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What Are You Willing to Live For?
-One Leader's Perspective
By
Greg L. Thomas
A few years ago I read
an interesting story about Dr. Martin Luther King. He was reputedly addressing
a religious congregation about the need for their support of civil rights
activism in their own community. Many members of the audience had serious
concerns and expressed why they should not get involved. One individual
stated, “we may be recognized and lose our jobs”. Another commented that the
“police may become violent and we may get hurt”. Others in the audience also
passionately expressed reasons why getting involved might result in pain,
frustration or even possible death. After listening to these concerns for a
while and attempting to respond to them as they arose, Dr. King seemingly
exasperated with some in the audience loudly proclaimed, “if we are not willing
to die for something, we are not fit to live!” By his own personal example Martin Luther King was willing to
die for the principles he believed in, and he did.
Thankfully,
as leaders we are seldom required or asked to literally die for the causes or
changes we believe in. Outside of the military, leaders are rarely expected to
make the ultimate sacrifice. So for most of us the question we need to ask
ourselves is “what am I willing to live for?” Values worth dying for are also
worth living for! I recall a Hollywood movie years ago
that reenacted the events of the American Civil War. In one scene President
Lincoln called a young man into his office to discuss his enlistment in the
intelligence efforts of the Union army. Lincoln was probing the man to see if
he had the qualities to become a spy. As the men were talking, Lincoln asked
him, “Jim, how much do you love your country?” Jim responded by saying, “Mr.
President, I reckon I would be willing to die for her.” Lincoln promptly spoke
and replied, “Jim, I can find 10,000 men who are willing to die for the
Union, I want you to live for her!”
As
a leader, have you taken the time to determine just what things worth living
for? In this article I want to suggest some things worth living for and why
they are important.
It
is amazing to me how many people are willing to literally die for things they
are not willing to live for. We often forget that the heritage of freedom we
experience today is the result of past leaders who struggled, lived and even
died for freedoms we enjoy. We tend to take many things for granted as though
life has always been this way. It has not always been this way.
The good things we experience as part of our heritage only exist because
previous leaders “stepped up to the plate” to pursue real change in society and
in our institutions. Past generations did their part to make life better
for others. Since it’s now our turn, how about us? What are the things we
are willing to live for?
I
believe the first thing worth living for is our integrity. This sounds simple,
but judging by the example of some politicians, religious leaders, so-called
celebrities and various business executives, living with integrity seems like
an elusive dream. Many years ago General Robert E. Lee had lost most everything
he possessed as a Confederate general for the Southern States during the
American Civil War. He went from the pinnacle of admiration and respect as a
military general, to the depths of humiliation, defeat and obscurity. He was
later approached by a company and asked to simply lend his name and likeness to
a product that was little more than a marketing scheme with questionable
ethics. It must have been tempting! It promised quick wealth and recognition.
To most individuals, the offer to have their personal name promoted and
prominently displayed would be irresistible. But this is not how General Lee
viewed the offer. He purportedly replied, “I have lost everything in the war except
my name, and that is not for sale. If I lose that, I have nothing.”
No
possessions including wealth, fame or power is a substitute for integrity. Why
is integrity so important? The answer is rather simple. Wealth, fame and power
are fleeting and typically unfulfilling. Once attained, or even partially
attained, the need is for more and more to satisfy. Meanwhile, if one
has sacrificed their integrity for these things, eventually the only thing
remaining is…virtually nothing. In
contrast, those who live the principles they know are honorable and right, live
with integrity. They remain content and fulfilled regardless of circumstances.
The greatest possession is inner peace, personal contentment and self-respect.
Surprisingly Abraham Lincoln and General Lee, both devout military opponents,
understood the supreme value of integrity over material comfort. This is the
fabric that great leaders are made of!
Only
integrity helps us maintain the serenity and confidence we need during the dark
times of life. With integrity as an anchor, one can understand that beneath the
troubled waters on the surface of life is a strong undercurrent of values that
recognize what is “right and true” and it will prevail at the proper time. Yes,
personal integrity is worth living for and if that is lost, nothing else we
retain will really matter. When you live with integrity you have lived well,
“played by the rules” and taken no shortcuts. You also leave no tracks that
need to be covered or skeletons that need to be buried.
Another
thing worth living for is serving others. This is the heart and core of the
modern term called “servant leadership”. There are basically two types of assets
in the world. They are “things” and “people”. Things are material
possessions like money, homes, cars, careers, power and influence. People
are other beings just like us who were created in the image of God and have
feelings, desires, hopes and needs. The greatest of leaders have always known
that the correct approach is to use things and love people.
Almost all the problems that exist in our world today are caused by a vain
approach that reverses this order. Strife occurs when we attempt to use
people and love things.
King George V of
Britain kept a note on his desk written in his own hand. Its origin is unsure
and some attribute it to George Eliot or Victor Hugo or others. Yet, it
reminded him succinctly…
“I
shall pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, that I can do, or
any kindness I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer
nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again”
The
role of being a leader is a precious one because it provides the opportunity to
make a positive difference in the workplace, our communities, our families and
our personal lives. Servant leaders believe that people are the highest
priority. They are the greatest natural resource of any business, community or
nation. They quickly realize that the difference between a healthy profitable
company and a mediocre one is not possessing
the latest software, best marketing scheme or cheapest product. The difference
is in its people and how they are perceived and treated. A leader who serves
gets the greatest satisfaction out of being a mentor and coach. Seeing others
grow toward their potential and reach new heights provides a deep sense of
personal fulfillment.
Servant
leaders often have formal positions of power in an organization. They may also
have been given impressive titles. But servant leaders achieve great success
not by formal position or title, but by the most powerful force
available to any leader, the earned respect, commitment and admiration of
followers! Why do followers have this deep level of esteem toward the servant
leader? Why do followers allow the servant leader to have a great degree of
influence? It is because they recognize that the servant leader cares for them,
makes them a priority, and genuinely seeks to support them. How is this done?
It is demonstrated by listening, encouraging, coaching, communicating and
inspiring a positive vision.
Another
thing worth living for is the experience of life itself! For people who have
deep spiritual values, this life provides a purpose for both today and beyond.
However, it is also interesting to notice the comments of leaders who were not
considered particularly religious or members of organized religion.
Thomas
Jefferson wrote, “Hence the inestimable value of intellectual
pleasures...Ever in our power, always leading us to something new, never
cloying, we ride, serene and sublime, above the concerns of this mortal world,
contemplating truth and nature, matter and motion, the laws which bind up their
existence, and the Eternal being who made and bound them up by these laws. Let
this be our employ.”
Benjamin Franklin wrote this epithet of himself, “The Body of Benjamin
Franklin, Printer (like the cover of an old book, it’s contents torn out, and stript
of its lettering and gilding,) lies food for worms. Yet the work itself shall
not be lost, for it will (as he believed) appear once more, in a new and more
beautiful edition, corrected and amended by the Author.”
Winston Churchill on the eve of being named British prime minister during
the depths of World War 2 felt that his entire life up to this point had been
but a mere preparation for this event. He later said,
"Do not
let us speak of darker days; let us rather speak of sterner days. These are not
dark days; these are great days -- the greatest days our country has ever
lived; and we must all thank God that we have been allowed, each of us
according to our stations, to play a part in making these days memorable in the
history of our race."
What prods great leaders onward is a zest for
life and a belief that their lives really matter. Some are also driven by a
belief that they will someday be personally held accountable for their actions
or inactions. This excitement to experience life is not built on a foundation
of selfishness, but of serenity. We are a combination of all of our
experiences. We appreciate this the older we get. When we are young, life seems
to be without limitation and we believe we are immortal. As we age and mature,
we reach the point where days and weeks seem to run together. We come to
realize we have a shorter time to gather from life what it has to offer. Each
day is a gift and when we miss a day, it is gone forever. This is why leaders
are willing to make the difficult decisions. They know that time waits
for no one and we must make our own decisions or time will make them for us.
Yes, we may not enjoy growing old and experiencing the ”aches
and pains” of aging, but even these have their place in the journey of life.
For many, the greatest achievements in their lifetime occurred in their sixties
or beyond. Just ask Winston Churchill, Benjamin Franklin, Nelson Mandella, Grandma Moses, Mother Teresa and countless
others.
Life
itself is intended to be an exciting learning adventure. Within it we can
choose to see the best, believe the best, and be the best, no matter what the
circumstances. If we have the right values and moral compass we will not
stumble down every dead-end path just because “others” have done so, or have
told us it is acceptable! I hope you honestly believe the best is yet to
come in your life! As a leader I encourage you to think about the things in
your life that are worth living for. I have touched upon a few reasons
in this article. Your integrity tells the world what you are.
Your service tells the world who you are. Finally, your zest
for life tells the world why you are here.
Remember, the great possessions of life are not simply
those things we discover on the outside, but what we also discover and develop
within.
Comments to: gthomas@leadingtoday.org
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About the author:
Greg has an extensive thirty-five years experience in public
speaking and has spoken to hundreds of audiences worldwide. Greg has a Master
of Arts degree in Leadership from
Bellevue University, where he also has served as an adjunct professor teaching
courses in business management and leadership since 2002. His first book, 52 Leadership Tips
(That Will Change How You Lead Others) was published
in 2006 by WingSpan Press. His second book, Making
Life's Puzzle Pieces Fit was published in March 2009. Both are available at
amazon.com. Greg is also the president of Leadership
Excellence, Ltd and a Managing Partner of the Leadership Management
Institute. Leadership
Excellence, Ltd. effectively builds
individuals and organizations to reach their highest potential through enhanced
productivity and personal development using a number of proven programs. He is also the president and founder
of weLEAD Incorporated.