Steps Toward Heroism

• October 22nd, 2007
• No Comments

This is an article from Get Motivation.  I found it very inspiring–especially with my recent decision to go for directorship. I think this article outlines qualities fitting of a strong leader:

———————–

Column By Rene Godefroy

———————–

5 Tips to Help You Win Big & Become a Village Hero

A few years ago, I returned to my impoverished village in
Haiti. Many in the village came to see me — the tiny and
diseased child they didn’t expect to make it. Some of them
used to call me Souyen and kokobay — words that mean
“crippled.” A man from the village, Alfred, reminded the
people how they treated me. “Today” He said, “He returns as
our village hero.”

I am sure you, too, may already be a village hero in your
own way. In my case, it was the final result of personal
responsibility, and a combination of strategies that
prompted Alfred to call me a “Village Hero.”

Let me share five of those strategies with you:

1. Practice Self-Discipline. Do you ever wonder why some
   have too much and others are barely surviving? The answer -
   discipline and self-sacrifice. Success, however you define
   it, is easy. But you gotta be consistent.

   My guess is there are a few things you could do to achieve
   more results in your life. Although you know what they are,
   you still neglect them. But listen: to be successful, you
   must do the uncomfortable now in order to be comfortable
   later.

2. Lift Up Others. Think of yourself as a pebble, and those
   you know as ponds. Give a little encouragement and you
   become a pebble in the pond. The ripples are endless.
   Someone you know is silently struggling and needs some
   uplifting words. It may be a minor detail to you, but to
   them, it’s a big boost.

   You can’t lift anyone up while lying on the ground. Say
   something nice and observe how you feel. Encouragement and
   feel-good words are free. Why not give them generously? Be a
   village hero, lift somebody up!

3. Be A Go-Getter & A Go-Giver. Maintain a balance. Take,
   but ask yourself, “What do I have to give?” Give a little
   encouragement, a little time, a little attention, and the
   gift of truly listening.

   When you can afford it, give a little money, too — maybe by
   dropping a quarter in that cup or sending flowers. Everyone
   has something to give. Avoid being called a user. Give a
   little and you shall receive a lot.

4. Take Responsibility. When we mess up, we need to fess up,
   fix it up and move on! Stop blaming! Some of us blame past
   circumstances for our failure. Big deal! My childhood was
   very depressing and the outlook dim, but I couldn’t let that
   determine my future. Here’s what I read recently, “our
   background and circumstances may influence who we are, but
   we are responsible for what we become.”
5. Be Humble. Never be too big that you can’t identify with
   those in the lower rung of the ladder. We are all made of
   the same stuff regardless of our rank or position. It is
   said that you can always tell a big person by the way he or
   she treats little people.

   If there is a chip on your shoulder, send it to Silicon
   Valley. Remember, in God’s eyes, we are all the same. In the
   end, we will all leave this world without titles.

There you have it. Develop and strengthen those five
attributes. The people in your village, be it from work or
family, will begin to draw unto you. And soon, they will
call you a “Village Hero”.

___________

Rene Godefroy is the author of Kick Your Excuses Goodbye.
He’s an acclaimed Inspirational Speaker who is sought after
by Fortune 500 Companies. He’s appeared on 60 Minutes in a
segment that featured Colin Powell, Zig Ziglar and Anthony
Robbins. To learn more about Rene, go to http://www.villagehero.com

Tags: Inspiration, Leadership Qualities, Motivation, Personal Repsonsibility, Positive Attitude, Self-Discipline