Ponder that one for a hot minute. In our present news/fake news culture, I started thinking about leadership and what makes a good leader. I couldn’t really sort it out. There’s just some abstract quality that’s hard to pin down. Similar to pornography (okay nothing like pornography), it’s hard to define but you know it when you see it. Some leaders are bad bad people but they still have that gift to command an audience. Charisma. Je ne sais quoi. I was thinking of people I know who I consider great leaders. Totally subjective but hey it’s my blogue. Many had/have a bit of the crazies in them, which might be a good thing. Not a cliche. New voice. Often times people have a love/hate thing with their leaders because they’re just so compelling. Tell me don’t tell me. Guide me don’t guide me. It starts at a very young age on the playground as the cliques start forming. In a weird set of circumstances, I became friends with a legendary Ohio State football coach who was a powerful leader on and off the football field. People were just drawn to him and he knew it and embraced it. I heard him speak about leadership and his command of the room was amazing. People were riveted and nothing he said was very profound. Practical things. One interesting tidbit I do remember had to do with physical health. He said if you look back at the good periods of your life, you were probably in good shape. Everyone smiled as they walked back through the tunnel, and nodded in agreement. Kind of a mind over matter thing. If you’re at a good weight, sleeping, eating right, taking care of yourself, the bad things are just a bit easier to deal with. Taking control of your life. Being a leader in your own world with your family, coworkers, friends. Enemies. Today a quote popped up on my Facebook page that I’m desperately trying to work into this narrative, but somehow my mind keeps coming up with porn references which are quite funny btw but trying to keep this classy. And thought provoking. “You don’t know strength until strength is the only choice you have” -not Larry Flynt