is it the kindness we see in the eyes of a stranger?

“things which matter most should never be at the mercy of things which matter least.” - goethe
robert k. cooper presents priorities for life™
leadership: uncommon reminders for bringing out the best in yourself and others.

leadership is…
*the act of making a difference.
*the ability to achieve results through people.
*who you are when no one else is looking.
*knowing what you’re best at, what brings a light to your eyes, and what you most love to do – and then doing it.
*honoring the greatness – and uniqueness – in others.
*knowing how deep the place is from which life flows.
*connecting everyday to your deepest and most enduring values.
*doing whatever it takes to honor your word.  doing whatever it takes to care for your family.  doing whatever it takes to making a difference through your work.  doing whatever it takes to give hope to the people around you.
*experiencing life not by looking in from the rim but front and center.
*making adversity your ally.
*greatness is born during tough times and unexpected circumstances.
*knowing that from time to time you have to look backward to see forward.
*excelling instead of competing.  no one has to lose for you to win.
*knowing when to come up for air.
*having an irrational sense of hope.
*being grateful for every genuine effort.  being grateful for every act of kindness.
*knowing your most unused potential and committing yourself to liberating the other 90% of your hidden capacity.
*knowing that everyday you have the same number of minutes as edison – lincoln – galileo – thoreau – king – davinci – Gandhi - Mother Teresa – mandela - einstein
*aligning your daily efforts with big dreams and great goals.
*glancing farther ahead.
*viewing life as a laboratory instead of a stage.
*challenging times are meant to be a test of spirit, not theatrics.
*knowing that the gap between what can be imagined and what can be accomplished has never been smaller.
*learning faster than the world is changing.
*constantly discovering and applying new strengths, talents, and passions.
*valuing even the smallest moments of inspiration.
*facing the truth about weaknesses – first in yourself and second in others – and managing the weaknesses out of the way.
*learning from every stumble and setback. no blaming. no defensiveness.
*trusting enough to be trusted.
*having a curious mind. having a listening ear. having an open heart.
*acknowledging that every day is a battle for control. not of the world around you, but of your responses to it.
*envisioning how your choices and actions today may influence the next ten years.
*never forgetting from how far back a human being can come and still make a difference.
*knowing that your path has a purpose beyond where it leads.  knowing that the biggest risk in life is not to risk at all.
*being fun to be around. the way you used to be when you had no money.
*knowing that home is where the great are small and the small are great.
*doing all you can to have the heart of a lion, the skin of a rhino, and the soul of an angel.
*living so that when other people think of integrity, enthusiasm, commitment, and caring they think of you.
*knowing you were born an original.  knowing you were born to make a difference in the world.  knowing you can’t play it safe.  knowing you can’t sit this one out.
*the time is now.  the leader is you.  if not now, when?