The law of solid ground: Trust is the foundation of leadership. When it comes to leadership, you just can’t take shortcuts, no matter how long you’ve been leading your people. To build trust, a leader must exhibit competence, connection, and character. Character makes trust possible. And trust makes leadership possible. That is the law of solid ground. How do leaders earn respect? By making sound decisions, by admitting their mistakes, and by putting what’s best for their followers and the organization ahead of their personal agendas.

Sounds lovely, sounds noble doesn’t it? I really don’t think this is so terribly complicated though. I believe that the essence is really about doing the right thing everyday and attempting to be better tomorrow. We all have shortcoming, we all have bad days, but the difference is how we rise from the ashes, rise to the occasion or handle adversity with grace. By consistently doing your best, you cannot lose.

The only thing that walks back from the tomb with the mourners ans refuses to be buried is the character of a man. This is true. What a man is survives him. It can never be buried. – J.R. Miller