What's In A Name?

"How lucky a country whose king comes from a good family,
whose leaders eat only at mealtime and for strength,
not to get drunk." King Solomon

I know you have seen them. Leaders who diligently worked towards a means of success seem to do very little once they get there. They polish their name plate, flash their business cards, and will tell anyone, anywhere, what their title is. While they are quick to announce themselves, they have a hard time telling you exactly what it is they do. That is, once they have that title, they do very little. Leaders by title only are like a pecan shell that is empty once it is cracked open.

What is a title? It certainly can not become the goal itself. In fact, if a leader gloats in it, he is not a true leader. Leaders worth their title don't care about the title.

Remember Joseph, the seventeen year old who was a victim of his brother's jealousy and ended up in prison? I would hardly call a prisoner leadership material, but he proved to be more than his label. He rose beyond ex-prisoner status to the interior of leadership. He didn't deserve the title of prisoner any more than some leaders deserve their title.

Are you preoccupied with the status of your position?

Are the fringe benefits of your title worth as much as your salary?

Do you walk the halls of your office, silently demanding respect based solely on what your business card says?

It's time to reevaluate. What matters is your contribution, your work ethic and being an employee of integrity. Here is the challenge. Although corporate America signs your check, it is the one who sits in heaven that you really answer to. He is the one who has designed you with a conscience for a purpose.

Laziness is a quality that is anything but attractive. Make sure that when you do achieve your satisfactory level of success, you continue with honorable business practices, lest you be labeled a lazy leader.