The Path To True Leadership: A Strategy for Leadership Growth

By Charles L Gill

Before becoming a leader of people, one must become a leader of self and be intentional about their life.

The key is to keep reinforcing your spiritual, personal, and professional growth foundation. It is a repetitive process that doesn't end. As we age, we grow into new behaviors, experiences, and relationships. Life will alw

• Language: English
• Publisher: Creating Life Goals, LLC
• Release date: May 11, 2021
• ISBN: 9780578933054

Charles L Gill

Charles Gill is the youngest of 15 siblings who grew up in Chicago's Ida B. Wells housing projects and Englewood neighborhood. He is the owner of Creating Life Goals, providing consultant services in information technology management, business growth, keynote speaker, coach, leadership development training, and helping people with personal and professional development. Charles is a 25 year IT professional and a 20 year Illinois Army National Guard's man and Iraq War Veteran. After failing sixth grade and getting kicked out of school, Charles graduated from Kenwood Academy High School. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Information Systems from DeVry, Master of Business Administration from Keller Graduate School of Management, Graduate Certificate in Health Services Management, AHIP Foundation Leadership certificate, and an ITIL V4 certification. Charles is one of the Founders and Executive Board Members of Woodlawn Diversity in Action, 501 (c) 3, and a certified John C Maxwell Speaker, Trainer, Coach, and Teacher. Charles has received many awards and accolades throughout his career. He is the recipient of the STEM Talk Award for Lumity, Impeccable Leadership Award with WDA, President Award from BCBSIL, Perkings, Leadership Award with AHIP's Minority Management Development Program Fellowship, Men of Excellence Award from the Chicago Defender, Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (3rd Award), National Defense Service Medal (2nd Award), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon With Numeral 3, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training.

Book preview

Introduction

People have a hard time just being themselves because they never take the time to discover who they are. I believe that GOD (whoever that is for you) lives on the inside of you. The only way you can find out who you are is to learn what God has for you and you only. Believe it or not, we will continue to rediscover who we are until the day we die. I gave this book the title, The Path to True Leadership. The path is a process of personal growth, spiritually, personally, and professionally, and then in leadership.

Many of us try to fit our life into a picture made by our family, friends, professional figures, and who we think we want to be, only to be disappointed, and with disappointment, we become depressed or angry and blame everyone and everything for our failures, when, in fact, we need to look in the mirror and decide to want to do something better with our life. Some of us later take on a leadership role (father, husband, mentor, supervisor, manager, director, etc.) to inspire people without being prepared. That puts pressure on other individuals and us. We become frustrated and unhappy and lose the motivation and desire to continue to grow. While this does not happen in all parts of your life, I am confident it occurs somewhere. Remember, it’s a process.

One example of my struggle is I talked about and made plans to write this book a couple of years ago. I became distracted and started using excuse after excuse not to sit down and put the work in to make it happen. What’s even worse for me is I retired and had nothing but time on my hands to make it happen. I got a little depressed putting everybody and everything else before my dream. I know I am not alone in understanding this challenge.

My dad always said, If you cannot take care of yourself, how can you take care of anyone else? This statement is the driving motivation for the first three sections of the book. It doesn’t mean you have to be perfect or live up to other people’s standards. It’s ALL ABOUT YOU. Before becoming a leader of people, one must become a leader of self and be intentional about their life. You must have a plan for your life, and if you don’t, then LIFE will have a plan for you, and you may not like it. Through my education, sports, professional employment, military, and growing up in Chicago’s streets (IDA B. Wells Projects, Englewood, and Hyde Park), I learned to be happy with myself as a work in progress.

You must have a solid foundation to achieve leadership success. The key is to keep reinforcing your spiritual, personal, and professional growth foundation. It is a repetitive process that doesn’t end. As we age, we grow into new behaviors, experiences, and relationships. Life will always bring new opportunities (some people look at it as problems). However, it’s all part of your growth process. You must appreciate, know, and believe that each morning is a new day, and you get another chance to move toward your goals and purpose. Remember, yesterday is gone, so apologize to those you hurt, forgive those who hurt you, and forgive yourself. I believe there are three foundational principles in your life that you must continue to strive for until your last day on earth.

1.You must have FAITH and apply God’s teaching to your life.

2.You must stay PHYSICALLY FIT to execute on your belief and goals.

3.You must continue to EDUCATE YOURSELF in your art (spiritual, professional, and personal endeavors).

To achieve your calling or dream requires prioritizing your life and hard work. We all have a CHOICE to make about life. However, executing that choice requires energy, strategy, discipline, resilience, and consistency. The key, you don’t have to do it alone. Reaching out for help will avoid many obstacles and problems. Try to be INTENTIONAL about your life and act on those intentions. Then write the plan down and get ready to WORK! Mike Tyson said, Everyone has a plan until you get punched in the mouth. If that happens to you, be prepared to absorb it and keep pressing forward. Don’t expect to fail, but have the resilience to bounce back fast if it happens. Each day brings new opportunities to grow in achieving your plan.

It’s never too late to change. I deal with change often and learned to embrace it. Writing this book, living alone, starting a new relationship, letting go of the past daily, choosing to be happy each day I wake up, and learning to like everyone for who they are, these are daily challenges in my life. Winston Churchill said, "There is nothing wrong in change if it is in the right direction. To improve is to change, so to be perfect