One of our greatest characteristics, collectively, is that we make great followers. We have had long traditions of being subjects of external rule, of being victimized by invaders. And, that is the root of the problem.

Because, we love to follow. From the moment we are born, until the moment we die. We just love following! We follow the television and the religious serial coming on it and we bow our heads and fold our hands before an idiot box.    Then, we follow fake sages, we follow the leaders blindly, we follow the priests blindly, we follow our society blindly. 

We follow, we follow, we follow and we forget that we have our own wisdom, intelligence and dignity, which empowers us to think for ourselves and be our own leaders.  And, that is the concern which concerns me the most about Leadership. We are all born leaders. Our personal leadership has only to be nurtured, as a habit, but we convert ourselves into followers.

Just this morning, a very fine example came up, when one of my colleagues came to me and said on her way to office, she was following her elderly uncle and the uncle took a wrong turn and got himself trapped in a traffic jam.  And, my colleague found herself behind her uncle, because she thought that whatever the uncle would do would be absolutely right!

To me this is a great example. An apt illustration to give to all of you.  Don’t follow blindly! It’s the biggest sin you can commit on your own dignity.  Be your own leader, be your own boss, let others follow you.  That’s their problem, but don’t follow lead, lead, lead! Take your own responsibility upon your own shoulders and hold the reins of life, as if it was a horse then hold the reins in your hands and lead it, guide it and ride it. Take strides forward yourself!  Take charge! Take responsibility!

In Hindi, the word is ‘SWAMI’ – One’s own Master.

Be it!

Good Luck!   

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