The hallmark of leadership is the ability to produce leadership in others. If your goal is to become the grand commander such that all others can follow, then you are too far from authentic leadership. John C. Maxwell said, “a leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way”. Leadership is first about becoming a person of substance and value, then becoming an inspiration for others to discover their own leadership. Our ultimate goals in life should include finding our own frontiers such that we can help those who encounter us find theirs. A leader is not a lone superstar that shines solo for the world to see, but rather a source of illumination for others. When we all become sources of light, we can keep the world brighter forever.

The result of a leader producing another is a manifold effect. Our successes and accomplishments should produce results that outlast us. You and I know that materials things, monetary wealth and physical possessions don’t last for long. However, the investment that we make in other people, especially in the next generation can be carried onto many generations to come. I remember learning from books written by notable experts like Napoleon Hill, George Clason, James Allen and others, many which were written over 100 years ago. Those people left a legacy of fundamental principles of success which have become the foundation of modern philosophies of achievements.
​
We each have an opportunity to influence other people positively, in our daily work lives, in the community and at home. Producing leadership in others is not that complicated. To do so, we strive to become the best version of ourselves every day and we inspire and support others to do the same. When we help people find their relevance and worthwhile direction for life, we produce leadership in them. Imagine a world full of leaders producing leaders in every walk of life, with everyone exploiting their potential and fulfilling the purpose they are designed to fulfill. The multiplier effect will promote peace and prosperity for people across our planet.

If we decide to respond to life based on all the events, news and experiences we are exposed to every day, there will not be a single happy person on earth. There is always a reason to be upset. If you listen to news, you will see that there isn’t anything good about what is being reported. It’s all about the negativities – wars, economic hardships, poverty, homicides, accidents, etc. Likewise, social media is full of a mix of different information, especially those that can cause you to think and act the way you did not intend. The one that fascinates me the most is seeing people fight a war of words on social media, as if they are being paid to take sides on a matter that has absolutely no relevance to them.

How about our own experiences? We all have our share of the good and the bad things happening. In most cases, it is easier for our minds to dwell on the negatives more than the positives. The problem is that many people’s state of mind and happiness now depends on news and negative life experiences. It seems like the world is becoming a more unhappy place. If you want to test that, just engage in social banter with others and you will quickly discover what people think about the world around them and their own situations.
​
Meanwhile, there is a solution for those who understand that inner peace and happiness do not depend on external factors. I know quite well that despite all that is happening around us, we can maintain a state of calmness, quietness and fulfilment. This state of happiness does not have anything to do with external influences. The journey leading up to happiness starts with gratitude, then decorated with deep love for self, for life, for people and for everything around us. If you are not personally happy from the inside, it is unlikely that anything outside can lead you to lasting happiness. Let happiness flow from your heart as you decide to maintain a positive outlook on life. Let your heart glow with happiness.

Giving gifts is one of the ways we express our love, gratitude, recognition or affection to others. Giving is an expression of love. You can give without loving but you cannot love without giving. Those whose hearts are large, who are intrinsically loving, are generous givers. I have seen people sacrifice very valuable items to give as gifts to those they care about. I salute the selflessness of those who generously give, especially sacrificially. Any time we talk about giving, what comes to mind are those material things – money, flowers, cards, food, and other tangible items. We are so accustomed to material gifts such that the representation of a gift is a wrapped box with a red ribbon around it and knotted at the top.
​
Meanwhile, there is a gift that is superior to material things. It is the giving of oneself to another person or to people in the form of our time. When we give our time, we trade our most precious irredeemable item to enrich others. One of the best gifts you can present to anyone is your presence. Being there for others when they need you the most is priceless. The difference that your presence makes when someone else is in a critical situation is to be valued more than material gifts. Yes, you can give materially but also remember to be present.

Are you someone who is always present when you are needed the most? Are you there for your spouse, children, friends, or community? Do those who know you feel your presence? Each one of us must check our modality for giving. There is no material item that can buy your presence. Think about it this way. We all have limited time to be here on earth. We are not here forever. People gave material things before we were here and will continue to do so after us. However, our presence is a unique part of history, and to share it with someone else is to be considered precious. Therefore, always remember to be present for those who need you.

Each one of us has been given a measure of opportunity to oversee something, whether big or small. You may be a manager, an executive, a teacher, a business owner, a trader, a tradesperson, a worker, a community leader or even a parent, caregiver or an older sibling. I may not remember to mention what you are involved in or who you are. However, at every stage and within every one of our endeavours is a responsibility on our shoulder, the duty we owe to ourselves and to others for managing resources and situations appropriately. I do not know anyone, whether old or small, that does not have a responsibility, except those who refuse to do what they must do. We are all stewards of every opportunity that we have, including all the resources and physical and intellectual abilities that we possess.

A true measure of success in stewardship is the difference between the beginning and the end of an opportunity. For example, if you are given an opportunity to manage a team, a measure of your stewardship success is the way you leave the team after your time managing it, compared with the way you met it. If you are a talented musician, a measure of your stewardship success could be how you used music to benefit those around you or how music has made you a better person. Stewardship requires that we carefully manage whatsoever is entrusted to us. In stewardship, we strive to add value to everything under our supervision or control, leaving things much better than how we met them. It is all about the difference that our action makes in the matter at hand.
​
Making a difference in stewardship extends to almost everything we do, including our career, how we manage resources, how we use our time, how we manage people, and how we relate with those around us. Considering those who are close to you, would you say that they became better people because of your relationship with them? Good stewards influence others positively, imparting positive life changes and leaving memories of good things in the minds of those they encounter. Are you a good steward? Are you a successful steward of all the opportunities, resources, time, positions, authority, gifts, and skills with which you have been endowed? Would you make a difference through your stewardship?

​A quote to remember
Where I was born and where and how I have lived are unimportant. It is what I have done with where I have been that should be of interest. - Georgia O'Keeffe

Our experiences indicate that we will all have our fair share of the good and the challenges of life. It is no news that life is full adventures whether pleasant or not. I have not seen a single person, no matter their antecedent, who spends decades in this world and did not face any form of difficulty. The question is not whether things may become tough or not. The real deal is what we will do, what disposition we will adopt when the going gets tough. It all comes down to “attitude”.

I have seen people living amidst plenty, seemingly having many good things, but do not have inner peace and happiness. I have also seen people living in a lowly state, managing to get by every day, but full of thankfulness despite their situation. Without any mistake, lowly situation does not equate to happiness, neither is plentiful living synonymous with unhappiness. What determines how anyone experiences their situation is their attitude; the way they think and feel.

One thing about attitude is that it is easy to spot in a person’s action and words. People with negative attitudes say negative things, sometimes under the guise of being realistic. With them you will hear things like, “it’s impossible”, “that will never happen” or “the problem is…”. The challenge with negative words is that it allows negativity to be engrained in one’s mind, such that it is difficult to visualize how things can be better or be altogether “alright”. In my own journey, I have learnt and continue to stay calm in difficult situation and to always say, “it’s alright”.
​
Saying that it’s alright even in the face of challenges does not mean that you are denying the situation. It only means that you have an assurance of a change in the positive direction. Afterall, negativity has no value, but positivity does. When we see things positively, we secure the courage to act in a manner consistent with the good result that we expect. Rather than using negative words when things are challenging, practice positive confessions instead. Always say, “it’s alright”.