A Send-off: A Final Word
send-off n : a celebratory demonstration of goodwill and enthusiasm for the beginning of a new venture
From the first day I started writing this book, I’ve wondered who you are, what you do, where you’ve been—and what would be in your mind as you reached this final page. I assume you have a pioneering spirit, or you probably wouldn’t have chosen this book. If you took its message all in, I hope it is because you plan to do something with it.
As I wrote in the beginning, this book is an invitation to pioneer a new era—one that will begin a long and distinct period of leadership history that brings out the best in people and affirms that the fastest way to innovation, leadership, and high performance is through putting our differences to work in ways that everyone benefits.
Wisdom that has passed the test of time has always been a reliable and inspiring force in my life, as this book reflects. Dr. Bruce Lloyd, Professor of Strategic Management at South Bank University in London, has a nice way of saying it: “Wisdom is knowledge with a long shelf-life.” It always surprises me when a piece of wisdom seems to show up when I need it most. In the final days of writing, I opened one of my cherished books discovered by chance a few years ago. It is well out of print. The author, John Homer Miller, doesn’t have instant name recognition today, but he was a leader with many contributions and influence in another time. The following message came from his book Take a Second Look at Yourself, published over fifty years ago. It speaks to what I want most to pass along to you for this send-off.
You want [a better organization,] a better world. What you need to help make [your organization better] or to make the world better is not more education of your intellect. What you need is something spiritual and ethical added to your knowledge. You need educated 182emotions and a dedicated heart. Shakespeare once said that we can always tell a wise man by the fact everything he says or does smacks of something greater than himself Great leaders start from within and move out.
The Five Distinctive Qualities of Leadership help each of us start from within to master putting our differences to work wherever we are. Only then can we have influence in leading others. We studied and talked about each of the qualities and highlighted them in stories throughout this book. When you now add them to what you already know and practice, they create the basis for leading with a pioneering spirit enriched with a new focus on integrity and a dedicated heart necessary to draw people together and bring out the best in them. You won’t be alone. The best leaders have always found new and different ways to connect and inspire individual greatness in others that brings new innovation to the world. This is our time.
Until our paths cross again…
Welcome the unexpected.
Watch for the uncharted path that bears your name.
Look for the signs that lead to the verge of differences.
I’ll meet you there. Lead the way!
