I have heard tips on being a leader, read many books on the subject and attended various seminars over the years. Each author or speaker has a specific point that he or she emphasizes and some become famous for their area of leadership.

Examples of this are:

John Maxwell, “No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care.”

Michael Gerber, “With all things being equal, people will generally do business with people that they know, like and trust.”

Dr. Ivan Misner founder of BNI, “Givers Gain.”

One of the best statements that I ever read about being a leader didn’t come from a book, speaker or a conference. It came from a trip to Pigeon Forge Tennessee.

Although we travel to Pigeon Forge 3 or 4 times a year, we have our favorite stopping places before we cross the Smokey Mountains. At one of the stops, as I walked into the restroom, I saw a picture of a sailboat on a lake. The caption read, “The pessimist says the wind is blowing, the optimist says it will change but the leader simply adjust the sail.”

Image courtesy of arztsamui at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Wow! That is a powerful concept. Life will happen and try to derail you. When things don’t go according to the plan, are you a pessimist that says, “it’s just my luck?” Are you an optimist that says, “I will keep working and I will get my break one day?” Are you a leader that continues to adjust to the challenges of life?

There is a good chance that every person who owns the same home for 15 years will have the water heater leak and ruin sheetrock, carpet and possible furniture. When the event happens, do you fall apart, do you become angry or do you call someone in your network who can handle the issue.

Remember, a leader simply adjust the sail.

Share your thoughts about a great leader that you know and what makes him or her a great leader.   

#trainingofchampions   #networkingguru

Like our Training of Champions Facebook page

       James Barber

       Author of the Networking Guru

       Networking-Guru.com