“Men make history…not the other way around. In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better.” — Harry S. Truman, 33rd U.S. President (1945–1953)

I’m a huge Batman fan when it comes to superheroes.  Why?  Because Batman does not have any superpowers, per se.  All he has, is just what he has…  Batman must use his mind, anticipate the actions of others, etc. He must use his human attributes to become a superhero.

Often times, we as leaders must carry the same mindset as Batman.  Now, let’s begin to think about that and how it can transcend into our leadership.

In the clip below, Henri Ducard (Ra’s Al Ghul) speaks with Bruce Wayne (Batman) about what it takes to become a legend.

Here is the conversation.  The best lines are in red.

Bruce Wayne:  You’re vigilantes.

Henri Ducard:  No, no, no.  A vigilante is just a man lost in the scramble for his own gratification.  He can be destroyed, or locked up.  But, if you make yourself more than just a man, if you devote yourself to an ideal, and they can’t stop you, then you become something else entirely.

Bruce Wayne:  Which is?

Henri Ducard: A Legend, Mr. Wayne.

This is what we should want to do in our leadership.  As leaders, we must devote ourselves to an ideal.  When we do that, passion and fire are evident in our lives.  And… We usually will not let anything stand in our way.  When we find an ideal of leadership we believe in and others buy into it, that is when our leadership can take on a legendary status (Note: There are also very bad ideals and leaders out there).

We have all had certain people in our lives that have influenced us with their leadership.  What were their ideals?  Why did you “follow” them?  Leaders who have had a “special touch” on our lives, we see as legends.  If we look back on history and look today, we can see the “pillars” of leadership.  Their leadership became legendary because their ideals were for the good of others and not themselves.  Those are the ideals we should strive for, an ideal of being a servant, putting others first.  

What are you doing today, this week, this month, this year, this life to make your leadership legendary?  If we do not have a leadership ideal to strive for, then we are just going through the motions.  Too many times, all we do is follow.  Be the leader who is devoted to an ideal and let your leadership become legendary.  Society is waiting…

Remember… THINK LEADERSHIP

©2017 J Clay Norton

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