The Message of LeadershipSample

LET'S GET REAL

"Whatever is done without ostentation, and without the people being witnesses of it is, in my opinion, most praiseworthy."
-Marcus Tullius Cicero

Have you ever had an experience where what you saw was NOT what you got? This was my experience when I came face-to-face with the powerhouse wrestler Hulk Hogan.

I met him in Denver when he came to meet Billy Graham at a crusade. The Hulkster was not at all what I expected. Yes, he was tanned, muscular, and huge, but he was also quiet and humble in his demeanor—the polar opposite of the TV persona he had so skillfully crafted over the years.

Underneath all the glamour and facade, humans are all the same—just clay fashioned into housing for a living soul. Everyone is searching for meaning and purpose in life and shares the same basic human needs. Showmanship is one thing, but don’t be fooled by your own act. At the heart of it all you are the same as everyone else—no better and no worse. And you need to recognize that fact.

You should neither intimidate others nor be intimidated by the external trappings of success. Attend to the basics—your body, soul, and mind. Cultivate the simple pleasures and have a realistic appraisal of yourself. God doesn’t read your press clippings. And if He did, He would not be very impressed.

Essential Insight 13: Drawing attention to yourself may be good for business, but the simple life is good for your soul.