That is leadership…

February 17, 2025

Jack’s Winning Words 2/17/25 – Originally posted February 17, 20
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” (John Quincy Adams) On this Presidents’ Day, J.Q. Adams gives a good description of what a president should be…a leader. In your opinion, which president has been tSome great leadershe best leader? For me, it was FDR; leading the country out of the Great Depression and to the conclusion (almost) of WW 2. He wasn’t loved by all, but most say his economic and social policies laid the foundation for future stability and prosperity. 😉 Jack


The key to J.Q. Adams quote is the word “actions”. Leading by example is the best, and really the only, way to lead. Giving inspirational speeches but not actually doing the things that you are espousing that others do only serves to promote cynicism. That means that you have to dream more, learn more, do more and become more yourself, so that others will see your actions and follow your example. That is leadership.


Some great leaders recognized the importance of their action and their leadership role, but many leaders just go about their lives in such a way that they inspire others to follow in their footsteps. You see stories on the news every so often about teachers being honored for their many years of service and quite often you also hear stories from their former students about how that teacher inspired them to go on to do great things in life. That is leadership.


Faith leaders are often thrust into roles that require that they demonstrate their faith while consoling others by pointing to that faith for comfort and healing. They call upon their own faith to help them in that role. By demonstrating the strength and peace that faith can bring in times of great loss and sadness, they help to lead who are grieving out of their despair. That is leadership.


Perhaps one of the most important and little recognized leadership role is that of being a parent. There is nothing as powerful for teaching and leading than the examples set by parents. The old hack “do as I say, not as I do” is powerful testament to the role (good and bad) of the examples that we set as parents. If done well and consistently, the examples that we set fore our children result in wonderful adults. That is leadership.


You may not even recognize how some of your actions impact and inspire others. Stopping to help someone cross the street or maybe to load groceries into their car may be seen by someone else who then becomes inspired to help some else later in the day. Anything you do that reflects the “right thing to do” may be noticed by others and emulated. That is leadership.


So, be a leader today. Do the right things. Dream more, learn more, do more and become more. Live a life that inspires others by your example. That is leadership.

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Posted by Norm Werner

Don’t waste your time…

February 14, 2025


The Best of Jack’s Winning Words – Originally posted August 10, 2017.


“Life appears to me too short to be spent nursing animosities.” (Charlotte Bronte) In Alice in Wonderland, White Rabbit says: “So little time. So much to do.” I’m on the same page with him. So was Jim Croce. “There never seems to be enough time to do the things you want to do.” Even though you might not want to do it, Bronte suggests that getting rid of animosity is one thing that needs doing before life’s end. If you have a hatchet that needs burying, do it today. 😉 Jack


Animosity is just one of the timewasters that I can think of. Others include hate, prejudice, jealousy, and envy. Putting those things behind you allows you to focus your energy on positive things and relationships.


Letting animosities fester many times leads to wasting even more time plotting revenge and always takes you to a dark place where you really don’t want to be. Revenge, like the animosity that drives that need is best relegated to the rubbish bin. The old saw that “revenge is a dish best served cold” should be replaced with “revenge is a dish best not served at all.”
Perhaps it is the wisdom that comes with getting old that has helped me see this more clearly now. Time for an elderly person becomes the most precious thing that they have and they don’t want to waste it on unimportant things like animosities.


In the song “Let it be” written by John Lennon he appeals to the virgin Mary, but it can be generalized as an appeal to God. The reply from Mary (God) in the song for dealing with adversities is, “Let it be.” Jesus used the phrase “Be at peace”, which may be thought of as a way to let it be. That is good advice or dealing with animosities and other hatred that may be controlling your life.


The quickest way that I’ve fond to let it be and be at peace is to surrender to God’s will with the little prayer, “Not my will but thy will be done.” That little prayer takes whatever it may be that is consuming you off your plate and hands it to God. There is a palpable sense of relief that will come over you if you sincerely pray that prayer.


So, don’t waste your time holding grudges and animosities. Life is too short. Give those things to God. Let it be and be at peace.

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Posted by Norm Werner