I am motivated to lead by passion, my parents, and my religion. Oftentimes I find myself in a situation that calls for someone to take charge. If the subject area is something I am passionate about and something I know about, I feel comfortable leading. People seem to respect me which makes things go very smoothly because I can show the same respect right back in my approach. Ever since I was young, if I joined a group my parents would ask when I was starting my own group or prompt me to take charge. There is a constant push from their examples as well because they are both leaders. My religion guides me to do the right thing which is leadership in itself because so many people do not. Therefore, I am a leader simply by standing out. My biggest support system is my family and friends because they always encourage me to do my best and stand behind everything I do. Sometimes I have to be my own support system, which can be tough.
October 2011
1 post
September 2011
4 posts
Of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, the most important level to me is that of Love/belonging. This level encompasses friendship, family, and sexual intimacy. This level is important to me because personally, I have a strong sense of family. I grew up in an environment where family was always present, whether it be at school functions, birthday parties, or at each others’ houses just because. I have been blessed to have a large family on both sides. Not only does each side of the family get along amongst themselves, they get along with each other too. It was not until I was older and started meeting people with various backgrounds did I realize how fortunate I am to have that because I understand other people do not. I also have a strong support base when it comes to friends as well. My personality is one where I do not have problems with most people so I do not mind doing things for others and vice versa. Having sexual intimacy with someone helps create a bond like no other. It is always good to have that one person you can share anything with and not feel attacked, embarrassed, or nervous to do so. There’s something special about having sexual intimacy because it provides one person that you feel completely comfortable with at all times and in any aspect of your life.
The other reason this level is important to me is that I feel achieving success in these areas of one’s life will help in all other levels. Family, friends, and sexual intimacy are all things that help you build relationships, whether they be lifelong or temporary. Building these kinds of relationships will help you to understand others and build good self-esteem because you learn to support others and are around people who support you. People will watch your back to keep you safe, healthy, and make sure you have the things you need, no matter what this is. I have seen this first hand. Personally, I agree with the statement ‘it’s not what you know, but who you know’ because once you build a relationship with the right core group of people, there is nothing you cannot do.
In order to be a good follower, one must have a certain level of discernment. A person must first know what they want to support, then be able to recognize the group or leader that best embodies their beliefs. It is important that a follower know exactly what they are getting into so that they do not find themselves in a situation unrelated to their cause or one they believe is negative. That means, researching a group or person and study them for a while before deciding to ‘hop on the bandwagon.’ This could be attending seminars, going on a website, reading up on the subject at hand and comparing it with the platform of the leader…etc.
A good follower must also be willing to make sacrifices for their leader. If a person says they truly believe in the values represented by their group, they should have no problem making sacrifices for them. This does not mean to blindly follow everything a person says or does without making sure it is something worth supporting. But it does mean that it is important to show support because the only way for a leader or group to get something done is if they have followers that will stick up for them when they are trying to make a change. The whole point of a follower is to stand behind someone else and do the things they do. Making sacrifices can also mean changing one’s lifestyle so that it matches up with what one says he or she believes.
In the recent years of my life, I’ve been in a comfort zone. Many of the decisions I have made have been heavily influenced by people looking out for my best interest and those who want to see me succeed. I have also always been a very social person but still timid. There were times where even in a crowded environment, filled with friends, I was a loner. Today, I have reached a point where I’m making decisions completely for myself, thinking of my own well-being. So far, I’m doing well! It is a result of the way I was raised and the experiences I’ve had in my life up to this point. There are also instances where I find more and more people coming to me as the first choice for help with an issue, whether it be social, musical, academic, or otherwise. However, I am still in a transition phase where there is still room for growth. I am now trying to be more aggressive in my endeavors, reaching out to grab things instead of letting them come to me. In certain situations, that can be my biggest challenge, but I am learning.
I am headed to a stage in my life where I will be able to take charge of most situations I find myself in. I can see myself being the lead person in my career path, where executive decisions are left up to me as opposed to a higher team of business officials. I also see my time-management and organization skills both improving within the near future. Much of the reading I am currently doing is gearing me towards smart business plans. It is helping me to organize my goals in a feasible way.
