Becoming Your Best

Becoming Your Best:

The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders

Steven Shallenberger

1: Be true to character

Quote: "Real beauty is to be true to oneself. That's what makes me feel good." - Laetitia Casta

Reflection: This means that we should be true to ourselves and who we are. We should not try to say we are something we are not. This can help us be better people and allow others to see us for who we are as people and not the blanket of lies we put above us.

2: Use your imagination

Quote: "The man who has no imagination has no wings." -Muhammad Ali

Reflection: This means that we should use our imagination because it grants us many things we could not possibly do every day. Without using our imagination, our brain would not be awake and focused. We must focus our imagination and be able to think of things we want and ways we can achieve them.

3: Apply the power of knowledge

Quote: "Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family." -Kofi Annan

Reflection: This means that we should apply our knowledge to anything we do. If we do not then we are not powerful or liberal. Education is the premise of progress in everything. Either it be society, or your family.

4: Never give up

Quote: "Never give up. Today is hard, tomorrow will be worse, but the day after tomorrow will be sunshine" -Jack Ma

Reflection: This means that we should never give up on things we want to do for ourselves. If we set goals, we should not give up on trying our hardest

5: Find peace and balance

Quote: "Peace cannot be achieved through violence, it can only be attained through understanding" - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Reflection: This means that we should find peace by understanding things. If we do not understand, we will not find ways to balance it. Balancing our understandings will all us to find peace within ourselves.

6: Live the Golden Rule

Quote: "Do not do to others what angers you if done to you by others." - Socrates

Reflection: This means that we should treat others better than what they treat us. The golden rule is to treat others better just like what you want them to do unto you. Treating people good will make them treat you good as well and as well as making them feel good because of you.

7: Build and maintain trust

Quote: "Trust is like blood pressure. It's silent, vital to good health, and if abused it can be deadly." - Frank Sonnenberg

Reflection: This means that we should build and keep trust. We must maintain it and keep it strong or else it could be deadly. Then we will be left cold and alone because we were unable to trust others and allow others to trust us.

8: Quick to listen, slow to wrath

Quote: "The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and be understood. The best way to understand people is to listen to them." - Ralph Nichols

Reflection: What I think this means is that we must but quick to listen but slow to anger. If we get angry quickly and not listen we will do things we will regret right away or in the future.

9: Lead with vision

Quote: "Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality. " - Warren Bennis

Reflection: What I think this means is that to lead is to turn our visions into reality to be able to show what it is we want to lead to. We cannot just say we have a plan and not execute it, we must turn the vision plan into reality. Without it, our leadership will be flawed and no one will be willing to come alone side you. Having the vision a reality is the greatest thing you can do as a leader.

10: Manage with a plan

Quote: "Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things." - Peter Drucker

Reflection: What I think this means is that we must manage with a plane to succeed. If we go for things without a plan we are destine to fail. We must have a plan and not let anything destroy that plan.

11: Do what matters the most

Quote: "I don't let anyone's insecurities, emotions, or opinions bother me. I know that if I am happy, that's all that matters to me." - Demi Lovato

Reflection: What I think this means is that we should do what matters the most in life. If we do things that are not important to our lives then we are not living to our full potential. If we change this and do everything that is important then we will be able to do things that matter the most to ourselves and in return show others that we get things done and in an orderly way.

12: Be Accountable

Quote: "I must be responsible and accountable for my actions." - Jason Williams

Reflection: What I think this means is that we should always be accountable for our actions. If we do something bad it is our fault, if we do something good it is our reward. If we cause something bad or good we must accept that it is because of us that it happened. If you do not become accountable, people will not look to you as a trust worthy person because you may try to lie your way out. If you take responsibilities for your actions then people will seen you are responsible and trust you more.

Reflection: With these twelve tips, I can too become my best. With these twelve tips of being a highly successful leader, I can too prosper and become successful in life without too much struggle and doubt. I can teach these skills to others and possibly they too will believe in themselves to be able to be successful in life. If people pass these tips off without consideration, they may not find the perfect way to become successful. These tips bring a helping hand to people who need it and give a push to people who want it.