Today we remember an extraordinary man in USA history: Martin Luther King Jr. I admire him for many reasons, too many to share in one blog post. But today I was struck again by one of his quotes:
There is no deficit in human resources; the deficit is in human will. ~Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. used his will to shape and share his dreams for a country free of prejudice and discrimination. He used his will to say what needed to be said, and to do it with love instead of hate. He used his will to keep his message preaching non-violence even when enemies and friends thought change was impossible without some level of violence. He used his will to be true to his calling and who he was.
Many want to be great leaders. But achieving our goals takes a lot of effort. So we get distracted and take the easy route instead. The escape route.
Say it's Sunday afternoon. You're bored and have some time on your hands. You grab the remote and slump down on the couch. You could be using your time to learn and grow. But instead you choose the easier option of painlessly passing the afternoon... escaping into the world of TV.
Each day we are confronted with many choices and escape routes. You can concentrate on balancing the budget of your business, or you can daydream. You can coach your direct report on his weak organizational skills, or you can check your email for the seventh time this hour... You get the picture!
Greatness lies in how we resolve our internal conflicts – in using our free will to grow – not to quit. To face reality – not to escape. To live and not to die. When we choose to avoid problems, we miss the chance of becoming great. It's a constant battle every moment of our lives.
What about you? How are you going to use the power of your will? You are constantly making choices. You can monitor them. That's using your free will actively, not passively. Don't let decisions just "happen." Ask yourself:
- Why am I reading this article right now?
- Why am I convening this meeting right now?
- Am I just surfing the web? Or do I have a specific goal?
Your decisions shape your life and determine your destiny. Take charge. Use your will to make the right decisions in your life, in your business, in your leadership.
Remember. . .
This year you can use your will to grow and become a better leader if you use your will to make the right decisions, like Martin Luther King Jr. did.
If you have questions abut how to use the power of your will to grow more as a leader this year, schedule a free half hour exploration call by clicking here. For the rest of January I have time to give 10 free consultations to the first 10 people to contact me. Take action NOW!
Photo from the National Archives