A quote from the introduction to the <a title="Leadership Challenge at Amazon.com" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0787984914?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=elevate-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=0787984914" target="_blank">4th edition of <em>Leadership Challenge</em> by Kouzes and Posner</a> caught my attention.  "In the end, we realize that leadership development is self-development."  That thought stuck in my mind.  It explains much of my passion for the topic of leadership.

Have you ever noticed the energy you get from helping someone accomplish something they've set their mind on?  <!--more-->One of my core values in hiring, or association, or partnership; one of the core reasons why I engage with certain people depends on my perception of their ability to self-motivate.  No boss wants to have to fire their workers up every day.  Team members that would rather be somewhere else should get somewhere else.  People who do not look forward to anything or who cannot get excited about something end up being a drain, at least to me and many of the leaders I know.

How's your self-development?  Are you doing what you can to grow yourself?  Have you let your circumstances dictate your energy level or are you setting the stage, creating your future?  Are you a victim or a creator?  Are you helpless or are you an owner? Are you a thermostat or a thermometer?

Our world needs us to embrace our circumstances and make the best of them.  Our job is to bring an attitude of creation to every environment, every circumstance.  We develop as leaders as we exercise our ability to influence our circumstances.  And, just like physical exercise, exercising positive influence is something we all get better at as we work at it.  As some encouraging friends on Twitter like to say, "make it a great day".  Work out your leadership skills today and create your future!

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