Which Leader has inspired you?
Here is a discussion topic on self or personal motivation.
Which inspirational leader, past or present, have you modeled your life after?
Explain, using examples and references, how this leader has helped you improve your personal or professional life, and relate your comments to the Four Principles for Purposeful Action.
This post was written by Margaux Ellis-Hall, who will lead the discussion for the week starting on March 10.
My inspirationa leader is Mahatma Gandhi-You have heard the name of Mahatma Gandhiji. For India he is the father of the Nation just as George Washington is the father of America. As a mark of respect for him, we call him Gandhiji. His father’s name was Karamchand Gandhi and mother’s name was Putlibai. He was born in Porbandar, in the state of Gujarat.
His mother was very religious. Gandhiji too was very religious. It once so happened that a group of people came to perform a drama in Porbandar. It was about the ancient King Harishchandra who was very truthful. Gandhiji saw how much Harishchandra had to suffer to be truthful. This had a lasting effect on Gandhiji. He decided that he would also always tell the truth. Soon truth became his way of life. He made up his mind that even if the truth led him to trouble, he would never give it up.
One day, his father gave him a book about Shravan who was extremely devoted to his parents. Gandhiji quickly finished the book. He saw a picture in which Shravan was carrying his parents on his shoulders, since both of them were blind, and wanted to go to all the holy places. Gandhiji decided that he would also take care of his parents.
When his father went to the temple, he took Gandhiji with him. When Jain monks visited their house, they discussed religious matter and Gandhiji attentively listened. Leaders of other religions also visited them and they discussed their religions. Gandhiji was influenced by different religions in his life.
Gandhiji was also vegetarian. When he decided to go to Europe to study law, his mother told him, “My son, since you are going abroad, make sure that you never drink alcohol, eat meat, or indulge in gambling.” Gandhiji gave his promise to his mother to abide by her wish and took a vow in the presence of a monk that he would never drink alcohol, eat meat, or resort to gambling.
Gandhiji used to say, “If someone is kind and generous to us, we should return that favor; but we should be kind and generous even to those who do not possess those qualities.” Mahatma Gandhi was virtuous and will always be remembered for that.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahatma_Gandhi
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/gandhi_mohandas.shtml
It is evident how much and how many people his legacy has touched in the way his glasses were auctioned off recently: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1159946/Indian-drinks-baron-buys-Gandhis-glasses-sandals-1-27m–60-times-original-estimate.html
Very cool!
Thanks jimy.I saw contents in the link.Its awesome.I have read book about “my experiments with truth” by gandhiji.Its great.
In India Gandhi giri, which means to do the things Gandhi style, is followed not in vast majority as the country is getting way too mordernized for Gandhigiri. He has had a major impact for the country during the 60’s to 80’s. The newwer generation seem to just read about him in their text books and forget as to how imporatant a figure he really was, is and always will be. There was a movie named LAGEY RAHO MUNNA BHAI which is depicted about a man who has Gandhiji in his head and follows his orders. That was a short period when Gandhi giri was at a peak. But now it’s all forgotten again. Please try to watch the movie when possible with English subtitles for all who are interested in Gandhiji and how his preachings affected a man’s life.
My leader is not so well known, but it was a recent facility manager named Frank Brown under which I had the privilege of working. He is a former veteran of the company and recently came back to temporarily cover a vacancy.
He always captured the attention of everyone with his leadership. He lives and breathes the business he is in and that was certainly an inspiration for all who worked under him. His style always required going back to the basics to solve problems and therefore work life stayed pretty simple and everyone was content not having to take on new impossible projects.
I think it is fair to say that Frank lead under a positive value system within positive levels of desire, he acted with purpose, and had no trouble navigating with others.
A leader I grew to respect while attending Naval Nuclear Power School in 1979 was Admiral Hyman G Rickover.
This man was born in Poland but thru hard work and a keen intelect, became an Admiral in the U S Navy and the “Father of the Nuclear Navy”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyman_G._Rickover
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Hyman_G._Rickover
“The successful person makes a habit of doing what the failing person doesn’t like to do.” Thomas Edison.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_edison.
Thomas Edison has given leadership to what we see and use today the most, electrical energy. I have to say that Mr. Edision’s attitude toward problem solving and approach toward life inspires me.
Roy,
I like the phrase that is used in the National Treasure II movie about Edison: “I didn’t fail, I found 2000 ways NOT to make a light bulb”. There is a link to some quotes from scenes in the movie and this one is included. Though I can’t think of a direct relationship to Purposeful Action, it was a pretty decent movie nonetheless…..
Oh yeah, here is that link.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0368891/quotes
Roy M
I agree that Edison was a great leader, and I am always amazed by his many many fields of interest.
I might have used him if you had not used him first
Edison was a great leader. He was also a great visionary and entrepreneur.
He had the five positive core values which drove him to success.
He succeeded in his many endeavors by believing in his vision until he obtained success. His followers were driven by his accomplishments to pursue other inventions.
Swami Vivekananda real voice in 1893 ,told a beautiful story of a frog at the World parliament of religions held at chicago on 15th september 1893.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShrD0zjPGrs&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxUzKoIt5aM
Swami Vivekananda is my inspirational leader and his teachings brought a tremendous change allover the world. He was one of the most influential spiritual leaders and a grateful humanity of Vedanta philosophy. I am greatly influenced by his teachings and it brought a tremendous change. His philosophy of success says that.. “Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life - think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success that is way great spiritual giants are produced. He is the role model and an ideal personality. His teachings clearly relate to the framework of purposeful action. I believe that Morality, spirituality and righteousness are the three fundamental principles required for the growth of an individual.
I am happy to share some of his teachings and what I call as golden gateways:
“We want that education by which character is formed, strength of mind is increased, the intellect is expanded, and by which one can stand on one’s own feet.
“If you have faith in all the three hundred and thirty millions of your mythological gods … and still have no faith in yourselves, there is no salvation for you. Have faith in yourselves, and stand up on that faith and be strong; that is what we need.”
“The goal of mankind is knowledge … Now this knowledge is inherent in man. No knowledge comes from outside: it is all inside. What we say a man ‘knows’, should, in strict psychological language, be what he ‘discovers’ or ‘unveils’; what man ‘learns’ is really what he discovers by taking the cover off his own soul, which is a mine of infinite knowledge.”
“The more we come out and do good to others, the more our hearts will be purified, and God will be in them.”
“Purity, patience, and perseverance are the three essentials to success, and above all, love.”
“They alone live who live for others, the rest are more dead than alive.”
I would like to share one of the excerpt from Chicago address in 1893
“I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance. we believe not only in universal toleration, but we accept all religions as true.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxUzKoIt5aM&feature=related
http://www.belurmath.org/swamivivekananda.htm
http://www.writespirit.net/authors/swami_vivekananda/biography-swami-vivekananda/
Venkat,Swami vivekenandaji is a powerful leader.he was a channel of peace.I am thrilled to see the link about swamiji on youtube.,thanks for sharing the you tube link and also other links.