(Secret Agent Man    Theme from Secret Agent Man)

There are so many factors out there when one asks the question…”What does it take to be a leader?” Well, I don’t know about you, but clearly one of the major factors and answers is that a Leader needs to be an “Agent of Change”.

Why does it take people so long to realize that change is necessary? The old adage that the highest form of insanity is to keep doing what you are doing and expect a different result is so applicable. Don’t mistake my meaning though that change for the sake of change is NOT what I am referring to here. Continual change will result in continual improvement as long as you are following YOUR Plan. Let me point out a major maxim…Some things never change. That’s right. Times Change. Technology Changes. Cultures differ BUT the Principles of Leadership are constant.

Max Dupree said “We cannot become what we need to be by remaining what we are”. Change is inevitable. Change is not new. We have been experiencing change since the beginning of time. Who do you think is the most resistant to change…Leaders or Followers? And the correct answer is…both. You see change is agreeable when it is our idea that change is necessary. A leader must determine that he/she is willing to pay the price required for change. One does not discover new lands without losing sight of the shore for a period of time.

In closing, here are some key points to ponder when it comes to change:

-Reduce your change to the simplest of terms

-Change your thinking to shape your values

-Change your priorities to shape your commitment

-Evaluate as you go or you will stalemate

-Change your habits to improve your results

-Get by in from your Team

Unless you enjoy running the Gauntlet and the pain that goes with it, work your plan and plan your work and make the changes count.

Peace. BB

Enjoy some closing music on Change    Changes David Bowie

You can’t see it. You can’t touch it. Heck, you can’t even smell it but you can definitely feel it! Have you ever tried as they did in the American Folk Tales to try to lasso it? Without any control it takes on a mind of its own. Have you ever been on a plane fighting it head on or grateful that it was at your tail?

I will pause here to note that at the end of this essay, I will post a couple of videos that will be worth watching / listening to. One will be the classic song “Blowin’ In the Wind” and the other will be a film segment from the Classic Movie “Inherit the Wind”. Thus, I wish to point out that my essay is not political nor religious in nature. It is based on Leadership as is my norm.

Wind is a scientific phenomena that results from the unequal heating of the earth’s surface. The wind is so important to us and yet we control it not. Our lives are comparable to the wind and all that happens by it. We run into people who don’t see things the way we do (headwind) and we work with people who believe the way we do and help us to accomplish common goals and tasks (tailwind). But sometimes we run into the unexpected wind that comes across as a full blown hurricane or tornado and that can mess up our entire day.

If we remember back to the days of the sailing vessels, the winds were so important so as to maintain momentum and a full sail to get to that destination on or even ahead of schedule. And yet, a slight variation to course a few degrees either way could cause those sails to lose their winds and end up in the doldrums. Then the captain would have to order the small boats over the side and the crew would need to row and pull the boat until they found the winds once again.

So where am I going with all of this cool info? Well of course, I am going to tie this all together from a Leadership perspective. Naturally, I am going to recommend and remind you that the Laws are the Laws and you should make every effort to study the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership and the 15 Laws of Personal Growth as a beginning. You have the opportunity and the options to work to controlling the winds that surround you and your daily activities. You are the source code for where those winds blow and to help ensure that you don’t end up in the doldrums. Remember the Law of Navigation that states that anyone can steer a ship but it takes a leader to chart the course.

So go out there and Inherit the Wind that abounds and stop being affected by that which you had no control over. Stop allowing that which others wish to attempt to place control on or over you. Get on the offense and don’t rely on defense for the best defense is a good offense. Blow Baby, Blow and ride the air currents that abound and await YOU!

Peace. BB