LEADERSHIP LESSON

During our leadership classes for the last three editions, we examined teachings on the subject of leadership from the book “Leadership for Dummies.” Form the feedbacks we got, the classes and teachings were worth all the pain, but hey, what pain can be too much to bear just to get our dear motherland back on track as far as leadership at all level is concerned.

For this class however, our lesson is illustrated by the story of two brothers who desired at a time in their lives to lead (which is not a wrong thing to do), but the way they went about it was completely wrong.

These two brothers were students in an ancient school under a very disciplined master who by all standards was a leader of leaders.

They went to their master and said to him, “Sir, we want to lead our generation and we believe the only way to achieve it is by occupying the right positions. So we beg you to please allow us to become your first and second assistants (right and left hand men). And that way our colleagues and the rest of this generation will have no choice but to listen to us.”

The response of the master shows us what was wrong in the way these guys went about their request (though the request or desire in itself was not wrong).

“You guys are not serious,” the master said. “You think I got to this position like that?” He continued, “Today, I will teach you how to become a leader.” Then he said to them, “He that must be the greatest or leader must first be the SERVANT of all.” That is it right there, the A – Z of leadership is SERVICE; servanthood – that is the true spelling of leadership. It is not POSITION or TITLE.

What the master was telling them here was that you do not need a position or title to be a leader, whether in church or in the community, all you need is to find an area of need and begin to serve the people, when you begin to do this, the ‘MASTER’ says you have become a leader. The people may now become so pleased with you that they entrust you with position, but that is not the most important thing, it is only a fringe benefit.

I believe this is a word for all of us to take very seriously to heart. And in case you are out there seeking political office in the pretense that you want to go and serve your people, I encourage you to start serving (or better still servicing) them now without the office or position, because that is the only way the service can be genuine and not position motivated.

That is all we have time for in this class. Till we see again in the next class (next edition) go and become a servant-leader.

(The story used is taken from the Bible – Mark 10:35 - 45)

(As published in the 10th edition of my newsletter Motivation.Com)

LEADERSHIP LESSON

What a joy it is for me to welcome you all back to class in this edition of our newsletter. I believe you have been enjoying our teachings so far on the subject of leadership. Or have you not?

In this edition of the newsletter, I bring another very incisive teaching on the subject that I believe will help you see leadership from a whole new perspective, especially if you are someone who occupies a position that might be described as “leadership position” and you have responsibility for others, or you desire such position. It doesn’t matter whether it is political, religious of family.

I see a generation of folks who have little or no idea as to what leadership is and yet they all claim to be leaders or desire to be. The one that borders me the most is political leadership. For example, our dear country, Nigeria has been suffering for over fifty years because we have not had purposeful leadership to chat the cause for our national life. Rather we have had charlatans in suits, kaakis and agbadas who have paraded themselves only for selfish ends.

We have had people who think that to be or as a leader you must live in ivory tower and sit on thrones and then everyone else must come to worship you. People who think Nigeria and the different states are their personal property. They believe they have monopoly of knowledge and power.

But looking at the life of the greatest leader of all, Jesus Christ, we see a contrast – a totally different approach to leadership and influence.

“And He (Jesus) came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases.” – Luke 6:17

We can pick some lessons from this passage:

- Jesus did not discriminate against anyone. He came down to their level

- He was not sectarian in His approach, they were all equal, no rich separate and poor separate

- He was not tribalistic – people came from everywhere

- He met their needs

- And so on...

The Scriptures record of Him “We do not have a High Priest who cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities.” – ... Do you feel what the people are feeling? Do you even know what they are passing through, not to talk of felling it?

“He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquity and the chastisement of our peace was upon Him.” How far are you willing to go for the people as a leader?

In bringing this class to a close, let me ask you my dear desirous leader; are you ready to dispatch your leadership duties like Jesus?

Till we meet again in our next class (next edition), I have been your leadership coach, Abiodun Mabadeje

THE IRONY OF TELEVISION

For those that have been following my writings, I’m sure you’re already saying, “This guy has come again with his very unconventional way of giving titles.” “What is/can be ironical about the television again?” is probably the question on your mind right now.

Permit me to quickly tell you that i have only one purpose in mind for writing this particular piece, it is to get you angry. Not to angry at me (although I’m aware that that could happen), but at YOURSELF.

However it goes, I’ll encourage you to humbly read through and read in-between the lines to see if there’s something for you to grab and use, and I guarantee that there’s definitely something for you.

So much has been said about that ‘box’ in your sitting room called “Television.” Some say it is good, while others say it is bad. In fact some went as far as labelling it “The devil’s box.”

I do not intend in anyway by this piece to further label it to be good or bad, you can decide that for yourself.

There is however one thing I know about the television, it got it’s name from two root words, “Tele” and “Vision.”

The other thing I know about this ‘box’ is that it is used to ‘tele-vision,’ meaning it is used to SHOW VISION.

I can imagine that in your mind now, you’re asking, “So, what is the big deal about that?”

The big deal is that anytime you sit in front of a TV set to watch any programme, you are watching other people’s vision or better put, the manifested vision of other people. The vision of other people is being televised for you to watch and enjoy.

You name any programme you know on TV, it is the manifestation of an idea (vision) that was once locked up in somebody’s mind. Call it soap opera, documentary, movie, news or whatever.

If you are discerning enough, by now you should be catching my drift with this article. And in case you’re not, don’t worry, I’ll bail you out.

My point of view (more of a concern) is that, when will other people begin to watch your own vision? All those ideas, concepts, dreams that you have locked up in your mind all these years, when are we going to start enjoying them?

Okay, don’t think that I am necessarily talking about you having a programme on TV (but if that happens, all well and good). For example, this piece was once a thought – an idea in my mind. That you are reading it now means that it has become a manifested vision (tele-vision), which you are enjoying.

May be I should be more specific and hit the nail right on the head. Let me ask you, who is reading your book? Who is listening to your CD? Is there someone putting clothes with your name as the label? Are people eating your food? Have you started a school that pupils could attend? Is someone drinking your water? Or ... (fill in the gap).

I hope that at this point you are becoming angry with yourself already?

Let me push it a little further for you. Is there anything in this world that has your name on it? Something you can live behind for posterity; something that will outlive you. If there’s none, I think you should be ashamed of yourself and use your hand to cover your face (forgive my bluntness – I know truth is a bitter pill to swallow). But do not forget that I told you earlier that I intend to get you angry.

However, it is not too late for you to start doing something.

One thing and one thing alone is responsible for the manifestation of this piece that was once locked up in my mind as a thought as a thought or idea to become what you are reading and that thing is very simple – ACTION!

Action is the bridge between a conceived idea and its manifestation.

I therefore humbly submit to you that the reason why we are not yet witnessing the manifestation (or the ‘tele-vision-ing’) of your ideas is because you have refused to take action (Really no man lacks ideas, we only have men who will not work on their ideas).

These ideas have probably stayed for months, perhaps years in the incubating room of your mind but because of in-action, you have remained in the incubating room of life.

Your generation is waiting for the manifestation of your conceived vision which has remained in limbo because you have refused to take action.

As I wind up in my quest to get you angry, permit me to brag and blow my own trumpet a little bit to show you some ways in which my own vision(s) is/are being ‘tele-vision-ed’:

- I am an author of seven published books

- I have written several articles with a good number of them already published on net and hardcover magazines

- I’m sure you know that I am the publisher of this newsletter in your hand (Motivation.Com)

- I have 2 audio CDs and 1 DVD products

- I am the M.D/C.E.O. of Hedge Publishing Ventures (in case you have materials you want to publish or print, make sure you contact me)

- I am a public speaker with very strong bias for motivations and have graced the platform with some of the big names you know

- I am an actor with nothing less than 22 years experience on stage (and screen)

- And... and... and... so on and so on...

- I am ABIODUN MABADEJE, you can join me on Facebook, 234-8023771690, abiodunmabadeje@yahoo.com