Visionary Cat Herding Princes of Execution

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That last post about the quote I saw on Twitter generated quite a discussion about the difference in rolls between the Visionaries and the Princes(ses) of Execution. Tariq Khan and Karin Hermans in particular wrestled with the question can you move (or move someone) from one category to the other?

It’s a great question.

I agree with those two that you can. But it is not easy. And both elements are vital in their respective quantities or the organization will flounder.

Big Takes More of Each

The bigger the organization, the more of both elements that is required.

When you are a one man (or one woman) show, you get to wear both hats. In fact you have to wear both of them or you are sunk. Read more

7 Ways to Start Leading Yourself

A while back I pointed out that successful people are leaders. But what if you don’t see yourself as a leader? How can you start to become one?

The military is one organization that excels at creating leadership. They have to be. For them creating top notch leadership is critical to their success as an organization. For them leadership is literally a life and death issue. Their approach is to break people down first and then build them back up. They accomplish this through an intensive indoctrination period that involves high stress, intense physical activity, and harsh psychological pressure to break down the ego.

What if joining the military is not your cup of tea? Can you still learn to be a leader?

Fortunately the answer is yes. But you have to start at the beginning.
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Success Principle #4 - Successful People are Leaders

One of the things you’ll notice if you start to study successful people is that they are leaders. They go their own way. They sometimes take risks that others see as foolish. And in the process they achieve success.

If you want to be successful, there will come a time when you will have to make a break from the crowd. The masses of humanity are shuffling their way to mediocrity. But you are destined for something more.

It may not even seem big to you at fist. But that initial turn from the herd is vastly significant.

And it will be uncomfortable, especially at first. Staying in the crowd feels safe. It feels right. But the truth is achievers are leaders.They make their own calls and squarely face the consequences of their actions.

I’ve heard it said that the way to tell if you are a leader or not is to look and see who is following you. If there is no one following, that line of reasoning goes, then by definition you are not leading.

I think that is only partly true.

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