The Overlooked Leader

When was the last time you saw a leader?

Was it at Church? 

Was it at the last training session you attended?  Or was it at the last sporting event where you cheered?

After reading this you will realize why I believe it is more recent than you may think.

What is a Leader?

There are many definitions of a leader. Some define a leader simply as one who influences; some influence through Inspiration others through Manipulation.  I side with Myles Munroe when he says, “The secret to leadership is not the pursuit of power, authority, or position. Leadership is the pursuit of self.”   A leader is simply, one who has discovered himself.  When you discover yourself, why you were born, what you were sent to earth to accomplish, then a Leader is born.  You are that overlooked leader.

How is the Leader Developed?

There is an Al-ism that I have that states, “When you have no vision for your life, you make everyone else’s dreams come true.”

You are more than a follower.  Yes, there may be seasons in your life where you serve in a follower capacity; however, that was not the design, intent, or sum of your life.

There is a LEADER in each and every one of us.

You may have been told that “you will never amount to anything,” “you’re just like the rest of your family,” or “nobody cares about what you become”.  The hurt from those words are valid feelings; however, I challenge you today not to let words or your past define you; use it as a tool to refine you.  As my wife often says, “Your opposition is your value identifier.”  In other words, wherever you find your greatest attack is actually where you have the greatest value, which will catapult you to the next dimension of greatness.  It is through believing in and recognizing your value – which are the gifts, talents, and abilities you posses – that your true leadership ability will shine.  Whatever pain you consistently feel, you were meant to solve.  That pain is the leader inside you screaming for exposure. 

You are more than the sum of your past and the confusion in your present.  You are a leader.

Who are Some Leaders We Recognize Today?

We usually recognize leaders when they have arrived.  However, most leaders did not set out to be leaders, they set out to be their individual best everyday with what they were gifted to do.

Michael Jordan did not set out to be a leader in the sport of basketball.  He chose to develop and maximize his gift and talent to the point that we now recognize him as a leader in the sport.

Tiger Woods didn’t set out to be a leader in golf.  However, his dad was able to recognize his talent and placed him in an environment that would foster its development to the point that Tiger Woods was able to embrace the special gift he possessed.

Oprah Winfrey did not set out to be the number one talk show host in the country.  Oprah knew that she enjoyed talking, believed she had something valuable to say, and pursued that desire to be heard daily.

It is said, “Champions are not made in the ring they are just recognized there.”  It is what you believe and work towards daily that prepares you to win.

You were designed as a specialist in some area.  You were designed to lead.

I owned a photography company a few years ago.  In my early years in the darkroom, I had to expose the film image onto the photography paper.  Although the image was burned onto the paper, it was not readily seen to the naked eye.  It had to go through a developing process in order for the picture to emerge.  Some say leaders are created and not born.  I tend to disagree.  I believe the image of a leader is burned in each of us; however, it is through our decision to endure the development process that we emerge and are recognized.  As an emerging leader, it is important to endure the developing process.

It’s time to awake that leader in you.

It’s time to get rid of your “limiting beliefs”.

It’s time to plan as if you cannot fail.

It’s time; it’s time; it’s time.

When you recognize the leader in you, I guarantee when you look in the mirror, you’ll never see yourself the same again.

YOU are that Overlooked Leader!  

Aim High…

© 2011 Aldean Pearson

_____________________________________________________________________________

Aldean “Al” Pearson is a Professional Speaker, Trainer, and Growth Coach.  He is the Co-Founder of the LĪVE! movement, a speaking, training and coaching organization committed to developing extraordinary people, families, and businesses. His “up-front and candid,” yet at times humorous approach empowers his clients and audiences to look past their limitations to find the hidden gems of capability within. He is married with twin boy and girl. 
Contact: AlPearson1@gmail.com

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What Does Love Look Like?

I was driving down the road in Texas one day and while scanning the radio stations I heard the song by Johnny Lee, “Looking for love in all the wrong places…”

I thought, Wait a minute, how can we look for something unless we know what it looks like?

What does LOVE look like?

Most often when we look at society today, love is not the first, second, or even the third thing we see.  However, when we put our LOVE shades on, we get to see the world from a totally different perspective.

What does LOVE look like? Let’s examine closely and as in approaching any goal, let’s start with the END in mind: E. V. O. L.

E – Experience it

There is an old poem that says: 

“I love myself so much

So that I can love you so much

So that you can love you so much

So that you can start loving me”  (Author Unknown)

One can never give something that they have never experience or have not realized they possess.

Joy Golliver stated that, “The meaning of life is finding your gifts; the purpose of life is to give it away”.

Love isn’t love until you give it away.  It’s the gift that keeps on giving. Experience it.

V – Voluntary Self-Sacrifice 

(Doing things out of Love and not obligation, manipulation, or reciprocation)

It involves Going the extra-yard even though it may cost you or inconvenience you.

You’ve heard the saying, “People don’t care how much you know, they want to know how much you care.”

When was the last time you Voluntary Self-Sacrificed with NO STRINGS ATTACHED?

O – Ordinary Acts becoming Extraordinary Expressions

Say it with me, “OH!” “OH!” is the response you will get when you do something for someone that may be ordinary to you but becomes an extraordinary expression to them just because of the care you took in doing it.

As a child my Mom would bake cakes for the family and other people.  I would always look forward to being able to lick the batter from the mixing bowl.  No matter where I was in the house my Mom would often save the bowl and call me to do the “cleaning”.  Sure it was just a bowl of leftover batter; but for me it was an Ordinary Act becoming an Extraordinary Expression of love.

L – Look, Listen, & Fill

My wife’s mom passed away when she was only 13 years old.  That was the last time, she remembered riding in a limousine.  When we were planning our wedding, she shared that story with me and didn’t want to ride in a limousine on her wedding day.  That story stuck with me.  However, 5 years into our marriage I was able to surprise her at the house with a white limousine, red carpet, and a night on the town to replace the childhood memory with something wonderful.  To this day, 11 years later, she smiles when we talk about it.

(As you can imagine…I was the man that night!!!...and it was all because I Looked, Listened, & Filled)

There are opportunities all around us everyday to express love.  However, it takes a willful act on our part to not just look and listen, but also to fill.

If you truly desire to make the most of your life, fuel your life daily with the right stuff.

Look for ways to…

Experience Love

Do Voluntary Self-Sacrifices

Make Ordinary Acts Extraordinary Expressions

Look, Listen & Fill

Then you will be equipped and have the strength to take on and overcome any challenge that comes your way.   As William M. Thackeray once said, “To love and win is the best thing.  To love and lose is the next best thing.” 

Now! That’s what LOVE looks like.  

Take the opportunity to make today and every day an expression of LOVE.  

Aim High…

© 2011 Aldean Pearson

_____________________________________________________________________________

Aldean “Al” Pearson is a Professional Speaker, Trainer, and Growth Coach.  He is the Co-Founder of the LĪVE! movement, a speaking, training and coaching organization committed to developing extraordinary people, families, and businesses. His “up-front and candid,” yet at times humorous approach empowers his clients and audiences to look past their limitations to find the hidden gems of capability within. He is married with twin boy and girl. 
Contact: AlPearson1@gmail.com

Become Inspired! 
Join our Facebook page: www.Facebook.com/AldeanPearson
Follow us on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/AldeanPearson
Connect on LinkedIn: www.Linkedin.com/in/aldeanpearson