“The Power of Leadership”

This week, we enjoy a guest author for the Thought of the Day, Rob Stam from Holland, MI, USA.  Rob is the author of a just released new book titled Almost our Time.  Rob’s book discusses and offers advice on the leadership opportunities and challenges of the “Gen X’ers” of which I am one!  Here’s Rob’s first Thought…

It seems to me that in recent years modern civilization has developed an addiction to insurance. We can insure everything: cars, homes, health, life, business, etc… As a business owner I can even buy insurance to cover me if I screw up. As I write this America, where I live, has been on the fast track to fix our health insurance. Iʼm all for insurance and all for making it better, but the majority of the problems we face are not insurance related, they’re responsibility related.

The more we depend on an insurance company to protect our health while weʼre alive, or protect the well being of our families when weʼre gone, the less we have to be concerned with making good long term decisions. To leave my kid a millionaire if something happened to me, I donʼt have to actually work hard and save; I just have to work hard enough to afford the $50 a month payment. To make sure I donʼt lose my business I donʼt actually have to be discipled about how I operate, I just have to make sure Iʼve got enough insurance to pay the lawsuit when I get complacent. These are unsustainable practices that only lead to a less productive and effective society.

Insuring success isnʼt really about the type of insurance we buy, itʼs about doing our part to insure a better life for ourselves and for generations to come. Hereʼs the best type of insurance: accept responsibility for all areas of your life and for all your actions.  Donʼt look for short cuts around time tested philosophies such as hard work and healthy behaviors. Take time to learn and develop a habit of applying what youʼve learned. Consider those around you and how you can benefit society while also considering the legacy you will leave when your time is up. These are the principles of a productive leader.

“There was no respect for youth when I was young, and now that I am old, there is no respect for age.  I missed it coming and going. “  - J.B. Priestly

Have a great day!

Shawn

Russ M. Miller, LLIF – Chairman & CEO
Performance Institute (Human Capital Development)
Global CEO Academy (Management Training)
Sunny Hong Zhang – Managing Partner – China
Shawn M. Miller – Managing Partner – USA