I think it’s pretty incredible that when Americans head to the polls tomorrow (and for the many who have already voted) we are selecting just the 44th person to live and work in the White House. That’s not very many leaders over more than 230 years!
And it’s not like the last 230 years have been uneventful.
43 people with very different ideas and very different backgrounds and very different leadership styles have been entrusted with the power to change the world. The 44th person, whoever he may be becomes President in another world changing moment in our history.
When I was a little girl, I remember aspiring to someday be President of the United States. I think primarily because my Dad spent a lot of time watching the political conventions and reading the newspaper. And because I liked to talk and as President people would have to listen to me.
I also like to think its because I thought the President had the power to actually DO something about what was going on in our world.
As a grown-up girl (it’s tough for me to say adult), there are still days that I aspire to be President – but not nearly as often as then.
I didn’t go to law school.
I don’t have political capital.
I’m not all that connected.
And, I’m not convinced anymore that the President is the best person to lead world changing initiatives.
Don’t get me wrongthe President is a world leader. He (or she) definitely has the capital and connections to influence and impact world changing ideas. And he (or she) should choose to lead world changing initiatives as much as possible.
However, the older I get, the more I realize the real work gets done, the real change happens, the leadership exists, when regular people like you and me work together to change the world.
Whether it’s supporting your favorite charity or going to your kid’s ballgame or saying hello to someone in the checkout line; you have the power to change your world.
You are using good leadership skills every time you make the choice to focus on making the world a little better for someone else.
Amazingly/Unfortunately you’re also being innovative for doing the same.
I don’t feel like I do enough to positively change the world around me.
But I love that I don’t have to be President to make a world-changing impact.
(Although, it would be nice if people had to listen when I’m talking!) 😉
Guest post by Jenny Pratt
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