Leadership: The Right Stuff

Imagine a nation, cut down after war, no signs of hope or relief. Then, one person takes a stand, and brings the nation back to glory. Phenomenal leaders are not made over night. To be a first-class leader requires ingenuity; to be as shrewd and clever as a mouse searching for cheese under the moonlight. Being a great leader begs patience as well, whether it is minutes, months, or years. A third characteristic in the recipe for a superb leader is perseverance, like a boxer in the final round of a fight, determined to win. To be a grand leader in today's world is to go out into war every time one takes the stand; they go out everyday not knowing what to expect, but all eyes are always on them.

A superior leader needs to always be thinking, and outside of the box for that matter. If leaders did not think like this, the world would still be trapped in the middle ages. Not many are fans of listening to someone stand on a podium and preach. A good leader needs to be able to think on their feet; like the captain of a ship faced with anarchy. Skills like these are what separate good leaders from immortal leaders, President Bush from President Grant. Those who want to reach excellence must be sagacious - like a robber in the dead of the night. They only have one change to execute, and it must be done right.

Additionally, a leader without patience is like a river without water. Envision a police officer without patience. Rather than talk a felon down, he would just pull his gun out! High-quality leaders are not born with patience, but it is chief that it develops over time. People constantly shoot down the ideas and opinions of others, telling them how wrong they are. While myriad leaders might crumble in this scenario, the few top-notch leaders rise to the occasion, and take control of the situation. For example, if John F. Kennedy had fallen apart during the Cuban Missile Crisis, the world could be in shambles right now. Excellent leaders are those who double check their work, or re-assess a problem, no matter how long it takes. Patience is extremely necessary for a great leader; like a tiger stalking its pretty on the African Savannah. Leading is one thing, but leading well is a whole other level. To advance to that level, patience is not optional, it's essential.

Subsequently, great leaders cannot be made without perseverance. Leaders cannot try something once, fail, and then quit. Perseverance is waking up every morning and starting a job, and the drive to go sleepless nights finishing that job. Tenacity is the morphine leaders use to do just that: Lead. Without that adrenaline boost, the stress and pain of adversity would be reflected through every person around the globe. There would be no second attempts. Rather than that country being restored, it would be destined to stay barren for eternity. Leaders must want to be persistent. Only the most splendid are. They are tough, like a football player in the fourth quarter of a tied game. They will not be done until the clock reads zero.

Great leaders are composed of countless attributes. They are astute, like a nocturnal owl. They are patient when faced by the everyday obstacles of life. Leaders are also persistent, getting their point across no matter what the consequence is. To lead is to venture out into the cold, dark world, and never look back or hesitate. Great leaders are the difference between a country in ruins, and a country in glory. Leaders are the super glue of society, and without them, communities, cities, and even nations, would fall apart.