Leaders Must Be Present to Win

How many times have you attended an event and purchased raffle tickets to win something of value but with one hitch? You must be present to win. You couldn’t just show up for a little while, leave early and hope to learn or hear something interesting or to engage with someone who might be a mutually beneficial business connection. You had to stay…until the end…because that’s when the winners were announced. Even if you didn’t win a prize, you had a greater opportunity to gain something of value from being there until the very end.

The same thing happens in other aspects of life and work. If you want to gain clients, information, understanding, insight or relationships that are worthwhile, you have to be present to win. You can’t sit in your office and wish it to happen. You have to go someplace, do something, meet someone, invest time and money (time IS money of course) and give of yourself by engaging with others. More importantly, you have to take a risk and give at a level where you stretch beyond how you may feel at the moment or beyond your comfort level. (more…)