THE NECCESITY OF LEADERSHIP (part 1, leading yourself )

Several people have defined leadership in different ways. Leadership has to do with the act of leading. It is directing a course. In leadership, there must be a course, vision and influence towards the vision. Every failure in life is a leadership failure. Every thing rises and falls on leadership. Everyone is  a leader in different capacities. No man on earth can escape leadership. There is leadership in the family, leadership at work, leadership in a Community or society. Here lies the  need to acquire leadership skills. 
The first and most important form of leadership is leadership of one’s self. Since leadership is directing a course. Then ask yourself what do you want to do? Where will you be in 5 to 10years from now? If this is answered already, you must lead yourself to achieve the course. We have many leaders who want to lead others without leading themselves. Leading yourself is the best way to have people follow you. You must first have a clear vision of where you are going.  There is no leadership without vision. Do you really know where you are going? If yes then set your hand at work to get there. Plan to get there. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. 

Luke 14: 28  For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
 29  Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
 30  Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
 31  Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
 32  Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
 Have you counted the cost of where you are going?  It is FOOLISHNESS to expect a future you didn’t prepare for.  Life is intentional. Preparation separates leaders from wishful thinkers. We have so many people in the society today who want to have a great future but they are not doing anything about it. Life doesn't give you what you want, you take what you want from life. Life is designed in a way that it will never give you what you want except you go for it. How can you want to be the best footballer and you don’t know anything about football?  How can you want to be very prophetic and spiritual and all you do is watch Nollywood movies? This is pure deception.
Time is a key thing in leading oneself. The different between “there “ and   “here”   is “t” which stands for time.  What you spend most of your time on is a clue to where you are going.  You cannot want to be a preacher and all you spend your time on is watching movies. You know all the latest movies and know nothing about the gospel, even when you know that you are not going to be an actor or actress. This is misplaced priority.  Give your time most to what is relevant to your future. Stop wishing and start acting. Life is intentional. Avoid procrastination!! That thing you said you want to do tomorrow why not do it now. A time lost can  Never be regained. Procrastination is a time killer.  
Never tell yourself that, that is all you are, you can be better. Develop yourself, be deliberate about that future you want to have. Have a growth plan. Set smart goals for yourself.  You are in competition with only yourself. Strife to improve on what you do always. Learning and unlearning is key in this. Give yourself to learning about your field. Choose to know something new or improve on what you know on a daily or weekly basis. There is more about yourself than what you are seeing now. Knowledge gives you an edge in all you do.  Invest your time and money in knowledge. What you know is what regulates your actions. Be the best in what you do. This is true leadership of oneself.

(Look out for the remaining parts, how to succeed in leading others, mistakes leaders must avoid, the security of leadership and the rest)

By OBIAZIKWOR EMEKE MODESTY

www.emekemodesty.com