LESSONS AN INDIAN BOY TAUGHT ME

I have read books and practised leadership from my teenage years, but this little boy inspires a different level of leadership in me. His determination to make a difference in a system that cared less and a society that was characterized by selfishness, nonchalance, mediocrity and greed inspires in me the need to take the lead in effecting positive change.

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 https://youtu.be/GPeeZ6viNgY?si=_UBRLM-DF-jYxzRH

THERE WAS A PROBLEM;

Things weren’t working as normal and no one seemed to care about it; Do you work in an organization where things aren’t going smoothly as it should, do you come from a family that seem to be careless about certain things they should take rather seriously, or you live in a society that has accepted the life of mediocrity? If you find yourself in such a system as I have, you would notice that people aren’t usually very happy about the situation they have found themselves, but they can’t do anything or so they would think. But this boy is someone you would call a maverick (one who sees things differently from others). What did he do?

• He saw the situation and was exasperated by it
• He analyzed the situation and identified the root cause of the problem 
• He didn’t complain, whine, lament or turn a blind eye (which was the major problem) to the problem like the others in the same area
• He asked himself the most important question under the circumstance, ‘What can I do to solve the problem?

THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM;

People respond differently to problems and situations around them; some complain bitterly, others blame the government, the weather, the system, their family background, the economic situation or any other external factor not realizing that the major challenge is not the external forces but the internal weaknesses that we accept as our reality. The bitter truth is that, things are meant to go wrong; people change, government and organizational policies fail, systems that may have lasted for decades fall apart. Rather than sit back and wait and look for whom to blame and criticize, we can be proactive enough to do what this little boy did. He focused his attention on finding a solution to the problem. The only answer that made sense to him was ‘I can move this tree out of the way’. What a stupid thing to do right?

• Whereas others may have asked the same question and did nothing, this little boy got an idea. It was outrageous, crazy and stupid to those around. But he ACTED on the idea
• His outrageous, crazy and even stupid move INSPIRED his friends and age mates
• He didn’t stop there, he also inspired the adults in the area who actually had the resources to get things done but didn’t.
• His attitude towards the problem inspired the entire community to create the positive change they are all desired. But it all started with one person and by one person.

This little Indian boy didn’t behave like the others who rather than do something chose to complain, blame the failing system and the government. He looked within himself. Most of the time, the solution to our problem is within. If we can only look within. He looked beyond his weakness. He saw success where others saw failure, he saw opportunity where others saw hopelessness. He saw a way where others saw road block. He took the giant step that brought about the desired change in the society. To be determined, you need to be proactive and to be proactive, you need to be visionary. When you are visionary means you are a leader. Leadership starts from within.