The Word “Leader”, Not What I Thought
When I was young and working in the corporate world, I used to think the word “Leader” meant “the Boss”, and I saw it as the person with all of the “power” and authority. As I climbed the corporate ladder, I soon learned it was not what I thought. I had more responsibility which meant I had to do “whatever it took” to get the job done, so in the end, I was really the one who worked the hardest and longest hours, and if something went wrong, it was my fault! I soon realized there was not enough hours in the day and I was making less than my employees to be the “Boss”! Thank goodness I found the home based business industry.
Starting At The Bottom
So when I first started, we all had to basically start “at the bottom”. There was no skipping steps just because of my past resume and in the entrepreneurial world, it doesn’t matter how smart you are or if you can pass the test, it’s all about results. I really thought I would be terrible at it because I never did sales and I didn’t like talking to people! 🙄 Remember, I was very shy, and still am. However, I was a passionate mother wanting to be home with her 8 year old son, so I was determined to give it my best try. 😕
Followed Step By Step
I was given a step by step plan, and I followed my mentor almost word for word (back then, we used phone scripts). The first script I read, I said “Hi, my name is Rick (my sponsor’s name), or no, it’s Kellie” 😯 !! I know, I know, I was terrible!! But, I kept on doing it over, and over, and over! I followed my sponsor and my mentor and I got better each time. I realized as Jim Rohn says “you make up in numbers, what you lack in skill“, and I was willing to do double or even triple the numbers of the average person, just so I could get better. And guess what? 😯 It worked!! 😀 Yes, it took a while, however, soon enough I started to experience great success and that gave me confidence. At this point, I never thought of myself as being a Leader in my business, I just wanted to make enough income to stay home with my son. However, as I started to perform, people started to look to me as a leader and they wanted to know what I did. Wow, that shocked me!! 😯 You see, I had been such a good follower and a good student, that my results spoke for themselves and without really knowing what I was doing, I was exhibiting foundational principles of leadership. 😀
Foundational Principles Of Leadership
For example, I Sacrificed some sleep to start my home business and I had the Discipline to do enough numbers, until I had developed the Excellence in skills required to become a leader. As I did that, we had the Integrity of being “good to our word“. We started taking on more Responsibilities for our company and for our organization over the years. We have been Humbled many times as I kept on making so many mistakes because I had “no experience” doing business before. We have Perservered “no matter what”, and we have been Loyal to the same company for over 15 years now.
My favorite leadership author and speaker is John Maxwell, and he says “Leadership is Influence. He who thinks he is a leader and has no one following him, is only taking a walk.” John says it’s relationships which influence people, not titles or positions, and influence must be earned. As we kept on perservering even through very challenging times, we realized we were truly “getting better” as people. Jim Rohn says “don’t ask that life gets easier, ask that you get better“, and we did, and we still do each and everyday.
Here’s a video on Rock Solid Leadership:
Leaders Choose Character
As leaders, we must be willing to choose the path of Character over the path of compromise. We must lead for the benefit of others & not for the enrichment of ourselves.
We hope this assisted you today. May we ask you to click the “f share” button at the top of the article to share on Facebook or “retweet” this on Twitter? And we would love to have you comment at the end of this article as we would love to connect with you on our blog.
😀
July 18th, 2010 at 2:35 pm
Love the leadership is influence quote.
I was thinking too, as one leads with a servants heart it is a wonderful example for a natural course… be it enriching and gratifying in our own lives.
You are a beacon for the dream, friend 🙂
Robin Lynn Brooks�´s last blog post ..Listen for that Real Connection in Relationship Building
July 18th, 2010 at 3:25 pm
Aloha Robin 🙂
So wonderful to see you on our blog! I’ve missed you!
Thank you for your kind comments, my dear friend! Much love & aloha 🙂
July 18th, 2010 at 3:04 pm
Hi Kellie!
I feel that I must now get to this point of “influence.” For so many years, numbers would show that I was only taking a walk! How humbling that is to know, that just because you’re an entrepreneur or own a business, this does NOT make you a leader. The greatest leaders have “influence.” I was just listening to John Maxwell’s 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership and he mentioned Princess Di. She was not a leader, but she had INFLUENCE over many nations and she was just married to a prince? Because of her influence this made her leader. Why? because with what she did, she was able to influence others to follow her in the media in everything she did! Wow!
Thank you for sharing <3
Shannon Tecson�´s last blog post ..YOU Can Be a Generational Blessing
July 18th, 2010 at 4:02 pm
Aloha Shannon,
I am glad you gained insight from our post! I am so happy you are reading the “21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership”, one of my favorites! Yes, Princess Diana is a great example and she has left a legacy which will live on forever. She was truly “loved” and she served people. She used her “power” to help more people and she never took the limelight. Thank you for sharing! 🙂
July 19th, 2010 at 8:01 am
Jim Rohn says “don’t ask that life gets easier, ask that you get better”, and we did, and we still do each and everyday.
Great job on this one Kellie! We learn so much from each other.
July 19th, 2010 at 9:43 pm
Aloha Kay,
So great to see you here on our blog! Yes, we love Jim!!
Thank you for your comments. 🙂
July 19th, 2010 at 4:15 pm
Kellie,
Great information and advice here. There are many skills and qualities that go into being a great leader but as you’ve shared here, they all are attainable with time, belief, sacrifice, and work.
I also love John Maxwell and have learned great lessons from this phenomenal leader. Obviously, you have been a great follower – because you are indeed a great leader. And BTW, you are Not shy 🙂
Kathy JodreyÃ�´s last blog post ..How to Attract Abundance…or a Jet Ski – Summer Scenery Series 3
July 19th, 2010 at 9:46 pm
Aloha Kathy,
Thank you so much for your kind comments. John Maxwell is the best in my book as far as leadership is concerned.
After 15 years in our own business, I guess it looks like I’m not shy anymore, however, inside and in a personal setting, I still am. Remember I was overweight for over 35 years!!
Thanks for the complement! Aloha 🙂
July 19th, 2010 at 5:51 pm
Kellie!
Yesterday and today I am having so many AHA! moments! I am finally understanding what it means to be a great follower (which will make me a great leader!) The biggest learning here for me is “Why re-invent the wheel?” LOL! finally!
I feel that I’ve been thinking too much isntead of feeling – EVEN THOUGH THIS IS SOMETHING i HAVE PREACHED ENDLESSLY TO OTHERS ABOUT!. I somehow thought that if I didn’t put tremendous effort and spend lots of personal energy on finding the best way I was not doing a good job – How wrong was I ?! And in a very short space of time since I decided to let go of the controls a bit and TRUST the people I have asked for in my life (AHEM!”) – things have DRAMATICALLY CHANGED!
I REALLY want to stay in this Vortex you threw me into lol!!!
Thanks teach 😉
Annette
July 19th, 2010 at 9:49 pm
Aloha Annette!
You are the epitome of a great student! I love it! Thank you for being so teachable and for bringing us so much joy!
I am so happy you are experiencing your miracles in your vortex! You and Dave deserve it all!
So happy to see you helping so many Irish people!
Much love & gratitude 🙂
July 19th, 2010 at 7:47 pm
Kellie,
I can hear your voice so well in this post. 🙂 I hear the passion you have for enriching the lives of others through the work you do with your company. You are a very resilient, powerful woman. I’m honored to have yo in my circle.
Thanks for always standing true to your beliefs and showing a great example of leadership for all to follow.
Val 🙂
July 19th, 2010 at 9:51 pm
Awe thank you Val! You don’t realize how much I value your words because I resonate with your posts and I know you have been through an incredible journey also.
Thank you for your kind words and I am very honored to have you in my circle too! Much love & gratitude 🙂
July 20th, 2010 at 10:49 am
Hey Kellie:
So much valuable stuff to learn from you. Thanks.
July 21st, 2010 at 5:19 pm
You are so kind Arlan! Thank you for visiting and for your comments!
Aloha 🙂
July 21st, 2010 at 12:55 pm
i love the line in the movie about having to first learn to lead ourselves (before we can truly lead others). it’s easy to TELL people what to do–the delta is not just telling others, but doing it ourselves!
and shannon is so right–to talk the talk AND walk the walk! amen sister!
Melissa McCloud�´s last blog post ..I Like It Quick And Dirty
July 21st, 2010 at 5:21 pm
Mahalo (thank you) Melissa for your comments! Yes, we all must walk-the-walk and lead by example. Glad you enjoyed the video. Aloha 🙂
July 21st, 2010 at 2:10 pm
I agree with Val – the passion you have for helping people improve their lives and themselves, shines through in every word.
For more years than I care to admit, I was ‘uncoachable’. I spent so much time thinking I could do things better, or differently, or ‘that wouldn’t work for me’.
Talk about trying to reinvent the wheel – such a waste of time.
But I came to my senses, chose my mentors and knuckled down to Learn. And what do you know, I find I’m becoming a leader!
Like you, Kellie, I’m somewhat surprised, but it feels right and I know I can help others by just sharing what I’ve learned.
I’ll never stop being a student ~ but being a Leader is cool!
Jacqueline Gates�´s last blog post ..Feathers and Diamonds and Challenges- oh my!
July 21st, 2010 at 5:27 pm
Thank you Jacqui! It brings me joy to hear from you & Val that my passion for helping people comes through. I really believe if I can do it, anyone can!! You should have seen the person my mentors had to work with (oh that’s right, you saw the large insecure person in my health story)…LOL I am so glad you chose your mentors and became teachable because that is the first step and it really is so much easier to just follow, I still do…I love it! It’s so freeing! Thank you & aloha 🙂
July 21st, 2010 at 4:54 pm
So true, you cannot lead others unless you know how to lead yourself, and you learn that by first following. Provide value to others and the rest will come at the right time. Enjoy the process, my friend.
Young And Fabulous�´s last blog post ..Living Your Dreams
July 21st, 2010 at 5:29 pm
Aloha Cherrie,
Thank you for your comments and for your visit! Aloha 🙂
July 21st, 2010 at 7:00 pm
Hi Kellie,
What a great post again, full of useful advice and information, I too had one or two ‘aha’ moments when reading it lol! One piece that particularly stood out to me was the sentence about ‘sacrificing sleep to develop skills needed’… I can so relate to that haha! 🙂 particularly as it is now nearly 03.00am here in England – like the Jim Rohn quote also!
Thanks Kellie 😉
Denise GrayÃ�´s last blog post ..Online Network Marketing – Information Overload!! – Want to know how I dealt with it
July 22nd, 2010 at 8:35 pm
Aloha Denise,
So wonderful to see your smiling face on our blog! I am so happy you are gaining some insight from our posts! It brings me great joy to know I am assisting people, especially my friend all the way from England! 🙂 I love how the internet has allowed all of us to make friends from all around the world!
Looking forward to connecting with you again Denise! Aloha & Thank you 🙂
July 22nd, 2010 at 12:30 am
Kellie,
I really loved how you broke down the definition of a leader. One can lead and no one may follow. Another could just be and could move nations. Leadership is not a right but a privilege and I can see you have it in spades. I’m blessed to hear how you lead your organization by your work ethics and values. That speaks more that words can describe.
Ken Pickard
The Network Dad
Ken Pickard�´s last blog post ..Manball with Mentors
July 22nd, 2010 at 8:39 pm
Aloha Ken,
Thank you for your kind comments! I really appreciate you taking the time to visit and I am glad you are gaining some things from our posts. Much aloha 🙂
July 24th, 2010 at 2:18 pm
Being a good leader comes from learning. Having the right people around to teach you is key.
Keep those posts coming…
~ Tim
Empowered Tribe Member
Tim Colletti�´s last blog post ..Great Social Media Tool For Twitter And Facebook!
July 25th, 2010 at 7:54 pm
That’s right Tim! Keep on being teachable and always have mentors in your life. Aloha 🙂
July 24th, 2010 at 11:35 pm
Kellie, I like the points your make in your post, i know for me I love to soak in different perspectives and share it with the people in my network, I look forward to reading more of your blog.
Chris
Chris Bernardo�´s last blog post ..Top 5 Questions Answered- EFT Tapping
July 25th, 2010 at 7:55 pm
Aloha Chris,
Great to see you on our blog again! Glad you are enjoying our blog. Look forward to your comments. Aloha 🙂
July 25th, 2010 at 7:43 am
Dear Kellie, Thank you for sharing these concepts of Leadership. It is a call to action. To be a doer, and not just a hearer. To love others, and not just ourselves. To lead others, down the path of good Health, and prosperity. lol
August 10th, 2010 at 5:54 pm
Aloha Fred,
Nice to see you here on our blog. Yes, leadership is a call to action and being a good follower will get you results to lead others. Aloha 🙂
Kellie Hosaka�´s last blog post ..How To Use The Pareto Principle 80-20 Rule To Increase Your Success
August 10th, 2010 at 10:42 am
Aloha Kellie: You’re awesome in the delivery of your messages of gret value. The video drive home your points. You are a great leader and many will follow. Appreciate you.
August 10th, 2010 at 6:02 pm
Thank you Arlan! I am so happy you are getting value out of our blog posts. I love videos as I believe it really conveys a message. Thank you for your comments. Aloha 🙂
Kellie Hosaka�´s last blog post ..How To Use The Pareto Principle 80-20 Rule To Increase Your Success
October 16th, 2010 at 7:30 am
Kellie! Such good, empowering stuff here. I think many of us struggle with being “uncoachable” or certainly at times.
When we are kids, we don’t worry about making mistake so much. Whether we are learning to play kick ball, ride a bike or learn something new, the “mistakes” are all part of the process.
As adults, we few mistakes too often as failures. Somehow, we have let go that it is just part of the learning process.
I have focused on “re-learning” that process as my children go through school. As someone who was always focused on getting that “A”, I have learned that even in school, a bad grade on a test is only bad if one doesn’t learn from the experience. Now, if one of my kids gets a bad test grade, I ask if they have learned from it and do they now KNOW the material.
And, I incorporate this in my life as well.
Thanks for sharing your journey!
EXPECT Success!
Jackie Ulmer
Jackie Ulmer�´s last blog post ..Seeing Through the Fog In Your Business
October 18th, 2010 at 3:51 am
Aloha Jackie,
Thank you for your kind comments! It has been quite a journey and full of experiences which I am happy to share today. I am so grateful I was willing to make so many mistakes because the learning is priceless!
I believe the hidden gift of becoming an entrepreneur is the gift we give our children as they are free to “make the mistakes” and grow up wanting to soar. Your children are very fortunate you took that path many years ago. It’s so much fun watching them soar and be free! Much aloha 🙂