Leadership is For Amateurs

Leadership is For Amateurs July 21, 2015

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We believe if someone is really good at doing something, they will make a living doing it. Professional has become synonymous with meeting high standards of performance. No one wants to be called unprofessional.

Our perception of an amateur is someone who is not as skilled as a professional. Athletes who have gained renown as amateurs and turn professional need to improve. We understand amateur as meaning “not as good as professional.”

The word amateur, though, does not come from an understanding of being less than professionals. An amateur, rather than doing something for payment, does it because they love doing it.

The leaders who inspire me are amateurs.

Some of the leaders whose examples I follow get paid to do what they do. That is not their primary motivation. I do not know whether they would “do this job even if you did not pay me.” I do know their leadership goes far beyond whatever financial compensation they receive.

There are times when it is important for us to be as unprofessional, as amateurish as we can. We can begin to feel trapped by what we do professionally. Even when we are satisfied in what we do, we feel we have no choice but to continue. We have bills to pay, responsibilities to meet, people depending on us.

It is easy for us to get caught up in all the reasons we need to make a living doing what we do.

It can be helpful for us to spend time reflecting on how we can be amateurs. What do we love to do?

Underneath the practicalities of making a good living, we are all amateurs at heart.

Whose amateur leadership has inspired you?

How much time can you spend being an unprofessional amateur this week?

[Image by Emery_Way]


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