When I was in high school, I was captain of the junior varsity cheer team.
I took that role (very) seriously.
We were a competitive cheer team and so there was a lot at stake. I mean we HAD to bring home the 1st place trophy and spirit award at cheer camp! That legacy was not going down on my watch…! ????????
I would stay up at night drawing formations, creating choreography…. I would practice my herkie jumps in the mirror until my legs gave out. I was obsessed.
Some might say I was bossy. I mean I was a sophomore in high school so it’s not like I have discovered John C Maxwell yet…. gesh.
In my young heart and mind, I thought the entire world wanted excellence and loved to work as hard as I did….and WIN!
I gave it everything I had…..but no one likes a bossy person… so I was not invited back to be cheer captain or co-captain the next year. You could say the team retired my (over the top) “leadership”. And so the leader was asked to re-join the ranks and follow for a while.
Laugh as you might, that was the start of my long standing apology to the world for being intense… passionate… focused… driven… It was the first time I felt that being liked was more important than being authentically me. I started downplaying my drive, my intensity….
Because at the end of the day, you may not agree with me (that’s ok, I disagree with myself all the time…????) but if I feel like you don’t LIKE me, I’ll curl up in that fetal position and cry like my dog died. Because I give my heart to everyone….
But here’s what I’ve learned about leadership in the last 7 years. It’s not about telling people what to do… it’s about serving others and showing them where you are going. If they wanna come along for the ride, then they are your tribe. So love them.
Oh, most importantly, no one cares about the goal unless you are having FUN.
Yep, combine intense focus, hard work & FUN — and man, that combination will take you all the way to the top. And that’s EXACTLY where we are headed with the ones who are with us. ✌????
Don’t hold back the real you. it’s dishonoring to the one who created you. <3 Someone else’s opinion of you is NONE of your biz…. it doesn’t pay your bills, it doesn’t advance your life…and it will ROB your joy.
Yes, the path begins within. Accept yourself and your gifts and know you were created with purpose. (And just in case you’ve been told you’re too bossy, you’re not “bossy”…. you are made to lead!)
