Once Upon a Lifetime

I am most definitely a leader, and I pretty much always have been.  I have learned that part of being a good leader means that you must learn to follow.  Learning to do both (sometimes simultaneously: hello Navy!)  has really helped me develop traits that are valuable to me personally but also benefit those around me. 

I am first born in my family as far as siblings and cousins (on both sides of the family go), so I know that this has ‘set the stage’ in many ways in my life.  There have been countless times when I haven’t ‘known what to do’ but just acted on my instincts.  I am usually the person people look to when they want answers/direction and/or advice. 

As I got older, I learned that part of leading really meant knowing how and when to follow.  I think that knowing a balance between the two is a major key to success in life. 

I think it can be simplified like this:  there will be areas/subjects in life that you are proficient and/or advanced in, and those usually make the best topics/subjects to teach about/share/demonstrate/etc… there will also be areas/subjects in life that you have no or little experience with, and those lessons are best left to be taught by those who are advanced in the topic.  Not being threatened by anyone who seems to have/know more than you is absolutely critical in being able to learn from them. 

Finally, I think learning what prejudice is and how to combat it, as early as possible is critical to being a good leader AND follower.