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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 over 25 years of sales and marketing experience within the electrical manufacturing industry. Some of his positions have included being a National Sales Manager, National Marketing Manager and Regional Sales Manager. He also has an extensive 35 years experience in public speaking and has written articles for various publications. Greg has a Master of Arts degree in Leadership from Bellevue University, where he has served as an adjunct professor. He is the founder of weLEAD Incorporated, a nonprofit organization chartered to promote personal and organizational leadership. Greg's personal site is located at http://www.greglthomas.info