When asked to reflect on a TEDTalk discussing my personal leadership philosophy, Sam Berns immediately came to mind. Although his conference does not specifically address the leadership qualities and necessities, I believe his philosophy to a happy life is essential to becoming a successful leader.
He begins by reminiscing about a time when he participated in the school band, and wanted to play the drums as his instrument; however, due to his rare disorder known as progeria, he was unable to carry such heavy weight. Rather than accepting that he was unable to march in the band, he worked with an engineer to design a harness that would allow him to carry the drum with less weight. Sam Berns could have given up on his dream to perform in the band due to his disorder, yet he overcame his obstacle and created an alternate solution, something that is extremely important when becoming a leader. He later mentions a time when he was asked what the most important thing to know about him was, and he joyfully responded with, “I have a very happy life.” This statement is something many people cannot say about their lives, for they focus more on social standards and yearly income rather than feeling truly happy. He also mentions three steps to his philosophy of living a happy life, one being to accept what you cannot do because there is so much you can do. I believe this is extremely important to follow in your work life as well as your day to day routine. It can be easy to pity yourself due to a rough upbringing or a disorder such as Sam Berns, but he chooses not to focus on the negative results caused by this. Rather, he accepts the activities he cannot participate in and focuses on what he is capable of doing and is passionate about. Next, he surrounds himself with people of high quality and those who will bring out his best qualities. This can also be a goal for a successful leader, for followers want to surround themselves with a leader that motivates and challenged their followers while staying supportive. By surround yourself with people that push themselves and support others, they can bring out positive traits in yourself. Lastly, Sam Berns reassures his listeners to keep moving forward. He does this by always having something to look forward to, for it makes his life richer. This could be as small as a family vacation or a new video game. His mindset keeps him focused to know that there will be a bright future ahead. Sam Berns accepts when his negative feelings creep in, so he is able to acknowledge them and move past it, rather than ignoring his thoughts and leaving them to build.
Although Sam Berns was only seventeen years old when he shared his philosophy, his strive and determination encouraged me to become a better leader along with a better person. While many businesses believe personal success and higher income are what define a person, they forget that material items and status will not matter in the long run.
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