Thought Leadership

When being told to be a thought leader, I have found it interesting to observe the way in which people decide to decipher what is a rather cryptic comment.  Each individual who is assigned such a task must ask themselves three extremely important questions.  The first, and foremost, is what they truly believe a thought leader to be.  Secondly, one must decide for themselves just what being a thought leader entails.  Lastly, a thought itself must be decided upon.  Each thought must be carefully developed, ripened in the way a fruit does, growing until it weighs the mind down to the point where to not put it to paper should be considered a cardinal sin.

To the surprise of none, being a thought leader is an exceptionally difficult task, although many may make it appear as though they were born to it, even the greatest of us have poor judgements or thoughts now and again.  It is an inevitable truth in life that nobody and nothing is perfect, but there must always be those who are willing to step forward and forever push the line.  For some, they lead the fight as the greatest of generals have by using innovation and intelligence in their efforts.  Others still take the risks needed to push forth an idea that would be considered preposterous, all because they care about reaching out to the general public and allowing the world to see the ideas.

I have observed that many take a thought leader to be one who brings forth newer technologies each and every year.  Yet I find that there conviction in such matters could not be more questionable.  While technology is indisputably an important part of common civilization, it and of itself can hardly be considered anything more than what it is, a pretty screen that is a momentary novel.  By producing newer technologies each year, these so-called thought leaders show that they are not revolutionary, but are simply listening. 

Thought leaders, in truth, are the ones who step forward when others would fear to, unafraid of the possible repercussions.  Consider Galileo, a man insulted and persecuted simply because his views differed.  Many would argue that the world has changed, that thought leaders are praised not persecuted, and yet maybe this is because a true thought leader has not emerged into our midst in some time.  To those who would argue that thought leaders are fairly revered, was Sean Parker heralded for his work with Napster, or was it constantly being tried for piracy?  Consider, more recently, Facebook and its creator.  Forever will there be the challenges to the leaders of thought; the key is to remember that to falter is to forfeit.

With eyes unclouded

There was a time, I recall, when once men fought with honour.  I fear that time has eroded, like so much else, the very strict code that once ruled over the nations of mankind.  Where once we would stand together for our beliefs, willing to accept the outcome, but that part of us seems to have died.  There is no one reason that has caused this, our bodies are no more frail than they were when our word was our bond, we are certainly more creatures of intellect…or so we would like to believe.

One would be foolish, remiss even, to believe that no longer do men fight for what we believe in, but what is worth believing in seems to have changed somewhere along the way.  There are those who serve their countries, as there has always been, and there are those in command who are corrupt.  No longer are we ruled by nobles in name or title, but still are there those who are too weak to stand and fight for what they know to be right.  How is it then, that they can be heard, that the voices of the weak can reach the ears of the ones with the power in our world?

Some would say that rebellions, in the true sense, are finished in the enlightened age in which we live.  I have seen, with eyes unclouded, the results of these rebellions that force governments to change.  Lives are lost for the causes, blood is shed and tears are wept.  Do these warriors, who seek betterment for not only themselves and their loved ones, but for their countries as well, know the truth of their actions?  Have they the understanding that all governments are corrupt and that it will be but a matter of time before another claims the seat of power, and changes once more what they have fought for?

I fear, I worry, I see the anguish and the strife that is caused and yet I do nothing to solve it.  These are no wounds that a petty salve will heal; these are scars that are deep and filled with the pain of corruption.  In times past, perhaps, we would have stood up and fought, bled for our beliefs in the way the worlds who have not forgotten have.  Yet we have become weak, choosing to write from the safety of our domiciles, striking out with words that break no skin and bring no bread.  I condone no slaughters, no deaths, yet how to be heard in a world that pretends to hear?

It is said that politics is best left to politicians and yet these are the very people who are the source of the corruption.  Where once a man would have been elected for his leadership of others in battle, raised and hailed as a great man, we instead elect those who speak with words tainted with deceit.  Our foolishness lies in that we see only what they desire, the demons of man, our losses grievous as we pretend with eyes blinded from the world, sensing only what they deem appropriate.