What causes a tug at your heart?
What need can't you seem to get out of your head?
…And what are you doing about it?
One of the greatest leadership attributes is the ability to take action.
That's what leaders do when they see a need.
Mother Teresa was exemplary in this type of leadership.
As Mother Teresa's heart grew more compassionate toward others, so did her commitment to step in and serve those most in need.
Mother Teresa was 19 years old when she went to Calcutta to teach. She saw the poor, destitute young girls stuck in a cycle of poverty and decided to do something about it. She spent the next 17 years seeking to alleviate the girls' poverty through education.
Then, Teresa observed the wretched condition of the slums of Calcutta -- full of the hopeless, sick, and seemingly forgotten. She would dedicate the rest of her life to serving and bringing dignity there.
By the end of Mother Teresa’s life, her charity work had garnered thousands of followers and started a global movement of charity. She established a leper colony, an orphanage, a nursing home, a family clinic, and several mobile health clinics. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, given the title of Saint, and stands as one of the greatest humanitarians who lived in the 20th century.
...Not too shabby.
All this happened because Mother Teresa saw a need and took action
– one small step after another – helping one person at a time.
Leader, what cause are you pursuing?
How are you using your gift of influence to better this world?
You don't need a grand vision to get started today.
Great starts often begin with small steps.
One of my favorite quotes from Mother Teresa is, "Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person."
In other words, take action.
Don't be afraid to start small. Help someone in need. Take what you have and share it. Begin with what's right in front of you. Do for one what you wish you could do for everyone.
That’s how to begin making a difference in the world around you.
What small step will you take today?
