Two quotes, two days in a row, from very different sources. Yesterday, from the great Sir Laurence Olivier. Today from one of my favorite authors, Dr. Seuss.
The quote comes from his 1971 book, The Lorax, a fable of commercialization and industrialization. If you haven’t read the book, you should. For context right now, check out the summary in Wikipedia.
Here’s the quotation . . .
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
– Dr. Seuss, from The Lorax
Dr. Seuss clearly had a way with words. And in this case he reminds us of three important points.
1. Leadership isn’t about position, it is about action.
2. Everyone can lead.
3. Coming from a place of passion, or caring, is a fabulous starting point for leadership.
I could add to those three learning points, but sometimes it is best to just let them sit for you to reflect on.
Here are some questions to help you in that personal reflection.
Are you infusing your leadership with caring?
What actions are you taking today to lead more effectively and successfully?
Having raised a son and spent many evenings reading just about every book by “Dr. Seuss” (one of my all time favorite authors as a child), it is now clear to me that the man behind the books, Theodore Seuss Geisel, was an absolute genius. He presented his thoughts in words that children could sound out and read easily; the rhythms of the words make them easy to remember; his illustrations are so much fun and fantastical – and still make me laugh; and the stories and lessons he offers between the lines and on many levels are timeless. Thank you for sharing this post, Kevin! You made my day!
Kevin,
Another great one. Thanks for sharing.