LEADERSHIP, LIFE: SAME OR DIFFERENT

“The winner in life depends on who dies with the most toys?”

When was that a popular sentiment? And where?

The first time I heard it was shop class making sand boards, the sort of woodworking project the region called for since we were surrounded by sandy beaches, sandy yards, and and endless realm of sand dunes, which was the reason for sand boards.

It was like sledding year round, warm sledding, at least as warm as it ever got back then.

The winner in life at that point had a cool sand board and a Sting Ray bike. The douchey winners had multi-speed stick shift on the bar Sting Rays.

I still want one, or wanted one and got over it. (Still do.)

The second time I heard, “He who dies with the most toys, wins,” was standing waist high on a beach next to a party boat dock. Lots of toys floating around.

Guys used to luxury pulled drinks off the backs of their floating resorts all day long. The water outside their circle was cooler, noticeably cooler beyond the yellow tide.

From their talk, they had it all, and then some. Older men had old guy stuff, younger men had young guy stuff, but it was all manly and everyone had some notion of respect rolled out.

If good leadership means a good life, how does it start so you don’t end up in a pissing match with money people? Like you’ve heard before, it’s all about example.

Be a bad example and bad things happen. Poor judgement brings poor results. The biggest threat is leaving a bad example for others to follow, as if you know anyone that lame.

Dying with the most toys is lame, let’s get it down. You’re not winning anything except a death certificate. What about the toys? No one wants your used crap you never maintained and never checked after paying others for the work.

Be a leader while you’re alive is a mantra for our times?

It’s not new, but it hits the sweet spot, since even saying the word “Life” looks like self promotion to new guru status. Leadership is better, self leadership.

Besides, leadership is active, life is review.

Do yourself a favor and make the better choice, not the easy one.