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Glenn Brooke | December 3, 2014 | 2 Comments

Leaders Get to Great by Going Through Mediocre – Glenn Brooke

 

Leaders like you should aim for Greatness. There are three important things you need to know:

1. No one begins at Great. You get there by getting through Mediocre.
Mediocrity is abundant. It’s the bulk of what we produce. It’s why we value great work, lasting work, true art, jaw-dropping performance. We don’t share stories about mediocre, average, ho-hum stuff.
You get to Great by not settling for less, not quitting. It’s a product of self-discipline over weeks, months, and years. Work on your craft.
Winston Churchill had great advice for people going through hell: “Don’t stop, keep going.” That same message works for getting to Greatness.

2. Your greatness is specific to you.
You probably don’t yet know how your greatness will be judged. It’s actually unlikely that millions of people will know you, your work, your legacy. You probably won’t be world-famous. (Don’t aim to be infamous, either.)
Seek your calling, be obedient to God, and work hard. Commit yourself to the life which is, in the wonderful phrase from Eugene Peterson, “A long obedience in the same direction.”
Your calling. Not the other guy’s calling. Yours.

3. You’ll be misunderstood by some people occasionally and by everyone some of the time.
Settle this as a fact in your heart, come to terms with it, and keep moving forward. Communicate your heart and your thoughts with others. Work to heal relationships if you’ve damaged them. But, don’t expect everyone to understand your path, at least not all the time. This will keep you from being derailed in your adventures as you fulfill your calling as a leader.

 

I hope these help you as a leader. Which of these three is easiest and which is hardest for you to grip?

Filed Under: Leadership

Glenn Brooke

Glenn considers leadership a craft which requires dedicated pursuit. The apprentice model (instruction + practice + associating with other craftsmen) is the time-tested way to foster the next generation of leaders. Real leaders never stop working on their craft; there are only new levels of mastery ahead. Learn more at leadershipcraft.com.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. asmithblog says

    December 3, 2014 at 9:41 am

    Great post, Glenn!

    Reply
  2. Kobus Ayres says

    December 11, 2014 at 6:45 am

    I have read a lot of blog posts on leadership and living your life purpose and this post must be the best I’ve ever read. For me Glenn distills the essence of leadership to being unique to each person and each person should be aiming to make a difference where he or she is in the world at that particular time rather than trying to save the world.

    Reply

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Hi, my name is Adam Smith and welcome to asmithblog.com. I am the author of the book, The Bravest You. Because of my work as an entrepreneur, consultant, writer, and speaker, I have been named a top industry influencer by American Genius. I live with my wife, Jasmine, and three children in Shenandoah, IA.

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