In Search Of Better...Leah Hager Cohen

"Our civic life is heavily marked—indeed, pocked—by debates in which each side is so certain of its position that any movement is effectively impossible. For that matter, debate—in its original sense of “to consider something, to deliberate”—is impossible. We wind up with so much sound and fury and nothing gained."

--Leah Hager Cohen, I Don't Know: In Praise of Admitting Ignorance

#LeadershipTuesdays: A Leader With Integrity

"There are some things that money can’t buy… like manners, morals and integrity."

--Unknown

On Tuesdays, womenatliberty.com presents #LeadershipTuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage and strengthen women leaders. There are some qualities that are integral to a person who desires to be an impactful leader. One of those characteristics is integrity. People must be able to trust that there is consistency between the words you speak and your actions. This in fact builds trust which is the foundation of any lasting relationship between a leader and those he or she leads.

Secondly, people want their leaders to speak truth. Truth-telling is an external demonstration of an internal moral code. It signals that your words can be trusted.

Lastly, people also want you to care about how your decisions affect them. We saw so many examples of this during the government shutdown. With more than 800,000 federal employees going more than 30 days without a paycheck and some having to still go into work because they were deemed essential, hundreds demonstrated in the U.S. Senate's Hart Office building during the week of January 21st, the 33rd day of the shutdown. For 33 minutes they stood in silence, many held signs and messages written on paper plates saying "federal workers are going hungry."

Image: @KellyO, Twitter, Kelly O'Donnell, NBC News 

The negative impact of the government shutdown extended beyond just the furloughed workers to other contractors and businesses who depend on revenue from the federaI government. Federal contractors were also sent home without pay and will not receive back pay when the government re-opens.

Last week, discontent was exacerbated when it was reported that U.S. Secretary of Commerce, billionaire Wilbur Ross, who leads more than 46K government employees with an estimated 86% furloughed, stated that federal employees should go to the bank and take out a loan to pay their mortgages, rent and food expenses because they were guaranteed to receive back pay. His comments were largely viewed as out of touch.

View video: https://wapo.st/2CSpWr0 washingtonpost.com

There is no getting around it. People want their leaders to tell the truth, act with integrity and understand how their decisions affect people in the organization. For more information on how essential integrity is to a leader, read "Leadership character: The role of integrity" by Colonel  Eric Kail.

Follow #LeadershipTuesdays on Twitter @LeadershipTues to see daily posts with resources that help you develop and strengthen your leadership skills.

Sources:
1. Federal workers protest at Senate office building by Michael Burke, TheHill.com, 1/24/19
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/federal-workers-protest-at-senate-office-building/ar-BBSE9v5
2. For federal contractors, the shutdown isn’t quite over by Ian Kullgreen, Politico.com, 1/28/19
https://www.politico.com/story/2019/01/28/federal-contractors-shutdown-not-over-1125034

Preparation For Defining Moments...Nona

Prepare your children to make tough decisions by teaching them values, helping them to understand their own strengths and weaknesses and showing them how to empathize with others.

--Nona O. 

#LeadershipTuesdays: Think For Yourself To Become Your True Self...Edmond Mbiaka

"Being your true self can only come from separating your thinking from crowd mentality."

--Edmond Mbiaka

On Tuesdays, womenatliberty.com presents #LeadershipTuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage and strengthen women leaders. The latest feature honored Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the commemoration of his 90th birthday. Click on the link to read "His Dream Still Speaks To Us".

For more information on #LeadershipTuesdays, follow us at @LeadershipTues on Twitter. There you will find daily posts that provides resources to help you develop and strengthen your leadership skills.

Accept The Challenge...Kilroy J. Oldster

"The greatest challenge in life is to be our own person and accept that being different is a blessing and not a curse. A person who knows who they are lives a simple life by eliminating from their orbit anything that does not align with his or her overriding purpose and values."

--Kilroy J. Oldster

From "Mission Impossible", TV series

Be The Light...Hans Hofmann

"In nature, light creates the color. In the picture, color creates the light."

--Hans Hofmann

http://wallpaperswide.com/lakeside_2-wallpapers.html

For Those Who Aspire To Greatness

Some people do not care how their actions affect others as long as their goals and agenda are accomplished. But for those who aspire to greatness and really desire to leave their mark on this world, here's some wisdom to consider.

--Nona O.

#LeadershipTuesdays: His Dream Still Speaks To Us...Martin Luther King, Jr.

“The ultimate measure of a man [woman] is not where he [she] stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he [she] stands in times of challenge and controversy.”

--Martin Luther King, Jr.

Prints are available of this artwork by Derek Russell.
Go to: http://www.derekrussellartist.com

On Tuesdays, womenatliberty.com presents #LeadershipTuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage and strengthen women leaders. Today marks the 90th anniversary of the birthdate of Martin Luther King, Jr. Had he been afforded the opportunity to live out his normal life expectancy, he may have been around to celebrate his 90th birthday. Who knows, his sister, Christine King Farris, a powerful force in her own right, is still alive at 91. 

Alas, we will never know an older Martin King, but what we do know is his dream, his words, his legacy are timeless. Just as his dream inspired a generation and a nation more than 50 years ago, it inspires and calls us forth today. The dream still whispers to our conscience, our spirit, our heart, saying "Where do you stand and what are you doing?"

Today, King's articulated dream has more meaning now than ever. As 800,000 federal government employees went without a paycheck last Friday; 30,000 Los Angeles, CA County educators serving the second largest school district in the U.S. enter into their second day of a labor strike; the unemployment rate is at an all time low but yet the rate for Africans Americans is still almost twice that of White Americans; women are still likely to be paid less than their male counterparts even when all other things are equal; and minorities including Native Americans, Latinx and Asians have to continually fight not to be type cast into societal roles and stereotypes that do not reflect their skills and individual potential, the dream, Martin's dream, still speaks to us. Again, it's saying, 'Where are you standing and what are you doing?' Do you hear it? In the #BlackLivesMatter movement, in the fight for immigration rights, in the women's movement. Do you hear Martin's voice and dream?  

Those words "I have a dream today..." spoken from the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963 changed our lives and inspired several generations of leaders and ordinary Americans in addition to those standing at the March On Washington with him. That was yesterday, but today as we stand yet fighting for equality and civil, human and economic rights, his voice is still heard. What is his dream challenging the leader in you to do? Because there is a leader in you.

For more information on #LeadershipTuesdays, follow us at @LeadershipTues on Twitter.  There you will find daily posts that provides resources to help you develop and strengthen your leadership skills. 

--Nona Ogunsula, Founder, womenatliberty.com and #LeadershipTuesdays

Image credit: Derek Russell

Love...Nona

"Affirming love, in myself, those around me and my environment.

What are you affirming today?" 

--Nona O.

You Don't Have Time To Pursue Everything

"Certain things catch your eye, but pursue only those that capture the heart." 

--Ancient Indian Proverb

Use your time and resources wisely. You don't have time to pursue everything. Follow your heart.

Pursue Positivity...Genereux Philip

"Keep away from the kinship of the individuals who continually ask and examine the imperfections of others."

--Genereux Philip

P.S. Acknowledge truth and move on. Be free and stay positive! 

Pursue The Highest Good!

"Good, better, best. Never let it rest. 'Til your good is better and your better is best."

--St. Jerome

*What goals are you pursuing in 2019?

#LeadershipTuesdays: Pursue Purpose!...Nilofer Merchant

“Purpose is also a better motivator than money. Money, while necessary, motivates neither the best people, nor the best in people. Purpose does.”

― Nilofer Merchant, "11 Rules for Creating Value in the Social Era"

Happy New Year! How are you doing on this second Tuesday of 2019? I hope your new year has gotten off to a great start. On Tuesdays, womenatliberty.com presents #LeadershipTuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage and strengthen women leaders. 

I really wanted to include a postscript in today's great quote by Nilofer Merchant. There's a bible verse that says 'money speaks to everything'. While we know that money cannot buy true love and genuine happiness, it is a necessary part of life. A lot of times women and minorities work hard and are hardly paid. Pursue your purpose, but remember to get paid and 'secure the bag', too. You got to do both in order to survive and thrive. Strive and work toward striking a balance between the two. Lastly, find a tribe who will love and support you unconditionally and beware of those who exploit others.  

Make sure you're following @LeadershipTues on Twitter to view our daily #LeadershipTuesdays posts that provides resources to help you develop and strengthen your leadership skills. We post videos and articles on trailblazing women and men who are successful leaders. Check us out!

Wishing you a purposeful and prosperous 2019 and your best year ever,

--Nona Ogunsula, Founder, 

womenatliberty.com & #LeadershipTuesdays

Pursue!...Jesslyn Wolff

"The destination is fulfilling when the path is authentically your own; find the courage and forge your own path; your essence is at stake."

--Jesslyn Wolff

All You Need...Charles Schulz

"All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt."

-- Charles M. Schulz

Actively Waiting...Gina Greenlee

"As you consider your next move, practice this definition of trust: the willingness to take steps while simultaneously waiting for instructions."

--Gina Greenlee, Postcards and Pearls: Life Lessons from Solo Moments on the Road

Be That Person...Frederick William Faber

"There are souls in this world who have the gift of finding joy everywhere, and leaving it behind them when they go."

--Frederick William Faber

Happy 2019!

May your hopes and dreams meet you just around the bend in the road.