Are Leaders Born Or Are They Made?

By Sandy Daley

Retired four-star general, and the 65th United States Secretary of State ( the first African American to serve in that position), Colin Powel once said, “Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers, who can cut through argument, debate and doubt, to offer a solution everybody can understand.”

I agree with this quote, but I would also like to add that great leaders sometimes have no choice but to become such, as circumstances often push us into the role of a leader, whether we want to be there or not.

It is not for us to choose sometimes what our purpose in life will be, as that job is taken and forever will be, by the man upstairs. Sometimes, unbeknownst to us, we have powers far greater than we think that we are capable of, or are able to display or even have the strength to carry out.

It is not for us to decide what we shall or shall not do in our lives, as we are all given talents, strengths and even a purpose which we individually have to manifest.

Whereas my strengths may be on the creative side: please do not ask me to add big numbers together as it will take me forever. However, it is easy for me to put my thoughts on a piece of paper or to speak to a total stranger. On the other hand, my weakness lies within many other realms and there is nothing that I can do about that.

Now, in order for me to feel confident in my field, I use my passion, my love, my drive for creativity to propel my level of professionalism: hence allowing me to lead in areas of my life. I have no choice but to lead, as by not leading, I will stray away from my purpose in this life.

I believe that leaders are made, as we are all born with certain attributes, but it is up to us to use them appropriately and in the fashion that best suits us in order to leave a legacy behind: our footprints in the sand as they say.

“You know that what you’re saying is true,” my friend Michelle said, as we had a heart to heart conversation once. “I mean, the thing is, I know that I can be a leader in my nursing field, but I just choose not to do so. I could do more,” she added.

“Don’t be so hard on yourself,” I replied. “You are not the only one who has done that, so all you have to do now is really hone in on your purpose, and figure out a way to be the best Michelle, the leader that I know that you can be.” She took the conversation to heart and began a teaching position a few years later. Good for her, as I knew that she had it in her!

Not everyone is a “Michelle” or even a “Sandy”, but why would you want to be anyway? You must be the best you, whoever you are!

We are all born to strive, to do well, to soar, to reach the highest pinnacle of success, because as they say, “God does not make any mistakes.” He certainly has not made any mistakes with you or me!

Sandy Daley is a columnist, radio and television personality and actress. She is also the author of “Whose Vagina Is It, Really?” She can be contacted at: Website: www.sandydaley. com, Facebook: womanincontrol@facebook.com, Twitter: https://twitter.com/whosevaginaisit and/or Email: thesinglegirlspot@
gmail.com.