"We all make a difference,
but only a portion of the difference."
-- Albert K Strong
I was reading an article about Tim Cook, CEO of Apple in the latest Success magazine. Because Steve Jobs was a larger than life itself icon, there were so many predictions, speculations, and rumors about how anyone could replace such an idol. He has.
It is assumed sometimes that one person makes all the difference. That is not possible. Creativity is a group event. Sure, there are charismatic leaders that can seem to be standing by themselves as if they did it all, but those leaders are very clear on how many people, and how much of their creativity it takes for them to rise as an icon.
If differences are to be really important, there have to be leaders. However, the idea of having one leader who gets all the credit is folly and making it seem that way is just a stage show. Truth is, there are leaders throughout the organization at all levels, and besides, the ones who are not recognized as being a leader are at least as important. It is more like everyone has a place and all places are good. This includes a minority who may seem to be resistance because that has its place too. Many times the way something improves is via resistance.
I love this quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson: "Be yourself; no base imitator of another, but your best self. There is something which you can do better than another. Listen to the inward voice and bravely obey that. Do the things at which you are great, not what you were never made for."
Based on that and knowing that we all make some kind of difference, the truer we are to ourselves and our own special talents and abilities, the more difference we can make. And, that might even include being a leader. But, keep this in mind, a leader is simply a part not apart, but a part of the whole.
Celebrate What Your Own Difference Is. You Are One.
Spread Some Joy Today--It is now. Let go of what is in your head and just focus on life within you and around you. There is magic in the air.
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