There are too many Americans making a living by playing both sides of the fence. Hey, it’s just business, right? Doesn’t it seem sharp to figure out how to create a market for blue and yellow three-ply widgets, and then just happen to have the sole license to manufacture and supply them?
Sharp and on the ball, right?
Yes and no. What may seem canny and impressive in business isn’t so cool in one’s personal and professional life.
Think about it.
- ON THE JOB How long will you trust a coworker who switches sides of an issue regarding a project depending upon with whom they’re talking?
- ON THE FIELD How long do you put up with someone who keeps switching teams according to who’s ahead?
- IN BATTLE At what point do you stop trusting someone behind your back whose allegiance you don’t know for sure?
- ON FRIENDSHIP How can you rely on someone who says they’re your friend when they’re constantly talking about you to non-friends behind your back?
If you can’t handle any of those types and don’t want them around, how do you think anyone will respect and trust you when you cringe and cave at the first challenge to your stated position?
I know that’s become not just popular, but a fine art: it seems like no one stands for anything, behind anything. This wimp mentality that ducks and dodges personal responsibility while distracting and pointing fingers in all other directions has soaked into our national character like dog urine into a rental unit’s old carpeting.
It stains and it stinks.
It’s become stylish to wimp out, to be invertebrate in thought and action. No matter the discipline, from the President on down, it’s fashionable to waffle and not stand up or hold firm for much of anything.
Face it. You can’t stand wishy-washy, undependable people, either.
No one respects a wuss. An army of sheep commanded and led by a lion will trounce an army of lions commanded and led by a sheep. No organization will ever will climb any higher than its leadership.
Save it. Yes, you are a leader. There are people in your life right now desperately needing you to step up and be firm in your convictions and commitment. By your willingness to courageously take your stand, you encourage and empower them to do the same.
You may only need to stand alone once. Be willing.
Have the courage of your convictions. Courage is doing the right thing even when nobody’s watching, right? You’ve heard that before. The truth? Somebody’s always watching – especially now. There’s a famine in America: few are showing the courage it takes to turn the stampede of lawlessness, laziness, lack of personal accountability and irresponsibility.
And that includes some who right now are running for President, in addition to the one now occupying that office.
It’s pathetic and inexcusable when the highest leadership in the land refuses to take a firm stand for much of anything.
That’s what courage is. Listen to it being defined by Americans of past generations . . .
“Courage is . . .
- grace under pressure.” – Ernest Hemingway
- being scared to death and saddling up anyway.” – John Wayne
- resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear.” – Mark Twain
- the foundation of integrity. With courage you will dare to take risks, have the strength to be compassionate, and the wisdom to be humble.” – Mark Twain
- doing what you are afraid to do. There is no courage unless you are scared.” – Eddie Rickenbacker
I could give you hundreds of these. Not one of them will make a sneeze’s worth of difference if you don’t have what it takes to reach down inside yourself and stop slouching along with the “not my issue, man” crowd.
It IS your issue. This IS your land. You ARE an American.
How about showing some guts? How about choosing to lead by doing what’s right, not what’s popular? Huh? Sure, you may need to plow through some negative junk and acid, jealous opinions to do it. Every parade attracts barking dogs. And the first step to getting and becoming what you do want is having the courage to get rid of what you don’t.
Be brave, even if you’re not. Pretend to be! Nobody can tell the difference.
COME ON! Your country’s in the balance!
Let your heart be kind, your mind fierce and your spirit brave!
Come ON, American!
YOUR COURAGE: FIND IT!
© d. dean boone, July 2015