A Leader's Challenge Today: How Do I Implement "Real Change?"
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Sometimes, if we look at too many headlines, we can easily be overwhelmed by the "Doom & Gloom" so prevalent in today's newspapers, magazines, TV, radio, Cable and even on the internet, as the Global Recession continues. We wonder, what will be next? Or, what can anyone do about all of this? Much less, what can I do about it? And, of course, is my job safe in this environment? Naturally, these all represent good questions. But, they are questions without a good answer.
Today, it's not just an economic challenge for the United States and Canada. NOW, it really is a global recession, in part because banking and business overall are both truly worldwide in nature. All of us know full well that money knows no national boundaries. While not everyone in each of our respective countries knows that FACT, you certainly do. Capital goes across international borders INSTANTLY. Say "hello" to the technology, which at least in part, has helped to drive this conclusion.
We may also be troubled today that the traditional every week, themed retail sales events of years gone by have now given way to a "Going Out of Business Sale" or even more often a "Bankruptcy Sale."
BUT, some sales today are also rising out of sheer necessity, such as buying food, clothing and shelter. For example, the basic necessities of life at "everyday low prices," has clearly accounted for Wal-Mart Stores' 7.2% sales increase during fiscal year 2008 to $401.244 billion. In addition, operating income was also up by 3.0% to $13.254 billion. In fact, "Wal-Mart recorded the strongest sales result in its history in the fourth quarter, with $108 billion in sales," said Mike Duke, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. president and chief executive officer. He concluded with this statement: "We achieved this through the hard work of our associates, helping our customers save money so they can live better."
Nor was Wal-Mart the only major player achieving some success recently, although this company has certainly been a standout exception in general in the current recession. Still another excellent example of swimming upstream in the current global economy would have to be AutoZone, which recently reported its fiscal 2nd quarter profit rose 8.6%, as its sales were lifted by cost-conscious customers who have decided to repair their aging cars instead of buying a new one.
For the quarter ended February 14, 2009, the largest US auto-parts retailer by sales reported net income of $115.9 million, or $2.03 a share, up from a year ago. As gas prices dropped last year, parts retailers started to see gains. More recently, the company's key competitor, Advanced Auto Parts announced a double-digit commercial same-store-sales growth projection for 2009.
But, we also know that no matter what the circumstance turns out to be at a given company, bank, hospital, government agency or other organization, technology will continue to play an important role in the next transition that takes place, right where you work. Efficiencies will be gained and profits will be greater than they would have been at your place of employment because of what you do every day. Only this year, it is your challenge and I would argue that it is your responsibility not to wait to be asked to make such a contribution. Instead, you need to seize every opportunity to make an over and beyond contribution of your time, your talents and your passion to make your organization better in every way and on every level.
At the end of the day, let it be said about you for 2009 that "HE or SHE made a difference!"
But, perhaps, we need to take a closer look at an individual, who has already made a difference either right now or in past years and more closely examine how he turned out to be a GAME-CHANGER. We wonder, at times, especially what constitutes a leader? Of course, the first definition of a leader is someone who leads by his life and by HIS/HER example.
A Great Example
Sometimes a point of light in the Government Sector can emerge from an unlikely place from around the globe. And, that is most definitely the case with this example, who is Hamid Karzai. (By the way, this researched example comes from an excerpt of the recently published book "Inside the Revolution," by best-selling author Joel C. Rosenberg. To visit his web site, go to www.joelrosenberg.com.)
Karzai's Afghan family was prominent and well off. His father was educated and the respected chief of the Popolzai tribe, but he did not believe that his country should be ruled by Sharia law.
When Hamid finished high school, his father sent him to university in India to earn an undergraduate and a graduate degree and to learn English. In 1979, when the student was only 21, the Ayatollah Khomeini launched his revolution in Iran at about the same time the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. But, his family did not want the youth to return home yet. However, by 1982, Karzai was hearing dramatic stories of the majahadeen fighting bravely against the Soviet troops. Inspired to become a part of it, he bought a train ticket back to his home country.
During this phase of his life, his father asked him to help with the logistics of moving food, medical supplies, weapons and other goods from where he was based in Pakistan to the fighters in Afghanistan. Eventually, Karzai set his mind to go into battle against the Soviets and on numerous raids inside his home country, he engaged in firefights with Soviet patrols and even shot down Soviet helicopters and fighter jets. But, his skills were needed more elsewhere.
When the mujahadeen rose to power in an "interim government," Karzai was brought back to Kabul and appointed deputy foreign minister. But, soon, civil war broke out among the tribal victors within the country itself. By 1994, Karzai had tried to persuade the Clinton-Gore administration to help, but they refused to get involved. The United Nations and the Europeans also chose not to help.
Into this mix came the Taliban plus Radical Wahhbai Muslims, complete with suitcases full of money flowing into the country from the Arabian Peninsula. Asked by the Taliban to serve as their ambassador to the United Nations, Karzai said "No." Now, in control of 90% of Afghanistan, the Taliban began to see Karzai as their main enemy.
At that time, Karzai was being interviewed in important channels of the global media, exposing what the Taliban was doing inside his country and pleading for help from other countries throughout the world. However while Karzai attempted to warn Americans and others about the dangers of the Taliban throughout the 90s, no one was listening to him. When the Bush administration was ready to fight back, Karzai and his friends had a network of insurgents in place to help the Americans and they controlled about 10% of the country.
By October, 2001, Karzai left his home outside of Afghanistan for the mountains near Kabul to rally his people against the Taliban. Once at the Afghan border, the future leader met up with three other close friends and associates, who had agreed to help him. That evening the American bombs began to drop. One night shortly after that, Karzai and his colleagues pulled together their first meeting with a local mullah and four tribal chiefs. One of the chiefs in the meeting asked Karzai if he could contact the Americans via satellite telephone. He said "Yes." The chief advised Karzai to ask the Americans to come and bomb the Taliban command center in the village of Tarin Kowl. While Karzai hesitated to do what he was asked, the mullah advised him that if he didn't make the call, he would lose against the Taliban.
"The population is fully with you," the mullah continued. "We will defend you to our deaths. But these are cruel people we are dealing with. . ."
Karzai finally agreed to make the call.
Soon after that, tens of thousands of US and NATO forces were arriving, massive amounts of weapons and ammunition were flowing to Karzai's men and the Northern Alliance, and the bulk of the Taliban and al Qaeda were fleeing for their lives.
And, when national elections were finally held, 8.1 million Afghans voted, 42% of them women. Also, when the final tally was made, Karzai had received a stunning 55.4% of the vote plus a surprising 3 million more votes than the closest of his 18 OTHER COMPETITORS.
CONCLUSION. Karzai's leadership principal, which he epitomizes is this: up to and including the present day, Hamid Karzai has emerged as a game changer in Afghanistan by being willing to lay down his life for a cause greater than himself.
© 2009 NowWhatJobs.net. All rights reserved. This article may not be reproduced without express written consent from NowWhatJobs.net
|
Readers' Comments
Posted: April 22, 2009 11:21 AM
Posted: April 22, 2009 10:53 AM
Posted: April 22, 2009 8:14 AM
View All Comments »