LEADERSHIP

Whether you desire to transform a dream into reality, failure into triumph, grief into grace, or a relationship breakdown into a bridge of love and higher understanding, these universal principles are the means to
naturally accomplish your goals.

• Insight
  Just as a tree begins with a seed, so too is Insight the “seed” that
  begins your transformation. One of the greatest insights is simply the
  knowledge that “You Can.” You CAN overcome your greatest challenges. You CAN transform your dreams into your own living, breathing reality. You CAN create a new life for yourself and your loved ones.
   
• Timing
  The saying “timing is everything” is not just a nice expression. Without
  developing excellent timing, you will always be fighting the natural ebb
  and flow of the universe. Just as most seeds sprout on a particular day in springtime, YOU can develop the ability to recognize the precise day of spring for all you do.Whether asking for a raise, launching a business venture, or bringing up a difficult subject to a friend, loved one or business partner, your ability to recognize the often brief moments of maximum opportunïty will determine how much success and balance you achieve.
   

• Patience
  Only humans are impatient. Seeds do not attempt to turn into trees in
  winter. Eagles don’t try to soar during rainstorms. And Mayflowers do not blossom in August. Developing patience - your ability to wait for the right moment in your life cycle to accomplish a particular task or goal - is all important to develop excellent timing and great success.
   

• Surrender
  What must you do to let go of your need to control things? How can you let go of your past mistakes and history that may be preventing you from
  moving forward? How do you spiritually surrender to “the process”? Without spiritual surrender, you will never be content, you will never have patience and excellent timing. You will nevër experience the joy and
  “flow” of having the greatest business and life partner you could ever
  possibly have: namely, “The Universe” and “God.”
   
• Grounding
  With strong roots, a tree will survive any storm. When YOU create a strong foundation, your greatest efforts will withstand the many storms and challenges you inevitably face in achieving your goals.Grounding is what you use to nourish and nurture your goals. Grounding is the books, tapes, schooling, seminars, and people you surround yourself with to support yourself in whatever you want to achieve.Want to have a great relationship? Learn from those who already have one.
  Want to earn a million dollars? Read books, listen to tapes, and receive
  coaching by those who show you how. When you have ample “grounding” to
  support your dreams, the challenges that come along are merely temporary
  storms that ultimately make you stronger and more highly energized.
   

• Balance
  This is a tough one, especially for the most successful people. Even when
  a tree is well developed, without regular water, sunshine and nourishment, it will not be healthy.

     What must you do to balance yourself?

     How much sunshine do you get?
     How much exercise do you regularly do?
     How nourishing is your diet?
     How much quiet time do you take on a daily basis with yourself and your
     loved ones?      Life is a balancing act. Isn’t the minute, hour, day or month you save by
     working through your natural point of balance just another minute, hour,
     day or month you subtract from your lifetïme?

• Growth
  Growth automatically occurs in direct proportion to your ability to
  empower yourself with the first 6 Insights.
   

• Evolution                                                             Evolution blossoms when your growth takes you to a new and higher stage of life, unfolding a powerful Vision of your life you probably never foresaw.
   
• Transformation                                                      Transformation occurs when you become something very different than that which you started off as. Your initial seeds of Insight becomes a tree of knowledge and accomplishment. You are ready for something greater than achieving for your own personal gain.You, the student, become the teacher, the mentor, the leader. You are the vessel of seeds to birth a new generation. You enjoy the glow of knowing you have followed your highest path that ultimately leads you to helping others follow theirs.All along, you have been transforming into a balanced, successful and
  fulfilled human being.

  All along, you have been transforming yourself into a “Black Belt.”

As the United States mourned the passing of its 38th President, Gerald Ford, fond memories and kind words came like a flood from all who remembered him. Ford had arrived to the Oval Office after Richard Nixon’s deceit and dishonesty had robbed the Presidency of its honor. As President, Ford would face the daunting task of restoring respect to the White House. In doing so, he built a legacy as a healer, and left us with lessons on how to rebuild in the aftermath of a leadership crisis.

1. Character Comes First

When a leader’s moral failure forces them to resign, the biggest charge of the incoming leader is to restore the integrity of the position. In the wake of the scandal-wracked Nixon administration, the United States desperately needed a man of unquestioned character. Gerald Ford was precisely the man for the job. His unpretentious nature and civility were noted by political friends and foes alike. As a testament to his stalwart moral fiber, President Ford’s approval rating quickly soared to over 70% upon taking office.

2. Cleaning the Slate Is Necessary to Move Forward

Whether being forced out due to moral flaws or poor financial decision-making, a departing leader can leave hurt, pain, and resentment within an organization. The incoming leader must have the courage to clean the slate and offer a new beginning. Finger-pointing over past failures or the bitterness that comes from a leader’s betrayal has the potential to shipwreck a company. The incoming leader must be a catalyst for healing by erasing the lingering negativity of a prior leader’s meltdown.With the unraveling of President Nixon’s dubious activities in the Oval Office, a dark cloud hung over the country. The nation’s premier leadership position had been tainted. With the impending trial of former President Nixon threatening to embroil the nation in a messy and prolonged media circus, President Ford made the tough decision to pardon Nixon of all wrongdoing. At the time, the pardon drew harsh criticism and cost President Ford his popularity. However, in retrospect, political analysts laud President Ford for bringing healing to the country by cleaning the slate and allowing the nation to move past a painful chapter in its history.

3. Coalition-building Restores Harmony

When a leader makes a mess of an organization and steps down, factions develop in the resulting leadership vacuum. Critics of the prior leader squabble with one another over the best way to move forward. Cliques form within the organization, and each lobbies to bring in a new leader who is sympathetic to their point of view. Replacing Nixon put Gerald Ford directly in the heat of a contentious atmosphere. Thankfully, President Ford was renowned for his deftness in working with parties on both sides of the aisle. His open-mind and ability to put aside his ego would enable him build the coalitions needed to get the country back on track. Former President Jimmy Carter, Ford’s opponent in the Presidential election of 1976, commented on Gerald Ford’s strength as a unifier, remembering how he, “frequently rose above politics by emphasizing the need for bipartisanship and seeking common ground on issues critical to our nation.”

Summary

Cleansing the stains of an incompetent leader is never easy, but, as demonstrated by President Gerald Ford, the task can be done. By displaying strong character, cleaning the slate of past mistakes, and building coalitions, a leader can chart a fresh course into the future.