Part 1: Signficance

The first thing you will learn when you become a leader is that you need to learn how to sacrifice. Not everyone knows this. Finally someone straight out said that being a leader is hard, it's not for everyone, and it takes a lot out of you! I myself have not had the opportunity to experience this just yet, but I have seen multiple leaders in greek leadership slowly burn out over the course of a year from balancing school, work, and their sorority duties. This is why leadership is not just for anyone. This is what separates the real leaders from the people in leadership roles to enhance their resumes.

"The Best Leaders Are Teachers." When I read that I initially thought, "YES!" I strongly believe in leading by example. The Best Way to Learn is to Teach. You're forced to have all of your stuff together and down if you have to teach someone how to do something. Leaders may seem like they have all of their stuff together, but sometimes it's just because they learned something just before teaching you. As a new sorority on campus, I've seen our greek leaders learn, and then teach us. I can see their understanding on certain concepts growing as they explain things.  Legacies are made by stories. Everyone wants to leave a legacy. The best way to do that is to leave a lasting impression on someone. That someone will tell a bunch of people about that impression you left on them. You cannot have a legacy without at least one story.

"We All Need Loving Critics." I've never though about it like that before, but it's completely true. All too often people we love will keep their critical thoughts to their self as to not upset us, or are too infatuated too see anything wrong. Then there's the other end of the spectrum where all of the criticism we hear is from people who despise us. What we need are "loving critics." These are people who love us, but care so much that they will open up their mouth and say something to us. Because we also (probably) love them, we will listen to what they have to say because they aren't just saying things to be mean. As a leader, we cannot grow without feedback, and it should play an instrumental role for all leaders in growing.

 It is not the CEO who is the most important leader in an organization, it is the manager. The manager much more directly can control the success of a business than the CEO. "Leaders who have the most influence on us are those who are closest to us." Our work habits, aspirations, etc. are influenced by people closest to us such as our boss, family, friends, and professors or coaches. It is not the CEO of the fast foot company you work for that has influence over you. It is the store manager that hired you. Each person needs to take responsibility for his or her own leadership skills, because you are important and you will make a difference if you try.

I love every single thing this book has said so far. I haven't thought about things the way they have and it all makes so much sense. This book is truly an eyeopener so far.