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Defining, discovering, and developing visionary leaders.
Visionary leaders realize it is better to fight tough battles for causes worth winning -- than feed the emotions of popular movements doomed to failure.
"To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete."
R. Buckminster Fuller
Panic Du Jour
Panic.
Mankind and civilization as we knew it would be wiped out.
This week it may be Bird flu.
Panic.
Mankind and civilization as we know it will be wiped out.
Maybe this time it is once again climate change, maybe it is the greater depression, maybe it is other lifestyles or other nationalities. Maybe it is ....
Panic.
*) Scientists get more funding if there is a panic, and scientists are fallible and gullible too.
*) Politicians get more support if there is a panic, and few politicians consider honesty.
*) Bureaucrats gain power when there is panic, and all bureaucrats love power.
Someday something may really go wrong on a global basis. It will probably be a surprise we were not warned about.
In the meantime, ignore the fear mongers, think for yourself and:
Relax.
Enjoy your life.
Concentrate on doing something useful.
You Can Be A Visionary Leader
THINK
Don't follow
Leadership Or Management
"If we don't believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don't believe in it at all." - Noam Chomsky
I realize I rewrote their question in a way that discloses my opinion. Here then was my comment:
I would put commands as an administrative function - management.
A real leader seldom commands, except at highly charged moments where concise direction is immediately needed.
One reason is a real leader has developed his team to make them leaders also.
To me a manager is focused on performance and controls, a leader is focused on people and goals.
If you are more concerned with the efficiency of the operation than the direction of your team - you are a manager.
For visionary leaders I would change that focus statement from people and goals to relationships, team member potential, and a worthy cause.
If you are primarily concerned with the direction your team is moving - you may be a leader.
A manager is more likely to exist in a bureaucratic organizational structure, a visionary leader in an entrepreneurial one. Business success can come without good leadership - but it will be more sure and last much longer with a visionary leader.
Are you that leader?
BFU Weekly Journal - we train visionaries
"We lead by being human. We do not lead by being corporate, professional or institutional." - Paul Hawken
Bastiat Free University offers internationally accessible and actionable student-directed learning to visionaries and entrepreneurs.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byBooks with vision, by visionaries.
It is not enough to guess at the future; visionary leadership requires integrity, inspiration, and above all - appropriate action.
"There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root." - Thoreau
Powershift: Knowledge, Wealth, and Power at the Edge of the 21st Century
The industrial age is fading fast. Who and what will determine your future? It can be you and your vision.
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Leadership Is an Art
This is powerful information for transforming any type of organization; profit or nonprofit.
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Adventure Capitalist: The Ultimate Road Trip
The world is different than we believe. Jim Rogers will help you narrow the gap between reality and perception.
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The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable
Major unexpected events happen, and they have greater influence on our lives than simple linear progressions.
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Critical Path
"Bucky:" passionate, thoughtful, brilliant, creative, and a true visionary; R. Buckminster Fuller made a difference.
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More than just a posistion
"Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves." - William Pitt (1783)
There had been complaints about poor communications between management and workers in his division. His response was "I'll spend more time in meetings so my managers will have more time to spend with their people."
He had to know better than that.
His managers will do what they see him doing.
Now they are justified in avoiding their "people" to attend meetings - so their direct reports can spend more time with the people. Their "people" of course will follow suit.
I think what the director was really saying is that his job security comes from hanging out with other executives - to heck with "his people."
If he really wanted to improve communication he could take his managers on walks to talk with the workers - and even try to catch the workers doing something right so they could congratulate them.
Most of his meetings are probably a waste of time anyway - in terms of business effectiveness. He has at least one worthless manager that talks intelligently and plays politics well - he could assign them to attend the meetings.
Meeting and inspiring his division would require true visionary leadership - that director is obviously satisfied being a bureaucratic manager.
Wasting your life in meetings sounds like a dead end way to spend 70 hours a week. The only upside is his ego knows he is an executive cog in a huge organization, even if he is not quite high enough to use the corporate jet.
His own frequent comments about it being "lonely at the top," and his hair turning gray and falling out show that he feels stress - not pleasure - from his chosen route.
Ya gotta feel sorry for the guy - he could have had his own business instead - and enjoyed his life. He could have sought, developed, and shared his passions with people that would appreciate his contributions. He could have found a cause worth fighting for -- and dedicated his life to the battle.
That would require thought and leadership.
Instead he has a business card featuring the business founder's name - and in much smaller print his own name and title - and no life of his own.
THINK -- don't follow
The Intelligent Investor: The Classic Text on Value Investing
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Extraordinary Popular Delusions & the Madness of Crowds
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Cool It: The Skeptical Environmentalist's Guide to Global Warming
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Economics in One Lesson: The Shortest and Surest Way to Understand Basic Economics
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Focus On The Attainable In Three Steps
Dwelling on what you can't control is futile.
You may not be able to ignore the packaged angst of public media; but you can apply your thoughts only to those subjects where you can make a difference.
There are three questions to ask yourself as you consider your thoughts.
* Relevancy: Is what you are considering in any way relevant to where you want to go and what you want to do. If not it is just consuming time and delaying your chance to bring about a significant advancement.
* Importance: There may be something to do, it may even have some value. But will it make powerful accomplishments possible, or just add a pebble to a small stack of insignificance? Your life has great value, if you will direct it toward possibilities of major consequence.
* Actionable: It may be important, but can you see any way at this time, with tools currently available, you can change things for the better? Much of what is reported is so far away from our influence that we might as well dream fantasy as spend time considering it.
I am reminded of the couple where the man bragged that he made all the important decisions in his family - such as should the US try to land men on Mars, or should the UN be disbanded. His spouse made the unimportant ones, what is for dinner, where the kids will go to school, if they should move to a different country.
What is important to you? If it is easier for you to remember the negative:
Ignore everything that is irrelevant, unimportant, or un-actionable.
If it fails any of those tests there is only one reason to continue - perhaps your futile efforts will inspire someone else to do better.
It doesn't matter if you agree with their philosophy
It is visionary individuals caring enough to lead, that change the world.
John Milton
Think Different
Start Your Journey
"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away." - Henry David Thoreau
The reason you are reading this is to learn how to become a visionary leader yourself.
Wisdom and understanding are required - here is the first step.
Be careful of your foundations.
Roots are dangerous things, they trap even majestic oak trees. Almost everything you have learned is directed at making you a target for the bulldozers.
The world is changing in a dramatic fashion, and you need to be ready to move.
The only thing God is taking off this world is people. If you root, root in relationships, not into things.
Be very careful of who or what or where you give your loyalty. Do not be more dedicated to others; a job, a party, a movement; than they are dedicated to you.
Escape the slavery others would have you serve - dedicate yourself to worthwhile relationships.
Move toward freedom.
Then consider the vision you want to build on your marvelous foundation.
Your ideas are welcome.
"Power concedes nothing without a demand" - Frederick Douglass.
Share your vision.
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BFuniv.com
B. L. I would love a copy, I'll contact you. Bucky Fuller was and is an inspiration. Posted July 01, 2008 |
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BLLindstrom
I am refreshed and enthused after reading this "lens". Posted July 01, 2008 |
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koolmom
Very interesting thoughts, and great job choosing the quotes. Posted June 04, 2008 |
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ssnseminars
Hello, Posted April 21, 2008 |
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