Month: April 2014

Humanity

Ramona Mills1 Comment

Living in a developed country that has a system of order and plentiful resources shields us from the reality that most of humanity faces. It’s not until you travel to a poverty-stricken country and witness the hunger, violence, and disease that signifies life for its inhabitants that you realize the artificial world in which we live.

While some countries are rich in resources, the income derived from those resources rarely reaches the poor. The inequalities prevalent in these countries include unclean water, inadequate medical care, deadly viruses, and limited education. Furthermore, the children in these countries are most affected, many times, succumbing to death due to hunger and malnutrition.

We have a moral obligation to be more appreciative of the opportunities and resources afforded us while finding ways to give of ourselves for the greater good of humanity. “An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Leadership

Ramona Mills2 Comments

Many people want to be leaders, but the majority of us are followers. We may be good followers in following a good leader, but no leader is perfect. Many people fail to realize that leadership can appear glamorous at times, but it is often lonely, thankless, and sometimes filled with pressures to compromise values and standards.

The essential quality of leadership is credibility. If people don’t trust you, they won’t follow you. The most effective followers understand their role and follow the ideas and beliefs of their leader. However, if a leader goes against ethical practices, you must be willing to stand alone.

As we rise to leadership positions, our priorities should be finding productive ways to serve people versus our praise, prestige, and power. Although many seek recognition for their accomplishments through these channels, they are poor substitutes for the substance gained in serving someone other than ourselves.