Elections Are Over..Now What?
Judge William L. Dawson, #Cycle Breaker
The election season has passed. The people have spoken, or at least a portion of the people considering that too many decided not to exercise their right to vote. The current leaders have been placed in their respective positions. The difference with this election season is that those who voted really have an extremely high expectation for the leaders to lead.
I watched the campaign season with energetic curiosity because this time there was a large number of young people and non political people (those who never ran for office before) who entered their names as persons who wanted to usher in a new America on all levels.
For those who lost, loosing an election, as well as any loss in life, is an opportunity for growth. When we decide to learn from our losses instead of letting them have control over our body, mind and spirit, or even worse letting them depress or destroy us, we strip the loss of its power. Here are some lessons that we can learn from the losses this season as well as an introduction to the Judge Dawson Cycle Breaker theories of leadership.
Lesson 1. We Must Learn From The Past In Order To Change The Future.
The current generation of young people are not utilizing the wisdom of those who came before them. I’m not talking about the lip service statement that “we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us.” I’m talking about burying your pride and asking someone “how did you do it?” It’s is impossible to be an effective leader if your ego, your past or your distrust keeps you from engaging in positive networking. When I decided to run for Judge I talked to everyone who would give me their time. I didn’t care who that person was politically aligned to, I didn’t care if the person told me I couldn’t win. My goal was to dig for as much wisdom as possible. In my mind, it wasn’t about the other person or their personal agenda, it was about my goal to be a leader.
Even when I was in high school I understood the value of learning from the accomplished. I remember writing a letter to Jones Day, one of the most successful law firms in the City of Cleveland, with offices around the world. While in high school I sent a letter to the managing partner asking him to give me a chance to meet with him so that I could learn how he became successful. It was a long shot, a letter sent from a boy in East Cleveland to a top law firm in the country. As I look back on it, I’m sure the letter was full of grammatical mistakes. Nevertheless, I was granted a meeting and that day changed my life. I truly hope that those seeking to be elected, those recently elected or those serving another of many terms utilize the power of asking others for their wisdom. True leaders know the value of experience.
Lesson 2. True leadership Comes From The Desire To Help Other People as Opposed to The Desire Achieve Personal Gains.
The past has shown us that many people elected to office immediately forget to serve the voters who got them there. For a leader to effect any lasting change, for a leader to leave a positive legacy, for a leader to be a Cycle Breaker, that leader must put the people first. If you ever want to know if you’ve gotten off track as a leader, look around and ask your self, or your trusted team, if your actions reflect a concern for people or just yourself. If your actions are more about your personal goals rather than the future of the community your leadership is on the wrong track and you may not be cut out to be a leader. Just because you’re popular doesn’t make you a leader. Just because you won an election doesn’t make you a leader. Leadership comes from the burning desire to help others.
Leadership is in your walk and your talk. I’m not concerned about people catching a leader saying negative things when they think the microphone is off. I’m not concern about a leader having a drink or two. It’s not the little mistakes, but the overall approach to your leadership position that determines your leadership character. When you decide to be a leader your life is no longer your own and with that leadership position comes the responsibility to make sure you exhibit leadership at all times.
Lesson 4. We Are All Leaders, Even Without A Title.
In today’s political climate citizens have the tendency to blame others for all the failures and challenges in this country. Instead of being active in the schools, we blame teachers for our kid’s failing grades or bad behavior. Instead of getting out to vote we talk about not being able to trust politicians. It’s time for us to step up to the plate and be leaders. You were born to lead in your area of gifting. By now we should all be able to identify at least one talent that we have. It’s that talent that allows us to be a leader. It’s your talents that give you the opportunity to be Cycle Breakers.
East Cleveland Municipal Court’s Judge William L. Dawson is on a mission to help people to Finish First, live their best lives and be Cycle Breakers!
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