlikely leader. It's not rocket |
| We should have learned by now that being a leader | | | | science. You don't need a degree. You need purpose |
| is not the exclusive domain of the rich and powerful, | | | | and passion. Stated another way, you need focus |
| nor the famous or beautiful people. Being a leader | | | | and a commitment to getting things done. You can |
| isn't reserved for the super talented or the V.I.Ps. It's | | | | become an unlikely leader in any field of endeavor by |
| not just for men, adults, a given nationality, race, or | | | | following or implementing a few principles. The choice |
| ethnic group. | | | | is yours. |
| Leadership is not a mysterious talent only some | | | | Unlikely Leadership Principles: |
| people are "lucky" enough to acquire. Quite simply | | | | Character and competence count. While |
| yet quite remarkably, leadership is a divine gift to us | | | | countenance-your looks-and connections-your |
| all. Actually, when you consider it, it's pretty obvious | | | | network-are blessings, perhaps gifts to use, they |
| some of the most revered and most remembered | | | | become hollow without a clear conscience. Tiger |
| leaders were unlikely leaders in their day. | | | | Woods and John Edwards are distinctively talented |
| Abraham Lincoln's story is known worldwide: humble | | | | individuals, but their leadership legacies will never be |
| beginning, perennial election loser, yet ultimately | | | | the same. |
| becoming arguably our greatest President in war or | | | | Use the talent you have. Don't worry about talents |
| peace. Dave Thomas began life as an adoptive child, | | | | you're presumably lacking. Not everyone can throw a |
| overcame a host of obstacles, and went on to build | | | | football 65 yards in the air or give an inspiring |
| the globally successful Wendy's hamburger chain. | | | | impromptu speech. Work with what God gave you. |
| George Foreman was a mean kid in the streets of | | | | Stand for something. Revered and remembered |
| Houston who demonstrated that work ethic, faith, | | | | leaders are about more than themselves. Give others |
| and sheer desire can propel you forward. He became | | | | hope. Work for good. Lead when others are not yet |
| an Olympic gold medalist, twice the heavy weight | | | | following. Risk and ridicule are sometimes part of the |
| champion of the world, a wealthy product pitchman, | | | | experience of leadership, but so is reward. Change |
| beloved personality, and pastor to a small church in | | | | things. Dreamers dream. Leaders lead. |
| his community. | | | | Rosa Parks is called by many the "Mother of the |
| So it can be done. We need unlikely leaders. | | | | Modern Day Civil Right Movement." She earned this |
| The Marines say "Wherever there are two Marines | | | | sobriquet by a simple but profound act of courage |
| one of them is going to be a leader." Great quote. | | | | and resolve. She was an unlikely leader but a leader |
| Sure, the Marines have a lot of moxie, but you don't | | | | nonetheless. |
| have to be a Marine to know this maxim could apply | | | | Unlikely leaders are special for the very reason they |
| to any group of two or more human beings. | | | | don't care about being special. You can become an |
| Leaders set the stage and create targets for the | | | | unlikely leader. Look within to find your passion. Look |
| rest of us. | | | | without to determine how you can make the world a |
| "Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask | | | | better place. Then do it. |