Entrepreneurship - Why Not?
August 17, 2010
Webster’s defines an En-tre-pre-neur (pronounced: “on-tray-pre-newer) as: “One who launches or manages a business venture, often assuming risks.”
A lot of people don’t like that last part. Our natural instincts are to avoid taking risks. Our basic instincts are bent toward survival. We want security, not uncertainty. We want stability, not risk. We want simplicity, not complicity. Nothing wrong with that, right? However, when we really think about it, where can we get a guaranteed life of security, stability and simplicity?
I suppose it used to be that individuals and families could depend upon corporate America, or Government, to provide these things on a pretty sure and solid foundation. Our parents - and some of us - were offered a job that guaranteed a monthly paycheck (oftentimes with an opportunity for advancement and increased pay), health insurance and some type of guaranteed retirement pension such as a 401K, or the like. But as we have experienced in the last several years - TIMES IN AMERICA HAVE CHANGED. We are living in a time historians will dub as the “bailout era” (or something like that), as we witnessed the very institutions of our economic foundation come crumbling down, and stand in line for a handout/bailout (in the billions of tax payer dollars of course).
The long term security we once took for granted is no longer “guaranteed” and many people are not retiring as soon as they had planned. And those who had retired, are going back to work, and not always at the same pay grade they were at when they retired. Not to mention the millions of Americans who recently lost their jobs through being laid-off, while unemployment in our country still remains at record highs. Sounds kinda gloomy and doomy don’t it? But that is not my point (nor do I believe in the economic doom and gloom scenario - the fact is there is plenty of money to be made - more on that later.).
My point is to dispel the myth that getting a conventional Monday - Friday, 9 to 5 job is the safest and least risky thing we can do to provide for our families. Of course if one enjoys there job and/or finds a job that meets all their needs - more power to you! - But in my view, we should also be encouraged to follow our dreams and passions - the same unconventional path many have taken to create some of the best products and services we all purchase and enjoy - rather than just being programmed into the “job market”.
I especially like to encourage young people with this message because I believe too many adults and youth miss their “true calling” (or vocation) in life because we end up settling for something that does not really tap into all our gifts , talents and passions we are naturally endowed with from birth. I imagine there are some of you reading this right now who identify exactly with what I’m sharing. And one way you know it is that you have what many would consider a “good” job. Yet, it is not fulfilling and you can’t wait to get off work every day to go and do what you really enjoy doing and would do for free you love it so much. But what if you could do it for free and become so good at it that others would pay you to do it? “Is that possible?” you ask, yes it is and others are discovering this all the time. We are called “entrepreneurs”.
Now, to be sure, being an entrepreneur is not for everybody. And certainly there are many, many people who are very happy, and enjoy both successful and significance in their job career. So please don’t misunderstand me. I’m not saying a job is not a good thing. I’m just saying its not the only thing - or even the best way to make money and enjoy quality of life with family and friends.
Trading time for money is honorable and hard work. But trading your time, on your own terms, for the amount of money you deserve, is also honorable and smart work.
For example, I know of many, many entrepreneurs that make in a day what others make in a month. Please don’t let that offend or discourage you. I’m only sharing that to address what I said earlier, that there is plenty of money to be made and why I don’t buy into the doom and gloom scenario we hear on the news every day. But here’s the encouraging part - these entrepreneurs are just ordinary people living an extraordinary life simply because of an idea they decided to act on. I know that sounds too simple and of course there is much more to it than that. But what I want to emphasize is that as I meet these six and seven figure income business people they are no different than you and me. Dad’s, mom’s, grandparents, young, women, men and just regular everyday people. Except for one thing, they made a decision to act on their vision. Their dream. Their passion. And, one more very important characteristic - they failed. A lot. But they never gave up.
“How is that possible?”, you ask. OK - Allow me to now share with you one of the core principles of success here, and then I’ll give some other very key success principles at the end of this article.
Question: How can failure - over and over again - lead to success? Or another way of looking at it is - Why is failure a prerequisite for success?
Answer to the first question:
Because your “why” always needs to be bigger or more important than your “what”.
In other words, if “what” business I do for a living gets hard, brings problems, struggles and failures, none of those things will deter me if I know “why” I do what I do. My motivation for why I do what I do will not allow me to quit. “Why” (not what) is the big question that will keep us going and this brings us to the answer to the second question:
Failure is a prerequisite to success because that really is the only way you’ll know if you are truly doing what you love to do.
If I don’t truly love it. If I’m not truly passionate about it, when the trials of life come, I’ll quit. But that is a good thing because now I can move on to discover and decide on what my true calling, passion and vision is for my life that best fits the gifts and talents God gave me. Thus, failure is turned from a negative into a positive by releasing me to the right career path (there are many stories/biographies of this happening to some of the most successful people).
This leads me to my final point and success principle I’d like to share with you (assuming that if you’ve read this far you are probably interested on some level of becoming an entrepreneur).
This key principle is expressed in various ways, but it is foundational and cannot be overlooked or side-stepped once you decide to take this journey of launching your own business. Yet, it is probably the one that people struggle with the most. It’s a funny thing. I went through that struggle myself and still find myself honing this principle even now - so don’t worry if you don’t get it right away. Few people do. It takes time and concentration.
They entrepreneurial secret to success is:
- To know thyself
- To know your definite chief aim in life
- To discover your purpose in this life
As I said, there are several ways to say it. I like the way my friend and mentor Brendon Burchard (pictured in the first picture above and who earned more than $2.4 million dollars in the last two years alone) teaches it. Here is the framework Brendon teaches in his seminars:
Brendon Burchard’s Elements of Success:
1. Clarity
2. Competence
3. Confidence
4. Commitment
5. Coaching
Now as you can imagine, it would take me too long to fully explain each success element here, so let me just focus on the first one - “Clarity” and the last one “Coaching”:
1. Clarity of purpose - clarity of my motivation - of my big “why” - clarity of my vision and passion. The question we all have is: “How can I know?” Right? Isn’t that what you’re thinking right now? But here’s the thing - you do know! It’s already in you. It’s like a treasure chest that’s been buried just waiting to be discovered. You see, our purpose in life is not something we have to invent. It’s just something we naturally discover by paying attention to:
- Our dreams - God still speaks to us in dreams
- Our inner voice - conscience
- Our emotions - what things get us excited
- Our natural talents - singing, writing, drawing, speaking
- Inspirational books on others accomplishments
- Other peoples encouragement that can “see” it in us
This last point - others who can “see” it in us - speaks to the next success principle of the importance of having a Coach to help us achieve our dreams and goals.
2. Coaching - Brendon is one of my business or life mentors. He is someone I choose to follow, listen to, and learn from. He’s my coach. Hey - if Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Tiger Woods and other top world class athletes need coaching - so do I! Not as an athlete, but as an entrepreneur. And, as all these and other top performers testify to - it pays off to listen to those who know you, and are looking out for your best interests to make sure you become the best you can be. I know it has paid off for me and it will pay off for you too.
It has been said that in order to be successful - we must maintain three relationships in our life:
1. Someone whose life we speak into = to continue our legacy
2. Peers from whom we learn = encouragement and inspiration
3. Someone who we allow to speak into our life = wisdom & accountability
I pray my monthly communication falls into one of the above three categories.
Blessings,
Richard
How to Overcome the Fear Of Failure
March 4, 2010
How to Overcome Voices from Our Past
Leadership is influence. It is the ability to move people in a desired direction or influence them to join your cause or follow your example regardless of your position in a company or the community. And one of the places potential leaders need an example to follow is in the ability to defeat negative thinking and overcome the fear of failure – or what I call “voices from our past”.
I have known many Latinos who had all the talent, ability, and savvy to achieve great things and become great leaders, except for one thing. They did not have the capacity to overcome negative voices from the past that play like a broken record inside their head. Talk about “those oldies but goodies”! Remember your older sister playing that one 45 single on the record player with the arm pulled out to the side so it would play over and over and over again (You would have to be my age to know what I’m talking about here – sorry young people there were no Ipod’s back in the day)? And if you hear that song today you would know the words by heart. That is exactly what I’m talking about here with “voices from our past”. Those negative words we heard from someone or from somewhere that keep playing in our heads. Like a record on repeat, they just keep playing in our minds over and over and keep us from realizing our full potential. Remember when we were kids and we learned the school yard rhyme, “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me”, well nothing could be further from the truth. Words have power and repeated often enough we tend to believe them (whether for good or bad) and live them.
How many people do you know who are so talented, so intelligent, so well liked, yet for some reason they just never seem to take their life to that next level? Perhaps, you are an athlete and you have played in the gym or park with some of the best talent and skill to be found anywhere in the country, but somehow that talent never finds itself performing under the lights of the big time. You know it is not a matter of ability, but rather a matter of something missing within. Or maybe you have listened to the soothing sound of that skilled musician who just can’t seem to put it all together and sign that record deal. What about the guy who could draw your face perfectly with a simple pencil on a scratch pad without even thinking about it, the only problem is he draws it from his prison cell. Or the girl in your class that was so smart in math she could figure out the answers in her head before you could write down the problem. But today she works a low paying job from nine to five and parties all weekend with the homies. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with working nine to five (or having any job for that matter), but somehow we expected more. We all know people like that. When we try to encourage them that they are capable of more, voices from the past (like the record, “It’s too late baby, now it’s too late, though we really did try to make it” a 70’s song by Carol King) start playing in their mind. But it is never too late to change our life and it all starts with replacing our past negative voices with a positive voice and thoughts that affirm our true potential. In this article I will address just one of those inner voices that play like a broken record “skipping” in our minds that we need to overcome and replace with the right voice.
The Voice of Fear
Until we become aware of how these negative past voices affect us and learn how to defeat them, they can hinder our full capacity to achieve great things. One of the biggest and most common mental hurdles created by our past negative voices is the fear of failure. Negative past voices create a deep-seated mistrust of self. Although we might accomplish good things here and there, these voices cause us to doubt and fear that we can sustain those achievements day after day, year after year, as a normal part of our life. Our inner dialogue and thoughts are filled with “but what if’” or “maybe I shouldn’t try that”, or “I probably won’t win anyway”, “I don’t think I can”, and all the other excuses we make to talk ourselves out of greatness. In other words, we have developed a fear of failure. I endured this very struggle for years before I learned how to accept who I really was, and achieve my purpose in life.
It was fun playing ball in the park little leagues. At that level there was never very much pressure to perform and win and I just let my natural instincts and abilities take over. Being an All-Star at that level was easily achieved and winning was pretty much the norm. But junior high and high school were a different experience and something I was really not prepared for. Of course I did not realize any of this at that time, but as I look back I can clearly see how the fear of failure definitely stunted my natural ability to perform at my peak potential. Physically I had good size and above average skill. But, as is much more commonly known today, physical athletic ability is only part of what’s needed if one is going to continue to succeed and excel in athletic competition. One’s mental capacity must also be developed. A certain mind-set of self confidence is needed and that was something I was lacking. Although I was voted as the seventh grade athlete of the year in junior high and selected as an All-League player (sort of like an All-Star honor in high school) at the Varsity level in Baseball, Football and Basketball, I don’t believe I achieved “greatness”, or as much as I could have had I understood and been taught the importance of developing my mind to overcome the inward voices of fear and failure. Allow me to explain.
Quarterback was my natural position in football, but the extent of my experience was flag football in the after school sports programs in junior high and playing in the local park leagues (other than playing in the streets at home). Nevertheless, I had a good arm and the other leadership abilities a quarterback needs to run the team, so when I got to high school I tried out for quarterback on what was then called the “B” team (sophomore team). I made the team and was the starting quarterback in every game. The following year I moved up to the Varsity and began the season as the starting quarterback as a junior. However, my performance was inconsistent and our team was not doing as well as it had the previous year. Our school (Franklin High) and football team had a reputation for winning and we were the defending league champions. After just three games I was benched and did not play quarterback for the rest of the year. The following year as a senior, I decided not to play quarterback. I told the coach that I thought I could play other positions and I ended up being a first string defensive back and second string running back. But that is not the real story. The real story, the truth of the matter was that I was afraid to fail again. The guy who had replaced me was a good player. He was also a returning senior and I was expected to compete with him for the starting position. At least that’s what everybody took for granted. And although he was a good player, he certainly did not possess any more talent than I had. My problem was that internally, in my mind, I was hearing and listening to that broken record, “what if you try and fail again”? The thought of giving it my best shot and failing to win the starting position again was too much to handle. It had been embarrassing enough being benched and I just could not face the possibility of losing my position again. My friends encouraged me, my coaches encouraged me, but they did not know, understand or address the one thing that was holding me back – fear of failure. I took the easy road and just said I didn’t care about playing quarterback anymore, which was a total lie. I knew I was a good enough athlete to make the team and play, but I settled for second best and cheating myself out of reaching my full potential at the position I knew I really wanted and could’ve excelled at. We won the championship and had our third undefeated season in a row. But deep inside I always regretted my decision to give up and not compete for the position I knew I was best at. I was angry with myself for giving up without a fight.
As I stated earlier, it took me quite awhile to learn this lesson and overcome that voice of fear, but I have overcome it and so can you. Don’t short change yourself by giving in to that old broken record of fear that tells you not to try and that you are wasting your time if you do. Great leaders are not great because they have had everything handed to them on a silver platter. Rather, they are great because they have faced their battles head on and did not quit until they won.
In his book, The Success Principles, How to Get From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be, Jack Canfield shares; “Research indicates that the average person – that means you – talks to himself or herself about 50,000 times a day. And most of that self talk is about yourself, and according to the psychologist researchers, it is 80% negative – things such as; “They don’t like me”, “I’m never going to be able to pull this off”, “That other team is going to kill us”, “I’m always late”, “I can’t seem to ever get organized.” Psychiatrist, Daniel Amen has named the battle of negative thoughts in our minds as ANTS = Automatic Negative Thoughts. This is a good metaphor because we all know what to do when ANTS show up in our home or picnic – STOMP/KILL THEM!”
How to Kill the ANTS of fear in our minds:
1. As a potential great leader, I suggest you take a few minutes to consider if you struggle as I did with this negative voice of the fear of failure. Don’t be afraid to face it. Don’t be afraid to call it what it is. That is the first step to defeating it. Acknowledge your fear to fail and then consider what that voice of fear may be robbing you of; a better grade, a better position, a better girl friend/boy friend/spouse, a better job and prosperous career. Next, consider where these messages may have originated from (Parents, relatives, teachers, friends, etc.),
2. Work to become and expert “thought catcher” and “thought changer” – This is accomplished by making the conscious effort to think about our thinking about ourselves and replacing the negative, fearful thoughts with positive, affirming thoughts.
3. Practice killing those ANTS on a regular basis. This takes practice, persistence and patience, but eventually you will overcome them.
Example:
Catch the thought, “Why are you going to waste your time trying when you know you’re not going to make it?” – And change it with, “I can do this, I am good at this and I know I will succeed if I give it my best effort and not give up.”
Remember – our personal growth as a leader is not for our benefit, but also to be an example that others can follow to improve their professional and personal lives. Next month we will discuss overcoming the voice of PRIDE.
Single Parent Leadership
January 22, 2010
Single parents can provide the needed leadership in their homes. The single parent home seems to come up a lot as an overwhelming problem that we can’t expect single parents to overcome in terms of raising productive children. I disagree, and suggest this is not a correct assumption nor is it the expectation we should give young parents. On the contrary, I don’t think single parents and the power they have to raise healthy, respectful and obedient children is given enough credit. I understand the hardships of being brought up in a single parent home, as well as, being a single parent, having personally experienced both. Single parenting is tough. You are the bread winner, disciplinarian, cook, chauffer, cheerleader and everything else. And in the case of single moms, we are sometimes given the impression that they don’t stand a chance in raising their kids without a father in a tough neighborhood filled with drugs, gangs and violence. Much is made about the fact that fathers have neglected their responsibility and their abandonment leaves their children with almost no hope of living a life free of delinquency. But, while it is true that not having a father figure in the home can increase the odds of delinquency, it does not mean that mom can’t do the job of raising good children alone.
Please don’t misunderstand me. I’m not suggesting that the father is not needed or important. A responsible, caring, and dependable father is very important. But if women and children are left solely to depend upon the father for their survival and emotional healthiness, then we might be worse off than we thought. The fact is, whether the father is in the home or not, the mother is usually the one carrying the load of child rearing anyway and in most cases doing a pretty good job. For example, a lot of attention has been given to the issue of youth street gangs and the claim by some studies that their numbers and influence are growing in America. However, two very important and overlooked statistics regarding youth who join gangs are the following:
“Law enforcement estimates of nationwide juvenile gang membership suggest that no more than 1% of all youth ages 10-17 are gang members.” (Office of Justice and Juvenile Delinquency Prevention 2006)
“The best estimate of general U.S. youth gang prevalence is 5% ever-joined, 2% current gang members…the strongest message in this research is that…most youth – 7 or 8 out of 10 – do not join gangs through adolescence.” (Klein, Maxson – “Street Gang Patterns and Policies” 2006)
Reports by law enforcement and the media would have us believe that gangs and gang members are out of control. But according to these studies and statistics, 97-98% of youth ages 10-17 are not gang members, and only 5% of youth in America have ever joined a gang. And 8 out of 10 youth in America never join a gang. According to Custodial Mothers and Fathers and Their Child Support: 2005, released by the U.S. Census Bureau in August, 2007, there are approximately 13.6 million single parents in the United States today, and those parents are responsible for raising 21.2 million children and 84% of those parents are mothers. It seems to me that single parents for the most part are doing OK.
Of course others will bring up the fact of how many youth from single parent homes commit crimes and are locked up in jail or prison costing tax payers millions of dollars. And others might point to other problems kids get into besides gangs that also come from single parent homes. Be that as it may, my point is that not enough attention or credit is given to the vast majority of single parents whose children are not living a negative lifestyle and have gotten along just fine. This is important and I hope if you are a single parent or teen parent not married and living at home, that you will take heart and be encouraged to know that it is possible for you and your children to escape the negative statistics and live a safe, happy and prosperous life.
Perhaps you have recently separated from your spouse or been divorced and are feeling guilty about the ramifications your decision will have on your children. Or worse yet, maybe you have suffered losing your spouse to a sudden tragic death. Make no mistake about it, it will be hard and difficult as a single parent, but it by no means is the end of your life and do not believe those who tell you that your children’s lives are destined to be destroyed.
Highland Park is a little town about ten minutes northeast of downtown Los Angeles and home to some of the oldest L.A. neighborhood gangs, whose reputation for murder, drugs and youth violence unfortunately continues to grow. That is where my single mom raised her five children. When I wasn’t playing in the streets or at school, I hung out at the local park (that still remains the hang out of the same local gang) with my brother and friends, where we played games, got into mischief, and at the same time, honed our athletic skills. Like most barrios, it was nearly impossible not to be a part of the gang that we all indentified with. I know if it had not been for my mother and my natural athletic ability, I would have completely committed to the gang and ended up like so many others did; as school drop outs with no education, a low paying job, locked up or dead. The sad part about this (and it is still true today) is that most of the kids I am speaking of here, also had talent and great potential as well. Thus, this begs the question; what made the difference between me and my brother and them? Why did we escape and go on to a successful life in leadership? I believe part of the answer was because of the discipline, love and commitment of our mother who chose to be involved in our life as the priority of her life. This also includes the involvement of our extended family that my mother made sure we respected and valued. But it was by no means easy for her or us. It was a road filled with all the typical obstacles of living in poverty that my brother and I often tripped over, but somehow got back up and kept moving forward.
My mother is an incredible person and of this writing still living strong in the same barrio at the age of ninety-two! I could probably write a whole book on just her alone as the “Hero of Hardship” role model she has been to our whole family, including grandchildren and great grandchildren. A great amount of all that I have accomplished as a leader I owe to my mother. But, the point is that my mother is but one of many examples that prove that single moms can do a good job of raising their children in the midst of a tough neighborhood (And this was back in the day when there was not nearly as much help or community programs like there are today lending assistance to single parents in similar circumstances.) Some mothers feel like they can’t give their sons the same inner satisfaction or character that a father can give his son (Or vice-versa in the case of a single father with daughters). And perhaps there is some truth to that in some aspects of growing up. Yet, on the other hand, my brother and I can testify to the fact that our “single-mom” more than filled the place of our absent father and gave us the character we needed to eventually become the men, fathers and community leaders we are today.
So – for all you single parents out there – take heart, and know that your example, your hard work, time commitments and financial sacrifices are making a difference in your children and one day very soon you will reap the fruit of your love and leadership.
A Call for Latino Leadership
September 16, 2009
My purpose in writing this article is to inspire and instruct more young Latinos into leadership. Even though we have grown to be the second largest minority group in the country, we still have a ways to go in attaining the level of civic and political representation that will champion our long struggle from the margins to the American mainstream of influence. Latino youth continue to fall behind academically and too many are dropping out of school, surrendering to negative lifestyles, becoming victims and/or perpetrators of violence, and ending up in juvenile halls, jails and prisons. Latinos remain underrepresented in federal, state and local government, despite the fact that statistics increasingly “speak Spanish.” What this means is that social trends reveal the powerful influence our people are having upon all aspects of our social, economic and political life. Yet, we continue to be marginalized from mainstream influence within American politics. Nevertheless, I suggest, we are at a turning point. A window of opportunity for leadership has opened and it is now our turn to step up and make sure it does not close. As for those of us in leadership positions today, we must continue not only to lead, but also to recruit, train and coach the young leaders of tomorrow to change our legacy of nonchalant participation in the American public discourse. For example, with all the debate that is going on in our country today regarding health care, the recession, joblessness, education, war, illegal immigration and every other issue affecting our daily life, where is our voice? Who represents us on the national scene of leadership? Who can we look to for guidance? Where can we find the Latino-American perspective represented on the nightly news, cable news, and daily radio and Sunday talk shows?
While Latinos are lumped as one demographically, we are a very diverse group of Americans that have yet to develop a common voice that speaks with a common vision. I suggest that until the Latino vote is galvanized we will remain on the margins of American life. After all, if we have the numbers but not the influence, does it really matter that we have become the largest minority group in America? In order to increase our influence we will need leadership capable of weaving a tapestry that includes all the threads of Latino culture. Although American-Mexicans (those of Mexican descent born here) and Mexican-American immigrants (those born in Mexico who have come here) comprise the majority of Latinos in the U.S., our Hispanic-Latino brothers and sisters from other countries contribute to a cultural diversity that enriches us far more than it should divide us as we all face the common minority pressure to “fit in” without “selling out.” Selling out speaks to the challenge for those born in the U.S. and raised in the Latino culture, and expected to master two languages, cultures and loyalties. If we do not, we are criticized from the margins by our own (“you’re a pocho” – a put down for not being able to speak Spanish properly). At the same time, we are ridiculed from the mainstream (“you’re a wetback” – a put down from the mainstream labeling us as outsiders not worthy of dignity or respect).
As a minority growing up in America during the sixties and seventies, I struggled to find my identity and often felt ashamed of my own culture. As a little boy I was exposed mostly to the Mexican culture at home, but to a different culture in school, even though most of the students were of my own culture. After graduating from elementary school, my mother decided that my sisters, brother and I, were going to attend a junior high that was across town with a majority of white students and a growing number of Hispanics. I still found myself hanging out for the most part with Chicano’s; the “jetter” crowd, as we used to call ourselves (Kind of a cross between a “Cholo” and a “Continental” in dress). By the time I got to the ninth grade (1968), the Hippie culture was in full swing. All of a sudden my life took a whole different slant. My girlfriend was white with blond hair and blue eyes, my sisters went from “Cholo” (slang that describes a certain kind of dress) boyfriends to “Surfers” and listening to the “Beach Boy’s”. All of a sudden, drugs, Griffith park “love-ins” and concerts at the Rose Palace (In Pasadena, CA) became the “hip” thing to do for the new crowd I was now beginning to hang out with. It was all fast and confusing for a young Chicano still living in the barrio and still hanging around with gang members and American-Mexicans living a different experience. Being a good athlete also had an effect on me as I found myself surrounded by more whites than browns, especially when I went on to play college football and baseball where I was one Hispanic among less than a handful of others. I tried to fit in amongst the whites, but deep down inside one never knows where you stand in the general white crowd no matter how white I talked, dressed and acted. I also tried to fit in with my black team mates, which was a little easier since they understand the minority thing. But even that was awkward at times because again I found myself trying to adapt to their culture and not the other way around (I’m sure the white guys and black guys reading this that grew up around mostly Mexicans know what I mean).
At first I really did not pay that much attention to the disproportion of representation of Latino’s in the different circles I found myself in. But eventually I began to wonder why and have become much more aware of it over the years as a community leader. As I continue my journey today and sit around the social and political community problem solving table, I still find that I am only one amongst less than a handful of other Latinos. I have witnessed this at the local, state and national level of leadership. In calling for more Latino leadership I hope to make a positive difference in what has been an ongoing marginal experience for Latinos–Born in America, living in America, educated in America, but still on the outside looking in.
The grassroots fabric of our nation has changed and we need the leadership to change with it, represent it and restore the hope, dreams and possibilities of why our fathers crossed the border in the first place that seems to be slipping away and getting out of reach for our children and our children’s children. Or is it just me? Is it true that we are the first generation of parents whose children will not enjoy a better lifestyle than their parents? Am I over reacting? Is it just because I am getting older that I feel this way? Did my parents feel this way about my future? Or were they assured that regardless of the sacrifices they had to make, they knew that their children would have it far better than they did because they could see the growth and prosperity of the nation? But I am not assured that the same or even greater growth and prosperity will be there for my children and grandchildren if the leadership in our country does not change direction.
As Latino’s we all know, or at least have an idea, of what the plight of our immigrant parents and grandparents has been like in America. We owe it to them and to ourselves to accept the baton of leadership for such a time as this. We need to re-ignite the fire within of that pioneering spirit to find new pathways and explore the twenty first century frontiers of new and better ideas. Ideas have always been the mark of great leadership and emerging Latino leaders should realize that the gold “minds” of progress, prosperity and thought leadership remain full and ready to be discovered. As I shared parts of my own story, I believe it speaks for many others with similar backgrounds and similar struggles that they overcame to achieve their position of influence and significance. Of course there are always differences in particular details of each story, but in general, if you have grown up in this country with a Mexican/Latino heritage, you know, understand and relate to what I shared. My prayer is that the voice in my story will touch and influence you, wherever you may be in your personal journey, to aspire to new heights of leadership and to dream even bigger dreams in areas you may have never considered before.
Qualified to Lead Tomorrow – Part 2
July 6, 2009
“We argue that we may be heading for an ‘institutional Katrina’ – the final failure and collapse of key economic and political bureaucracies left behind from the industrial age.”
“The third wave wealth system is increasingly based on serving, thinking, knowing and experiencing.”
“The countries with the key economies in today’s world – are all heading for a crisis that none of them wants, that few political leaders are ready for…in all these countries, key public institutions are out of step with the whirlwind of change that surrounds them.”
– All of the above quotes taken from book by A&H Toffler, “Revolutionary Wealth”, 2006
“A revolutionary transition is ahead of us…Today, most of the public and their leaders have remarkably little knowledge about the future…We are driving at relentlessly increasing speed into an extraordinary future, but we are driving blindfolded.” – J. Martin, The Meaning of the 21st Century, 2007
In light of the theme of the above quotes, below are five qualities needed for tomorrow’s leader:
1. Tomorrow’s qualified leaders will lead in needed change. Company’s and/or communities will need to decide which side of the coming collision they want to be on – Driving and looking in the rear view mirror at what is fast approaching them – OR driving and looking out the front windshield figuring out the next move to go around the slow moving “car of policy” in the way of progress.
2. Tomorrow’s qualified leaders are Thought Leaders that keep companies and/or communities in the game of world class competition. Social influence has evolved from; “Cash is King”, to “Content is King”, and now to “Concept is King”.
3. Tomorrow’s qualified leaders know how to create significant collaboration. With the coming collapse of institutions as we have known them, new strategy and outcomes with new partnerships of relevant purpose are needed
4. Tomorrows qualified leaders show leadership in accurate anticipation. Thought Leadership is not only knowing what is “new”, but also what is “next”. We live in a world where what is next is moving towards us so fast, that what is new is obsolete before we can even understand it. What is “new” is what has already been developed. What is “next” is what is being thought about and imagined into reality. Thus, “new is old” and “next is transforming”.
5. Tomorrow’s qualified leaders find a new voice without losing their values. In his new book, “How The Mighty Have Fallen” (2009), Jim Collins says, “When people become arrogant, regarding success virtually as an entitlement…they lose sight of the true underlying factors that created success in the first place…overreaching better describes how the mighty fall.”
Qualified to Lead Tomorrow
May 11, 2009
“In the tenuous years that lie ahead, the familiar benchmarks, guideposts, and milestones will change as rapidly and explosively as the times, but the one constant at the center of the vortex will be the leader. The leader beyond the millennium will not be the leader who has learned the lessons of “How to do it”…The leader for today and the future will be focused on “How to be” - How to develop quality, character, mind-set, values, principles, and courage.” - Frances Hesselbein
• It is terrible for us to work hard and one day realize that we have the things we wanted, but have not become who we wanted.
• It is possible to “have” and not “be”, but it is impossible to “be” and not “have”.
Four qualities today that qualify the Leader of tomorrow
1. The future leader always maintains the posture of a learner.
- Listens more than he talks.
- Asks the right questions.
- Reads constantly wide and deep.
- The more he learns, the more he discovers he needs to learn.
2. The future leader is a visionary
- Visionaries are those who dare to dream.
- Visionaries possess knowledge.
- Visionaries possess a heart of generosity to support others in reaching their dreams
“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can somehow become great.”
- Mark Twain
Four principles for visionary leadership:
- Keep learning about your business.
- Keep re-inventing your business.
- Keep away from negative people.
- Develop an abundance mentality.
3. The future leader is an example
“Be careful how you live. You may be the only bible some person ever reads.”
- William J. Toms
1. Be an example in the words you speak.
2. Be an example in your choice of conduct in response to adversity.
3. Be an example of unconditional love for friends, enemies, and competitors.
4. Be an example in attitude.
5. Be an example in faith.
6. Be an example in pure motives.
4. The future leader has integrity
“Of all the attributes…there is one that is unquestionably of greatest importance. The dimension of honesty…Being seen as someone who can be trusted, who has high integrity…is essential. You may know someone is clearly competent, dynamic, and inspirational. But if you have a sense that that person is not being honest…you will not willingly follow.” - James M. Kouzes
The roots of integrity that sustain our future leadership:
- Building credibility by doing what we say we will do.
- Establish a reputation that motivates people to follow.
- Maintain congruence between our mission/vision and the needs of our followers/partners.
- Strengthening our team by clarifying purpose, unifying players, and intensifying actions.
