By Jillianne Tebow

“Welcome to the trip to the real world. This is your captain speaking. We are expected to have a fairly smooth flight today, however, I will keep the seatbelt sign on at all times because of unexpected bumps called life, however, feel free to move about the cabin. Our estimated time of arrival is… never. Thank you for flying with the Real World today and enjoy your flight.”

What exactly is the real world and, more importantly, when do we get there? I’m 23 years old and have been welcomed to the real world four times. When, might you ask? On four very important, life altering occasions: first, there was high school graduation when I prepared for the rest of my life and enjoyed my first taste of freedom; second, college graduation when I was cut off from my parents completely and told good luck when deciding which path in life I wanted to take; third, marriage, enough said; and finally, tackling the daunting task of a mortgage, ugh. So, I can’t help but wonder what exactly is the real world and, more importantly, when do we get there?

I guess the real question that comes to my mind is who is supposed to lead me into this real world? And I suppose the answer I am looking for is myself, and we are already there. We are all leaders in the real world, and we each possess a volcano of potential that will be life threatening once unleashed. It is up to each of us to not only realize our own potential but also to realize that of others as well.

Leaders are not born, they are made. They are the people who refuse to sit during the flight but who dare to unbuckle their seatbelts and take a stroll through the cabin; they are those who dare to dream. When the harsh realities of life come crashing down, it is leaders who pick us up and inspire us once more.

Through faith, passion, inspiration, determination and an unrelenting desire to be the best, it is leaders who fly us through life and take us safely to our destination. The funny thing is that we each have this potential, we simply must take the controls, get ready for the bumps and fly our own plane, taking others with us as we climb higher to reach our destinations.
 

Anonymous Author

1. People are illogical, unreasonable and self-centered... Love them anyway.

2. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives... Do good anyway.

3. If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies...Succeed anyway.

4. The good you do today will be fogotten tomorrow...Do good anyway.

5. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable...Be honest and frank anyway.

6. The biggest person with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest person with the smallest mind...Think big anyway.

7. People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs...Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

8. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight...Build anyway.

9. People really need help, but may attack you if you do help them...Help them anyway.

10. Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth...Give the world the best you have anyway.
 

Accountability could be defined as a person who does the difficult things even when he or she does not feel like doing them. In other words accountability is when leaders are not blown by the storms of the moment. We face many storms in life, just like the storms of nature, and the real question is not whether we are prepared but how we will confront the storms when they occur;

By Donna Bowman

Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10

Being a leader continually puts you face to face with conflict, fear and life changing decisions. This can be a weight that drags you under or it can be the vehicle God uses to bring you closer to Him, giving you greater wisdom and the ability to encourage others more sincerely.

Leadership is standing strong, with direction and determination when difficulties assault you. As leaders, whether you are the CEO with the responsibility of a multimillion dollar company or a mom with the responsibility of helpless baby or rebellious teenager, we are responsible to stand up to the task of leading, pulling or carrying those we are responsible for toward the appointed goals.

When we recognize and acknowledge that we have weaknesses and challenges we cannot overcome on our own. We avail ourselves to God for His understanding, His strength and His grace to conquer our weakness. He will give us the grace and wisdom to prevail and be strong, wise and lead.