Do we have time?

Yes, I'm in another one of those black moods that hit me periodically, where I'm left to wonder "Why am I here, or do I even matter?" I look around me at the world in general, and to those who live closest to me and see nothing but greed. Greed everywhere, and the "ME" attitude prevails over all. I see people who can help those who are in need turning a blind eye to it as if ignorance and excuses are enough to make it go away. I see people hurting, people crying, and people dying because there is no one else around that gives a damn that they are. I see all this and wonder if God himself sees all this and turns His own back on humanity because humanity has turned its back on him. Is there any hope remaining for humanity when those who profess to live like He has taught us to live, are living the exact opposite, and only show their mask of charity when it benefits them. I am a firm believer that all that was prophesied in the Bible wasn't all so much nonsense and that all of the signs are in place, and humanity's time is nearing its end. Maybe we SHOULD start praying for time, what little we have left.

For those mages complaining about the new Conqueror's Kirin'Tor Gear

Like a nut, I'm slightly cracked... enjoy

Sorry for the lapse in posting. Been a bit out of sorts lately. Here's something to lighten the mood:

For those who enjoyed the Justin Hayward video post..

Following is an extended live version of Forever Autumn performed during Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds live tour. Admittedly, I found the talking disembodied head somewhat disturbing, but enjoy the video none-the-less.

Leadership Lessons- Part IX: Resilience

(Note: I apologize for the quality of the embedded video. It was the best I could find.)

Welcome to the ninth and final part of the series on leadership. First off, I would like to apologize to those who have been following for the delay in getting this one posted. It's been a long weekend, filled with much cherished visits from an old friend, and car repairs, and by the time each was finished, I was too exhausted to do anything else. Now without further ado, I present you with part IX. To date, I have covered Focus, Urgency, Initiative, Competence, Communication, Politics, Intellectual Honesty, and Interdependence. In this post, I will discuss Resilience. Resilience is defined as an ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change.

As an effective leader, one is expected to be of resilient character; therefore, developing and maintaining this quality of leadership should always be one of top priority. It is also the responsibility of an effective leader to nurture the experiences of those under his leadership to help them to develop a sense of competence and self-confidence for dealing with and overcoming their own mistakes and misfortunes. One must recognize that, at all levels of leadership, one must take steps to insure his own resilience as well as the strength and stability of those around him. To these ends, the following guidelines should be taken into consideration:

• The first step in forging and solidifying either personal or team reslience is taken when a leader begins to place his trust in others.


• By confiding in others, a leader takes two important steps toward building resilience in them. By verbally sharing experiences, one integrates emotionally and bonds a sense of mortal trust with others.


• Allowing those under one's leadership to have a great deal of control over how assignments are accomplished reinforces one's confidence in them. It also motivates their desire to perform their duties with skill and excellence.


• It is prudent that a leader be driven to serve purposes outside his own self-interest, as the extreme individualist never becomes a successful or effective leader.


• An effective leader should always forgive and forget the honest errors of others and to help them to rebound and recover from their mistakes. This responsibility is of paramount importance.


• It is of vital importance that one does not become confounded by one's miscalculations when a particular strategy does not work. In light of such a situation, one's primary task should be to formulate a new premise and take decisive action.


• In matters of either crisis or routine, it is always wise to ask others for their opinions, ideas, or suggestions. By taking such action, it often improve the action taken and reinforce concensus between a leader and those whom he leads. Moreover, restricting one's choices to the confines of his own knowledge is self-limiting. This is especially so when others possess knowledge and ideas that will allow one to improve upon his course of action.


• While an effective leader is expected to be successful in all that he does, he must also possess the strength of character to experience and recover from failure.


• A leader often encounters traumatic situations that are sudden, unexpected, and short-lived; however even in the most dire conditions, he is expected to maintain his composure and assist others in maintaining theirs. The fact is that anyone can commit a mortal mistake when overcome by panic and despair.


• When met by mistakes and misfortune, there is no gain in retreat. Running away from a problem never solves anything, nor does it soothe feelings.

And last, but not least,

• We must always recognize that in the most perilous circumstances, a leader must retain a sense of hope- trusting in his own ability and in the competence of others to stand firm against what would otherwise be an overwhelming tide of helplessness and despair.

In conclusion, as an effective leader, one's training and values will enable him to sustain even excessive periods of hardship while maintaining some measure of hope- the mortality fail-safe of human will.

One of my favorite songs. enjoy.

Justin Hayward (of Moody Blues fame) singing his song Forever Autumn from Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds. Enjoy this hauntingly beautiful song. Final installment on leadership series will be posted tomorrow.