From Ordinary Beginnings To Extraordinary Leaders!

I decided recently to treat myself to a much valued ‘professional development’ day for my own ongoing renewal and growth. My choice was to listen to six recognized leaders from different walks of life—ranging from business to sales, finance, government, military and sports. My primary objective was to identify those common patterns that shaped their success, if any. It was a most gratifying day, as such learning experiences typically are for me since I gained this and much more too despite my own decades of formal study of leadership and work with leaders. In this blog, I’d like to share some of these key insights in hopes that these might be helpful to those who aspire to being impactful, respected leaders.

The single most striking pattern to me was that each of these individuals had very ordinary beginnings and only after persistently staying the course did they eventually experience breakthrough success in their lives. These leaders talked about being no better than average students, not being identified as ‘high potentials,’ and having experienced multiple ‘setbacks’ that they had to overcome and learn from in order for each of them to discover their own success pattern as a leader. As one of them said (sorry I can’t remember which), "it’s not where you start out in life that counts, but where you end up!"

Several also spoke about how they became increasingly successful by ‘copying’ the success pattern of others. In other words, they had the practical wisdom to learn what worked from those who had already discovered this and simply replicated this much like a scientist would in their rational approach to solving problems and discovering breakthroughs. It sounds so simple - asking questions, seeking advice, and then applying what fits to minimize the bumps in the road for us. And yet, today it seems like far too many people, instead, are directed by ‘doing their own thing’ and ‘finding their own way’ rather than simply learning from those whose guidance can benefit each of us greatly. One cultural manifestation of this rejection of ‘proven wisdom’ is the often-cited dismissal by the younger generation of "anything anyone over 40 has to say."

Finally, what also struck me as I listened to leader after leader was that each of these individuals had an attitude of openness to learning, growth, and continuing improvement (for themselves and those they lead). As a leader in the finance area pointed out, research has shown that less than 5% of all people function outside their ‘comfort zone.’ It is the 1 in 20-25 individuals who are willing and able to adapt that become the real winners in our increasingly changing world - whether as formal or informal leaders, shaping their own lives in increasingly successful and fulfilling ways or that of others whose lives through their extraordinary contributions!