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Don't Be Defeated By Inaction

Guest post by: Michael Hume

Article Overview: We all end up in tough circumstances in our lives. These days, when the global economy is reeling (and when many experts say things will still get MUCH worse before they get better), a lot of people are struggling just to get by. But as I've learned over the years from the clients I've met who've overcome adversity, inspirational leaders aren't people who never get into tough spots, but are those who have the ability to work their way out....

Don't Be Defeated By Inaction

Inspirational Leaders Churn Their Way Out Of Trouble We all end up in tough circumstances in our lives. These days, when the global economy is reeling (and when many experts say things will still get MUCH worse before they get better), a lot of people are struggling just to get by. But as I've learned over the years from the clients I've met who've overcome adversity, inspirational leaders aren't people who never get into tough spots, but are those who have the ability to work their way out.

Like most things, the value of industry can be illustrated by reference to the movies. One of my favorites is getting a lot of play on cable these days - "Catch Me If You Can." It's the story of a con-artist, and the lesson is perhaps misapplied by the movie's characters, but one of the running parables in the show goes like this: Two mice fall into a bucket of cream... the first one drowns, but the second one keeps paddling so hard he churns that cream into butter and walks right out.

Which mouse are you?

There are two types of people out there, and both might want to be inspirational leaders, but only one has the potential to truly inspire others. One type, which I call "The Victim," can never be an inspiration to others. He's a political creature, always looking for "the angles," and he has the sort of negative outlook on life and people that leads to an expectation of failure. When he fails, he blames others, or the economy, even the weather... anything, or anybody, but himself. Nobody's inspired by that guy.

The other type is "the Entrepreneur." She may or may not own a business (these days, she really should), but she's a person of initiative in all circumstances. She doesn't wait for things to happen - she makes them happen. She doesn't look to be taken care of - she takes care of herself, and of others. And she doesn't expect to fail, she expects to succeed - and she usually does. And THAT sort of person really can be an inspirational leader.

Which mouse is which? It's pretty clear. Both are dropped into adversity, but the Entrepreneur can be recognized in the mouse who doesn't give up, but instead churns his way out of the problem. And it's equally obvious which mouse is the Victim.

Don't let yourself fail because you gave up, or because you didn't work hard enough. Like all of us, you have both the Entrepreneur and the Victim striving within you... as the old Native American proverb says, you will be dominated by the image you feed. So "feed" your inner Entrepreneur by finding inspiration wherever you can... and "starve" your inner Victim by refusing to join in with the negative talk you hear around you. And by all means, keep putting one foot in front of the other. Keep churning.

One more movie reference, this from a new movie out called "Win Win." It's about a teenager who's great at wrestling... and his thinking goes something like this: "I always imagine that the other guy is trying to drown me, and push my head under water... and I do whatever it takes to get up." The character expresses it more colorfully, let's say, but the message is clear. If you want to be an inspirational leader, don't let adversity drown you. Do whatever it takes to get up.

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Article Tags: entrepreneurship, health wealth and happiness, inspirational leadership, personal responsibility



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