A634.3.5.RB_DiazBrian

I’ve always wanted to develop into a responsible respected leader.  I have always strived to be a better person because I believe each of us has the opportunity to make a mark in this world.  We have the ability to make impressions on others.  As much as I want to be successful, I cannot imagine doing it at any cost.  Kramer (2003) wrote “Moving up the ranks can be like competing in a high-stakes tournament: As you make it through successive rounds, the pool of worthy candidates narrows, the margin for error is much smaller, and the competition intensifies. This winnowing process means just a handful of people will attain prominence or success. In some contests—such as those for CEO of a major corporation, head of a mainstream motion picture studio, dean of an elite law school, or president of the United States—there can be only one winner” (para. 9).  This type of mentality can bring out the worst in people.  For example, look at political races.  Each side might take underhanded cheap shots at the other person in an attempt to smear their opponent.  These types of campaigns are enough to make voters not want to choose either candidate.  They say that politics is an ugly business… but should it be?  When we have presidential elections what is more important?  The character of the candidate or whether or not they smoked pot as a teenager?  Winning becomes so important that we lose sight of our own ethics and values.  We lose sight of our goals.

It is unfortunate that some think that in order to get ahead it is necessary to shortcuts.  Taking shortcuts is like admitting failure.  It can also be a reaction to fear.  Leadership is not meant to be easy.  It is also okay to be afraid.  In order to be successful you have to be committed to giving your best effort.  By taking shortcuts there is no guarantee that you will achieve the results you were seeking.   We should all dream to achieve great things.  I think sometimes we lose sight of our dreams and become sidetracked by everyday life (Waldschmidt, 2010).  

When I finally decided to get my head out of my backside and be a responsible adult (after I met my wife, coincidentally) I had to do a self-examination of what I wanted out of life.  I could be an average person with average dreams or I could dedicate myself to becoming a better person and eventually a husband and a provider.  I had worked for many years waiting tables.  It came easy to me because I have the ability to relate well with others.  However, I knew that I could not count on waiting tables to buy my first home, put children through college, or provide stability for my family.  So I decided to return to school and get my degree.  I chose law to pursue.  And if I was going to pursue law as my career I decided I was going to be a lawyer.  That was my goal, that was my dream.  I worked hard at school to maintain a 4.0 CGPA so I could apply to the best law schools possible.  I wasn’t looking to be #1 but I wanted to be as close to #1 as possible.  It was pretty cut-throat in my undergrad.  Students would go to any length to get their teachers to write them a letter of recommendation into some of these law schools.  In order to get myself into law school I wasn’t about to take any shortcuts.  I would just try to be the best I could be.  As it turned out, my dream changed and so did my ambition to go to law school.  But that is another story for another time.

Rules have a place in our lives.  Without them we cannot hold ourselves or others to any type of standards.   As leaders we must promote rules and abide by them ourselves at all times.  People who choose to ignore rules send the wrong messages to others.  Kramer (2003) wrote “Unfortunately, this disdain for the rules puts risk-taking leaders on a very slippery slope. They may consider themselves exempt from the rules that govern other people’s behavior. Even more dangerous, leaders who want it all and who break the rules to get it often develop contempt for those who do play by the rules” (para. 18). 

With success comes sacrifice.  Think about all of the sacrifices made by the CEO or President of your organization.  The time spent away from their families, the birthdays missed, and the soccer games you weren’t able to attend.  Success does not equate to winning.  It just means you are willing to work that much harder than the next person.  It is what you choose to do with your success to make others better and to prepare them to become better that should be used to measure how successful we are.  It can be lonely at the top, and like the old saying goes “be careful what you wish for”.

Kramer, R. (2003). The Harder They Fall. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2003/10/the-harder-they-fall

Waldschmidt, D. (2010). 4 Reasons You Can't Shortcut Your Way to Success - Dan Waldschmidt: Author of EDGY Conversations. Retrieved from http://danwaldschmidt.com/2010/02/business/4-reasons-you-cant-shortcut-your-way-to-success