Final Post

As I read the final chapters of this book, I try to reflect upon all that I have read. But that is difficult for me to do, as all I view the final section -part four- to be the most meaningful and important to me. Courage is something I need a lot of work on. I always want to jump into things, and then I contemplate and analyze them until I scare myself out of doing it. For example, I have been expressing interest in positions in Gamma Phi, but eventually let my fear of messing up or doing a sub-par job get the best of me.

 I learned a lot from the chapter that discussed how hard leadership can be and how it is a humbling experience. I can visualize that. I can see myself realizing all of the hard work my current e-board does and saying to myself, "it's a lot harder than it looks". However, I disagree somewhat about how the higher up you go, the further you are from the base, where you started, and therefore it is harder to stay humble (coming from the word humus, meaning down to earth). I honestly can see myself being more humbled by a position, realizing its importance and the effort it takes to support and maintain it. However, there are occasions where I look to an eboard member and know she has lost some of her humility because of her position. I think, then, it really depends on the person.

I think everybody in the history of forever must read the chapter about failure being an option. Failure is never an option for me. In fact, good is never an option for me. I always feel the pressure to be great. But that's just it. It's pressure. From teachers, from parents, from friends and peers, from employers, from sisters, and from teammates. I want so badly to be able to venture out and try new things, but I know that if I do not succeed, I will be punished. That shouldn't happen. To Anyone! And if every leader from now until forever would read and understand this chapter, so much more in this world would be accomplished. Reading about Jeff Daniels and "The Squid and the Whale" reminded me so much of the time I was cast as Rizzo in my high school's production of Grease. Never in my life have I been a less-than-modest, loud, rude, mean woman, but the time had come to act like one. It was scary and new, but I tried and and succeeded with flying colors (so I'd like to think, at least...There are wose things I could dooo...).

The final sentences really drove home the point of the chapter for me. "Our challenge is to stay focused on the difference we want to make". This is so right. You take a leadership position in order to create change, in order to make your organization better. If you just stay focused on that, you will succeed, make a differene, and leave a leader's legacy.

It was awesome working with you all and I hope that I have the pleasure of working with you again in the future.


Jen Herzog

Last Posttttttttt

I was quite sceptical when I got to the chapter that was titled something about failure always being an option.  I read it and immediately knew that this would be the chapter I didn't agree with.  For me, failure is not an option, but at first I related it to school.  In regards to class and courses taken at school, failing is not in my vocabulary.  Being academically driven is sometimes time consuming and obsessive.  Getting a C in a class, is the same as an F for me basically. So when I saw this chapter about failing, I was ready to counter everything that the author said with my own opinion, but as I read on, the chapter was more about trying and trying again until you succeed. It was about the fact that you can't always get it right the first time, although it would be very convenient to get it right the first time, it doesn't happen like that at all.  There is always a chance that you will succeed it's just about how many tries it takes to get there.

LOVE ERIN :) 

Last post!

Agh! I can't believe that this is my last post for GLAD! I feel like it just started, and now all of the sudden Wednesday is our last meeting. It's been a great experience being involved in GLAD. I've met a bunch of awesome people and learned so much that will help me become not only a better leader, but a better person all around as well. I would definitely recommend that anyone that has to opportunity to should do GLAD. (:

This last section had pretty great timing- it's not the first time this has happened either! Right now I have the opportunity to do something that I've been daydreaming about for a while. The only things that are stopping me is my anxiety and my fear of failing. With that being said, a few sentences from the book stood out to me. The first one I came across was: "It's not about being fearless so much as it is the ability to control fear." This immediately stuck in my head because it's fits perfectly to my situation, including everyday life.  Having courage and fear are like having peanut butter and jelly (or fluff). First, you have fear, whatever that may be. Then, you find the will to look past that fear, focus on your goal, and come out successful. Has many different meanings though. You can have a goal and accomplish it- a pretty common view of "success". Or you can have a goal, not accomplish it, and learn something new- something that a lot more people should take into consideration. "Failure is always an option." The title of Chapter 20 says it all. We can't be afraid to try something new just because there is a chance of failure. There is always a chance to fail, but as the book says " there's always a 100 percent possibility of success. It's not about failing or succeeding. It's about doing. The more attempts, the more chances to get a hit."

Part 4 Courage

Out of all the sections in the book this has to be my favorite one of all. I liked that the book ended with talking about having courage, and how it is not always about those life or death moments or overcoming huge odds against you to come out on top, but those small moments that really test you every day. Courage does derive from something small you are afraid or uncomfortable with but you choose to not give into the fear and instead rise above it. I liked when courage was broken down into three parts; little acts can have huge impacts, one person can make a difference, and courageous acts flow from beliefs. These all are very true. I've seen people make huge changes just by asking the simple question "is this ok?" Whether it is asked in the context of where funding for the SGA is going and someone asked if that is ok that we are giving so much for something such as just a celebration, or in someone's daily life if it is ok to try something new or if the consequences are too big, even asking in your own organization if something that has been done forever is ok to do still, or is it not what you really stand for anymore. It is hard even with small acts of courage like asking "is it ok?" because consequences can be huge, it can cause arguments and fights. I've been witness to this in many different organizations I have been in. But the way I see it is that questioning isn't bad it takes a lot of courage to be the one that questions the status quo even if it is not always seen as being courageous. As long as you believe in what you think and you are willing to defend it, I believe you should stand up and as if it is ok. The second part of the list is my personal favorite, that one person can make a difference. It is true when one person is brave enough to stand up and say something or do something it can make all the difference in the world. This sentiment is even where my favorite quote stems from; "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has."

Andy Belmore part 3 - Aspirations

Dear Blogary,

The third part of my epic adventure through my leadership book has yielded unprecedented results. Aspirations are more important then I first believed. Having something to strive for will affect the work of the present in profound ways. People are much less likely to follow someone who does not know where they are going. This is why I have taken it upon myself to pick a dream. Something to aim for above all of my other activities and projects. I have decided that once I have my dream selected, I will make leaps and bounds in my ability to lead others. Sooner or later, the world will be mine.

-Andy

Part 4 Courage

Courage is a trait that is hard for people to understand. Having courage is not about being afraid of nothing, its about being able to do things that many would not do. Courage is a word I know because when I learned Martial Arts courage is one of the seven codes of bushido. Courage is a trait that is misrepresented in the media. The media portarys courage a lot when it comes to a hero trying to overcome impossible odds, or doing an act of heroism. We all do an act of courage every single day in our lives. We all have the courage to get up everyday and go to school and try and make a living for ourselves. We may fail sometimes but we can not succeed if their is no failure. There is also no learning without first making mistakes. We all have courage the tough part is just learning how to show it. We are all afraid sometimes to be brave, to be courageous we overcome obstacles everyday because we have the courage to try.