There is a poster on the wall at my dads office where he works (see picture), with a quote under it reading "A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way. This truly resonates with me because it really sums up what a leader should be.
As Yogi Berra once said, "You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you're going, because you might not get there." If you don't know what you want out of life, if you don't know what you want to do, then you probably won't accomplish anything. The first thing to being a leader is knowing what you want. Maybe it's a grade in a class. Maybe it's self-improvement. Maybe it's starting a new club at school or college. Whatever it may be, you have to know what it is you want before you can accomplish it.
Second, you have to actually set a plan into motion. Knowing what you want is great, but if you don't set out to do it, then it is nothing more than a dream. No one can make something happen for you. I, personally, enjoy car restoration. Right now I am working on a 1968 Ford Torino. I know many others into cars, and I could not count for you the people I have met who have project cars laying in the backyard or in the garage and they always say, "I'm going to fix that up one day..." or, "I'm going to make a hot rod out of that.." Some of these cars have been sitting for years. The owners know exactly what they want to do with the cars, but they can't find the time and energy to go out and get it done. Having a plan and everything you need to accomplish it is nothing if you don't actually go out and do it. The same applies to leadership.
Third, you have to show the way. After you have discovered what it is you want in life, and you have gone after it, I think we then have a responsibility to help others along that same path. Back in April, I graciously accepted an invitation to go speak to the JF Webb Leadership Retreat about college, along with several of my friends. After deciding what you want in life and going after it, be sure to help others do the same thing. There was more than likely someone who inspired you or lead you to do whatever it is you do, and I think we each have a responsibility to pass along what we have learned and experienced. Leadership is a two way street. At the same retreat, I remember Mr. Scott Campbell saying that a good leader can leave, and no one know they left. The reason is that good leaders show others how to lead, and that when they leave behind a club from school because they graduated, or however they may end up leaving, others have learned from their leadership to take over and keep going from where they left off. Because a leader has to leave something behind does not mean it should fall apart in their wake. It should continue on under new leadership, and the cycle should continue. This, to me, is what it means to show the way. It's not just about leading, it's about teaching and offering whatever you can do those that you lead.
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