The principal principle

Leadership starts with adherence to the principal principle: be great at what you do.

It doesn’t matter what you do. It doesn’t matter where you do it. Some are called to be great in a way that changes the world, others are recognized with Nobel prizes. Most of us are not given such high callings or such tremendous talent. But each of us has the opportunity to be great at whatever we are called to do. Be a great accountant. Be a great writer of technical manuals. Be a great spouse. Be a great boss. Be a great teacher. Be a great parent. Be a great leader.

Don’t be good. Don’t be adequate. These are wastes of time. Be great.

Being great doesn’t mean never failing, and it doesn’t mean changing the world. It means providing more than is expected when you do what is asked of you.

A leader who is only adequate at his job is doing a great disservice. People follow leaders. They set the example. If you are a leader then it is your obligation to the universe to set an example of greatness that others follow.

Become an enlightened leader and follow the principal principle: be great at what you do.