Everyone is a Leader
Who Are You Following?
I’ve been blessed in my life to have had a number of mentors and role models. One of the most significant was from my days at American Express Financial Corporation. His name was Doug Lennick. One of the many things I learned from Doug was the concept that everyone is a leader, which he based on two observations about people.
One is that everyone’s actions are observable by others, and the second is that what we observe in others sometimes influences our own behavior.
That’s simple enough, and when you think about it you’re likely to come up with many examples in your own life. Personally, I can think of countless examples, and it happens often. Here are two:
When I work out at our local fitness center it’s impossible not to observe other people, not like a stalker, but simply by being there. Sometimes I see someone doing an exercise I’ve never done before and it inspires me to learn how to do it myself. I love it.
Another example is observing people in retirement (which happens regularly now that my wife and I are in that age group!). Some people lead very active lives, exercising regularly, challenging themselves mentally, investing in relationships, staying active socially. The activities themselves may vary, but these people are great role models. Conversely, it’s not uncommon to see others who develop bad eating or drinking habits, become lethargic, spend hours in front of the TV or on the internet, and grow more negative in their outlook, all of which leads toward a downward spiral.
Tune into life and you’ll find a myriad number of examples. Some you’ll choose to emulate, and others you’ll steer clear of. The wonder of it all is that the world around us is a continual opportunity to learn. The key is be aware of it. As you do, ask yourself:
Who am I choosing to emulate?
Who do I hang around with?
Whether consciously or unconsciously, we’re all influenced by those around us, so it’s fair to say that if ‘birds of a feather flock together’, who’s your flock?
I was also blessed to have some elders in my life who were great role models. Two who come to mind immediately were an aunt and uncle, both of whom passed away in the past year. This was my mother’s brother and his wife, and together they put on a master class on how to live in our later years. They took care of themselves physically, continuing to exercise on a schedule even after turning 90. They enjoyed being engaged in conversation. They were always interested and curious. And one of my favorite characteristics, they loved to laugh. They’re greatly missed, but will also stay with me in my heart, and as great role models as I grow older.
