What makes a good leader???

Leadership is a topic that I've struggled to understand over the years. The reason for this is because I don't know what style would work best for me. Some people prefer being a vocal leader as opposed to someone who leads by example. But I think we can agree that no matter what style is used, the main objective of leadership is to influence people toward a specific result. It is important for the leader to have the support and trust of their colleagues. Without that, it would be impossible to achieve the desired goal.

For me personally, I would like to think of myself as someone who leads by example. I always believed that actions speak louder than words because if you say something, you better back it up or you will look foolish. That's where leadership can get tricky. At certain points, you need to speak up and provide guidance. Because if you don't say a word, your colleagues might think you don't know what your doing. I'm not saying you need to get in someones face to get their maximum effort. The best quality about leaders that I've seen is having the trust of their colleagues that no matter what happens, the mission will be achieved. Take Derek Jeter for example. He is quiet by nature but when it comes time to play the game, he has confidence that his team is going to win every night. His teammates admire him for his preparation and his intense focus. He knows that in order to win the game, he needs his teammates to have the same mindset he has.

This topic can be defined in so many ways. There is no right or wrong answer about how it can be best achieved. As long as your colleagues have their faith in your ability to do the job, that's all you can hope for. I'm going to stick with my approach about actions speaking louder than words. It has suited me well.

So I'm about to turn 29 years old................

It recently hit me that in two weeks from Saturday, I'm going to turn 29 years old. People have been joking around with me that I'm getting old and what not. But truthfully, I don't feel that I'm getting old. I look at it as an opportunity to mature as an adult and apply the lessons that I've learned in my twenties. I can honestly say the past three years have been the best years of my life. I was a late bloomer if you will. I didn't get my drivers license until I was 26. Heck, I didn't know how to ride a bike until I was 25, explain that one to me.

I understand next year I will turn 30, but it is not something I should fear. If anything, it is something for me to embrace. Obviously, your responsibilities change once you get older. But that does not mean you can't stop enjoying yourself. The point of life is to do the things that you enjoy doing. This is one of the important things that will help keep your mind fresh and relaxed. No matter what age I'm, I will always be a kid at heart. The way I see it is if I dwell on the fact I'm getting old, I will be miserable. I won't let that happen because it will lead to unnecessary stress for me. And who needs that right? Look at the guys who are on "Entourage" for instance, they certainly don't let age get in their way of having a goodtime.

So as I approach my 29th birthday, I'm thankful for the experiences that I've had the past ten years. Without them, I wouldn't be the person I'm today. I'm excited about what challenges await me in the next decade or so. By continuing to have the frame of mind I have, I don't see why I can't succeed. My father taught me that no matter what you do, you should never feel sorry for yourself. With that said, I will keep striving to be the best I can be.