I've never thought of myself as a leader.

But I seem to volunteer for a lot of things. Which kinda means I get elected to boards of directors and things.

So I guess I lead.

I also have more than 10 employees, that I manage on a daily/weekly basis.

So I guess that makes me a leader too.

And I wound up being on the cutting edge in a small, cottage industry (residential electronic design), so I was interviewed by all kinds of newspapers and magazines.

They considered me a leader.

I still don't.

I do consider myself an innovator. And a creative guy.

I'm fascinated by growth, and I love to help things grow.

I've learned how to be a better "manager" (ie motivator and "boss") to our employees.

But, in all honesty, I still feel like I stink at being a manager. Or a leader.

My whole life, when others would hesitate to do something (lead fund raisers, help the guy who was having a seizure), I'd jump in.

Not because I felt I was a leader.

But because it needed to be done. And no one else was volunteering.

So does that make me a leader?

I don't know.

I guess the only thing I can pass on is this:

-Share your passions with others.
-Make what they do part of "your dream"
-Better yet, make your dream, their dream.

And listen.

Listen a LOT before talking.

(I'm still working on that last one, but it's real important).

If you don't listen, you won't be able to hear what your staff is trying to tell you.

And sometimes,
if what they have to tell you is really hard,
you need to learn how
to have them be comfortable enough
w/who you are
so that they will come to you
and tell you what is wrong.

THAT-- that is only a small part of being a leader.

But it's what I'm working on,
these days.

-Russ H.